Big Things Coming... Gameday vs FLA & B&P Plays Catch Up

Philadelphia Flyers (23-12-9, 55 pts) at Florida Panthers (20-16-6, 46 pts)
BankAtlantic Center - 7:30 PM EST - Sunrise, FL
TV: CW 57 (HD?), FS Florida HD
Radio: 610 WIP, XM 207
Check Here for Internet Streams
Behind Enemy Lines: Litter Box Cats

I apologize for the lack of posting about last night's game, and of course tonight's game in Miami (Sunrise... whatever), but I've been working on a cool new feature for the site. Look for it to debut sometime this weekend or Monday, depending on the amount of pond hockey played tomorrow and the amount of Eagles mania on Sunday.

But, on to the team briefly. The Flyers lost to Tampa last night by a score of 4-1, and believe it or not, they looked worse than they did against Pittsburgh at home on Tuesday night. They have no emotion on the ice and they have zero killer instinct, and even worse, they are getting outworked in every aspect of the game.

The past two games have been absolutely atypical of what we've seen from the Flyers over the last two months and it's not a good sign. Mike Richards put it well following last nights loss.

It was really kind of embarrassing how much they outworked us, 44 shots to [32]. This is unacceptable for the team that we have, and really, a defensive-minded team that we have. We have to get back to [doing] the right things. If we outwork them [tonight] I like our chances, but that's the biggest thing. It's not X's-and-O's, it's the work ethic.

We're just getting outworked right now. I don't know if our confidence was too high or it crossed into cocky. We really just got outworked the last two games. We just have to play better, myself included. I think that was the worst two games I have played in a while.

Those are very captainly words from the soft-spoken guy, and everyday he reminds me more and more like Bobby Clarke. But, his team is not playing like Clarke's teams at the moment. One staple of Flyers hockey is hard work and that's simply what they are not doing right now.

They better find the work ethic in a hurry, though, as they have another game in South Florida tonight. The Panthers come into the contest sitting in ninth in the East, but just one point behind Carolina with three games in hand. These are big times for the Panthers, and if they're able to climb deeper into the playoff race now, it may determine whether or not Jay Bouwmeester stays or goes.

Kimmo Timonen is a game time decision after getting hit in the mouth with a puck last night in Tampa. The Flyers, for some reason, still found the need to call it an "upper body injury." We all saw it happen, we know it's a puck to the mouth, call it what it is... one of my pet peeves. I digress. UPDATE: Kimmo is playing, and the Flyers called it a "facial laceration". Wins all around.

Danny Briere also plays one more game with the Phantoms this evening at the Spectrum.

It's cold out there so get on the ponds while you still can. I know I will be all day tomorrow, and hopefully I'l be able to wear my Flyers jersey with pride after a big statement win over the Panthers tonight.

Go Flyers.