Flyers start 0-2 for first time since '08
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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.
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BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— PHIILY YA DIG?- BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— PHIILY YA DIG?
- Here we go again!
Did the great Ilya Bryzgaloot pass his second test?
GOOD GRIEF!
What a waste of space he is!— BEMiller - Terrible officiating in that game. Does anyone know if officials can be sanctioned by the league for bad calls? The interference call alone was a disgrace.
That said, the Flyers did on defense what the Phillies did in the outfield this offseason; put a bunch of maybes together and hope it works. It doesn't. The offense is missing the depth it had with Jagr and JVR last year and Bryz, while he hasn't been horrendous, is not worth the money he's getting. The writing is on the wall for a bad year, but if it's going to happen, best it be in a 48 game season with two potential superstars at the top of the draft.
— Repubrebirth - Suspect this game, and the two losses, owe a lot more to Bryzgaloot than to officiating.
GOOD GRIEF!
Officiating is NEVER the difference!— BEMiller - GOOD GRIEF!! Read the whole comment before responding to it. I hardly was laying the blame solely on the officials. — Repubrebirth
- season = over— brio
- Not at all ready to concede that!
Perhaps Bryzgaloot can be replaced!— BEMiller - I would not pay a dime to watch this garbage of a team.— donjuango
- wow, negadelphia! Flyers got jobbed on the calls, Brzy made some great saves, and Hartnell has a nice right cross. I saw a lot of positives this weekend, and when Briere comes back, scoring will go back up. Flyers will make the playoffs and stoked that Bryz is playing good. Don't know what games everyone else watched, but I'm not jumping off a bridge yet. Hockey is back, it was 2 tough losses in less then 24 hours, and there was no quit in the team. Lighten up.— arcadegm
- Frankly, it really looks as though Ilya Bryzgaloot is picking up where he left off in the past.
Don't care how many saves he made, 4 goals on 40 shots is way out of line!— BEMiller - I do not have to explain my self to idiots such BEMiller who came here to troll, trying to hit people with his purse like a little b**ch. As a fan, I just want to see decent product on the ice.— Nitroglycerin
- The purpose of any professional team should be to win a championship, nothing less. I LOVE all the Philly teams, and have stood by them my whole life, which is a long time, but we are again in dark times. No way the Flyers will win the Stanley Cup and that's the only thing I care about. Sad to say 2 games into the season. Sixers are not even close. Eagles are trying to sort through the rubble of a train wreck. Phillies could surprise us, who knows. Hope springs eternal.— DKASH
- Arcadegm, this is a 48 game season and they've suffered 2 inter conference losses in less than 24 hours. There are not a lot of positives with this season so far. Add to the fact, the traditional weak teams (Florida, Tampa, Carolina) in the conference improved and the Flyers did not. In fact, they have less now in terms of offense than last year. This is not a guaranteed playoff team this year.— Repubrebirth
- Kudos to Harntell for really stepping up and taking on known thug Drew Stafford. He really showed his mettle there. Who is next on his list? Stamkos? Oh and Giroux better watch out against NJ. They need to make him pay for his dirty hit on Zubrus.— CentralPAman
