Final Thoughts @ Columbus (12-27-08)
Maybe it was having to travel on game day two days in a row. Or, maybe they are still adjusting to facing the longest road trip of the season. Whatever the reason, the Flyers were shut out by the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 Saturday Night. When playing on the road, there are two key elements to better your chances of collecting points. Weathering the first ten minutes and scoring the first goal. The Flyers did neither. And, against a Ken Hitchcock coached team and facing the goaltender, Steve Mason, with the best goals against average, 1.87, in the league, well, it’s a recipe for a loss.
A Staple of Hitchcock teams is defensive play through the neutral zone. Once the Flyers got behind, it became harder and harder to try to generate any offense. The result was turnovers that led to more goals by Columbus.
They, no doubt, missed the benefits of puck rushing defensemen Kimmo Timonen & Matt Carle. Both were injured blocking shots in Friday’s 5-1 loss in Chicago.
The Flyers now travel to Vancouver to face Mats Sundin and the Vancouver Canucks and try to end 2008 on a high note.
Positives:
- The Flyers came out with good energy, despite the travel conditions and the tough loss last night.
- Antero Niitymaki continued to look sharp, keeping the score close early and late in the game.
- To their credit, the Flyers didn’t grow frustrated with the Blue Jackets neutral zone pressure to the point where they took stupid penalties. They managed to stay within the game.
Negatives:
- Â Not getting that first goal was a huge negative.
- Not being able to carry the play. The Flyers chased the game from that first Columbus goal on.
Notes:
With tonight’s first period fight (Lupul), the Flyers are tied for the league lead in fights with 40 * Scott Hartnell was in the lineup tonight after suffering a broken big toe in Chicago * Kimmo Timonen is expected to miss at least a week with a chip fracture of his right ankle * The Flyers are now 0-2 on this 6 game road trip.
-Mike Tursi
Related posts:
Dagens hockey 081228 10:00 | Dagens Hockey Said,
December 28, 2008 @ 4:06 am
[...] Road Trip Part 1-2: Speared by Hawks, Stung in Columbus - Bleacher Report – NHL Final Thoughts @ Columbus (12-27-08) - The Hockey Herald Game No. 35 - Puck-rakers [...]