Flyers look to keep Panthers offense toothless

After 6 days off, the Flyers will look to get back into the win column tonight as they take on the Florida Panthers (1-4-1) at the BellAtlantic Center.

Fortunately for the Flyers, the Panthers have been struggling to score goals during this young season. Michael Frolik leads the team with TWO, while the team as a whole has only scored 10 total during five games. For the sake of comparison, Mike Richards leads the Flyers with six goals and they've scored 19 in their five games.

The Panthers have struggled since starting the season with a 4-3 shootout win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Helsinki, Finland.

Of course, the Flyers have seen their own share of struggles lately, to the tune of back-to-back home loses after starting the season with three straight wins. Both teams will be looking to right the ship tonight, so here are three keys to an orange and black victory. They also happen to be three keys to making a certain you-know-who a VERY happy camper this weekend as he struggles to climb a mountain of school work.

I'm not saying but I'm just saying.

Three Keys

1.) Don't underestimate Panthers- Sure the Panthers aren't the Penguins (what a weird statement as far as the natural world is concerned) but they have a few legitimate scoring threats. David Booth netted 31 goals last year, but he only has one so far this year. Still, he is not a player to forget about.

2.) Be smart with the puck- Turnovers helped keep the Capitals in a game last week that the Flyers should have won handily. They helped to give the Penguins a win shortly after that and they allowed the Ducks to climb back into a game that the Flyers had in the bag. Also, I've noticed a few players developing the annoying habit of just flinging the puck around absently hoping it finds its way to a friendly body. Better yet, I love the big shot from the blue line that immediately hits a guy in the shin and deflects away harmlessly. How about NOT doing this gibberish anymore?

3.) Play 60 minutes- This just in: hockey games last for 60 minutes, not 45 minutes like the Flyers seem to think. Donovan McNabb didn't know football games could end in a tie, the Flyers don't know how long the game they've played for most of their lives lasts. Good Lord athletes! Is it too much to ask for you to understand the GAME that you make millions playing? I suppose it may be, as this problem plagued them throughout the last few seasons, including last year against these very Florida Panthers... oh dear. I'm nervous now. This could be a long, work-filled weekend for yours truly, err I mean that certain someone I mention earlier...

Player to Watch: Simon Gagne. The superstar left winger has no goals and three assists so far this season. Certainly nothing to shake a stick at, but expect him to break out of this scoring funk sooner rather then later...