Five Flyers Observations : What The F**K Was That?
The Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center by a score of 4-3. After two 2nd period goals by the Flyers, Ottawa roared back for 3 goals in the final 9 minutes of the 3rd period to get the win.
Travis Konecny opened up the scoring for the Flyers just under 4 minutes into the game. Jake Voracek and Radko Gudas added 2nd period goals to give the Flyers a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd.
Anthony Stolarz stopped 20 of 24 shots he faced in the losing effort.
Here are four more observations from the Flyers 4-3 loss to the Senators…
5:29 Dooms Day
5 minutes and 29 seconds was all it took the Senators to erase a 2-goal lead and take a 1-goal lead.
Entering the 3rd period, the Flyers had a 2-goal lead. Game ends, the Flyers lost by 1. The stretch of 5:29 from the 8:28 mark of the 3rd period to 2:59, proved to be the dooms day for this Flyers team.
After another gut-wrenching loss, what is next? The firing of Ron Hextall was a start. But, the coach needs to go NOW.
Penalty Kill
One bright spot. I mean the only bright spot. The Flyers penalty kill didn’t give up a goal for the 3rd straight game. After giving up a goal in 15 of the first 21 games, the Flyers are now perfect in 3 straight games.
Whether it was a philosophy change by Flyers PK coach, Ian Laperriere, or just pure luck. My guess is pure luck. The Flyers penalty kill unit is something we aren’t talking about in a bad way for once.
Something that has been an issue all season for the Flyers is surprising the only bright pot in the Flyers darkest times of the season.
Who Is Next?
Well, goalie number five is exactly like goalie one, two, three, and four. Just when you thought the Flyers were getting solid goaltending, something pulled the pin and blew it up.
Anthony Stolarz was 18 for 19 at the 10 minute mark of the 3rd period. Stolarz finished the game 20 for 24. Stolarz went 2 for 5 over the last 10 minutes of the game.
To no shock, his counterparts had the same fate all season. If you watched any game this season, you were just waiting for the one goal to change the game. Well, that isn’t what you should be watching for. Normally, the goalie is supposed to make the save to keep the team in the game or the save to win the game.
Unfortunately, like the whole Flyers this season, everything is backwards and doesn’t seem to be turning around anytime soon.
Change Is Coming
As I sat in the press box between the 2nd and 3rd period, I had a discussion with other writers about the coaching job. We all agreed that if the GM moved any bit slowly, Hakstol had the chance to be around til after Christmas.
With the Flyers going on a 5-game western conference road-trip starting next Saturday, if the new GM wasn’t in place by Tuesday, it would be hard to install a new coach before that trip with the Flyers playing Thursday night at home.
However, that talk and everybody agreeing has now been thrown to waste and no matter when the new GM is named. Even if the Flyers are 2000 miles away from home. Day 1 in the new GM era, Dave Hakstol will be fired.
There is not one doubt in my mind. Any lingering doubt or any chance the Flyers could justify letting him stay and see what he could do is out of the window with tonights ending.
Result : Flyers 3 – Senators 4, LOSS
Record : 10 – 12 – 2
Next Game : 12/1 Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh PA, NBCSports Philadelphia 7:00pm