I hope Mason and his mate can work out their issues....Gudas was good

Yes they took penalties but they did play well defensively, IMO. Suppressed most of the quality chances. They need to shoot the puck with a purpose. Watch other teams...they will just fire it on net. Flyers are always looking for the perfect play. Raffl should have scored 5 hole on Luongo from that nice Voracek feed. Voracek should have slam dunked that open net. We really should have won 3-0......Gotta bury those chances and quit squeezing the stick to saw dust.
- GOA88

I don't think they gave up a ton of quality chances, but they played virtually the entire 3rd period in their own end. The best way to play is to get a forecheck going, attack, control the neutral zone, and limit possession to the other team. They showed they can play that way in the TB game.

They could badly, really badly, use a pure sniper on this team. Giroux and Voracek are playmakers more than scorers. Simmonds gets his goals mainly by net work on the pp and Raffl is good at pouncing on chances down low as well, but no one seems to just have the ability to blow one by a goalie.

They could really use a Reggie Leach/Rick Macleish/Brian Propp/Tim Kerr/John Leclair/Eric Lindros/Jeff Carter kind of player in the worst way.
- BiggE

I agree with this but it seems players like Giroux and Voracek have not gotten any clean looks at the net. They are always being harrased or their shots are being blocked. They are always behind the play and I think that is due to having to play so much defense before they go on a rush. That doesnt let them get the jump. I'm always watching Voracek trying to get through 2-3 guys. Put Giroux and Voracek on a different team and they'll have no problem.

I don't think they gave up a ton of quality chances, but they played virtually the entire 3rd period in their own end. The best way to play is to get a forecheck going, attack, control the neutral zone, and limit possession to the other team. They showed they can play that way in the TB game.
- MJL

I felt like they were just protecting the lead. You could tell when they would dump the puck in and wouldnt send anyone on the forecheck a lot of times. I dont like it but I think thats what they were doing.

I agree with this but it seems players like Giroux and Voracek have not gotten any clean looks at the net. They are always being harrased or their shots are being blocked. They are always behind the play and I think that is due to having to play so much defense before they go on a rush. That doesnt let them get the jump. I'm always watching Voracek trying to get through 2-3 guys. Put Giroux and Voracek on a different team and they'll have no problem.
- GOA88

Yep, they need to create more takeaways in order to generate some transition offense and odd man rushes. Very hard to score these days when trying to attack with all 5 guys back on the opposition. Flyers dump the puck in way too much.

I felt like they were just protecting the lead. You could tell when they would dump the puck in and wouldnt send anyone on the forecheck a lot of times. I dont like it but I think thats what they were doing.
- GOA88

They absolutely were, I agree. I just don't think it's the right way to play.

I think Medvedev is a top 4 level defenseman also, but you're right, they don't have a top pair. And I also agree with wanting the team to compete consistently.
- MJL

Medvedev may well be a top 4 guy, but after only 3 games, the jury is still out on that one.

I agree with this but it seems players like Giroux and Voracek have not gotten any clean looks at the net. They are always being harrased or their shots are being blocked. They are always behind the play and I think that is due to having to play so much defense before they go on a rush. That doesnt let them get the jump. I'm always watching Voracek trying to get through 2-3 guys. Put Giroux and Voracek on a different team and they'll have no problem.
- GOA88

V seems to huff and puff to the blue line then lose steam

Funny enough the Flyers outshot Panthers at evens on Sat, so if anything it skewed in their favor possession wise.

But I agree with you, Hakstol isn't a meddler nor should he be (yet). I would like to see Gagner on that line again. In the o zone they had stuff going, and you're never going to break up the only line to score a goal. Given Read-Laughton-(Umby or no Umby) have looked solid it's for the best to keep them together now. I'd be very much in favor of moving Umby down to 4 though to replace White or VDV. Manning though hasn't looked particularly good in my paying attention to him, but those stats don't lie and are horrific. He is being sheltered out the wazoo...and getting obliterated in the process. Don't see how Schenn is a justifiable scratch, and I didn't all preseason either. I know others think Schultz is an important part of the d corps (me not so much), but I'd have Luke in the lineup over him, Manning, or Gudas -- special emphasis on Manning.
- Mononoke

TBH, I didn't watch Saturday with a close eye, after the early deluge, I had the game on as background noise as much as anything. I also haven't really gotten into stats, outside of a cursory glance. I did notice how sheltered Manning has been.

Manning would be the bubble guy on D for me. Im not sure there's a vast difference between dressing Gudas, Schenn or Schultz, but I'm not against Manning being the 7th D, at least for right now. It's not as if any one of those 4 brings a skill set they can't find elsewhere

Medvedev may well be a top 4 guy, but after only 3 games, the jury is still out on that one.
- BiggE

I think he's still adjusting, but I think the talent and skill is definitely there.

Building this D to where it needs to be is going to take time. On a true Cup contender:

Del Zotto is a #4, at best, mainly due to the frequent lapses in his decision making

Schultz and Streit are 4/5 guys and the rest are 3rd pair guys.

Until we have a legit 1, 2, and 3 on D, we will continue to struggle. As I've said before, all I really want from this season is to see a team that is committed to playing a system and playing hard for 60 minutes a night and continued positive development of the prospects. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
- BiggE

Medvedev has been a bright spot, He has been very, very good.

I don't know if he is a #1 but so far he has handled that position pretty well.

How has he not been in the NHL for the last 10 years?

Yep, they need to create more takeaways in order to generate some transition offense and odd man rushes. Very hard to score these days when trying to attack with all 5 guys back on the opposition. Flyers dump the puck in way too much.
- MJL

I think this will get better. It's early yet and its just a matter of time before the big guys get going. We are getting some secondary scoring so far..... They did create a lot of turnovers against TB. Fla is really one of the most defensively responsible teams in the league now. It feels like playing against the Devils. Very frustrating team to play against. Give them credit, they have all bought in to that coach they have and his defensive first game plan.

I agree with this but it seems players like Giroux and Voracek have not gotten any clean looks at the net. They are always being harrased or their shots are being blocked. They are always behind the play and I think that is due to having to play so much defense before they go on a rush. That doesnt let them get the jump. I'm always watching Voracek trying to get through 2-3 guys. Put Giroux and Voracek on a different team and they'll have no problem.
- GOA88

You also have to wonder how much jump was left in Giroux's legs by the third. He did a lot of hard work on the PK last night. Until the Flyers can run another line out there that can deliver ES offense on a consistent basis, opponents are going to continue to match up both their best shutdown line and best D pair against the Giroux line whenever they can.

Glad they won last night, always good to get 2 points in regulation.

But lets face it, if Neuvirth doesn't stand on his head late in the game, they are going into OT. They have to find a way to start generating some offense and it starts with getting a forecheck established on a consistent basis. Too many one on one battles are being lost in the O zone, this has to stop.

Averaging 1.33 goals per game is not going to cut it.
- BiggE

It's not for lack of trying though (at least in periods 1 and 2). Luongo stood on his head. He was very strong for the Panthers last night. They were in his face multiple times times, looking for screens, deflections and rebounds. By the end of the first it could have easily been 2-0; and by the end of the second it could have been 4-0.

Don't get me wrong, I would have like to see some of those chances end up in the back of the net, but I think they played the right way. There chances will come.

bill,

i wonder if this personal family issue started before the clown show on saturday night and if so, was a distraction for mason and contributed heavily to his performance.

whatever it is, i hope it's nothing terrible and he can rejoin the team soon.

i don't know which season robbie moore earned his shutout, but at least with the others, they were all playoff bound seasons...so perhaps this is a good omen for the team...leading to:

snider missing the home opener. jinx/drought over. stanley cup, here we come. woooooooooo!
- hammarby31

Moore got his shutouts in 1978-79. He turned into a pumpkin in the playoffs

V seems to huff and puff to the blue line then lose steam
- vejim

I would like Giroux and Vorcaek be supermen for this team but the fact of the matter is those two are playing on an island most of the time. It's pretty difficult to score that way. No support.

Medvedev has been a bright spot, He has been very, very good.

I don't know if he is a #1 but so far he has handled that position pretty well.

How has he not been in the NHL for the last 10 years?
- ggunky

Medvedev, considering the adjustments he's had to make, has been very good. But he's not a #1, not even close. If he can settle in as a 2/3 guy, I would be thrilled.

Moore got his shutouts in 1978-79. He turned into a pumpkin in the playoffs
- Jsaquella

Once teams figured out that they could score by just shooting over his head, it was all over.

I would like Giroux and Vorcaek be supermen for this team but the fact of the matter is those two are playing on an island most of the time. It's pretty difficult to score that way. No support.
- GOA88

Agreed

Medvedev has been a bright spot, He has been very, very good.

I don't know if he is a #1 but so far he has handled that position pretty well.

How has he not been in the NHL for the last 10 years?
- ggunky

Because he was making good cash at home in the KHL. The biggest reason he probably came over is the money trouble of the KHL.

Once teams figured out that they could score by just shooting over his head, it was all over.
- BiggE

Yeah, pretty much. He was Pang-esque

Yep, they need to create more takeaways in order to generate some transition offense and odd man rushes. Very hard to score these days when trying to attack with all 5 guys back on the opposition. Flyers dump the puck in way too much.
- MJL

I agree with your assessment of the Giroux line for the first two games. But they looked much better last night. Several shifts where they played almost entirely in the ozone or retained possession and with a couple of bounces, they could have potted one or two. Raffl had at least two solid chances in tight and the cycle game seems to be coming around. There was also a lot of clunching and grabbing that occurred on dump ins that was left go, which is surprising given how tight the stick checking and hooking was called throughout the first two periods. I thought, if anything, that slowed the first line down last night.

They could badly, really badly, use a pure sniper on this team. Giroux and Voracek are playmakers more than scorers. Simmonds gets his goals mainly by net work on the pp and Raffl is good at pouncing on chances down low as well, but no one seems to just have the ability to blow one by a goalie.

They could really use a Reggie Leach/Rick Macleish/Brian Propp/Tim Kerr/John Leclair/Eric Lindros/Jeff Carter kind of player in the worst way.
- BiggE

I highlighted in another article there are about 8 guys who are middle 6 players who have scoring touch that will be free agents next year. And all have at least a 50% chance of leaving the franchise they're with. Guys like Eriksson for one or what about Eric Staal? If we have the cap based on hexy Moves tto afford a 4-4.5 salary could be intriguing. Being a middle 6 with a shot at playing left wing for G jake could be enticing for some people. Especially if they want to attempt for one more nice contract after this one.

I would like Giroux and Vorcaek be supermen for this team but the fact of the matter is those two are playing on an island most of the time. It's pretty difficult to score that way. No support.
- GOA88

They did pretty well with basically the same lineup last season.

They did pretty well with basically the same lineup last season.
- jmatchett383

I would like to see them get off to faster starts. Their slow starts the last few years have coincided with the teams slow starts. And it put them in a hole it was hard to get out of.