For Flyers, third-period blues - again
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
For Flyers, third-period blues — again
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON _ The big news Friday was that the Flyers lost another key player (see story), Wayne Simmonds, to an injury.
But lost in the shuffle of their 3-2 defeat to Washington was the fact that they were outplayed in the third period.
That shouldn’t happen when you are facing a team playing its second game in as many nights.
The Flyers were well-rested, having had Thursday off.
No matter. The Caps (2-5-1), one of the league’s worst teams this year, snapped a 1-1 tie with two goals early in the third period, then held off a late Flyers push.
The Flyers are 2-6, their worst eight-game start since they were 1-6-1 in 2006-07.
We just weren’t good enough, especially in the third period,” said Brayden Schenn, who scored his first goal of the season midway through the last period, trimming the deficit to 3-2. “It’s 1-1 and you have to learn how to win those hockey games.”
In their first eight games, the Flyers have been outscored in the third period, 22-15.
*****
Look for the Caps’ John Erskine to get at least a two-game suspension for his hit on Simmonds. He elbowed him to the nose and drew blood. Inexplicably, he didn’t receive a penalty.
Simmonds didn’t return after leaving late in the first period. He is questionable for Saturday.
Even though there wasn't a penalty whistled, Erskine will face a 2 p.m. hearing Saturday and figures to get suspended. Brayden Schenn was not penalized for a hit in New Jersey recently but was still given a one-game suspension by the NHL.
****
Without Simmonds, Schenn briefly moved to the top line with Claude Giroux and Danny Briere. A short time later, Tye McGinn replaced Schenn on that unit and helped set up the game's first goal.
Breakaways. The Caps blocked 23 shots _ 12 more than the Flyers……Kurtis Foster had an assist and seven shots (four on net)……The Flyers’ PP is 2 for 30 in their six losses and 3 for 10 in their two wins.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BoadStBull.
Comments (35)
This team is God awful. We waited until January to see this? And as always the Flyers main problem it seems every year the injury bug!!! Holmgren LOUSY job putting together this mess!— slade1955- In between periods of last nights game, I tuned in the Blues vs Red Wings game. The Flyers look like a high school team compared to the Red Wings, who are faster, fiercer, pass better, skate better, shoot better, hit harder, etc. etc. I'm not buying injuries either. All teams have injuries, but the good ones have depth because of better talent evaluation. This is on Holmgren, all the way. And next time, Ed, can we please get a GM outside the organEYEzation? Homer's been GM since 2006 and they have gone to the Cup finals ONCE. What great job has he done exactly?— delder
- I caught a Red Wings game last week and thought the exact same thing. They look like a well coached team that knows what they're doing and where they're suppose to be on the ice. We look like a team coached by a blind dude. I'm not one to beat the fire the coach drum, but i'm starting to think Lavys days might be numbered. — Stephen45
- I agree but this mess on the ice is not the fault of the Flyers coach. Knowing the track record of the Flyers when it comes to losing and firing coaches as a scape goat, Lavy is a goner. — vanowen
- They need to ice the puck more often. forecheck and muck it up.— General
- Softest team in the league! Homer gave away all the offense. Pasture time for Homer and Clarkie!— quigly46
- Sam, here are the things I have told you already:
- Team would get crushed in the second round due to coach's system (while no one else saw that coming).
- This would be the Flyers 2013 version of the 2006 Apocalypse (while no one else saw that coming).
- Brayden Schenn is a stiff - the tide is starting to turn on this one now.
- Bryz is not a terrible goalie, a goalie is as good as the system in front of him (see March of last year where he was NHL player of the month).
- Bring up Murray, go with 2 traditional scoring lines, put #14 with #25 and #26 and they become a legit team again.
- Here's a new one: #15 is legit and makes Voracek and Schenn even more expendible.
The solution: Voracek, Schenn and picks used to get Ryan and another d-man. Bring up Murray...they go from worst in the NHL to a contender...possibly built for a Cup run.
Mark my words. They make those moves and it's 1995 all over again.— Dangler9 - Dangler9..If you and I realize that B Schenn is a stiff I am gonna guess that the rest of the NHL has figured that out also and you will be lucky to get a draft choice for him. They unloaded Richards..Carter...JVR and got literally nothing in return...I know many are in love with COUTS but to me he looks like a 4rd line checking player to play defense against top forwards...the problem is not this year its the next 5. There is very little in the minors and we have guys taking regular shifts who should be in minors..this is setting up to potentially be the worst couple of years of Flyers hockey..not being Negative just staing the FACTS...A long short season!!— flyers1000
- "not being Negative just staing the FACTS." What a POS.
Like the "facts" he stated about Bryz should retire and stay in Russia...he posted that at lesat 10 times...He said over and over again that the Rangers were going to sweep us...
Then he tried to weasel out of his moronic predictions by saying he didn't "guarantee" them. Gutless POS. - Couts is a legit shut down center...which is a vital part to a deep Cup run (under a normal coach). He also can chip in about 15 goals a year. That's all you need from that role.
Think about how the Kings were structured last year:
2 scoring lines. Remember, that team could not score until Carter got there...which means Williams, Kopitar and Brown were unproductive...once they had a second line threat it spread the other team's match-up options.
A legit shut down line with Stoll...his role was not to score, but to prevent the other team from scoring.
A system that made it like rugby to enter the zone, and kept everything to the outside.
Quick was "terrible" the season before...what changed? System.
Again, this can be turned around fast, the key parts are there.
Giroux, Hartnell and Ryan = #1 line
Briere, Simmonds and ? = #2
Couts, Talbot and Feds = shut down
Play defense first, allowing Giroux and Briere to exploit neutral zone turnovers and this team goes from worst to first.
Lavy has never adjusted to the parts the GM has given him, he has tried to make the parts fit HIS system...and in turn made the franchise goalie look terrible.
Bryz has proven this season you can win with him, if you play the right way in front of him (like the Kings with Quick).— Dangler9 - Oh, get off your high horse there, enlightened one.
Couts is a shut down center? Why, b/c he had a good year last year mostly on the 4th line with limited minutes and had ONE good playoff series against the Pens? By that logic, Leighton is the best goalie ever b/c he had 3 shutouts in a row against the Habs in ONE playoff series. Who has Couts shut down this year, pray tell? Name me a team, line, or even player through 8 games he has shut down.
And please remind me why we want it to be 1995 again? I don't recall us winning a Cup that year.
The kid has been on the ice for 17 out of 22 goals this year-- that is 77% of the goals scored AGAINST the Flyers!!!! Can you tell me any other "shut down center" who has been on the ice for so many goals this year (hint-- you can't). But hey, he is improving, right? Only on the ice for one goal last night, even though it was 100% his fault. Funny, one goal was the difference in the game. Here here to our shut down center!
- Because Couts did it all last year, shut down the MVP and is being asked to play 2nd line center this year with garbage wings.
He is also penalized because he is #1 PK and the PK is terrible.
Let him play a legit shut down role (under Murray) with legit wings that also play shut down (like what they did with Stoll) and watch.
Yes, one goal was the difference - the one where both Schenn's were caught standing around.— Dangler9 - So, you are only saying he can be a shut down center if he has good wings? Isn't a shut down center a shut down center, period? What great wings did he play with last year????? He was on the 4th line for crying out loud. And what "legit wings" do you propose putting him with? Looks like you are saying Talbot and Fedotenko. Well, he has played with Talbot a lot this year, and they have been the worst PK pair in the entire NHL.
If Couts is such a great shut down center, he should be helping the PK, not killing it. The goalie is the same. The system is the same. The difference is that Couts is getting more time against better players, and failing. Same can be said for Talbot, but I think Couts has been worse while also expected to do more.
I am not saying the Schenns have been good by any means, but Couturier handed the puck over for a breakaway (just like Luke Schenn). Interesting how you find fault in one, but not in the other. I find fault in both. - Yes, I am saying if Couturier and his line sole purpose is to shut down (like against the Pens) he is already a very effective shut down center. His line was not expected to score last year.
Conversely, this coach is asking him to play line 2 center AND shut down. You see he is pressing to try to extend his game making more mistakes with the puck 5-on-5 this season than all of last.
The turnover was terrible last night. Why? He was doing something we have never seen from him - trying to beat 2 guys.
Between Schenn and Couturier you keep Couturier because at a minimum he can be used to shut down and play PK. Schenn does nothing. He doesn't score, doesn't shut down, does set up his wingers, doesn't create space, doesn't win fights.
Having Couturier, McGinn and Giroux dispells the myth that if they trade Voracek and Schenn the Flyers "have no youth". Read does not count.— Dangler9 - Not to interrupt y'alls conversing, but what Couts is doing on the PK this year is Petey's fault, which can (and should) be easily corrected. His positioning (or lack thereof) is based on his over aggressiveness (or eagerness to please) and lack of discipline to the traditional PK box. Maybe they aren't playing the traditional box, but that needs to be communicated to the other three since they sure look like it. I mean, Petey didn't even play Couts the first week in the PK (at least that's the report). His soph slump gets a pass due to Petey's inability to coach him.
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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