Image courtesy of Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: Flyers keep slipping, Penguins keep winning, Rangers and Devils hanging on to playoff spots, Islanders within reach of postseason

The Philadelphia Flyers were the only team in the Atlantic Division not to win a game this week, as they went 0-1-1 against the Pens and Rangers. Things don’t get any easier for the Flyers over the next week, as they take on a division leader and two teams fighting to make the postseason. After a six-day break, the Flyers dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center on Sunday. Tyler Kennedy, who missed the Pens’ game against the New York Islanders due to being sick, ripped one over Ilya Bryzgalov’s right shoulder with 2:27 left …

HE'S BACK!!! Image courtesy of lehighvalleylive.com

Atlantic Watch: Gagne Returns, Pens and Rangers Deal With Injuries, Devils and Islanders Endure Goaltending Woes

The Philadelphia Flyers won a pair of exciting contests this week, but they also lost two games where they could have easily grabbed points. With the return of a familiar face, the Orange and the Black look to reach .500 with two tilts against teams below them in the standings and a matinee against a Northeast Division foe. The Flyers started their week, and concluded their road trip, with an exciting 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center. Jakub Voracek put the game-winner past Tomas Vokoun with 1:31 left in regulation to complete his hat trick, …

Image c/o Amy Irving

Crashing the Crease: Know Your Enemy! Who are the best shootout forwards?

Last night, Patrick Kane scored yet another shootout goal that displayed a huge amount of finesse and once again reminded Flyers fans that the draft lottery is the devil. Even though Schneider got his pad on Kane’s attempt and initially appeared to stop it, the puck bounced off of him and in the net, adding yet another tally to Kane’s career numbers. It wasn’t as fancy as his numerous SO goals, but it got me thinking aloud: is Kane the most dangerous shootout forward for a goaltender to face? The immediate counter argument that sprang up was “no, Datsyuk is.” …

Image Courtsey of OfficePools.com

Flight Plan: Atlantic Away Southeast at Home

The Philadelphia Flyers have just one win through four games of a six game road trip. To say that the Flyers aren’t very good on the road is an understatement at this point, as they have the worst record in the NHL away from home at 2-8-0. They’ve also been away more than any team in the Eastern Conference, so there is some comfort in that at least, that they will eventually get even this schedule out with some games within the familiar confines of the Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately for this struggling, inconsistent, and seemingly apathetic team, they still …

Image courtesy of Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: Devils top the East, Rangers on winning streak, Islanders on losing streak

The Philadelphia Flyers were able to extend their point streak to four games this week, as they earned a shootout loss to the Florida Panthers and an overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Although they were dominated in Toronto, the Orange and Black did a good job of rebounding to earn their second road win of the year last night in Winnipeg. The Flyers continue their road trip with three of their six games away from the Wells Fargo Center coming in the next seven days. Philadelphia had a lead after 40 minutes on Thursday, but they only came away …

Image courtesy of NJ.com

Flight Plan: Southeastern Hospitality

The Philadelphia Flyers kicked off their first home stand with a bang, beating the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 5-3. Despite a lackluster third period, the Flyers were able to hold on for their third win of the 2013 season as Danny Briere, Braydon Coburn, Kurtis Foster, and Mike Knuble all netted their first goals of the year. The Orange and Black will strive for more consistency this week as they will play host to three Southeast Division teams after their second two-day break in a week. The Flyers face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the Florida Panthers on Thursday, …

Image courtesy of Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Atlantic Watch: 1/23-1/29

The Philadelphia Flyers started the week with a pair of wins, but a pair of lackadaisical efforts led to two losses where they were outscored 7-2. The Orange and Black find themselves at the bottom of the division with a trio of meetings against Southeast Division opponents over the next seven days. With a record of 0-3-0 and playing a team they went 0-6-0 against in 2011-2012, the Flyers’ 2-1 win over the visiting New York Rangers wasn’t expected on Thursday night. After a scoreless opening stanza, the tandem of Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek registered their first goals of …

Image Courtesy of Lady Neat

Flight Plan: Week of 01.21.2013

The Philadelphia Flyers had a rough start to this condensed 48-game schedule as they dropped both ends of a back-to-back over the weekend. A loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins is never fun, but despite looking flat in the first period, the Flyers really only lost by one goal as the Penguins scored an empty netter late in the third period to seal the win. The game against the Buffalo Sabres was disconcerting to say the least as the Flyers lost 5-2 and allowed two quick goals in the third period and another empty net goal with just under a minute …