5 Questions For Flyers
1. Can the Flyers be more consistent? A lack of consistency nearly cost the Flyers a shot at the playoffs, coming as close as a shootout win over the Rangers on the final day of the regular season to not even making the playoffs. Since Peter Laviolette took over on Dec. 4, the Flyers went thr
1. Can the Flyers be more consistent?
A lack of consistency nearly cost the Flyers a shot at the playoffs, coming as close as a shootout win over the Rangers on the final day of the regular season to not even making the playoffs. Since Peter Laviolette took over on Dec. 4, the Flyers went through a five-game win streak, a four-game win streak, a five-game losing streak and a three-game losing skid. For a long stretch they alternated between winning two games and losing two games. In one stretch through February and March, they won five in a row and then dropped 10 of 14 games.
2. Will a full season under Laviolette make a difference?
This was Laviolette's first training camp with the Flyers, and he inherited a team in September that was already in game shape. The players seem eager to execute his aggressive system and he will not accept anything less than top-level play. It will be interesting to see if he can have a long-term effect.
3. Can the goaltenders stay healthy?
After dressing seven goaltenders last season - tied for the most in team history - the Flyers would like to avoid having to comb the free-agent market again for ex-NHL vets in Switzerland. Michael Leighton is already on the shelf for the first month, and possibly more if the bulging disk in his lower back does not heal. Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky will handle the net for now.
4. Will the big guns on defense get rest?
One of the major selling points for beefing up the Flyers' depth chart on defense was the rest it would get last year's top four of Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn and Matt Carle. Pronger and Timonen were running on fumes by the Stanley Cup finals. And they aren't getting any younger.
5. Will the offense finally click?
Danny Briere is fully healthy and seems poised for his best year as a Flyer. James van Riemsdyk added six pounds of muscle and is faster than ever. Jeff Carter's foot is healed and he is in a contract year. And Nikolay Zherdev, who posted five goals in six preseason games, could be the player who makes everyone come together.