Despair!

It was going to happen sooner or later.  An ugly loss that will allow some Flyers fans to do what they do best; carry on about how the team is a wreck.

In a nutshell, last night the Caps came out with more jump than the Flyers.  The Flyers were able to scramble on defense enough to keep the Caps off the board and took the lead.  Things looked good as the first period was wrapping up, until Hartnell had a terrible unforced giveaway, and the ensuing shot deflected off Coburn's stick and in.  Even worse, with 11 seconds left in the period, Giroux got beat behind the net and Backstrom carried it out unchallenged, getting it over to Ovechkin for a slam dunk.

The Flyers played well in the second period, but couldn't score.  The game could've then gone either way in the 3rd, but the Caps scored a fluke goal as a harmless shot again deflected off a defensemen's stick.  The Flyers immediately took a lazy penalty, Ovechkin scored on a one-timer (which deflected again), and it was pretty much over.


Things to be worried about after a loss like this:
-The Flyers tendency to give up quick, back-to-back goals, which plagued them last season.  The Caps did all of their scoring last night in 70 second and 2.5 minute stretches respectively.

-Unnecessary penalties.  High sticks, offensive zone penalties, leaving the Flyers shorthanded for no good reason, and all too often.

-Hartnell on the outs?  Hartnell's ice time is way down this year, and he had a rough game last night.  With Schenn getting called up, one of Schenn, Hartnell, or Couturier will be playing on the 4th line.  I'm okay with "Cooter" down there because he gets so much PK time, but I'd be nervous if I were Hartnell.

-Briere's line not doing anything.  There is a noticeable lack of chances being created by Briere's line this year, though last night Read took Voracek's place there and played pretty well on an individual level.  No chemistry happening with Briere and his linemates though.


Things not to be worried about;
-Bryzgalov.  5 goals looks ugly, and his stats are declining, but he's given up an inordinate number of deflected goals this year, and I'd be hard pressed to come up with examples of soft goals he's given up.  His rebound control has also been very good.

-Schenn's -3 debut.  Schenn happened to be on the ice for Hartnell's giveaway, and the backbreaking third goal which was the flukiest one.  Schenn looks pretty smooth with the puck, and threw a few nice checks last game.

-Jagr still scoreless.  Jagr does look a little fatigued, but he's still playing well along the boards and has 4 points in 6 games.