I'm not getting started today, especially after a win, but this post...wow.

Some people just can't bear to say, "You know what? Jason Akeson's been the Flyers' two or three best forwards in the first two games, and I didn't think he could do it."

It's always gotta be something where what the player does or doesn't do on the ice has to be damned with faint praise for the overall narrative that diminishes what they accomplished.
- AllInForFlyers

My eyeballs are clearly telling me that the kid is a boon to the team right now, all over the ice.


(And ain't it funny how the biggest naysayers are the same people who can't get corsi out of their mouths, even when nobody else has even mentioned it)

Emery wasn't average in game 1. He got beat with tic-tac-toe passing and that is difficult for any goaltender. The Flyers had only 1 shot in the 3rd period along with many stupid penalties and that wasn't going to change no matter who was in net. The Flyers got outplayed in game 1 Emery was under seige the entire game while Lundvquist had the night off.
- Daveflyers36

Correct. The Flyers lose game one even if they have Bernie Parent in his prime in net.

I don't beleive the injury that Mason has is a concussion.
- MJL

I wasnt overly sure either....but the explanation of his practice the other day points to a concussion...he was great until the end and ended up hunched over the bench at the end.
sounds like the "C" word to me.

My eyeballs are clearly telling me that the kid is a boon to the team right now, all over the ice.


(And ain't it funny how the biggest naysayers are the same people who can't get corsi out of their mouths, even when nobody else has even mentioned it)
- Tomahawk

Exactly -- that's how all that "Art Ross Akeson" bullpoop started; because if a few people just say, "Hey, that guy played well," or "Hey, that guy deserves a shot," there's always somebody ready to argue an opposing view for no other reason than because their narrative is threatened.

I wasnt overly sure either....but the explanation of his practice the other day points to a concussion...he was great until the end and ended up hunched over the bench at the end.
sounds like the "C" word to me.
- landros 2

then again Im not a DR. or part of the medical staff.

Emery should and will start game 3. Mason will of not played in over a week coming off a concussion...why risk it ? He may not be ready to go anyways... Now if the Flyers drop Game 3, then maybe the door opens up.... Emery kept a poor performing team in game one for 2 1/2 periods...and out dueled the "king" yesturday....absolutely no reason to make a change for game 3.

Emery at 100% is better than Mason at 80%.
- landros 2

FTFY

Correct. The Flyers lose game one even if they have Bernie Parent in his prime in net.
- BiggE

Thank you!!

Please explain how having Mason in net would have stopped the Flyers from having only 1 shot on goal in that 3rd period. Mason would have had to pitch a shutout for the Flyers to win that game and that was NOT going to happen.
- Daveflyers36

Mason would have been in a lot better position to get to those cross ice passes. If you noticed, they were not very fast across the ice. They wer crisp and on tape, but mason would have been in a position to make a save on both of those goals. And on the first one I don't think that Mason lets up that rebound to be tucked in behind him.

All in all I think that his speed on the puck and play behind the net stops all of those plays from even happening and the flyers seem to get a huge boost in breakouts out of the zone from Mason's puck play. Which everyone seems to forget. His puck play is game changing.

The flyers managed to keep the game tied 1 - 1 in the third. If Mason was in net I could almost guarantee that they would have have more puck possession due to his puck handling ability. Of course, it is all theoretical. And I do believe that Emery did play a great game given to the circumstances.

I take the long view with such things -- Akeson's one of those guys who is always going to have someone looking over his shoulder, but when I speak of him at this present time, it's under the aegis of a rookie who simply put in the time in the minors as an undrafted player and earned a shot on the roster.

No clue how long it lasts, or how it ends. Just think it's great that young players who aren't Grade-A prospects can overcome labels and open a few eyes.
- AllInForFlyers

I think the fear that the Flyers have with Akeson is that while he is very skilled, he is kind of slow and not very strong. He is also questionable defensively. I'm not saying that he can't continue to play well, but it is very rare for a player to succeed just on skill alone, usually you need to also have speed or size.

Mason would have been in a lot better position to get to those cross ice passes. If you noticed, they were not very fast across the ice. They wer crisp and on tape, but mason would have been in a position to make a save on both of those goals. And on the first one I don't think that Mason lets up that rebound to be tucked in behind him.

All in all I think that his speed on the puck and play behind the net stops all of those plays from even happening and the flyers seem to get a huge boost in breakouts out of the zone from Mason's puck play. Which everyone seems to forget. His puck play is game changing.

The flyers managed to keep the game tied 1 - 1 in the third. If Mason was in net I could almost guarantee that they would have have more puck possession due to his puck handling ability. Of course, it is all theoretical. And I do believe that Emery did play a great game given to the circumstances.
- FlyersSteve118

You have valid points except for two (IMO) Mason hasn't been stellar in rebound control this year and he very well could have given up that rebound to be tucked behind him. Also I do agree he puck handles very well but to say it is game changing? Marty Broduer's puck handling is game changing and no goaltender right now does it as well as Marty. Mason is good yes but game changing? To me that is a stretch. But I still believe the series is the same whether Mason or Emery is playing.

Mason would have been in a lot better position to get to those cross ice passes. If you noticed, they were not very fast across the ice. They wer crisp and on tape, but mason would have been in a position to make a save on both of those goals. And on the first one I don't think that Mason lets up that rebound to be tucked in behind him.

All in all I think that his speed on the puck and play behind the net stops all of those plays from even happening and the flyers seem to get a huge boost in breakouts out of the zone from Mason's puck play. Which everyone seems to forget. His puck play is game changing.

The flyers managed to keep the game tied 1 - 1 in the third. If Mason was in net I could almost guarantee that they would have have more puck possession due to his puck handling ability. Of course, it is all theoretical. And I do believe that Emery did play a great game given to the circumstances.
- FlyersSteve118

Emery made some huge saves in the 2nd, who's to say that the game would have even been tied in the 3rd without him?

I think the fear that the Flyers have with Akeson is that while he is very skilled, he is kind of slow and not very strong. He is also questionable defensively. I'm not saying that he can't continue to play well, but it is very rare for a player to succeed just on skill alone, usually you need to also have speed or size.
- BiggE

Agreed -- the kid has flaws, and maybe he won't overcome them, long-term. Just glad he got a shot to prove that he wasn't just a Game 82 call-up -- yeah, there are guys who are AHL tweeners, guys who will always put up points in lesser leagues.

But there are also guys like Martin St. Louis who just needed someone to just give them a chance.

Emery made some huge saves in the 2nd, who's to say that the game would have even been tied in the 3rd without him?
- BiggE

All I said was that Mason has the ability to change the forecheck and to absolutely steal games. Not saying that he would have, or things would have changed at all. I thought Emery played great. I just think the game definitely could have gone in the complete opposite direction with Mason in net. Especially due to his puck handling skills. (Which, theoretically, could have stopped all of those chances from ever occurring.)

- PhillaBully

Agreed -- the kid has flaws, and maybe he won't overcome them, long-term. Just glad he got a shot to prove that he wasn't just a Game 82 call-up -- yeah, there are guys who are AHL tweeners, guys who will always put up points in lesser leagues.

But there are also guys like Martin St. Louis who just needed someone to just give them a chance.
- AllInForFlyers

Sometimes vision and a hockey sixth sense make up for anything.

haha from the rangers thread

The #NYR were the first team (15,965 reg-sea and 1,228 playoff Gs) to be called to 2 embellishments in the same game.

Is this a product of AV and Vancouver's reputation?

A few things:

First, that game was a microcosm of the Flyers' season. Down 2-0 ten minutes in, just like being 1-7 to start the season, and being vastly outplayed. Then, they weather the storm, start doing yoeman's work, and Jake scores a huge goal. He tells everyone to settle down, the guys listen, and they settle in and do what they're capable of doing. They battled through adversity just like the whole season, came from behind, and pulled off a- frankly- improbable feat of stymieing the 3rd period loving Rangers in the 3rd period.

Secondly, and more importantly, THAT IS HOW YOU BEAT THAT (frank)ING TEAM. Just look at the differences...how does the first Rangers goal happen? Well I'll tell you.

Step one: The Rangers clog up the neutral zone
Step two: Coburn gathers the puck in front of the Flyers bench, and slings a cross ice pass to Hall on the opposite boards
Step three: The pass is botched, and out of Hall's reach
Step four: Rangers Dman corrals it, fires it up the ice from his blue line, and springs a 3-2 that results in Emery getting left out to dry

Not enough? Ok, let's take a look at the second goal then.

Step one: Hartnell gains the offensive blue line
Step two: He forces a cross ice pass into the slot intended for G
Step three: The Rangers clog up the slot
Step four: The Rangers pick it off, and on the ensuing rush, Grossmann gets called for interference
Step Five: The Rangers score on the PP

Allllllllllllrighty. So, common denominator? CROSS ICE EAST WEST poop DOES NOT WORK AGAINST THIS TEAM.

Was it a coincidence that the Flyers started to dictate the flow of the game, gained momentum, and outplayed the Rangers when they cut that east-west poop out of their game, and drove through the neutral zone with speed and played a north south game?

Jake's goal came from a pass from G who flipped the puck, north south, so Jake could use his speed, pick up the disc, and fly down the boards and make a power move. North south. The third goal off Schenn's stick came off of a no nonsense line rush rebound, 3-3, where the puck was carried through the neutral zone, down the boards, and muscled on net. North south.

I can't remember that Stralman interference on Hartnell that led to the PP Akeson scored on for goal #2, but I'm curious to see if it was because the Flyers entered the neutral zone playing a north-south game.

It's not hard to beat this team. The problem is the Flyers like to be cute, and that plays RIGHT into the Rangers' game.

Cut the poop and drive the puck forward. Forecheck. Hit MikDunnuh, and beat these bumholes.

/soapbox
- Giroux_Is_God

Flyers win most of the forecheck battles against the Rangers. Even when they don't, it still forces the Rangers to go 200 feet. Dumping the puck in is almost always the best option against the Rangers.

Tough day to be a Schenn hater…

Tough day to be a Schenn hater…
- PhillySportsGuy

Tough day to be a Schenn hater…
- PhillySportsGuy

There is always tomorrow.

Tough day to be a Schenn hater…
- PhillySportsGuy

How many playoffs goals does JVR have so far this year?

A few things:

First, that game was a microcosm of the Flyers' season. Down 2-0 ten minutes in, just like being 1-7 to start the season, and being vastly outplayed. Then, they weather the storm, start doing yoeman's work, and Jake scores a huge goal. He tells everyone to settle down, the guys listen, and they settle in and do what they're capable of doing. They battled through adversity just like the whole season, came from behind, and pulled off a- frankly- improbable feat of stymieing the 3rd period loving Rangers in the 3rd period.

Secondly, and more importantly, THAT IS HOW YOU BEAT THAT (frank)ING TEAM. Just look at the differences...how does the first Rangers goal happen? Well I'll tell you.

Step one: The Rangers clog up the neutral zone
Step two: Coburn gathers the puck in front of the Flyers bench, and slings a cross ice pass to Hall on the opposite boards
Step three: The pass is botched, and out of Hall's reach
Step four: Rangers Dman corrals it, fires it up the ice from his blue line, and springs a 3-2 that results in Emery getting left out to dry

Not enough? Ok, let's take a look at the second goal then.

Step one: Hartnell gains the offensive blue line
Step two: He forces a cross ice pass into the slot intended for G
Step three: The Rangers clog up the slot
Step four: The Rangers pick it off, and on the ensuing rush, Grossmann gets called for interference
Step Five: The Rangers score on the PP

Allllllllllllrighty. So, common denominator? CROSS ICE EAST WEST poop DOES NOT WORK AGAINST THIS TEAM.

Was it a coincidence that the Flyers started to dictate the flow of the game, gained momentum, and outplayed the Rangers when they cut that east-west poop out of their game, and drove through the neutral zone with speed and played a north south game?

Jake's goal came from a pass from G who flipped the puck, north south, so Jake could use his speed, pick up the disc, and fly down the boards and make a power move. North south. The third goal off Schenn's stick came off of a no nonsense line rush rebound, 3-3, where the puck was carried through the neutral zone, down the boards, and muscled on net. North south.

I can't remember that Stralman interference on Hartnell that led to the PP Akeson scored on for goal #2, but I'm curious to see if it was because the Flyers entered the neutral zone playing a north-south game.

It's not hard to beat this team. The problem is the Flyers like to be cute, and that plays RIGHT into the Rangers' game.

Cut the poop and drive the puck forward. Forecheck. Hit MikDunnuh, and beat these bumholes.

/soapbox
- Giroux_Is_God

5.29: Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards.
5.30: So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
5.31: Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
5.32: Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
5.33: He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.

~Sun Tzu

Tough day to be a Schenn hater…
- PhillySportsGuy

I prefer a Schenn realist.

I prefer a Scheen realist.
- landros 2

Martin, Charlie, or Emilio?