I once heard this crazy fantasy about some ice hockey team that had a slow, bad puck-moving defense, a bunch of overpaid forwards, and a career backup goalie. They went on a 10-game losing streak mid-season, squeaked into the playoffs, and made it to the EC Finals. What a crazy fairy tale.
- jmatchett383

that team was different. You had way more talent on defense with that team than this one. To be honest with you i really hope lightning strikes twice.

I don't think that because they're my favorite team that that's good enough to win the cup but just because they didn't paste the sabres doesn't mean they aren't going to make the playoffs. Because they're too streaky offensively and turn the puck over in the defensive zone too much will be the reason they miss the postseason if they do.
- twotoekenn

That's fine. This team has definite flaws. A lot of it, I think, is correctable. Just a for instance:

On the first goal last night, Giroux did a fine job of (gasp!) backchecking. However, he backchecked a bit too far, and got caught too deep, which allowed the turnover to Hodgson. Now, if Giroux stops 1 foot shorter, he picks off that pass and it's a 3-on-2 going the other way.

That's just 1 example, and that's something that can be corrected. They will never have an extraordinary puck-moving blueline, but they are a team that, when everyone's head is in the game, can play with any team in the league. In the playoffs, all you need to do is play hard and show that you're not a pushover, and you can win a series, and once you win one, who knows.

that team was different. You had way more talent on defense with that team than this one. To be honest with you i really hope lightning strikes twice.
- PhillaBully

So you think the likes of dead-knees Hatcher, Randy Jones, Jaroslav Modry, other dead-knees Smith, Jim Vandermeer, Lasse Kukkonen, and Ryan Parent are a "way more talented" mix than Schenn, Grossmann, Streit, Meszaros, and Gustafsson.

Please elaborate.

So you think the likes of dead-knees Hatcher, Randy Jones, Jaroslav Modry, other dead-knees Smith, Jim Vandermeer, Lasse Kukkonen, and Ryan Parent are a "way more talented" mix than Schenn, Grossmann, Streit, Meszaros, and Gustafsson.

Please elaborate.
- jmatchett383

I think he's confusing the 07-08 team with the 09-10 version.
Btw I think that if coburn and timmonen wouldn't have gotten hurt they could've beaten the pens

Whats the deal with Downie? They had a nice line going... they break it up.. and he struggles.. and they bench him?
- Flyersgod

I don't have a problem with sitting him for a game or two but enough. get him back in assuming he is healthy.

the guys who have played on the 4th line....Hall, Rinaldo, Newbury, Rosehill and VandeVelde have a combined 3 goals and 4 assists and are a minus 30. I get that its just the 4th line but I would love to see the team have a young, fast energetic 4th line that can chip in some goals.

So you think the likes of dead-knees Hatcher, Randy Jones, Jaroslav Modry, other dead-knees Smith, Jim Vandermeer, Lasse Kukkonen, and Ryan Parent are a "way more talented" mix than Schenn, Grossmann, Streit, Meszaros, and Gustafsson.

Please elaborate.
- jmatchett383

I think our current defense is more talented. You have to keep in mind that Timonen isn't what he used to be. He used to be a legit #1 dman who could play close to 30 mins in the playoffs. Coburn was also playing at a very high level.

I think the similarity is that there isn't any team that is going to scare the Flyers except, maybe, the Bruins. Other than that, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flyers beat any Eastern conference team or lose to any eastern conference team.

I don't have a problem with sitting him for a game or two but enough. get him back in assuming he is healthy.

the guys who have played on the 4th line....Hall, Rinaldo, Newbury, Rosehill and VandeVelde have a combined 3 goals and 4 assists and are a minus 30. I get that its just the 4th line but I would love to see the team have a young, fast energetic 4th line that can chip in some goals.
- nastyflyergirl

I would settle for a 4th line that can just break even. Our fourth line has allowed way too many goals considering they don't play very much.

I don't have a problem with sitting him for a game or two but enough. get him back in assuming he is healthy.

the guys who have played on the 4th line....Hall, Rinaldo, Newbury, Rosehill and VandeVelde have a combined 3 goals and 4 assists and are a minus 30. I get that its just the 4th line but I would love to see the team have a young, fast energetic 4th line that can chip in some goals.
- nastyflyergirl

I don't think Newbury is an NHL player. I just don't like him, and don't see what he brings at this level. At least the rest have some sort of skill set (faceoffs, hits/fights, heavyweight, unknown), but Newbury seems like he's just a warm body.

I don't think Newbury is an NHL player. I just don't like him, and don't see what he brings at this level. At least the rest have some sort of skill set (faceoffs, hits/fights, heavyweight, unknown), but Newbury seems like he's just a warm body.
- jmatchett383

He's the straw that stirs the drink

I would settle for a 4th line that can just break even. Our fourth line has allowed way too many goals considering they don't play very much.
- PhillySportsGuy

Next year they should try a real playing a 4th line with Laughton at center.

Lets face it good teams can have off nights. I was expecting more from them after they got annihilated the previous two games. The next two weeks will either prove me wrong (which i hope for) or right, but realistically speaking im not to optimistic.
- PhillaBully

Not too many teams have been "pasting Buffalo". they've even found a way to beat Boston, Washington and San Jose. Yes Buffalo is a bottom feeder and the Flyers are a middle of the pack team but its not realistic to just expect NHL teams to blow teams out all the time

I think our current defense is more talented. You have to keep in mind that Timonen isn't what he used to be. He used to be a legit #1 dman who could play close to 30 mins in the playoffs. Coburn was also playing at a very high level.

I think the similarity is that there isn't any team that is going to scare the Flyers except, maybe, the Bruins. Other than that, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Flyers beat any Eastern conference team or lose to any eastern conference team.
- PhillySportsGuy

I still think this team is closer to the 20-9-3 version, than to the team that started off 4-10-1.(1-7-1 to start)

They are a playoff team. They wont win the cup, but they will get in to the playoffs.

I don't think Newbury is an NHL player. I just don't like him, and don't see what he brings at this level. At least the rest have some sort of skill set (faceoffs, hits/fights, heavyweight, unknown), but Newbury seems like he's just a warm body.
- jmatchett383

I threw him in there just because he played 6 games. I don't anticipate he will be back at all.

I still think this team is closer to the 20-9-3 version, than to the team that started off 4-10-1.(1-7-1 to start)

They are a playoff team. They wont win the cup, but they will get in to the playoffs.
- MBFlyerfan

I think they are what their record says. I do believe they make the playoffs, but this is a flawed team and everyone who watches them every night knows it. They still struggle with a heavy forecheck. The forechecking only gets tougher in the playoffs.

Believe it or not, how you win is often just as telling as if you win.

Take Toronto for example... they started the season on a tear... winning a lot of games despite giving up a ton of shots/chances against... goalies were bailing them out left and right... historically streaky players were piling up points, helping them overcome poor team D and PK'ing.

Fast forward to today and they have been predictably free-falling for weeks... with like 3 regulation wins since late November, or something crazy like that... out of the PO picture.

Luck catches up... hot goaltending cools off... the bounces will even out over the course of a season... when those things happen, if you don't have a truly solid team foundation to fall back on, it often means hard times are a coming.
- Tomahawk

Yep.

Just saying "It doesn't matter how they win, but the fact is they're winning" is a poor way to look at a team. Because if you don't digger deeper, you're going to be one of those Leafs fans who are shocked that the team couldn't maintain it's October pace/play.

I think they are what their record says. I do believe they make the playoffs, but this is a flawed team and everyone who watches them every night knows it. They still struggle with a heavy forecheck. The forechecking only gets tougher in the playoffs.
- PhillySportsGuy

Exactly.

Yep.

Just saying "It doesn't matter how they win, but the fact is they're winning" is a poor way to look at a team. Because if you don't digger deeper, you're going to be one of those Leafs fans who are shocked that the team couldn't maintain it's October pace/play.
- bradleyc4

I agree. You can only get into 'win at all costs' mode when you're in the playoffs. No one cares about bad habits in the playoffs because you just want to win. In the regular season, bad habits will eventually catch up with you.

So you think the likes of dead-knees Hatcher, Randy Jones, Jaroslav Modry, other dead-knees Smith, Jim Vandermeer, Lasse Kukkonen, and Ryan Parent are a "way more talented" mix than Schenn, Grossmann, Streit, Meszaros, and Gustafsson.

Please elaborate.
- jmatchett383

Did they win a cup no. They got killed by the pens. Look at the defensive stats for that team they were better. if you really want to do a side by side comparison of the defensive stats for the 2009 team to the current team id be more than happy accommodate.

I think they are what their record says. I do believe they make the playoffs, but this is a flawed team and everyone who watches them every night knows it. They still struggle with a heavy forecheck. The forechecking only gets tougher in the playoffs.
- PhillySportsGuy

With that said, I still believe this team will only improve as the season progresses. Will they hit a couple slumps? Sure, but this team has dangerous players and a lot of potential, they could raise their game in the playoffs. Guys like Giroux, Lecavalier, Voracek, Timonen, Hartnell, Couturier, Coburn, Streit have all proved they can. These are no spring chickens.... Question is.... Can Mason raise his game??? We all saw what Quick did for the LA Kings (8th seed) They struggled mightily all season and got hot at the end.

Not too many teams have been "pasting Buffalo". they've even found a way to beat Boston, Washington and San Jose. Yes Buffalo is a bottom feeder and the Flyers are a middle of the pack team but its not realistic to just expect NHL teams to blow teams out all the time
- nastyflyergirl

im not saying pasted, but a decisive win would have been nice. The sloppiness and allowing them to come back and even take the lead is what bugged me.

With that said, I still believe this team will only improve as the season progresses. Will they hit a couple slumps? Sure, but this team has dangerous players and a lot of potential, they could raise their game in the playoffs. Guys like Giroux, Lecavalier, Voracek, Timonen, Hartnell, Couturier, Coburn, Streit have all proved they can. These are no spring chickens.... Question is.... Can Mason raise his game??? We all saw what Quick did for the LA kings (8th seed) They struggled mightily all season and got hot at the end.
- GOA88

The Kings have a very strong defensive team. They scored just enough to win. Whenever they had a lead, they could lock things down. This Flyers team is not capable of that.

Yep. They are a playoff bubble team. They are going to string us along all year
- Just5

5 points separate teams 2-7 in the Metro division. They're all bubble teams.

im not saying pasted, but a decisive win would have been nice. The sloppiness and allowing them to come back and even take the lead is what bugged me.
- PhillaBully

The fact that they allowed so many quality chances to such a bad offensive team is what bothered me. It was only the 8th time in 48 games the Sabers have scored 3 goals in regulation.

im not saying pasted, but a decisive win would have been nice. The sloppiness and allowing them to come back and even take the lead is what bugged me.
- PhillaBully

I'm more encouraged by the fact that this team doesn't fold when giving up a bad goal than discouraged by only winning by 1 vs the sabres.

With that said, I still believe this team will only improve as the season progresses. Will they hit a couple slumps? Sure, but this team has dangerous players and a lot of potential, they could raise their game in the playoffs. Guys like Giroux, Lecavalier, Voracek, Timonen, Hartnell, Couturier, Coburn, Streit have all proved they can. These are no spring chickens.... Question is.... Can Mason raise his game??? We all saw what Quick did for the LA Kings (8th seed) They struggled mightily all season and got hot at the end.
- GOA88

That's not necessarily true.

They were playing well but extremely unlucky which led to average results. Their luck turned at the right time.