FLYERS NEWS

After a heartbreaking loss to the Penguins in their last game the Flyer's welcomed the Atlanta Thrashers to Wachovia center tonight as they looked to get back on the winning track. Atlanta actually won the last time these two teams met, but before that the Flyers had beaten the Thrashers in 14 straight contests, so you would think tonight would be just another check in the win column for the Orange and Black. Think again. Instead it was an up and down night for the Flyers which only allowed them to encounter more heartbreak. They fell behind early 1-0 in a sluggish 1st period. They owned the 2nd period though with Claude Giroux scoring a dazzling unassisted tally early in the period and Dan Carcillo and Aaron Asham scoring on breakaways late in the period.

So headed into the 3rd period the Orange and Black led 3-1 and all seemed well. Unfortunately, the good feelings didn't last too long. Just 29 seconds into the 3rd Ilya Kovalchuck raced into the Flyer's zone all alone off a faceoff and slapped one by Ray Emery to cut it to 3-2. 4 minutes later Rich Beverley rumbled into the Flyer's zone again all alone on a breakaway and gunned a slapshot past Emery to tie it up at 3. Finally with a little under 7 minutes to play Jim Slater completed the heartbreak scoring off yet another largely uncontested Thrasher breakaway, to put Atlanta ahead 4-3. The Flyer's had plenty of time from there to tie it up again and at least earn 1 point by pushing the game to overtime. Apparently they were just a little too shell shocked and thanks to a goaltender interference call on Danny Briere they spent 2 of the final 3 minutes on the penalty kill, essentially ruining any comeback hopes they still had at the time.

So for the 2nd time in as many games the Flyer's defense broke down late in the game for a loss, but this one hurts even more, for the Flyer's truly had victory in their grasp on this night. In fact coming in they were unbeaten this season when leading after 2 periods. Going by the stat sheet, they also played a pretty complete game in this one, throwing 37 shots on goal while allotting Atlanta just 28 shots on goal, of which Emery saved 24 while helping his teammates kill off all 4 Thrasher's power plays on the night. Sometimes it is just not your night though, and tonight just wasn't meant to be for the Orange and Black for whatever reason. If nothing else though the Flyers are still at least 7th in the Eastern conference at the moment, but they'll have to stop this losing streak right now if they want to stay there.