Flyers' defense under the microscope

ORLEANS, Mass. - The Flyers were 20th in goals allowed last season, and this summer they lost their top defenseman, Kimmo Timonen, because of blood clots in his legs and lungs.

And so, yes, defense would seem to be the team's weakest link as it prepares for the start of its season Wednesday in Boston.

Coach Craig Berube hears all the talk about the defense being a perceived weakness, and he gets, well, defensive.

"I've said it before, you want to improve your goals-against, it's a team thing," Berube said. "So everybody on the ice has to play better defense, not just the defense. Our forwards have to do a better job than they did last year, and our D has to do a better job - everybody."

In camp, Berube has put special emphasis on getting the forwards to do a better job back-checking and on breakouts.

"When you talk about our defense, our forwards have to help out more," Berube said. "That's what makes a good defense. We did it at times last year, but not consistently enough."

The Flyers also have to show more discipline, Berube said.

"We were the most penalized team in the league last year, and that plays into it," he said of the team's 2.77 goals-against average in 2013-14, despite a quality season from goalie Steve Mason. "All that stuff plays in on that. We gave up too many shorthanded goals. I could go down the line on things that need to improve."

Because Timonen will miss at least three months and there is only a slight chance he ever plays again, the Flyers signed Michael Del Zotto and changed two of their three pairings.

Andrew MacDonald (242 blocked shots, tops in the NHL), who worked well with Luke Schenn after he was acquired from the Islanders late last season, is now paired with veteran Braydon Coburn. They will form the Flyers' shutdown pairing.

"The more you play together, the more you kind of figure out each others' tendencies," Coburn said of being paired with MacDonald, after being matched with Timonen for most of last season. "The good thing is, Mac isn't a totally new guy coming in here. I got to see him a lot last year, playing with other guys. And I got a small chance to play with him last year as well. There are things that I know he likes - and certain places he wants the puck, and certain places he likes to be. So I can read off that, and he can do vice-Versa."

Schenn is together with Del Zotto, who has a reputation as a strong offensive player with flaws in his defensive game. Ageless Mark Streit, who will quarterback the power play, remains paired with shot-blocking Nick Grossmann - the prototypical stay-at-home defender.

"I think we have three nice puck-movers and three big defensemen who can defend," Berube said.

After a disappointing 2013-14 season, the puck-moving Del Zotto said he feels comfortable playing alongside Schenn, who finished third among NHL defenseman with 260 hits last year.

"I think we complement each other very well," Del Zotto said. "We're just trying to simplify our game and concentrate on consistency."

Schenn said the Flyers can compensate for the loss of the 39-year-old Timonen "by committee."

Berube, whose franchise has a handful of promising defensive prospects who will be knocking on the NHL door in a year or so, agreed.

"You don't replace Timonen. He's a very good defenseman - intelligent," Berube said. "But as a group, they can replace him - or try to, to a certain extent. They all have to step up. I think our D corps is very capable of getting the job done."

And if they do, they will prove the critics wrong.