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.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Hey flyers1000 you have way too much time on your hands... But you make an excellent point...— Soul child2013- Man, I'm getting tired of all "the sky is falling" fans out there. Been an absolute die-hard Philly fan my entire life-- through good times and bad. Why is it that after two freaking games everyone is complaining about how terrible things are. Two games people! You guys seriously make me embarrassed to shout out that I'm a Philly fan. We'll end up probably a #5 seed in the playoffs and then anything can happen. Not where we want to be, but not bad with our core group of young guys (Giroux, Read, Schenn's , Simmonds, Couturier, Laughton). And Bryz hasn't played that bad--The PP is the problem, which Laviolette will fix. Get off the ledge people- all's good. It could be worse, you could have all been born Penguin or Devil fans. 0-48 is better than that!— PZ2012
- The way the Flyers season is going it would be good if the beat writers would detail how the new draft lottery will work and provide some profiles on top prospects like Seth Jones and Nathan McKinnon.— Repubrebirth
- Okay, flyer faithful and koolade drinkers....a shortened season and they can't get up for the Pens in thier home opener and got smoked in the first period....and now they go to freakin Buffallo and get hosed.....What is your excuse today......Sorry they are just not that good...but don't worry, you orange blooded stepfords will balme it on Bryz or the refs or something....HAHA— nuggett
- Keep believing the hype put by CSN, controlled media outlet owned by the team. This is an above average team, who if anyone recalls was outmuscled and thoroughly outplayed by the Devils who were in turn manhandled by the Kings.........now where do you think the Flyers really stand???— Northcountry
- It's Terry Murray time. You can get by with mediocre defensemen if you actually try to play defense once in a while.
— TexColorado - Have you seen what Murray has done with the Phantoms? Despite having 7 guys in Adirondack that played in the NHL last season, he still couldn't get that team to play above .500. No thanks. Tired of retreads. — schnitzelboy
- Not throwing in the towel by any means but the chemistry does not look to be there for this team. I look for them to move swiftly to pick up a waiver wire type of pick up or to look for help from someone unsigned. They need more than Simmonds and Hartnell driving the net. Does anyone know where Mike Knuble is these days?— Claudio Vernight
- My comments now are as they were all of last year..because nothing has changed..
We do not have a good coach. As a matter of fact, he flat out stinks to high heaven.
Yes, I know he doesn't skate & doesn't do what players are supposed to do out there...but that is exactly the point.
Last year, he needed to call his time out within the first 3 minutes 6 times..and once in the playoffs. This is unacceptable! It should be an embarassment to the team, the fans, and himself.. Sadly, it's not.
This example is exactly what you saw in game 1. The team was not prepared to take the ice. They gave up goals..it should have been more, and it cost them the game. This is squarely on the coach...
The team was the most penalized in the league last year..this shows a complete lack of dicipline. So far too hasn't changed.
This is squarely on the coach as well.
His system that plays run n' gun, does not stress defense..Not from defensemen and especially not from the forwards, it's his system & it's a losers system. It doesn't work in any sport, and is squarely on the coach.
With a defense that is slow, getting old, and a goalie that raises more questions than not, his system is doomed to fail. It cannot win.
Homer needs to cut his losses and find someone who can get the most from what he's got. someone who will get the team to play a tight checking, force & take avantage of turnovers style and hope one of the 2 guys in net plays slightly better than average. This is the only way we can hope to win.
I'm a Flyers fan from the beginning, a Flyers fan for life.
But I've seen enough hockey in my time to be realisitc and know what I'm looking at, and it isn't good.— dedhed - All Philly teams suck big time and for years to come! You have a city who cares less! Philly has change and they are bunch of wooooooooooosies!— losteagle
- Claudia better watch out against NJ....I hope the devils smoke him and put his fragile little scarf wearing neck through the end boards. Pay back time!!!— CentralPAman
- Homer, don't trade that 2013 1st round pick. It may be a top 5 pick.— zeke128
- Problem is obvious: They're tired.— gakski
- The biggest issue with the overwhelming majority of Flyers teams over the past (almost) 40 years is that they are coached and play to the attitude of most of the fan base instead of playing disciplined and winning hockey. The Flyers would rather drop the gloves and have a highlight reel winger or centerman to light the lamp numerous times instead of cultivating a winning organization. They play the same way year after year after year.....only to come up empty year after year after year. They should have thrown a boatload of cash at New jersey's Lou Lamoriello years back to entice him to bring his magic to Philly. Granted the Flyers didn't and don't have a legend between the pipes like Brodeur but Lamoriello would have changed the attitude. Bobby Clarke & Co do not win in today's NHL (nor in the 2000s, the 1990s or the 1980s)...spirited effort in the '87 Finals but they only took the lead in one game. The question is......will it ever change in Philadelphia or will it be as nasty as the New York Rangers with taunts of "1975" after 50 years?— TheIceDog
- Ed Snider can't live forever. This organization needs to stop the promoting of every past Flyer into a coaching, management or scouting position. They refuse to study and learn from the winning organizations. They still think they can recover the magic of 40 years ago. First order of business is to steal one of Detroit's or NJ's scouts and make hime head of our scouting department. The Flyers haven't drafted an all-star defenseman in decades. Same with the goaltending position. — schnitzelboy
