After the clock struck zero with barely any fans in attendance, after an embarrassing defeat to the New York Islanders this past Saturday. It definitely wasn’t the game that the Flyers thought they could give the fans.
The proud orange clad fans left the stadium early…defeated, out of breath, and disappointed after yet another blowout 6-1 in their own barn to their rivals in the Islanders. They beat the orange and black in every facet of the game, as the Isles appeared to have more energy than most of the Flyers players. The Flyers had to match the intensity of an Isles team that appears to be in the midst of a rebuild themselves, with a new Head Coach in Barry Trotz. Unfortunately, the orange and black didn’t do it.
Does Head Coach Dave Hakstol deserve some blame? Absolutely. The lack of Special teams is really quite frustrating. Both the Power Play (23rd best in NHL) and Penalty Kill (31st…dead last in NHL) are killing the Flyers in the early going of the season, and their record of 4-7 is a good indication of such. Does Hakstol deserve all the blame? Absolutely not. The players share some of the blame. Yes, the Nolan Patrick line had Grade “A” chances early, and as a matter of fact they were very good throughout. But, asides from the Patrick line, and the fourth line of (Lehtera, Knight, Weise) the energy just wasn’t present. Of course, Corban Knight got injured in this contest, but the energy was still present following his injury.
Defense right? The Defense was so-so at best. There’s no easy way to put it. They have to get better. As a matter of fact how many more times is player going to say they “We have to get better.” It’s becoming the common theme of this young team in the early going. It’s time to put up or shut up for now on.
Our Goaltenders need to see the puck. It’s frustrating to see multiple Isles players camping out in front of Neuvirth. Neuvirth played so-so at best on Saturday, but the orange and black have to do a better job at clearing the porch. Watching Saturday’s game made me miss Samuel Morin so much, just for the simple fact of clearing the porch.
It takes five players to play Defense. At times the Forwards didn’t back check, thus leaving the Defenseman stranded. “We just need to play better,” Ivan Provorov said. “I don’t think anybody is happy. We have to play better and we have to figure out soon what the hell is going on.”
Michal Neuvirth followed up Provorov’s comments with the same rhetoric, “Obviously, giving up six goals didn’t help the team much. Got to be better,” Neuvirth said. “I think it’s the confidence. Once we get scored on, we get too hard on ourselves and it’s tough to get out of the hole in this league. There are no easy games and you have to be ready for every one of them.”
The Flyers may be pressing their sticks, especially while on the PP. It’s really frustrating to watch. Just keep it simple shoot at the net, take the open shot when it’s afforded, “I think when you want too much sometimes, you press a little harder, get away from what you’re supposed to be doing, you’re just pressing,” Claude Giroux said. “Pressing right now we’re just tired of losing so we’re trying to do everything we can to make something happen, but sometimes it’s not always the right thing.” Moreover, Shayne Gostisbehere blames the locker room, and just keeping things simple, “It comes down to us in this locker room. If we’re making the same mistakes it’s obviously us. If we get back to the basics, keep things simple we’ll be fine.”
Talking is the easy part, now backing up the talk is the hard part. It’s just getting redundant here as of late hearing these players saying the same thing game after game, “We have to get better.” To prevent the wheels from falling off the bus completely, it’s time for the Flyers put up or shut up.
Tonight the Flyers can write a new script against the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks cannot be taken lightly, as they can place the biscuit in the basket with ease. Talking about the game to the media following the contest is one thing, now backing up those words on the ice is another thing. It’s time to back those words up with a complete team effort tonight against the Ducks. One thing is certain Flyers fans, the future is bright in Flyer land.
Flyers Notes:
NAK will indeed make his Flyers debut tonight. It’s still unknown if Tyrell Goulbourne will enter tonight’s lineup, as he split time on the fourth line in yesterday’s practice.
Power Play lines from yesterday’s practice:
PP1: Giroux, Couturier, Konecny, Patrick, Ghost
PP2: Weal, Voracek, Simmonds, Sanheim, Provorov
Prospect Watch:
Some #Flyers prospects that are starting to kicking some butt:
Yegor Zamula LHD 1g, 6a 15GP
Wyatte Wylie RHD 2g, 11a 15GP
Isaac Ratcliffe 11g, 8a 14GP
Morgan Frost 12g, 18 a 16GP— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) October 29, 2018
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
