Repeat of 2010 against the Rags last game of the year?

Won't have as much jubilation tied to it with the Panthers not playing til a day later... but still
- Boyer83

Panthers play Saturday night. But it doesn't matter. Win and they're in.

Yet you leave out the goals he scored during the same 2 seasons: 21 and 13.

Im not saying he should be a fixture on the first line..Im not saying he is better then TK. Im saying him being on the first line for a few games isnt a disaster.
- opeth_pa

I left out the goals for a reason. You can put Raffl on he third line and he will still get you a dozen goals a year if healthy. 21 goals and 7 assists is not what you normally get from a first line left winger, especially the 7 assists. Zach Hyman is a more deserving lesser light for the first line than Raffl, Hyman manages to stay on the first line in Toronto because he wins puck battles regularly, has speed and tenacity and helps out the stars on the line, I get that, but he also contributed 25 assists, not 7. That is without any pp time, just like Raffl. Hey, I like Raffl and I also agree it is not a disaster for a few games.

This is true.
Maybe not as many Leaf fans who show up at Rogers when they are in town, but the Flyers fans have an amazing turn out in Van City.

We lost RockyChocBill though.
Seeing Rinaldo in Orange and Black was too much for him.
😥
- Marc D

Alright Joe, I see how it is

I paid special attention to Nolan Patrick last night.

Holy hell, he was playing like it was Game 7 of the Finals. He was getting more involved physically than I've ever seen before, and he was all over the puck. It's nice when a player with his skill set is out there like a bull dog.

Also, I thought that Gudas was far from flawless, but was...better. Baby steps.
- jmatchett383

I think i saw 19 mins of ice time?

Yet you leave out the goals he scored during the same 2 seasons: 21 and 13.

Im not saying he should be a fixture on the first line..Im not saying he is better then TK. Im saying him being on the first line for a few games isnt a disaster.
- opeth_pa

Raffl seemed like he had one goal in mind: "Get to the net and let these two get the puck there."

I'm not knocking him, it's not a bad idea. He's very strong, and he can establish position well.

Right now that is looking at it the wrong way. In isolation, Raffl is clearly not a first line caliber winger. However when looking at it from a team perspective, spreading out the offensive talent throughout the lineup could make the Flyers a stronger and deeper team. Raffl on the first line does a good job getting in on the forecheck and breaking pucks loose so the better offensive players can get opportunities to make plays with the puck.
- MJL

Konecny is a fearless forechecker that has way more speed and skill that Raffl, so it is Konecny for me. Secondly putting Konecny and his speed skillset with a couple lead footed guys like Filppula and Simmonds is not going to help anyone. Konnecny set up one of those culls last night and it failed and probably would have been a first line goal.

Raffl seemed like he had one goal in mind: "Get to the net and let these two get the puck there."

I'm not knocking him, it's not a bad idea. He's very strong, and he can establish position well.
- jmatchett383

I dont like the idea but TK is 1 player the other team has to be looking for. TK has established himself as a game breaker, at any moment, bang.

With Flip always and Simmonds right now, TK is all the 3rd line has going for it. The problem will be when you play good teams, they have 3 good lines, plus. Canes are not a good team, or should I say a deep team. Against a deep team, spreading out the O might not be worth it. You could take Simmonds struggling, but having Flip as his center is double trouble.

I would prefer TK, Laughton and Simmer. Drop Flip to the 4th line.

Alright Joe, I see how it is
- Nucker101

I am good man, what have you got to contribute today , any hot rumours or good drinking holes?

I think i saw 19 mins of ice time?
- nastyflyergirl

Not quite, 18:47 Teasing

Konecny is a fearless forechecker that has way more speed and skill that Raffl, so it is Konecny for me. Secondly putting Konecny and his speed skillset with a couple lead footed guys like Filppula and Simmonds is not going to help anyone. Konnecny set up one of those culls last night and it failed and probably would have been a first line goal.
- joegreif17

I don't see the problem in trying to make each line a scoring threat. Konecny does that for that 3rd line.

I don't see the problem in trying to make each line a scoring threat. Konecny does that for that 3rd line.
- Ftown19125

he does, but Konecny-Flip-Simmonds could give us a heart attack in the DZ.

I don't see the problem in trying to make each line a scoring threat. Konecny does that for that 3rd line.
- Ftown19125

I think they are trying to get Simmonds going, they will need him but Flip just has no O left in him.

Panthers play Saturday night. But it doesn't matter. Win and they're in.
- Scoob

get it to overtime and theyre in

get it to overtime and theyre in
- bulet13

can't wait for that...

3 minutes left and a tied game and out come???

I don't see the problem in trying to make each line a scoring threat. Konecny does that for that 3rd line.
- Ftown19125

Fair enough, every coach is different. Some stack them like Boston, Colorado, TB to name three and others like a plugger with two stars like Toronto for example with Hyman on the first line. Boston will never break up Bergeron, Marchand and Pastranak. MacKinnon, Rantanten and Landeskog in Colorado are fixtures. I see it both ways but I personally like a stacked line if they can combine the skill with a 200' game and play physical. Not sure if it is true but I think the Bergeron line had only 3 goals scored against them all year up till a couple weeks ago, almost too hard to fathom.

Konecny is a fearless forechecker that has way more speed and skill that Raffl, so it is Konecny for me. Secondly putting Konecny and his speed skillset with a couple lead footed guys like Filppula and Simmonds is not going to help anyone. Konnecny set up one of those culls last night and it failed and probably would have been a first line goal.
- joegreif17

There is no doubt that Konecny is a better offensive player than Raffl. You say putting Konecny there is not going to help anyone while ignoring that it did actually help that line last night, albeit in a one game sample.
Again, you're talking in assumptions and what you can't know. As if every time a player is set up, it goes in the net. Doesn't help credibility in making those kinds of statement.

Fair enough, every coach is different. Some stack them like Boston, Colorado, TB to name three and others like a plugger with two stars like Toronto for example with Hyman on the first line. Boston will never break up Bergeron, Marchand and Pastranak. MacKinnon, Rantanten and Landeskog in Colorado are fixtures. I see it both ways but I personally like a stacked line if they can combine the skill with a 200' game and play physical. Not sure if it is true but I think the Bergeron line had only 3 goals scored against them all year up till a couple weeks ago, almost too hard to fathom.
- joegreif17

I agree with some of the stuff you're saying, but Raffl had a goal last night that honestly probably shouldn't have even ended up in the net. The pass was pretty terrible but he was in the right place. I don't think it's the end of the world.

I think they are trying to get Simmonds going, they will need him but Flip just has no O left in him.
- wcorvette

Look at it this way, if we did not finish off Boston in OT and lost that point because Simmonds soft play along the boards not chipping that puck out and the Cats won all their remaining games how would you feel about Wayne Train the Tire Fire? That play was inexcusable! This game is not about what you did in years past it is what you contribute today.

I agree with some of the stuff you're saying, but Raffl had a goal last night that honestly probably shouldn't have even ended up in the net. The pass was pretty terrible but he was in the right place. I don't think it's the end of the world.
- Ftown19125

Fair enough, every coach is different. Some stack them like Boston, Colorado, TB to name three and others like a plugger with two stars like Toronto for example with Hyman on the first line. Boston will never break up Bergeron, Marchand and Pastranak. MacKinnon, Rantanten and Landeskog in Colorado are fixtures. I see it both ways but I personally like a stacked line if they can combine the skill with a 200' game and play physical. Not sure if it is true but I think the Bergeron line had only 3 goals scored against them all year up till a couple weeks ago, almost too hard to fathom.
- joegreif17

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that isn't true.

There is no doubt that Konecny is a better offensive player than Raffl. You say putting Konecny there is not going to help anyone while ignoring that it did actually help that line last night, albeit in a one game sample.
Again, you're talking in assumptions and what you can't know. As if every time a player is set up, it goes in the net. Doesn't help credibility in making those kinds of statement.
- MJL

May I correct you? Did it ever occur to you that you and only you have the right answer every single time? I do believe you understand the game to a degree but man you are just as annoying as me in a different way You talk to these fellow bloggers like they are children sometime and everyone has an opinion, like it or not.

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that isn't true.
- MJL

At some point in March is was true. I had a hard time believing it too but that is what was pointed out by the Barry Pederson between periods, amazing but true.

At some point in March is was true. I had a hard time believing it too but that is what was pointed out by the Barry Pederson between periods, amazing but true.
- joegreif17

I'd bet it isn't.

I'd bet it isn't.
- MJL

I will check with my Bruins stats man and see if I can get the numbers. I really would like to know either way. That is not an easy stat to locate on any site.