Until that 2nd goal went in I was thrilled with the play of Bryz, I thought he had actually finally turned the corner, hopefully he has/will this week.

The biggest thing I took from this weekend is a 3rd pairing dman or whatever they may trade for wouldn't have made one difference in either outcome. The Flyers lost from horrible efforts, subpar goaltending, dreadful turnovers and so on.

I hope management doesn't think trading some really good young forwards (JVR,Schenn,Cooter) for a potential bump on defense is going to fix things because it won't.

This is for the most part a very young team still finding the way and figuring things out. I hope they get the time to do just that.

Still lots of hockey to be played.
- Buts16

I could see JVR go... Schenn and Cooter on the other hand are younger cheaper versions of richards and carter...hopefully they dont find their way into old city.

Timonen, Coburn, Carle and Meszaros are all good defensemen, too, or at least have all shown at times that they can be. A lot of the things that get blamed on "the defense" are really team defense issues where forwards have to do a much better job assisting with puck support, getting the puck out of the D-zone, etc.

That's why even adding Shea Weber would not magically improve the Flyers as a defensive team. I think the Flyers forward corps, on the whole, is below-average defensively. That doesn't excuse the six defensemen, either, but this team has not had a true defensive shutdown forward line since the days of Joel Otto and Shjon Podein anchoring the third line.
- bmeltzer

Bill, do you think that some of the younger guys like Coots and Schenn could mature into true two way shutdown guys? I personally do and its why I urge Homer to be patient and Fill the Pronger void carefully. Overturning the roster to get Weber like you said, won't magically fix things.

ill tell you right now that all 3 of those players are a HUGE improvement on Bourdon. My opinion of course, but I am not enamored by MAB at all.
- jak521

I agree they are an improvement. But what is the cost of those guys? And are they part of the Flyers future, or are they rentals? Those are questions that need to be answered.

With the Flyers defensive breakdowns game after game after game, do we have to start looking at the coach and the system he employs?

Maybe Lavi needs to make some adjustments to compensate for the teams inability to play solid defense more often than not?

I am just throwing it out there.
- MBFlyerfan

I missed a good chunk of the game via TV yesterday. I could have sworn though while listently to Saunders and Therion yesterday saying that they (Lavy) was adjusting the way the team forchecks on offense. They were trying to be not as agressive on the forecheck.

Until that 2nd goal went in I was thrilled with the play of Bryz, I thought he had actually finally turned the corner, hopefully he has/will this week.

The biggest thing I took from this weekend is a 3rd pairing dman or whatever they may trade for wouldn't have made one difference in either outcome. The Flyers lost from horrible efforts, subpar goaltending, dreadful turnovers and so on.

I hope management doesn't think trading some really good young forwards (JVR,Schenn,Cooter) for a potential bump on defense is going to fix things because it won't.

This is for the most part a very young team still finding the way and figuring things out. I hope they get the time to do just that.

Still lots of hockey to be played.
- Buts16

I would LOVE to see the forwards play defense as a whole. It is driving me (frank)ing nuts.

Also.. I am tired of laziness team wide (and especially by a few d-men).

Apparently the NFL is the WWE and is fixed according to yesterdays thread.
- PLindbergh31

Im a philly die hard in and out...I just despise the eagles for the way they treat their loyal fans....I know deep down inside a lot of eagles fans were rooting for the giants....Its a big FU to reid and the rest of the stooges.

You also forget that the Rangers oldest defensemen, in the line-up yesterday, was Girardi at the ripe old age of 27. The defense doesn't have any huge names back there but that has a lot to do with the fact that many of them have only a few seasons under their belt.

Del Zotto, McDonagh, Staal and Girardi are all very good defensemen, you could throw in Sauer too but he is currently still out due to a concussion.

Yes Lundqvvist makes a lot of things easier for any team's defense but you can't discredit the Rangers blueline completely. It is a very underrated defense if you ask me.
- MidnightMarauder

I'm not putting the team down, what I am saying is the overall team defense has been excellent whereas the Flyers overall team defense has had too many major lapses.

Would like to see the Flyers stand pat this trade deadline, unless they can acquire a defenseman that they plan to keep beyond this season.

They just have too many holes and are way too young to be considered legit contenders. They need:

- At least one big-bodied defensive defenseman who would be an upgrade over Lilja/Bourdon. (Just let the kids play and see how they adjust/develop.)

- A shutdown-type center who can win face-offs, kill penalties and be matched against other teams top lines. (Couturier will be this guy, but is a rookie.)

- Right winger capable of playing in a 3rd line, shutdown type role to match against other teams top line (I think Read will be this guy and they should let him continue to grow)

I think they have the makings of a great future 3rd in Talbot/Couturier/Read, but they are way too young to be counted on to stop other team's top lines this season and in the playoffs. Nor should they be looking for band-aids for this kind of help this season, IMO.

Apparently the NFL is the WWE and is fixed according to yesterdays thread.
- PLindbergh31

Yea it is and yes i said it and I believe it. The coach who lost yesterday already got caught cheating. I suppose his penance for getting caught is losing to the lesser Manning who blindly heaves the ball into the air only to get caught for a first down or Td.

Sure the team defense yesterday was bad but the team had a chance if Bryz does not let up two SOFT goals.
I am sick of the Bryz defenders giving the guy a pass because of poor team defense.
He isn't the sole reason they lost yesterday but man those stoppable shots have to be stopped.

Giroux needs to be better. MAB has to realize he doesn't have two weeks to think about who to pass the puck to. Coburn needs to be mean and Carle needs to lift weights.
What was Sestito thinking those fights didn't do squat but put the team down a forward.

Timonen, Coburn, Carle and Meszaros are all good defensemen, too, or at least have all shown at times that they can be. A lot of the things that get blamed on "the defense" are really team defense issues where forwards have to do a much better job assisting with puck support, getting the puck out of the D-zone, etc.

That's why even adding Shea Weber would not magically improve the Flyers as a defensive team. I think the Flyers forward corps, on the whole, is below-average defensively. That doesn't excuse the six defensemen, either, but this team has not had a true defensive shutdown forward line since the days of Joel Otto and Shjon Podein anchoring the third line.
- bmeltzer

exactly what I am saying.

Hell no. I think if we can land a Gill for a reasonable price.. we do so.

Other than that.. I would suggest possibly moving up in the draft to get a d-man (its gonna be a hell of a year for them).. and I would try to pick a d-man who has the physical tools. Yesterday I watched Gaborik and Anismov skate around the boards in the offensive zone with out being touched.. Steppan (I think) had a chance 12 minutes into the 1st where he skated down the right side and Carle had a golden chance to take the body and end the play.. instead he tried to contain him, lost body position and Bryz had to make a goal mouth save.

That poop is INFURIATING to me.

Stay pat unless the deal is right.
- jak521

Hahahahahahahaha, Surely you jest sir.

Im a philly die hard in and out...I just despise the eagles for the way they treat their loyal fans....I know deep down inside a lot of eagles fans were rooting for the giants....Its a big FU to reid and the rest of the stooges.
- Philly1980

Not sure why Eagles fans would root for the Giants. I have been totally spoiled by the Giants, maybe it's a reason why I have been unfairly critical of the Flyers sometimes.

Im a philly die hard in and out...I just despise the eagles for the way they treat their loyal fans....I know deep down inside a lot of eagles fans were rooting for the giants....Its a big FU to reid and the rest of the stooges.
- Philly1980

I'm not an Eagles fan but I still believe what happened in this year's playoffs was a complete farce. letting the other team score a TD- nuff said.

Would like to see the Flyers stand pat this trade deadline, unless they can acquire a defenseman that they plan to keep beyond this season.

They just have too many holes and are way too young to be considered legit contenders. They need:

- At least one big-bodied defensive defenseman who would be an upgrade over Lilja/Bourdon. (Just let the kids play and see how they adjust/develop.)

- A shutdown-type center who can win face-offs, kill penalties and be matched against other teams top lines. (Couturier will be this guy, but is a rookie.)

- Right winger capable of playing in a 3rd line, shutdown type role to match against other teams top line (I think Read will be this guy and they should let him continue to grow)

I think they have the makings of a great future 3rd in Talbot/Couturier/Read, but they are way too young to be counted on to stop other team's top lines this season and in the playoffs. Nor should they be looking for band-aids for this kind of help this season, IMO.
- bradleyc4

I hope they do that whole JVR for Schenn + deal... i dont want another senior citizen blue line guy who is gonna break after a few months.

Yea it is and yes i said it and I believe it. The coach who lost yesterday already got caught cheating. I suppose his penance for getting caught is losing to the lesser Manning who blindly heaves the ball into the air only to get caught for a first down or Td.
- JoeRussomanno

The NFL and the rest of the leagues now operate on the basis of not who is the overall better team it's the team that is HOT right now. The Giants were HOT coming down the stretch...it's called parity.
It's the same thing with the NHL. Get hot at the right down. Make it to the dance and get on a roll.

Bill, do you think that some of the younger guys like Coots and Schenn could mature into true two way shutdown guys? I personally do and its why I urge Homer to be patient and Fill the Pronger void carefully. Overturning the roster to get Weber like you said, won't magically fix things.
- JoeRussomanno

Couturier has a real good shot at it, and is someone to build around as a modern two-way center who sacrifices a bit -- but not a lot -- of offense to be a shutdown pivot. As much as I like Schenn and consider him a building block, I think his defensive game is the area that has the furthest to go at the NHL level. Eventually, he should be fine, but Couturier will probably always be better defensively.

Not sure why Eagles fans would root for the Giants. I have been totally spoiled by the Giants, maybe it's a reason why I have been unfairly critical of the Flyers sometimes.
- PLindbergh31

I rooted my ass off for the Giants. I hate the Pats.

Eli owns the Pats. How about that pass, eh?

Speaking of passes.. Brady couldnt have thrown a better pass (under pressure to boot) to end the game. In the middle of the middle of the end zone. Crazy finish!

Sure the team defense yesterday and especially Saturday but at least yesterday the team had a chance if Bryz does not let up two SOFT goals.
I am sick of the Bryz defenders giving the guy a pass because of poor team defense.
He isn't the sole reason they lost yesterday but man those stoppable shots have to be stopped.

Giroux needs to be better. MAB has to realize he doesn't have two weeks to think about who to pass the puck to. Coburn needs to be mean and Carle needs to lift weights.
What was Sestito thinking those fights didn't do squat but put the team down a forward.
- bird_dog

Nobody is giving him a pass. But before I pile on him like so many who don't know what they are looking at when they watch a hockey game want to do, I would like for the other more glaring problems to be addressed. Bryz let in two bad goals in a game and a half. yet the team had 11 goals scored in two games. The goalie in my opinion is about 30% the problem when they lose. When they win he's also about 60% the reason.

Couturier has a real good shot at it, and is someone to build around as a modern two-way center who sacrifices a bit -- but not a lot -- of offense to be a shutdown pivot. As much as I like Schenn and consider him a building block, I think his defensive game is the area that has the furthest to go at the NHL level. Eventually, he should be fine, but Couturier will probably always be better defensively.
- bmeltzer

Schenn right now reminds me a lot of his #10 predecessor.

I'm not an Eagles fan but I still believe what happened in this year's playoffs was a complete farce. letting the other team score a TD- nuff said.
- JoeRussomanno

it was that and have a chance to go back up the field...or watch the giants whidle the clock to zero and kick a field goal to win the game...they should have let him score @ the two minute mark so they would have more time to go up the field.

I'm not an Eagles fan but I still believe what happened in this year's playoffs was a complete farce. letting the other team score a TD- nuff said.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm a Philly fan but the Eagles are last on my list and I will never root for a New York team. but anyway...

the biggest issue right now is that offense is not cashing in on their chances and like usual the other team gets the save and goes down and scores. this has happened with the Flyers all the time. Bryz or whoever the h!ll is in goal needs to do a better job.

I'm also tired of complaining about the refs. They live by their own standards and they all suck. You have to overcome them and make the best of your chances. Put the dam puck in the net and play TEAM defense.

He hasnt been a top end goalie overall this season, and I have (IMO) been a fair critic. When he plays well I will say it. Same with when he plays bad.

With that being said, yesterday for the first 38 minutes... he was the ONLY reason the Flyers were still in that game. They lost just about every god damn board battle. They couldnt back check to save their lives. They had 15 shots through 2 periods (thanks in part to 10 in the 2nd) where as the Rags had 28.

I think it was a team wide collapse. They Flyers didnt deserve to win that game... and even if they had Lundqvist in net for them, they shouldnt have deserved to win.. and still probably wouldnt have won.

At the end of the day Bryz is being paid to play like the best goalie in the world.. but thats not his fault. The org gave him the money. I would love to see him step his game up (and prior to the final 5 seconds of the 2nd) he had been over his past 6 game or so.

This weekend the team looked like poop. Plain and simple.
- jak521

I hear everything you said. I agree with you.

The problem is, you sign a guy to stop the weak, soft goals against.

Tar and feather me if you want, but I thought Bryz was brought in to stop the weak, soft goals.

I am not dismissing any other aspect of the game. Yes, other areas do need to improve, however, Bryz needs to play like the guy he was brought in to be.

The focuse after losing a game by 2 goals (before the empty net) is the 2 soft goals allowed by the Elite goalie on the Flyers.

The NFL and the rest of the leagues now operate on the basis of not who is the overall better team it's the team that is HOT right now. The Giants were HOT coming down the stretch...it's called parity.
It's the same thing with the NHL. Get hot at the right down. Make it to the dance and get on a roll.
- phi1671

Next we will have 7-9 division wining teams hoisting the lombardi. Nah I'm done with that game. Hockey takes from Fall to spring. Baseball from spring to fall.

The Old Man said "never again" and I was all on board with the Bryz signing. I didn't know much about him first hand but on paper his stats looked solid. Thought they overpaid and the contract was too long but I was willing to look the other way if Bryz was the guy. Didn't realize that he is a bit of a space cadet but goalies are eccentric, right? So I kind of ignore anything he says to the press. As far as his play goes, it pains me to say he stinks out loud so far. He stinks on paper and he stinks if you watch him. For a big guy, he's played small in the net; has been a rebound machine and apparently needs a refresher on holding a goalie stick. I keep telling myself that his career stats show that there is a fine goalie buried in there somewhere but it's disconcerting to watch. As far as all of this discussion about how bad the Flyers' puck support and team defense are compared to the Rangers... hey, the Rangers have had a stable team most of the year and the Flyers haven't. Considering the Pronger absence, injuries and number of rookies getting big minutes, I think the Flyers skaters have nothing to be ashamed about. Can puck support be better? Of course. But this year's Bryz would stink even if he had it because he allowing too many squirlley goals. Interesting stat: Lundqvist has faced an average of 30 shots a game while Bryz has faced an average of 27. Shots aren't everything but it shows that Lundqvist is seeing more rubber than the Flyers "sieve" defense is allowing. I'm an optimist and think Bryz will get better but in the mean time I won't tie myself into a pretzel and trash the rest of the team while trying to rationalize his play.