Consistent goalie play should help stabilize the team.


The one thing that bit the Philadelphia Flyers in the middle of last season was the inconsistency bug. For those of you that don't know, this is one virus that is not welcomed on a professional sports team.

Fans get frustrated, players get frustrated, and coaches get frustrated. All that leads to is benchings, firings, and turmoil.

The Flyers started off this season with a shining win over the hated Pittsburgh Penguins. After that, things seemed to drop off a bit as a goalie carousel continued. Head coach Peter Laviolette has been rotating back and forth between veteran Brian Boucher and the Russian rookie Sergei Bobrovsky.

After about four or so games of inconsistent play in net, Laviolette decided that it would be time to name just one goalie that will guard the pipes for a bit. And that was Bobrovsky. After losing at Columbus in a seemingly sloppy win for the Blue Jackets, the Flyers bounced back and demolished the Buffalo Sabres at home.

One thing that has really handicapped the Flyers this season was their lack of production on the power play. The reason for their lackluster man-advantage play? Their endless patience. If you don't shoot, you can't score.

The Flyers must have figured this out since they went exactly 50 percent on the power play against the Sabres, scoring three times on six chances.

The game against the Sabres really opened my eyes and restored my hope that this team will return to form. The hustle and drive displayed by the Flyers' forwards was exciting. The defense continued its solid play.

The Flyers certainly have the talent to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals but only one thing will decide their fate -- consistency.