They used Gagner and Read against Malkin just as much as the Bellemare line, and Gagner and Read did much better.

ES TOI and CF-CA vs Malkin:
Read 5:42, 5-8
White 5:07, 2-13
VdV 4:51, 1-11
PEB 4:41, 1-12
Gagner 4:59, 5-5
- Feanor

I stand by the comments and my opinion of why the Flyers lost the game. The absence of Couturier was certainly a factor, but of the players who played, the Pens top players drastically outplayed the Flyers top players. The PK wasn't good enough, giving up two PP goals against.

This is the 3rd time you've put words in my mouth, and credited comments to me that I didn't make.
- MJL

Come on

What's easier?
Being a forward who's expected to produce, yet not get scored against at ES?
Or
Being a role playing forward who's not expected to produce, but not get scored against at ES?

I stand by the comments and my opinion of why the Flyers lost the game.
- MJL

Facts are stupid, I agree.

Facts are stupid, I agree.
- Tomahawk

Facts are stupid, I agree.
- Tomahawk

Here are some facts.

Against Crosby

Giroux 11:27 CF 8 CA 20
Voracek 11:17 CF 8 CA 18
Simmonds 11:19 CF 8 CA 18
Del Zotto 7:50 CF 0 CA 15
Gudas 5:54 CF 0 CA 12

Against Malkin
Del Zotto 8:00 CF 9 CA 15
Gudas 6:16 CF 5 CA 14

Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Disastrous 2nd Pd Costly in 4-3 Loss in Pittsburgh
- bmeltzer

Sean Couturier was obviously missed but the game really showed how thin we are in terms of depth. I mean it wasn't long ago where it was considered to moved Couturier for a number 1 defense simply because we had Laughton. Raffl is in a scoring role, I don't think he's very good alone. Bellemare and Vandevelde log serious minutes killing penalties and at even strength, I don't think either guy is anything special. Neither are threatening offensively at any point in a game. Gudas and Del Zotto are our top pair, which speaks volumes about this defense.

Provorov-Coburn/Buff
Del Zotto-Gudas
Morin-Ghost

I think a Coburn or a Big Buff being added and moving these other scrubs out could be the difference. For Morin it might be too soon but I hate our defense.

Sean Couturier was obviously missed but the game really showed how thin we are in terms of depth. I mean it wasn't long ago where it was considered to moved Couturier for a number 1 defense simply because we had Laughton. Raffl is in a scoring role, I don't think he's very good alone. Bellemare and Vandevelde log serious minutes killing penalties and at even strength, I don't think either guy is anything special. Neither are threatening offensively at any point in a game. Gudas and Del Zotto are our top pair, which speaks volumes about this team.

Provorov-Coburn/Buff
Del Zotto-Gudas
Morin-Ghost

I think a Coburn or a Big Buff being added and moving these other scrubs out could be the difference. For Morin it might be too soon but I hate our defense.
- SuperSchennBros

We can give you Girardi for Schenn..

Sean Couturier was obviously missed but the game really showed how thin we are in terms of depth. I mean it wasn't long ago where it was considered to moved Couturier for a number 1 defense simply because we had Laughton. Raffl is in a scoring role, I don't think he's very good alone. Bellemare and Vandevelde log serious minutes killing penalties and at even strength, I don't think either guy is anything special. Neither are threatening offensively at any point in a game. Gudas and Del Zotto are our top pair, which speaks volumes about this team.

Provorov-Coburn/Buff
Del Zotto-Gudas
Morin-Ghost

I think a Coburn or a Big Buff being added and moving these other scrubs out could be the difference. For Morin it might be too soon but I hate our defense.
- SuperSchennBros

I distinctly remember the "Trade Couts, Laughton's the same thing anyway" posts, and

Sean Couturier was obviously missed but the game really showed how thin we are in terms of depth. I mean it wasn't long ago where it was considered to moved Couturier for a number 1 defense simply because we had Laughton. Raffl is in a scoring role, I don't think he's very good alone. Bellemare and Vandevelde log serious minutes killing penalties and at even strength, I don't think either guy is anything special. Neither are threatening offensively at any point in a game. Gudas and Del Zotto are our top pair, which speaks volumes about this team.

Provorov-Coburn/Buff
Del Zotto-Gudas
Morin-Ghost

I think a Coburn or a Big Buff being added and moving these other scrubs out could be the difference. For Morin it might be too soon but I hate our defense.
- SuperSchennBros

I used to think it was our defense. Gap control, and back pressure can ease the burden of a so so defense. If we had another productive forward with skill to round out the attack helps to create less pressure on the defense.
Being 29th on offense isn't a defenive weakness.
Not saying our defense is sound, but a better offense keeps the puck in the other end, thus easing the burden on a suspect defense.

Here are some facts.

Against Crosby

Giroux 11:27 CF 8 CA 20
Voracek 11:17 CF 8 CA 18
Simmonds 11:19 CF 8 CA 18
Del Zotto 7:50 CF 0 CA 15
Gudas 5:54 CF 0 CA 12

Against Malkin
Del Zotto 8:00 CF 9 CA 15
Gudas 6:16 CF 5 CA 14
- MJL

Neat

I distinctly remember the "Trade Couts, Laughton's the same thing anyway" posts, and


- BulliesPhan87

I'll admit I was one to give it consideration back when he was struggling. Just a thought at the time.
Ill admit being dead wrong on that!

I'll admit I was one to give it consideration back when he was struggling. Just a thought at the time.
Ill admit being dead wrong on that!
- puckhead17

yeah, well, um

I've got nothing, carry on.

I used to think it was our defense. Gap control, and back pressure can ease the burden of a so so defense. If we had another productive forward with skill to round out the attack helps to create less pressure on the defense.
Being 29th on offense isn't a defenive weakness.
Not saying our defense is sound, but a better offense keeps the puck in the other end, thus easing the burden on a suspect defense.
- puckhead17

We are just flat out thin in every area of the game. It starts with G and from there the line up drops like light colors to dark in a rainbow.

I'll admit I was one to give it consideration back when he was struggling. Just a thought at the time.
Ill admit being dead wrong on that!
- puckhead17

Couturier may have been in a point slump, but the reality is as an overall player, Couturier has rarely struggled since he came into the league. He has a big impact on the game, whether he puts up points or not. When he's putting up points, that makes him even more valuable.

Facts are stupid, I agree.
- Tomahawk

Incorrect.

Facts are simple and facts are straight
Facts are lazy and facts are late
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
Facts are getting the best of them
Facts are nothing on the face of things
Facts don't stain the furniture
Facts go out and slam the door
Facts are written all over your face
Facts continue to change their shape

Couturier may have been in a point slump, but the reality is as an overall player, Couturier has rarely struggled since he came into the league. He has a big impact on the game, whether he puts up points or not. When he's putting up points, that makes him even more valuable.
- MJL

To be fair, it's hard to appreciate the defenseing your team is doing when there's no goals going the other way. I'm just glad the guys in charge didn't get restless.

Couturier may have been in a point slump, but the reality is as an overall player, Couturier has rarely struggled since he came into the league. He has a big impact on the game, whether he puts up points or not. When he's putting up points, that makes him even more valuable.
- MJL

The worst I've seen from Coots overall was his second season.

RJ umberger was structurally significant last night

Thanks Bill. A painful game to watch indeed. The first 10 or so minutes were great, with the Flyers outworking the Pens. However, once that they had the two goal lead, they seemed to let up, and the wheels fell off. I don't know why, but this team doesn't have a killer instinct, and can't put games away confidently. They either skate away with a win that they almost lost, or they do find a way to lose.
According to the stats that I am looking at: there were 45 shots against, they were 47% on faceoffs, and they had too many penalty minutes (the PK as usual was not good). How can the team expect to win with these kinds of stats?
I am just hoping that the new group of kids coming up won't settle for these kind of results. Ever since the Richards era started, we have been doing the same thing over, and over again. The cycle of play has to be broken for us to even consider a Cup run again.
As a side note, White's play of late has really dropped off, in my opinion. So, why is the coach still giving him over 11 minutes of playing time? I am waiting for the coach to put Manning back in...urggghhh.

I just want to start by saying I am extremely disappointed this morning.

Now..... I have been an advocate for Mason over the last few years and last nights game was not Masons fault and I'm not about to say Mason has been bad this year. He's been fine, the defense is mediocre at best, but there is no denying his play has taken a step back from last season. Even then, hes been pretty solid. HOWEVER, Neuvirth has been unbelievable this season and if not for him we would be talking about our chances of getting the #1 overall pick. He has literally stolen games and given the Flyers chances to win games we had no business being in. Basically what I'm saying is if Mason played the game against Detroit....we would've lost. No doubt about it. If Neuvy played against Toronto AND Pitt. I think we win. I feel like it's time to let Neuvirth take the majority of the games the rest of the season if this team has any chance at the playoffs. They dont need good goaltending or "ok" or average some nights. They need game changing..... Thats been Neuvirth.

Thx.

We can give you Girardi for Schenn..
- mattstake

No

Frustrating game to watch...looks like we're headed for a few losses in a row, followed by an 4 or 5 game unbeaten streak. As much I like a lot of what Hakstol has done so far with this group, there have certainly been some head scratchers. Regardless of whether they deserved anything from the Toronto game, not calling a timeout after you've iced the puck with about 10 seconds to go is just foolish, whether your players are "tired" or not. After the Pens had seized the momentum in the 2nd period, he should've called a timeout to settle the team down and maybe get their heads straight. Some of his lineup decisions have me befuddled as well...Umberger is useless and contributes nothing. The line of 78, 76 and 25 doesn't do much either, especially not enough to warrant being scratched in favor of Weal. I think it says a lot about where the coach and management think Weal is at, if they call up Gagner when Couturier was out and not dressing Weal.

I just want to start by saying I am extremely disappointed this morning.

Now..... I have been an advocate for Mason over the last few years and last nights game was not Masons fault and I'm not about to say Mason has been bad this year. He's been fine, the defense is mediocre at best, but there is no denying his play has taken a step back from last season. Even then, hes been pretty solid. HOWEVER, Neuvirth has been unbelievable this season and if not for him we would be talking about our chances of getting the #1 overall pick. He has literally stolen games and given the Flyers chances to win games we had no business being in. Basically what I'm saying is if Mason played the game against Detroit....we would've lost. No doubt about it. If Neuvy played against Toronto AND Pitt. I think we win. I feel like it's time to let Neuvirth take the majority of the games the rest of the season if this team has any chance at the playoffs. They dont need good goaltending or "ok" or average some nights. They need game changing..... Thats been Neuvirth.

Thx.
- GOA88

Here are some facts.

Against Crosby

Giroux 11:27 CF 8 CA 20
Voracek 11:17 CF 8 CA 18
Simmonds 11:19 CF 8 CA 18
Del Zotto 7:50 CF 0 CA 15
Gudas 5:54 CF 0 CA 12

Against Malkin
Del Zotto 8:00 CF 9 CA 15
Gudas 6:16 CF 5 CA 14
- MJL

We already established that MDZ/Gudas had a rough night.

So L1 lost against Crosby, but they played very well against others.

RJ umberger was structurally significant last night
- Just5

Absolutely. A professional performance.