Despite less-than-energetic first periods, the Flyers have done an admirable job collecting points this season and climbing into a playoff spot.
That said, there have been too many slow starts. Too many times where they have fallen behind and chased the game.
It happened again Tuesday in a 5-4 shootout loss in Detroit.
The Flyers were outplayed, outshot, and outworked in the first period — against a going-nowhere team that had lost 10 straight — and fortunate to be in a scoreless tie after 20 minutes.
They have led after the opening period just 14 times in 74 games.