The Devils are killing them with puck possession. They're also winning more races to loose pucks. Too often we see a Devils player skating to the puck and 3 Flyers standing still.
- Jsaquella

IMO the puck possession and beating you guys to lose pucks are related. They tire out your lines so much by running around in your own end that they have the fresher legs to win those loose puck races.

Also, I just read Ek's post about winning playoff hockey and as much as I hate to say it, I agree with this a bit and wonder if it's affecting the Flyers:

4. Teams who win emotional series against rivals and then face a team in the next round who they don't hold similar disdain for can get upset.

Let's face it, the days of the Devils being a fierce rival are behind us. And even if there is a rivalry, it isn't anywhere near the same scale as the cross-state rivalry is these days.

A friend of mine texted me right after the Flyers won the Penguins series - "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!". I responded "No, the mission is to win the Cup. This was just step 1."

But that's the mentality of this city. And I'm starting to think it has creeped into the Flyers mentality a bit (subconsciously). They invested so much effort and emotion that series that they're zapped and finding it difficult to find that compete level in this one.

At the game we are not privy to replay or one that I could see, so I would differ to Kovy's penalty.
- phi1671

They showed the replay on the big screen at the arena, when Kovy saw it he started flipping out.

IMO the puck possession and beating you guys to lose pucks are related. They tire out your lines so much by running around in your own end that they have the fresher legs to win those loose puck races.
- Rally_Shots

It's been a huge factor thus far. Not that this series was going to be a cakewalk, but the Flyers are letting the Devils do what they want to do.

The Devils are not giving the Flyers anything to get "pissed off" about. No scrums, no dirty plays and when there is something, they just skate away. I feel the Flyers are at their best when they have that "edge" in their game. It's a pretty much emotionless series to this point. That being said, they just need to come out and make their own momentum. Jagr is really showing his age in this series. He just looks so slow and exhausted. Bill summed it up pretty well saying Grossmann is "foggy" a few plays last night he just looked aweful. This team needs to pull it together Sunday night if they want a chance to win this series.
- Jimmygrazz

Yup. The Devils are making a big effort to stay out of the scrums. The one scrum I remember at the end of the second game, you saw Elias yelling at Volchenkov to get out of the scrum. The Flyers thrive off of that, and the Devils aren't allowing them too. I've seen like five Devils players just take a shove from Simmonds after the whistle and walk away, which is what the Devils have been preaching to do.

Two OT powerplays and nothing.
Come on. I know NJ has a great pk but really, nothing?
And that last change was just horrible.

- Scoob

Giroux trying to force a pass between three defenders at the start of the 2nd OT PP wasted the first 60 seconds and they never did get their act together.

I give that dive a 9.5. beautiful dive by Marty!!

We will be fine, win game 4 and make it best of 3 with home ice.

They showed the replay on the big screen at the arena, when Kovy saw it he started flipping out.
- FAZOOL

Where my seats were I was unable to get a good view of the replay. Plus the screen versus the WFC is a little small.

it was gift call it appears but the Flyers did not take advantage of it.


JSaqu...
the guy sitting next to me, said the same thing when he saw the line change and boom

Giroux trying to force a pass between three defenders at the start of the 2nd OT PP wasted the first 60 seconds and they never did get their act together.
- MrBuzzcut

yeah, why is Giroux trying to be so fancy? just get it back to the point and blast it crash the net. we don't need the tic-tac-toe play to score.

Giroux trying to force a pass between three defenders at the start of the 2nd OT PP wasted the first 60 seconds and they never did get their act together.
- MrBuzzcut

Oh, and holy frank, during the first PP (I think it was the first) one of the NJD defensemen didn't have a stick!

We will be fine, win game 4 and make it best of 3 with home ice.
- flyersfan51

Word.

i think when this season is over the flyers have to change some personnel on their back line,and lavy has to either implement a defensive system or the flyers need to go in a different direction coaching wise.Obviously this system lavy has struggles big time against defensive minded teams.why is it nj can get the puck out of their end with no probems and it takes the flyers forever to get the puck out?Flyers need to get more defensive d this off season and start paying more like the rangers and L.A.They have the forwards to provide goals and i believe bryz can be a solid goalie maybe not as good as quick or lundquist but better than what we have had in recent years.N.J is not a better team than the flyers they just have a better system if it were not for brodeur giving a couple of softies last night we all would have gotten more seep last night.Anyway even if they dont get past this round it was great beating pitt and we can all watch a bunch of ex flyers raise the cup this year.Barring any injuries nobody is stopping L.A this year.How is Homer going to feel watching our two ex leaders raise the cup one year after being traded,thats just perfect.How many of you think that simmonds and schenn are bringing more to the table now than richards now?Maybe long term it will work out for philly but right now L.A got the better deal.there now i feel better my morning rant is off my chest

Oh, and holy frank, during the first PP (I think it was the first) one of the NJD defensemen didn't have a stick!
- Scoob

For 30+ seconds and the Flyers didn't even get a shot off on what was essentially a 5-3, Fayne cleared the puck with a wrong handed stick.

Giroux trying to force a pass between three defenders at the start of the 2nd OT PP wasted the first 60 seconds and they never did get their act together.
- MrBuzzcut

Don't worry about hockey. You got a first place Birds juggernaut on your hands. This Orioles team is legit.

XThe flyers best players are not their best players right now.
Giroux needs to step it up, get back to the basics if you will.
Hartnell has been invisible, I wonder if he isn't hurting. JVR, either the adrenaline wore off and he isn't totally in game shape or his head is up his behind. Simmonds has not done a thing. Read looks spent, Briere is well being Briere. Jake has been meh.
Bryz has been excellent and ok in different games. Two days off may allow them to regroup.

Oh, and holy frank, during the first PP (I think it was the first) one of the NJD defensemen didn't have a stick!
- Scoob

That's where Briere danced around for ten seconds before simply throwing the puck back to the point.

Don't worry about hockey. You got a first place Birds juggernaut on your hands. This Orioles team is legit.
- PLindbergh31

I'll reserve judgement until the end of June.

Rivera going down helps, though I think Robertson will do well as closer.

Reynolds needs to start hitting. He looks like 2011 Adam Dunn.

the flyers consistently failed to get pucks deep behind the devils d...lack of attention to details on this team is catching up to them and destroying their flow. that's one reason why it looks like the effort is less than what it actually is.
- isaiah520

I wanted to strangle Simmonds for his constant soft ass flips towards the Devils zone that got maybe 5 feet inside the blue line which was quickly transitioned into the Flyers zone. Yeah, he wasn't the only one but I counted at least a half dozen times he did it.

I would like to see soft dump-ins. Make their Defense turn around and play the puck. Don't fire it in and allow Marty to play it.

In game 2 & 3 there were far to many dump-ins that Marty stopped and made it an easy play for the Devils to turn it up the ice and out of the zone.

I disagree. The effort is there. The Flyers have to figure out a way to beat their forecheck, and be the better team in the neutral zone.
- bradleyc4

Agreed, I don't see a lack of effort, not throughout at least. The Flyers are getting worn out by a Devils team that's possessing and supporting the puck well. New Jersey has been dictating the flow for two games now. The Flyers have to figure out how to prevent that, to regain control of these games.

Also, I just read Ek's post about winning playoff hockey and as much as I hate to say it, I agree with this a bit and wonder if it's affecting the Flyers:

4. Teams who win emotional series against rivals and then face a team in the next round who they don't hold similar disdain for can get upset.

Let's face it, the days of the Devils being a fierce rival are behind us. And even if there is a rivalry, it isn't anywhere near the same scale as the cross-state rivalry is these days.

A friend of mine texted me right after the Flyers won the Penguins series - "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!". I responded "No, the mission is to win the Cup. This was just step 1."

But that's the mentality of this city. And I'm starting to think it has creeped into the Flyers mentality a bit (subconsciously). They invested so much effort and emotion that series that they're zapped and finding it difficult to find that compete level in this one.
- lifexkills

they need to get into scrums after every whistle and get mad at the devils. they have the talent to beat them, but they haven't put forth the effort needed to beat the devils.

Agreed, I don't see a lack of effort, not throughout at least. The Flyers are getting worn out by a Devils team that's possessing and supporting the puck well. New Jersey has been dictating the flow for two games now. The Flyers have to figure out how to prevent that, to regain control of these games.
- BulliesPhan87

and they will -- win 2 of 3 to force a game 7

IMO the puck possession and beating you guys to lose pucks are related. They tire out your lines so much by running around in your own end that they have the fresher legs to win those loose puck races.
- Rally_Shots

I would like to see soft dump-ins. Make their Defense turn around and play the puck. Don't fire it in and allow Marty to play it.

In game 2 & 3 there were far to many dump-ins that Marty stopped and made it an easy play for the Devils to turn it up the ice and out of the zone.

I can't say this enough. They aren't able to establish a forcheck because of this.

This is a coaching issue. How is it that Lavi hasn't adjusted to this?

Mind boggling, really.

Where my seats were I was unable to get a good view of the replay. Plus the screen versus the WFC is a little small.

it was gift call it appears but the Flyers did not take advantage of it.


JSaqu...
the guy sitting next to me, said the same thing when he saw the line change and boom
- phi1671

I came REALLY close to throwing the remote when I saw that line change happening. No surprise that ended the game

and they will -- win 2 of 3 to force a game 7
- flyersfan51

It's going to take an hour or two before I'll share the optimism, but I like your attitude.