Yes, and No. The Rangers play their system better than the Flyers play theirs. Rangers make far fewer mistakes, the mistakes they do make Lundqvist is there to erase majority of them. When the Flyers make a mistake, 80% of the time the puck is in the back of the net.
- PLindbergh31

that's a big exaggeration. When the Flyers play more like the Rangers you have a 4-1 win with Bryz in net. When they play like they did this weekend with either goalie its a poop storm. I'm sorry but you have been one of those that's been calling for the other guy to get the nod and after Saturday you can't hide behind this is all the goalie now. It's not. When they play like poop it impacts the situation in net.

Problem is, how many "improvements" over Carle are out there that wont be cap busters?
- MBFlyerfan

Carle himself is going to be a "cap buster". Unless he takes a hometown discount, which he has little reason to do. If Carle is going to ask for 5 they'll gladly offer the best UFA out there 6 (or if it's someone like Suter 7) methinks.

He'd better not be, he's the highest paid goalie in the league this year by far at $10 mill. It's far less galling to see a 23 yr old backup goalie on an EL contract give up a bad goal than the 31 yr old franchise goalie who they backed up the brinks truck for. It's not acceptable in either case but Bryz was signed to be the vezina caliber goalie and he was paid accordingly.

That said, the team is going nowhere unless the forwards/defensemen get their heads out of their ------ as well.
- Flyers_01

Come on guys hes having a bad year....Big deal. If it does not change next year, then by all means burn him.

Question: How many teams have won a cup with 6-9 rookies on there team?

Pretty sure the answer is none!

He'd better not be, he's the highest paid goalie in the league this year by far at $10 mill. It's far less galling to see a 23 yr old backup goalie on an EL contract give up a bad goal than the 31 yr old franchise goalie who they backed up the brinks truck for. It's not acceptable in either case but Bryz was signed to be the vezina caliber goalie and he was paid accordingly.

That said, the team is going nowhere unless the forwards/defensemen get their heads out of their ------ as well.
- Flyers_01

Bang on.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 2/6/12
- bmeltzer

Priceless, weak goals are weak goals. I don't want to hear the lame excuses about breakdowns.

Elite goalies cover-up defensive breakdowns.

The difference in yesterday's game was goaltending.

2 weak goals against are to much to overcome against the best team in the east.

Carle himself is going to be a "cap buster". Unless he takes a hometown discount, which he has little reason to do. If Carle is going to ask for 5 they'll gladly offer the best UFA out there 6 (or if it's someone like Suter 7) methinks.
- hereticpride

They better not give Carle 5. I wouldn't even give his soft ass 4.

No need to emphasize that point to any Rangers fan. Lundqvist unequivocally is the Rangers best player and backbone. Rangers have offensive issues but their style of play, solid defense and goaltending have covered up those issues thus far.

Philly has a really solid offense with a lot of depth, which they can flip in a deal to bring in a solid defenseman or two. This wouldn't be so much of an issue with a healthy Pronger but without him in the lineup the defense is extremely exposed.

Timonen and perhaps Meszaros are both solid defenseman but I never thought Carle was anything more than a glorified power play quarterback and Coburn, to me, seems like a waste of a big bodied blueliner.
- MidnightMarauder

The problem with all that is, the Flyers defensemen isn't the sole problem either. The Forwards aren't all pulling their weight game in and game out either. This is more about letting this team grow really. A trade just puts a bandaid on the problem.

Priceless, weak goals are weak goals. I don't want to hear the lame excuses about breakdowns.

Elite goalies cover-up defensive breakdowns.

The difference in yesterday's game was goaltending.

2 weak goals against are to much to overcome against the best team in the east.
- ggunky

Elite goalies also have bad years!

The problem with all that is, the Flyers defensemen isn't the sole problem either. The Forwards aren't all pulling their weight game in and game out either. This is more about letting this team grow really. A trade just puts a bandaid on the problem.
- JoeRussomanno

then it sounds like Lavy has some work to do, doesn't it? He won a cup, he knows what needs to be done and how to handle players. Yet, we continue to see this lack of support.

that's a big exaggeration. When the Flyers play more like the Rangers you have a 4-1 win with Bryz in net. When they play like they did this weekend with either goalie its a poop storm. I'm sorry but you have been one of those that's been calling for the other guy to get the nod and after Saturday you can't hide behind this is all the goalie now. It's not. When they play like poop it impacts the situation in net.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm not delusional. The Rangers and Bruins are better teams than the Flyers, and the goaltending those teams have are on a different planet compared to what the Flyers have.

I'm not delusional. The Rangers and Bruins are better teams than the Flyers, and the goaltending those teams have are on a different planet compared to what the Flyers have.
- PLindbergh31

According to Bryz's Humungous universe?

Priceless, weak goals are weak goals. I don't want to hear the lame excuses about breakdowns.

Elite goalies cover-up defensive breakdowns.

The difference in yesterday's game was goaltending.

2 weak goals against are to much to overcome against the best team in the east.
- ggunky

Goaltending was a big factor, but like the Devils game, if the players in front of the goalie potted their empty netter goals, the score would be very different. It was truly a team effort in losing this weekend.

The problem with all that is, the Flyers defensemen isn't the sole problem either. The Forwards aren't all pulling their weight game in and game out either. This is more about letting this team grow really. A trade just puts a bandaid on the problem.
- JoeRussomanno

That was something I noticed to. Especially on that Dubinsky goal. It seemed like 2 of the flyers forwards were just hanging around the red line after the turnover. That allowed Dubinsky plenty of time to join the rush and get off a good shot. In order for a team defense system to be effective, all 5 players on the ice have to dig in. That is just my observation though.

Elite goalies also have bad years!
- Philly1980

I want Bryz ro be the best goalie in the league, but I am not gonna put on my O&B glasses and pretend like if the Flyers played a better all around game that Bryz wouldn't have allowed 2 weak goals.

He needs to be better.

then it sounds like Lavy has some work to do, doesn't it? He won a cup, he knows what needs to be done and how to handle players. Yet, we continue to see this lack of support.
- Flyer_Nation71

A portion falls on lavy yes, but handing him a team with this much youth and expecting a Cup might be a little much. I'm all for standing pat at the deadline and addressing the roster in the offseason. Unless you can add some depth on the cheap, which I doubt. Basically bringing in one defenseman isn't fixing this team. When your best forward misses at least three wide open nets in two games, there serious issues at play.

Goaltending was a big factor, but like the Devils game, if the players in front of the goalie potted their empty netter goals, the score would be very different. It was truly a team effort in losing this weekend.
- feelingkettle

Elite goalies erase the mistakes made infront of them.

Bryz did just the opposite yesterday.

He'd better not be, he's the highest paid goalie in the league this year by far at $10 mill. It's far less galling to see a 23 yr old backup goalie on an EL contract give up a bad goal than the 31 yr old franchise goalie who they backed up the brinks truck for. It's not acceptable in either case but Bryz was signed to be the vezina caliber goalie and he was paid accordingly.

That said, the team is going nowhere unless the forwards/defensemen get their heads out of their ------ as well.
- Flyers_01

Is that his fault or the orgs fault?

Heres my frustration. This weekend was extremely eye opening to me (and hopefully Mr Holmgren) for one reason and only one reason. Team defense. Or I should say lack thereof.

You look at the best teams in the conference and you see that they excel in that aspect. The Flyers struggle mightly, and it has been exposed. They are currently the 24th best defense in the league giving up 2.92 g/g. To put that in prospective... the Islanders and Oilers are better.

Elite goalies erase the mistakes made infront of them.

Bryz did just the opposite yesterday.
- ggunky

No poop. But if the Flyers had scored when they had open nets, they may have won the game.

Priceless, weak goals are weak goals. I don't want to hear the lame excuses about breakdowns.

Elite goalies cover-up defensive breakdowns.

The difference in yesterday's game was goaltending.

2 weak goals against are to much to overcome against the best team in the east.
- ggunky

Attack G-Gunk! You are 100% correct. Anyone expecting there not to be defensive breakdowns playing without Pronger and with 7-8 rookies isn't being realistic. Soft goals are still plaguing this team when they went out and spent a fortune to make that go away.

That was something I noticed to. Especially on that Dubinsky goal. It seemed like 2 of the flyers forwards were just hanging around the red line after the turnover. That allowed Dubinsky plenty of time to join the rush and get off a good shot. In order for a team defense system to be effective, all 5 players on the ice have to dig in. That is just my observation though.
- TPC

and watching the Rangers play as team like I have really is making me take them more seriously. Yes Lundy is there to clean up the breakdowns, but they don't come in avalanche proportions. Could he do it if they did, maybe but Bryzgalov has never been a guy to show he can play like that. He's always had success with a team playing good hockey in front of him.

Carle himself is going to be a "cap buster". Unless he takes a hometown discount, which he has little reason to do. If Carle is going to ask for 5 they'll gladly offer the best UFA out there 6 (or if it's someone like Suter 7) methinks.
- hereticpride

But I dont agree that Suter is worth 2 million more than Carle. And no, I don't think they will gladly do any such thing. I think the organization valued Carle (rightly) more so than the fan base and some of their insane criticisms of him.

And looking at some of the FA's out there besides Suter, I have a hard time giving any of them 6, when they can give Carle 5 and be just as good for it.

the defensive play of the top line really concerns me. A lot

According to Bryz's Humungous universe?
- Flyer_Nation71

Meh. I don't have a problem with his personality, that isn't causing him to fail.

the defensive play of the top line really concerns me. A lot
- nastyflyergirl

Giroux has struggled for the last 6 weeks or so defensively, no question.

I want Bryz ro be the best goalie in the league, but I am not gonna put on my O&B glasses and pretend like if the Flyers played a better all around game that Bryz wouldn't have allowed 2 weak goals.

He needs to be better.
- ggunky

As much as I abhor "(color) tinted glass" comments, I agree. If we're giving up two soft goals a game, the wheels will continue to fall off for the skaters. I just hope he can shake this game off and try to build on what he had going up through the Nashville game.