Columbus Blue Jackets and the Metro Part V, The Flyers
The Metropolitan Division is home to the last three Stanley Cup Champions. How do the Columbus Blue Jackets stack up heading into the 2018-2019 season?
The Philadelphia Flyers just jumped the Columbus Blue Jackets at the end of the regular season last year to take the 3rd spot in the metro by one point. This year, expect the competition between the two teams to be just as tight.
The Flyers, by virtue of their 3rd place finish in the division, had to square off against their instate rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins, much like the Caps against the Jackets, took care of business in six games and sent the Flyers home in the first round.
The playoff appearance wasn’t a complete shock as the Flyers team was, and still is, loaded with offensive talent. Claude Giroux played like a Hart trophy nominee (although he just missed a nomination) leading the league in assist with 68 and topping the century mark in scoring for the first time in his career.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Former Jacket Jakub Voracek also had a stellar season. His 85 points were a career high. Sean Couterier and Travis Konecny had tremendous seasons as well and helped lead Philadelphia to the playoffs.
The Flyers made the playoffs after moving way up in the draft lottery last year. They took Nolan Patrick who contributed a bit, but was hampered by injuries.
And the offense doesn’t just come from the forwards. Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere were a force from the backend. Gostisbehere finished 4th in the league in scoring last year and is just breaking into the prime of his career.
The Flyers are returning all of the major players and should be a force again this season. A health Nolan Patrick should sure up the Flyers down the middle and a playoff appearance should be expected despite their one major weakness; goaltending.
The situation in net in Philadelphia has been an issue for decades now but the Flyers seem to have a solution on the way. Carter Hart is by most measures, the best or second best goaltending prospect in the world. Perhaps only Washington’s Ilya Samsonov has a higher ceiling than Hart who might make the pro squad this year.
If he doesn’t, the Flyers will turn to Brian Elliot and Michal Neuvirth to backstop the squad. Both are sub par goalies and the Flyers will have to score four to five goals a night to win but it worked last year and just might do the trick this year.
Next. 5 Reasons to be Excited for 18-19. dark
Last year the Columbus Blue Jackets were 2-1-1 against the Flyers. Next year should be no different as both teams look like they did nothing but add to their team’s in the offseason. Expect the Flyers and Jackets to both compete for a divisional playoff berth in a very competitive Metro division.