Not trying to start up anything, but I noticed you are harping a lot on Lavy's "system" this season, yet in the past, you said systems don't matter, etc. Why the change?

Also, what was so different under Lavy's system last year that resulted in a 103 pt reg season campaign, keeping in mind game changer Pronger played less than a 1/6th of the season. I think we both know that it's not like Carle was the lynchpin player that made Lavy's system work (hardly)..and the team played very well down the stretch after Grossman arrived, and didn't let up that many goals against (including a 3-0 shutout of the NJD a 3-2 win over Detroit, 4-1 over Montreal). So why is Lavy's system all of the sudden so bad/inappropriate for the team as constructed now versus last season (even post-Grossman)?
- exlund

*see Panoch's blog been discussing this with MJL and Jsaq there

Not trying to start up anything, but I noticed you are harping a lot on Lavy's "system" this season, yet in the past, you said systems don't matter, etc. Why the change?

Also, what was so different under Lavy's system last year that resulted in a 103 pt reg season campaign, keeping in mind game changer Pronger played less than a 1/6th of the season. I think we both know that it's not like Carle was the lynchpin player that made Lavy's system work (hardly)..and the team played very well down the stretch after Grossman arrived, and didn't let up that many goals against (including a 3-0 shutout of the NJD a 3-2 win over Detroit, 4-1 over Montreal). So why is Lavy's system all of the sudden so bad/inappropriate for the team as constructed now versus last season (even post-Grossman)?
- exlund

They're 5-18-1 vs New Jersey and the Rangers over this season and last. That's provided a blueprint of how to beat them. Stay disciplined, don't get to running around and eventually, the Flyers will get over aggressive, make a mistake like a bad pinch or a lazy cover, give up an odd man rush and goal.

The last loss against the Pens is a prime example. The first period, then Penguins were an undisciplined mess in the first period. Blown coverages, stupid penalties, loads of running around. In the second period, they were disciplined. They didn't run around, stayed out of the box and were smart without being over aggressive, and the Flyers had zero answers.

I'm not going to get into the long drawn out Carle debate, but he played 20-25 minutes a night for the Flyers and certainly has more mobility than anyone left on the defense except Timonen.

Basically Lavy is trying to drive the Flyers like they are a race car, when instead its a pickup truck. He doesn't have the type of defensemen to play his system, and for whatever reason, he refuses to adapt.

The other maddening thing to me is watching the forwards try and skate the puck into the offensive zone or force a bad pass which usually leads to a turnover and often an odd man rush against. Whatever happened to dumping the puck and going after it when there is no good play to be made?
- BiggE

Actually it is statistically (significantly) more favorable to carry the puck into the zone versus dumping it...more shots and possession result. The team needs to do a better job of supporting each other entering the zone, more cohesively, better passes, etc.

Finally watching the Flyers play in their own end is just painful. I can't even begin to count the amount of times I've seen every defender looking at the puck carrier rather than playing their position and watching their man. Watch most of the goal replays that don't come off odd man rushes and you will see it time and time again.
.
- BiggE

I pointed this out too...very frustrating. I can understand going out to make a play on the puck carrier deep in the zone, but they have to be careful of numbers and not bunching up in that area of the ice... the forwards tend to focus on the puck too much and often end up leaving their check to join in the battle for the puck along the boards, which usually does little more than leave lots of open ice for opposing players to get open in a position to score. When you watch the better defensive teams in the league, the forwards stick to their man much more closely, cutting off the passing options and thus minimizing opposing scoring chances.

Check out the threads Vancouver will be wearing on Saturday to commemorate the Vancouver Millionaires team. Still better than the Habs prison break/where's waldo jerseys hahah..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-retro-millionaires-mask/

http://www.vancitybuzz.co...llionaires1.png&w=650&a=t

so......

what is the mood today
- GoFlyersGoSlovakia

ambivalence.

Check out the threads Vancouver will be wearing on Saturday to commemorate the Vancouver Millionaires team. Still better than the Habs prison break/where's waldo jerseys hahah..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-retro-millionaires-mask/

http://www.vancitybuzz.co...llionaires1.png&w=650&a=t
- Hextall271

Pretty cool threads

ambivalence.
- johndewar

i think you mean indifference...not a lot of emotion here....

They're 5-18-1 vs New Jersey and the Rangers over this season and last. That's provided a blueprint of how to beat them. Stay disciplined, don't get to running around and eventually, the Flyers will get over aggressive, make a mistake like a bad pinch or a lazy cover, give up an odd man rush and goal.

The last loss against the Pens is a prime example. The first period, then Penguins were an undisciplined mess in the first period. Blown coverages, stupid penalties, loads of running around. In the second period, they were disciplined. They didn't run around, stayed out of the box and were smart without being over aggressive, and the Flyers had zero answers.
- Jsaquella

But it worked more often than not last season (the NJ playoff series notwithstanding), resulting in a much better campaign. Wasn't it the same Lavy system and most of the same players? But yet lots of people are making that claim that Lavy is trying to play his system without the right/ideal players to play it. Something doesn't jibe.

Pretty cool threads
- johndewar

The pants that Kesler is wearing are ridiculous looking. The mask is well done though.

Pretty cool threads
- johndewar

Not bad. I wish they would wear the old yellow jerseys though.

Check out the threads Vancouver will be wearing on Saturday to commemorate the Vancouver Millionaires team. Still better than the Habs prison break/where's waldo jerseys hahah..

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...-retro-millionaires-mask/

http://www.vancitybuzz.co...llionaires1.png&w=650&a=t
- Hextall271

Ugh, don't like those.

What will they do with Luongo?
Are they stuck with him and Schnieder both?

Harry Z up to burn off his suspension.

so......

what is the mood today
- GoFlyersGoSlovakia

resignation it seems...

Harry Z up to burn off his suspension.
- Jsaquella

hanging on him like a barnacle....

hanging on him like a barnacle....
- isaiah520

I think the Z-Man would be better off using his Ivy League degree to pursue another profession. I don't think NHL hockey is in the cards for him.

so......

what is the mood today
- GoFlyersGoSlovakia

sardonic, in a universal sense

Ugh, don't like those.

What will they do with Luongo?
Are they stuck with him and Schnieder both?
- Marc D

I think he stays.. They are asking a ton for him.

But it worked more often than not last season (the NJ playoff series notwithstanding), resulting in a much better campaign. Wasn't it the same Lavy system and most of the same players? But yet lots of people are making that claim that Lavy is trying to play his system without the right/ideal players to play it. Something doesn't jibe.
- exlund

It did work last year, to an extent.

Notice I said that other teams saw what New Jersey and New York did to them last year and copied it. Florida's a perfect example. Since the 7-1 drubbing by the Flyers, the Panthers have been all over the Flyers in their own end, and turning Flyers mistakes in to glorious scoring chances.

All they have done is been disciplined in their aggressiveness, clogging up the lanes and the Flyers have not been able to get out of their own end. Part of that is an inability to come up with an effective counter and some of it is simply that they don't make smart passes out of their own end often enough to make the system work as well as it did last year.

They're asking guys like Schenn, Grossmann and Coburn to assume bigger roles than they have had in the past in the transition game. Again, like Carle or not, he's more mobile and has better puck skills than Grossmann, Schenn or even Coburn have shown over their careers.

I think the Z-Man would be better off using his Ivy League degree to pursue another profession. I don't think NHL hockey is in the cards for him.
- PLindbergh31

He's absorbing Rinaldo's shaken reputation.

He's absorbing Rinaldo's shaken reputation.
- BulliesPhan87

I love Rino. He's one of my favorite players. I wasn't going to DV'r the game tonight, but I am hopefully to see him lay some smack down on Carter.

But it worked more often than not last season (the NJ playoff series notwithstanding), resulting in a much better campaign. Wasn't it the same Lavy system and most of the same players? But yet lots of people are making that claim that Lavy is trying to play his system without the right/ideal players to play it. Something doesn't jibe.
- exlund

How much of this is simply other teams successfully scouting and adjusting to what the Flyers do (or, attempt to do)?

The record against NJD, NYR, and the Bruins over the past couple of years doesn't lie.

i think you mean indifference...not a lot of emotion here....
- isaiah520

No, definitely ambivalence.

This team is annoying to watch play right now, but it's like a train wreck. I just can't turn away.

I love Rino. He's one of my favorite players. I wasn't going to DV'r the game tonight, but I am hopefully to see him lay some smack down on Carter.
- PLindbergh31

In a season like this, it's something refreshing to see him out there working hard. That's not to say these other guys aren't trying (I think the player struggles are a bit more involved than not trying, or being stupid, or whatever), but he's one player you can see working hard to prove something and to get somewhere. I like his attitude, too. He's still just a bit of a punk

As for Harry Z, well, I think you're right: He can't be long for this league.

I think the Z-Man would be better off using his Ivy League degree to pursue another profession. I don't think NHL hockey is in the cards for him.
- PLindbergh31

some people don't mind 4 games in 5 nites at ~70k. but seriously, he's out of control. imagine if couts had those wheels.

No, definitely ambivalence.

This team is annoying to watch play right now, but it's like a train wreck. I just can't turn away.
- johndewar

ah

wouldn't be the 1st time i projected