For the 5th straight game, the Flyers started sloppy. Dating back to when Buffalo was in Philadelphia, Dec. 14, the Flyers have been having horrible starts to the 1st periods. An issue that was a key reason why they lost 10 straight.
During the 10 game losing streak, the Flyers got behind early and never could recover. However, over the past few, yes some have been goals, but most have just been turnovers and give-aways. Something that continued last night.
In the first 7 minutes of the 1st, the Flyers had 4 give-aways. Something, the Flyers lately are having a problem with The give-aways are leading to early chances and in some cases early goals.
Last night, it wasn’t a goal. However, it was multiple scoring chances throughout the game.
Each period tonight started with a Buffalo scoring chance in the first 2 minutes. To make matters worse? The Flyers didn’t record a shot in the first 2 minutes of any period. A clear sign to their slow starts out of the locker rooms.
The Flyers are starting to show some tiredness and this Christmas break of no practice and no hockey cannot come quick enough.
Here are 4 more observations from the Flyers 4-2 loss in Buffalo…
Robert Hagg
After having the best game of his young career Wednesday, Hagg had a night to forget. Scoring his first career NHL goal Wednesday, Hagg came in on a high into this one.
Well, he left Buffalo having played one of the worst games of his young NHL career. Hagg looked lost and out of place tonight in Buffalo and his stat-line showed it.
For the night, Hagg was a -1, 1 of the Flyers 2 penalties, only 15:54 of ice-time, and 3 give-aways. Hagg needs to leave this game right where he played it in Buffalo and come out tomorrow in Columbus fresh and ready to go.
Brian Elliott
When your goalie makes 28 of 28 saves after his team plays a horrible first 40 minutes, you know its a night you need to win. This was a a game in which the orange and black should have at least been competitive.
Tonight’s game in Buffalo was one the Flyers weren’t supposed to win because of their play. However, with the goal tending effort put out tonight by Elliott, the Flyers needed to dig deep and find a way to salvage a point.
“They competed a little bit harder than us and it showed out there.” Elliott said. “We had an opportunity to make addends with a bad start tonight, but we didn’t get it done.”
Faceoff’s On The Power-Play
A reoccurring issue on the Flyers power-plays have been face-offs. In times of man-advantage, the team with the man advantage should win the face-off more times than not.
Well, for some reason, the Flyers are having trouble winning the draws and it cost them.
Down 1 at the time, the Flyers got a mini 5 on 3 for about 40 seconds. However, they only got about half that time because Giroux lost the face-off. For the game, Giroux was 1 for 3 from the face-off dot on the man-advantage.
If the Flyers want the power-play to become more consistent, like years past, it has to start with winning more face-offs to start the man-advantage.
Lyon vs Elliott
Coming into tonight, Flyers fans were calling for Lyon to start. Why? Well because the Flyers play in Columbus tomorrow night. Columbus is clearly a much better team than Buffalo.
So, why not start your backup against the worser of the two teams and rest your starter for a big matchup against Columbus?
Well, Coach Dave Hakstol took a different mindset into this one. Instead of listening to the fans strategy, he went with get the win tonight and whatever happens in Columbus is a bonus. However, that plan has now backfired with the loss in Buffalo.
To make matters worse? Any chance Elliott had of being sharp in Columbus is now gone after his team left him out to dry tonight. One thing is for sure, an easy 1-1 road-trip has now turned into an easy 0-2 road-trip.
Result : Flyers 2 – Sabres 4, LOSS
Record : 15 – 13 – 7
Next Game : 12 / 23 Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus OH, 7:00pm
Cal Sport Media via AP Image
