Flyers drop second straight, 4-2

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Flat was the word used to describe the Flyers play Monday night, as the visiting Hurricanes took the life out of the team at every chance they had. With a strain on the penalty, and a few key players out of the lineup, due to injury, the Flyers fell 4-2.
 
In the past six games, the Flyers have given up a total of 34 man-advantages to their opponents, including allowing three power play goals on eight chances in the loss against the Winnipeg Jets. The Hurricanes had only four power plays against the Flyers, but they scored on two of them.
 
The Flyers currently lead the league in minor penalties with a total of 110, and in recent weeks it has definitely taken its toll.
 
When asked about the problem with penalties, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said, “I’ve said we’ve taken too many penalties for weeks.”
 
Flyers winger Scott Hartnell leads the team in minor penalties, with 13, followed by Fourth line rookie Zac Rinaldo and All Star Danny Briere, each with 10.
 
The excessive number of penalties hadn’t affected the team much in recent games, as they went a total of eight in a row allowing only one power play goal. However, now that they’ve allowed five in two-games, it’s an issue Laviolette will have to address to get the team back on track.
 
One of the reasons the penalty kill suffered was likely because of recent injuries that had befallen team captain Chris Pronger, and stalwart defenseman Braydon Coburn. The two sat out Monday night’s game with undisclosed injuries, and are guys who eat up a lot of minutes and are routinely used on the penalty kill.
 
Neither injury was revealed, but both players have been listed as day-to-day, and hopefully they won’t be out of the lineup for long, as the team needs them.
 
One player who’s game didn’t suffer against the Canes, was 22-year-old winger James van Reimsdyk. In the 4-2 loss, his hard work was responsible for both of the Flyers goals. He scored the Flyers first goal unassisted by sheer muscle pulling the puck off the wall and steering it to the front to score on his own rebound.
 
The second goal of the night had him fending off a Canes defenseman, as he moved around behind the net of Canes netminder Cam Ward, and flipped a perfect pass onto the stick of Matt Read waiting to fire the puck into the open net.
 
When asked about the effort of his young forward, Laviolette said, “JVR got going there. [He] played a real strong game.” On a night where the coach didn’t offer many positive words, those were huge.
 
Since being drafted second overall in 2007, the young winger hasn’t lived up to expectations, but many believe he should be ready to break out at any time. In 19 games this seasons, he’s scored 8 goals and 8 assists, but his greatest achievement so far happened in last season’s thrilling playoff run, where he scored 7 goals in 11 games, and at times appeared like the only Flyer on the ice.
 
After two straight losses against teams they should have beaten, the Flyers have a chance to get back on the winning track against the helpless New York Islanders, who have the second worst record in the NHL, at 5-10-3. The Flyers need to get back on track and show up on the Isle Friday night with purpose, and hopefully with healthy bodies.
 
Contact Chuck.Tay@prohockeynews.com Photographer Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com