Salvador pushing Simmonds off the puck in the third period last night like a person would push an ant off a picnic table is a microcosm of this series.

Devils are doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Some of it is on the coach for not making adjustments, but more blame goes to the players for showing zero resistance. Devils have imposed their will on the Flyers in every phase of the game, and the Flyers players for the last 3 games have done nothing about it.
- PLindbergh31

The Flyers look like a team that doesn't know how to respond. Rushed decisions, lack of confidence, all of the symptoms are there. I think Laviolette can be blamed as part of a team failing to respond, but not the singular or chief culprit.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Frustrating Pattern
- bmeltzer

they've simply been owned, deserve to be losing, and have very little chance of coming back.

I'm not doing this with you today.
- RooNosHockey

If Laviolette has a fault in this series, it was reacting too violently to game two. His massive line juggling seems to have hurt the team's confidence, rather than sparking it.

If the Flyers avoid making simple mistakes, and then compounding them, they're not getting beat. It's asy to blame the coach for that, but if he benched every guy guilty of making a mistake, Eric Wellwood would probably be the lone guy left taking shifts.

Laviolette can't change a system overnight. He can't suddenly install a trapping system and he can't go out on the ice and play for the players.

I'm sure they would have gone a different approach. But I also don't feel that the team is poorly constructed. It is competing. As badly as the Devils have outplayed the Flyers, all but one game has been basically or literally a one goal game. Had Schenn's redirection been 6 inches lower in game two, the series is tied at two games apiece.

Little breakdowns are snowballing and killing the Flyers.
- Jsaquella

I'm in no way saying their are poorly constructed just that losing the major components they have is detrimental to success at this time of the year.

I mean look at the Rangers, say they lost Callahan, are they the same team? I think not.

Look at what happened with this hockey team when they brought in Pronger. 0-3 comeback, Finals appearance. He wasn't the sole reason, but he was a major cog in the gear. Series like this are when you need all the guys like that you can get and not having him is huge right now. I don't see any other teams left missing their captain right now or major star player.

The Flyers look like a team that doesn't know how to respond. Rushed decisions, lack of confidence, all of the symptoms are there. I think Laviolette can be blamed as part of a team failing to respond, but not the singular or chief culprit.
- BulliesPhan87

I thought last night that coaching was a big part of the failures in this series, but after sleeping on it, and replaying the last 3 games in my head that's not the case.

Flyers are disinterested, and want no part of this series. They don't want to pay the price to get anything done. We are going to find out a lot about this team in the next game.

I'm in no way saying their are poorly constructed just that losing the major components they have is detrimental to success at this time of the year.

I mean look at the Rangers, say they lost Callahan, are they the same team? I think not.

Look at what happened with this hockey team when they brought in Pronger. 0-3 comeback, Finals appearance. He wasn't the sole reason, but he was a major cog in the gear. Series like this are when you need all the guys like that you can get and not having him is huge right now. I don't see any other teams left missing their captain right now or major star player.
- JoeRussomanno

I understand, but they lost Pronger 6 months ago. That's time enough to adjust to his absence and make changes. It's not as if he got knocked out in game 6 of the Pittsburgh series.

Don't know what to tell you. Why do the Flyers seemingly have more injuries than everyone else heading into the playoffs year after year? I don't think there is an answer to that question.
- PLindbergh31

I don't think they have more than anyone else year after year. This year they most definitely do.

I'm not using it as an excuse either. I'm bringing it up because it is a factor no matter how much you want to admit it or not.

What other team is missing two of their top four defensemen?
What other team had a goalie with a fracture in his foot?
The Rangers lost Boyle and barely made it out of the Ottawa series.

When a team is put together they do so expecting to have certain players. If you can succeed without them that's great but usually it's a killer to any team not just the Flyers.

I understand, but they lost Pronger 6 months ago. That's time enough to adjust to his absence and make changes. It's not as if he got knocked out in game 6 of the Pittsburgh series.
- Jsaquella

The Flyers are being outplayed in every single part of the game (minus the goalie). I agree with you that they need to get back to basics. Theres no need to turn the puck over because of the pressure. The mistakes are killing them and they need to limit them to turn this around.

If I am Lavi this is what i do for tomorrow.

1. If Giroux isn't suspended I put him and Briere on the same line so both cant be double teamed in the offensive zone, and to take away Briere's Defensive liability at center.

2. If Meszaros can play I put him in the line-up. I also play Kubina. The Flyers D is getting killed down low. Need 2 big D-man that can shrug off the forecheck, and clear the crease. Kubina is slow, but it's not the Devils speed that is beating us.

3. Couturier only played 7 minutes last game, he is obviously not healed. Plus Jagr has been awful. I would scratch both for at least the next game and add 2 guys that are fast, and will take the body, and create havok on the Flyers forecheck... Dress Rinaldo and Zulnerczyk.

4. And as far as systems, I would make the wingers stay at the face-off circles in the Defensive zone as a safety valve when the puck is down low. Give the Defense small pases that can be done quickly, with little chance of turn-over.

Hartnell-Giroux-Briere
JVR-Schenn-Voracek
Wellwood-Read-Simmonds
Zulnerczyk-Talbot-Rinaldo

Timonen-Coburn
Carle-Meszaros
Grossmann-Kubina

Yes, now go fix the Flyers please. They've stopped working, and I'm not ready to put this playoffs beard down just yet.
- BulliesPhan87

They look like the Sabres right now, and thats not a good thing

If Giroux gets suspended for THAT i will flip my lid. Zubrus clearly dove trying to get a 5 min penalty. te hit wasnt that bad. Love all the other fans crying for a suspension. Malkins and Ovi's. Hits were worse than this hit.

The Flyers are being outplayed in every single part of the game (minus the goalie). I agree with you that they need to get back to basics. Theres no need to turn the puck over because of the pressure. The mistakes are killing them and they need to limit them to turn this around.
- stveshdy

It all stems from the mistakes, and most of the mistakes come from trying to do too much.

You get two or three failed clears on one shift and guess what? It leads to the Devils dominating gameplay for 4 minutes.

I understand, but they lost Pronger 6 months ago. That's time enough to adjust to his absence and make changes. It's not as if he got knocked out in game 6 of the Pittsburgh series.
- Jsaquella

You can adjust as best you can, but seriously the Flyers did not replace him or completely adjust. You can't tell me having him right now, things wouldn't be different. Heck we don't even have Timonen playing up to his capability.

Probably have to replace both those guys in the offseason. If Pronger ain't coming back then yea there's work to be done. We are trying to compete with a bunch of 3-4 guys at the 1-2 level and it's having an effect.

If I am Lavi this is what i do for tomorrow.

1. If Giroux isn't suspended I put him and Briere on the same line so both cant be double teamed in the offensive zone, and to take away Briere's Defensive liability at center.

2. If Meszaros can play I put him in the line-up. I also play Kubina. The Flyers D is getting killed down low. Need 2 big D-man that can shrug off the forecheck, and clear the crease. Kubina is slow, but it's not the Devils speed that is beating us.

3. Couturier only played 7 minutes last game, he is obviously not healed. Plus Jagr has been awful. I would scratch both for at least the next game and add 2 guys that are fast, and will take the body, and create havok on the Flyers forecheck... Dress Rinaldo and Zulnerczyk.

4. And as far as systems, I would make the wingers stay at the face-off circles in the Defensive zone as a safety valve when the puck is down low. Give the Defense small pases that can be done quickly, with little chance of turn-over.

Hartnell-Giroux-Briere
JVR-Schenn-Voracek
Wellwood-Read-Simmonds
Zulnerczyk-Talbot-Rinaldo

Timonen-Coburn
Carle-Meszaros
Grossmann-Kubina
- RooNosHockey

Just what a team struggling with confidence and making minor mistakes into huge problems needs-massive line-up and systemic changes.

If I am Lavi this is what i do for tomorrow.

1. If Giroux isn't suspended I put him and Briere on the same line so both cant be double teamed in the offensive zone, and to take away Briere's Defensive liability at center.

2. If Meszaros can play I put him in the line-up. I also play Kubina. The Flyers D is getting killed down low. Need 2 big D-man that can shrug off the forecheck, and clear the crease. Kubina is slow, but it's not the Devils speed that is beating us.

3. Couturier only played 7 minutes last game, he is obviously not healed. Plus Jagr has been awful. I would scratch both for at least the next game and add 2 guys that are fast, and will take the body, and create havok on the Flyers forecheck... Dress Rinaldo and Zulnerczyk.

4. And as far as systems, I would make the wingers stay at the face-off circles in the Defensive zone as a safety valve when the puck is down low. Give the Defense small pases that can be done quickly, with little chance of turn-over.

Hartnell-Giroux-Briere
JVR-Schenn-Voracek
Wellwood-Read-Simmonds
Zulnerczyk-Talbot-Rinaldo

Timonen-Coburn
Carle-Meszaros
Grossmann-Kubina
- RooNosHockey

if the collective work ethic and compete level doesn't improve dramatically in game 5, changing lines, and switching up defense parings is akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

They look like the Sabres right now, and thats not a good thing
- Rally_Shots

You guys definitely need to fire your coach

You can adjust as best you can, but seriously the Flyers did not replace him or completely adjust. You can't tell me having him right now, things wouldn't be different. Heck we don't even have Timonen playing up to his capability.

Probably have to replace both those guys in the offseason. If Pronger ain't coming back then yea there's work to be done. We are trying to compete with a bunch of 3-4 guys at the 1-2 level and it's having an effect.
- JoeRussomanno

It's impossible to replace what a healthy Chris Pronger would bring.

But it's not why they're down 3-1. They're down 3-1 because they're not executing, and failed execution is leading to wasted effort, which makes playing the game the way they need to to succeed unsustainable.

Pittsburgh is a better team than New Jersey. The Flyers managed to beat them without Pronger.

Just what a team struggling with confidence and making minor mistakes into huge problems needs-massive line-up and systemic changes.
- Jsaquella

I think you reset the lines to what they were originally. It's what got you here. I'm with you if Lavy is to blame for anything it's panicking. kinda what he did last year with the goalies. NEver the less the Flyers have to do the simple things to win this series. So the onus is still on the players.

If Giroux gets suspended for THAT i will flip my lid. Zubrus clearly dove trying to get a 5 min penalty. te hit wasnt that bad. Love all the other fans crying for a suspension. Malkins and Ovi's. Hits were worse than this hit.
- Sabreshark

I'll be shocked if he doesn't get a game. He was clearly pissed and the only point of contact was the head.

Ferraro said this morning that he thinks he'll get a game. He didn't like the Ovechkin hit either but it was more gray zone than Giroux's. Ferraro has been pretty bang on with his disciplinary predictions so far.

It's impossible to replace what a healthy Chris Pronger would bring.

But it's not why they're down 3-1. They're down 3-1 because they're not executing, and failed execution is leading to wasted effort, which makes playing the game the way they need to to succeed unsustainable.

Pittsburgh is a better team than New Jersey. The Flyers managed to beat them without Pronger.
- Jsaquella

True they beat Pitt without him, but NJ is a different team and their forecheck is better than Pittsburghs was.

It's impossible to replace what a healthy Chris Pronger would bring.

But it's not why they're down 3-1. They're down 3-1 because they're not executing, and failed execution is leading to wasted effort, which makes playing the game the way they need to to succeed unsustainable.

Pittsburgh is a better team than New Jersey. The Flyers managed to beat them without Pronger.
- Jsaquella

The worst part about the game yesterday is that they had a two goal lead and still couldnt get the Devils out of position.

I'll be shocked if he doesn't get a game. He was clearly pissed and the only point of contact was the head.

Ferraro said this morning that he thinks he'll get a game. He didn't like the Ovechkin hit either but it was more gray zone than Giroux's. Ferraro has been pretty bang on with his disciplinary predictions so far.
- rockychocbill

I thought Weber was pretty pissed and the only point of contact was the head too...

they've simply been owned, deserve to be losing, and have very little chance of coming back.
- hammarby31

If Giroux gets suspended for THAT i will flip my lid. Zubrus clearly dove trying to get a 5 min penalty. te hit wasnt that bad. Love all the other fans crying for a suspension. Malkins and Ovi's. Hits were worse than this hit.
- Sabreshark

Giroux aimed for the head, its was pretty obvious. He didnt leave his feet which is nice but he did give a nice upwards shrug to his jaw. I wouldnt be surprised if its a game suspension.

You guys definitely need to fire your coach
- JoeRussomanno

Preaching to the choir