NHL scores 2016: The Flyers are the NHL’s most fun mess of a team right now

The Philadelphia Flyers are not a great hockey team. Now before you come after me, Philadelphia, the Flyers are not terrible, but they’ve clearly got issues.

Wednesday night seemed to be going par for the course for the Flyers. Once again, like they seemingly have done all season, the Flyers started slow and it cost them. It took 16 seconds for the Red Wings to get one, then two goals that put Philadelphia in an early 0-2 hole. Questionable defense and surprisingly questionable goaltending have been the Flyers Achilles’ heel so far this season and it was on full display in those 16 seconds.

And yet, they came back! Even better, they won in overtime! Like they’ve done multiple times so far this year, the Flyers overcame a horrible start with late tying goals in a game their first period selves had no business being in. Chris VandeVelde and Roman Lyubimov both scored their firsts of the year then Mark Streit finished the comeback on a scramble goal in the final moments of the third period.

If the Flyers keep flying this close to the sun, they’re eventually going to get burned. The defense needs to tighten up. Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth need to be better. There’s still work to be done in Philadelphia, no matter how fun these comebacks are.

Canadiens 3, Canucks 0
Flyers 4, Red Wings 3 (OT)
Penguins 5, Ducks 1

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1. The Canucks got Carey Price-d

Vancouver walked all over Montreal, except where it mattered. The Canucks outshot the Canadiens 42-21 and yet were shut out 3-0 thanks to ... you guessed it! Carey Price himself. Now, the Canadiens are 9-0-1 to start the year and Price continues to look unbeatable.

2. Claude Giroux is showing up the haters

There’s a running joke in Flyers fandom — that started with some apparently serious talk — to strip captain Giroux of the “C.” Well, Giroux has been proving those doubters wrong with the NHL’s current longest active points streak, among other things. The Flyers captain has 13 points in 11 games and was instrumental in Philadelphia’s big win against Detroit. Oh, and this pass to Jake Voracek to end it? A stunner.

3. Matt Cullen is a birthday wizard

Don’t believe me? Look at the stats.

The now 40-year-old potted a goal on his big day, helping the Penguins to a 5-1 win in Anaheim.

Brayden Schenn threw an awkward hit on Brendan Smith that may or may not be suspension worthy.

Dumb hit, but not malicious.