With only one win in their last six games and a 2-4-2 record since the All-Star break, the Flyers have genuine reason for concern as mid-February arrives.
With an impressive first half of the season, the Flyers had put themselves in good position in the Eastern Conference standings. However, the post-break malaise has shown how quickly any feeling of comfort in the playoff race can disappear.
Theres no reason for panic, but here are five areas that need improvement in the final 26 games of the season.
Dial up the desperation
Its not like the Flyers have been guilty of not showing up for games or dogging it. However, there has also been a lack of desperation in their game at times, of late. Kimmo Timonen called out his teammates about their effort after the loss to the Rangers on Saturday. He was simply being forthright.
If they need a catalyst for becoming more desperate, they need only look at the standings. The Flyers are officially as close to ninth place (and missing the playoffs) as they are the Rangers after their recent struggles. Any cushion that had been built up over the teams in the lower half of the playoff bracket is slipping away rapidly.
The Flyers need wins and points. Both are always more difficult to get this time of year. Every player has to attack each shift the way Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds do, with a feeling that it could be the one that wins a hockey game.
Find a hot goalie
The Flyers have not been able to get either of their goaltenders on an extended roll this season. Both Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky have had spurts of solid play, but it never seems to last quite long enough.
NHL
The fact remains that only three other NHL teams have a lower save percentage than the Flyers (.898). Its going to be very difficult to go on any kind of run in April and May unless that number improves significantly.
Bryzgalov has been out with the flu recently. Perhaps he can come back later this week refreshed and ready to find the rhythm that carried him to two outstanding seasons in Phoenix. His save percentage the last two seasons was .920. That would do just fine for the remainder of this season and beyond.
Plugging the holes
The Flyer goaltenders could use some help from the defense corps in front of them. There have been breakdowns and turnovers at an alarming rate recently.
The Flyers have four quality veteran defensemen in Timonen, Matt Carle, Braydon Coburn and Andrej Meszaros. But all have had wayward moments in recent games. Rookies Marc-Andre Bourdon and Erik Gustafsson are learning on the job. Perhaps the loss of Chris Pronger, at long last, is finally being felt.
There are two weeks until the trade deadline. You can bet GM Paul Holmgren is working the phones. Its probably safe to assume a defenseman will be added to the mix. The stature of that addition will depend on what has to be given up. This remains a hot-button issue for sure.
Revitalizing the vets
There has been a lot of well-deserved talk about the rookies and their contributions this season. Where would the Flyers be without the first-year players and their league-leading production? However, counting on the rookies to carry a club at crunch time can be quite hazardous.
From here on out, the veterans have to play a bigger role. Danny Briere hasnt scored a goal in his last 11 games. Jaromir Jagr has but one goal in his last 16 contests. Even Scott Hartnell has only one goal in his last 10 games after his five-goal explosion over two matches in late January.
If the experienced players dont begin to produce, its hard to imagine the Flyers scoring at a clip they will need to come playoff time.
Home PK
The Flyers mediocre home record this season can be traced to a high goals against average. In fact, Philadelphias goals allowed per home game have been near the NHL high all season. Upon further investigation, the culprit appears to be the penalty kill.
The Flyers have killed off only 77.3 percent of their penalties at home, third-worst in the NHL. On the road, they are a much more palatable 84.9 percent. Same players, vastly different results. What gives?
Im not sure anyone has the answer to that question. What we do know is that if that penalty kill was at the same percentage as it is on the road, the Flyers would have allowed far fewer goals against at home, leading to at least a couple of more wins at home than they have now. A couple of more wins and there would not be the same level of concern as to where they are in the standings. Its funny how it all adds up.
While you probably could not tell by the results since the All-Star break, the Flyers are actually very close to being a very good hockey team. If they are able to clean up some of the aforementioned areas, they could be very dangerous come April. But that is one very big if.
After some time off over the next few days, they get a chance to begin that mission with Buffalo and Pittsburgh visiting the Wells Fargo Center later in the week.
E-mail Jim Jackson at jjackson@comcastsportsnet.com.