Victory is Theirs

A few things to store in the memory banks the morning after the Flyers broke their franchise-record 10-game losing streak:

• Tampa head coach John Tortorella is not long for the exit. The Bolts are 4-8 this month, and 5-10 in their last 15 games. They are either losing big, or winning small and having to consistently make up deficits. It's nobody's fault, only the natural progression of a team that hit its peak and is now on the slow, steady decline right before drastic changes need to be made. Last night alone, turnovers, poor checking, and miscommunication led to all four Flyers goals.
• In order for the Flyers to win any more games this year, decimated by injury or not, they must capitalize on every mistake or chance the opposition gives them - whether it be penalties, turnovers, or sloppy play. All of those factors came into play last night, and the boys still only won by a goal.
• Although he's not long for Europe or the over-30 leagues, Alexei Zhitnik is a 1,000 percent improvement on defense over the likes of Baumgartner, Jonsson (Lars), Rathje, Meyer, or Hatcher. He reads and reacts to situations much faster than the rest of the defensive corps, moves the puck better, and has a quicker and more refined instinct on when and where to shoot the puck. If only Clarke/Holmgren could have spent the money on him coming out of the lockout...
• It's a tough call once again on the goaltender situation, because neither Niittymaki nor Esche has had much time and space to "develop" into a Number One due to injuries. Like clockwork the last two years, one goes down right after the other. At best, they are still a 1B and 2, each capable of turning in one or two phenomenal starts (like Esche last night) but unable to carry the team consistently over long stretches. As it's not likely the front office will be looking for goaltending help any time soon, we're stuck in the spin cycle that keeps telling the fan base that injuries are the biggest factor holding the two men back -- not the apparent ceiling each has in terms of talent and psychological makeup.
  
• Get ready for a strange New Year's Eve - the game against Carolina could just as easily be a surprise blowout 6-2 win as it could be a letdown 6-2 loss. On one hand, Philly may have enough equilibrium to play a more consistent game against the Hurricanes after a huge win. On the other hand, the 'Canes scored just once last night in Buffalo, despite a dozen or so great chances to pump a couple past Ryan Miller. That just screams for the beast to be let out of the cage on Sunday.