Stupid NHL12. You know how many times a stick on the ice has screwed me out of an offensive chance and I never got a penalty shot.

Sabers game.

Seems about right.
- Schenn2shine

I'd give up that for him. Those 4 lines are depth at its finest. Their fate will come down to the Goalie.

I'd give up that for him. Those 4 lines are depth at its finest. Their fate will come down to the Goalie.
- coffee junkie

I think we all know the end of that story

I'd give up that for him. Those 4 lines are depth at its finest. Their fate will come down to the Goalie.
- coffee junkie

Kubina is a good defenseman. He isn't Pronger but he does have that bomb from the point we've been missing and he is physical. His game isn't perfect but he's an upgrade over what we've had already. Ditto for Grossman. He'll be better then Lilja, O'Donnell, Syvret, Burdon and Gustafsson. If these upgrades don't make us better on the ice then something has to be wrong in the dressing room. At the end of the day we're a better team now.

I'm assume we'll also name a Captain before playoffs?

I'm assume we'll also name a Captain before playoffs?
- Schenn2shine

If they havent named one yet I doubt they will for the playoffs, but who knows. If anyone I'd say kimmo, then maybe Giroux when timonen is done

Our line-up top to bottom is now pretty deep.

I think Homer has mortgaged some future picks to really assess the future of this team in net.

If this team can't make a decent run with this line-up, it's going to be because of two possible things: injuries, or goaltending. If Bryz doesn't round out the end of this year and into the playoffs strong, were going to have a serious problem.

I honestly don't think Bryz will be back next year if he gets any worse. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind he'll be loaned to Russia.

Ed Snider is 79 years old and incredibley wealthy. This guy will do anything to win a cup within the next 2-3 years. I honestly think he'd pay Bryz to just leave if he doesn't get better before seasons end.

The goalie has been getting a lot of flak and the D. But almost none of our top forwards are reliable backcheckers and responsible defensively. This deficient list includes Giroux, Hartnell, Briere, Jagr, Schenn, JVR. Voracek is good, and Simmonds is average. Getting Kubina and Grossman is not going to change that, because I don't think MAB/Lilja/Gus were the problem. When forwards don't backcheck, even veteran D-men make mistakes, and we don't have a goalie who can allow such a luxury.

I wonder what the Flyers are doing about that? They can bring in all the defensive forwards and big-bodied men they like on the backend - its not going to solve the problem.

Kubina is a good defenseman. He isn't Pronger but he does have that bomb from the point we've been missing and he is physical. His game isn't perfect but he's an upgrade over what we've had already. Ditto for Grossman. He'll be better then Lilja, O'Donnell, Syvret, Burdon and Gustafsson. If these upgrades don't make us better on the ice then something has to be wrong in the dressing room. At the end of the day we're a better team now.

I'm assume we'll also name a Captain before playoffs?
- Schenn2shine

Timonen or Briere? Who would you go with?

Timonen or Briere? Who would you go with?
- coffee junkie

Timonen hands down. You know it's funny because someone brought up Simmonds being our Captain. That isn't a bad idea. That kid brings it every night. For me it isn't about the most talented player, which Giroux clearly is but work ethic and maturity has more to do with it. Timonen and Simmonds both have that.

The goalie has been getting a lot of flak and the D. But almost none of our top forwards are reliable backcheckers and responsible defensively. This deficient list includes Giroux, Hartnell, Briere, Jagr, Schenn, JVR. Voracek is good, and Simmonds is average. Getting Kubina and Grossman is not going to change that, because I don't think MAB/Lilja/Gus were the problem. When forwards don't backcheck, even veteran D-men make mistakes, and we don't have a goalie who can allow such a luxury.

I wonder what the Flyers are doing about that? They can bring in all the defensive forwards and big-bodied men they like on the backend - its not going to solve the problem.
- PT21

This is a high tempo, run and gun offensive team. The forwards will get caught sometimes. Its not this teams main problem IMO. It is an issue, no question. I'd love to add one of Paul Gaustad or Travis Moen, or even Jarret Stoll if the price isn't to high.

This team has absolutely awful goaltending, and theres no way getting around it. Anybody can argue it as much as theyd like, but the fact that we have two goalies with save percentages under .900 is utterly embarrassing.

The goalie has been getting a lot of flak and the D. But almost none of our top forwards are reliable backcheckers and responsible defensively. This deficient list includes Giroux, Hartnell, Briere, Jagr, Schenn, JVR. Voracek is good, and Simmonds is average. Getting Kubina and Grossman is not going to change that, because I don't think MAB/Lilja/Gus were the problem. When forwards don't backcheck, even veteran D-men make mistakes, and we don't have a goalie who can allow such a luxury.

I wonder what the Flyers are doing about that? They can bring in all the defensive forwards and big-bodied men they like on the backend - its not going to solve the problem.
- PT21

Yes but unfortunately the flyers are not back checking good enough and making low percentage plays AND the goaltending is blowing chunks. I see other teams have the same issues and don't have the goals scored on them like the flyers do.

Yes but unfortunately the flyers are not back checking good enough and making low percentage plays AND the goaltending is blowing chunks. I see other teams have the same issues and don't have the goals scored on them like the flyers do.
- bird_dog

Exactly. We still have what it takes to over come and cover up our short comings.

This is a high tempo, run and gun offensive team. The forwards will get caught sometimes. Its not this teams main problem IMO. It is an issue, no question. I'd love to add one of Paul Gaustad or Travis Moen, or even Jarret Stoll if the price isn't to high.

This team has absolutely awful goaltending, and theres no way getting around it. Anybody can argue it as much as theyd like, but the fact that we have two goalies with save percentages under .900 is utterly embarrassing.
- mochoson

+1

BRYZ and BOB = Reverse Russian Roulette (5 chambers full 1 chamber empty)

This is a high tempo, run and gun offensive team. The forwards will get caught sometimes. Its not this teams main problem IMO. It is an issue, no question. I'd love to add one of Paul Gaustad or Travis Moen, or even Jarret Stoll if the price isn't to high.

This team has absolutely awful goaltending, and theres no way getting around it. Anybody can argue it as much as theyd like, but the fact that we have two goalies with save percentages under .900 is utterly embarrassing.
- mochoson

+2

Glad to hear the Nash rumors are dying down.

This is a high tempo, run and gun offensive team. The forwards will get caught sometimes. Its not this teams main problem IMO. It is an issue, no question. I'd love to add one of Paul Gaustad or Travis Moen, or even Jarret Stoll if the price isn't to high.

This team has absolutely awful goaltending, and theres no way getting around it. Anybody can argue it as much as theyd like, but the fact that we have two goalies with save percentages under .900 is utterly embarrassing.
- mochoson

Or maybe those numbers tell us something about this club's team defense. Both the goaltending and defense need to improve dramatically IMO.

Or maybe those numbers tell us something about this club's team defense.
- LordStanley88

Which is equally embarrassing. We've seen what these guys can do when they play a focused, simple game.



I miss those days.

Detroit doesn't fight and we just saw why. 5 minutes for receiving.

Or maybe those numbers tell us something about this club's team defense. Both the goaltending and defense need to improve dramatically IMO.
- LordStanley88

....which is essentially what I just said.

You can't blame that stat on a team. Sorry. Sure, the teams deficiencies haven't helped, but the sub-par goaltending is a way bigger issue. We don't stand a chance in the playoffs no matter who we play in the first round the way this tandem is playing.

Curtis (frank)ing Sanford has a .915 save percentage, and he is a borderline back-up/AHL journeymen playing for the COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS.

If that doesn't put it into perspective, idk what does.

The Flyers should not trade for a goalie. I may be one of the few but I do not want to get rid of Bob just for the sake of getting rid of Bob. Bryz would be impossible to trade and it isn't going to matter who you get in goal if the team in front of them doesn't start playing better.
- Flyers_01

This.

This.
- wolfhounds

I second this

This is a high tempo, run and gun offensive team. The forwards will get caught sometimes. Its not this teams main problem IMO. It is an issue, no question. I'd love to add one of Paul Gaustad or Travis Moen, or even Jarret Stoll if the price isn't to high.

This team has absolutely awful goaltending, and theres no way getting around it. Anybody can argue it as much as theyd like, but the fact that we have two goalies with save percentages under .900 is utterly embarrassing.
- mochoson

There are two kinds of goals that have been scored upon us in recent games that should not have: The bad goal given up by the goalie, and the open guy uncovered by someone near the net. Quite often, that guy has been open because of poor coverage by the forwards, especially in rotating to the guy left open by the D. Its not just forwards getting caught deep - in fact, "the outnumbered in own zone" variety has been relatively rare.

And about other teams having the same problems: which ones? Pens, Bruins, Rangers, are much, much better than us in this regard, and they are our primary rivals in the East.

....which is essentially what I just said.

You can't blame that stat on a team. Sorry. Sure, the teams deficiencies haven't helped, but the sub-par goaltending is a way bigger issue. We don't stand a chance in the playoffs no matter who we play in the first round the way this tandem is playing.

Curtis (frank)ing Sanford has a .915 save percentage, and he is a borderline back-up/AHL journeymen playing for the COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS.

If that doesn't put it into perspective, idk what does.
- mochoson

Yea, well, Joey (frank)ing MacDonald looks unbeatable with the Red Wings. I wonder why.

There are two kinds of goals that have been scored upon us in recent games that should not have: The bad goal given up by the goalie, and the open guy uncovered by someone near the net. Quite often, that guy has been open because of poor coverage by the forwards, especially in rotating to the guy left open by the D. Its not just forwards getting caught deep - in fact, "the outnumbered in own zone" variety has been relatively rare.

And about other teams having the same problems: which ones? Pens, Bruins, Rangers, are much, much better than us in this regard, and they are our primary rivals in the East.
- PT21

Fleury, Thomas, Rask, Lundvist.....

No goals theoretically "should go in". I already explained that that is this teams style; forwards get caught deep. If they didn't we wouldn't score as many goals because we wouldn't be as aggressive offensively. These are issues that a young team with as many rookies as us will learn to adapt to.

This team has lost to many games because of goaltending. Yesterday was the tip of the ice-berg. We haven't beat the Rangers YET because of goaltending.

Is Lundqvist an easy goalie to out-duel? God no. Even if Bryz was playing well, its not easy to match him save for save. But this team CAN score goals. All Bryz or Bob need to be is AVERAGE right now. And by average, I literally mean a .910 save percentage. Those are pedestrian numbers that most back-ups on any team has, or close to it.

Below .900 save percentages are absolutely unacceptable.