A tired team playing on the road loses a shootout to a rested team at home, oh well stuff happens. All in all I am very happy with how they have progressed under Berube and I'm looking forward to a successful homestand.

Some observations from last night:

Coburn was a horse last night. they would be nuts to trade him.

Steve Mason is the real deal, I've seen enough

Sean Couturier may not be scoring but his work a shutdown center has been exceptional

Good to see Luke Schenn keeping his feet moving and playing physical. I still think he is going to be a solid shutdown dman

Re the 4th line : If they are going to use Rinaldo as a spot guy on the pk. I would rather see Raffl in that role instead. I would also like to see them make a minor deal for a better 4th line LW to play with Hall and Raffl while Rinaldo becomes the 13th forward.

All in all it was a very good road trip, well done boys!!

i wont disagree, because it largely is an issue of personal preference. but for me, i am unsure of just how deserving they are to decide a victory, but i find it hard to imagine not viewing it as exciting, especially in a league starving for flash as it is for the average fan
- stayinthefnnet

I'm going to have to take 2 showers today for saying this but I agree with this pens fan. Fancy goal scoring and 1 on 1 goal tending battles are the most exciting part of hockey. To further the point if defense, per se, was the best part of hockey no one would complain about how miserable it is to watch defensive system teams like the devils, yotes, and preds play.... but we all know that's not the case.

(repost from other thread, and off for the night hooligans)

Pay 80$ for nosebleed seats for this game. A lot of Flyer fans in the crowd, hope it was visible on the telecast.

Few notes.

Goaltending:
-Flyers may have truly found a keeper in Mason. Kept them in the game all night long.

Offense:
-I would say that things are starting to look better, the passing in particular I think is much better than earlier in the season.

Defense:
-Overall as a group I thought they did well, but that bottom pairing killed them. Any time Schenn-Guss were on the ice, it gave momentum to the jets. Guss has a long way to go if he wants to be an NHL regular, he gets outworked down low far too easily, and is slow with his reads.

Luke Schenn. Sigh. I thought from watching it live he had a bad game along with Guss. The lack of speed is really clear and the other teams feasts when he is on the ice.

Coaching:
What lost the game to a big degree imo. Its a moronic move to have Timonen, who has done nothing all season as your "must score" shooter. I understand playing solid defensively, but this team under Berube continues to try and sit back consistently. Its a joke of a way to play, and we all knew it would cost them. There needs to be more balance, not just so focused on sitting back, when is a growing trend I attribute to coaching.

Lastly, and this goes along with coaching, I dont know for sure what the minutes were tonight, but it seemed like the line of Coots was out there continously. Now I understand Berube is trying to match up, but we all know that line isnt going to be great in terms of offensive production. Focusing so much on "shutting down" the other team is foolish imo.

At the end of it, they played not to lose imo, and in this league, thats exactly how you often do end up on the wrong side of the win chart.
- flyer_nutter

I thought Schenn played well.

i wont disagree, because it largely is an issue of personal preference. but for me, i am unsure of just how deserving they are to decide a victory, but i find it hard to imagine not viewing it as exciting, especially in a league starving for flash as it is for the average fan
- stayinthefnnet

A team battles hard as a team for 65 mins only to have the game decided by an individual skills competition.

A team battles hard as a team for 65 mins only to have the game decided by an individual skills competition.
- nastyflyergirl

BINGO

Have to say Bill, I usually agree with you, but from a live standpoint Luke Schenn had a poor game.

Any time him and Guss were on the ice together the Jets were feasting. That pairing scared me all night.
- flyer_nutter

I know you were seeing it live Mr Peanut, but, I thought Luke & Gus were very good, they both utilized what strengths they possess, (physicality & speed/puck movement) respectively, once again, I thought Streit was nothing special.

Mason is unreal!!

edit the shootout sucks so bad!!, I hate it even when we win, free throw contest

Seriously. I really don't understand this collective fixation on the shootout. I would suggest not losing sleep over it fellas.
- Schenn2shine

It's because the game ended in one tonight. I doubt anyone lost sleep over it, just expressing an opinion.

If somebody could give me a good reason as to why a shootout is good, I'd rethink it. So far the best ones are it's exciting and it doesn't end in a tie.

Well, the actual hockey game is exciting, it's the reason we became fans. And if you're in a shoot out, the actual hockey game did end in a tie. I'm not interested in watching a version of NHL showdown that can decide who gets into the playoffs or not.



This used to be intermission entertainment, not a way to decide a winner.

It's because the game ended in one tonight. I doubt anyone lost sleep over it, just expressing an opinion.

If somebody could give me a good reason as to why a shootout is good, I'd rethink it. So far the best ones are it's exciting and it doesn't end in a tie.

Well, the actual hockey game is exciting, it's the reason we became fans. And if you're in a shoot out, the actual hockey game did end in a tie. I'm not interested in watching a version of NHL showdown that can decide who gets into the playoffs or not.



This used to be intermission entertainment, not a way to decide a winner.
- Jsaquella

I forgot about that show. that was fun. Just like the NFL competition they did. Stuff like that is fun.......not when it decides a hockey game.

I forgot about that show. that was fun. Just like the NFL competition they did. Stuff like that is fun.......not when it decides a hockey game.
- nastyflyergirl

because coming off a lost season they felt they had to attract more viewers who were angry at the league.

I wish they would figure out a way to get rid of it, I'll take ties back, anything.

I forgot about that show. that was fun. Just like the NFL competition they did. Stuff like that is fun.......not when it decides a hockey game.
- nastyflyergirl

I LOVED NHL Showdown. But it's not playing hockey and sure as Hell shouldn't decide the winner of a game

because coming off a lost season they felt they had to attract more viewers who were angry at the league.

I wish they would figure out a way to get rid of it, I'll take ties back, anything.
- puckhead17

I'd like a 10 minute OT, four on four and maybe tweak the points, to avoid teams playing to hang onto the point for making it out of regulation.

The reason that the furor over ties ever began was that weaker teams would play for ties, rather than attack in the OT. Now teams play to get to the shootout. Look at the Jets last night-the last two minutes or so of that OT, they were clearly hanging on to get to the gimmick.

I LOVED NHL Showdown. But it's not playing hockey and sure as Hell shouldn't decide the winner of a game
- Jsaquella

agree 100%. I really like the idea of going to a 10 min OT. I'd even rather have the 5 mins of 4 on 4 and 5 mins of 3 on 3 than the SO

I'm going to have to take 2 showers today for saying this but I agree with this pens fan. Fancy goal scoring and 1 on 1 goal tending battles are the most exciting part of hockey. To further the point if defense, per se, was the best part of hockey no one would complain about how miserable it is to watch defensive system teams like the devils, yotes, and preds play.... but we all know that's not the case.
- moylander

in the real world defense & goaltending win cups, the Pens didn't win without playing defense, it's like teach young players to dangle more then backcheck?

because of a gimmick shootout?

I'm glad they are looking at ways to mitigate it by increasing overtime but I wish it would go all together, even the players are tired of using it to determine a winner.

I'd like a 10 minute OT, four on four and maybe tweak the points, to avoid teams playing to hang onto the point for making it out of regulation.

The reason that the furor over ties ever began was that weaker teams would play for ties, rather than attack in the OT. Now teams play to get to the shootout. Look at the Jets last night-the last two minutes or so of that OT, they were clearly hanging on to get to the gimmick.
- Jsaquella

exactly, but either a team hangs on for the point (tie) or employs the same strategy for the extra point (shootout), it's still the same strategy by not going for it in regulation.
Teams just shouldn't lose a game from it, it's really ridiculous.
I like the 3 on 3 after 5 minutes, much harder for a team to stall & "play for the gimmick" then in 4 on 4 play.

at least in overtime the stats count, in the stupid shootout the goals don't count for a players stats, nor a goalies goals against, thats how "tainted" it is

agree 100%. I really like the idea of going to a 10 min OT. I'd even rather have the 5 mins of 4 on 4 and 5 mins of 3 on 3 than the SO
- nastyflyergirl

Yup!!

exactly, but either a team hangs on for the point (tie) or employs the same strategy for the extra point (shootout), it's still the same strategy by not going for it in regulation.
Teams just shouldn't lose a game from it, it's really ridiculous.
I like the 3 on 3 after 5 minutes, much harder for a team to stall & "play for the gimmick" then in 4 on 4 play.

at least in overtime the stats count, in the stupid shootout the goals don't count for a players stats, nor a goalies goals against, thats how "tainted" it is
- puckhead17

hate the shootout and I think it should be:
2 pts winner take all with win in reg or OT, no extra point for OT. If tied after OT than each get 1 pt.

or if they must keep the shootout make a win worth 3 points:
winner in reg or OT takes all 3 again no extra point just for making it to OT. if still tied and goes to shoot out, winner gets 2 and loser 1, so in a sense its like splitting the points but the winner of the gimmick gets the extra point. more than a tie but less than an outright win.

Missed the talk about the shootouts vs tie games last night..

The shootout is like having 2 baseball teams start a new game after 9 innings but with just the pitchers out there to play every position.

agree 100%. I really like the idea of going to a 10 min OT. I'd even rather have the 5 mins of 4 on 4 and 5 mins of 3 on 3 than the SO
- nastyflyergirl

That would be a lot of fun if they actually did that....3-3 would be stellar to watch.....

in the real world defense & goaltending win cups, the Pens didn't win without playing defense, it's like teach young players to dangle more then backcheck?

because of a gimmick shootout?

I'm glad they are looking at ways to mitigate it by increasing overtime but I wish it would go all together, even the players are tired of using it to determine a winner.
- puckhead17

I'm not disagreeing with you on any of that - I'm just piggybacking on what the pens fan said which is that shoot outs are entertaining. He didn't say it was a great idea to end a game that way - simply that shoot outs undeniably entertaining. I definitely get it... it'd be like ending a tied nba game with a slam dunk contest may not be a great idea - but ending an NBA game with a slam dunk contest does not diminish the fact that slam dunk contests are one of the most enjoyable contests to watch if you are an NBA fan.

From Bill's 11/11 entry:

…it will take a lot of doing for the Flyers to navigate this three-game stretch successfully. I would personally consider five out of a possible six points (2-0-1) to be a real good week of work that will make some headaway in getting the team on track.

So nice to see the Flyers playing good hockey again. I thought last night's game was terrific. That shootout, though... what a crappy ending.

That Dustin Byfuglien guy ain't half bad.

It's because the game ended in one tonight. I doubt anyone lost sleep over it, just expressing an opinion.

If somebody could give me a good reason as to why a shootout is good, I'd rethink it. So far the best ones are it's exciting and it doesn't end in a tie.

Well, the actual hockey game is exciting, it's the reason we became fans. And if you're in a shoot out, the actual hockey game did end in a tie. I'm not interested in watching a version of NHL showdown that can decide who gets into the playoffs or not.



This used to be intermission entertainment, not a way to decide a winner.
- Jsaquella

Cmon, shootouts are just wonderful, in fact I'm hoping to see the following:

If a baseball game is tied after the 10th inning, lets end it with some homerun derby

If a basketball game is tied after one OT period, its time for a game of H-O-R-S-E

After 1 qtr of OT, the NFL needs to go to a field goal kicking contest.

If a boxing match ends in a draw, they can send both fighters to Philly, and have them run up the Art Museum steps, first to the top is the winner

If a golf tourney ends in a tie, they should have to play a round of miniature golf to decide the winner.

And finally, if a soccer match ends in a tie, 1st they need to wake the crowd up and then whichever teams fans finish with the most arrests after the inevitable riot, that team is the winner.


Shootouts suck
Bettman sucks

Any questions?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Five-of-Six from Three-in-Four
- bmeltzer

Bill mentions the missed call on Downie, then make up call. I can't recall which call that was. Did anyone else feel the game was horribly officiated? Normally, I think things will balance in the end and last nights game seemed to have equal PK/PP per team. I just felt that most of the calls were marginal at best. Coots "tripping" call, after seeing the replay - was a joke - the Jet just fell down (or dove - a lot of that going on). The refs blew the goal call, only to be reversed. etc...

"Once the hockey portion of the game ended in a tie"



Brilliant way to put it.
- Jsaquella

Oh man, they want 3 on 3 overtime too now. As long as there is no stinking shootout. Even the announcers said the shootout has lost its luster. Another meaningless "innovation" from the great basketball minds of the NHL for all the ADD non hockey fans at games so they can out down their smart phones and watch the "game" for a few minutes. Oh there was a hockey game for 2 + hours. Thats so 30 seconds ago

That would be a lot of fun if they actually did that....3-3 would be stellar to watch.....
- landros 2

It's just another gimmick, though. It's kind of a joke that the only way they can expediently resolve games is to start taking players off the ice, like 4v4, 3v3, 1vG, or what have you.

If I had my druthers, I'd go back to the vanilla W-L-T, and 5v5 10-minute OT. Hate teams sitting on leads or playing for the T? Disallow icing on the PK completely and punish refs for putting their whistles away late in games. That should spice things up.