Posted: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 6:26 PM | 19 comments |
 

For Flyers, a disturbing trend
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    Sean Avery scored two goals today to trigger the New York Rangers' 4-1 win over the Flyers at electric Madison Square Garden.

   It was his first two-goal game in nearly a year, and both scores were on the power play.

   The Rangers were 3 for 9 on the power play, while the Flyers were 1 for 6.

    The Flyers, who are now just four points ahead of the Rangers, have only 14 regular-season games left. Fourteen games to figure out why their special teams are no longer special.

    If they don't figure it out, they will make an early playoff exit.

    Goaltending and special teams, of course, are even more magnified in the playoffs. Marty Biron, who had today off, seems to be rounding into form.

    The same can't be said for the power play, which was once No. 1 in the NHL but has fallen to No. 7 during a dismal six-week period. The Flyers are just 5 for 44 on the PP in their last nine games. That won't cut it in the playoffs. 

   And they allowed three PP goals today against a team that ranks No. 28 in the league.

   Another disturbuing trend: Opponents have scored first against the Flyers in six of the last seven games.

   The Flyers will try to rebound Tuesday when they play the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings in Detroit.

    Yes, it will be a good measuring stick to see if the Flyers are Cup contenders. Biron will be back in the net.

    
Posted by Sam Carchidi @ 6:26 PM  Permalink | 19 comments
19
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:17 PM, 03/15/2009
    Flyers take too many bad penalties, and give up way too many shots on goal per game.
    — BobbyD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:23 PM, 03/15/2009
    Why don't you mention that they scored SECOND in 6 out of their last 7 games? If allowing the first goal 6 out of 7 times is disturbing, then it would be a very encouraging 'trend' that they scored second 6 out of 7 times. Or, maybe it's just a long season and it's useless to create 'trends' that aren't there.
    — JimEisenreich
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:24 PM, 03/15/2009
    flyers will be a first round exit. sad but true with the inconsistency and the way they look out of shape! It is ridiculous!
    — gulls3012
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:47 PM, 03/15/2009
    Of course the Flyers will lose in the first round. They do it every year after making the Eastern Conference finals.
    — AreaMan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:05 PM, 03/15/2009
    They can't keep killing 6 or more penalties a game and expect a good kill. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear anyone elaborate on the old classic "take fewer penalties". They're already terrified of playing defense, and check only tentatively. They keep their sticks glued to the ice more often that night, and don't fight for pucks for fear of getting a penalty. The ticky tack penalties are about more than bad calls, they completely change the team's approach to the game, when they can't use good hockey sense and effective defense without fear of a mystery call.
    — Pelti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:07 PM, 03/15/2009
    Donuts taste good.
    — Anthony77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:25 PM, 03/15/2009
    Relax, people, there is no reason this team can't make a lot of noise in the playoffs and make a run at the Cup. You all worry too much!
    — kev
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:25 PM, 03/15/2009
    They came in to this game with going through the motions! This one is on the Coach fualt! When you have a good chance to put away a team in your division you do it! Like the Old Rangers, Devils would do to them year in and out! Stevens is not the type to get in their face.
    — losteagle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:44 PM, 03/15/2009
    we will lose to detroit with biron in net...is anyone going to point out that nitty lost the starting job because of the flu, was victimized by horrible defense against calgary, and once again, stupid penalties doom the flyers and put the spotlight back to biron. Opponents need the powerplay to score against nitty, majority of his goals against come on opponents power-plays. Season ticket holder since '68 and Biron is near the top of my list for worst goalies in franchise history.
    — tkohl
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:05 PM, 03/15/2009
    The Carter line has been bad for 3 weeks. Time to switch some things up. Briere needs to start to contribute as well. Just not enough offense lately. Asham won't score two a night often.
    — beefbr
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 PM, 03/15/2009
    Hey tkohl, I am not a big Biron fan, but one of the worst in franchise history? Come on, you know better than that. Biron's been fantastic as of late, and your goalie needs to be your best penalty killer, so that's a weak argument for defending Nitty. Especially on a team that takes a ton of penalties
    — mikeyhigs
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:42 PM, 03/15/2009
    losteagle nailed it. They were happy with just yesterday's win at home. They let NYR dictate the pace the entire game. No urgency whatsoever. Its a disgrace to play like that on national TV. Also, is anyone else completely disgusted with NBC's telecast? Pierre McGuire is terrible! Bring back ESPN with Gary Thorne and Bill Clement. They were a great team. Made every game intensify.
    — UncleEddie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:54 AM, 03/16/2009
    Whatever the reason the team plays better w/ Biron in net.He got hot last year,did fine,even pretty good.I think team chemistry is off b/c Biere's coming in & out of the line-up.Team needs to pass better & not dump-n-chase so much.
    — 82tank
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:08 AM, 03/16/2009
    Oh yeah, Gary Thorne, the Mets and Devils announcer is just what we need to bash Philly and the Flyers. Great call UncleEddie.
    — BobbyD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:09 AM, 03/16/2009
    Can the Refs watch the tape of the last game and learn that the Rangers are about dives and cheap shots. this is why the NHL is not a national sport, looks like the fix is always on.
    — lionpres


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About Sam Carchidi
Sam Carchidi is in his fourth year as the Flyers' beat reporter. He became an Inquirer staff writer in 1984 and covered mostly South Jersey high school sports and the Phillies before taking the Flyers beat.

Carchidi has written three books _ the nationally acclaimed Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story, which he co-authored with Scott Brown; Bill Campbell: The Voice of Philadelphia Sports; and Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story, which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. He also contributed to a 1993 Inquirer book on the Phillies.

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Carchidi lives in Wenonah with his wife, JoAnn, and their two children, Sara and Sammy.

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