Philadelphia Flyers' 5-Step Plan to Avoid a Slow Start to 2013 Season

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With the lockout-shortened season, a slow start could be fatal for any team, especially a young one like the Philadelphia Flyers.

Each game is increasingly important, and with so many games in a short period of time there's not much time for rest or for slumps.

The Flyers will face a number of challenges over the next couple weeks as they try to regain midseason form in a short period of time. While the season opener against Pittsburgh was sloppy for the most part, there were some positives that the Flyers will need to build on.

Here is a short plan for the Flyers to avoid a slow start to the 2013 season. Their playoff chances may come down to it. 

New Leadership

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While everyone likes to downplay the switch from wearing the "A" to the "C," there's no doubt that the feeling is a little different now with Claude Giroux officially taking over as captain.

Maybe things won't change too much in the locker room, but it's a start to a new era in Philadelphia. The entire city, along with the hockey world in general, will be paying close attention to how Giroux comes out in his first few weeks as captain.

If he can get off to a hot start and avoid any big mistakes on or off the ice, it'll help push the team in the right direction and take a lot of pressure off Giroux's shoulders.

Bryzgalov's Consistency

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Ilya Bryzgalov may be the X-factor for the Flyers' entire season, let alone for the first few weeks. Now, he doesn't necessarily have to come out and be perfect, but he has to avoid crashing like he did at times last season.

Last year, Bryz was maddeningly inconsistent, and it affected the entire team. If he can come out and show some solid consistency to start the season, it will be a big boost for the entire squad. 

Schenn Brothers Stepping Up

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I think the Schenn brothers, Brayden and Luke, will play enormous roles in the Flyers' success this season. Luke didn't blossom in Toronto like he was expected to, but he will play a large role on Philadelphia's blue line.

In the playoffs last year, Brayden really showed why he was the No. 1 prospect in all of hockey a couple years ago. He's starting this season on the first line, and the Flyers need him to step up to the task and help get the offense in gear right away.

Converting on the Power Play

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Against Pittsburgh, the Flyers had five chances on the power play and failed to convert a single one. Without Chris Pronger and Danny Briere, two of the Flyers' best with the man advantage, others need to step up.

Giroux and Kimmo Timonen are the focal points, but guys like Jake Voracek, Wayne Simmonds and Braydon Coburn will all need to do their part.

With sloppy play sure to cause a lot of penalties at the start of the season, converting on as many chances as possible will be key to winning games. 

Staying Healthy

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Last, but possibly most importantly, the Flyers will need to stay healthy to make sure they get off to a fast start. The more the team plays together, the quicker they'll pick things back up.

If guys are going in and out of the lineup, it'll be very difficult for the team to get in a real rhythm. Danny Briere is still questionable, and his veteran presence would be key for the Flyers at the start of the season.

As long as the team stays healthy, they should be able to avoid a slow start. But with less training camp and a short preseason, staying healthy may be the hardest thing to do.