December 5, 2007
It’s the third period of the Dec. 3 Flyers game at the Wachovia Center. During a television timeout, the camera on the Jumbotron pans to the beloved Flyers’ fan better known as the “Dancing Guy.”
He gets more of an ovation than any other event. If this gives you the impression the Flyers were not playing too well, you were absolutely correct. Never in my life have I heard the building so loud for something so irrelevant to the game.
Stuck in a funk at home, the Flyers have lost each of their last five games, many in embarrassing fashion.
Perhaps the most alarming trend is the number of shots allowed: The Flyers have allowed 29 or more shots in four of the five consecutive home losses. Simultaneously, only twice have they fired 25 or more shots on goal.
This can be blamed on the passive defensive zone coverage, in which minimal pressure is applied to the puck carrier, something that has hurt the Flyers in almost every loss this season.
Perhaps the most shocking development is the fact that on the road, the Flyers simply cannot lose of late, winning their last three road games against the two best teams in the East, Carolina (twice) and Ottawa. It is as if the Flyers are cowering in fear of the fans when they play on home ice.
The Flyers have not won two games in a row since Nov. 10 to 12. This inconsistency has gotten under the skin of fans, players and management alike.
“You can’t come out and have a great effort and then a well below average effort, it just doesn’t work. There are just too many teams that are ready to pass you by and too many teams that are in striking distance. The league is too good not to bring your best every night,” Coach John Stevens said about this terrible trend in an article at flyers.nhl.com.
Here’s a thought, Mr. Stevens: You do not seem to be much of a motivator, at least not openly.
Start motivating your team, whether it’s aggressively or passively. Look at the success the Flyers had in their first seven games (with a record of 6-1) when they were full of energy.
And to the players: There is no reason you should not be able to play well on home ice. Generally, you are supposed to be fired up at home in front of your fans, not just treating it as if you don’t have the opponents’ fans to worry about. It is like you are playing not to lose, instead of playing to win, one of those fine lines in sports. It is a shame that your coach is often the one thrown under the bus for your lack of consistency.
Only time can tell if the Flyers (still among the top teams in the conference) can regain consistency.
Don’t be surprised to see a rejuvenated team in their next weeklong home stand, starting Dec. 11. If this does not occur, don’t be surprised to see a few more rants from numerous Flyers’ faithful.
