The Philadelphia Flyers have turned a 3-8-0 start into a record of 37-25-7 and, as the second place team in the Metropolitan Division heading into Saturday's game against the St. Louis Blues, likely heading to the playoffs.

At least one NHL head coach believes they could be a force to be reckoned with. "If I was in the East, I'd be really nervous to play them," Hitchcock, who coached the Flyers from 2002-07, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "They look like a team right now that not only has a lot of resolve, but they are fully committed to checking - and that's the coach who has gotten that out of them."

Craig Berube took the reins behind Philadelphia's bench after the team's 0-3-0 start, and Hitchcock sees how the Flyers have re-instituted an aggressive identity under his watch.

"There's lots of talented teams in the National Hockey League, but that team is fully invested in checking," Hitchcock said. "You see it in their penalty killing. You see it in their forecheck, their five-on-five play. They are going to be a bear in the playoffs."

St. Louis sits atop the league standings with 101 points, and will face off against the Flyers on Saturday in Hitchcock's first visit to Philadelphia since taking over as the Blues' bench boss. As such, the Flyers will be afforded a real opportunity to see how they stack up with a true Stanley Cup contender.