Saturday, April 2, 2011
Posted: 8:22 p.m.Updated: 10:13 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
For the first time since early January, the Flyers find themselves as the No. 2 overall seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Capitals' 5-4 overtime win against Buffalo bounced the Flyers out of the top spot on Saturday night as the Caps passed them in the overall standings with 103 pointsone more than the Flyers.
The good news is it can change again on Sunday when the Flyers host the Rangers at 12:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center.
Among the maddening issues with the Flyers is how they could whip Pittsburgh 5-2 on Tuesday, to pretty much kill the Penguins hopes of winning the Atlantic Division, then fail to pick up points against both Atlanta and New Jersey.
The Flyers inexcusable collapse in subsequent games after a critical victory during the second half of the season has been mind-boggling. No one seems to have an answer for it other than to acknowledge that the teams mental state is not where it should be for this time of year.
NHL
The players gathered on Saturday for a team meeting and coach Peter Laviolette admitted afterward that he wasnt happy with what unfolded during a 4-2 loss to the Devils.
The consistency in our game, the work ethic in the game dropped at times, Laviolette said. The second period wasnt good enough, shift to shift wasnt good enough. A couple good games and it drops. What youre left with is disappointment in a game you need to win.
No one wants to hear this, but sometimes the truth hurts. And right now the truth is, the Flyers are ripe for a first-round playoff exit. Their inconsistency in so many aspects of their play suggests theyre not all on the same page.
These arent the Edmonton Oilers here.
This is a Flyers roster expected to contend for the Stanley Cup. For the past 2 12 months, its hard to get a handle on where this club is at and where its headed. Were it not for a superb first half of the season, the Flyers would not be near the top of the Eastern Conference.
And theyve completely blown their cushion of comfort.
Theres no question there is more consistency with the winning and the playing in the beginning of the year, Laviolette conceded. The Atlanta game was tough. You throw a lot of chances and pucks at the net and the guy Chris Mason has a big game in net at the other end
Friday night, for me, was a little different. We could have built off those and added another game and we didnt take the next step. We got to focus on getting things straightened out here and we have our biggest game so far tomorrow.
So which Flyers team is going to show up on Sunday?
The team that smacked the Penguins around earlier in the week? Or the one that was humiliated in a 7-0 loss to the Rangers the last time these two met in March?
Loose pucks
The Flyers recalled defenseman Danny Syvret on Saturday night. He will be available for the Flyers' matchup against the Rangers on Sunday.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
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