Flyers fail to turn over a new leaf
Team falls to 3-10-1 on the season

Heading into the 14th game of the train wreck that is the 2006-2007 Philadelphia Flyers season, the team was just 7 points out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Sure, it's still early, and sure, the Flyers haven't been eliminated from the division title race. Yet, with the sense of urgency (or lacktherof) that this team is showing, they might as well be.

In another disappointing and frustrating game against the Maple Leafs, Andrew Raycroft picked his game up in goal for Toronto and led the team to victory. Raycroft was on fire all night long, as the Flyers' sticks were ice cold. It was once more not a lack of shots on goal on offense, but instead the dearth of offensive prowess and the ability to finish on the rebound attempts. The Flyers also struggled once more on the power play, going 0 for 7 and lowering their season percentage on the man-advantage to an incomprehensible 8%. This team needs Brian Leetch on speed dial, or they will see this power play have an incredibly tough time all year long.

Bates Battaglia got Toronto on the board at the 5:25 mark of the first period with his 4th goal of the season. Antero Niittymaki came up with save after save in the first stanza, stopping 14 of 15 shots and keeping the ragged defense in front of him on life support. The Flyers were lucky to only be trailing by one after the first period.

In the second, Ben Eager got things started on the right foot for the Flyers. Eager received a pass from Eric Meloche in the offensive zone, and went one-on-one with Raycroft. Eager beat Raycroft stick-side to tie the game at one a piece. For Meloche, it was his second assist in as many games for the Flyers. For Eager, it was his first goal of the season just over two and half minutes into the period. Philadelphia continued the barrage on Toronto's net, sending 17 shots Raycroft's way in the second. They could not capitalize on any of them except Eager's, and headed into the third tied at 1-1.

With 7:18 to play in the third, Bryan McCabe took a shot from the point. The puck came loose in front of the goal and Nik Antropov scored on the power play to put Toronto in front 2-1.

With the score 2-1 and the Flyers pressing to tie, a puck came loose at center ice. Alexei Ponikarovsky hopped on the loose disk, and charged into the Flyers zone. Ponikarovsky fired it up and over the shoulder pads of Niittymaki, putting the icing on the cake for the Leafs. They added an empty net goal from Tomas Kaberle with 1:13 to play to go up 4-1. In the end, it was another wasted trip to Toronto for the Flyers, who have not beaten the Leafs in their last three games against them. These days, it's tough for this Flyers team to beat anyone.