Eff. Leafs just strafed Ryan Miller in the shootout, 3 for 3, win again in the skills competition

They leapfrog the Flyers with that.

Somebody tell me the Pens are winning right now
- AllInForFlyers

Pens win, Flyers now 2nd in the Metro

Pens win, Flyers now 2nd in the Metro
- Jsaquella

OK, then -- that'll work

Yup, it's a personal preference. And no doubt not surprising most Flyers fans would likely take Lindros and most Pens fans would likely take Crosby given the choice. I know for me, it's no contest. This whole conversation started with someone stating Crosby wasn't just better, but quite a bit better.
- wolfhounds

eh i dont know. i mean i certainly wish that was the case, but i dont know if i can legitimately go there. crosby probably benefits in evaluation simply just from being more recent. lindros also probably didnt do his legacy any favors with his last bit of times on the ice. age, health, or what. but lindros in his prime, that stretch of a few years before he got (frank)ed by concussions. if that is the prototype we are using to evaluate him. absolute monster. could take over games like few ever could, and could have some shifts that were just literally impossible to defend. crosby doesnt physically have it in him to wow like that. but to me, the things crosby does, with the consistency with which he does them, make him my choice. if i have one shift to get a goal, i go with 88 and hope he just bulls it and gets it. if i have a pick between the two to start a team, i go crosby.

Pens win, Flyers now 2nd in the Metro
- Jsaquella

that game was frantic as allllll hell. the forward depth right now the pens are working with is literally laughable. i cant remember many teams having to scrape the bottom of the barrel like this in recent memory. but olli freakin maatta.

This...to be clear, his attitude (on the ice) has been the opposite...and he's certainly toned down his hitting/agitation/pest game a lot, but his game is still his game, grit, digging out pucks, handling and making plays,....

I think he just doesn't look right and can probably use the rest...what I want to see is him come back when he's 100% and be put into position to perform...he's not a 4th liner...get him back with Read and Coots.



Raffle G Jake
Harts Schenn Simmer
Read Coots Downie

What to do w Vinny?

Call me crazy, but
Straka Vinny Akeson/McGinn

Do the Flyers really need a "traditional" fourth line? I don't see that it's a necessity to put scrubs out there for a few minutes...call up some skilled guys and roll four skilled lines...could they really do worse than what they're going with now?
- exlund

I'd be OK with Akeson and McGinn being recalled, but we know that's not likely. I'd try Lecavalier with Schenn & Simmons or perhaps on the left wing with Giroux and Voracek. It means a line juggle, and Raffl would probably get moved down, but there's too many bodies when everyone is healthy & playing at a regular level.

that game was frantic as allllll hell. the forward depth right now the pens are working with is literally laughable. i cant remember many teams having to scrape the bottom of the barrel like this in recent memory. but olli freakin maatta.
- stayinthefnnet

Your boys did us a solid tonight with the regulation win.

As a result, your reward remains the same: We will close you out in six, in Philly, so you don't have to boo anyone off the ice at Consol in a Game 7 defeat.

We're generous like that.

that game was frantic as allllll hell. the forward depth right now the pens are working with is literally laughable. i cant remember many teams having to scrape the bottom of the barrel like this in recent memory. but olli freakin maatta.
- stayinthefnnet

I had to turn it off. My kids didn't understand me rooting for the Pens. It was too hard explaining why Crosby wasn't a banana eater tonight.

I had to turn it off. My kids didn't understand me rooting for the Pens. It was too hard explaining why Crosby wasn't a banana eater tonight.
- Jsaquella

you can just tell them dad has an eye for talent

Your boys did us a solid tonight with the regulation win.

As a result, your reward remains the same: We will close you out in six, in Philly, so you don't have to boo anyone off the ice at Consol in a Game 7 defeat.

We're generous like that.
- AllInForFlyers

hopefully you guys are in a slump when they will inevitably match up. oh well, at least they will at least pull out one or two against you guys instead of just getting skull(frank)ed into submission by the bruins.

you can just tell them dad has an eye for talent
- stayinthefnnet

I actually don't hate Crosby...or the Pens. I have more hatred for the Rangers than the Pens.

I actually don't hate Crosby...or the Pens. I have more hatred for the Rangers than the Pens.
- Jsaquella

yeah i dislike the rangers as well

hopefully you guys are in a slump when they will inevitably match up. oh well, at least they will at least pull out one or two against you guys instead of just getting skull(frank)ed into submission by the bruins.
- stayinthefnnet

HA!

I was watching Sabres-Leafs instead of that one because I was "fan scouting" Ehrhoff and Myers, who returned from suspension. They were a pairing tonight.

Ehrhoff looked...a little more tentative than I would've liked to have seen for a defenseman with his experience. But he did make some nice plays, had a really nice rush in the OT -- Myers nearly won it off a nice little feed from him.

But I thought he moved well, read they play fairly well. He's probably about as physical as say...Kimmo Timonen. He didn't move guys off the puck, but he was competitive enough, I'd guess.

Myers...wow.

You can see the talent. It's there. Wow, is it there. That guy's a better skater than Coburn, at 6-8. His stride is beautiful.

But...again...wow. Because the "buts" are huge with him, from this game, anyway.

His hockey sense in the defensive zone is "Bad Luke Schenn-Like." I mean, he just doesn't read the rushes well at all, and he's hesitant to engage on the wall too often because you can see him trying to process which man he should take.

Either he's been overcoached, or he doesn't think the game well. You can maybe fix the first, but the second...

As for his physical play...it's just really inconsistent. I don't think he's soft -- he'll hit you, use his stick.

But again...the lack of hockey sense in the defensive zone means that he doesn't always choose the right time to do which. Sometimes, he'd make the right play and you'd sit there and say, "OK. Yeah."

Then the very next shift, he'd make a play that will literally make you say "WTF was he thinking?" I said that at least five times tonight.

If somebody gets that kid out of there and maybe gets him into a system that he's comfortable with, if he can process the game at even an NHL average level...you might get a monster.

But from what I saw tonight...I don't know. It's just one game, but I can certainly see why Myers drives people crazy in Buffalo. Because you just don't know if he's going to be able to pull it together, at least with you.

HA!

I was watching Sabres-Leafs instead of that one because I was "fan scouting" Ehrhoff and Myers, who returned from suspension. They were a pairing tonight.

Ehrhoff looked...a little more tentative than I would've liked to have seen for a defenseman with his experience. But he did make some nice plays, had a really nice rush in the OT -- Myers nearly won it off a nice little feed from him.

But I thought he moved well, read they play fairly well. He's probably about as physical as say...Kimmo Timonen. He didn't move guys off the puck, but he was competitive enough, I'd guess.

Myers...wow.

You can see the talent. It's there. Wow, is it there. That guy's a better skater than Coburn, at 6-8. His stride is beautiful.

But...again...wow. Because the "buts" are huge with him, from this game, anyway.

His hockey sense in the defensive zone is "Bad Luke Schenn-Like." I mean, he just doesn't read the rushes well at all, and he's hesitant to engage on the wall too often because you can see him trying to process which man he should take.

Either he's been overcoached, or he doesn't think the game well. You can maybe fix the first, but the second...

As for his physical play...it's just really inconsistent. I don't think he's soft -- he'll hit you, use his stick.

But again...the lack of hockey sense in the defensive zone means that he doesn't always choose the right time to do which. Sometimes, he'd make the right play and you'd sit there and say, "OK. Yeah."

Then the very next shift, he'd make a play that will literally make you say "WTF was he thinking?" I said that at least five times tonight.

If somebody gets that kid out of there and maybe gets him into a system that he's comfortable with, if he can process the game at even an NHL average level...you might get a monster.

But from what I saw tonight...I don't know. It's just one game, but I can certainly see why Myers drives people crazy in Buffalo. Because you just don't know if he's going to be able to pull it together, at least with you.
- AllInForFlyers

totally understand. the dude just looks awesome. to be that big, to skate that smooth. cannon shot. its just like why arent you an all star? it has to be beyond frustrating.

I actually don't hate Crosby...or the Pens. I have more hatred for the Rangers than the Pens.
- Jsaquella

I think of the Pens as more of a worthy rival (who sucks) than a hated enemy. For some reason, the Toronto Maple Leafs are fill the latter role for me. I have no idea why, but I absolutely hate them.

I think of the Pens as more of a worthy rival (who sucks) than a hated enemy. For some reason, the Toronto Maple Leafs are fill the latter role for me. I have no idea why, but I absolutely hate them.
- BulliesPhan87

i can get on board with that

totally understand. the dude just looks awesome. to be that big, to skate that smooth. cannon shot. its just like why arent you an all star? it has to be beyond frustrating.
- stayinthefnnet

If I saw what I saw tonight too many times, I'd probably lose my mind and my voice from screaming at the broadcast too much.

He's a 2008 draftee, 23 years old, turns 24 next month...man. I don't know.

It's probably too early to just move the guy. Too much talent to just cut bait, at 23/24 years old.

But I'll tell you what: Waiting on that kid to develop, putting in the hope that he's a top-pair defenseman...that kid might get somebody fired, if you're pinning your hopes on that.

Some other tidbits:

Jake Gardiner's a great skater. But he looked a little soft to me. Actually, he looked a lot soft to me. Didn't seem like he wanted to take the body at all. But yeah, he can skate, and yeah, he can read the play offensively.

I don't think he'd survive in Philly for long, though. You noticed him tonight for two things in the game: His skating and his unwillingness to challenge anyone physically.

Morgan Rielly looks decent, for a really young player. Leafs aren't moving him, no matter what, though.

JVR was JVR...some shifts he looked like he was going to take over. Next shift, you weren't even sure if he was still playing. But he had one of the nicest snap shots I've seen this season in the shootout.

Joffrey Lupul was invisible for most of the night...until it was winning time. That guy was possessed in the last five minutes of the game and OT. It won't happen, him coming back to the Flyers, but man. When he's got it going...he's a load.

The Leafs' center play is atrocious. Tyler Bozak isn't a No. 1 center, and it just gets worse from there. They have to know that. I wonder what they'd offer for Baby Schenn -- seriously. They have to know that if Baby Schenn continues breaking out, he'd be the best center on their team, and maybe by a lot...

If I saw what I saw tonight too many times, I'd probably lose my mind and my voice from screaming at the broadcast too much.

He's a 2008 draftee, 23 years old, turns 24 next month...man. I don't know.

It's probably too early to just move the guy. Too much talent to just cut bait, at 23/24 years old.

But I'll tell you what: Waiting on that kid to develop, putting in the hope that he's a top-pair defenseman...that kid might get somebody fired, if you're pinning your hopes on that.
- AllInForFlyers

exactly. still too young to just bail, with so much raw potential being there. but man. they have a ton invested him already. and at what point does he lose all value whatsoever should you decide to move him? if you dont think he ever will achieve it again, why not move him before he erodes what value he does have based upon that potential. 24 is by no means old. but some of his issues just look like someone who just clearly doesnt have a light bulb to turn on in the first place

totally understand. the dude just looks awesome. to be that big, to skate that smooth. cannon shot. its just like why arent you an all star? it has to be beyond frustrating.
- stayinthefnnet

Sounds like Coburn

Sestito is a (frank)ing meathead.

Sestito is a (frank)ing meathead.
- hammarby31

7:00 minute 5 on 3.

7:00 minute 5 on 3.
- hammarby31

rough debut for Sunshine
And it's 8 to 1!

Former Flyers prospect Sunshine Eriksson is in the game for Vancouver and a dmen of his scores on him beautifully.

It's a debut he'll never forget.

Former Flyers prospect Sunshine Eriksson is in the game for Vancouver and a dmen of his scores on him beautifully.

It's a debut he'll never forget.
- Yosimar89

Welcome to the league - here, face a 7 minute 5
on 3. That is ridiculous on it's face, let alone in a debut.

Welcome to the league - here, face a 7 minute 5
on 3. That is ridiculous on it's face, let alone in a debut.
- wilsonecho91

He got shelled. Fonzi was crying cheese at the pp's.