Photo Credit: Abiagael Filon
The Flyers just aren’t the same team that started the season. At the beginning of the season the players were energetic, the locker room was a breath of fresh air, and most importantly they were winning hockey games. Here as of late neither of those three things mentioned above ring true, as a matter of fact they’re enduring the worst losing streak under Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault (Six games to be exact).
Most Flyers fans would like some sort of change, and that may start with the coaching staff as it’s the easiest to change. The main problem with the Flyers right now it’s not about them losing, rather it’s how they are losing. Lately, they are very reminiscent of the debacle that last season was.
Last season at times the Flyers looked lethargic, uninterested, no energy. Enter the Flyers six game losing streak of this season, and all those things mentioned above ring true right now. Throughout this six game losing streak the Flyers are being heavily out played for the most part, they are uninterested, and lack energy, let’s take a look at the Flyers six losses on this losing streak:
Tampa Bay-Flyers/ 4-3
Boston-Flyers/ 5-2
Tampa Bay-Flyers/ 4-0
Florida-Flyers/ 2-1
Carolina-Flyers/ 6-3
New Jersey-Flyers/ 5-2
If you think back to each of these losses the Flyers were heavily outplayed for close to 50 minutes of hockey, with the lone exception for the 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Even the New Jersey Devils control the play for well over 40 minutes of hockey this past Sunday night. It’s not that the team is losing, it’s how they are losing that is concerning to me.
For long stretches of the game, the Flyers play with a lack of energy, thus leading to crucial mistakes with the puck. Call it what you want, whether it be the coaching or the players, this is just appears to be reminiscent of last season. The only consistent forward appears to be Zack MacEwen, so may be he should play in the top six.
So I ask what gives? Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher overhauled the Flyers roster this past offseason. When is the time for him to act? Who will be the scape goat this time? Something has to give here, the Flyers are trending in the wrong direction, but one thing is certain Flyers fans are noticing the lack of effort and lethargicness on the ice. Make no mistake about it, the Flyers are a bad product on the ice at the moment.
If the team gave effort and actually showed some sense of caring, then most wouldn’t be calling for Alain Vigneault’s head, or even Chuck Fletcher’s head. It would just be chalked up to they are missing some key players to get them over the hump. Something has to give sooner, rather than later. This team is far better than the way they are playing.
