The one constant about Mike Richards as a captain has been his reluctance to truly call out his own teammates after losses.
He criticisms are always muted with the positives he can find within the game, as if he were a head coach.
Last night in Ottawa was different. Richards finally said the kind of things after the game that Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen have routinely said this season.
“We seem to have a little bit of a lack of motivation which shouldn’t be there,” Richards said after yet another lame loss, this one, 2-0 in Ottawa to the Senators.
“The lack of urgency, which shouldn’t be there. It’s obviously frustrating to go through a game like that and not see everyone play their hardest.”
Honestly, I can't remember the last time Richards was that blunt-honest after a game.
Pronger, supported him, but what I found most interesting about Pronger's remarks were that he wasn't buying what some of his teammates or coach Peter Laviolette was saying: that the brutal officiating was the real reason behind the loss.
I didn't see it that way. Not when you go 16+ minutes from one period well into the other without a shot. Not when there's no obvious sense of urgency to turn things around.
Laviolette seemed so blind wit anger over the unpunished actions of Anton Volchenkov, that he couldn't understand a question from two reporters - myself included _ asking whether his team - allowing for the officials _ really played well enough to win or were willing to compete.
The FLyers looked very good last week in Dallas, then very tepid in back-to-back losses to Atlanta and finally, looked like they threw in the towel against Ottawa.
Brian Boucher isn't as good as Michael Leighton. He doesn't seem capable to giving the team the kind of "must save" it could have used over the weekend against the Thrashers.
He didn't lose in Ottawa. But the fact is, he doesn't seem capable of stealing a game in a playoff series. That assume the Flyers make the playoffs.
“We’ve got to play with a sense of desperation and a desire that we are going to out-compete the other team,” Pronger said. “It wasn’t enough tonight to win the game. They get up 2-0. Behind the eight ball again against a team that plays tight defensively.
“So, it’s no secret we have to come off better first periods and build as the game continues and get better and better. But we’ve got to come out with better first periods …
"All these teams we’re playing are either fighting for the playoffs or for positions in the playoffs. They’re trying to prepare and get ready post-season, as well. We’re not the only one in the same position.”
My prediction is that the Flyers finish with 88-89 points and make the playoffs.
I don't see any way they win a playoff round the way they're playing now.
One and done.
I don't see a confident with the puck. I also don't see a team that is confident with its goalie.
When a club loses the one guy everyone believes is, it can have a devastating impact all-around, especially, going into the playoffs.
Here's my gamer on CSNPhilly.com:
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