Changes Aplenty After Flyers Drop Stinker in Vancouver

It was a disappointing night in Philadelphia on Tuesday as both the Eagles and the Flyers failed to show up to their respective games. For the Flyers, it was the first game of their Western Conference swing, facing an opponent that they have failed to lose to on the road since 1989.

Owned on both ends of the ice, the Flyers were simply annihilated. The final 6-2 score might suggest that the goaltending fell apart, but both Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky were hardly to blame for the lack of effort displayed in front of them. Needless to say, the Flyers will have to sharpen their play in just about every other area tomorrow night if they hope to have any success against the Los Angeles Kings.

There have been several developments since the loss regarding the line-up.

Veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who was on the ice for only three shifts of the third period, was initially rumored to have the ever-vague “lower body injury.” With Chris Pronger currently on injured reserve following foot surgery, losing another cornerstone of the defense would have been a tremendous blow to the orange and black. Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly updated his status in the last few hours to say that he has a sore left hip that doesn’t appear to be too serious.

Timonen is currently a game-time decision for tomorrow. As a result, the Flyers have recalled Phantoms defenseman Erik Gustafsson. Gustafsson, 22, has four goals and 22 assists for the Phantoms and looked decent during the preseason. Despite the weariness that comes with throwing a rookie defenseman into the line-up against some of the top teams in the West, recalling Gustafsson will be good for his development if he gets some ice time. He is also waiver exempt, which means the Flyers aren’t at risk of losing him to claims from another team.

If Gustafsson does play, I’m not sure how coach Peter Laviolette will choose to juggle the defensive pairings.

In and out of the line-up just as quickly is enforcer Jody Shelley, who was suspended for two games earlier today for his late punch to Vancouver Canucks defenseman (and former Flyer) Andrew Alberts. At the expense of sounding like a homer, the suspension is a bit suspect based on the fact that Boston Bruins second-liner Milan Lucic did not receive a suspension this past week for almost the same exact incident against Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Freddy Meyer (another former Flyer, oddly enough).

Regardless of whether you agree with the suspension or not, it was a stupid move on his part to begin with and gives Laviolette another opportunity to sit him without being questioned. Dan Carcillo will take his place on the fourth line, and will really need to step his game up if he intends to keep getting ice time.