Were these his own doing or were the changes team/league mandated as part of the spectacle?
- Scoob

The retro-colored ones were something he experimented with and then rejected after practicing with them and finding it distracting. The Stadium Series black ones were kind of forced upon him and Neuvirth. Mason hated them (athough they definitely looked cool), wore them in one game where he didn't fare well -- believe it was a home game against the Islanders -- and then was happy to ditch them.

The retro-colored ones were something he experimented with and then rejected after practicing with them and finding it distracting. The Stadium Series black ones were kind of forced upon him and Neuvirth. Mason hated them (athough they definitely looked cool), wore them in one game where he didn't fare well -- believe it was a home game against the Islanders -- and then was happy to ditch them.
- bmeltzer

Thanks

FWIW, here are my thoughts on what is hurting them on the road.

1. Lack of depth/matchup deficiencies
Over the last 4 seasons, the team has suffered from a lack of overall depth and in having enough quality Dmen to match up against top lines. Both of these deficiencies can be somewhat masked at home, but on the road they will usually be exposed.

2. Lack of maturity/leadership
It takes focus and hard work to overcome the disadvantages on the road. The Flyers, for whatever reason, are often a team that finds itself having to come from behind to win games or to force OT. This is easier to do at home when you can feed off the crowd and have better control of the matchups. The constant falling behind however, shows me that there may be a lack of maturity and leadership on this team. If they are to be a top team, they need to learn how to come out firing on all cylinders right from the opening drop of the puck.

3. Steve Mason
Mason, as far as goalies go, is the only constant over the last 4 seasons and during that time he's played in 224 of their 328 games. You can take his comments any way you like, but I have to wonder if it's comments like his in regards to playing on the road that are part of the reason he wasn't re-signed. Every goalie has to play on the road and overcome the same obstacles, Mason needs to man up. I doubt his comments about playing on the road did anything to endear him to a guy like Ron Hextall. I have no idea if this stuff has any effect on the rest of the team, and as Bill also stated, I'm not a sports psychologist, but I have to think that in light of what he said, it had to affect his play. Even if the effect was on a subconscious level.

Going forward, they certainly won't be able to blame Mason and I think the depth issues have been addressed and more talent should certainly be in the lineup on a nightly basis. Time will tell if leadership and/or maturity remains an issue.
- BiggE

I think all of that is a factor but I think the biggest issue was missed. Overall team defense to me was a huge factor. If you play well as a team defensively, you can be a good road team. The biggest criticism of Hakstol in my view is that he never got the poor fundamentals and mistakes made defensively corrected. That would go a long way towards the Flyers becoming a better 5 on 5 team and a better road team. It would make them a better home team also for that matter.

The Flyers have at least been in the second-half playoff hunt each and every year of this time period, succeeding twice and failing twice but without repeatedly taking willful backward steps in the hopes of forward steps at some distant future date.
- Bill Meltzer

I agreed with most of what I read, but I'm not so sure about that. Hahaha!

FWIW, here are my thoughts on what is hurting them on the road.

1. Lack of depth/matchup deficiencies
Over the last 4 seasons, the team has suffered from a lack of overall depth and in having enough quality Dmen to match up against top lines. Both of these deficiencies can be somewhat masked at home, but on the road they will usually be exposed.


- BiggE

On the surface it always seemed to me that teams were able to load up their best forward/defensive matchup on Giroux and pretty much dare the team to produce from anywhere else. And for the most part it worked without much worry.

If we can get some more scoring production from the other lines, make them dangerous enough that teams can't always load up on our top line, it will go a long way.

Add to that the road PK needs to improve.

Last season especially I think Giroux lost confidence in himself early on because of his skating issues from the surgery. It affected his physical and mental game. He became a perimeter player and it was a domino effect all down the lineup. He was no longer dangerous, especially at even strength, because it seems the other team didn't have to worry about him carrying the puck or going to the net.

Let's hope now that he is more healthy he starts to impose himself on the game more.

On the surface it always seemed to me that teams were able to load up their best forward/defensive matchup on Giroux and pretty much dare the team to produce from anywhere else. And for the most part it worked without much worry.

If we can get some more scoring production from the other lines, make them dangerous enough that teams can't always load up on our top line, it will go a long way.

Add to that the road PK needs to improve.

Last season especially I think Giroux lost confidence in himself early on because of his skating issues from the surgery. It affected his physical and mental game. He became a perimeter player and it was a domino effect all down the lineup. He was no longer dangerous, especially at even strength, because it seems the other team didn't have to worry about him carrying the puck or going to the net.

Let's hope now that he is more healthy he starts to impose himself on the game more.
- MBFlyerfan

Very well said.

Hey Bill, first time poster long time reader. Hockeybuzz is part of my daily ritual of websites I visit and trust me it isn't because of Eks rumors. You hear this a lot but also don't hear it enough, thank you for all the hard work and time you spend writing for us Flyerheads. Love seeing your work on the official site it's like I actually feel a strange sense of pride reading your stuff outside of hockeybuzz, seeing you get the recognition you deserve.

The retro-colored ones were something he experimented with and then rejected after practicing with them and finding it distracting. The Stadium Series black ones were kind of forced upon him and Neuvirth. Mason hated them (athough they definitely looked cool), wore them in one game where he didn't fare well -- believe it was a home game against the Islanders -- and then was happy to ditch them.
- bmeltzer

was that the game where that one innocent goal slid through his pads...i think it was like clutterbuck or cizikas who scored it. I didnt watch the game I just remember my friend telling me about it

No doubt. But, the best goalies do overcome it and that's why Mason isn't in that group. I also think it would serve him better to keep stuff like that to himself, no matter how it is spun, it comes off as a guy making excuses and that never plays well to both teammates or management.
- BiggE

to fans you mean? I dont know if it is an actual problem with the team, though he is moving on. it isn't like he hasnt played at a very high level, and every time I have heard him talk about the issues he faced he acknowledged that it is still his responsibility to work through it and make the save. That gets lost in a lot of the comments he makes. It isn't as though he is passing the blame on other people, he is just explaining what he dealt with.

Golden Knights have more ticket revenue than Penguins, Bruins, Flyers

https://sports.yahoo.com/...ins-flyers-170552526.html

the numbers don't lie lol

https://sports.yahoo.com/...ins-flyers-170552526.html

the numbers don't lie lol
- YuenglingJagr

Suuuuuurrreeeee..

"Most of our tickets are multi-year. The lower bowl is three to ten years.”

Who is Steve Mason?

Who is Steve Mason?
- LindsayCarson

A professional ice hockey goalie currently under contract with the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL.

Why do you ask?

On the surface it always seemed to me that teams were able to load up their best forward/defensive matchup on Giroux and pretty much dare the team to produce from anywhere else. And for the most part it worked without much worry.

If we can get some more scoring production from the other lines, make them dangerous enough that teams can't always load up on our top line, it will go a long way.
- MBFlyerfan

The Giroux line hasn't been the top producing Flyers line since 13-14. In the past three years it's been the Couturier line that produced the most - almost half a goal more production per 60 minutes.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...als&sort=F60&sortdir=DESC

I'm not a goalie, I just play one on my couch but, if the color of my pads stopped me or distracted me from stopping the puck then I should be banished to Winnepuke.

The Giroux line hasn't been the top producing Flyers line since 13-14. In the past three years it's been the Couturier line that produced the most - almost half a goal more production per 60 minutes.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...als&sort=F60&sortdir=DESC
- Feanor

So shutdown Sean is a #1 center after all.

Patrick signed
- nastyflyergirl

Nice tape job

So shutdown Sean is a #1 center after all.
- MBFlyerfan

What we've really lacked is a 3rd center who could take advantage of other teams 3rd and 4th lines.

Hopefully between Filppula and Patrick we will have one of those in 17-18.

The Giroux line hasn't been the top producing Flyers line since 13-14. In the past three years it's been the Couturier line that produced the most - almost half a goal more production per 60 minutes.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...als&sort=F60&sortdir=DESC
- Feanor

Not sure where to find it but how about total goals produced?

What we've really lacked is a 3rd center who could take advantage of other teams 3rd and 4th lines.

Hopefully between Filppula and Patrick we will have one of those in 17-18.
- Feanor

I tend to agree with you. And I'm sorry if my post was a little snarky. I tend to find myself defending Couturier a lot against those who say he is a bust or will only ever be a 3rd line center. The stats obviously say he is much more.

I think if he can stay healthy we will see it from him. It seems that lately when he starts to get hot, he gets hurt. But when he gets hot, he stays hot for quite a while.

Nice tape job
- 21peter

Looks like the cameraman's assistant taped it up after a three martini lunch.

Nice tape job
- 21peter

He can tape his stick however he wants as long as he's scoring goals and getting assists with that tape job.

Not sure where to find it but how about total goals produced?
- MJL

According to that site, he leads all players besides Konecny in 5v5 GF/60.,

Edit: He also leads Giroux by 1 5v5 goal over the same span.

HACKstall FLEECED on the NOlan Fatrick signing. Another in a string of brilliant moves. Is Lilja even playing anymore? Maybe we'll trade Hartnell for him.

FACE ON HEXTALLS EGG.

FACE ON HEXTALLS EGG.
- Giroux_Is_God

Need some clarification please.

Is this a chicken (ostrich, snake, etc.) egg that Hextall purchased? Or has he gained mastery over human biology and found a way to produce his own eggs? And whose face exactly is on this egg?