The Flyers have spent so much of their history fighting the same old battle in net that “steady” almost feels out of place. This season, though, the crease has been one of the few things they can actually trust.
Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll have both given the team a lift as the Flyers work their way back from a rough start, and neither goalie can be blamed for the early damage. Vladar’s nightmarish opening performance came in the team’s 7-0 loss to Pittsburgh, when the whole roster was a mess and he stopped 31 of 38 shots. He had also played only part of one preseason period, which suggested he may not have been fully ready for opening night.
Since then, the picture has changed fast. Take away that one game, and Vladar owns a .921 save percentage and a 2.38 goals-against average over his five games since.
Even with that rough debut, he remains on the positive side of goals saved above average this season. He’s also chipped in an assist after being shut out offensively last year.
Woll has been even more eye-opening through his first six starts with the Flyers. Goaltending always has a way of turning strange, so a stumble probably waits somewhere down the line, but his numbers have been strong: a .917 save percentage, a 2.64 GAA, and 4.8 goals saved above average, which ranks eighth in the league so far. For a goalie who struggled on last season’s Maple Leafs team, the bounce-back looks like another move that’s working out for Danny Briere and the Flyers.
That gives Rick Tocchet something rare to work with: two goalies playing well and keeping each other sharp. With other parts of the roster still needing work, alternating them to keep both fresh makes sense, especially if it helps the group in front of them play with more confidence. Right now, the Flyers’ goaltending looks unusually calm and reliable, even if the division-rival Rangers are a reminder of how quickly that can disappear.
The future remains in the picture, too, with Carson Bjarnason and especially Yegor Zavragin still part of the organization’s long-term hopes. But there’s no urgency there at the moment. Vladar is signed long-term, Woll is under contract through next season, and for once the Flyers can look at their crease and feel something close to settled.
“Comfortable” is a word that doesn’t usually belong in Flyers conversations, but this may be as close as it gets. And after so many years of uncertainty in net, they should probably enjoy it while it lasts.
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Cole Knuble Is Giving The Flyers A Tough Lineup Decision
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Rick Tocchet has been pleased with the way Knuble has carried himself, and that matters for a team still sorting out the edges of its forward group. A player who can step in, contribute right away and earn trust from the coaching staff changes the conversation fast, especially when the Flyers are trying to decide who belongs now and who may need more time before sticking for good. [Read more 🡒]