Well scratch that. The third and fourth lines are ok. They can stay here, but the top two lines---especially the top two lines--- the entire defensive corps and all 13 goalies that we've signed since the season began: be gone from my sight.
I know this may sound a bit harsh, possibly even insane, but it needs to be done coming hot on the heels of a 7-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday afternoon. The game saw the Flyers jump out to an early 1-0 lead, then fall behind 4-1, storm all the way back to tie things at four, only to then blow it in the third by giving up three straight.
The game was just about as ugly as they come, for both sides really. Flyers starter Michael Leighton was chased from the net halfway through the first period after allowing two goals on seven shots. The first goal was just one of those things, but the second goal was absolutely dreadful. He just got flat out beat to the glove side by Jarkko Ruutu, whose proudest NHL moment until that goal was biting a guy's hand during a game last season.
Now, I don't want to say that Leighton has turned back into a pumpkin and his Cinderella story is officially over, but he has sprouted a stem and turned a peculiar shade of orange. I'm not saying, but I'm just saying.
The only thing that's keeping me from officially saying is that backup turned starter turned backup Brian Boucher came in and actually managed to do worse then Leighton. Much worse. Boosh gave up five goals on 26 shots, some of which weren't his fault, some--- like the game winner--- very much were.
The Flyers turned the puck over in the first and third period like it was on fire, resulting in plenty of Sens goals, but that wasn't the case on the game winner. On that play there was a delayed penalty call coming on the Flyers with the Sens in full control of the puck. A big shot was fired from near the top of the face off circle which Boosh stopped, sadly he left a gigantic rebound just sitting in front of him, which was recovered by the Sens and thrown past Boosh, who by this point had gotten himself so out of position that he looked like he was getting ready to take a pass and head out on a breakaway. That being the situation, "Mr. Consistency" Alexei Kovalev had a wide open net to shoot at after taking the earlier mentioned pass. Naturally, he whiffed on the first shot, but as Boosh was still waiting for that home run pass at center ice, Kovalev eventually netted the puck for the game winner. It was a thing of idiotic beauty, not just on Boosh's part, but everyone wearing a Flyers jersey on the ice.
So, I guess you wondering why the third and fourth lines are exempt from woodland abandonment? Well, if it wasn't for those two lines, there would have been no game yesterday at all. Fourth liner Ian Laperriere scored his second goal of the season on a lengthy wrister about two minutes into the game and it was the furious work of third liners Arron Asham, Darroll Powe and James vanRiemsdyk that led to the second period comeback.
The comeback came with a bit of luck as Powe scored off the stick of a Senator to make it 4-2 very early in the second, while Asham's goal which made it 4-3 was scored after Powe and about three Senators hit their starting goalie Pascal Leclaire. His day was done after that as Brian Elliot replaced him in goal about six minutes into the second period.
Mike "Shadow" Richards tied things after receiving a great pass from Kimmo Timonen as the Flyers worked a 5-3 power play. Of course, earlier in that shift, Richards did everything possible to help the Sens quash the comeback bid. He dropped his stick, he missed a wide open Timonen with a pass, clearing the zone for the Sens and then broke his stick. He skated aimlessly around center ice for a bit and then finally was put in a position where he couldn't help but succeed thanks to Timonen. The game was tied and then the period ended. And so did the game for the Flyers.
They came out listless in the third, Boosh lost his mind on the winning goal and gave up two more after that for good measure. Here are some fascinating numbers:
First Line:
- Mike Richards: -4, 1 goal, 2 SOG, 2 PIM, 15:44 TOI
- Simon Gagne: -5, 1 assist, 3 SOG, 2 PIM, 15:26 TOI
And the winner is:
- Claude Giroux: -6, 0 SOG, 13:00 TOI
I know the Flyers were handcuffed in terms of line changes by being the road team, but Peter Laviolette needed to do a better job of getting these buffoons off the ice when Kovalev's line was on. The line of Briere, Hartnell and Carter are destined for the woods because they are guilty by association. They did nothing... almost literally. The three of them mustered FIVE total shots and nothing more.
SENS Best Line
- Alexei Kovalev: 4 goals, 1 assist, +5, 6 SOG
- Mike Fisher: 1 assist, +4, 3 SOG, MARRIED to Carrie Underwood
- Ryan Shannon: 3 assists, +4, 2 SOG
So... why keep the human turnover machines Giroux and Gagne on the ice while these guys were running amok? Why call a time out in the first period when the score is a still manageable 2-1 AND pull your goalie? Laviolette played his hand way too early, leaving him with nothing to do but watch and grind his teeth when the wheels really fell off.
For Sens coach Cory Clouston, it marked the end of a very successful weekend. On Friday he learned that instead of gym next semester he will have a study hall. Then on Saturday, he scored a date to the upcoming Winter Formal with uber babe Michelle Fitzmargret, a sophomore. Dating older women, study hall, head coach of a winning hockey team, what more could a Canadien teenager ask for?
The Flyers are done until Wednesday, when they return home to "battle" the Toronto Maple Leafs. Neither team plays much defense so that score may end up resembling a Toronto Raptors, Philly 76ers game. After that, its another date with the Pens, who are enjoying a five game losing streak at the moment. Hopefully that's still going when the Flyers meet them on Thursday. What a test that would be. Are the Flyers better then a bad Penguins team or will the Pens end their skid against the orange and black?
Ah well. Toronto first.
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