January 14, 2015
Two days after putting up seven goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Flyers failed to get on the board Wednesday, falling to the Capitals, 1-0, in Washington.
It could have been worse had it not been for the strong play of 33-year-old rookie goaltender Rob Zepp, who stopped 25 of 26 shots.
Some thoughts on the game...
Scott Laughton got the Scott-Stevens-on-Eric-Lindros treatment. Just look at the photo above...
His helmet popped clean off - possibly with his head still inside - and he was taken back to the locker room. He didn't need to go to the hospital, but didn't return to the game and is out with what the Flyers said is an upper body injury.
The media was not allowed to talk to Laughton after the game, and judging by the hit, it's doubtful he plays Thursday night.
I'll have more on Zepp later, but Wednesday was his best start of the season. It was also the worst the Flyers have played in any of his starts this season. Zepp was 2-0 before the loss to the Caps and despite winning both, he hadn't been spectacular - not like he was on Wednesday.
Zepp allowed three goals in each, but was able to pick up the win thanks to the Flyers' strong offensive play:
#Flyers have averaged 5.5 GPG in Zepp's two starts.
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 15, 2015
Another thing Zepp had going for him was the fact that he didn't have to play from behind in either game.
This is the first time #Flyers have not scored first in Rob Zepp's three NHL starts. They're down 1-0 after Chimera's re-direct in front.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 15, 2015
Speaking of goalies, Braden Holtby has been great for the Caps, especially recently. He stopped all 21 Flyers' shots on Wednesday, and throughout the season, he's consistently been getting better.
Here's a month-by-month look at his save percentage:
October: .907
November: .913
December: .929
January: .938 (before Wednesday's shutout of the Flyers)
Furthermore, since December 2, the Capitals have only lost once in regulation with Holtby in net. He's 13-1-4 over that same period.
The Flyers entered action Wednesday night closer to being in last place than to being in the playoffs.
#Flyers begin the night 11 pts. out of a playoff spot, and 10 pts. from the NHL's worst record. #McDavidWatch
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) January 15, 2015
The Flyers didn't seem to terribly miss Braydon Coburn, who will miss the next four weeks with a "lower body injury."
Wayne Simmonds temporarily forgot how to hop the boards...
