Monday, January 08, 2007
A New Low
The Flyers continue to chug along at the bottom of the NHL standings with another embarrassing perfomance against the Ottawa Senators. It was a performance that was reminiscent of their ugly games against the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburg Penguins. The Flyers lost 6-1 and had Sami Kapanen questioning his teammates desire. It was only a matter of time. The Flyers started playing better with a three game win streak around the New Years but have gotten back to their losing ways in the last two games with the last one being especially bad. They have an NHL low 26 points by far the worst in the NHL. The next closest is the St. Louis Blues with 33 points and you ask about the Columbus Blue Jackets with Ken Hitchcock as their coach. Well they now have 36 points and when Hitch was hired by Columbus they down in the cellar with the Flyers.
I was glad that Sami Kapanen called out his teammates after their last game. As much as this team lacks the ability to be a good team they also lack the desire. I am only twenty years old, but I never remember the Flyers being noncompetitive. This is the only team in Philly I can say that for. This season has definetly been weird because I can only remember them competing in the playoffs. Kapanen has been a consistent player for three years for the Flyers. This year he has had some struggles scoring only 7 goals and having a -11 in 38 games played. He is a guy that gives his all everytime and pound for pound (5'9, 181) a very tough player.
I also feel very bad for John Stevens. I believe he will become a very good head coach in the NHl but he was forced into a terrible situation unfairly. He is still very yound and only last year was coaching in the AHL. He also was forced to replace a Stanley Cup-winning coach, Ken Hitchcock, who was fired too soon. Stevens has been especially disappointed with the team's performance when they get down. They fell down 2-0 in the first period and basically gave up. Stevens had this to say: "that (when falling behind) is when you dig in." Somewhere that message is getting lost because they Flyers have done the opposite. Look at these stats: 1-22-1 when they trail; 1-18-0 when trailing after first period; and 0-23-1 when trailing entering the third period. That is dreadful and defines the season.
Oh yeah, on a positive note it is only 37 days until Pitchers and Catchers Report.
I was glad that Sami Kapanen called out his teammates after their last game. As much as this team lacks the ability to be a good team they also lack the desire. I am only twenty years old, but I never remember the Flyers being noncompetitive. This is the only team in Philly I can say that for. This season has definetly been weird because I can only remember them competing in the playoffs. Kapanen has been a consistent player for three years for the Flyers. This year he has had some struggles scoring only 7 goals and having a -11 in 38 games played. He is a guy that gives his all everytime and pound for pound (5'9, 181) a very tough player.
I also feel very bad for John Stevens. I believe he will become a very good head coach in the NHl but he was forced into a terrible situation unfairly. He is still very yound and only last year was coaching in the AHL. He also was forced to replace a Stanley Cup-winning coach, Ken Hitchcock, who was fired too soon. Stevens has been especially disappointed with the team's performance when they get down. They fell down 2-0 in the first period and basically gave up. Stevens had this to say: "that (when falling behind) is when you dig in." Somewhere that message is getting lost because they Flyers have done the opposite. Look at these stats: 1-22-1 when they trail; 1-18-0 when trailing after first period; and 0-23-1 when trailing entering the third period. That is dreadful and defines the season.
Oh yeah, on a positive note it is only 37 days until Pitchers and Catchers Report.
Labels: Flyers
