FLYERS FLY PAST PENGUINS

Game Review

October 22, 2014

In what was the first installment of four meetings this year, the Philadelphia Flyers ran away with the contest and avenged an embarrassing loss the previous night against the Chicago Blackhawks.  The Penguins, like usual, had come out flying and dominating play with 10 shots on goal in the first eight minutes, but then went quiet, for a long time.  As a Penguins' fan that has seen the this team dominate Anaheim, Toronto, and Dallas for a long stretches, that wait for their offense to shine felt like an eternity.

We have to give the Devil their due, however.  The Flyers played an outstanding hockey game, capitalizing on defensive lapses, blocking up the neutral zone, and purely out hustling the Penguins all night long.  Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek will appear often on the score sheet and if you're a Flyers' fan, that is all you can ask for.  Players like Wayne Simmonds, Michael Del Zotto, and Matt Read had outstanding games doing the little things and again, if you're a struggling Flyers team, that's all you can ask for.

While watching the teams share opportunities, playing "firewagon" hockey, as a Penguins' fan, it is not a game you want to play with the dangerous, transition offense of the Flyers that has proven to be better the last several seasons. 

All in all, it is one game out of four.  It is Pittsburgh's fifth game of the season; there is no reason to panic, but there is sure a bunch to nitpick about after tonight's loss.

Positives: 

• Nick Spaling and Marcel Goc scored their first goals of the season and they deserved it more than anyone else on that team so far.  They are hardworking, determined bottom-six forwards that deserved to be rewarded and good for them.
• Marc-Andre Fleury was really not at fault for any of the goals scored tonight.  Aside from allowing four goals, he did make some tremendous stops.  He will get a ton of criticism tonight, but when the team in front of you does not play well, it will show on the scoreboard.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins organization is the definition of class.  They played both the Canadian and U.S. National Anthems before tonight's match-up, on national television, to show their support for Ottawa and it's tragic happenings on the day.  Fantastic move.

Negatives:

• Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin did not look like stars at all tonight.  They were nearly invisible offensively, but ever so easy to spot with all of the turnovers.
• Patric Hornqvist looked like he was just learning to skate tonight.  He was all over the place and had he been part of "Hartnell Down," he would have made a ton of money tonight.
• Christian Ehrhoff and Simon Despres made tremendous errors all night throughout the game and it's a shame.  Despres will be sitting much sooner than later and Ehrhoff, I believe, just needs one good game under his belt to build some confidence.  Still looks out of place.
• The Penguins once again got wrapped up in the rivalry.  They did not play their game and attempted to trade chances with the Flyers.  We know how this resulted.
• Their powerplay was incredibly sloppy tonight with the entrances and sheer execution of the passing plays and shots on goal.
• Playing at Consol Energy Center against the Flyers is more or less a game of "How bad are they going to beat them tonight?"  There is no tradition set in that arena quite yet and I believe there is some trepidation every time these two meet at said venue.  Penguins absolutely need a big time win against their cross-state rivals, ASAP.