5 things you need to know about the Flyers today
Five things you need to know about the Flyers (3-4-1) today:
1. Yes, there have been lots of defensive lapses, but goaltending has been the biggest disappointment of the Flyers' young season. Steve Mason (3.15 goals-against average, .886 save percentage) and Michal Neuvirth (4.47, .845) need to be a lot better.
2. The Andrew MacDonald and Shayne Gostisbehere pairing - the defensemen were a combined minus-5 in Thursday's ugly 5-4 loss to Arizona - isn't working like last season. It might be a good time to replace the mistake-prone MacDonald with steady, stay-at-home defender Nick Schultz.
3. Flyers forwards aren't playing good enough defense, contributing to too many odd-man rushes.
4. The Flyers have played in spurts. They haven't looked ready in a lot of first periods (outscored by 8-1), and have had just two good 60-minute efforts - at Los Angeles and at Montreal - in their eight games.
5. Good news (seriously): The defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins are coming to town Saturday. The Flyers, you see, seem to play up or down to their competition.