I know. I think L. Schenn has been the Flyers best dman in this series.
- PLindbergh31

this, i agree with.

Most definitely, but that's a pretty low bar to clear.
- Tomahawk

I'd go with MacDonald or Coburn, but Luke Schenn has played well. Really the only D man who I think has been disapointing has been Timonen. Just seems to be out of gas. The rest of the D, for the situations they have been in, have played well overall.

I'd go with MacDonald or Coburn, but Luke Schenn has played well. Really the only D man who I think has been disapointing has been Timonen. Just seems to be out of gas. The rest of the D, for the situations they have been in, have played well overall.
- MJL

kimos powerplay carry ins and keeps have been horrid over the past few weeks

I dont think Gagne has ever been given a legitimate chance to prove he is still a difference maker since his injury. Been placed on strabge teams and 3rd line roles so they would not effect the other lines chemistry. Holmgren (frank)ed up not signing him. We could use a player like Gagne with his speed and finishing touch in this series.
- GOA88

You're talking about a guy who couldn't get a job on any team in the league this season.

Oh now you're expecting me to remember who was available last summer. I just remember thinking it was time. And that I wanted a coach to have time to prepare the team in camp for a new plan. And they didn't do it and I was disappointed. And I wanted it not to be Paddock or someone part of the Bully groupthink. I don't know that I had a specific person, but someone who was a former Philadelphia Flyer enforcer.

I know a number of people who thought Berube was a fabulous choice and he's a great hockey mind. I just didn't get it. Now, I realize this team is not without some rather major flaws in makeup, in speed and mobility and hockey sense in a number of places. But I still don't really get it. Of course, rookie coach. But he doesn't inspire ME. Not that I'm important.
- bodiva88

Valid concerns. I still believe the team is poorly constructed as well. The problems from earlier this year still persist, but not at the alarming rate they once did. The defenseman, as a whole, are very one dimensional and the forwards could use some speed.

I think Berube has done a good job with this group. He's gotten a lot out of them and hasn't had the luxury of being able to roll 4 lines and 3 pairings on a nightly basis. He needs to mix and match A LOT. I wish he would use Giroux a lot more though. Lavi would use Giroux for 25 minutes in the playoffs.

If this series is anything like the average Flyers game, I wouldn't worry so much about being down 2-1.

If this series is anything like the average Flyers game, I wouldn't worry so much about being down 2-1.
- JAKEw1234

Exactly

If this series is anything like the average Flyers game, I wouldn't worry so much about being down 2-1.
- JAKEw1234

ya know houses of cards eventually crash horribly

I'd go with MacDonald or Coburn, but Luke Schenn has played well. Really the only D man who I think has been disapointing has been Timonen. Just seems to be out of gas. The rest of the D, for the situations they have been in, have played well overall.
- MJL

And they have accounted for half of the offensive output! The top nine forwards combined simply need more than 3 goals in 3 games.

I know a number of people who thought Berube was a fabulous choice and he's a great hockey mind. I just didn't get it. Now, I realize this team is not without some rather major flaws in makeup, in speed and mobility and hockey sense in a number of places. But I still don't really get it. Of course, rookie coach. But he doesn't inspire ME. Not that I'm important.
- bodiva88

That's kind of how I feel, too.

Maybe he's just being taciturn or cagey during interviews, but the guy really says nothing that would hint that there's some great hockey mind in there. He barely goes multi-syllabic, much less puts forth anything we can sink our teeth into.

He showed some courage and thoughtfulness in playing Akeson and sticking with him, and putting VL on the 4th-line, but then again those moves could have been born out of desperation as much as out-of-the-box thinking.

I just hesitate to give him too much credit for the turn around... Flyers were bound to regress back to the mean after the start they had, and it's not like they've consistently played well since then either.

That's kind of how I feel, too.

Maybe he's just being taciturn or cagey during interviews, but the guy really says nothing that would hint that there's some great hockey mind in there. He barely goes multi-syllabic, much less puts forth anything we can sink our teeth into.

He showed some courage and thoughtfulness in playing Akeson and sticking with him, and putting VL on the 4th-line, but then again those moves could have been born out of desperation as much as out-of-the-box thinking.

I just hesitate to give him too much credit for the turn around... Flyers were bound to regress back to the mean after the start they had, and it's not like they've consistently played well since then either.
- Tomahawk

I agree with you.

Timonen needs to turned into glue. That was a major hint Your career is over when you get decked in front of the net by st Louis. Who then scores. And then you female dog about it to the refs. It's over

kimos powerplay carry ins and keeps have been horrid over the past few weeks
- kej83

I would put Streit on the first unit PP.

That's kind of how I feel, too.

Maybe he's just being taciturn or cagey during interviews, but the guy really says nothing that would hint that there's some great hockey mind in there. He barely goes multi-syllabic, much less puts forth anything we can sink our teeth into.

He showed some courage and thoughtfulness in playing Akeson and sticking with him, and putting VL on the 4th-line, but then again those moves could have been born out of desperation as much as out-of-the-box thinking.

I just hesitate to give him too much credit for the turn around... Flyers were bound to regress back to the mean after the start they had, and it's not like they've consistently played well since then either.
- Tomahawk

I'd be careful about judging Berube through interviews.

What coach gives a good interview about tactics and schemes, though? Unemployed coaches doing analysis on TV.

I always thought Hitch was a good interview, but other than Hitch, which coach around the league strikes you as someone who carefully, and thoroughly explains their tactical in painstaking detail? I can't think of any.

I don't know if Berube is a good coach, but I think he's as good as anyone else, right now, given the mix of players on this team.

Face it: If this team didn't make the playoffs, who was going to blame Berube? In many circles, Paul Holmgren is a punch line, so I doubt anyone would have blamed Berube, but rather the curious decisions of the GM.

Timonen needs to turned into glue. That was a major hint Your career is over when you get decked in front of the net by st Louis. Who then scores. And then you female dog about it to the refs. It's over
- Just5

to me it looked like he just lost his balance when he was between St Louis and the net. Was off balance and the push sent him down.

That's kind of how I feel, too.

Maybe he's just being taciturn or cagey during interviews, but the guy really says nothing that would hint that there's some great hockey mind in there. He barely goes multi-syllabic, much less puts forth anything we can sink our teeth into.

He showed some courage and thoughtfulness in playing Akeson and sticking with him, and putting VL on the 4th-line, but then again those moves could have been born out of desperation as much as out-of-the-box thinking.

I just hesitate to give him too much credit for the turn around... Flyers were bound to regress back to the mean after the start they had, and it's not like they've consistently played well since then either.
- Tomahawk

I think he maybe deserves a little more credit for how they played after 1-7, but at the same time...hell, I don't know.

I think maybe they need another couple of pieces before I make a bold statement, here. I think they're short in a couple of spots, and those spots kinda matter.

Let me put it this way: I think Berube will look like a tactical genius if Paul Holmgren gets a speedy, playmaking 2LW and Jason Akeson or another person can help get Sean Couturier to 20-plus goals and 25-plus assists, and if the Flyers catch lightning in a bottle and Ghost comes in and does some Calder-type stuff

Again: They're a 94-point team with, to me, some obvious flaws. I think you could get this team to 103 points without gutting it, maybe even 108-110

to me it looked like he just lost his balance when he was between St Louis and the net. Was off balance and the push sent him down.
- jak521

He female doged to the refs. It's over.

That's kind of how I feel, too.

Maybe he's just being taciturn or cagey during interviews, but the guy really says nothing that would hint that there's some great hockey mind in there. He barely goes multi-syllabic, much less puts forth anything we can sink our teeth into.

He showed some courage and thoughtfulness in playing Akeson and sticking with him, and putting VL on the 4th-line, but then again those moves could have been born out of desperation as much as out-of-the-box thinking.

I just hesitate to give him too much credit for the turn around... Flyers were bound to regress back to the mean after the start they had, and it's not like they've consistently played well since then either.
- Tomahawk

Consistency and discipline issues still plague the team. But there is no question in my view, that Berube has had a significant part in moving this team forward. He has put in place a structure that in my opinion, is a more sound way of playing long term then the previous coach instilled. And he has pushed them towards playing the right way. And there is no doubt that the turnaround was more then just a regress back to the mean. That wouldn't have happened without Berube and the changes he made. Although certainly situations like Giroux getting his game back were huge helps also.
And as far as what Berube says in interviews, while he doesn't get into technical detail, it's clear to me that he has a clear view of how he sees the game, and how he wants to mold his team.

I think the Rangers are clicking as a team, and in my opinion, I don't think they could be much better as a team then they are now. With the exception that they always have Lundqvist, who can flat out steal games. And I certainly do think the Flyers have another level that they can play at, and they haven't as of yet. Especially when it comes to their top players.
- MJL

But heres my question (and huge frustration) why haven't te flyers played at this next level? It's the play offs, what the hell are they waiting for?

I'd be careful about judging Berube through interviews.

What coach gives a good interview about tactics and schemes, though? Unemployed coaches doing analysis on TV.

I always thought Hitch was a good interview, but other than Hitch, which coach around the league strikes you as someone who carefully, and thoroughly explains their tactical in painstaking detail? I can't think of any.

I don't know if Berube is a good coach, but I think he's as good as anyone else, right now, given the mix of players on this team.

Face it: If this team didn't make the playoffs, who was going to blame Berube? In many circles, Paul Holmgren is a punch line, so I doubt anyone would have blamed Berube, but rather the curious decisions of the GM.
- johndewar

Not expecting proprietary trade secrets to be revealed or anything, but you kind of expect an NHL coach to be able/willing to go a bit further than this:

When you have someone like Giroux who did a lot of things in the last game away from the puck, tremendous on the back check, but is struggling to get shots off, what do you say to him? Do you tell him to just carry it more to have more of an opportunity?

Shoot.

...


Can you talk about the decision to flip-flop Raffl and Vinny?

I liked what I saw in the third period, Vinny with Schenn and Simmonds. That's all. They'd played together before and they looked good to me. Other than that, I don't think into it too much.

But heres my question (and huge frustration) why haven't te flyers played at this next level? It's the play offs, what the hell are they waiting for?
- Briere

I've been asking that question all season. Why are there some games, and periods of games where they stop skating, and lack intensity? It's puzzling.

I've been asking that question all season. Why are there some games, and periods of games where they stop skating, and lack intensity? It's puzzling.
- MJL

lack of leadership, and a sense of entitlement

I've been asking that question all season. Why are there some games, and periods of games where they stop skating, and lack intensity? It's puzzling.
- MJL

I know you'll disagree with me but, I think it's because they aren't as good as we think they are.

They are a decent team with a great young core to build around. I'm positive about the next few seasons but right now they just aren't good enough.

Timonen needs to turned into glue. That was a major hint Your career is over when you get decked in front of the net by st Louis. Who then scores. And then you female dog about it to the refs. It's over
- Just5

very upsetting. i also think he tried to sell the hit, which isn't exactly like him, and took himself out of the play. it was interference, but i didn't like how he played that. he's had a rough series.