SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Defense. Not just the six defensemen who rotate along the blue line, but the entire six players on the ice at even strength.
Thats the focus, thats the message from coach Peter Laviolette as the Flyers head into March with the playoffs looming closer in the distance after a poor 2-2 road trip out west.
One of the most prolific scorers of his generation, Jaromir Jagr, was asked during this road trip what the goal of the Flyers is in the home stretch.
Jagr didnt hesitate.
Its the same as before, he said. We just have to tighten the defense before the playoffs. I think the offense is OK. Weve got no problem scoring goals. What we need more is tighter defense.
Maybe the NHL has changed a bit, but to have a good run in the playoffs, you need a little more defense. Its tough to win the high-scoring games, in my opinion. On the other side, a few years ago Chicago and Philadelphia was in the final and it was the same way, I guess.
Scott Hartnell, who is the clubs only 30-goal guy and also has 100 penalty minutes, was even more blunt.
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We need Bryz to stop the easy ones and make the big saves, Hartnell said.
Exactly.
Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who made his sixth consecutive start Thursday night against the Sharks, needs to step up in a big way between now and the start of the playoffs in April.
Bryzgalov played well in the 1-0 loss on Thursday, but for the second straight game allowed a goal on the first shot of play.
He needs to just make the saves he is expected to make and occasionally, the ones hes not.
That one goal was the difference in the game, not to mention two very poor Flyer power plays in which Antti Niemi wasnt really tested.
The power play, however, has been solid all season. Its the penalty killranked in the bottom thirdthat needs drastic improvement.
The penalty kill has got to be better, Hartnell added. We cant give up one or two power play goals a game. We still got to put the puck in the net. Were hanging on right now and we have to keep positive.
One issue that has surfaced during the second half as the Flyers team goals against has risen to a shocking 2.9827th worst in the NHLis how the Flyers can tighten up defensively when they are playing such an aggressive attack system that pushes the offensive envelope to the max.
Laviolette agrees its a fine line his players skate here.
We have to balance it and we need to do a better job, Laviolette said, prior to the Sharks game. Weve given up three even strength goals in three games. Weve turned some pucks over on the power play. Thats led to a couple breakaway and a couple penalty shots.
Whether five on five or power play or penalty kill, weve given up, not a lot of chances but theres been some good chances that weve given up. Breakaways and penalty shotsthats four, right there.
Theres been two-on-ones. I do think there are things we can do better within our system and as a group. We continue to look at it and teach the players through video and try to just keep going over things because we have a lot of young players in the lineup.
The rookies have been learning as the season progresses. Laviolette and his staff work daily with the players teaching them through video.
At this point in the season, our game should be ingrained into their heads, Laviolette said. That seems to come more easily and natural. Defensively, we seem to spend more of our time on video. We are generating more of our shots and chances on most nights, a lot of goals.
When we do go back and look at things, we bring it to players to show them in video. Were talking about the defensive side of things and where we can be better.
Thats where the young players come in morelike Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier and Matt Read and Jake Voracek and whoever it may be. Theyre terrific players. But as a group, we're constantly looking on how we can tighten things up.
One rookie continues to stand out, defensively, in Jagrs mindCouturier. Nothing seems to faze the kid.
Sean is slick, Jagr said. He has a great attitude for a 19-year-old. He never panics. Hes in control all the time. Not many guys at age 19 are like that. Ive probably never seen anyone like that.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net