Writer: Kevin Durso
Morning After: Where have Flyers forwards gone?
I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.
All posts by Kevin DursoPublished12 Mar 2014
Claude Giroux and the rest of the Flyers forward group have been held scoreless in each of the last two games. Nick Grossmann, a defenseman, scored the only Flyers goal in a 2-1 loss to the Devils on Tuesday. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
The talk of the morning is about the Flyers near game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation. What nobody seems to be talking about is how the Flyers forwards seem to have disappeared.
By the time the Flyers managed one of their best chances against Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in Tuesday night's 2-1 loss at Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers forwards had been held without a goal in the last 124 minutes.
The last four Flyers goals have been scored by Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn and Nick Grossmann. Grossmann scored seconds into the second period to tie the game on Tuesday night.
Take the good and the bad with this loss.
The good: It was one of the best defensive games the Flyers had played in a long time, from Steve Mason right down to each defensive pair. The defense was active in getting offensive chances and helped the Flyers control the pace of the second period. One extended period of ice time led to the game-winning goal scored by Jaromir Jagr.
Another good thing for the Flyers is that scoring should be the least of their worries. The Flyers scored 11 goals against the Washington Capitals – all by forwards. Claude Giroux can't be held down for too long, so a two-game goalless drought. Jake Voracek has also been on fire lately so two games without a goal isn't anything to sweat over either.
Now the bad: If there was a bad time for a scoring drought from the forwards, this is it. The Flyers have three days off before Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They face the Penguins twice and the Chicago Blackhawks over the next four days. The Flyers also don't have more than one day off between games for the remainder of the season.
For the players that haven't been scoring, the drought has now hit more than two games. Wayne Simmonds last scored on March 1. Scott Hartnell has not scored since the final game before the Olympic break. Brayden Schenn has just two goals since the start of February.
Where have all the Flyers forwards gone?
It is a question worth asking as the stretch run begins. With so many critical games to be played, the Flyers need the ability to score at will now more than ever. With the last four goals going to defenseman, the Flyers forwards have been stymied. Bad timing, especially since Marc-Andre Fleury is playing really well heading into a weekend home-and-home with the Flyers. Talk about horrible timing.
The Flyers have a tendency to get up for games against their cross-state rivals. This weekend would be a good time for the Flyers to make a statement.
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
