This would have been a good question for Anthony to ask, since Torts technically didn’t answer it:

I suppose this is nicer than crushing the poor guy. Sandstrom gave up three goals on 14 shots and was pulled with seven minutes remaining in the third. The Flyers nabbed a power play goal to cut the lead to 3-1 but ultimately fell at home to the Panthers, 4-1.

It was a home/home back-to-back, coming off a really nice late win against the Bruins on Saturday. Sam Ersson played three of the five previous nights. He was due for a break and the Flyers were due for a let down against a great team that they beat a couple of times on the road. It’s not John Tortorella’s fault, or Danny Briere’s fault, or anybody’s fault really, that the #1 goaltender is unavailable due to legal troubles, but the fact of the matter is that they no longer have a legit backup goalie, and if they end up missing the playoffs, you wonder if finding someone serviceable at the deadline would have made the difference.

We’ll see.

The Flyers remain third in the Metro, but the Red Wings and Capitals are right on their trail, both with games in hand. The Flyers have played six playoff teams in a row and have won two, lost three, and grabbed an overtime point in the other. It could have been much worse, but that Carolina result was a big one. They’ve got one more in New York on Tuesday to complete the murderer’s row, then relief comes in the form of the Canadiens and Blackhawks.