Flyers keep getting points, but need to get act together
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Flyers keep getting points, but need to get act together
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers extended their points streak to eight consecutive games on Thursday night.
But no one was celebrating.
Not after being dominated by the Penguins, who emerged with a 2-1 shootout win at the Wells Fargo Center.
Not after looking like the second-best conditioned team on the ice for most of the night.
Not after managing just 20 shots, equaling a season low.
It’s been a strange week in Flyerdom.
In back-to-back games, the Flyers lost shootouts to their closest Eastern Conference pursuers, Washington and Pittsburgh.
They felt good about the former _ they controlled the game against the Capitals _ and awful about the latter.
“Today we thought we could skate through and it would be an easy game, but there is no easy game in this league,” defenseman Kimmo Timonen said. “They outworked us and won all the one-on-one battles. If you don’t work, you’re in trouble.”
And if you don’t work _ even against teams that are missing their star players __ you are not going to go far in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Despite their inconsistent play recently, the Flyers are four points ahead of the Penguins in the Atlantic Division and two points ahead of the Caps in the East. The Flyers, who have nine games remaining, have a game in hand on both teams.
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The Flyers went to the shootout for the fourth consecutive game, marking the first time that has happened since the inception of the event in 2005-06. They are 3-6 in shootouts this season, and have gone 1-3 in this four-game shootout stretch.
Danny Briere was the only Flyer to score in Thursday’s shootout out of four shooters. Briere is 3 for 9 this season. Claude Giroux (2 for 8), Ville Leino (2 for 4) and Mike Richards (1 for 5) failed to connect Thursday.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, now 1-3 in shootouts, has stopped eight of 15 in shootouts this season.
Bobrovsky played superbly after a shaky effort against Washington on Tuesday.
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And, yes, shifty Nik Zherdev would have been one of the shooters in the shootout if he wasn't a healthy scratch. Again. (It's a shame he can't be used as a pinch-hitter.) Dan Carcillo played just 5:30.
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The Flyers' PP was 0 for 3 against the Pens, who were 1 for 2 _ scoring after a borderline goaltender- interference penalty on Andreas Nodl.
The Flyers are 0 for 14 on the PP in the last five-plus games. And, yes, they miss Chris Pronger at the point.
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For contant Flyers updates, follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BroadStBull.
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Hexy... that carolina team was not physical, no they werent. I think youre confusing pressure with physical. Did they play a high pressure system? yes. Its the exact same system as here and now.
The effort against washington was honestly the first game all year they played with an edge and some type of physical game. The Dallas game was far from the washinton effort... for every Dallas game, i can give you a Rangers or Ottowa game.
This team showed heart against washington... thats exactly why im calling out lavi on this "soft" comment. The players took it on themselves to pick up bob. This system, the tightness and restriction of it has made them soft... they arent a soft team... thats exactly what the problem is.
The deal on Zherdev is this... Hes lazy period. Hes a selfish, ummm "playground" type player for lack of a better word. He doesnt play in any type of system... thats why he sits... nothing deeper than that, has nothing to do with being physical. If thats the case... why isnt Carter sitting? Dont say talent, cause Zherdev is actually as talented, just more stubborn. Carter rarely plays defense and is far from a physical player? In fact, Ill start counting the battles he loses along the walls or better yet, the ones he actually is involved with.
The overall point is this from my opinion... This team needs an edge to be effective. Its just who they are... To say Lavi hasnt taken that away, its just not true. He has, and to some extent, i agree that he had to. We took way too many dumb penalties... There is a medium is what im saying.— inkd0874- I think both you and Hexy make valid points. And I really appreciate your characterization of Zherdev as a "playground" type player (although we call them a "pickup game player: same thing, selfish). Zherdev's idea of a pass is the Kyber. You could sum up his cooperative spirit as "I've got the puck, boy are you SOL".
You and Hexy should continue the debate, it's thought provoking. It makes me think too. - inkd0874
Its Ottawa.— mean mean pride,mean mean pride. - inkd...that Carolina team that won the cup was not physical? They didn't fight, but they were definitely grinding and physical. Zherdev does sit because he isn't physical. Most of the time that is the same as lazy. Not going into the corners to get the puck out, with body position, and lower body strength, is lazy. It is also not being physical. Zherdev sits outside the battles trying to fish the puck out with his stick. He doesn't protect the ice inside his blue line. He is rarely there to chip pucks out. The Flyers can be called many things, but soft is not one of them. Mostly, they can be called inconsistent. The effort against Washington was not soft, and they won every puck battle. The effort in Dallas was gritty as well.— Hexy4GM
- If we end up going into the playoffs with this kind of play, we might end up being desperate once the playoffs start. Right where we should be to really stoke the fire. This team has everything that's needed to go all the way except desperation. When's the last time we were desperate this season? Mid October I think.— Chim Richalds
- I hate seeing guys giving up good opportunities to make a quality hit to get back on D quickly. I also am seeing a lot of pucks dumped to empty areas where it is just turned over to the other team. How many goals are they going to score with 3 forwards below the goal line? Guys are getting lazy with just skating by the front of the net. I'm praying that this will change 9 games from now but I'm a little worried about what I see. All the confidence in the world a few months ago has changed to something that doesn't look the same. Also I think that the team has to remember to play as a team and not just one or two guys trying to carry the team. I hope my bad feelings are wrong. Only time will tell.— ctfiveo
- Hexy, i understand what this system is and how its operated. I also understand what i mean by "structure".
Answer me this... if they arent soft, why are they losing battles along the boards every single game? what do you think is cause all of those turnovers? Answer: losing battles for the puck, playing catch up and making a dumb pass.
As far as being "defensive minded"... What good is being in position if youre gonna try and poke check everyone then chase from behind?
Answer... you dont poke check and look for the quick turn over every play, you take a body and stay on him.
My point wasnt this team needs to fight and lose, or they need to go out and take bad penalties... "soft" meant not battling for the puck, watching people stand in front of our net without even being touched.
It also meant, maybe if you take the hit when its available... it slows the other team down while coming into the zone, just a half step... maybe thats why they are getting beat to every loose puck????
Traffic in front of our net is a problem, quick turn overs are a problem, looking exhausted from playing catch up is a problem. So yes, system, structure whatever you call it, does no good without basic execution and thats a huge problem this time of year.
"zherdev" sits because hes not physical? or because hes lazy? Lazy, i agree with... physical, ive never known Zherdev to be physical or any player of the type for that matter. In fact, i dont want Zherdev playing physical. The coach wants him to play responsible, big difference. He sits because hes careless with the puck, hes selfish, and refuses to play any kind of defense. No one on this team is playing a "physical" game right now... with the exception of Giroux, which is disgusting.
While youre looking up Lavi quotes, go back to the carolina and islander days... same problems, tired, no physical game.— inkd0874 - It seems like this team has blown a record amount leads, usually late in the game. Whether it's a bone head defensive play or one of the goalies let's a soft one in with2 minutes left, or lots of SO losses. Maybe they'll snap out of it but I don't think they can overcome a lack of a playoff ready goalie.— ziggy26
- It seems like this team has blown a record amount leads, usually late in the game. Whether it's a bone head defensive play or one of the goalies let's a soft one in with2 minutes left, or lots of SO losses. Maybe they'll snap out of it but I don't think they can overcome a lack of a playoff ready goalie.— ziggy26
- It seems like this team has blown a record amount leads, usually late in the game. Whether it's a bone head defensive play or one of the goalies let's a soft one in with2 minutes left, or lots of SO losses. Maybe they'll snap out of it but I don't think they can overcome a lack of a playoff ready goalie.— ziggy26
- inkd..."structure" refers to being defensively responsible. It means putting yourself in the best possible position to be successful. The offence is free to create, but they need to get the puck back to do that...the issue this team is having, is they are chasing the puck. Structure creates battles for pucks, that this team has the skill and determination to win. Go back and read everything Laviolette has ever said about Zherdev. He sits because he isn't physical. He is not using his body to win battles for the puck. That is the reason Nodl plays, and Zherdev watches.— Hexy4GM
- Good point " marley66". It's hard to beat up on everyone for 82 games. The Flyers are fine and are poised for a great run. Don't forget Pronger will be back and be the playoff machine that can't be stopped. First in the east would be nice, but only a small victory compared what the real goal is in sight. Playing Buffalo, Rangers, or Carolina makes no difference as does 1st or 2nd in the conference.— flyers fan in edmonton
- inkd===wtf are you typing about? The Flyers may be a lot of things, but soft isn't one of them. They're playing the same system that got them 2 wins from the Cup last year. Excuse them for coasting the last 20 games after they opened up a 5 game lead w 20 to go and 2 in hand on everyone....Wake up people...— marley66
- The Flyers havent been "out working" anyone the entire season. They have been pushed around all year. Its just catching up to them now that teams are desperate and gearing up for the playoffs.
Im gonna call Lavi out on this one cause its becoming disgusting. This team has become soft. I dont think it has anything to do with heart or being lazy... they just arent allowed to hit. They arent allowed to react, they are playing a very specific system that doesnt allow situational thinking. You go where it was drawn up on the board or you sit. (ask Zherdev)
Im all for a system and im all for structure. What im against is... watching the Rangers and senators come here earlier this year and basically push this team around and walk out with points. Its now become a nightly thing. This team is trying to skate with dangerous, offensive teams and doesnt have the legs or goaltending to do it.
In this city, with this group of guys... you take a body, you make someone earn the right to stand infront of bob, you make someone think before he flies into our zone. The personality has been sucked out of everyone in that locker room. Until that changes, this team has major issues.
— inkd0874 - The paragraph that starts with "In this city, with this group of guys..." is a classic and I can actually visualize Bob "Don't Call Me Bobby" Clarke saying it with those missing front teeth, sweat running down his face.
Well played, sir! - Power play is looking sharp! They now pass the puck for a good thirty seconds before turning it over and then the other team dumps it down the ice. They should have Scott Hartnell (if they can locate him) dress up as Snoopy in order to complete the Ice Capades.— AreaMan
- Ah, remember back to the holidays, and all our youthful optimism about a team that seemed to have the cup within reach...and now we come to the realization that THIS TEAM IS JUST NOT VERY GOOD.— n62
