Ok, who else besides me is glad that’s over?
The Flyers decided it was more fun to make me look like Nostradamus in reverse by essentially going 2-4 (overtime loss is still a loss), instead of 4-2 on this recent 6 game road trip that felt at the end more like a 60 game road trip, and the final results were nothing short of appalling.
The first line is in complete disarray, with Giroux having no one to pass to, Hartnell’s 35+ goal season looking more and more like a total fluke, and Voracek simply doesn’t fit in at all. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when this club whiffed on landing a bonafide high percentage shooter (sure, let’s use Bobby Ryan’s name again), they pretty much hung Giroux out to dry. His best years so far were when he had a guy who doesn’t mind shooting nonstop to receive quality passes from, Jagr, as much of a passer as he is, is a pure shooter, and Jeff Carter never met a one timer he didn’t like.
Giroux’s assist totals went through the roof with those two featured on his line, and until Holmgren answers that issue, Claude will continue to flounder. At this stage, it’s simply hard to watch. Ryan went to the Senators for a promising young player, and the Flyers have those by the bushel. Dare I even say the Flyers could have sent Voracek to the Ducks for Ryan, and they would have probably bought in. The third line looks more cohesive for the Flyers right now because it’s the correct match up of styles. Sniper, Playmaker, Power Forward. It’s a formula that’s as old as the game itself, and yet for all intents and purposes, one Philadelphia cannot seem to assemble on its most important line, with its most expensive player.
The Chicago Blackhawks are where the Flyers want to be, but aren’t even close to yet, and the problem is obvious. Solid blue line work, and the Hawks first line is exactly what the Flyers won’t put together. Kane-Sniper, Toews- Power Forward, and Hossa/Sharp Playmaker.
The blowout was a result of the Flyers just losing sight of where they were in regards to control of the game, and allowing their emotions to dictate how the next 40 would go down. They committed penalty after penalty during a 4 goal run by the Hawks, and the killer was when Hawks coach Joel Quenneville decided to teach a lesson to Flyers coach Craig Berube and his players by scoring on a 5-3 power play to add insult to injury after the Flyers went off the rails on a penalty call against Luke Schenn. Right after the call was made, Jay Rosehill thought to himself it would be really intelligent to throw a passing punch in the face of Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw.
After the Hawks chased their former teammate Rya Emery out of the crease and game, Steve Mason came in, and surrendered a power play goal no thanks to ridiculously great passing by Blackhawks mainstays Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. The game also featured scores by three former Flyers when Michal Handzus, Kris Versteeg, and Patrick Sharp scored.
To make matters worse, the Flyers have to travel from Chicago and play a back to back game against the Montreal Canadiens at home, and one has to wonder if another former Flyer, Daniel Briere, will make his presence felt as well. This month has not been kind to the Flyers, and it has become quite evident how much the club misses Vincent Lecavalier, since they have gone a miserable 2-6-1 without him in the lineup.
The only solace the Flyers possess right now is knowing they get a few games at home, and will be able to enjoy the comfort of their own beds for the first time in a couple of weeks. They better rest up, they’ll need all of their energy to dig out of this slump.
*Photo courtesy of NHL. com
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