Michael DeNicola
3/22/10
There are hundreds of thousands of Flyers fans out there each with their own opinion of the Flyers performance this season. However, there's one fact that cannot be argued, and that is the Atlanta Thrashers schooled the Philly Boys over the weekend sweeping them two games to none; ATL 5 - 2 Saturday night, ATL 3 - 1 Sunday night.
The Flyers had a chance to put Atlanta in their rearview mirror for good, yet they couldn't capitalize. Hell, it seemed like they couldn't capitalize the first letter in a sentence throughout Saturday and Sunday's executions.
Tied at the 5th seed spot before Saturday night's game, the Philadelphia Flyers looked like they were in pristine position to become a top 5 contender, but instead they allowed Hot'Lanta to rain all over them like R Kelly on a 15 year old.
It was all the same issues; poor defense, poor positioning, not enough goals, and lack of enthusiasm. Add all those together and we're looking at a recipe for disaster. Before this past weekend, I was sure that we'd make the playoffs and have a chance to really go far. However, this morning, I honestly have doubt whether we're even going to the post season or not.
As you all know, Flyers goalie, Michael Leighton, is injured and out for the remainder of the season. Brian Boucher has started in net ever since. One may argue that the goals put past him are not entirely his fault, and I would agree in certain circumstances. I haven't seen our defense look so sloppy and uncoordinated. Too many of our d-men chasing one opponent in our zone will always allow a sniper to gain perfect position in front of Boucher, and this is what happened much too often. I know I sound like a broken record, and I realize I have said many times that "something needs to be done", but I don't see anything getting done in the last 10 games of this regular season.
We have a half decent tender in net, a defense that couldn't defend a pop warner team's front line, and an offense that seems like they couldn't even score on an empty net. Atlanta was 3rd worst in the NHL when it came to goals against, but all the Flyers could manage to score were 3 goals in two games. I don't know about any of you readers out there, but I am sick and tired of listening to Jim Jackson yell, "Carter with a SHOT but it goes wide of the net", or "Briere's pass is poke checked / picked off and heading the other way", or "Hartnell's going to the box for interference / hooking", etc etc.
One Flyer in particular has really chapped my ass all season long and that is Defensivemen Braydon Coburn. Not only has he been one of the weakest links on this squad, but during the last 2 games Atlanta's scored 3 goals because of him. Two of those goals were scored because he was out of position and made rookie mistakes. Another was scored against us after a rebound off of Boucher hit Coburn's skate and wound up in net. He is a -10 on the ice this season which is his worst he's ever been since drafted in the league in 2005. I believe he needs to keep the bench warm and only be used when it's absolutely necessary.
There's nothing we can do about the goalie situation, so it is not even worth covering, but Boucher wouldn't be under extreme media heat if he had just gotten better defensive coverage and more goals from his front linesmen! Listen to me, I sound like Doctor Obvious. I must say that I am much more skeptic today than I was Friday. Then again, who isn't??? We just have to wait and see if the Flyers can bounce back from a devastating weekend, but it's going to be tough to salvage any sort of momentum and chemistry in only 10 games.
The Flyers face off next against the Senators in Ottawa, Tuesday March 23rd @ 7:30pm.
I threw in a Flyers history video clip because obviously there was nothing worth watching the past two games.....nothing at all, unless you're in the mood to grit your teeth or punch a hole in the wall.
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