Philadelphia Flyers: Has Complacency Set in for Peter Laviolette and Co.?

That unfortunate time has arrived in Philadelphia: The nasty issue of complacency has officially seeped into the Philadelphia Flyers' season.

It has ripped the Flyers apart and slimmed their Eastern Conference stranglehold to just two points.

Over the past few weeks, the Flyers have slowed down noticeably with no signs of turning it around.  

They've collectively hit a slump that has seen them go just 2-6-0. However, Earth is still functioning and after all, the Flyers still lead the East, although by a narrow margin.

Their recent slump can be attributed to many factors; complacency has to be the major issue, though, in many peoples' minds.  

As of late, this team hasn't done the things that it did all throughout the year that gave them such a nice cushion earlier in the season.  

Teams like Boston and Pittsburgh are suddenly catching up with Philadelphia in the standings.

As seen in the past, complacency is an ugly problem that can be a team's greatest detriment.

For the Flyers, that is becoming more and more of a reality.  

While the offense has come out flat throughout this slide, the defense has been more of the issue. Regardless of who's been in net, the Flyers have oftentimes looked "lost" on defense.  

Yeah, I said it. LOST!  

For a unit that has been so instrumental to the Flyers' success this season, they've really made a 180 as of late.

But I do say to Flyers fans: Do not panic. The team, as a whole, will turn it around and gel again come spring.  

Throughout the season, they've answered every challenge that has come their way and done so admirably.  This might, in fact, be the best Flyers team from top to bottom—EVER.  

Here's an interesting stat for everyone.

If there's one thing that the rest of the hockey world has learned, it's this: Do not count the Philadelphia Flyers out no matter what the circumstances are.  

This is a special group that has just abruptly fallen into a rut that they can't escape.

The Flyers know adversity better than any team in the NHL though and should respond accordingly. And a visit from the Edmonton Oilers could be just what the doctor ordered for Philly.

Perhaps the most daunting task ahead for "the team that had it all" is the question of who will be in net come playoff time.  

If it's Sergei Bobrovsky, the Flyers could be dealing with the inexperience factor, although "Bob" has been solid all season.  

So how about a combination of Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher? It has happened before and it's worked.  

The Flyers' scoring remains lethal for opponents and can't be matched, at least not in the East.  

With depth everywhere, this could be their year to win the two games that they didn't win last season.   To do so, the Flyers will need to get back to their game and play simple hockey the rest of the way. 

If the Flyers are able to maintain their No. 1 seed and head into the playoffs atop the East, they could be representing the East in June again.  

There are a lot of "ifs" and question marks surrounding this team right now, though, that will need clarification.  

Until then, their downturn could continue.  

All in all, this relates back to the Flyers' attitude of complacency, which is proving to be a slow killer for the orange and black.