Flyers start 0-2 for first time since '08
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Five percent of the Flyers' season is gone, and they've yet to register a point in the standings. That's the unfortunate reality of the NHL's shortened, 48-game season.
Flyers start 0-2 for first time since '08
Frank Seravalli
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Five percent of the Flyers' season is gone, and they've yet to register a point in the standings. That's the unfortunate reality of the NHL's shortened, 48-game season.
Almost all of the Flyers' troubles on their opening weekend could be attributed to shoddy special teams play. Buffalo scored separate power play and shorthanded goals over the final 6 minutes to break a 2-2 tie, dropping the Flyers, 5-2, in their home-opener at the First Niagara Center.
The Flyers were back on the ice early Sunday for their second nationally-televised game of the weekend, less than 20 hours after going 0-for-5 on the power play while allowing 2-of-3 power play goals against Pittsburgh on Saturday.
The Flyers are now 20-14-11 all-time in their first road contest of a season.
This is the Flyers' first 0-2-0 start to the season since 2008. In fact, it took them nearly 85 minutes of play to gain their first lead of the season, which Claude Giroux did with a top-shelf, power play snipe in the second period.
That lead lasted just 10:57, before Thomas Vanek matched for Buffalo with his own man-advantage tally.
Defenseman Tyler Myers broke a 2-2 tie with 5:03 left in the third period. Newly-acquired defenseman Luke Schenn was in the box for two of Buffalo's three power play goals. Cody Hodgson added an insurance goal for the Sabres and Vanek iced it with an empty-netter.
The Flyers closed their first weeked just 4-for-9 on the penalty kill and 1-for-9 on the power play.
SLAP SHOTS: Forward Zac Rinaldo left the game midway through the first period with a “lower-body” injury and did not return. NBC’s Pierre McGuire reported on-air that Rinaldo was cut my a skate. The Flyers are expected to provide more information post-game ... Former Flyer Ville Leino missed the game with a right hip injury ... Moorestown, N.J., native T.J. Brennan was a healthy scratch for Buffalo. The Sabres do not want to risk sending Brennan, 23, back to AHL Rochester through waivers for risk he’ll be claimed ... The Sabres were also missing perennial thorn Nathan Gerbe, who is still recovering from back surgery.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Dont think you can put this on Bryz at all, granted there was goals that should have been routine saves but the Flyers just look sloppy, especially early game. If they play like they do in 2nd and early 3rd, they should be alright. We will be alright, just watch!— kmilke22- The Refs are terrible but they are not biased. They made a couple horrible calls that benefited the Flyers. But they couldn't take advantage of it. ALSO remember the refs are also coming off a long layoff. Bottom line is that they are 0-2 and need a win vs the Devils badly. Giroux seems like the only guy who has shown up so far.— litzy630
- Better get back to traing camp... You're not that good...— Soul child2013
- This game was gifted to Buffalo. 2 legit goals disallowed, one bad goal by Buffalo allowed, a WHOLE BUNCH of BS penalties (Hartnell's hit, the goalie "interference" call). It was like playing Crysby and the NHL Penguins again.— mbrown3
- they are finished, it is over for 2013.......we look forward to 2013-2014 season........go flyboy's— tjwin23
- Just listened to FLYERED UP on NBC 10. They all seem so positive. if the Flyers win vs the Devils they'll be planning the parade route. It's laughable how biased they all are.— litzy630
- I was afraid of that. The Flyers suck this year. The Zebras did rob us of two goals though. Small conciliation though.— truthfirst
- If you bothered to watch the game, you know one PHL goal goal was waived off due to a bogus interference call and a BUF goal was kicked in. Still, they looked very listless...need a "spark plug" type to get them motivated. Bryz did what he could do...looks like they could dig themselves in a deep hole pretty quickly this season.— mickeyb4boyle
- How well did you watch it " The Buffalo goal went of his skate. He didn't kick it in. It was obvious from the ceiling camera, it was a momentum deflection of the skate. The player didn't even know it was there. — dmn
- The drool running down Ed Snider's mouth just got a little longer.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Sid the kid has offered skating lessons to those less fortunate, the "flyered ups" should consider enrolling in one of his classes— Soul child2013
- Do you fans know how much money the Flyers have to send to teams that cant exist on their own, out of your money spent???
Lets start with 6 mill a year plus if I read the CBA correctly 35% of playoff revenue??
This is a bailout, its communism and makes Obamacare look like a right wing tea party idea.
Why do Flyer/Ranger/Toronto/Detroit fans have to subsidize failing franchises?
This is a ripoff and as long as you blindly go to games & buy souveniers, the Flyers will never win the Cup , its reserved for failing teams and franchises below the mason dixon line, or teams that suck up to Bettman.— Steelmanpa - Time to panic 0 and 2 computes to 0 and 4 in a full season. The Devils are gonna destroy them Tuesday night. Bye bye Lavy.— schnitzelboy
No one who actually watched this game can say the Flyers weren't robbed of 2 goals by the refs. And as usual, buffalo got away with plenty of hooks and trips that had been whistled on the Flyers.— Pelti- This is not just a goalie issue. It is how they play as a team. Year after year, no matter who is on the team, they don't come out with passion, awareness of one another on the ice, and controlling the puck against the other team. The game has changed since they won the Cup in the 70's, and to win now, they need to adapt to whatever the other team is doing. Their intensity has to be for the entire sixty minute game. With the play we have all seen year after year, you cannot continue to place yourself in bad spots and try to rebound because time will eventually run out.— gaphillyfan
