• March 28, 2024

Flyers 3-2 Win Against Sabres Caps Awful “Statement Week”

talbot_hartnellThe term “statement week” was thrown around after the Philadelphia Flyers won their second game in a row against the Ottawa Senators.

Facing top Eastern Conference opponents in the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins, the Flyers could build off their recent success and gain some much needed points in a push for a playoff spot.

On Tuesday, they held a 2-2 tie with the Rangers until the third period, when defensive miscues led to two Rick Nash goals and a 4-2 win for the Rangers.

On Thursday, the team blew a 4-1 lead after the first period to allow four unanswered goals.

On Saturday, the team held the Bruins to zero shots on goal in the first 10-1/2 minutes, before allowing the Bruins to score three goals on the next five shots in a span of 2:18. The Flyers promptly threw in the towel, as Boston collected two more points that the Flyers needed desperately.

It doesn’t matter where the Flyers finish this season, whether they make the playoffs, just miss, or circle the drain until they finally sink to the bottom. This team simply isn’t built to win the Stanley Cup.

That’s why the 3-2 win that the Flyers fought for on Sunday night doesn’t mean all that much. It’s nice to know they’ve stopped the bleeding and prevented an extension of their losing streak, but the Buffalo Sabres aren’t exactly in the same mold as the previous three opponents.

It’s not that the team doesn’t have some of the parts they need to be successful, either.

The team began the season with sputtering special teams units; they now rank 5th and 12th in the NHL on the powerplay and the penalty kill, respectively. The absence of Scott Hartnell after the first three games can be attributed for some of the powerplay’s early issues.

Their goaltending looked sharp out of the gate, though Ilya Bryzgalov has looked dull in recent outings and has been given no reprieve in net thanks to an apparent lack of faith in either of his available back-ups.

The offense ranks 9th in the Eastern Conference in goals-per-game, with Jake Voracek leading the Flyers with 12 goals.

It’s the defense, once again, where the failure lies. The Flyers rank 24th in the NHL in goals allowed per game, and it’s arguably because the team assembled doesn’t fit the coach’s system.

There’s no easy solution here. I don’t think hiring Lindy Ruff to replace Peter Laviolette is the answer, as some have suggested, though the coach is without a doubt on the hot seat.

There are also no defensemen in the system that are on the cusp of breaking into the NHL, nor are there any free agent defensemen available in the offseason that would add much-needed speed and offense for Laviolette’s system.

One of these two issues will soon reach a boiling point. It’s no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.”

One bright note from the evening- Anthony San Filippo reported that Claude Giroux and Hartnell have changed their locker room victory song from “Bring out the Bottles” back to “Knock Knock.”

So there’s that.

Josh Janet

Josh Janet was raised in Northern New Jersey, but by an odd set of circumstances, is a Philadelphia sports fan. While recently converted to the Phillies, Josh is a diehard Flyers fan and can be expected to stay on top of the latest NHL news.

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eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
March 11, 2013 9:12 am

Paul Holmgren ruined the team
Because Walker and Meszaros (Pronger) have failed to live up to their Flyer contracts he traded/created more scoring problems acquiring Luke Schenn for their short comings. He spent the whole off season searching for a superstar (Suter, Weber, Parise) to replace Richards/ Jagr’s role. The Flyers problems start with the vet’s Holmgren gave the money to. (Pronger, Briere, Walker, Meszaros, Hartnell, Bryz)—> the goalie is the only one earning his cash this year.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
March 11, 2013 9:19 am

Harry Z was creating more positive results than Sean Couturier in the offensive end. His game never developed. He doesn’t win face offs, score goals, control the puck, fight, he is a bore— As soon as the puck touches his stick he immediately passes it or dumps it.