I'm pissed that I have a final in an hour and 15 minutes.

/checks date
//it's (frank)ing Saturday
///shoots himself in face
////goes back to cramming
- Giroux_Is_God

Good luck, Chief! You got this!

Akeson's leading the team with 10 SOG in 4-games.

Pop-quiz, who's #2? Did you guess Luke Schenn w/ 9?
- Tomahawk

Akeson is only averaging a shade over 11 minutes of TOI per game in this series. He's been one of the Flyers best forwards. Does Berube consider him a defensive liability? Not sure why he isn't being rewarded with more ice.

The Flyers starting goalie was fantastic last night and looks 100%. Considering they had to start their backup goalie for the first 3 games, to be 2-2 at this point is pretty damn good.
- BiggE

Emery was solid in his starts; except for the Rangers exposing his weak lateral movement, there were only one or two goals that he maybe should have stopped.

I think, with Mason back in net (and with the way he played), the Flyers started to come out of their shell in the 3rd period. They were finishing checks, and there was a confidence with passing the puck that we hadn't seen with consistency in the other games.

They still haven't played a full 60 minutes yet. If they can do that on Sunday, the series will tilt in their favor.

IMO, the problem with them all year has been that they abandon/deviate from the structure of their team game way too easily.

I didn't see a lack of effort in the 1st so much as a general over-eagerness. All three forwards getting caught down low, guys making really unnecessarily risky plays at the blueline (AMac on the Moore goal), running out of position in the d-zone, etc.

When they play as a team, they can hold their own... when they don't, they look like the Oilers.
- Tomahawk

Yeah I agree. It's not so much like they are going through the motions, but when there is no structure they look terrible, and get thoroughly outplayed for long stretches.

Lecavalier was absolutely awful in the first period.

Akeson is only averaging a shade over 11 minutes of TOI per game in this series. He's been one of the Flyers best forwards. Does Berube consider him a defensive liability? Not sure why he isn't being rewarded with more ice.
- PLindbergh31

I think you do have to monitor his minutes, but no way in (frank)ing hell that Vinny the Corpse should be seeing more ice time than him.

Akeson is only averaging a shade over 11 minutes of TOI per game in this series. He's been one of the Flyers best forwards. Does Berube consider him a defensive liability? Not sure why he isn't being rewarded with more ice.
- PLindbergh31

From what I saw last night, they definitely shielded him in the third...and I was fine with it, TBH

He's competed defensively the entire series, and I don't think he's been exposed back there, but at times, his lack of size does get him pushed off the puck, and I thought it was good coaching to move Raffl up there and not have Akeson get busted up during that sustained pressure the Rags had toward the end

Best individual story this franchise has seen in years, whether he can keep the spot or not long-term or not
- AllInForFlyers

Sweet vindication... must be especially sweet for you.

Akeson is only averaging a shade over 11 minutes of TOI per game in this series. He's been one of the Flyers best forwards. Does Berube consider him a defensive liability? Not sure why he isn't being rewarded with more ice.
- PLindbergh31

When protecting a lead in the third, Berube has moving Raffl to wing on that line. Also, Coots gets a lot of defensive zone draws and most times Hall starts on that line as the face-off specialist.

I think Berube is giving Akeson opportunities to succeed and has managed him well.

From what I saw last night, they definitely shielded him in the third...and I was fine with it, TBH

He's competed defensively the entire series, and I don't think he's been exposed back there, but at times, his lack of size does get him pushed off the puck, and I thought it was good coaching to move Raffl up there and not have Akeson get busted up during that sustained pressure the Rags had toward the end
- AllInForFlyers

Fair points. I guess when the Flyers are playing with a lead he should be shielded somewhat.

I think you do have to monitor his minutes, but no way in (frank)ing hell that Vinny the Corpse should be seeing more ice time than him.
- Tomahawk

He looks completely shot.

Emery was solid in his starts; except for the Rangers exposing his weak lateral movement, there were only one or two goals that he maybe should have stopped.

I think, with Mason back in net (and with the way he played), the Flyers started to come out of their shell in the 3rd period. They were finishing checks, and there was a confidence with passing the puck that we hadn't seen with consistency in the other games.

They still haven't played a full 60 minutes yet. If they can do that on Sunday, the series will tilt in their favor.
- tangent_man

You're alive!!


Your text to me last night, didn't pop up on my phone til this morning, I was starting to think you had been abducted by aliens, or even worse, Ranger fans!

When protecting a lead in the third, Berube has moving Raffl to wing on that line. Also, Coots gets a lot of defensive zone draws and most times Hall starts on that line as the face-off specialist.

I think Berube is giving Akeson opportunities to succeed and has managed him well.
- ravishingone

Yep. That makes sense. When playing with the lead get your most responsible forwards on the ice as much as possible.

From what I saw last night, they definitely shielded him in the third...and I was fine with it, TBH

He's competed defensively the entire series, and I don't think he's been exposed back there, but at times, his lack of size does get him pushed off the puck, and I thought it was good coaching to move Raffl up there and not have Akeson get busted up during that sustained pressure the Rags had toward the end
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed, protecting a lead in the last 10 mins of a game, the bench should be shortened to 3 lines anyway.

Agreed, protecting a lead in the last 10 mins of a game, the bench should be shortened to 3 lines anyway.
- BiggE

edit: never mind, PLind beat me to it

He looks completely shot.
- PLindbergh31

He's just not a guy you want out there against the Rangers... to them, he's like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

You're alive!!


Your text to me last night, didn't pop up on my phone til this morning, I was starting to think you had been abducted by aliens, or even worse, Ranger fans!
- BiggE

No such luck. Sorry you ended up sitting there alone, but you apparently managed to muddle through.

No such luck. Sorry you ended up sitting there alone, but you apparently managed to muddle through.
- tangent_man

It's ok. Last I heard E was sharing a drink they call Loneliness, so at the very least- his night was better than drinking alone.

He's just not a guy you want out there against the Rangers... to them, he's like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
- Tomahawk

If the Flyers are lucky enough to advance the Penguins and Bruins are much better matchups for VL.

Flyers P/60 this series:

Jake: 2.82
Art Ross: 2.63
Baby Schenn 2.14
.
.
.
G: 1.61

With a practice scheduled for this morning, I'm hoping this is the first step in getting Laughton in there for Rinaldo. I just don't trust Zac to toe the line and it is now a best of three series, a moment of stupidity will cost them the series.

I think there more inclined to let Laughton just skate with the Black Aces, but I hope I'm wrong.

It's ok. Last I heard E was sharing a drink they call Loneliness, so at the very least- his night was better than drinking alone.
- Giroux_Is_God

His other world is just a half a mile away.

If the Flyers are lucky enough to advance the Penguins and Bruins are much better matchups for VL.
- PLindbergh31

Pens especially... their bottom six forwards are an embarrassment.

Sweet vindication... must be especially sweet for you.
- Tomahawk

Ha! Well...I'm just really happy for the kid. I can't even imagine what it's like to be a player like him, undrafted and not physically imposing, where you kinda have to get the feel that maybe, just maybe, you're not even gonna get a shot

I only watched the kid a few times in the AHL and simply thought he earned that.

Pens especially... their bottom six forwards are an embarrassment.
- Tomahawk

Yeah -- if they can just get out of this freaking series, he could/should be fine

Which was more amusing this past week... #PutOurBallsOnTheTable or #NightFishing?