Sean Couturier
The Flyers begin a four-game road trip against the Anaheim Ducks, who have lost five straight games and are 2-5-1 after starting the season 3-0-1 through four games. Game time is at 10 p.m.
More than any specific aspect of the game, slow starts have been a consistent problem for the Flyers and not just this season. In fact, the numbers under the Flyers’ current regime of Ron Hextall, Dave Hakstol and all the players of this core show that it’s a trend.
The Flyers have struggled with execution and are struggling to be consistent at anything other than being consistently inconsistent. It’s the same old song and dance that is maddening to Flyers fans. “I’m a pretty patient guy,” GM Ron Hextall said Tuesday, “but things need to start going better here.”
On nights like these, you see that the Flyers have a work issue. It’s selective, turned on and off like a switch. It’s a big reason the team is as inconsistent as it gets. That’s a team-wide problem from coaching to players that will get them in trouble in the standings fast.
The Blue Jackets struck for three goals in the second and two more late in the third in a 6-3 win over the Flyers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, dropping the Flyers to 3-4-0 on the season.
The overall scope of this game was more positive for the Flyers. The penalty kill was better. The defensive coverage was better. There were chances to capitalize. But as has been the case with the Flyers for really the last decade now, it doesn’t seem to keep the frustrating finishes at bay.
Cody Eakin scored with 1:25 left in regulation for the only goal of the game, as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Flyers, 1-0, behind a stellar start from Marc-Andre Fleury on Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center.
Three goals in the second period gave the Flyers the lead and they would hold on from there in a 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night.
Embarrassing isn’t a good enough word for what the Flyers showed on the ice on Tuesday in an 8-2 mauling from the San Jose Sharks. We break it down further in our Postgame Review of Flyers-Sharks.
The Flyers were locked in a close game with the Avalanche until the bitter end, falling in their second game of the season by a score of 5-2 in Denver on Saturday night.
