Pretty much. I'm mot gonna bash Ryan White. Why would I?
- SuperSchennBros

i get pissed at him in the heat of the moment like I will with a lot of players. but i always have to keep in mind the role he's being forced to play. In that scenario he is going to make bad plays and mistakes. I just wish they could find a way to make the real 3rd line work. I'm not sure why it's so difficult. they have pieces to work with, but they aren't clicking.

Say what you want, but going on the road to beat the league's best team is no small feat. Hitting Holtby up for 4 goals. Keeping Ovi off the goal sheet. Killing penalties. Survived another atrocious 2nd period to get a huge 2 points.

Too bad they don't play until Tuesday.
- Pelle31Forever

This

It also scares me that they play a struggling team (Montreal) in their first post break game. We all know how well they play against struggling teams.

Say what you want, but going on the road to beat the league's best team is no small feat. Hitting Holtby up for 4 goals. Keeping Ovi off the goal sheet. Killing penalties. Survived another atrocious 2nd period to get a huge 2 points.

Too bad they don't play until Tuesday.
- Pelle31Forever

We had an awful second period last night. Jake Voracek actually was a big part of the struggle in the second but that first goal from him really woke him up.

Nobody should downplay the victory, it was a solid win. I'm very proud of this group.

i get pissed at him in the heat of the moment like I will with a lot of players. but i always have to keep in mind the role he's being forced to play. In that scenario he is going to make bad plays and mistakes. I just wish they could find a way to make the real 3rd line work. I'm not sure why it's so difficult. they have pieces to work with, but they aren't clicking.
- funmaster18

I think it's difficult because Scott Laughton isn't what he's suppose to be.

I actually just commented about LA's roster. This is absolutely the case. I hope the Flyers' roster can get to that level soon. It's just hard not to imagine Vinny in LA chuckling to himself that he still has it.

If Vinny goes back on his word I hope no team would offer him a contract to force him into retirement. That'd be slimy.
- moose_is_loose

Vinny did an interview for ESPN a couple days ago. He said he gave his word and will not renege. Also said he's at peace with retirement and just wants one last chance at a cup.

I think it's difficult because Scott Laughton isn't what he's suppose to be.
- SuperSchennBros

He is a 4th line rookie... what is he supposed to be?

I think it's difficult because Scott Laughton isn't what he's suppose to be.
- SuperSchennBros

Umberger has dragged that line down. Not that Laughton hasn't made mistakes, as most kids do, but playing with dead weight on his wing doesn't help. The Flyers are still one good LW short from being able to run 3 effective lines.

Jake-G-Simmonds
???-Couturier-Schenn
Raffl-Laughton-Read

If Konecny can play LW, he may be able to fill that role next year.

I've been saying that if Matt Read is our second unit net presence, then we're basically in trouble. If they can settle in the offensive zone, Read plays Simmonds' role.

Also I'm happy Voracek has turned his game around but the word "elite" gets thrown around way too often. The word Elite means Best of the Best. Regardless of how you feel about the All-Star Game, Elite players like Claude Giroux go every year. Most importantly elite players can score on most of their chances. I like Jake a lot and he does a lot of things well but calling Voracek elite compared to actual elite players is debatable. If this were the NFL and we were talking quarterbacks, you can only 5 quarterbacks within these talks.
- SuperSchennBros

The reason elite gets thrown around so much is because it means different things to different people. Elite overall? Elite defensively? Elite scorer? Jake has been scoring at an elite level for RW and he is easily one of the best players in the NHL at using his body to shield the puck and transition up the ice. I am not really sure what else he would have to do to be considered elite by more people...I guess just do it for a few more seasons.

For fun...name the 5 elite wingers. I can get to about 5 but after that its a crapshoot

Vinny did an interview for ESPN a couple days ago. He said he gave his word and will not renege. Also said he's at peace with retirement and just wants one last chance at a cup.
- PhillySportsGuy

Would expect no less. He is a class act.

Totally. Was there some adverse call or something that was said by the ref that might have lead to that? There has got to be some serious action taken
- FlyersFirst

it sure seemed vengeful to me, but no idea what he could have possibly been thinking there

I've been saying that if Matt Read is our second unit net presence, then we're basically in trouble. If they can settle in the offensive zone, Read plays Simmonds' role.

Also I'm happy Voracek has turned his game around but the word "elite" gets thrown around way too often. The word Elite means Best of the Best. Regardless of how you feel about the All-Star Game, Elite players like Claude Giroux go every year. Most importantly elite players can score on most of their chances. I like Jake a lot and he does a lot of things well but calling Voracek elite compared to actual elite players is debatable. If this were the NFL and we were talking quarterbacks, you can only 5 quarterbacks within these talks.
- SuperSchennBros

Voracek was first team NHL last year. That's pretty much the definition of elite

I think it's difficult because Scott Laughton isn't what he's suppose to be.
- SuperSchennBros

i'm concerned about him. he seems to tear it up in the lower leagues but hits a wall with the big club. I don't know if it's his usage, linemates, slow development curve or if he simply can't hang up here. I get he's young, but he's had multiple opportunities up here and never seems to quite seize them.

He is a 4th line rookie... what is he supposed to be?
- jak521

he's been called up a lot and never seems to play consistently. i hope it's just a learning curve. hakstol doesn't seem to have much faith in him.

He is a 4th line rookie... what is he supposed to be?
- jak521

He's really struggled defensively. I think the hope was that he'd be able to take on some of that responsibility. I'd like to see him with Weal and Read instead of Umberger to get a better idea of how good he is. He's got a nice shot and is pretty creative in the offensive zone.

that's my issue. if white is on a traditional 4th line, he could succeed and continue to do the things he does well. Same with PEB and VDV. when they are asked to basically be 3rd liners, then you are setting them up to fail in the eyes of the fans.
- funmaster18

What do you mean by traditional 4th line and being asked to play 3rd line? Traditional 4th line to me is go out for like 6-8 minutes a night and hit people for "energy" and other stuff that barely resemble hockey against another teams 4th line usually.

Since it is not the way it works anymore, the Flyers need a 4th line that can either score or can defend. The PEB, White, VV line dont really do either. They can forecheck and keep the puck in the offensive zone occasionally, but most often get throttled in possession. I dont have a problem with any of the 3 guys individually, but putting them out to defend other teams best offensive lines often leads to subpar results....which to me is the actual problem with them

Would expect no less. He is a class act.
- BiggE

People are worrying for no reason. His numbers are inflated right now. He's going to regress to what he was with the Flyers.

Voracek was first team NHL last year. That's pretty much the definition of elite
- PhillySportsGuy

Voracek needs to be and can be lights out, I believe. He started showing that last year. I'm hoping as this season goes on he continues to trend back in that direction. still love the guy and I hope he gets back to his dominating play consistently soon. the flyers need that from him. he's definitely showing signs of that again over the last few weeks

Voracek was first team NHL last year. That's pretty much the definition of elite
- PhillySportsGuy

Since he wont bite...

How many right wingers have outscored Jake since 2012?

Okay... Ill play. Saw you did this yesterday about elite players.


Since 2012, how many right wingers have more points than Jake?
- jak521

Oh, you'll play. Well I'm shocked by this turn of events

I don't have the answer to this question, I'm not neurotic enough to google everything for my answers. I watch the games. 2012 is only 4 years. Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Jaromir Jagr and Patrick Kane just to name a few have been putting up elite numbers for much longer. You threw out 2012 to benefit what point your about to make. Jake has trouble scoring more than 22 goals a season. He's not always used in the shootout. Elite players score at will most nights. Not all but most. Jake passes with the best of them and protects the puck maybe with the best of them but he has his shortcomings.

I've been saying that if Matt Read is our second unit net presence, then we're basically in trouble. If they can settle in the offensive zone, Read plays Simmonds' role.

Also I'm happy Voracek has turned his game around but the word "elite" gets thrown around way too often. The word Elite means Best of the Best. Regardless of how you feel about the All-Star Game, Elite players like Claude Giroux go every year. Most importantly elite players can score on most of their chances. I like Jake a lot and he does a lot of things well but calling Voracek elite compared to actual elite players is debatable. If this were the NFL and we were talking quarterbacks, you can only 5 quarterbacks within these talks.
- SuperSchennBros

Elite players get selected to represent their teams in the Olympics.

What do you mean by traditional 4th line and being asked to play 3rd line? Traditional 4th line to me is go out for like 6-8 minutes a night and hit people for "energy" and other stuff that barely resemble hockey against another teams 4th line usually.

Since it is not the way it works anymore, the Flyers need a 4th line that can either score or can defend. The PEB, White, VV line dont really do either. They can forecheck and keep the puck in the offensive zone occasionally, but most often get throttled in possession. I dont have a problem with any of the 3 guys individually, but putting them out to defend other teams best offensive lines often leads to subpar results....which to me is the actual problem with them
- YuenglingJagr

I mean that PEB should be the the 4th line and they are getting 3rd line minutes

Since he wont bite...

How many right wingers have outscored Jake since 2012?
- jak521

Kane? Perry?

Voracek was first team NHL last year. That's pretty much the definition of elite
- PhillySportsGuy

The definition of elite is best of the best. I don't know what "First Team NHL Team" means but doing it once doesn't make you elite. It has to be a yearly thing.

He is a 4th line rookie... what is he supposed to be?
- jak521

How long did you wait exactly?

Back in his playing days, Paul Holmgren kind of half punched/half shoved Andy Van Hellemond in the chest. Homer got 20 games for that and that was in the heat of the moment. I could see Wideman getting 20 as well, and it won't be less than 10.
- BiggE

I remember when Homer did that.

This was somehow worse, I think. I'm not buying the dazed excuse.

Look at that video and look at Wideman on the bench. He looks both pissed and like a guy who doesn't feel as if he did anything wrong.