Speaking of goalies, wasn't Etienne Marcoux draft eligible last year? Apparently no one drafted him, and I would have thought the Flyers would take him over the unknown prep school goalie that they did take.

Haha.

Anyone else check this out? Richie texted G early in the season to help his confidence
http://www.nhl.com/ice/ne...692275&navid=nhl:topheads

Sergei Bobrovsky says hi.
- johndewar

That's my point.

Everything everyone is saying about Steve Mason this year, was said about Bobrovsky last year.

I'm just hopeful that the Flyers learned their lesson about giving out huge contracts to goaltenders.

That's my point.

Everything everyone is saying about Steve Mason this year, was said about Bobrovsky last year.

I'm just hopeful that the Flyers learned their lesson about giving out huge contracts to goaltenders.
- bradleyc4

Yep, we'll see.

Not worried about that now, however. I like to save my amateur GM/accounting skills for after the season.

It's just nice to finally watch a goaltender be part of the solution to winning rather than looking at him and saying "well, it wasn't all his fault".

if not for an absolute lack of scoring and a few blown 3rd period leads, the flyers are in a playoff position right now. even with the horrible start, just 2 points out i think. if they can continue this kind of play they should get in. best thing so far is seeing that mason hasn't missed a beat regardless of what's in front of him. he just keeps going.

i think they got lucky on the no-goal call at grossmann's feet. they made the right call because it wasn't conclusive on the video but if i were a betting man, i think that's over the line. sometimes it goes your way.
- hammarby31

The surprisingly weak state of the Eastern Conference has played no small part in them being just 2 points out. Who cares though: as recent teams (including the Flyers) have proven, just get in and anything is possible. Often the teams that start slowly but round nicely into form come playoff time, prove to be very tough to beat.

That's my point.

Everything everyone is saying about Steve Mason this year, was said about Bobrovsky last year.

I'm just hopeful that the Flyers learned their lesson about giving out huge contracts to goaltenders.
- bradleyc4

Would you be okay with 3 years, $4M?

The surprisingly weak state of the Eastern Conference has played no small part in them being just 2 points out. Who cares though: as recent teams (including the Flyers) have proven, just get in and anything is possible. Often the teams that start slowly but round nicely into form come playoff time, prove to be very tough to beat.
- BOSS_TWEED

I am really happy to see them come around like they have. I'd like to see them make the dance if only to get more experience for the young players we have. Even with Mason playing this well, I don't think we'd go far in the playoffs as currently constructed. I think we need that stud #1 dman that about 2/3rds of the teams in the league are searching for. Until we find that, I don't think we can contend.

The surprisingly weak state of the Eastern Conference has played no small part in them being just 2 points out. Who cares though: as recent teams (including the Flyers) have proven, just get in and anything is possible. Often the teams that start slowly but round nicely into form come playoff time, prove to be very tough to beat.
- BOSS_TWEED

believe me, i keep tabs on the west/east match ups every night and have been very happy the west is clobbering the east. this lack of interconference play, imho is a prime reason we didn't make the playoffs last year.

wouldn't it be a miracle if the flyers stayed virtually healthy all year and hit their stride down the stretch? for once.

I thought it was too. But the last replay I saw it looked like Grossmans right leg was angled out over the goal line while his right skate was clearly in the net. Looked to me like the puck hit his above his skate and came straight down on the goal line.

But, good thing it wasn't ruled a goal initially ' cause it never would have been over turned.
- Briere

at first I thought it was in but after watching it another half dozen times I am not convinced it was in. Looked to me that it hit his shin area which was angled out of the net as you said

I am really happy to see them come around like they have. I'd like to see them make the dance if only to get more experience for the young players we have. Even with Mason playing this well, I don't think we'd go far in the playoffs as currently constructed. I think we need that stud #1 dman that about 2/3rds of the teams in the league are searching for. Until we find that, I don't think we can contend.
- Hextall271

In the absence of that stud Dman, which are in short supply, and which I agree they need, they have really ratcheted up the team D. In fact, I would go as far as to say that you need to go back to the Hitchcock years for that last Flyers team to play this well defensively (notwithstanding last night's game). Seldom under Stevens or Lavi, have they played this well in their own zone. The Chief deserves a lot of credit.

believe me, i keep tabs on the west/east match ups every night and have been very happy the west is clobbering the east. this lack of interconference play, imho is a prime reason we didn't make the playoffs last year.

wouldn't it be a miracle if the flyers stayed virtually healthy all year and hit their stride down the stretch? for once.
- hammarby31

It just wouldn't feel the same without a crippling injury or two at the absolute worst time, so, yes...a miracle it would be!

In the absence of that stud Dman, which are in short supply, and which I agree they need, they have really ratcheted up the team D. In fact, I would go as far as to say that you need to go back to the Hitchcock years for that last Flyers team to play this well defensively (notwithstanding last night's game). Seldom under Stevens or Lavi, have they played this well in their own zone. The Chief deserves a lot of credit.
- BOSS_TWEED

A #1 defenseman would be nice, but at the same time, if they just had a solid team defense (a la NJ 2012), coupled with strong goaltending and a nice offensive pop, they could definitely contend. I'm not saying they ARE contenders, but I don't think they're that far away either.

Fun new Brad Marsh blog on the front page about his favorite old-school home/away arenas. I totally agree with him about the deafening and obtrusive volume of the sound systems at today's arenas.

It just wouldn't feel the same without a crippling injury or two at the absolute worst time, so, yes...a miracle it would be!
- BOSS_TWEED

The first thing I thought of when I read this was that game from either 2003 or 2004 when JR and Primeau both got concussed with minutes of each other in the same game.

JR took a puck to the face, I think, and Primeau got hit in the head shortly thereafter.

I might be misremembering.

Would you be okay with 3 years, $4M?
- jmatchett383

Not at all.

A #1 defenseman would be nice, but at the same time, if they just had a solid team defense (a la NJ 2012), coupled with strong goaltending and a nice offensive pop, they could definitely contend. I'm not saying they ARE contenders, but I don't think they're that far away either.
- jmatchett383

I dont want to get too excited (I'm conditioned not to) but is it possible that we have finally found a #1 goaltender? This guy has done nothing to indicate otherwise...and he's only 25 years old - roughtly the age where most #1 goaltenders finally make it to the NHL.

Fun new Brad Marsh blog on the front page about his favorite old-school home/away arenas. I totally agree with him about the deafening and obtrusive volume of the sound systems at today's arenas.
- bmeltzer

i've been female doging about that for years. it's one of the things that keeps me away most of the time now. just can't deal with it for 3 hours. i want to watch a (frank)ing hockey game. turn it the (frank) down.

Not at all.
- bradleyc4

Well then I hope you've enjoyed your 1+ season of Steve Mason because, if he keeps this play up, he'll get it.

Not at all.
- bradleyc4

What would be a fair contract for Mason, in your opinion?

Well then I hope you've enjoyed your 1+ season of Steve Mason because, if he keeps this play up, he'll get it.
- jmatchett383

Depends on how the off season market looks.

i've been female doging about that for years. it's one of the things that keeps me away most of the time now. just can't deal with it for 3 hours. i want to watch a (frank)ing hockey game. turn it the (frank) down.
- hammarby31

I agree wholeheartedly! At the same time, I feel old saying that. Wait...I am old!

I did feel like saying last night.....can we just get better at passes where we are looking at the target before we start making more no look passes?

What would be a fair contract for Mason, in your opinion?
- johndewar

3 years and somewhere between $10M and $12M.

i've been female doging about that for years. it's one of the things that keeps me away most of the time now. just can't deal with it for 3 hours. i want to watch a (frank)ing hockey game. turn it the (frank) down.
- hammarby31

I'm happy they turned down the gain on that girl Sigourney. That girl needed to have her jaw wired shut. Too damn perky and high-picthed for me.

More than the volume, I hate how every stoppage is trying to sell you something (and during the play, on the sides of the jumbotron are ads for the 47 Store). I went to Carolina and Nashville for games and it was all about hockey and the team, not making a buck. I mean, it's understandable since Carolina and Nashville are long-standing franchises who are among the top earners in the NHL, unlike this fledgling Philadelphia club that takes a huge financial loss every year.