By Sam Bush
Every Philly team has heard the boos.
The Sixers have heard the most because they have been so bad for so long.
The Phillies in the past three years have become accustomed to the “Let’s go Eagles!” chants as early as June.
And who can forget the “Good-bye Andy” chorus at the end of coach Andy Reid’s ignominious 2012 season?
But the Flyers? Philly’s sweethearts with the most loyal and passionate fan base?
The Vancouver Canucks broke out offensively with a 4-0 win against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
And goalie Ray Emery was so bad (photo above) that after he gave up three goal on 12 shots the sold-out crowd at the Wells for calling for 33-year-old rookie Rob Zepp, who relieved him and allowed one goal on 10 shots.
The Flyers (17-21-7) are 2-6-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. It’s the second straight game the Flyers were shut out; they lost 1-0 at the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. It’s the first time they were shut out in consecutive games since April 1-3, 2014.
It was the second straight time Emery was removed from a start; on Jan. 3 against the New Jersey Devils he was pulled after allowing three goals on 10 shots in the first period.
Emery has lost four straight games; since starting the season 4-0-1, he is 3-8-0 with a 3.75 goals-against average and .864 save percentage in 12 games.
“Tonight was frustrating, but you know it’s an easy solution,” Emery said. “You work, you make the most of the next opportunity, and you make sure you’re prepared for it.”
The Flyers outshot the Canucks 12-3 in the third period but went 0-for-4 on the power play, managing four shots with the man-advantage.
Philly’s best opportunity came with 13:35 left in the second period when Luke Schenn had an open chance in the slot but Miller robbed him with a glove save.
The Flyers will try to regroup before their game at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The loss leaves them 11 points behind the New York Rangers for the second wild-card spot into the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Though they have 37 games remaining, there is a sense that their chance for a spot might be slipping away.
“You worry about it but there’s a lot of hockey,” Flyers coach Craig Berube said. “Regroup tomorrow, go to Buffalo and win a hockey game. That’s what we’re going to worry about. We’ll go over tonight’s game tomorrow, talk about it. Get the guys refocused for Buffalo.”
