Flyers just a defense away

CHICAGO - Claude Giroux picked up where he left off last season. His linemate, Jake Voracek, has at least one point in all five games this season, the only Flyer to do so. The last Flyer with points in at least five straight games to start a season was Chris Pronger, back in 2011.

Only one player in the NHL - the Rangers' Rick Nash (six) - has more goals than Wayne Simmonds (five).

Giroux, Voracek and Simmonds each have seven points on the young season and all three rank in the top 20 in league scoring, despite the fact that Simmonds was held off the scoresheet Saturday night in Dallas.

The Flyers have 17 goals through five games. It took the Flyers until their 10th game last year to score 17 times - and they still finished with the fourth-most goals (236) in the Eastern Conference last season, a sign that this run is not unsustainable.

The Flyers' power play is humming along at a 31.2 percent (7-for-22) clip, behind only St. Louis (33.3 percent) and Pittsburgh (47.1 percent). They've done that without Vinny Lecavalier, too, who is a key cog in their top power-play unit.

A staggering 13 of the 20 players dressed in Dallas netted at least one point, including goaltender Steve Mason, who registered his eighth career assist.

The sample size for all of these impressive statistics is admittedly small; only 6 percent of the season is in the books.

Adding up all the numbers makes you wonder: What exactly would the Flyers look like with capable defenders?

Despite their obvious shortcomings, it is impossible to ignore that the Flyers have been tied at one point in the third period in all five games this season. They haven't played a cupcake schedule, either.

It's just that even when they fight back and erase a two-goal deficit - like they did against New Jersey, Anaheim and Dallas - it has been too easy for the opponent to take charge again.

On Saturday, it took the Stars 40 seconds to regain the lead. Against Anaheim, the Ducks needed 2 minutes and 9 seconds.

There is no holding down a lead for the Flyers. If they're not starting the game in a hole, they're just praying to remain tied. In fact, out of the 312 minutes and 49 seconds the Flyers have been on the ice this season, they've played with a lead for just 49:18 (about 16 percent of the time) and it was all in one game (vs. Montreal before their three-goal collapse).

Mason and Ray Emery are almost constantly under assault from the drop of the puck. The lack of help leads to rough outings - like when Mason was pulled after surrendering four goals on 18 shots on Saturday. Not even Henrik Lundqvist could survive the onslaught of quality scoring chances Flyers goalies have faced, which have added up to 21 goals in five games.

Can Ron Hextall help salvage the season for the sake of a talented offense? It's a tall order.

Even when you take out the Flyers' salary-cap situation out of the picture, there just aren't true defensive defensemen available on the market.

Hextall is seeking a player with a very specific set of parameters: someone who can control play in the defensive zone, will likely only be here for this season so as not to clog the path for the Flyers' impressive prospects, and won't cost much to acquire.

Last week, free agent Francis Bouillion, 39, turned down a contract offer from the Flyers.

The names reportedly available on the open market - Carolina's Andrej Sekera, Edmonton's Jeff Petry, Detroit's Jakub Kindl - aren't known as defense-first players.

The market for players in the final year of their contract is usually pretty high. Johnny Boychuk commanded two second-round picks and a conditional third-round pick from the Islanders 2 weeks ago.

The Flyers are in desperate need of an Anton Volchenkov-type player. He is historically on the positive side of the puck. He doesn't cost much at $1 million. He is only under contract for this season. The problem is: Why would Nashville move a player like Volchenkov?

For the rare team that does have an expendable defenseman, the price is understandably high. A lot of teams, like the Flyers, are searching for those type of players.

Given the long-term salary-cap commitments to the Flyers' defense, the only real way to clear a path for the future and bring in capable defenders now is through a dynamic move that nudges the foundation of the team. That type of opportunity might not present itself in October or November.

Until then, the Flyers will have to pray they can score enough to whitewash the mess in their own end.

"A win gives a team confidence, for sure. It doesn't matter how you win it, a win gives a team confidence. We did a lot of good things out there [Saturday night], had a real good attack, shot the puck well and had a lot of opportunities. But we've got to clean up a lot of the mistakes we make. They're unacceptable."

- Flyers coach Craig Berube on how finally getting a victory can change his team's mindset.

STAT WATCH
12: Minor penalties by the Flyers in five games, fewest in the NHL. Boston leads the league with 34. The Flyers have finished in the bottom five in the league every year except one since the 2005 lockout.
4: Overtime winners for Claude
Giroux in the regular season.
THE WEEK AHEAD
at Chicago
Tomorrow, 8:30 p.m. (CSN)
One quick glance at the standings and it would appear the Blackhawks (3-0-1) have played like, well, the Blackhawks of old. That isn't necessarily the case. Their only regulation win is against Buffalo. Jonathan Toews scored the first shorthanded overtime winner (three-on-four) in Hawks history on Saturday night to overcome a somewhat lackluster effort. Toews was one of three captains (Claude Giroux and Henrik Zetterberg) to score OT winners on Saturday. Corey Crawford (.926 SV%) has been Chicago's best player.
at Pittsburgh
Wednesday, 8 o'clock (NBCSN)
This featured "Rivalry Night" matchup will have a different feel. It will be the Flyers' first look at a new Pittsburgh (3-1-0) team, particularly one without Dan Bylsma behind the bench. Bylsma was replaced by rookie head coach Mike Johnston this summer. Perennial thorn James Neal is gone, too. He was replaced by Patric Hornqvist (eight points), who is skating on a line with Sidney Crosby (nine points).
vs. Detroit
Saturday, 7 o'clock
While many believed Detroit's record streak of 23 consecutive playoff appearances may be on the line this season, the Wings (3-1-1) are quietly off to a nice start. Their only blemish is a regulation loss to Anaheim. They took three of four points against Boston and swept a home-and-home with Toronto. Lingering into the final year of his contract, coach Mike Babcock somehow has been able to deflect buzz about being a possible free agent.
PHANTOMS PHILE
After christening PPL Center with a thrilling overtime win Friday night, the Phantoms split their weekend series with Adirondack. Scott Laughton netted four goals on the weekend. Shayne Gostisbehere picked up an assist on one of Laughton's two power-play goals Friday night.

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