No matter what happens the rest of the series the Flyers have accomplished something in the playoffs for the young guys that they can build upon. Overcoming adversity and winning last night will be a feeling and an understanding of what it takes to win in the playoffs that the young guys will remember.

Hopefully they can extend the series to a game 6 but they can't count on Ovechkin missing the net on a slapshot shot again.

Manning's a swingman, a 6/7/8, but that doesn't have to be a crime, does it?

He's limited. OK. It's fine to criticize him when he doesn't play well, OK to praise when he does. He hasn't been the worst of their problems this series and if anybody says that he hasn't outplayed Streit in this particular series, they're just being obstinate

And I like Mark Streit. But at some point, the narrative has to shift to what a guy is doing, not what a guy can't do
- AllInForFlyers

Nicely said.

No one ever says this is the next shutdown dman. When he plays well it seems everyone just wants to tell you what he is not. As a cheap and fairly young possibly 5-6-7 type he is fine. This series he has been one of our better defenders. That's all. No one said he is the next Chelios.

Also in regards to the hit. When Manning is going to hit Wilson, Wilson does 360 into the hit and also gets lower. If he didn't do that it would most likely have been shoulder on shoulder/chest. Not sure how they can suspend that and not the chicken wing elbow Wilson threw last game on Voracek

Looked like a pretty blatant hit to the head and maybe jumping into the hit. Obviously the character of the guy he hits doesn't matter and I know you're just saying that make a point. Here is the hit and a fair questioning of if it will be supplementary discipline: http://www.hockeyfeed.com...th-a-huge-hit-to-the-head
- coffee junkie

Principle point of contact was to the head, but thats only because Wilson lowered it and swung in a half circle to fire the shot off. Nothing Manning can do there. Clean hit.

Principle point of contact was to the head, but thats only because Wilson lowered it and swung in a half circle to fire the shot off. Nothing Manning can do there. Clean hit.
- jak521

If he doesn't spin I think he hits him shoulder to shoulder/chest area

Principle point of contact was to the head, but thats only because Wilson lowered it and swung in a half circle to fire the shot off. Nothing Manning can do there. Clean hit.
- jak521

Seriously. Why are we talking about this.

Reminder: Wilson wasn't suspended for 2 suspension-worthy hits this series. Which means....Manning's gonna get 6 games.

If he doesn't spin I think he hits him shoulder to shoulder/chest area
- J35Bacher

Exactly. Wilsons whole body drops by about a foot as he tries to get the spinning shot off. If he is upright it goes right through the chest/shoulder. Again, totally clean hit.

Seriously. Why are we talking about this.

Reminder: Wilson wasn't suspended for 2 suspension-worthy hits this series. Which means....Manning's gonna get 6 games.
- Giroux_Is_God

Because someone asked if it was suspension worthy

Im gonna eat some crow. I said yesterday that I would have taken Manning out for Med. Although he still had some iffy moments in his own zone (turnover behind the net to Backstrom which led to three or four good chances) Manning had a heck of a game last night. Great 1v1 moment against Ovenchicken. Cleanly poked the puck when it looked like AO was gonna stick handle right by him. Played really well.

Someone said something about Streit. Since he came back he has been a shell of his former self. Its really sad actually. Hopefully he can use the off season to his advantage and get back to some sort of semblance of his old game.

Neuvirth had a solid game, and the players in front really picked it up. Still a couple of ticky tack calls made, but the PK looked worlds better. Amazing what a little pressure will do for you.

Because someone asked if it was suspension worthy
- J35Bacher

*Puts up hand

Sorry guys, my bad.

I still think in a regular season game that is a suspension. It was pretty vicious and while I agree it would be hard to avoid the head from the spin, the responsibility is on the hitter. I could see it called either way I guess.

On a positive note, how about that Nuevy beating his former team like a stud. It sure is great to have 2 good goalies!

Gotta go back to him for next game.

*Puts up hand

Sorry guys, my bad.

I still think in a regular season game that is a suspension. It was pretty vicious and while I agree it would be hard to avoid the head from the spin, the responsibility is on the hitter. I could see it called either way I guess.

On a positive note, how about that Nuevy beating his former team like a stud. It sure is great to have 2 good goalies!

Gotta go back to him for next game.
- coffee junkie

Mason has played his last game this season. Because if they keep winning, Neuvirth keeps playing. And if by some miracle they end up winning this series. Barring an injury, they will continue to go with the hot hand.

I wish they played the way they did last night in front of Mason.

*Puts up hand

Sorry guys, my bad.

I still think in a regular season game that is a suspension. It was pretty vicious and while I agree it would be hard to avoid the head from the spin, the responsibility is on the hitter. I could see it called either way I guess.

On a positive note, how about that Nuevy beating his former team like a stud. It sure is great to have 2 good goalies!

Gotta go back to him for next game.
- coffee junkie

That's ok I forgive you.

We were even talking about it last night. It didn't even cross my mind honestly...thought it was perfectly clean, myself.

Manning's a swingman, a 6/7/8, but that doesn't have to be a crime, does it?

He's limited. OK. It's fine to criticize him when he doesn't play well, OK to praise when he does. He hasn't been the worst of their problems this series and if anybody says that he hasn't outplayed Streit in this particular series, they're just being obstinate

And I like Mark Streit. But at some point, the narrative has to shift to what a guy is doing, not what a guy can't do
- AllInForFlyers

Manning's held up well so far at ES.

Team gives up a lot of shots/chances while he's out there, but he's also been helping to generate even more at the other end, so still net-positive. Leads the dmen in scored adjusted SCF60 and CF60 by wide margins. And he and Gudas aren't being sheltered at all... they're getting a steady diet of WSH's top-six, so it's pretty impressive.

He's kind of being like Gudas from the regular season.

Mason has played his last game this season. Because if they keep winning, Neuvirth keeps playing. And if by some miracle they end up winning this series. Barring an injury, they will continue to go with the hot hand.

I wish they played the way they did last night in front of Mason.
- MBFlyerfan

Mason will get another chance if its required. Earlier this season Neuvirth started over Mason for a while and then he cooled off so Mason stepped in and kinda took over from there.

Again, Neuvirth was better in first half. Mason outplayed him in Jan, Feb and March to end

Mason in Game 1 and Neuvirth last night played to comparable level. Differences were 1) Flyers didn't get shut out and played with a 2-goal lead, 2) Flyers didn't take a lot of penalties, 3) Neuvirth was luckier than Mason (in Game 3) that side angle shot by Ovechkin from above the circles missed the long side by a hair rather than going in. It would have tied game at 2-2.

Also, Mason would have been criticized for the juicy rebound that led to the lone Caps goal and opened the door to the relentless blitzkrieg that followed.

Not taking a thing away from Neuvirth, who was great as 3rd pd progressed. But he wasn't a miracle worker. FWIW, I was fine with the goalie switch down 3-0 and would stay with Neuvirth right now because I thought Mason looked gassed by Game 3.
- bmeltzer

Yea I don't know how you don't give the opportunity to Mason in game 3 to redeem himself. I'm fine with the handling of the goalies

Someone said something about Streit. Since he came back he has been a shell of his former self. Its really sad actually. Hopefully he can use the off season to his advantage and get back to some sort of semblance of his old game.
- jak521

Yeah, he hasn't been that great, but they're using him in a shut-down role w/ Schultz so it's gonna be a tough slog for him, especially given how WSH's forwards are not only big, but fast.

If MDZ were around, he'd get bumped to a more appropriate 3rd-pair slot, which I hope is where he'll be next season.

Maybe Neuvirth should have been put in earlier,Mason was dog tired down the stretch and Nevy have been better when he got the chance
- Landsbergfan

There is no question in my mind, plus you can't dismiss how good Neuvirth has been dor us. Mason is our starter but he has played A LOT of hockey in the past month. Bad call by the Coach.

He was an offensive-minded D-man and risk-taker in AHL: big hits, lots of fights, but prone to the big gaffe, too. Simplified game and it got him up here as a 6. If he tried to be an offensive D-man at this level, he wouldn't have stuck.
- bmeltzer

My issue with Manning is that he can make a great play one shift (the juke move at the blue line, and knocking OV off the puck) and then make a horrible gaffe the next shift (multiple turnovers/failed clears). I think he's been one our our best 4 defensemen this series, but he wouldn't make the cut on most other playoff teams' rosters. He brings some physicality (obviously), but he's not good enough defensively or offensively to be anything more than a 6/7 player.

There is no question in my mind, plus you can't dismiss how good Neuvirth has been dor us. Mason is our starter but he has played A LOT of hockey in the past month. Bad call by the Coach.
- SuperSchennBros

There really wasn't an option once Neuvirth got hurt. They were trying to do right by the team and make a playoff run. Couldn't really play Stolarz.

No matter what happens the rest of the series the Flyers have accomplished something in the playoffs for the young guys that they can build upon. Overcoming adversity and winning last night will be a feeling and an understanding of what it takes to win in the playoffs that the young guys will remember.

Hopefully they can extend the series to a game 6 but they can't count on Ovechkin missing the net on a slapshot shot again.
- Flyers_01

All I wanted was to win 1 game this series. Obviously, the Manning injury (glad he's not paralyzed) dampens things a bit, but I'm happy with it.

My issue with Manning is that he can make a great play one shift (the juke move at the blue line, and knocking OV off the puck) and then make a horrible gaffe the next shift (multiple turnovers/failed clears). I think he's been one our our best 4 defensemen this series, but he wouldn't make the cut on most other playoff teams' rosters. He brings some physicality (obviously), but he's not good enough defensively or offensively to be anything more than a 6/7 player.
- jmatchett383

But I don't think anyone ever claims he is. It's almost like if you say he played well or that he has had a good series then people assume your saying he is more then he is.

For this series though I do think he is playing some good hockey.

Again, Neuvirth was better in first half. Mason outplayed him in Jan, Feb and March to end

Mason in Game 1 and Neuvirth last night played to comparable level. Differences were 1) Flyers didn't get shut out and played with a 2-goal lead, 2) Flyers didn't take a lot of penalties, 3) Neuvirth was luckier than Mason (in Game 3) that side angle shot by Ovechkin from above the circles missed the long side by a hair rather than going in. It would have tied game at 2-2.

Also, Mason would have been criticized for the juicy rebound that led to the lone Caps goal and opened the door to the relentless blitzkrieg that followed.

Not taking a thing away from Neuvirth, who was great as 3rd pd progressed. But he wasn't a miracle worker. FWIW, I was fine with the goalie switch down 3-0 and would stay with Neuvirth right now because I thought Mason looked gassed by Game 3.
- bmeltzer

Are you surprised Mason looked gassed in Game 3? Mason was heavily leaned on just to get into the playoffs. Putting Neuvirth in during an elimination game to me unacceptable because not a single adjustment was made until Game 4. It would be ignorant to dismiss what Neuvirth has done in the first half of the season. Both goalies have been solid and Neuvirth should have been put in by Game 3. The Red Wings made adjustments soon and although are in the same position as us now, they has much sooner positive results in Game 3 in Detroit.

There really wasn't an option once Neuvirth got hurt. They were trying to do right by the team and make a playoff run. Couldn't really play Stolarz.
- J35Bacher

There was an option in Game 3.

Looked like a pretty blatant hit to the head and maybe jumping into the hit. Obviously the character of the guy he hits doesn't matter and I know you're just saying that make a point. Here is the hit and a fair questioning of if it will be supplementary discipline: http://www.hockeyfeed.com...th-a-huge-hit-to-the-head
- coffee junkie

The game is played so fast. Look at the position Wilson put himself in. Sorry no suspension.

But I don't think anyone ever claims he is. It's almost like if you say he played well or that he has had a good series then people assume your saying he is more then he is.

For this series though I do think he is playing some good hockey.
- J35Bacher

I hope no one is. He's never as good as his best game or as bad as his worst games. He's played well this series. Not great, but he's played well. If a 6/7 NHL defenseman is "all" he'll ever be, that's still better than 99.9% of all CHL/NCAA players will ever be.

There was an option in Game 3.
- SuperSchennBros

I misunderstood.

I thought you meant regular season before playoffs.