Punchless Flyers Dropped by Sens

The Flyers offense stayed in the locker room again, wasting an excellent effort by Brian Boucher and the defense.  The Ottawa Senators got sticks and skates in the way, and every shot that got through was turned aside by Brian Elliot.  The last six game stretch, which includes three shutout losses, is reminiscent of the Flyers-Senators matchup in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.  In that series, which the Flyers lost 4-1, they only managed to score two goals. 2! That series featured three consective 3-0 shutouts by the Senators.  This embarrassing stretch of futility needs to end, and it needs to end soon.  Flyers are clearly missing a spark, and if new coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t start fixing things soon, a trade will definitely be necessary.

So far, the line combinations favor are very heavy in the top six, and very watered down in the bottom six.  I understand the way it is supposed to work: two lines create immense pressure and score some goals, and two lines play solid D, maybe score once in a while, and try not to blow a game.  Of course, when the top two lines are consistently NOT producing, the product looks terrible.  However, I also am not in favor of constantly switching lines, so if this is the system Laviolette likes, then I guess I’m ok with him sticking to it.  He did win a Stanley Cup with a less talented Carolina Hurricanes team, so I’ll give this a chance.  I think the way this system starts clicking, is if each line fully begins to understand their roles.

The top line (for now) features Giroux-Richards-Hartnell.  Giroux has not really shown a huge scoring touch, but is involved in every other aspect, so he can be the main playmaker. Hartnell isn’t known for his touch, but doesn’t mind getting in front of the net, and also has an underrated shot.  He’s a less talented version of John LeClair.  The wildcard is Richards, who has shown a nose for the net, and has a few highlight reel set-ups.  Since nobody here is a bona fide Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy candidate, Richards and Hartnell both have to deposit pucks in the net.

The second line features Briere-Carter-JVR. The book on JVR’s NHL career is still pretty empty, but he has shown flashes of playmaking ability, and also goal scoring prowess. Carter has one of the most dangerous wristers in the game today, and Briere has a very, very productive history of scoring goals, and dishing out a lot of helpers.  However, the style of play i’d like to see from this line is to feature Carter.  We rarely see him letting it rip like he did last season, when he scored 46 goals.  I know he’s up there in the number of shots, but they just don’t look as dangerous as they did last season.  I want JVR and Briere holding, dangling a little, and setting up an open Carter.

Of course, Gagne‘s return will change things up.  He’s a born goal-scorer, and we need him back, ASAP!

Thanks for reading.

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“We’re on a 6 on 4, of course a blind, behind the back pass wil go to my teammate” – Eugene Kozorovitsky, Flyers fan, recounting the aftermath of a steal and empty net goal by the Sens.