Another Slow Start for Flyers
(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
We've heard this narrative before about how the Flyers have to avoid the slow start so they aren't trying to back into the playoffs as the season hits the crucial months of February, March and April and every game becomes virtually a must-win game.
If only the Flyers would actually listen themselves.
For the fourth straight game, the Flyers got off to a slow start in the first period. They recovered from it again with a small outburst of offense in the second period, but failed to capitalize on special teams chances when they had a chance to put the game out of reach.
Because of that, a 3-2 loss to the Ducks on Thursday night has them at 1-2-1 through four games and again looking at the potential of another dismal October.
"It’s two too many, you lose one game and you hopefully should be able to turn it around," Wayne Simmonds said. "We’re in a little bit of a hole here, but it’s the beginning of the year, there’s no need to panic here."
"I think that from everyone’s personal standpoint we can all be better," Steve Mason said. "When you lose three games in a row we can’t worry about what other people are doing you just have to focus on your own job. From a goaltenders perspective, personally I have to find ways to come out and get a win here."
Special teams really was the name of the game. The Ducks didn't perform spectacularly either, but they on their two power play chances, they did have six shots. The Flyers had seven power plays, including five in the second period. They totalled five shots, not nearly enough.
At least four of the power plays were completely forgettable. They scored on one to pull even at one in the second period.
"When they’re getting a couple of penalties, some deserved maybe some weren’t deserved, but they kill them off and they got momentum from it," Simmonds said. "When we don’t score it’s the same thing, we we’re trying to build momentum off of it and we had the lead there, we have to do a better job of taking care of the puck when we have the lead or are in tie game situations."
The Flyers also struggled mightily to generate any offense at even strength. Part of that was a solid defensive showing by the Ducks. But in general, the Flyers top six didn't prove to be game-changers or have a strong showing.
The Flyers early season schedule did them no favors, playing teams like the Kings, Blackhawks and Ducks in the first week of the season with a lot of travel and challenging out-of-conference opponents. But that is hardly an excuse for another struggling start.
Obviously, there are growing pains. There are two 19-year-olds still getting their feet wet in the NHL. But for the most part, this is a veteran team watching the same script play out. And in a game when the building started with so much life, the Flyers were mainly lifeless.
It's still early in the season for the Flyers and there is time to make up ground and get wins. But the Flyers have to find a turnaround quick. A good start would be having a good start to a game and finding a way to get on the board in the first period — the Flyers have just one first-period goal this season.
"We lost a hard one tonight, there are a lot of things we would like to do better," head coach Dave Hakstol said. "We are going to wake up tomorrow and get right back to work with a confident group, knowing we have a tough game coming up here on Saturday. It is one that we got to get our focus in on."
