It is being reported that several members of the Philadelphia Flyers' front office will be meeting with officials from the NHL Wednesday to express their frustration with the team's schedule. According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Flyers want to see the amount of back-to-back games they have to play reduced in the future, and is looking for general improvements to the team's schedule overall.
The Inquirer states "The Flyers will play the most back-to-back games (17 sets) in the league this season and, according to mathematician Micah Blake McCurdy, play more “tired” games (eight, based on back-to backs or three games in four nights) against rested opponents than any NHL team." Flyers chairman Dave Scott, general manager Chuck Fletcher, and assistant general manager Barry Hanrahan will be among the executives meeting with Steve Hatze Petros, the NHL's long-time schedule maker.
"We've got to get it right,” Scott said during an interview Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Center “One of the challenges with this building is that it has so much activity between the Flyers, the Sixers (Philadelphia 76ers), 59 or so concerts and Disney on Ice.”
For years, Disney on Ice has forced Philadelphia out of its home arena and on the road after the holidays. The Flyers are 3-15-4 in their last five holiday road trips, including 1-4-1 this season. Disney on Ice has a long-running contract with Wells Fargo Centre, although it isn't known exactly when that contract ends.
“It's got to be Flyers first, whether its the family shows, the concerts and Sixers,” Scott said of the Wells Fargo Center scheduling. “I'm not sure exactly what we're going to do, but I'm committed to do whatever we need to do to make it easier on hockey operations.”
According to the Inquirer's report, Fletcher has been collecting data all season that he intends to present to the league during the meeting. Scott said he doesn't expect the NHL to make any quick decisions but feels it's important for the team to make its case. One possible solution is for the Flyers to play more home games on Mondays in order to reduce the amount of back-to-back contests.
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