The Flyers have played a grand total of nine periods of hockey this week, and have scored goals in just two of them — the first two periods of Monday's game.
Thursday's effort against Vancouver was a flat one (see story) that saw the Orange and Black get shut out for the second time in 48 hours. The Flyers have been somewhat familiar with shutouts this season, as Thursday night was the sixth time all year they've been blanked.
All 60 minutes of the game weren't flat for the Flyers, though. They came out strong for the first couple of minutes, until Nick Bonino's potted his 10th goal of the season at the 6:35 mark of the first period. From there, the Flyers were a completely different, frustrated team.
"We had a good start, good for the first 5-6 minutes," coach Craig Berube said. "The [Bonino] goal really deflated us…The thing that really bothers me is that it’s only 1-0. Lots of hockey left — play and compete and work."
The Flyers haven't been shut out in back-to-back games since April 1 and April 3, 2014 — losing to St. Louis in a shutout and 2-0 to Columbus, respectively. Their six shutouts are the most since they were blanked seven times in 2010-11.
It was a frustrating night for Ray Emery as well, as he allowed three goals on 12 shots before being yanked in favor of Rob Zepp. Ironically enough, fans did begin a "We want Zepp!" chant in the first period, when they weren't serenading Wells Fargo Center with a chorus of boos. Emery has now been pulled in back-to-back starts — the last time being on Jan. 3 against New Jersey — and is 3-8-0 in his last 12 games.
"We kind of fell behind and got discouraged a little bit," Emery said. "It’s a single game. We go game-by-game and want to win every one, so tonight was frustrating."
Zepp allowed a goal on the first shot he had seen, courtesy of a Jannick Hansen breakaway. He made nine saves over the rest of the game.
"It’s a long season, that’s the way it goes sometimes," Zepp said. "We came out really well and got deflated after that first goal, it seemed."
The Flyers practice in Voorhees, N.J. tomorrow, before heading to Buffalo for a Saturday night tilt. Taking on a lowly Sabres squad could very well be what the doctor ordered for the Flyers' offensive drought.
"We have to re-group tomorrow, head to Buffalo and win a hockey game," Berube said. "I think the team will respond — we've got a lot of good leadership."
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61.
