The Flyers were pretty good at the dot yesterday, on a different note.
- BulliesPhan87

Only guy under 50% was Matt Read, who took one faceoff. Briere was a beast at the dot.

Thanks Jsaq.







http://www.theglobeandmai...to-injury/article2342449/


- canadianpenfan

I wasn't gonna touch that one. Both the Flyers and Pens have been beat to Hell this season.

Well that's any rookie dman, that doesn't mean he's going to just be a bottom pairing dman.

I look at the fact that Bourdon didn't get a call-up until his third year of pro-hockey, while Manning has been recalled in his first pro-season.

But then again, I think MAB sucks. I don't think he'll ever be a full-time NHLer with how he skates. I dont know how he survived in the AHL with how he skates.
- mochoson

Bourdon is a solid skater. His skating is not an issue. I don't know what the issue is there, your seeing. Why was Manning recalled in his first Pro Season? Due to injuries to Pronger, Meszaros, Kubina, Lilja, Bourdon, etc. Would he have been recalled this Season is if it wasn't for the all the injuries. He is well down the depth chart.

Let's talk about the Rangers collapse?
- canadianpenfan

from nhl.com:

Since winning in Boston on Feb. 14, the Rangers are 7-7-2. What's really disconcerting is the Rangers' record against teams in playoff spots right now during that stretch is 2-7-0.

By all means, it's better than complaining, let alone complaining about what people are complaining about. Perhaps the great hockey minds incumbent to this thread could help draw conversation towards the desired topic?
- BulliesPhan87

In all seriousness, the flyers are really starting to look and feel like a tight group of players. I think all the adversity and injuries they have faced will pay off come playoff time. The goalie and defense look in sync and the overall team defense has looked much better. Can't wait for the playoffs. In all honesty, I'm not scared of any 1st round match up if the flyers bring their A game with them.

I wasn't gonna touch that one. Both the Flyers and Pens have been beat to Hell this season.
- Jsaquella

Just the way he worded it like it was just Crosby and Letang for a few games...

The state of Pennsylvania has been ravaged all year. Good teams push through

Good puck mover, good skater and can get feisty. He's kept his game simple so far -- which is often the case with rookie defensemen early in their callups -- and has not been a liability. We'll have to see how he holds up when the expectations get a little higher and other teams start to have scouting reports on him from their advance scouts.

In junior hockey, he had the rep for being a defensive liability, which is how he became a never-drafted overager. He had a knack for low-percentage plays and positional mistakes but was also a very good point producer and a scrapper.

This is his first pro year, and he missed a lot of time early with injuries. So far so good. I still view him a project, but sometimes projects work out and the early results have been promising.
- bmeltzer

Thanks bill!

Like I said, i didn't see much of him in Junior. That information, to me anyway, is incredibly useful.

Defensive deficiencies can be corrected. He has an offensive pedigree to his game that if ever established at the NHL level in conjunction with average/steady defensive play, he can certainly be a guy you rely on for heavier minutes.

Like you said, he has kept it simple thus far. I think he's played very smart/safe defensively. The trick is if he can learn to play as solid as he has now AND put up the points. If he can learn to pick his spots offensively, we may have a diamond in the rough.

Granted, that's a process that most prospects go through over a 1-3 year span, but I dont think anyone can argue he's been a surprise thus far.

Bourdon is a solid skater. His skating is not an issue. I don't know what the issue is there. Why was Manning recalled in his first Pro Season? Due to injuries to Pronger, Meszaros, Kubina, Lilja, Bourdon, etc. Would he have been recalled this Season is if it wasn't for the all the injuries.
- MJL

Yes, the only reason manning was called up over MAB was because of an injury to MAB. I think the flyers called him up hoping he could hang in there and have been pleasantly surprised, but I doubt they were waiting for a chance to get him into a game.

In all seriousness, the flyers are really starting to look and feel like a tight group of players. I think all the adversity and injuries they have faced will pay off come playoff time. The goalie and defense look in sync and the overall team defense has looked much better. Can't wait for the playoffs. In all honesty, I'm not scared of any 1st round match up if the flyers bring their A game with them.
- funmaster18

can't remember if it was tocchet or clement saying the other night that bryz's struggles are probably good for him because he's been through the mill long before the playoffs have started and has come out the other side.

Let's talk about the Rangers collapse?
- canadianpenfan

It's kind of a surprise to me, though I guess the lack of secondary scoring should've been a sign the wheels could fall off. I thought their big effort defensive game was exactly what would work in the playoffs, but it seems like maybe they're running out of gas. I can't believe the division lead is about to be contested.

I love the Atlantic Division.

talbot is still day to day, correct?

Just the way he worded it like it was just Crosby and Letang for a few games...

The state of Pennsylvania has been ravaged all year. Good teams push through
- canadianpenfan

Yep. Can't use injuries as an excuse....but the amount of guys that both the Flyers and Penguins have had go down this year is staggering.

The salt strickage was in full effect yesterday.....

talbot is still day to day, correct?
- Crimsoninja

As of right now, everyone with a realistic chance of returning(except JvR and Meszaros), are listed as Day to day.

can't remember if it was tocchet or clement saying the other night that bryz's struggles are probably good for him because he's been through the mill long before the playoffs have started and has come out the other side.
- hammarby31

And with the defense much stronger and more physical, it lets Bryzgalov play his game. They are looking great. Letting the first two in again yesterday and battling back will do wonders for this team. Especially against a top team like Pitt and while they are on a huge winning streak.

As of right now, everyone with a realistic chance of returning(except JvR and Meszaros), are listed as Day to day.
- Jsaquella

thanks

In all seriousness, the flyers are really starting to look and feel like a tight group of players. I think all the adversity and injuries they have faced will pay off come playoff time. The goalie and defense look in sync and the overall team defense has looked much better. Can't wait for the playoffs. In all honesty, I'm not scared of any 1st round match up if the flyers bring their A game with them.
- funmaster18

The team game is something to behold right now. Everything seems to be coming together beautifully. After yesterday, I'm really ready for playoffs hockey.

It's kind of a surprise to me, though I guess the lack of secondary scoring should've been a sign the wheels could fall off. I thought their big effort defensive game was exactly what would work in the playoffs, but it seems like maybe they're running out of gas. I can't believe the division lead is about to be contested.

I love the Atlantic Division.
- BulliesPhan87

Remember a few MONTHS ago, everyone said how it was impossible to catch them? Turns out, you DO have to play the entire season to find out who wins the division.

Only guy under 50% was Matt Read, who took one faceoff. Briere was a beast at the dot.
- Jsaquella

Including a huge win in OT vs. Crosby

It's kind of a surprise to me, though I guess the lack of secondary scoring should've been a sign the wheels could fall off. I thought their big effort defensive game was exactly what would work in the playoffs, but it seems like maybe they're running out of gas. I can't believe the division lead is about to be contested.

I love the Atlantic Division.
- BulliesPhan87

I've been watching alot of their games and while secondary scoring is a big problem I don't think it's their biggest problem. When Hank isn't playing, or playing well, they are not that good. Add to that their defense hasn't been nearly as good as it was at the start of the year and you have a 5th place team ripe for a first round exit. Or at least I hope.

Remember a few MONTHS ago, everyone said how it was impossible to catch them? Turns out, you DO have to play the entire season to find out who wins the division.
- funmaster18

Who knew?

Including a huge win in OT vs. Crosby
- bradleyc4

I felt Briere didn't play well for most of the game, in fact at one point, I said he was a liability...but then came OT and the Big Game Hunter emerged.

The Flyers have D-Man depth regardless if it's Gus, MAB and now Manning. That's a step in the right direction.
MAB is hurt right now and Gus is already up. Barts is also hurt but would need to pass through re-entry waivers. So, the call went to Manning.

/Lieght

Bourdon is a solid skater. His skating is not an issue. I don't know what the issue is there. Why was Manning recalled in his first Pro Season? Due to injuries to Pronger, Meszaros, Kubina, Lilja, Bourdon, etc. Would he have been recalled this Season is if it wasn't for the all the injuries.
- MJL

Bourdon is not and has never been a good skater. I don't know that isn't blatantly obvious. It was easily the biggest deficiency in his game when he was drafted and it's still nothing to sneeze at. I will say that since his Junior career has ended, his skating has gotten much better.

He just has a really awkward stride and no real foot-speed. While their are dmen who are just as bad or even worse skaters then Bourdon with established, full-time roles in the NHL now, I just don't see him ever being one of them. I'd love for him to prove me wrong though. He is certainly still young enough.

As for Manning, isn't that why any AHL dmen is called up? Because of injuries? The Flyers have had plenty of dmen miss time with injuries since he was drafted. Him not earning a call-up until this year is prove enough why. He's had a rough start to his pro-career thus far.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Comeback Kids
- bmeltzer

I haven't read Bill's blog just yet but all I need to read is the title. This weekend in my mind the Flyers showed even with a banged up roster, they can play with "the best of them". Ask anyone, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the team to beat right now and we did. I have no doubt if the Flyers didn't end up in a shootout against Boston, we could have beat them too. The Flyers are a playoff built team and once we get healthier, we'll be that much better.

I saw in an interview that Danny Briere admits that things turned around on the Western Canadian Road trip. He points out that the Oilers game was the turn around. He would know better then I would but in my mind if you're the average fan just watching the games on TV and not knowing what happens in the back round, I would have said the Flames game. They really had to fight back and in my mind that was one of the more exciting games of the season.

All I'm going to say is Nicklas Grossmann was a huge pick up for the Flyers.