I don't understand how all these Flyers fans can defend Schenn's actions. He tried to break Kuznetsov's knee (no way to argue this is not intent to injure).. very obvious, and the league did nothing about it. No problem Kuznetsov wasn't hurt and they let hockey (Oshie) deal with the situation. Schenn spent the entire series jumping at hits. The video on this hit makes it very obvious, with full contact to the head.

Chimera's hit was vicious for sure, yet there is a bit of fault from Vorachek. A penalty was definetly the right call in that situation, borders on a suspension.

The hit on Orlov, should have never been a suspension, that was all Orlov's fault, with the Flyer player putting pressure on him.

Ovie's hit on Ghost.. Ghost tried to move out of the way and ran into his knee. No ovie did not get out of the way, he was commited to the check, then once ghost moved, he had to worry about himself hitting the boards, therefore he didnt move his knee to avoid ghosts. he braced himself for hitting the boards, the same way he would for hitting the player.

All in all it was a physical series with Schenn running around doing his best to be a pest. I have no problem with his play other than jumping at hits and the intent to injure stuff. I'll admit, this was Wilson in the past for sure. I think hes now gotten the message.
- Hojo220

the only part I agree with you is Ghost. No one is arguing Schenn being suspended. the argument is the inconsistency across the NHL including the Chimera hit that SHOULD have been a suspension based on other suspensions handed out. I disagree about the Orlov hit too. thought one game was appropriate.

It's almost like they created this bogus playoff format just to market their stupid bracket challenge. The least they could do is assign draft picks the same as they seed in playoffs. Why did Detroit get to face a much weaker round 1 opponent/seed and also get assigned better draft picks?
- Baxter27

Of course they did. And it's pretty crappy to do that.

Also, afternoon playoff games is a pretty crappy thing to do, too.

Neuvirth is the better goalie, and if you had a coach with half a brain, he should have been put in for the 2nd game, and maybe the series would different today.
- newwave

yup anyone that knows anything should have seen that

I would have told panotch and carchidi a false reason and see if it leaked
- YuenglingJagr

sneaky, I love it

I didn't see anyone talking poorly about Mason but I also wasn't on many boards. Either you're stretching the truth or those people are delusional. I've been watching hockey/the Flyers since '93 and this is the best goalie situation I can remember. These two goalies, as they stand now, are good enough to win a Cup. They're both great goaltenders and I couldn't be happier with them. I'd be pissed off seeing a Flyers fan trash Mase. Best case scenario would be to sign the 2 of them long-term and they keep their current level of play up. I'm beyond the grass being greener. I love our goalie situation today and want it to stay AS-IS!
- Boyer83

That would be fantastic from an on-ice perspective. I doubt it will work from a cap management perspective.

I seriously wonder if the NHL team in charge of designing the playoff format was drunk when they did it. It is an absolutely format.
- Scoob

Agreed, it is quite absolutely.

yup anyone that knows anything should have seen that
- 2Real

So...common sense?

It's great, right? That's why I think it is funny when the staunch supporters of one of them just can't admit that the other one is also very good. It's a great "problem" to have again next season.
- Scoob

so great, and a rare thing in Philly

and both goalies endorse being in a tandem and get along well (seemingly, by all appearances they do)

Agreed, it is quite absolutely.
- jmatchett383

fffffffrank!!!!! It's an absolutely awful format. lol

That would be fantastic from an on-ice perspective. I doubt it will work from a cap management perspective.
- Scoob

but we have this and (hopefully) next year to enjoy the tandem

I doubt both get re-signed, they are will both want to be starters

yup anyone that knows anything should have seen that
- 2Real

I luv you

Only problem with our goalies is they just don't seem to stay healthy.

Great article as always, I have been having this argument non stop with my more casual hockey friends, and its getting old very fast. Its kind of annoying people avoid the real issues (special teams, scoring etc) and yap about a single goal from center ice.

I do have one question. I know hind site is 20/20 and I doubt the flyers could have won even with Holtby in net due to their non existent goal scoring.

If the change in net was made maybe a game earlier, do we avoid the game 3 embarrassment, or was that inevitable considering the way special teams were trending?

Obviously this is all dependent on if Neuvirth was ready to go.

One thing I would like to see made this coming off-season is an lengthy evaluation of the assistant coaches. I know you can't blame everything on them...but special teams IS the reason we lost this series. I really feel special teams the last 2 seasons has been stagnant, and a change in strategy could be a good thing.

That would be fantastic from an on-ice perspective. I doubt it will work from a cap management perspective.
- Scoob

It could work for a while. As long as it stays under like 10 million. Problem is just that its a lot to spend on goaltending. But it is better to spend that on 2 great goalies than it is to spend on Umberger and Vinny

So the DoPS acts just like on ice officials. Arbitrarily and in the interest of appeasing both teams, not in the interest of making sure players on the ice are playing a honest and clean game. Makes sense.

How has Tom Wilson not been suspended yet? I watched a handful of his hits last night on the Youtube and not one of them, in my eyes, wasn't a charge or hit from behind.

That was an interesting read which I did not know the Capitals were sending in tapes of Schenn throughout the series. I am sure most Flyer fans watched the local Philly broadcast, but I watched the Capitals broadcast for game 6 and it explains why the commentators were calling for suspensions the whole game. It really does show how much influence commentators have on fans and viewers.

Unconfirmed:

http://sonsofpenn.com/fly...legedly-arrested-for-dui/
- mayorofangrytown

he should have hired Zherdev's driver

Neuvirth is the better goalie, and if you had a coach with half a brain, he should have been put in for the 2nd game, and maybe the series would different today.
- newwave

A coach with a quarter of a brain would know that putting Emery in would of caused the Flyers to score more goals...DeRp says the DeRper.

Excellent work, Bill. Your levelheadedness is only ocassionally exceeded by your knack for understatement ("The sometimes controversial Campbell..." Beautiful!).

Just a question for the masses:

I have read a lot of reports that the Wild might buyout Vanek as they need cap space to resign RFA's.

Could Vanek be a cheap option to add? Would anyone be interested?

Excellent work, Bill. Your levelheadedness is only ocassionally exceeded by your knack for understatement ("The sometimes controversial Campbell..." Beautiful!
- tangent_man

I'm shocked he waited this long
- Mononoke

As mean as it sounds, at least he waited for the season to end or maybe he just got lucky and wasn't caught earlier. Russian culture when it comes to drinking is much much different.

Just a question for the masses:

I have read a lot of reports that the Wild might buyout Vanek as they need cap space to resign RFA's.

Could Vanek be a cheap option to add? Would anyone be interested?
- J35Bacher

no

Just a question for the masses:

I have read a lot of reports that the Wild might buyout Vanek as they need cap space to resign RFA's.

Could Vanek be a cheap option to add? Would anyone be interested?
- J35Bacher

No x2

Unless it's a Mason Raymond Leaf contract.

no
- YuenglingJagr

amen