Michael Raffl
Eight of the Flyers nine participants in World Championships are advancing to the tournament round. Here’s how the players on each team have fared so far.
The 2019 IIHF World Championships begin on Friday and for eight Flyers, the season continues.
The Flyers have signed forward Michael Raffl to a two-year extension, GM Chuck Fletcher announced on Tuesday afternoon. The deal is worth $3.2 million with an average annual value of $1.6 million.
Despite the Flyers’ slim chances of making this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is victory in one way. After Sunday night’s exciting win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the season series was won with the Flyers winning three of four meetings.
The Capitals didn’t win Thursday’s game with their stars, but their depth, getting good goaltending when they needed it and players to step up. For the Flyers, it was a reminder that a young defense can still pay the price for costly mistakes and that the depth needs to improve.
The Flyers did what they had to against the Ottawa Senators. After falling behind in the first period, they stayed the course, got their legs, took the lead in the second and handled business against the NHL’s worst team this season in a 3-2 win.
The Senators made things interested with a late goal, but the Flyers held on for a 3-2 win. Coupled with Columbus’ 2-0 loss to the Islanders, the Flyers moved to within three points of a playoff spot with the win.
Two goals in the first and two more in the second paced the Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Islanders on Sunday afternoon.
The Flyers only move at the trade deadline was an expected one. They have bid farewell to Wayne Simmonds.
With the NHL’s trade deadline hitting on Monday at 3 p.m., the time has come for Chuck Fletcher’s first chance to make his mark on the Flyers and their future.
