This time, at least, it wasnt a slow start.
Ahead of Tuesday nights Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers had set a simple goal: begin the game with as much energy and urgency as they had in Game 1s third period and overtime.They did what they set out to do, in fact, scoring the games first goal only three minutes in and holding onto the lead until the third period. But something happened between the closing horn of the first period and the first puck drop of the second stanza.Our focus was really on the first periodthat was our best first period weve had in like 50 games or so, Eric Wellwood said. I just dont think we kept working. We got away from our game plan.Thats putting it lightly.As bad as the Flyers were to start Game 1and they were plenty badthey were arguably worse in the second period of Tuesdays 4-1 loss (see game recap). They were outshot 12-0 to start the period, and didnt get a shot in on Devils goalie Martin Brodeur until about 18 minutes of it had ticked toward a close.I dont know. Its tough to explain, Jaromir Jagr said. They were just quicker and better than us. That showed on the shots. I dont think we had a shot until the last two minutes in the period. They were totally dominating the period.On the surface, the Flyers did a fair amount right in the second. They were disciplined, taking only one penalty, a holding call to Danny Briere. But they simply couldnt get anything started. If there was a pass to be made, it seemed to graze or miss its targets stick. If there was a promising rush through the neutral zone, a split-second hesitation thwarted it.They simply sat back, relying on that aforementioned single-goal lead and a suddenly impressive goaltender to carry them through. The desperation they had when they hit the ice to start the game had all but completely vanished.I think having a one-goal lead, we just kind of came out on our heels, Matt Read said. We didnt give them the respect that they need. Theyre a great hockey team and we came out flat and they took advantage of that, they outplayed us in the second and the third.The thing about the second period is, though, the Flyers didnt give up a single goal during it. They escaped the period with their lead intact only because goalie Ilya Bryzgalov came up huge, and did everything he could to keep his team ahead.In fact, with 8:28 left to play in the period, the sellout Wells Fargo Center crowd stood on its feet and celebrated yet another impressive Bryzgalov save on Devils rookie Adam Henrique.But his teammates didnt give him any assistance.He was unbelievable, Jagr said. If he wouldnt be in the net, and didnt make those saves, it would be a different story. We would probably be down a lot after the first. He kept us in the game, he gave us a chance to win, but we had nothing today.The Flyers finished out the second period with just two shots on Brodeurthe fewest shots in a playoff period since 2010 (interestingly, also against Brodeur and the Devils).And after that dreadful middle period, Briere said, there was chatter in the locker room. Some players expressed their displeasure. Coach Peter Laviolette spoke up. As a team thats been so strong in third periods all season, the Flyers figured their time was still coming, that they could still build on their small lead and come away with a win. But that wasnt in the cards Tuesday night.Instead, they gave up four third-period goals to the opposition.We were hoping that even after the second period, playing so badly in the second period, that we would be able to somehow steal one because of Bryz, Briere said. But we completely sat back in the third period. We didnt even learn from that second period and we left him alone once again.The series now heads to Newark, N.J., for Thursdays Game 3. And for a team thats tied in a series for the first time since the playoffs began, that next game comes along with a promise.Well get back on track, Briere said. I think well learn from it and be better next game.E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com.