Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Posted: 8:45 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
Paul Holmgren didnt mince words about the Flyers recent skid.
After the general manager said at the trade deadline that his team needed an attitude adjustment, the Flyers proceeded to lose three games, including Sundays 7-0 humiliation in New York to the Rangers.
Neither Coach Peter Laviolette nor Holmgren addressed the players after the debacle at Madison Square Garden.
Holmgren said he has addressed the team other times during practices, but not after games.
They know, they were just as embarrassed as the rest of us after that game, he said. Sometimes you just got to pull away and let them sit in their own pile of s--- and hit them the next day.
NHL
Peter gave them off the next day Monday, which was the right thing to do given the week they had, and let them sit in their s---- another day ... And well see. The players know they need to play better. Its not like theyre not trying.
Holmgren said he saw improvement prior to the Rangers loss.
There were some signs of us coming out of the slump, Holmgren said. In terms of intensity and being able to play the game we need to play.
More than anything, what stands out over the last stretch of games is the chances weve been giving up. That was what the coaches focused on.
Most coaching staffs believe if you limit chances to 10-12 a game, you can win.
During that stretch here, last 8-10 games, it was 18, 20, the Islander game they had 25 chances, Holmgren said.
Youre not going to win games, as Laviolette said earlier this week, giving up more than 15 chances a game, let alone 25.
Youre goalie doesnt have a chance, Holmgren said. We need to tighten up and play better away from the puck, play better defensively.
In the opening period of Tuesdays game against Edmonton, the Flyers allowed just one shot on goal.
Maybe the message got through.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
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