The Flyers lose yet another game in DC to the Capitals around Christmas time.
The Capitals won a 4-3 shootout victory.
I have made the trip down to DC several times to watch the Flyers around Christmas/New Years time and every time they lose. The trip is always fun with the amount of Flyers fans there. It is almost like a home game. I did not go this year hoping that might help, guess not.
Peter Forsberg and Jeff Carter each scored on a Power Play. Sami Kapanen picked up a short handed goal.
Antero Niittymaki had another good game, except for the shootout. He seems to be weak in that area.
Jon Sim played for the first time in 2 games. League leading scorer Simon Gagne was scratched with the flu.
Lack of leadership is really starting to show with the team, someone needs to step up and get the team motivated. The last 7 games have been one goal games. Of those seven, 2 have been overtime games and 3 have been shootouts. Sure they have won 5 out of the 7, but playing just good enough to win is not going to cut it, especially with Flyers fans. Playing Ottawa on December 23 the Flyers knew that was a big game and came out hard scoring 4 straight. They were able to hold on and win 4-3 against the team first in the division. The next game the Flyers were able to play good enough against the last place Penguins to win 5-4.
Against the Capitals with the same record as Pittsburgh, the Flyers did not play good enough and loss. The effort just wasn’t there.
“This was as dead as we’ve been in a month. I don’t remember us playing this poorly. We had no work ethic, and their workers controlled the hockey game. Our goaltender was outstanding. When you go on the road and allow almost 50 shots on goal, it’s not good.” – Coach Ken Hitchcock.
The Capitals might be a last place team but they will beat the Flyers every time in Washington until the Flyers start to take them seriously.
The three stars were Ovechkin, Kapanen and Willsie.
The Flyers went the first 24 games without a shootout. In the last 14 games there have been 5. In shootouts the Flyers are 2-3.