NHL Power Rankings 2011: Philadelphia Flyers Suffer Slight Slide

The Philadelphia Flyers defense has been faulty lately, and with it, the Flyers have fallen. The Flyers have lost four of their last five games, surrendering a combined 23 goals during the losses. 

ESPN's weekly NHL power rankings have the Flyers in eighth place, between the St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the rankings came before Philadelphia's two most recent losses, during which the Flyers have given up 14 goals.

Fox Sports also listed the Flyers at No. 8, down four spots from last week. John Rosen noted Brayden Schenn's struggles becoming acclimated to the NHL game. Schenn won't resolve those issues any time soon, since he broke his foot during Wednesday night's loss to Montreal and will miss four to six weeks.

The Hockey News ranked the Flyers seventh, four spots below last week's perch at No. 3. But those rankings, like the ESPN ones, came out before Philadelphia's two most recent losses.

-- For more Flyers coverage, visit our team page, or our blog Broad Street Hockey.