Flyers Report

Three days before his Oct. 22 firing, Ken Hitchcock sat in the St. Pete Times Forum and worried about his team: "We've got to get this thing turned around. We're running out of time." That evening, the Flyers lost, 4-1.

Bobby Orr called general manager Paul Holmgren this season to ask why Joni Pitkanen's stick was so small. It's a question the Flyers keep asking themselves, given Pitkanen's alarming problems. "He's going to use a longer stick and practice with it all summer, then cut it down to where he's comfortable, but that stick is going to change," Holmgren said last week. "He needs it to help his game."

Peter Forsberg played 40 games with the Flyers this season, with 11 goals and 40 points. He played 17 games with the Predators, scoring two goals with 13 assists. While he was with the team, the Flyers were winless without him in the lineup (0-14-3).

2

How many games the Flyers won trailing after two periods.

23

How many games in succession Robert Esche sat out, likely ending his Flyers career.

59

How many games in succession Mike Rathje missed being injured.

Former general manager Bob Clarke last summer traded proven shutdown centerman Michal Handzus to Chicago for Kyle Calder, who proved to be a bust with nine goals, 21 points, and a minus-31 rating in 59 games.

The Flyers' 45-point drop from last season to this one was the biggest in NHL history, the Elias Sports Bureau says.

Traded from Nashville to the Flyers on Feb. 15, Scottie Upshall had an immediate impact with two goals in two games, playing on Jeff Carter's line with Kyle Calder. A separated left shoulder and torn pectoral muscle ruined Upshall's stretch run from mid-March to the finish. Upshall's numbers as a Flyer: six goals, seven assists, 13 points in 18 games. Yes, they almost matched Forsberg's. Upshall's impact here, however, was greater than Forsberg's impact in Nashville.

The Flyers' goaltending was a mess. Robert Esche had a 4.33 goals-against average and .872 save percentage and sat out the final 23 games of the season. At the trade deadline, on Feb. 27, starter Antero Niittymaki lost, 6-5 in overtime, against the Islanders. He had a 3.38 GAA and .894 save percentage when Biron arrived.

Upon arriving March 1, Biron played three straight overtime games, winning two. He finished with a 6-8-2 record as the Flyers continued to play inconsistently over the final two months. Biron's final numbers as a Flyer: 3.02 goals against, .908 save percentage. His overall numbers (19 games with Buffalo included) were almost identical: 3.03, .903.

Franchise Lows

Swept by five teams in a season series

13-game home losing streak

Most losses in one season: 48

Fewest home wins: 10

Fewest points in one season: 56

Most players used: 49

Most rookies used: 15

Plus/Minus is a look at the last week's games and an evaluation of points earned based on reality and expectation. Example: If the Flyers are expected to win a game, and they won by 7-0, the evaluation would be

EVEN

. They were expected to get two points, and they got two points. There's no extra credit for a rout. If they are expected to lose, and manage a win, even in overtime, a

PLUS-2

is awarded. The goal is to provide a weekly and season assessment before the playoffs.

Because the Flyers had such a poor season, expectations were based on the reality of what they were capable of doing, week to week, game to game. Because we determined in preseason that the Flyers would underachieve, the expectations were lower.

Last Tuesday at Toronto

A 3-2 overtime loss. PLUS-1.

Thursday vs. New Jersey

A 3-2 loss. EVEN.

Saturday vs. Islanders

A 4-2 loss. MINUS-2.

Sunday at Buffalo

A 4-3 win. PLUS-2.

For the week: PLUS-1.

For the season: MINUS-3.

The Flyers finished with 56 points. They should have finished with 59.