Canucks 4, Flyers 1: Offense comes up small again in fourth straight loss

The Philadelphia Flyers had the weekend off after falling to the Sabres on Friday night in Buffalo, but the time off was not enough to help them avoid an 0-2 start to their current five-game road trip. For the third straight game, the offense was held to just one goal as the Flyers (4-5-2) fell to the Canucks, 3-1, Monday night in Vancouver.

Through their first 11 games, Dave Hakstol's team is third from last in the NHL with just 21 goals scored (1.91/game). That would make more sense if it wasn't for the fact that they led the league in shots per game (33.5) heading into play Monday. They managed just 28 shots in their loss the Canucks, and that's not going to get the job done when you're averaging one goal for every 17.3 shots. 

Another low-scoring game for the Flyers meant another quiet night for Jake Voracek, who was able to pick up his fourth assist of the season on the lone Flyers goal, scored by captain Claude Giroux. It was also another rough night for the Flyers power play, which failed to produce for the fifth straight game -- they're currently in the midst of a 0-for-12 drought with the man advantage.

Here's more on that, as well as some other observations from loss, the Flyers' fourth in a row:

Observations

•      First, the Flyers top line was back to normal. Voracek and Michael Raffl rejoined Giroux in place of Wayne Simmonds and Matt Read, who were moved up prior to Friday's loss to the Sabres. But the lineup wasn't entirely as expected. Evgeny Medvedev was a healthy scratch for the first time this season. He was replaced by Brandon Manning, who was paired with Radio Gudas. Manning finished with a minus-1 rating, one shot and just one hit. Or was it two hits?

 •    As previously mention, Voracek was able to get a point. Here's an updated look at how his 2015 season compares to last year's numbers:

*Cumulative

•    The tone was set pretty early in this one. The Canucks scored 1:08 into the game off a Simmonds turnover at the blue line. Even though it was early, it was already Vancouver's second good chance of the night.

•    Offensively, it was another slow start. The Flyers were outshot 8-1 over the first six-plus minutes of the game and their second shot didn't come until about midway through the period. And even when they were able to get a look, Ryan Miller was there. 

But then they settled in and held the Canucks shotless for almost eight minutes (7:43) and really outplayed the Canucks for what amounted to be a period's worth of hockey. Ultimately, however, the Flyers surrendered the lead midway through the second, as Bo Horvat scored on a 4-on-4. That would be as close as they would get.

•    Remember that Giroux goal that I mentioned earlier? Drink it in.

And in case that wasn't enough -- it almost certainly wasn't -- here's another look:

•    Special teams play didn't hurt the Flyers for a change, but it also didn't help them much either. For the first time in their last six games, the Flyers held their opponent scoreless on the power play. Their PK unit had allowed six goals on 19 attempts (68.4 percent) over their previous five games, but kept the Canucks off the board Monday. That was due in large part to their ability to stay out of the box. The Flyers had just two penalties in the game -- only one of which forced the Flyers shorthanded -- after finding themselves shorthanded an average of 3.8 times per game over their previous five.

That being said, the Flyers' struggles on the power play continued. They entered the game 0-for their last 10, and failed to score on each of their two chances Monday. 

Up next

The Flyers now head to Edmonton on Tuesday for their second game during this stretch of four in six days. After facing the Oilers, they’ll have Wednesday off before facing the Flames on Thursday and the Jets on Saturday.