Get pucks deep, get pucks to the net.
- ggunky

finish your check, keep your legs moving.

If the GM isn't looking around the league for a new PK coach, he's not doing his job properly. Only Buffalo and Arizona have a lower PK% in the Hextall era.

Meanwhile Carolina are #1 thanks in large part to Steve Smith.

http://canesandcoffee.com...es-in-depth-penalty-kill/

That the Hurricanes have a successful PK is not a new phenomenon. It’s actually been good for a few years. Take a look back at the last three seasons:

2015-16 season: 84.3% kill rate (6th in NHL)

2014-15 season: 84.7% kill rate (4th in NHL)

2013-14 season: 81.7% kill rate (17th in NHL)

Wait a second… the 2014-15 Hurricanes team killed penalties at a 3% better clip than the year prior, when the only meaningful new player was rookie Victor Rask who doesn’t even play significant penalty kill minutes. That’s because the most impactful Hurricane penalty-killer during this period is not a player. It’s assistant coach Steve Smith.

Smith was hired as one of new head coach Bill Peters staff on June 23, 2014. As coordinator of the Hurricanes penalty kill, Smith prepares the video sessions and prepares the players for the specific team they’re going out to face next. But as the N&O’s Chip Alexander found out from PK stalwart Jay McClement, the real key was teaching the positioning. “We’re pressuring when we need to, making the right reads,” McClement said. “You’re going to give up shots but you want to give up the least dangerous shots.”

It sounds so simple, when he says it like that, but somehow Smith has really clicked the Hurricanes PK light ‘on’ from the moment he showed up. And now that the talent level has gotten a bit of a boost in Raleigh, the PK has jumped from really good, to the elite unit of the entire NHL.

Technically, it comes down to the goals against more so.
There are teams scoring at a similar clip to them, but still have received the goaltending that has moved them up in the standings.
If Mason had played more consistently, (like the last 3 seasons), we would have about 20/30 goals shaved off, and been higher in standings.
Still curious which direction they will go with the goaltending next season.

finish your check, keep your legs moving.
- MBFlyerfan

It wasn't intentional. He's just not that type of player

Traffic

What I don't understand about all the tank talk, what should the organization do with Konency and Provorov? Not play them significant minutes? Somehow persuade them not to get better? We all know this wasn't a Stanley Cup winning roster to begin the season anyway. Last year was great making the playoffs considering Streit and Schultz were the top pairing dmen during the playoffs.

I do feel eventually one of the young dmen will be moved for a similar young top 6 forward. I have no idea when this will happen. These trades happen quite often and Hexy has the assets at his disposal to pull one off.

Get pucks deep, get pucks to the net.
- ggunky

What I don't understand about all the tank talk, what should the organization do with Konency and Provorov? Not play them significant minutes? Somehow persuade them not to get better? We all know this wasn't a Stanley Cup winning roster to begin the season anyway. Last year was great making the playoffs considering Streit and Schultz were the top pairing dmen during the playoffs.

I do feel eventually one of the young dmen will be moved for a similar young top 6 forward. I have no idea when this will happen. These trades happen quite often and Hexy has the assets at his disposal to pull one off.
- ravishingone

There is no point in tanking anyway. There isn't a tank worthy player in this years draft IMO.

When i spoke to Hakstol on Saturday, he brought it up on his own, how G is much more noticeable the last 10 or so games.

I said to him, yeah most of us fan speculate it is\was the hip that was hindering him and perhaps now he is getting back to pre-surgery mobility.
- ggunky

Did you not ask about Vandevelde?

Very cool that you and your son got to experience that, btw

That was a fun game to watch last night.

Cooter has looked DAMN good ever since Flip was added at the deadline.

Having the other teams d-men having to match up against G and Flip lines has brought out more potential for Cooter, or so it feels that way.
- ggunky

FWIW I would be willing to bet it has less to do with Coots himself and more to do with the Flyers having 3 somewhat competent lines

If the GM isn't looking around the league for a new PK coach, he's not doing his job properly. Only Buffalo and Arizona have a lower PK% in the Hextall era.

Meanwhile Carolina are #1 thanks in large part to Steve Smith.

http://canesandcoffee.com...es-in-depth-penalty-kill/
- Feanor

Agreed, especially since Giroux is starting to look like himself again.
- BiggE

He is?

If the GM isn't looking around the league for a new PK coach, he's not doing his job properly. Only Buffalo and Arizona have a lower PK% in the Hextall era.

Meanwhile Carolina are #1 thanks in large part to Steve Smith.

http://canesandcoffee.com...es-in-depth-penalty-kill/
- Feanor

I was really impressed by their PK last night. They were aggressive yet positionally sound. I hope Hextall was taking notes.

I was really impressed by their PK last night. They were aggressive yet positionally sound. I hope Hextall was taking notes.
- TobyFlenderson

Lappy is a great guy, loved him as a player, but I would be surprised if he is retained after this season. In fairness to Hakstol who I think will be retained, his assistants were hired before him. He should be allowed to make changes to his staff.

I hope PLind gets Meltzer'd again
- Nucker101

It can be rationalized and spun 6 ways from Sunday. The bottom line is the Flyers had a franchise goaltender right under their noses and he was given away. It's part and parcel to why this franchise is in the situation they are in.

- YuenglingJagr

It can be rationalized and spun 6 ways from Sunday. The bottom line is the Flyers had a franchise goaltender right under their noses and he was given away. It's part and parcel to why this franchise is in the situation they are in.
- PLindbergh31

I think it is actually one of the smallest issues they've had to deal with since the cup finals. Bob changes nothing about this team.

You always seem to exclude his salary too...I find that enjoyable.

FWIW I would be willing to bet it has less to do with Coots himself and more to do with the Flyers having 3 somewhat competent lines
- YuenglingJagr

That was what i was trying to say.

With 3 lines now, the matchups the Coots line is getting, allows Coots to take advantage of them matchups.

I wasn't on here Saturday night or Sunday at all so I am sure this was discussed:

http://www.philly.com/phi..._problem_this_season.html

doesn't shock me at all. I've said it before, I really hope the slide in G's and Ghost's play was from the surgery. hopefully this really is the case and he is 100% next year. Both he and Ghost have looked so much better over the last month

It can be rationalized and spun 6 ways from Sunday. The bottom line is the Flyers had a franchise goaltender right under their noses and he was given away. It's part and parcel to why this franchise is in the situation they are in.
- PLindbergh31

Agreed.

Regardless of why it happened, he is no longer in O&B.

Did you not ask about Vandevelde?

Very cool that you and your son got to experience that, btw
- YuenglingJagr

I wanted too!

I wanted to say, can you PLEASE scratch CV for one game, PLEEEAASSSEEEE!!!

I think it is actually one of the smallest issues they've had to deal with since the cup finals. Bob changes nothing about this team.

You always seem to exclude his salary too...I find that enjoyable.
- YuenglingJagr

How do you figure a goaltender who has the best save %, gaa, and the most wins in the league changes nothing about this team? The Flyers goaltending has been awful this year. I understand they have a lackluster d in front of them to say the least, but that doesn't excuse the countless soft goals allowed.

He won a Vezina on a Jackets team that didn't make the playoffs.

I'm here for the PWC



*Plind Whining Chronicles

Oh wow good timing

I think it is actually one of the smallest issues they've had to deal with since the cup finals. Bob changes nothing about this team.

You always seem to exclude his salary too...I find that enjoyable.
- YuenglingJagr

7,425,000 cap hit for Bob. things are going to get sketchy for them soon. Atkinson is a UFA after next season so keeping him is gonna cost. Wennberg is a RFA after this season and Jenner after next. they still have buyout money to pay on Boll and Tyutin and Clarkson is on the payroll for 3 more seasons after this.

It can be rationalized and spun 6 ways from Sunday. The bottom line is the Flyers had a franchise goaltender right under their noses and he was given away. It's part and parcel to why this franchise is in the situation they are in.
- PLindbergh31

regardless of the circumstances surrounding his departure, for which Bill touched on it, is a VERY legit argument that the Flyers dropped the ball on him. Bill also stated that the brass in Philly thought a lot of the Bob. I understand and get the story Bill explained but it still doesn't put the management in very good light no matter how it is spun.
Not sure Bob would have had this success in Philly but not sure he wouldn't have had it either.....I guess we will never know. Anyways, that's just my 2 cents.