Raise the Red Flag

I think it's going to be a looooong season for Flyers fans.  The Flyers simply don't look like a very good team, and there is no cavalry on the way.  They have few assets to trade, and Hartnell and Meszaros will not be back any time soon.  Overall, I think Flyers fans need to buckle down for lots of joyless 2-1 hockey games this season, and making the playoffs will be a struggle.

Facts:
-The Flyers have outscored opponents 7-6 in 5-on-5 play this season.  This puts them among the stingiest 5-on-5 teams in the league, but at least it's a positive differential.

-The Flyers have been shorthanded 31 times this season.  That is the second most of anybody in the league.

-The Flyers penalty kill is operating at a pitiful 66.7%.  That is 29th out of 30 teams.

-The Flyers power play is at 13.5%.  That is 24th.

-The Flyers are being outscored 9-4 in the first period.  Three of those goals came against Florida, meaning they've been outscored 9-1 in the first period of all their other games.

Problems:
-Teams are focusing all their attention on Giroux, and he is really struggling because of it.  No one else on the Flyers strikes fear into opponents or creates mismatches.

-No spark from the wings.  Save for Matt Read's outburst against Florida, the Flyers wings have done little to create offense.  They try to score all their goals from the doorstep, as that is the skill set for guys like Knuble and Simmonds.  Still, this is too predictable and easy to defend if no one is stretching the defense.

-The power play is awful.  Just awful.  Confusion, hesitation.  Often times they can't even enter the zone.

Solutions:
-Fix the power play.  Okay, so that is easier said than done, but this should be the predominant project for the coaches.  Spend an unbalance amount of time on it.  Get those zone entries straightened out, which currently look haphazard.  Get Voracek off the point.  If this team is looking for dirty goals from Knuble and Simmonds, get a shooter back there.

-Shoot!  The Flyers pass up countless shooting opportunities for one more pass into the slot.  This relates to the power play and lack of wing play, but when struggling on offense, get the puck to the net!  Even if they don't have natural snipers in the lineup, you've got to try, and stop making it so easy for the defense to collapse in the slot.

-Load up the first line.  The Flyers are going for the balanced approach, but the result is a bunch of mediocre lines and an overwhelmed Giroux.  Take some pressure of Giroux, and put him and Briere on the same line.  Round out the line with Simmonds or Knuble.  I noticed Giroux and Briere were together late in the 3rd last night, but with all the PPs I couldn't tell if that was a one time thing, or if was simply a temporary change while trailing late.

-Stay out of the box.  If your penalty kill sucks, being among the league leaders in times shorthanded is unforgivable.