Hartnell is not a dirty player at all ... he just plays tough ... obviously you can't handle tough hockey!
- Cable2k

Tough to gauge sarcasm on the internet. I am going to assume this is one of them.

Trust me, I'm all for tough hockey and gritty players, but like I said, there's a fine line between gritty and tough and dirty, and Hartnell seems to cross that line too often.

I really like the way the Flyers are playing tonight in their team game. Not really giving the Devils a whole lot. The only complaint is some bad decision making on the PP.
- MJL

the pp is making me want to go on a 3 state killing spree and injure myself in the process.

The Devils are totally predictable. We've always had trouble when we've played back to backs. Our system is simple. In the d-zone, we give it to the open d-man who hits it around the boards to the forwards who chips it our or hits it to the center going up the ice. It's easy to negate the center going up the ice and if the center has to go down low, he's not there. So the forward with the puck, who is usually already pressured by the d-man has to either hit it out or find the guy streaking on the other side. Usually we have flip it out of the zone.

We only score when we get odd-man rushes from dumb plays from the neutral zone or defensive zone or if we just simply cycle the puck well, but if a team plays that good, we are screwed.
- _Zippy_

Standard D to D breakout. Almost every team uses it. Devils don't look predictable to me tonight. They're just being outplayed for the most part.

As for Hartnell, I know you'd love his game if he was a Devil. I'm not going to debate what he's doing tonight, as I'm tuned in on the radio, but I know how he plays the game.
- BulliesPhan87

If we got the Hartnell who grinds for goals then goes to the bench, then sure. If we got the Hartnell who takes pages out of Carcillo's book, and does things like the pez dispenser trick he just pulled, then no thanks.

He's a great player but he needs a serious change of attitude to get NJ fans' respect.

The interesting thing is the ice time rotation. Read, Schenn, Simmonds, Wellwood, and Rinaldo are not seeing much ice time at 5 on 5.
- MJL

Maybe Laviolette is ramping up the vets to be more ready for the playoffs...that is interesting, I haven't really paid much attention tonight to the nuances.

If we got the Hartnell who grinds for goals then goes to the bench, then sure. If we got the Hartnell who takes pages out of Carcillo's book, then no thanks.

He's a great player but he needs a serious change of attitude to get NJ fans' respect.
- nyy

Exaggeration. Hartnell isn't a dirty player for the most part. He's just a hard nosed competitor.

Honestly, Bill, why does it seem more often than not that the NHL refs are the most incompetent out of the four major sports? I know they all have their faults, but I feel like I see way more poorly officiated hockey games than any other sport.
- the deaninator

I think over the past few years, some of the better ref's retired and we are stuck with these assbags

Maybe Laviolette is ramping up the vets to be more ready for the playoffs...that is interesting, I haven't really paid much attention tonight to the nuances.
- Jsaquella

I just think he's really relying on the Couturier line to check the Kovalchuk line.

the pp is making me want to go on a 3 state killing spree and injure myself in the process.
- hammarby31

If I PM you a couple addresses, would you mind stopping?

I know you're not a troll, I've seen you post here. It's just almost all I've seen from Devils posters here so far (and yes, I know there's a number of Flyers posters who roam other teams' blogs doing this daily).

As for Hartnell, I know you'd love his game if he was a Devil. I'm not going to debate what he's doing tonight, as I'm tuned in on the radio, but I know how he plays the game.
- BulliesPhan87

If he did that poop on the Devils, I would still think he's a (frank)ing douchebag. I was pissed off at Clarkson during the one Devils/Rangers game because he was running around like a retard.

Like I said, he crosses that line way too often. He does a lot of little poop like slashing players when he looses the puck, and little poop like that that's dirty, and not necessary, that's my problem with him. Clarkson for example plays gritty and he plays tough hockey, very rarely, at least lately, has he gone over that line to dirty, and when he does I am quick to point it out.

Exaggeration. Hartnell isn't a dirty player for the most part. He's just a hard nosed competitor.
- MJL

I agree with that. But the stuff he does do wouldn't fly with Lou or any of the NJ coaches. We haven't had a player like that in ages.

I just think he's really relying on the Couturier line to check the Kovalchuk line.
- MJL

That is probably true. It's been mentioned during the B'cast that he seemed to be trying to get that matchup.

Speaks volumes about the kid, doesn't it?

If I PM you a couple addresses, would you mind stopping?
- Jsaquella

Looks like I'm sleeping light tonight.

dude i love your avatar.
- the deaninator

Danke, I was hoping somebody would recognize! I recently fell back in love with this game, one of my favorite villains of all time.

I had an Ocelot gif for you, by the way, but it's been lost

A few thoughts.

Bryz looks amazing and I've always had faith that he'd come around but winning close games like this one can't last forever. Especially not against such teams as the New Jersey Devils who know how to come through in tight games, which a solid defensive philosophy. The Flyers really need to push as hard as they possibly can in this 3rd period and over come against tough goalies such as Brodeur, Thomas and Lunqvist.

Looking at the names on the first PP unit and comparing the names on the second, I'm a little disappointed in the direction that Peter Laviolette chooses to go in. I love our roster but facts are facts. Jake Voracek doesn't have a PP goal this season and doesn't look dangerous on the right side of the Umbrella. I love what Voracek brings 5 on 5 but he doesn't even look included as Giroux and Timonen play catch most nights. One game after his injury he was replaced by Sehenn and Schenn scored. I also have to ask the question of how Briere is suppose to get out of his most recent slump and earn that contract if he isn't in a position to succeed. At the start of the season I saw an even balance on both PP units but now I no longer do. Jagr in my mind hasn't looked overly impressive 5 on 5 as the season goes on but I feel he can only benefit from the PP time he should be receiving.

That is probably true. It's been mentioned during the B'cast that he seemed to be trying to get that matchup.

Speaks volumes about the kid, doesn't it?
- Jsaquella

Sure does. And when his offensive game catches up to his defensive game, which I think it will. Look out!

Exaggeration. Hartnell isn't a dirty player for the most part. He's just a hard nosed competitor.
- MJL

Don't want to be that guy, but I just want you to watch the third period. He will do a lot of poop like make a hit he doesn't need to make, slash a defender when he loses the puck, little poop like that. He has really worked out his game this year, but way too often do I see him get dirty, this year at least.

If he did that poop on the Devils, I would still think he's a (frank)ing douchebag. I was pissed off at Clarkson during the one Devils/Rangers game because he was running around like a retard.

Like I said, he crosses that line way too often. He does a lot of little poop like slashing players when he looses the puck, and little poop like that that's dirty, and not necessary, that's my problem with him. Clarkson for example plays gritty and he plays tough hockey, very rarely, at least lately, has he gone over that line to dirty, and when he does I am quick to point it out.
- _Zippy_

We'll have to agree to disagree. Like MJL said, he's just a hard nosed competitor.

If I PM you a couple addresses, would you mind stopping?
- Jsaquella

you got it.

Looks like I'm sleeping light tonight.
- tangent_man

You are safe...but #23's gonna wish he had returned my copy of Slap Shot

Tough to gauge sarcasm on the internet. I am going to assume this is one of them.

Trust me, I'm all for tough hockey and gritty players, but like I said, there's a fine line between gritty and tough and dirty, and Hartnell seems to cross that line too often.
- _Zippy_

Hartnell doesn't get away with much at all ... he so much as goes near an opposing goalie he gets called for interference ... he is watched big time! ... if he was dirty he would be suspended quite often.

Sure does. And when his offensive game catches up to his defensive game, which I think it will. Look out!
- MJL

Yeah, his hockey sense is off the charts and that will help his progression.

Standard D to D breakout. Almost every team uses it. Devils don't look predictable to me tonight. They're just being outplayed for the most part.
- MJL

Ours is very bad under pressure.

There's usually no pass there. They are very very predictable. Flyers are playing very well but they look much better than they actually do because of how predictable the Devils are. Hartnell made at least four plays where he waited on the boards for a player to pass it because it was obvious that was his only outlet. Yet, that was just because that's all the Flyers gave them.

Don't want to be that guy, but I just want you to watch the third period. He will do a lot of poop like make a hit he doesn't need to make, slash a defender when he loses the puck, little poop like that. He has really worked out his game this year, but way too often do I see him get dirty, this year at least.
- _Zippy_

I appreciate the breakdown but I'm still having trouble interpreting the dirty play from what you observed.

A few thoughts.

Bryz looks amazing and I've always had faith that he'd come around but winning close games like this one can't last forever. Especially not against such teams as the New Jersey Devils who know how to come through in tight games, which a solid defensive philosophy. The Flyers really need to push as hard as they possibly can in this 3rd period and over come against tough goalies such as Brodeur, Thomas and Lunqvist.

Looking at the names on the first PP unit and comparing the names on the second, I'm a little disappointed in the direction that Peter Laviolette chooses to go in. I love our roster but facts are facts. Jake Voracek doesn't have a PP goal this season and doesn't look dangerous on the right side of the Umbrella. I love what Voracek brings 5 on 5 but he doesn't even look included as Giroux and Timonen play catch most nights. One game after his injury he was replaced by Sehenn and Schenn scored. I also have to ask the question of how Briere is suppose to get out of his most recent slump and earn that contract if he isn't in a position to succeed. At the start of the season I saw an even balance on both PP units but now I no longer do. Jagr in my mind hasn't looked overly impressive 5 on 5 as the season goes on but I feel he can only benefit from the PP time he should be receiving.
- Schenn2shine

The Flyers are a top 5 PP in the League. And lead the NHL in 5 on 4 goals. The PP has been consistent all year. Voracek normally moves the puck well and sets it up on the rush. There is more to PP success then just scoring the goals.