Im done with this debate I yield the floor to this man
- JoeRussomanno

I yield it to Skippy. I have to get the kids to bed...my wife's going to shoot me if she gets home from girls poker night and sees Guacapoopie dancing on the coffee table

You know what else is getting old? Watching other teams skate through our zone like it's the Skatezone in Voorhees. No one wants to stand someone up, take a body or at least negate the other guy's stick oh and god forbid someone not turn the puck over in the high crease. Why is it so much to ask the team just do the simple easy things? Maybe doing more of this helps a struggling goalie get his confidence back and get in a groove.
- JoeRussomanno

I am all for that. Totally with you there.

Im just oversensitive to how this team plays minor league hockey and expects to win.
Edit: That and Im just pist off after a loss.
- JoeRussomanno

I hear you, I would have been happy w/ 1 pt tonite.

And bob didn't have one of those in the WC?
- JoeRussomanno

Yeah he did. Bob also has a .921 save % this year. I'm really astonished people are defending Bryzgalov. His statistics are among the worst in the NHL. Is that all due to deflections, and poor defensive coverage?

The forwards and goalies are lacking in them as well. It's not just the defensemen that are guilty.
- Jsaquella

No your right. But in my opinion thats where it all starts when the puck is dumped into your zone. The forwards need to do a better job giving the defenders a better outlet to move the puck. The defense has to do a better job making decisions to clear the zone.

I hear you, I would have been happy w/ 1 pt tonite.
- isaiah520

My main thing is, even if Bryzgalov is toast, this team is going nowhere how they are playing in their own zone. Whenever i try to fix something i always try to fix the simple things first and I just think the collective effort in the d-zone is a lot easier to fix than a goalie whose game is off. Even bob on a heckuva night gave up two goals to an Islander team that I thought had no business getting one from him. FOr that I blame the other guys for letting okposo stand alone in the crease forever waiting for the puck and then letting Tavares split the defense with seconds remaining. I really believe if they just tighten it up defensively they win more of these games or at least grab the ot point.

My main thing is, even if Bryzgalov is toast, this team is going nowhere how they are playing in their own zone. Whenever i try to fix something i always try to fix the simple things first and I just think the collective effort in the d-zone is a lot easier to fix than a goalie whose game is off. Even bob on a heckuva night gave up two goals to an Islander team that I thought had no business getting one from him. FOr that I blame the other guys for letting okposo stand alone in the crease forever waiting for the puck and then letting Tavares split the defense with seconds remaining. I really believe if they just tighten it up defensively they win more of these games or at least grab the ot point.
- JoeRussomanno

Joe, your 100% correct. The Flyers just aren't a good defensive team right now. And I'm not talking about just the defenseman. And one of the biggest culprits is the Giroux line.

Yeah he did. Bob also has a .921 save % this year. I'm really astonished people are defending Bryzgalov. His statistics are among the worst in the NHL. Is that all due to deflections, and poor defensive coverage?
- PLindbergh31

Well lets start giving him the starts against the heavy hitters and see if they can't crank up his 2 goals allowed a game. Right now the way I see it Bobrovsky has a higher potential but even he got bit in the a$$ by two goals the other night from defensive breakdowns. When you play these more talented teams like Nashville, Chicago and Ottawa these are the teams that make you pay for it. Case in point Bob just gave up a three spot in his last outing against a contender.

Yeah he did. Bob also has a .921 save % this year. I'm really astonished people are defending Bryzgalov. His statistics are among the worst in the NHL. Is that all due to deflections, and poor defensive coverage?
- PLindbergh31

I can honestly say that I am "confused" when it comes to Bryzgalov at this point. I have no answers to what is going on. Deflections and poor defense is part of the problem but its not the only thing wrong. I keep saying he needs to be better but I dont know when its going to happen. I think the Flyers need to just give him 8-10 games consecutive and see what happens.

Criticizing a goaltender who is the highest paid in the NHL, who doesn't have a save % in the top 50 is scapegoating him. Interesting.

3 issues causing the Flyers a lot of problems right now

1) Team defensive play
2) Puck management
3) Goaltending (Specifically Bryzgalov)

Joe, your 100% correct. The Flyers just aren't a good defensive team right now. And I'm not talking about just the defenseman. And one of the biggest culprits is the Giroux line.
- MJL

I hope your off the sarcasm skid from earlier, but anyway the fact that I feel the G line (oh how I hate to call them out but..) is struggling worries me. I think they will pull out of this just like I think Universe will, but its just agonizing and we have boston around the corner ugh!

I hope your off the sarcasm skid from earlier, but anyway the fact that I feel the G line (oh how I hate to call them out but..) is struggling worries me. I think they will pull out of this just like I think Universe will, but its just agonizing and we have boston around the corner ugh!
- JoeRussomanno

You didn't enjoy my sarcasm?

Criticizing a goaltender who is the highest paid in the NHL, who doesn't have a save % in the top 50 is scapegoating him. Interesting.
- PLindbergh31

His numbers are terrible there is no hiding it. He needs to play better along with his team. I dunno....really, I have no answer.

Well lets start giving him the starts against the heavy hitters and see if they can't crank up his 2 goals allowed a game. Right now the way I see it Bobrovsky has a higher potential but even he got bit in the a$$ by two goals the other night from defensive breakdowns. When you play these more talented teams like Nashville, Chicago and Ottawa these are the teams that make you pay for it. Case in point Bob just gave up a three spot in his last outing against a contender.
- JoeRussomanno

Elite goaltenders make saves they aren't supposed to. It's what makes them elite. Not only does Bryzgalov not do that, he usually allows at least one soft goal a game. Unacceptable in my book.

I hope your off the sarcasm skid from earlier, but anyway the fact that I feel the G line (oh how I hate to call them out but..) is struggling worries me. I think they will pull out of this just like I think Universe will, but its just agonizing and we have boston around the corner ugh!
- JoeRussomanno

Agreed. Very frustrating to watch indeed. The G line is really out of sync right now.

His numbers are terrible there is no hiding it. He needs to play better along with his team. I dunno....really, I have no answer.
- stveshdy

I think the answer is make Bobrovsky the starter, or at least give him the bulk of the starts right now. Not worried about massaging Bryzgalov's ego, he hasn't played well enough to be the starter.

Elite goaltenders make saves they aren't supposed to. It's what makes them elite. Not only does Bryzgalov not do that, he usually allows at least one soft goal a game. Unacceptable in my book.
- PLindbergh31

Your correct.

Criticizing a goaltender who is the highest paid in the NHL, who doesn't have a save % in the top 50 is scapegoating him. Interesting.
- PLindbergh31

But we have to remember how he became the highest paid (which btw he is not), that is because he made a name for himself playing behind a defensive team in Phoenix and before that Anaheim. I don't think anyone expected him to excel behind a poor defensive team. I know I didn't think the Flyers would be this loose this year.

If I may make an analogy, its like if I sell you a lamborghini and tell you, look you have to put premium gas in it and Brand y oil in it to get the most performance. Yet after you drive off with it you put regular gas and some crappy Brand X oil in it. Can you be pist at me for the thing running like crap? No. It's no different with this goalie and team. He's playing behind a team that is a defensive joke. I'm not saying fire Laviolette either as I don't believe he's preaching this bad play to his players, in fact I know he's not after watching him tear them a new @$$ in Colorado on 24/7.

Elite goaltenders make saves they aren't supposed to. It's what makes them elite. Not only does Bryzgalov not do that, he usually allows at least one soft goal a game. Unacceptable in my book.
- PLindbergh31

Hard to argue against that. I dont know what can be done.

I think the answer is make Bobrovsky the starter, or at least give him the bulk of the starts right now. Not worried about massaging Bryzgalov's ego, he hasn't played well enough to be the starter.
- PLindbergh31

That's not the answer to getting Bryzgalov to play better though. And that need to happen.

You didn't enjoy my sarcasm?

- MJL

Earlier i did yes, but right now im in crisis mode

Agreed. Very frustrating to watch indeed. The G line is really out of sync right now.
- LeachHextall27

Big factor in that is Jagr playing injured.

Elite goaltenders make saves they aren't supposed to. It's what makes them elite. Not only does Bryzgalov not do that, he usually allows at least one soft goal a game. Unacceptable in my book.
- PLindbergh31

He's made big saves in everygame except for maybe the last tampa game. He made a handful of them tonight. You already said you didn't see the whole game.

But we have to remember how he became the highest paid (which btw he is not), that is because he made a name for himself playing behind a defensive team in Phoenix and before that Anaheim. I don't think anyone expected him to excel behind a poor defensive team. I know I didn't think the Flyers would be this loose this year.

If I may make an analogy, its like if I sell you a lamborghini and tell you, look you have to put premium gas in it and Brand y oil in it to get the most performance. Yet after you drive off with it you put regular gas and some crappy Brand X oil in it. Can you be pist at me for the thing running like crap? No. It's no different with this goalie and team. He's playing behind a team that is a defensive joke. I'm not saying fire Laviolette either as I don't believe he's preaching this bad play to his players, in fact I know he's not after watching him tear them a new @$$ in Colorado on 24/7.
- JoeRussomanno

I agree that the team is playing poorly defensively. But Bobrovsky is playing behind the same team. I'm at the point where the grace period is over, and it's time for him to play. And If I'm Laviolette, I'm strongly considering giving the reins to Bobrovsky. I don't think Bryzgalov was that bad tonight, in fact I think he played well. But not well enough.