Editor's Note: Small portions of this FanPost have been edited to comply with the community guidelines.

Ok, they may not be Cellar Dwellars as I originally predicted (although it's a long season, one just never knows). The Flyers thus far are playing like a .500 Hockey club.

It has only been 5 games (1/16th of the season) and the team is 3 - 1 - 1 (one win above .500), sitting in third place in the Atlantic and holding onto the 5th seed in the conference (at this point, Pittsburgh is holding the 4th seed).

Long before the season started, I claimed there was 3 Keys to the Flyers reaching the promise land. This is a look at those three, after the first 5 games.

1. Health

The Flyers have to stay healthy to be successful.

Simon Gagne - suffered a groin injury prior to training camp, while trying out for Team Canada. He hasn't missed a regular season game thus far, despite having 3 assists and a +3 (his +/- is tied for second best on the team with Chris Pronger, only Matt Carle's is better at +4) you have to wonder if the groin is bothering him at all

Brian Boucher - the back-up Goaltender, was injured during the preseason and has yet to see game action here in the regular season. If he's not at a point to where he is capable of playing (and playing effectively), that means starting Goaltender, Ray Emery, will be having to play a lot of minutes and you wonder how that may fair towards his conditioning once the post-season arrives.

Blair Betts - got hurt as soon as he got his 1-year deal. The Face-off specialist is lost for at least a month. When he's ready to comeback, you wonder how long it will take for him to shake off the rust and get used to the speed of the game again. He is an NHL veteran, but defense is the name of his game, and if he can't be effective defensively then what should the team do with him?

James Van Riemsdyk - the rookie sensation got injured, just three games into the season.  It's too bad, because he was playing pretty well.

Someone pointed this out in another thread - but, the Flyers haven't won a game since Blair Betts & JVR went down.

2. Goaltending

Defense wins championships.

(Stating the obvious) In Ice Hockey, Goaltending, is the last line of Defense.

So, far, the new Goaltender, Ray Emery. Well after his last 2-games, I think the Flyers need a new "Razor Blade".

For Emery has dulled quickly. Although his numbers aren't bad through the first 5 games, his play has become very shaky, ever since getting burned by Jamie Langenbrunner.

Emery's overall numbers:

Shots Against: 149; Saves: 135; Save %: .909; Goals Allowed: 14; Goals Against Average 2.75; Wins: 3; Shut-outs: 1

His numbers aren't bad, but he needs to be a lot better if the Flyers are going to make it to the promise land. Especially the way the team has so many defensive breakdowns. Of the Flyers 14 goals against, 6 of them have been the result of a breakaway (This is not counting the Selanne Shoot out goal). His goaltending has been so awful against breakaways, that it feels like an automatic goal against whenever the opposing team creates a breakway.

3. John Stevens

The team has stayed fairly healthy thus far. And the goaltending has been ok. But, it's going to be on John Stevens to put these guys in position to be successful.

So, far in his tenure, giving up the lead and giving up goals in under 2-minutes to play in a period or in the game have been chronic issues. In the first 5 games, the Flyers have squandered leads in 2 of them (vs. Washington and vs. Anaheim). (they squandered the lead 3 times alone in the Washington game). And only once, so far this season, the team has given up a goal with under 2-minutes to go (It just so happened to be a game tying goal as well; the game tying goal against the Mighty Ducks with 16-seconds to go in regulation). The Flyers could easily have been 4 - 1 - 0, but noooooooooooo! A complete defensive breakdown leads to a Shoot-out loss.

Despite the same old flaws haunting the Flyers, their have been other bone head coaching mistakes.

Defensive breakdowns, Line changing, match-ups.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the home team get the last change?So, how is it the Flyers are getting caught with mismatches during home games?

For example: The Flyers getting caught with JVR, Giroux, Syvret, and Parent on the Ice with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom? In a home game? All that inexperience agains the best hockey player in the world? I could understand the mistake if the game was in Washington, where the Caps get the last change.

The Defensive breakdowns are another problem. Kimmo Timonen not staying in his lane (see the Langenbrunner shortie). The Defense not protecting the middle of the ice or clearing the goal mouth (see the Malkin goal). Not being alert as to who and where opponents are on the ice (Selanne's second goal)? The number of breakaway opportunities for the opposing team. (Langenbrunner, Ovechkin, Semin, Guerin, Jordan Staal, Teemu Selanne).

The sloppy play with the puck. Pronger turn over leading to an Ovechkin goal. Coburn shooting the puck in his own net.

And the Flyers playing sluggish against the team they are trying to beat (the Penguins..at home!). I guess Sidney Crosby is in their head, for even Chris Pronger played awful in that game.

Stevens has a lot of things to clean up right now, this team is not playing smoothly. Especially from a defensive stand point.

As for the rest of the team here is how some of the key players are fairing:

Mike Richards, the captain, leads the team in Goals with 6, but he only has 2 assists and a +/- of 0.

Jeff Carter, the one trick pony, has 4 Goals and 4 Assists, and a +/- of 0.

Danny Briere, the cookie monster, has 3 Goals, 1 assist, and a +/- of -2.

Simon Gagne, has not scored a goal, but he does have 3 assists and an impressive +3.

Scott Hartnell has been awful, despite the game tying goal against Washington, and 2 assists, he's a -1 thus far.

Claude Giroux, has 2 assists, and no goals, and a plus/minus of +2.

James Van Riemsdyk, it's tough to be productive when you're injured, 3 assists, 0 goals ,and +1.

Ian Laperriere: leads the team with 2 fights, 1 goal, 0 assists, and a -2.

Dan Carcillo has the only other Flyer fight. 0 assists, 0 goals, and a -1.

Kimmo Timonen has 1 Goal, 4 assists, and is a lousy -2 (probably because he's paired with Randy Jones *cough* I mean Braydon Coburn)

Braydon Coburn (must have Jonesitus): 0 Goals, 2 assists, and a -2. (sorry I guess ya don't get credit for a goal when you shoot the puck in your own net)

Matt Carle has been the best Flyer thus far. He leads the team in assists with 7, and plus/minus with a +4. He also has 1 goal.

Chris Pronger, hasn't been too impressive although he has 1 Goal, 4 Assists, and a +3

Hopefully this layoff will give the Flyers sometime to heal up a bit and work out the kinks. Although the Stevens problems are continuing to haunt the team, hopefully they can fix that while they are enjoying the Florida keys.

Their next game is in Miami against a Panthers team that has only 1 win on the season. I hope the Flyers don't take them lightly, and give them win #2. This is a big game for the orange and black to redeem themselves after their 2 game slide.