Any update on Meszaros?

The problem with the PP is that the Devils are able to swarm Giroux the instant he gets the puck because there's not much of a weak-side presence on the Flyers 1st-unit to really worry about and they're shading to his side of the ice. Having Jagr or JvR or Meszaros on the right side as a one-time threat might force the Devils to defend a bit more honestly.
- Tomahawk

What are you seeing 5 v 5? I see the Flyers having no success on the dump in, partially due to Brodeur, partially due to the NJ forwards coming back and supporting better.

On the flip side there is a game plan with NJ dump in. They don't just dump in but this is their whole identity to their offense. They are relentless on it. They are doing exactly what the Flyers did to the Pens in Round 1.

It took him three games to realize that the Debs came to play?

The first hint should have been the very first period of the very first game.
- 77rams

Boggles the mind.

It took him three games to realize that the Debs came to play?

The first hint should have been the very first period of the very first game.
- 77rams

Didn't he have a similar comment a couple of years ago? Wasn't it when Lava first arrived? Something along the lines of now realizing what it takes to win in the playoffs or something like that.

What about playing Briere on Giroux's right? Have both play makers on the ice, so they can't overload on just one guy. But your right, that is why I said Read on Giroux wing, beause when Giroux gets overloaded he is just as capable of making the passes.
- RooNosHockey

They had the best winger available play with Roo last night (Voracek) to get him going. Its up to Roo himself at this point. No one is going to be able to further get his game going. I say stick with the top unit from last night.

Simmonds-Briere-JVR needs to die. I also saw JVR and Briere together on a 4v4. To me Lava is playing with fire and I dont agree with it

Didn't he have a similar comment a couple of years ago? Wasn't it when Lava first arrived? Something along the lines of now realizing what it takes to win in the playoffs or something like that.
- rockychocbill

yeah and he was terrible in those playoffs. what an ass!

Any update on Meszaros?
- RooNosHockey

How long has he been out now anyways? 2 months? Tough spot to drop him back into the lineup. Even on the 3rd pairing, no?

yeah and he was terrible in those playoffs. what an ass!
- OrangeBlack27

I'm not hating on him, but these comments need to be filtered. There's being real and then there's looking dumb.

I'm not hating on him, but these comments need to be filtered. There's being real and then there's looking dumb.
- rockychocbill

they can't win if they're being real or if they're cliche'ing it up to the media.

also, why would they change their game at all after game one the way they dominated? game two--just one of those games. after last night, pretty obvious they need to make adjustments.

I'm not hating on him, but these comments need to be filtered. There's being real and then there's looking dumb.
- rockychocbill

Consider the source(s) - and I don't mean Hartnell. You're getting quote tidbits out of context and latched onto by the most devious and story-MAKING writers out there anymore. True journalism is dead.

How many playoff goals does Hartnell have? He has been horrible this series. Just a flat out turnover machine. Take him off Giroux's line, and off the top PP. Let JVR get a sniff up there...

PP1:

JVR-Giroux-Read
Carle-Voracek

PP2

Hartnell-Briere-Jagr
Timonen-Schenn
- RooNosHockey

we need to put in rinaldo so he can throw his body around a bit

I'm not hating on him, but these comments need to be filtered. There's being real and then there's looking dumb.
- rockychocbill

Hartsy is my favorite flyer and even i have to agree that comment doesn't put him in a good light. Of course it could be just him trying to give the devils props but I think we all can infer that it is implying his own team's level of play. They need to start acting like they are playing the old Edmonton Oilers and not a team that struggled through 7 games with the panthers./

Consider the source(s) - and I don't mean Hartnell. You're getting quote tidbits out of context and latched onto by the most devious and story-MAKING writers out there anymore. True journalism is dead.
- Flyskippy

this is true but the players also have to realize the writers to whom they are making these comments. Sometimes monkeys push wrong buttons.

this is true but the players also have to realize the writers to whom they are making these comments. Sometimes monkeys push wrong buttons.
- JoeRussomanno

Like OB27 said above, they can't win. I don't care what Hartnell has to SAY all that much. I care about what he will DO in Game 4 and beyond.

EDIT: I'd almost prefer Hartsy come out and say, "It's over. We're gonna fold and go off to the golf courses in less than a week." Then, the media will run with it. The fans at Game 5 will boo - until he and the team do the opposite of what was claimed, due to a clever use of sardonicism.

What are you seeing 5 v 5? I see the Flyers having no success on the dump in, partially due to Brodeur, partially due to the NJ forwards coming back and supporting better.

On the flip side there is a game plan with NJ dump in. They don't just dump in but this is their whole identity to their offense. They are relentless on it. They are doing exactly what the Flyers did to the Pens in Round 1.
- Just5

5-on-5

In the offensive zone, the Flyers are just being too predictable. Broduer is stopping the dump-ins, but you have to remember that if you just plop it into the corner every time, the defense adjusts to that and is there before you too, so the Flyers need to mix it up. More dump-ins high on the glass, more carrying the puck across the blue line, and some into the corners. And don't just rely on the same players to carry the play.

In the defensive zone, the Flyers are holding onto the puck too long on the outlet passes, and are being outnumbered down low, while the wingers are ready to jump on the offensive... They need to make quicker passes, not along the boards or across ice or back down low. Short passes forward. And it wouldnt hurt to get another bigger body back on defense.

Looks like he injured his left knee badly, when his right leg goes in between Clarkson's legs, the left knee goes to the ice, that's where it seems it happened...
Worst case scenario torn MCL ?
- Marc D

Hmm, the second closer angle makes it look like an ankle. Thing is, there is nothing particularly damning in that tape.

Still no word?

I love the fact that the kid can barely stand on his skates and still guts it out and tries to get in position until the regular line change.

What are you seeing 5 v 5? I see the Flyers having no success on the dump in, partially due to Brodeur, partially due to the NJ forwards coming back and supporting better.

On the flip side there is a game plan with NJ dump in. They don't just dump in but this is their whole identity to their offense. They are relentless on it. They are doing exactly what the Flyers did to the Pens in Round 1.
- Just5

You can tell DeBoer has a great scouting report on the Flyers and what makes them tick both offensively and defensively. They're taking away the Flyers' bread and butter and really pushing them out of their comfort zone at both ends of the ice -- the Flyers just haven't been able to adjust and are caught playing frantic and disorganized.

The difference in the series so far has been the two d-corps, IMO. The Devils don't have any stars back there, but one through six they're big, mobile, physical, positionally strong and healthy. The lone weak-point might be Zidlicky, but he's nowhere near as big of an Achilles Heel as guys like Lilja and Gustafsson are. For the Flyers, 3/6 could be considered undersized and the big Devils' forwards are utilizing a simple chip and chase to cycle game, getting the puck behind the Flyers D and really taxing them physically. They need Meszaros and Kubina back asap.

Like OB27 said above, they can't win. I don't care what Hartnell has to SAY all that much. I care about what he will DO in Game 4 and beyond.

EDIT: I'd almost prefer Hartsy come out and say, "It's over. We're gonna fold and go off to the golf courses in less than a week." Then, the media will run with it. The fans at Game 5 will boo - until he and the team do the opposite of what was claimed, due to a clever use of sardonicism.
- Flyskippy

Like this won't happen anyway.

Like this won't happen anyway.
- rockychocbill

They had the best winger available play with Roo last night (Voracek) to get him going. Its up to Roo himself at this point. No one is going to be able to further get his game going. I say stick with the top unit from last night.
- Just5

Honestly, don't think it's just a simple matter of him getting it going. Unlike the Pens, who for some reason let Giroux have all the time and space that he wanted, the Devils are shadowing him, two-man pressuring him, running a lot of interference and taking him down at every opportunity. They've created a real quagmire for Giroux and, as a result, his wingers are forced out of their usual positions to support him and are handling the puck more that usual, which has made defending that line much easier.

You can tell DeBoer has a great scouting report on the Flyers and what makes them tick both offensively and defensively. They're taking away the Flyers' bread and butter and really pushing them out of their comfort zone at both ends of the ice -- the Flyers just haven't been able to adjust and are caught playing frantic and disorganized.

The difference in the series so far has been the two d-corps, IMO. The Devils don't have any stars back there, but one through six they're big, mobile, physical, positionally strong and healthy. The lone weak-point might be Zidlicky, but he's nowhere near as big of an Achilles Heel as guys like Lilja and Gustafsson are. For the Flyers, 3/6 could be considered undersized and the big Devils' forwards are utilizing a simple chip and chase to cycle game, getting the puck behind the Flyers D and really taxing them physically. They need Meszaros and Kubina back asap.
- Tomahawk

Agree, and Agree. Nice break down. That is basically what I was trying to say in they were crowding Giroux and Briere.. but you said it much better. They are taking away the offensive plays around the boards the Flyers use to cycle the puck. They are crowding the passers like Giroux, Read, Schenn, and Briere.. They are outnumbering the defense down low, and out powering them. Too many Flyers waiting to take the puck on the offensive, and not enough going down low to get control and KEEP control before heading back up ice.

Easiest answers is to be unpredictable on the ice... Switch up the lines, it will get the guys from playing the same game the devils game-planned for. Dont just dump and chase.

On defense, put a Physical guy with the skilled guy. Carle and Kubina, Timonen and Coburn, Lilja/Gus and Grossmann... And send in the center and winger down low until you get full possesion and the devils peel back to trap, then move up ice. Cut down the turn overs...

Honestly, don't think it's just a simple matter of him getting it going. Unlike the Pens, who for some reason let Giroux have all the time and space that he wanted, the Devils are shadowing him, two-man pressuring him, running a lot of interference and taking him down at every opportunity. They've created a real quagmire for Giroux and, as a result, his wingers are forced out of their usual positions to support him and are handling the puck more that usual, which has made defending that line much easier.
- Tomahawk

I agree again. I think it would be good to get Hartnell off that line, and maybe even put Jagr and Briere up there. Giroux will get double teamed, but Briere and Jagr will have that much more space on the ice, and both guys would bea deadly with the extra space...

Easiest answers is to be unpredictable on the ice... Switch up the lines, it will get the guys from playing the same game the devils game-planned for. Dont just dump and chase.
- RooNosHockey

No matter what lines they go with, if they don't start learning to anticipate how the Devils are going to be attacking them at both ends of the ice, and learning to counter those tactics, they're going to be spinning their wheels all the way to a quick exit.

Honestly, don't think it's just a simple matter of him getting it going. Unlike the Pens, who for some reason let Giroux have all the time and space that he wanted, the Devils are shadowing him, two-man pressuring him, running a lot of interference and taking him down at every opportunity. They've created a real quagmire for Giroux and, as a result, his wingers are forced out of their usual positions to support him and are handling the puck more that usual, which has made defending that line much easier.
- Tomahawk

I am noticing the interference you mention. The Flyers dump it in and a devil forward is coasting right in front of a flyer while their Dman retrieves the puck. They are frustrating the hell out of the flyers in this aspect. Im not sure I agree in wanting Kubina out there. Especially if hes not 100%. The Devils would just skate circles around him. Id rather take my chances with Gus getting to the pucks quicker in our end. Mez they absolutely miss every aspect of his game right now.

Any update on Meszaros?
- RooNosHockey

you jinxed him and he fell down a flight of stairs

out 3 more weeks