I don't either, but there's still hope...and I want them to go down swinging regardless.
- Jsaquella

I'm alittle disappointed that it takes the GM to come into the room and rip the team for their play. These players should be motivated already. I like the effort put out on the ice tonight but I still think NJ controlled the play. Bryzgalov stole the game tonight.

I don't either, but there's still hope...and I want them to go down swinging regardless.
- Jsaquella

All we can ask for. We knew when the 2006-07 team was out of it we still wanted effort. Some players gave it. Others (York, Calder, Sanderson, for example) did not.

I'm alittle disappointed that it takes the GM to come into the room and rip the team for their play. These players should be motivated already. I like the effort put out on the ice tonight but I still think NJ controlled the play. Bryzgalov stole the game tonight.
- stveshdy

to be fair, if Paul Holmgren came to MY office and told me to get my ass in gear, or else ... all the while waving a hockey stick at me ... I would take notice and make the necessary changes.

I'm alittle disappointed that it takes the GM to come into the room and rip the team for their play. These players should be motivated already. I like the effort put out on the ice tonight but I still think NJ controlled the play. Bryzgalov stole the game tonight.
- stveshdy

I don't know that NJ controlled the play. They sure seemed to win a Seravalli ton of faceoffs, though. From that standpoint, they gained control of the play through the wins. The Flyers did have several instances where they'd lose the faceoff but soon get control of the puck, though.

Also, they did a good job of winning puck battles - especially on the PK.

I'm alittle disappointed that it takes the GM to come into the room and rip the team for their play. These players should be motivated already. I like the effort put out on the ice tonight but I still think NJ controlled the play. Bryzgalov stole the game tonight.
- stveshdy

I just hope it was the first step to a more disciplined style of play. I'm not expecting Laviolette to become Jacques Lemaire. But if they can be more disciplined and leave themselves less open to getting killed in their over aggressiveness, they will eliminate a lot of my worries.

to be fair, if Paul Holmgren came to MY office and told me to get my ass in gear, or else ... all the while waving a hockey stick at me ... I would take notice and make the necessary changes.

- FlyerGuy

Even with Holmgren laying the "boom" in the locker room this team has a long ways to go.

I don't know that NJ controlled the play. They sure seemed to win a Seravalli ton of faceoffs, though. From that standpoint, they gained control of the play through the wins. The Flyers did have several instances where they'd lose the faceoff but soon get control of the puck, though.

Also, they did a good job of winning puck battles - especially on the PK.
- Flyskippy

Good points. I thought for sure the Devils were going to score at the end of the game. All over the Flyers but Bryz played well.

Tim Panaccio
@tpanotchCSN
On Bryz: Stars go in w/8 minutes left. If Bryz gives up 3 goals in shootout, people are booing, he loses, and I embarrass him.
- opeth_pa

So Panotch only embarrasses himself.

I just hope it was the first step to a more disciplined style of play. I'm not expecting Laviolette to become Jacques Lemaire. But if they can be more disciplined and leave themselves less open to getting killed in their over aggressiveness, they will eliminate a lot of my worries.
- Jsaquella

That's the thing. When you play a team like NJ, that can handle the pressure attack. You play the way they did tonight. When you pay a team you feel you can pressure with a heavy forecheck, you play that way. You then have versatility and can play different ways. And the style they played tonight, it much better suited to holding a lead.

I just hope it was the first step to a more disciplined style of play. I'm not expecting Laviolette to become Jacques Lemaire. But if they can be more disciplined and leave themselves less open to getting killed in their over aggressiveness, they will eliminate a lot of my worries.
- Jsaquella

My favorite forward, Hartnell, has me worried. Playing really recklessly. Like you said (here or on Twitter, not sure) it's like his toe bone held his discipline in check and when it broke all the discipline leaked out.

/paraphrase

I just hope it was the first step to a more disciplined style of play. I'm not expecting Laviolette to become Jacques Lemaire. But if they can be more disciplined and leave themselves less open to getting killed in their over aggressiveness, they will eliminate a lot of my worries.
- Jsaquella

Yup. Just wonder if they can consistantly play discipline hockey. I'm worried defensively still.

Good points. I thought for sure the Devils were going to score at the end of the game. All over the Flyers but Bryz played well.
- stveshdy

They had some moments when they sat back and were too cautious. Like at the end, and the start of the 3rd. It's a fine line.

So Panotch only embarrasses himself.
- Duran76

They had some moments when they sat back and were too cautious. Like at the end, and the start of the 3rd. It's a fine line.
- MJL

Agreed. Can't understand why they do that (sit back). The Flyers played much better tonight but I still think they should of lost this game tonight (my opinion). The difference was Bryzgalov tonight as he was a monster between the pipes.

Agreed. Can't understand why they do that (sit back). The Flyers played much better tonight but I still think they should of lost this game tonight (my opinion). The difference was Bryzgalov tonight as he was a monster between the pipes.
- stveshdy

They had a much better chance of winning the way the played tonight, then they did Wednesday in terms of the style of play.

They had a much better chance of winning the way the played tonight, then they did Wednesday in terms of the style of play.
- MJL

Absolutely. Wednesday night was embarrassing and the team lacked effort.

They had a much better chance of winning the way the played tonight, then they did Wednesday in terms of the style of play.
- MJL

Trading in the bullfighter capes for hockey sticks helped.

Absolutely. Wednesday night was embarrassing and the team lacked effort.
- stveshdy

I think they lacked smarts and direction more than effort on Wednesday. It's like the saying, "Work smarter, not harder." They were working hard, not smart, most of the night Wednesday.

I think they lacked smarts and direction more than effort on Wednesday. It's like the saying, "Work smarter, not harder." They were working hard, not smart, most of the night Wednesday.
- Flyskippy

They still had moments of dumb. Hartnell's penalty. Simmonds' penalty that should have been on Hartnell. Schenn launching himself with less than 2 minutes left...but they survived the dumb tonight because the rest of the game had so much discipline built into it.

Especially the PK. Really looked good tonight.

Agreed. Can't understand why they do that (sit back). The Flyers played much better tonight but I still think they should of lost this game tonight (my opinion). The difference was Bryzgalov tonight as he was a monster between the pipes.
- stveshdy

Did they sit back or did NJ just close down the passing lanes and effectively pick up their checks? The Flyers had a difficult time getting the puck in deep all game and turned the puck over at the attacking blueline continuously.

The Flyers still played dumb enough to lose but Breeze held serve until they were able to somehow win in the SO.

Oh well, a win is a win, even though the Debs walked out with a point also.

I think they lacked smarts and direction more than effort on Wednesday. It's like the saying, "Work smarter, not harder." They were working hard, not smart, most of the night Wednesday.
- Flyskippy

Either way the team was horrible.

They still had moments of dumb. Hartnell's penalty. Simmonds' penalty that should have been on Hartnell. Schenn launching himself with less than 2 minutes left...but they survived the dumb tonight because the rest of the game had so much discipline built into it.

Especially the PK. Really looked good tonight.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I did not mean to imply that there was no dumb out there. Thankfully, regulation time ended before the dumb got worse.

Either way the team has horrible.
- stveshdy

No question

They had a much better chance of winning the way the played tonight, then they did Wednesday in terms of the style of play.
- MJL

I agree. The way they played tonight they lose 7 out of 10 times to nj instead of 9 out of 10.

Still way to many turnovers in between the red line and opponents blue line.

They still have no idea how to maneuver through the neutral zone. If they weren't turning it over they were dumping it. But nj could not bring an end to end game tonight either. Good on flyers.

One thing the flyers corrected tonight is getting all 3 forwards caught deep in their end

Maybe it's baby steps. For one night it changed.

I agree. The way they played tonight they lose 7 out of 10 times to nj instead of 9 out of 10.

Still way to many turnovers in between the red line and opponents blue line.

They still have no idea how to maneuver through the neutral zone. If they weren't turning it over they were dumping it. But nj could not bring an end to end game tonight either. Good on flyers.

One thing the flyers corrected tonight is getting all 3 forwards caught deep in their end

Maybe it's baby steps. For one night it changed.
- Just5

Too little, too late.