It's been difficult to watch this incarnation of the Philadelphia Flyers. They started out the season with so much promise. The had a historically good goaltender, they had tremendous offensive talent and they were solid on the blue line. The blockbuster deals that sent away the cornerstone of our team over the last few season (Mike Richards and Jeff Carter) gave way to the signing of Ilya Bryzgalov, the Vezina candidate goalie from Phoenix, who was supposed to save the goalie carrousel that we have been experiencing the last few years. Eight months has past since those trades. Richards and Carter have been reunited in LA (along with Simon Gagne) and the Flyers look like some incarnation of a ECHL team with a goalie who belongs on a mighty mites team that plays during intermission. And Chris Pronger, who was the glue needed to hold this team together, has been sidelined with a concussion that may end his hockey career.
I know not every game goes our way. But the way this team is playing is simply unacceptable. Briere hasn't scored a goal in 15 games. Giroux, although playing well, is no playing anywhere near the level he played at the beginning of the season. Scoring from the rookies has dried up. Our goaltending is atrocious at best, disappearing whenever it is needed most. Defensively, turnovers and poor passing have been the norm. Peter Laviolette can't seem to adapt during a game and make changes on the fly. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it was actually John Stevens behind the bench wearing a Lavy mask.
I just don't know who this team is. I don't want to know this version of the Flyers. I want to see a team that plays with pride and fights until the last minute expires. That's the Flyer's team thats missing. And that's why my heart hurts.
