In what should have been a promising night for the Philadelphia Flyers turned into quite the disappointment. On the back end of a tough back to back the Fly Guys dropped an important game to the Montreal Canadians. The Flyers now find themselves out of a playoff spot and looking for answers against a tough Los Angles Kings team that roles into town on Saturday night.
The team looked good in a tight checking and physical game the night before against the Blues. Jake Voracek scored the much needed overtime winner that sent one of the leagues top teams to the dressing room disappointed. Just two nights before that, the Flyers escaped a fast and loud game against the rival Bruins who also find themselves a top the league standings. To be noted, the Flyers are now 2-0 against the Bruins this season, and both games took extra time to settle.
So what did the Flyers do in those two games that they didn't do last night? Were they tired after the string of tough games, and being on the back end of a tough St. Louis win? Nope. Not an excvuess. The Montreal Canadians were on the back end of double header as well when rolling into Philadelphia. Then what was it?
Sleepy starts. The Flyers have been plagued all season by sleepy starts. In the last two games against the Bruins and the Blues, both teams got on the board first, and the Bruins scored two before the Flyers had one. A sloppy goal in this one however turned the tide for the Fly Guys as Joel Farabee netted one on a good play in front of the net. What you think would jump start the team though failed to do so as the next shift, Thomas Tatar got loose and flung one past Alex Lyon to start the 4 goal onslaught that would send Flyers fans home unhappy.
Oh yeah, speaking of Alex Lyon he stopped 36 of 40 turning in a solid performance between the pipes, his first of the season. However, when you don't get help from the defense, and pucks aren't bouncing your way on the other end, your subject to a loss. Lyon looked solid, the lone bright spot for the Bullies on Thursday night.
The Flyers put up 19 shots to Montreal's 9 in the second Period though! Carey Price showed why he is an elite talent in this league, and also gave the Flyers a hard lesson. People, as well as pucks need to go to the net in order to have success. It's something that is taught in the first practice of hockey for any youngster out there. "Pucks and People to the net"!
What's next for the boys in black and orange. A date with the Kings will be quite a test, and we'll see if they can get it done. The Flyer's know that they need these next two wins against the Kings and the...Penguins... if they want a shot at the playoffs after the bye week. Let's hope they go 2-0 to end the first half of the season.