Rock Bottom

After an embarrassing 0-7 lose to a divisional rival, I don't think it could get much worse, and if it can I don't want to see it. Over this four game losing streak the defense is out of position and making bad decisions. The goaltenders are not stealing games or getting much help from anyone. The team seems to lack any willingness to engage physically. The power play is complete incapable of scoring. And the team has a habit of shutting it down before the game is over.

Even with that long laundry list of shit that isn't working, their are still few positives for the Flyers to build on. The first and most obvious is they are still in first place in the East. The team was very consistent until mid February. That consistency helped the Flyers get into first place, stay there, and build a decent lead for times just like these. The team has 17 games left on the schedule before the playoffs start, and that is plenty of time to get the team back to playing the way we saw earlier in the year.

The Flyers power play, while still unable to score, has looked better over the last couple of games. They have done a better job of gaining the zone and applying pressure when they get setup. They still have a tendency to over pass the puck, but the defense is starting to get shots on net from the point. If they continue to simplify the power play and put as many pucks on the net as they can, the goals will follow.

Mike Richards is starting to look like a leader again. He has been the Flyers best player over the last three games. He has picked up he physical play, and shown some extra hustle that we haven't seen in a while. His first shift in the second period against the Rangers was great example of this. He came out of the locker room and wanted to set an example for his team. He laid two big hits, tried for a third, and then dropped the gloves. He didn't fair to well in the fight, and his team didn't respond, but if he continues to play with that kind of determination it will start to show results.

The team is currently fighting a nasty flu bug. Even though this should is not an excuse for losing as they are, it can't be ignored. On multiple occasions players have been pulled from the lineup during pregame skates becuase they were ill. Jeff Carter played on Saturday after "recovering" from the flu and then was pulled on Sunday because he became ill again. The energy levels are down and it is harder to find that extra gear when you body is trying to use all its extra energy to fight of a virus.

So while it may look bad at the moment, there are positives to build on. This is a very talented team that is currently fighting the flu bug. The Richards' line is starting to show some offensive threat, you can only assume that Briere will pick his line up in the playoffs as he always does, and the defense just has to pull its head out of its ass. It sucks that the Flyers had to find rock bottom against the Rangers, but at least the Flyers are not fighting for their playoff lives with 17 games left.