He would be a nice add. I wouldn't be sure what I'd be prepared to offer for him though.
- hereticpride

Exactly. He's similar to the guys they already have, in terms of quality, if not skill set. Can't break the bank for that kind of player.

But that skill set is needed. He's responsible in his own end, capable with the puck and a good skater. Very limited physical play and sometimes prone to mistakes, but a capable second pair guy.

Also, he made a very solid pair with Grossmann when they were in Dallas. That could free things up to shift the pairs around a bit and maybe give Berube a guy he'd be more comfortable playing regularly than Gustafsson or Meszaros.

man, what a time for the 3 week break! great little run of wins to get back into the hunt though! get rested, watch some big ice tournament action and see y'all in a while!! enjoy "the games" and hope US and Canada can finish on the podium.....

Is it fair to say their goalies stole the last two games?

Both the Avs and the Flames had a lot of grade A, in close scoring chances.
Flyers could have lost both games if it wasn't for strong goalie play.
- Marc D

both teams missed a couple of sure goals......but it was because mase and razor were in the right position and playing great...... made the shooters nervous

Why was Gus scratched?

Why was Gus scratched?
- Just5

Coaches decision as far as I know.

Exactly. He's similar to the guys they already have, in terms of quality, if not skill set. Can't break the bank for that kind of player.

But that skill set is needed. He's responsible in his own end, capable with the puck and a good skater. Very limited physical play and sometimes prone to mistakes, but a capable second pair guy.

Also, he made a very solid pair with Grossmann when they were in Dallas. That could free things up to shift the pairs around a bit and maybe give Berube a guy he'd be more comfortable playing regularly than Gustafsson or Meszaros.
- Jsaquella

Yeah...we talked about this a few weeks back. Sometimes, a coach just doesn't favor a player. Berube just doesn't prefer to play Gus regularly, and if that's the case, whether Gus plays worse than the naked eye indicates or is held to a different standard or whatever, then we just need to get another guy, because Berube doesn't really trust Meszaros that much more.

I don't know who or how, but that's what I'd like to see: If Berube doesn't trust Gus or doesn't prefer to play him, then let's at least try to get someone with some of Gus' best attributes, for the best price possible.

I truly believe the team is better when a player with Gus' best attributes is on the ice. It doesn't have to be him. That's Berube's call. But I sure hope we try to get someone in here before the TDL who has that type of skillset.

Didn't watch, how did they look.

Why was Gus scratched?
- Just5

Does coach need a reason

Yeah...we talked about this a few weeks back. Sometimes, a coach just doesn't favor a player. Berube just doesn't prefer to play Gus regularly, and if that's the case, whether Gus plays worse than the naked eye indicates or is held to a different standard or whatever, then we just need to get another guy, because Berube doesn't really trust Meszaros that much more.

I don't know who or how, but that's what I'd like to see: If Berube doesn't trust Gus or doesn't prefer to play him, then let's at least try to get someone with some of Gus' best attributes, for the best price possible.

I truly believe the team is better when a player with Gus' best attributes is on the ice. It doesn't have to be him. That's Berube's call. But I sure hope we try to get someone in here before the TDL who has that type of skillset.
- AllInForFlyers

I feel that Gustafsson brings some elements into the lineup that is needed also. I feel as though he should be in there every game. However with that being said, there could be any number of scenarios for why he is in and out of the lineup, besides that the Coach doesn't trust him.
I'm not in favor of giving up any quality assets for marginal upgrades at best with players such as Daley or Hainsey.

I feel that Gustafsson brings some elements into the lineup that is needed also. I feel as though he should be in there every game. However with that being said, there could be any number of scenarios for why he is in and out of the lineup, besides that the Coach doesn't trust him.
I'm not in favor of giving up any quality assets for marginal upgrades at best with players such as Daley or Hainsey.
- MJL

I, too, would rather the upgrade be a higher-tier player than Daley or Hainsey -- hell, we could've just figured out a way to sign Hainsey over the summer, and I tend to be loathe to expend assets on a guy you could've had for simply salary.

After 1

Rimouski - 0
Halifax - 0

Didn't watch, how did they look.
- ob18

Okay. Not their best effort, but good enough to hold off Calgary.

Okay. Not their best effort, but good enough to hold off Calgary.
- jmatchett383

Good enough to get the 2 points though.

Coaches decision as far as I know.
- MJL

Unbelievable

After 2

Rimouski - 0
Halifax - 0

Unbelievable
- Just5

Well Gustafsson played in 6 straight games before today against Bos, Det, Ana, SJ, LA, and Col. In the first 5 of those games, he averaged between 19 and 22 minutes of icetime and some change. And then in the Colorado game, he only saw 13 minutes and change. That's a drastic drop. Now have to take into account that Timonen missed a few games in there, so that effects icetime of other players. So to go from playing pretty high minutes to 13, then to a scratch indicates that the Coaches saw something they didn't like to speculate just based on that. Even if he had an off game in Colo, that's a pretty short leash. Hard to ask him to walk such a fine line when he hasn't played regularly.

Well Gustafsson played in 6 straight games before today against Bos, Det, Ana, SJ, LA, and Col. In the first 5 of those games, he averaged between 19 and 22 minutes of icetime and some change. And then in the Colorado game, he only saw 13 minutes and change. That's a drastic drop. Now have to take into account that Timonen missed a few games in there, so that effects icetime of other players. So to go from playing pretty high minutes to 13, then to a scratch indicates that the Coaches saw something they didn't like to speculate just based on that. Even if he had an off game in Colo, that's a pretty short leash. Hard to ask him to walk such a fine line when he hasn't played regularly.
- MJL

Exactly -- it's been that way pretty much all season. Just when you think Gus is rolling, he must do something that the coaching staff doesn't like, whether it's Berube or Paddock or Laperriere. There's something that Gus just doesn't do at a level that they want.

I won't even lie: It's like Tye McGinn, for me. For the life of me, I just don't see what McGinn doesn't do at the NHL level of a fourth-line player with maybe a tiny bit of ability to move up from time to time, score some goals. Not saying he should be given a roster spot. Just saying that I'm not certain what he doesn't do well enough that he doesn't seem to get the opportunity to really compete for a spot.

It's the same with Gus -- I honestly don't see what he doesn't do at the level of an NHL-caliber, bottom-pair, skilled defenseman that keeps him out of the Flyers' lineup.

Clearly, it must be something. But I honestly don't know what it is.

Didn't watch, how did they look.
- ob18

Same as the Colorado game (almost)

Only Emery was the top star instead of Mason

a win is a win, but man, we have to support the goalies better

Exactly -- it's been that way pretty much all season. Just when you think Gus is rolling, he must do something that the coaching staff doesn't like, whether it's Berube or Paddock or Laperriere. There's something that Gus just doesn't do at a level that they want.

I won't even lie: It's like Tye McGinn, for me. For the life of me, I just don't see what McGinn doesn't do at the NHL level of a fourth-line player with maybe a tiny bit of ability to move up from time to time, score some goals. Not saying he should be given a roster spot. Just saying that I'm not certain what he doesn't do well enough that he doesn't seem to get the opportunity to really compete for a spot.

It's the same with Gus -- I honestly don't see what he doesn't do at the level of an NHL-caliber, bottom-pair, skilled defenseman that keeps him out of the Flyers' lineup.

Clearly, it must be something. But I honestly don't know what it is.
- AllInForFlyers

Who knows. A lot of things could be at play here. Maybe they just wanted to do Meszaros a favor and get him in a game before the Olympics, I don't know. I just want them to figure it out, what they want to do with Meszaros. And if Meszaros isn't in the future plans, then let Gustafsson play. Give him a chance to establish himself, and play through any ups and downs for a while. Not easy to get in a groove moving in and out of the lineup.

Exactly -- it's been that way pretty much all season. Just when you think Gus is rolling, he must do something that the coaching staff doesn't like, whether it's Berube or Paddock or Laperriere. There's something that Gus just doesn't do at a level that they want.

I won't even lie: It's like Tye McGinn, for me. For the life of me, I just don't see what McGinn doesn't do at the NHL level of a fourth-line player with maybe a tiny bit of ability to move up from time to time, score some goals. Not saying he should be given a roster spot. Just saying that I'm not certain what he doesn't do well enough that he doesn't seem to get the opportunity to really compete for a spot.

It's the same with Gus -- I honestly don't see what he doesn't do at the level of an NHL-caliber, bottom-pair, skilled defenseman that keeps him out of the Flyers' lineup.

Clearly, it must be something. But I honestly don't know what it is.
- AllInForFlyers

maybe its a numbers game, or that he's a "tweener" (for the 4th line, or a little of both).
Hall is a beast on faceoffs, Rinaldo can fly & hit (and tussle if needed)
Rosehill can take on the heavyweights if needed, & if Raffl has no home on the top 3 lines, he gives the 4th line an added dimension they never had.


Maybe Gus isn't trusted enough in the D zone?
I do agree, he moves the puck, skates & plays the point very well!

edit Rinaldo Hall & Raffl can also play on the PK, so there's another reason possibly

Well Gustafsson played in 6 straight games before today against Bos, Det, Ana, SJ, LA, and Col. In the first 5 of those games, he averaged between 19 and 22 minutes of icetime and some change. And then in the Colorado game, he only saw 13 minutes and change. That's a drastic drop. Now have to take into account that Timonen missed a few games in there, so that effects icetime of other players. So to go from playing pretty high minutes to 13, then to a scratch indicates that the Coaches saw something they didn't like to speculate just based on that. Even if he had an off game in Colo, that's a pretty short leash. Hard to ask him to walk such a fine line when he hasn't played regularly.
- MJL

Honestly I thought that maybe they did Mez a favor and played him so he could get some game action before the olympics. But now that you mentioned the ice time in the colorado game. That has me concerned. It frustrates me how short a leash is on certain players. In fact, that's my biggest cricism of Berube so far. I'm guessing he wasn't asked about it in postgame? I don't get how he could be down on Gus's play enough to scratch him. I realize that with him and Mez, they are pretty close in ability and style. The Flyers need to find out about Gus now more so than trying to up the miniscule trade value of Mez.

Who knows. A lot of things could be at play here. Maybe they just wanted to do Meszaros a favor and get him in a game before the Olympics, I don't know. I just want them to figure it out, what they want to do with Meszaros. And if Meszaros isn't in the future plans, then let Gustafsson play. Give him a chance to establish himself, and play through any ups and downs for a while. Not easy to get in a groove moving in and out of the lineup.
- MJL

Thank you thank you thank you

Same as the Colorado game (almost)

Only Emery was the top star instead of Mason

a win is a win, but man, we have to support the goalies better
- puckhead17

From watching the highlights, it looks like the flames had few quality chances. I didn't watch the game

From watching the highlights, it looks like the flames had few quality chances. I didn't watch the game
- Just5

they moved into the zone at ease at times, Clement commented that they played a very fast paced skillful game, only they had no finish, Emery played the angles very well, and at one point made a diving pike check on a shooter left alone in front of the net.

It was similar to the Colorado game, where the goalie had to steal the game/win

they moved into the zone at ease at times, Clement commented that they played a very fast paced skillful game, only they had no finish, Emery played the angles very well, and at one point made a diving pike check on a shooter left alone in front of the net.

It was similar to the Colorado game, where the goalie had to steal the game/win
- puckhead17

Interesting.....I wouldn't have guessed that from the highlights. But those aren't a reliable indicator of the game flow of course