For the Flyers Fans

[mrbungle]

I don't really follow the Flyers too much...but what I've noticed about them in the past...um, a long time, is their goaltending. They've never really had that great goaltending that can get them past the final hump. Their forwards and defense are always great but the goalies were always the weak link.

Sure, the goalies they had put up great numbers at the time...but where are they now? Flash in the pan. Cechmanek, Esche, Biron (he's still around...but really, it's Biron)...they didn't have what it took to take them where they needed to be when they needed to the most.

If the Flyers can grab a great goalie then they'll be almost unstoppable.

[iockerman]

If the Flyers can grab a great goalie then they'll be almost unstoppable.

I agree. I hope they can turn it around AND SOON.

[Spaltung]

Yeah, the problem with the Flyers is always their goaltending... =/

[maple19]

emery out 4 to 6 weeks now flyers fans

mike

[Spaltung]

I'm actually kind of glad that he was injured. It explains somewhat why his was playing like complete ™™™™. I also want to see how well Bouche can do since I really like him as a goalie.

[BamBam]

Flyers having 3 glaring weakness' that keep them from being a real Cup contender. It is far from lack of talent and most of the problem can be corrected without ripping the team apart. This is how I see it as someone who has followed the Flyers since the Broad Street Bullies days :

1.) While they don't give up many shots, they have a few huge mental mistakes almost every game that end up in their own net. Coburn has been brutal and is dragging Timmonen down with him. Its not just the skaters its the goalies as well. Last year Biron would let in some soft goals that led to huge momentum swings. Its happened a few times this year as well although Emery was playing very well before he suffered the injury. Seemed pretty obvious something wasn't right as you could see he didn't have that quick lateral movement he had earlier in the year. Hopefully Boucher can handle the load and not wear down until Emery gets back in 6 weeks.

2.) Lack of discipline. Forget about the Carcillo incident and the penalties for physical play. The Flyers take far too many stick penalties of the lazy kind and at the worst times. Not moving the feet and hooking or slashing the stick is unexcuseable and just lazy. Happened again a couple times tonight but at least it didn't cost them too much.

3.) Mental toughness. This team for whatever reason can't put stuff behind them quickly. Last night in Montreal, they gave up tying a goal, then gave up a 2 on none as Coburn (once again) took himself out of the play and let the Habs have a gimmie. Once the Habs got the lead the Flyers wilted and didn't put up much of a fight in the third. Last year was the same thing especially in that game 6 against the Pens. Malkin scores, Biron lets in a soft goal off his glove a few minutes later and the flood gates opened. I hoped Pronger and Lappy would change that about this team since it was obvious Stevens couldn't. Maybe Lavy can because I loved the fire he showed during the time out tonight when the Isles made it 4-2 in the second. Great time to call the time out and get his players heads back in the game instead of letting the roof cave in again. Stevens never learned how to do that.

I think this team will snap out of it and I hope tonight was the beginning. Even with the swoon they are still 1 game over .500 and right there as far as playoff seedings with games at hand over everybody. I liked the move of letting Stevens go because it was obvious he didn't hold his players accountable and the team got comfortable. While he is a class guy who knows Xs and Os, he didn't have that feel for when his team needed a wake up call. Lavy showed me that he has that feel with one simple and timely time out tonight. Go Flyers !