Boucher injured as Flyers fall
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Boucher injured as Flyers fall
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Can it get any lower?
I don't see how.
The Flyers lost another goalie, lost another game, and were lost for answers after Monday's 4-1 loss to visiting Florida.
Brian Boucher cut the ring finger on his right hand while making a diving save early in the second period. He was replaced by Michael Leighton, who allowed the final two goals.
Boucher is expected to miss one game, and the Flyers plan to recall Johan Backlund for Wednesday's game in Tampa.
For Florida, it was sweet revenge for a 5-1 loss to the Flyers on Oct. 24, a game in which Mike Richards gave David Booth a concussion with an open-ice hit. Booth hasn't played since that night.
Florida dominated the special teams. The Panthers were 3 for 8 on the power play, and they killed all seven of their penalties.
"We came in here and I think we righted some wrongs," Florida coach Peter DeBoer said. "That’s why Bryan McCabe is our captain. He took care of business in the first period, set the tone for us, and we just competed hard tonight for sixty minutes. We got a lot of contributions from a lot of different people.”
McCabe fought Richards to a draw in the first period.
The Flyers have scored nine goals in their last 10 losses; they are 2-7-1 under new coach Peter Laviolette.
“There are players in there that have proven that they can play, win, and be successful," Laviolette said. "Right now that’s not happening for us. I think everybody has to take a look at it, dig a little bit deeper and work a little bit harder. We seem timid to make plays; we need to make plays, and there are skilled players in that room. Execute the plays, do it with a purpose and do it with a passion.”
The players say Laviolette's system isn't the problem; they say it's their execution.
Whatever the reason, the Flyers (15-18-2) are seven points out of the eighth playoff seeding. That seems impossible when you consider that the Flyers began the season 12-5-1 under John Stevens.
Zeke....do you really think not having Scotty Upshall is the problem here? Sure it was a bad trade, but Upshall isn't an offensive juggernaut by any means. And KJUGGS...Carter deserves the C? Are you serious? He deserves nothing but to get traded. The whole team is just awful right now.— FlyersKevin- Who is Carcilla Zeke? Shows how much you really watch the Flyers.— spj108
Comment removed.- Why is Backlund a backup again...let the kid start a game and let see what happens...— Ct Flyer Fan
- In the last month I have watched some of the worst games I ever saw the Flyers play,and I've been watching since the inaugaural year. I think getting rid of Stevens was a mistake, he was a good coach. I fear that this conglomeration of players peaked in it's playoff series against Montreal two years ago, and that the beginning of the end was to be up three goals against Pittsburg in a must win playoff game, and to have Carcillo get into a needless fight, and then total collapse. The players who are supposed to be the young stars, like Richards and Carter, are solid NHL players, but may not be stars that you can count on to score lots of goals every year. The playoffs are still within their reach, if they turn it around quickly, but based upon objective observation, I'm not counting on it. It may be time to make trades, the defense is fine, but they need more snipers. Not sure about Emery, he looked good before he was injured, given how lousy the team is playing, no reason not to let him play out the season and see how he does.— diverjm
- I am sure I am not the only one shaking my head asking what the heck went wrong. But this team should still have the talent to win so it has to be the will and desire. I am guessing problems in the dressing room. I know Pronger is a big personality and likes to be boss and perhaps that has changed the dynamic of the team. Maybe we need to strip the "C" from Ritchie and give it to someone else. Someone other than Pronger though cause he is a bit of a jerk.— Hockey Dad
- HA haHAHA PENQUINS STANLEY CUP CHAMPS and Flyers are the joke of the NHL. This is a great year to hate the Flyers!— dead-eye
- They should call up Legein from the Phantoms, give him Hartnell's spot on the 2nd line and drop Hartnell to the 4th line, playing Cote minutes. That should send a message and also bring something fresh into the top 2 lines. They cannot keep going with the same players in the same roles and expect something different.— mikemcnhl
I keep hearing the press and the Flyers commentators say it cant get any lower and yet each game the team finds a new and uninspired way to go lower. No parachute for these guys...whats the opposite of the saying "the sky's the limit"? That seems to be what the boys are going for.- While Pronger hasn't looked amazing this year, the guy is still logging tons of ice time and is a PLUS/Minus leader in the PLUS. Hockey players are simple. Pronger and LaPierre (and Kimmo and Danny) are brought here and told "Richards is the Captain" and that's how it goes.— MichaelZoe
- Send any of these mongrels who don't have no movement clauses to the AHL and let them stew in their juices for awhile. Problem is, the Wizard of Homey doled out NMCs to too many players. These gutless turds have no reason to put forth extra effort. Well done Homey. You are the king of assembling a World Class team of mongrels. The Tonner hopes the NHL does away with guaranteed contracts before it ruins the league the same as it's ruined the NBA. The Tonner thinks maybe it's already happened to the NHL.
- Upshall scored 2 last night. We had (5) 25 goal scorers last year. I miss Lupul too. Pronger's a name just like Hatcher was, he's overrated. Flyers always want to have these big slow tough guys and the team. (ghost of Bobby Clarke). I can't believe they've reverted back to dump and chase hockey---yawn. They should get handzus back while they're at it. I hear Carter's being shopped around.— kolocop
- For $2.75 million (maybe less), they could have cut some losers and gotten John Madden this off season. He's 12th in Face-off wins, kills penalities, has 11 goals 10 assists, and WOW, would that Cup Winning forward have been great next to Richards. He is a classic example of what Paul Holmgrem doesn't value in a player.— MichaelZoe
- kolocop: Pronger is a league MVP, Cup winner and Norris trophy winner and previous team Captain. Hatcher won the Cup, but was never the MVP of the league type player playing 28 mins a game.— MichaelZoe
- Get rid of the front office, that would be a good start. Upshall has 12 goals, kind makes one get mad just thinking about that, terrible cap management by Homer, pathetic team to watch. It is not Carcillo's fault, he did not make the trade, Ed Snider = Al Davis, both the Sixers and Flyers stink!!— zammer25
