I thought Schenn played well.

The problem with this Flyers team is while not a bad team, they just lack the talent depth Washington has. They almost need to play perfect just to have a chance.

I still think they get a win in game 2. I also think, while not ideal, they need to cause more of a controlled chaos. Maybe a few more scrums. Kind of how they got the penguins off their game a few years ago.

Just my thought
- J35Bacher

IF they are going to play that way, they have to to take a very measured approach. Cant be playing short handed against this team...

The score was close, but imho the game didn't feel close. It felt to me that the Flyers were just trying to weather the storm and maybe get a lucky break.
- Scoob

I got nervous after they didn't convert any of the early PP. I thought it was perfect to get an early goal and take the crowd out and put pressure on Washington.

When they didn't score I thought Washington would get one on the PP when they got a PP chance.

IF they are going to play that way, they have to to take a very measured approach. Cant be playing short handed against this team...
- jak521

And that is why I said not ideal.

It is tough to do.

I got nervous after they didn't convert any of the early PP. I thought it was perfect to get an early goal and take the crowd out and put pressure on Washington.

When they didn't score I thought Washington would get one on the PP when they got a PP chance.
- J35Bacher

The play favored Philly until the 1st PP for the Caps. After that they started getting the momentum and the calls. The third was a bit more back and forth IMO, but seemed all Caps because of penalties. Flyers had some solid pressure in the 3rd. Gagners 4 minute major was a killer... Great to see the PK kill it, but it killed us.

Didn't see any of the game... was Ovechkin's hit on Coots questionable at all? If so, I would just shake my head at that... with all the advantages the Caps have going into this series, that they would still feel the need to try to take out key Flyers. I hope that's not what they're trying.
- copelal

Nope

And that is why I said not ideal.

It is tough to do.
- J35Bacher

Just play with a bit of a bigger back bone. Saw Schenn all over the place. Good, be aggressive, be in their face. Take them out of their comfort zone. Just dont go running around and taking penalties.

The biggest thing that needs to happen in order for the Flyers to have any shot in this series is net front presence. They need to get guys in and around Holtby and make life miserable for him. Shoot as much as possible and crash the net every time.

Also while Cousins has been a nice player , last night I also saw why he might be more of an AHL/NHL tweener.

Gagner had that possible 2 on 1 with the forward back but a big reason they didn't execute was Cousins just doesn't have the speed. He has offensive skills and instincts. Just the lack of speed was really noticeable more then other games.

There were a couple of times last night where guys had really good shooting lanes and tried to be too cute. Read had a play where all 5 caps had collapsed below the circle and 4/5 were on the one side of the ice. The puck ended up on his stick and he took a second and fired it right into Holtby's chest. At the same time Raffl or Cousins (think it was Raffl) was making their way around from behind the net to the front of the net. SHOOT LOW! If there is any rebound it was Raffls for the taking. Instead.. right into the logo.

Also while Cousins has been a nice player , last night I also saw why he might be more of an AHL/NHL tweener.

Gagner had that possible 2 on 1 with the forward back but a big reason they didn't execute was Cousins just doesn't have the speed. He has offensive skills and instincts. Just the lack of speed was really noticeable more then other games.
- J35Bacher

And any player that isn't a burner is going to look slow playing against the Capitals.

The score was close, but imho the game didn't feel close. It felt to me that the Flyers were just trying to weather the storm and maybe get a lucky break.
- Scoob

It felt like games from that Rangers series a couple of years ago.

Has anyone anyone noticed that Manning took the same dely of game penalty pretty recently. Can't do much with the puck but can bat it out of mid pair and into the crowd at the worst of times...

If Vinny's nickname was wheels, is Manning "hands"?

And any player that isn't a burner is going to look slow playing against the Capitals.
- MBFlyerfan

Imagine that. Some players on the 8th seeded team aren't as fast as players on the best team in the NHL.

There were a couple of times last night where guys had really good shooting lanes and tried to be too cute. Read had a play where all 5 caps had collapsed below the circle and 4/5 were on the one side of the ice. The puck ended up on his stick and he took a second and fired it right into Holtby's chest. At the same time Raffl or Cousins (think it was Raffl) was making their way around from behind the net to the front of the net. SHOOT LOW! If there is any rebound it was Raffls for the taking. Instead.. right into the logo.
- jak521

I agree with that. They need a dirty goal or something and they are trying to be too fine.

Also while Cousins has been a nice player , last night I also saw why he might be more of an AHL/NHL tweener.

Gagner had that possible 2 on 1 with the forward back but a big reason they didn't execute was Cousins just doesn't have the speed. He has offensive skills and instincts. Just the lack of speed was really noticeable more then other games.
- J35Bacher

Totally disagree. It wasnt a typical 2v1. The d-man (I believe it was Carlson) was just behind Cousins, but Cousins still had the step (the entire way) Gagner saw he had the forward stuck on defense and tried to go wide, but the player dove, which forced him even wider and allowed Carlson to step in between. Then he got tripped up.

That was a tough sequence. Should have been a PP for the Flyers too, but nah.

Schenn usually steps up the intensity in the playoffs. He is really going to have to step it up now, especially if Couturier is out for any length of time.
- MBFlyerfan

He just needs to be a bit careful with some of those hits. They are right on the line.

But I like the intensity.

Projected for next year right now:

$10,103,334

And that's without a buyout of Umberger. Plus I still feel they will move Read and a defenseman at the draft.
- J35Bacher

And the retained money from Vinny

No, it was a clean, hard hit. Shoulder to shoulder. Wilson and Orpik, on the other hand, were taking some liberties. Sure it got him gone for 7 (should have been 5), I'm glad that Simmonds dropped them with Wilson, and I'm glad that Ghost wanted to murder the player who slashed him. They lose the battle, but they've yet to lose the war.
- jmatchett383

I suppose that's a small relief anyway... it's a bummer that Couts is out, but stuff does happen in hockey games. While I'm certainly not writing them off in this series (after one game?)... even if the Flyers don't get much traction against the Caps, the key newbies (meaning Hak and Ghost) will now have been through the wars and can draw on that experience next year when expectations will likely be higher.

Yeah they spent 64M. How much more do they have to spend?
- 3flyerkids

over your head

And the retained money from Vinny
- YuenglingJagr

That is already account for.

That cap will get bigger if he sticks to retiring.

From the Caps blog

The Flyers lost Sean Couturier for the rest of the series with a sprained shoulder after he took a nasty hit from Alex Ovechkin in the second.

From the Caps blog
- Scoob

- BiggE

So what the move. Laughton comes in at 3C I guess.

Has anyone anyone noticed that Manning took the same dely of game penalty pretty recently. Can't do much with the puck but can bat it out of mid pair and into the crowd at the worst of times...

If Vinny's nickname was wheels, is Manning "hands"?
- SuperSchennBros

It happens. The puck is in the air, and your instinct is to try to knock it out of the air. I don't think he's intentionally trying to bat it out of play. It just happens.

So what the move. Laughton comes in at 3C I guess.
- MBFlyerfan

I think they need some more "structure" and "experience" in the lineup...