Cool. So we have a team not ready to play a Nationally televised game against a top team. Speaks volumes about the coach, and players.
- PLindbergh31

Especially, when the narrative is "We need to compete hard for 60 minutes."

Well....that happened.

Yea, if they had played a hard fought game and competed with emotion and urgency, but simply got beat by a better team, I can deal with that. But to come out flat and lifeless in the first period, is unaceptable to me. And it didn't get better as the game went on. And this is happened at a number of points of the season so far. So we can talke all we want, about not having the right defense, or Couturier's high level of D zone starts, or anything else roster or strategy related. But the lack or urgency and emotion is the biggest issue in my opinion. I want to see the urgency that they show in the comebacks such as against Dallas, the majority of the time.
- MJL

Bull poop. You are wrong here. It's not that they come out flat.. They were skating and working hard.. They just have constant lapses. Breakdown after breakdown. Its the same thing you see with a team like Edmonton. Its a reflection of the roster that is iced. When you play a team that has 3 or 4 d-men that are better than your top d-man.. you are in deep poop.

The whole comeback win BS is way overblown. Cool. We have shown that when a team goes up big and take a bit off of the pedal that we can play to that same level and even a bit better. When a team has a 3-0 lead, of course they will inevitably sit back a bit. Flyers then take advantage of that. Its not that they all of a sudden buy in and discover that they have this hidden elite team wide talent. Its BS.

You are in denial about the talent on this team. Even if they came out with all the jump in the world, they still lose that game; it just wouldn't be 4-0.

A tell tale sign of a bad hockey team is one that has to be firing on all cylinders just to be competitive.
- psuhockey

You're incorrect there my friend. Read some other posts I made. I can live with the fact that even if the Flyers play their best, they still could get beat by a better more talented team. I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with not competing and not playing with any urgency. A team does not have to be firing on all cylinders to be competitive in a game. I can say you're in denial about that.

I would like to think they would do something significant, but I'm not really sure what they can do.

One thing should be abundantly clear, this team just doesn't have the talent to consistently compete with top tier teams. It isn't a matter of work ethic, or even speed, although both are lacking, but it is matter of not having the offensive and defensive talent to compete.
- ManCity

If they had kept their feet moving, actually played well positionally, and didn't stand around in the defensive zone waiting for bad things to happen, they could have put up a more respectable fight. On the first 2 goals, you had guys way out of position, no one picking up loose players, and players basically either standing around or scrambling wildly covering no one. That won't work against ANY team.

We definitely need Buffuglysin and that fat cow guy Kyle Wellwood.

Thats a WHOLE lot of hungry right there.

Also, bring back fat Jake.
- jak521

I would love Big Buff here. Game-changer on defense in terms of puck movement in all three zones. Booming RH shot from the point.

Before last night's game, this team was in the top 5 in the NHL in goals per game.
- MJL

They are currently 16th in Goals per game. Take out any game you want, but they all count.

You're incorrect there my friend. Read some other posts I made. I can live with the fact that even if the Flyers play their best, they still could get beat by a better more talented team. I'm okay with that. I'm not okay with not competing and not playing with any urgency. A team does not have to be firing on all cylinders to be competitive in a game. I can say you're in denial about that.
- MJL

You constantly tell people that they are wrong about "insert marginal d-man/winger here". How the flyers have 112 NHL d-men who are more than your run of the mill 4-5-6 guy.

Bull poop. You are wrong here. It's not that they come out flat.. They were skating and working hard.. They just have constant lapses. Breakdown after breakdown. Its the same thing you see with a team like Edmonton. Its a reflection of the roster that is iced. When you play a team that has 3 or 4 d-men that are better than your top d-man.. you are in deep poop.

The whole comeback win BS is way overblown. Cool. We have shown that when a team goes up big and take a bit off of the pedal that we can play to that same level and even a bit better. When a team has a 3-0 lead, of course they will inevitably sit back a bit. Flyers then take advantage of that. Its not that they all of a sudden buy in and discover that they have this hidden elite team wide talent. Its BS.
- jak521

It's called Score Effects.

Some people are in denial about that. Prefer to call the team "resilient."

You are in denial about the talent on this team. Even if they came out with all the jump in the world, they still lose that game; it just wouldn't be 4-0.

A tell tale sign of a bad hockey team is one that has to be firing on all cylinders just to be competitive.
- psuhockey

The two are not related. Even if they played their best game, they still likely lose because Chicago is a far superior team right now. That said, the team also played with zero jump/emotion or direction after the first 5 minutes or so.

I like Byfuglien. He's a dynamic offensive defenseman. Not great in his own end, but better than some of the dmen the Flyers currently dress.
- PLindbergh31

The way I see it, they need to get better in their own end to try and stop the bleeding first. Getting Coburn back in the lineup will be a start, but there needs to be much better effort by everybody.

They are currently 16th in Goals per game. Take out any game you want, but they all count.
- ManCity

They are 28th in goals against per...

Especially, when the narrative is "We need to compete hard for 60 minutes."
- ManCity

I don't think they competed all that well. But it's simply an elite level team beating a mediocre team. Not hard to figure out.

Bull poop. You are wrong here. It's not that they come out flat.. They were skating and working hard.. They just have constant lapses. Breakdown after breakdown. Its the same thing you see with a team like Edmonton. Its a reflection of the roster that is iced. When you play a team that has 3 or 4 d-men that are better than your top d-man.. you are in deep poop.

The whole comeback win BS is way overblown. Cool. We have shown that when a team goes up big and take a bit off of the pedal that we can play to that same level and even a bit better. When a team has a 3-0 lead, of course they will inevitably sit back a bit. Flyers then take advantage of that. Its not that they all of a sudden by in and discover that they have this hidden elite team wide talent. Its BS.
- jak521

No I'm not wrong. They did not match the skating and work ethic in the first period and later in the game. If you think they did, then that is bullpoop, and you're wrong about that. The coach even stated that they were like a deer in the headlights in the first period. And I agree about the breakdowns, that is also an issue. But the shots were 8-1 I think when Berube called time out. And I don't know if you watched the game or not, but Therien was between the benches and relayed what Berube was saying to the team. And his message was along the same lines as what I'm saying. They weren't competing, weren't skating, and weren't playing hard enough. And the weren't shooting the puck.

I would love Big Buff here. Game-changer on defense in terms of puck movement in all three zones. Booming RH shot from the point.
- bradleyc4

I would take him as long as it doesn't cost Coots, Laughton or any of the 4 horsemen. Basically I'd offer th he Schenns for Buff and a pick.

They are 28th in goals against per...
- jak521

Yes, that's worse. I don't think they have enough talent in either zone.

I would love Big Buff here. Game-changer on defense in terms of puck movement in all three zones. Booming RH shot from the point.
- bradleyc4

As a UFA, sure. But for the package the Flyers would have to offer right now (Winnipeg knows the Flyers are a complete mess right now), no way. Winnipeg would rape us because we are in possibly the weakest position in the league.

The way I see it, they need to get better in their own end to try and stop the bleeding first. Getting Coburn back in the lineup will be a start, but there needs to be much better effort by everybody.
- tangent_man

Agreed. The thing is, they don't have many responsible forwards in their own end. Read, Raffl, and of course Couturier. Outside of that, below average. Sprinkle in the current mix of defenseman and this is the result. Coburn at 100% certainly will help some. I don't know. It's probably going to be a year where they miss the playoffs. Which is ok, just keep adding to the prospect pool. Hextall inherited a team with some gaping holes. Have to give him at least a few years to try and fix them.

"Jump" and "emotion" are cliches that attempt to distill complex problems with a team down to one over simple catch all explanation. There's a lot more wrong with this team right now than "wanting it" enough. The flaws are many and fundamental.

They weren't hungry enough, guys.
- bradleyc4

They need to work on their clutch goals and key blocked shots during the next practice.

The way I see it, they need to get better in their own end to try and stop the bleeding first. Getting Coburn back in the lineup will be a start, but there needs to be much better effort by everybody.
- tangent_man

What I watched last night was a great team playing a so-so team. You could see the way they moved the puck, the way they back check/ forcheck, and by the way they dictated play. Even on the Flyers very best night, that Hawks team wins 4/5 times.

I would take him as long as it doesn't cost Coots, Laughton or any of the 4 horsemen. Basically I'd offer th he Schenns for Buff and a pick.
- hereticpride

And with the Flyers current predicaments, I guarantee you (more or less) that Winnipeg laughs and demands top-end prospects, young roster player(s), and a high pick(s). No thanks, we'll wait it out.

It's called Score Effects.

Some people are in denial about that. Prefer to call the team "resilient."
- bradleyc4

And some people are in denial that the game isn't about spreadsheets, graphs, or bar charts. Coming back in games in the NHL takes resiliency, and if a team that is down at any point in the game, doesn't elevate and raise their game, they aren't coming back in a game down 3-0. Take a look at the percentages of teams leading after 1, and leading after 2 periods?
And my point is that if the Flyers played with that level of urgency, the majority of the games, they'd have a better record, and they'd have competed better in last night's game.

It's too easy for some to cop out, and say they just don't have a good defense. It's the same as the national media always blaming the goaltending.

As a UFA, sure. But for the package the Flyers would have to offer right now (Winnipeg knows the Flyers are a complete mess right now), no way. Winnipeg would rape us because we are in possibly the weakest position in the league.
- jmatchett383

Yep, no doubt. Have no idea what it would cost. Just saying that type of talent is sorely lacking on this team (and many others).

And with the Flyers current predicaments, I guarantee you (more or less) that Winnipeg laughs and demands top-end prospects, young roster player(s), and a high pick(s). No thanks, we'll wait it out.
- jmatchett383

Then let them. Where are they in the standings? When was the last tine they made the playoffs?