Blues 3, Flyers 0: Flyers can't back another strong Carter Hart performance, drop 7th straight

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The Flyers can’t be feeling the blues any more than this.

On Monday they were shut out by a rookie netminder making his first career NHL start as the Blues blanked the Flyers, 3-0, at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers have now lost seven straight games. 

Why couldn’t the Flyers make life tougher for Jordan Binnington? Is Vladimir Tarasenko someone the Flyers should target this summer in a trade? 

Here are my observations from the game:   

• The ineptitude of the Flyers’ offense was on full display. The second period may have been the most unchallenging for an opposing goaltender this season as the Flyers generated just six shots on net, all from the outside. Binnington was challenged a few times in the opening period and was susceptible to some big rebounds, but the Flyers couldn’t jump on those loose pucks.

• When you have only one line exert any sustained effort and pressure in the offensive zone, you become a very easy team to play against. The Sean Couturier-Claude Giroux-Travis Konecny combination was the only Flyers line that consistently created scoring chances. I was surprised interim head coach Scott Gordon didn’t attempt to shake up his lines to find any sort of pulse.

• The Flyers didn’t stray too much in the defensive end of the ice and their containment against the Blues forwards was rather effective for much of the game. The Brayden Schenn line with Jaden Schwartz and Tarasenko was their most efficient with a clear advantage in puck possession, mostly over the Couturier line. 

• The Flyers could have been staring down a 2-0 deficit in the first period if it wasn’t for one of Carter Hart’s best saves of the season so far with a blocker stop on Schwartz.  

• There’s been a lot of smoke surrounding Tarasenko with the possibility that the St. Louis organization could be looking to move him in the offseason. Keeping a close eye on Tarasenko, he was certainly buzzing in the offensive zone but he didn’t have that tenacious drive to the net that he has been known for in the past. Secondly, I thought he passed up on some prime shooting opportunities. However, I still see a dangerous player that has incredible vision and playmaking ability with a terrific snap shot. Proof of that came on his goal with nine minutes remaining in the third period.

• Does Gordon try to move Nolan Patrick to wing in an effort to find anything to get him going once again? Gordon has mentioned that Patrick is maintaining his defensive responsibilities, but he doesn’t have the pace in his game to transition from the defensive end to the offensive side. I still see a lack of confidence as he passed up on a prime scoring opportunity between the circles, electing to pass, which didn’t lead to a shot on net.  

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