The Philadelphia Flyers came into the 2018-19 season with some optimism on making the NHL playoffs but those hopes and dreams sadly did not come true this season.
The Flyers finished with a record of 37 wins 37 losses and 8 overtime losses that equaled out to 82 points that placed the flyers in 6th place in the Metropolitan Division and 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
The flyers ended up 16 points shy of the second wild card spot to clinch a spot in the NHL playoffs.
Although the flyers season was a bust by many fans the team did have a couple good things to cheer about this season.
The Flyers found a diamond in the ruff with 20 year old goalie Carter Hart who was forced into action this season due to many injuries to starting goalie Brian Elliot and backup goalie Michal Neuvirth.
Carter Hart started in 28 games for the flyers during the 2018-19 season. Hart went 16-11-1.
Hart also finished the season with a .921 save percentage despite not having a good defense in front of him.
Hart provided some much needed stability to a flyers team who in most nights would get heavily out shot by the opposing team.
Michael Pietrangelo, of Southampton, Pa said “If the flyers continue to develop Hart he will easily become a top five goaltender in the NHL no question about it.” “Hart just needs to continue to work on his game and if he does that in the offseason the flyers could be looking at a super star in the making.
Another bright spot for the flyers this season was forward Sean Couturier.
Couturier has posted back-to-back 30+ goal seasons and has transformed himself into one of the best two-way forwards in the league.
In the 2018-19 season Couturier finished with 32 goals and 42 assists through 75 games.
Shawn Westerman, 18, of Philadelphia, Pa said “Sean Couturier is becoming a beast as of late.” “At only 26 years old if he continues to put up these kinds of numbers season after season the flyers will truly have another star on their first forward line.” “In my opinion Couturier is a top five player on the flyers roster.”
The flyers did end up firing head coach Dave Hakstol after just 31 games in 2018.
Hakstol during the early part of the season finished with a record of 12 wins 15 losses and 4 overtime losses which equaled to 28 points when he was relieved of his duties.
The Flyers hired interim coach Scott Gordon for the rest of the 2018-19 season.
Gordon lead the flyers the rest of the season and finished with a record of 25 wins 22 losses and 4 overtime losses which equaled to 54 points.
Ashley Fairchild, 21, of Bensalem, Pa said “After the firing of head coach Dave Hakstol the flyers went on a roll in late December early January.” “The flyers went on an eight game win streak under new interim head coach Scott Gordon.” “Gordon was definitely the right choice for the interim head coach job for the flyers they definitely seemed to jell in the latter half of the 2018-19 season and almost clinched a playoff berth after a terrible start to the season.”