Great point. One way to get better goaltending and giving up less goals, is to limit chances. And not only that, but give up less quality chances. The Flyers give up way too many quality chances against.
- MJL

Do you see this changing anytime soon? The Flyers system wont allow it to happen imo. The will need to upgrade the defense but how do they handle the any team that sends pressure?

* The Flyers struggled against defensively disciplined system teams most of the season. Peter Laviolette changed personnel around against New Jersey but tactical adjustments were either lacking or simply not executed very well. Either which way, the coach has to take a share of the blame. Pete DoBoer outcoached Laviolette in the series.

Okay, So everyone that argued that Lavi wasn't out coached... Now you take your arguement up with Bill, as he said the same thing I did...
- RooNosHockey

If Bill comes on the site and posts, I will. We all read the blog. I disagree with you and Bill on this. I think it's completely wrong.

So now they have to use the LTIR on this guy for the rest of his contract. 10% over in the summer but it still stinks he cant be placed on that list until the season starts.
- stveshdy

I don't think its that big of a deal. If the cap was $64 million, the Flyers could go over it to $70.6 million with the 10% allowance.

They can only really go to $68.9 (on a 64 mil cap) because Pronger's cap hit is only 4.921.

Great point. One way to get better goaltending and giving up less goals, is to limit chances. And not only that, but give up less quality chances. The Flyers give up way too many quality chances against.
- MJL

There were far to many open shots, or mini 3v2's and 2v1's. Forwards need to recognize where they should be and get back. Hartnell really struggled with that this series. He would over commit to a hit, and put himself way out of position and the Devils would have a 3v2.

He did out coach Lava. His team went on. Thats not the same as saying Lava did a poor job coaching.. or Lava didnt change his game plan.
- jak521

In my opinion it doesn't work like that. Just because one team won, doesn't mean that the losing Coach was outcoached. It's not that simplistic.

I don't think its that big of a deal. If the cap was $64 million, the Flyers could go over it to $70.6 million with the 10% allowance.

They can only really go to $68.9 (on a 64 mil cap) because Pronger's cap hit is only 4.921.
- sulshawn

True. Career ending injuries are something that should be in the CBA. The player should still be allowed to be paid but not count against the cap bc he will never be able to play again. They can obviously go into more detail on what a career ending injury is and this is a prime example.

There is one piece of evidence I would like to present in favor of Lavy being outcoached. That is the change in NJ's own style of play from games 1 to the rest of the series. In periods 2 and 3 of game 1, we simply bormbarded them with shots and had much superior puck possession. In the last 2 periods (counting overtime) we outshot them 22-8! We never had that much skating room ever again. In other words, NJ clearly made adjustments. But we never made adjustments to their adjustments.
- PT21

not to jump into the substantive argument, but that doesn't settle whether or not lava tried to make strategic adjustments. if the devils just flat out execute better, the coach can't really do anything about it

just pointing to the results doesn't really prove anything

* New Jersey had absolutely no fear of the Flyers' defensemen burning them on pinches or point shots. They had the Flyers' well-scouted, and that enabled New Jersey to constantly have puck support lower in the zone. Only once, when Matt Carle scored in Game 3, did that strategy backfire on the Devils.

This is such a key point that Bill brings up.

Flyers had no offense or threat of offense from the point, devils just had to shut down the forwards.

A healthy Mez and a healthier Kimmo would have helped a lot.

A right handed shot from the point also. What a novel concept for the Flyers.
Homer please get a righty on D this summer.

+35 contract. Still on the books, I believe.
- stveshdy

they will have to convince the league the next what 5 years that he's trying to come back and put him on Rathje LITR to use his cap space.

Great point. One way to get better goaltending and giving up less goals, is to limit chances. And not only that, but give up less quality chances. The Flyers give up way too many quality chances against.
- MJL

do you think this is a byproduct of the gap between our forwards and our d being approximately 150 feet at all times?

In my opinion it doesn't work like that. Just because one team won, doesn't mean that the losing Coach was outcoached. It's not that simplistic.
- MJL

I agree with just because one team moves on, it doesn't mean one coach got outcoached. I do believe in the Nj series that NJ was more disciplined and made adjustments after game 2. The Flyers did not make any significant adjustments, were undisciplined both in their play and staying out of the box. I thought Lavi's changing up the lines in game 4 was going to cause players to lose some confidence. Lavi took a chance and it didn;t work. I'm not saying DeBoer severly outcoached Lavi but I do think he outcoached him.

There is one piece of evidence I would like to present in favor of Lavy being outcoached. That is the change in NJ's own style of play from games 1 to the rest of the series. In periods 2 and 3 of game 1, we simply bormbarded them with shots and had much superior puck possession. In the last 2 periods (counting overtime) we outshot them 22-8! We never had that much skating room ever again. In other words, NJ clearly made adjustments. But we never made adjustments to their adjustments.
- PT21

I disagree. Other then the one 3rd period where the Devils dropped back into a 1-2-2, which I thought was a mistake by Doboer. The Devils did not in any way change their style of play throughout the Series.

Do you see this changing anytime soon? The Flyers system wont allow it to happen imo. The will need to upgrade the defense but how do they handle the any team that sends pressure?
- stveshdy

I think it will improve, but not necessarily change. The most important things they need to work on is forward support. As a guy like Coots develops and sees an increase in action.. you will also likely see that line preventing some scoring chances. Defense starts with the forwards... They are the first line of defense.. and our forwards we severely outclassed by the Devils.

When their D men had the puck our pressure wasnt good enough.. they had time and space to make plays.. When our D had the puck it was like a blanket of red jerseys that were just suffocating us.

When the puck hit the neutral zone, and then our offensive zone.. Devils forwards were back, blocking shots, and taking away passing lanes... The same didnt happen with our forwards..

True. Career ending injuries are something that should be in the CBA. The player should still be allowed to be paid but not count against the cap bc he will never be able to play again. They can obviously go into more detail on what a career ending injury is and this is a prime example.
- stveshdy

Pretty sure they are - with the exception of 35+ contracts.

That's what makes Pronger's situation sticky.

do you think this is a byproduct of the gap between our forwards and our d being approximately 150 feet at all times?
- OrangeBlack27

Crazy. It pisses me off because when theres that gap it means guys are not moving.. you get stationary guys and it kills any type of zone progress.

I disagree. Other then the one 3rd period where the Devils dropped back into a 1-2-2, which I thought was a mistake by Doboer. The Devils did not in any way change their style of play throughout the Series.
- MJL

They played the same way the entire series (except for when they sat back and rested on the lead).

* New Jersey had absolutely no fear of the Flyers' defensemen burning them on pinches or point shots. They had the Flyers' well-scouted, and that enabled New Jersey to constantly have puck support lower in the zone. Only once, when Matt Carle scored in Game 3, did that strategy backfire on the Devils.

This is such a key point that Bill brings up.

Flyers had no offense or threat of offense from the point, devils just had to shut down the forwards.

A healthy Mez and a healthier Kimmo would have helped a lot.

A right handed shot from the point also. What a novel concept for the Flyers.
Homer please get a righty on D this summer.
- Marc D

you're a vancouver guy right? sami salo have anything left in the tank? just looking at the numbers, it seems like he was solid this year

he could be a guy for homer to target should he hit free agency/ continue playing. nice one year deal

they will have to convince the league the next what 5 years that he's trying to come back and put him on Rathje LITR to use his cap space.
- phi1671

They do not have to convince the League that he is trying to come back at any point.

do you think this is a byproduct of the gap between our forwards and our d being approximately 150 feet at all times?
- OrangeBlack27

Absolutely. They need to be more connected a 5 man defensive unit.

I think it will improve, but not necessarily change. The most important things they need to work on is forward support. As a guy like Coots develops and sees an increase in action.. you will also likely see that line preventing some scoring chances. Defense starts with the forwards... They are the first line of defense.. and our forwards we severely outclassed by the Devils.

When their D men had the puck our pressure wasnt good enough.. they had time and space to make plays.. When our D had the puck it was like a blanket of red jerseys that were just suffocating us.

When the puck hit the neutral zone, and then our offensive zone.. Devils forwards were back, blocking shots, and taking away passing lanes... The same didnt happen with our forwards..
- jak521

As stated by Bill there was zero respect for the Flyers defenseman in the offensive zone. The Devils werent even covering the Flyers point guys. They were all get down low and outnumbering the Flyers.

they will have to convince the league the next what 5 years that he's trying to come back and put him on Rathje LITR to use his cap space.
- phi1671

I can't really see that as a problem.

With the NHL battling public perception that it isn't doing enough to protect players from head injuries, I doubt they will play hardball and try to force Pronger back onto the ice.

"Hey Chris, you still trying to come back?"

"Yes, Gary, I am. Still a no-go."

"Okalie-dokalie."

In my opinion it doesn't work like that. Just because one team won, doesn't mean that the losing Coach was outcoached. It's not that simplistic.
- MJL

Im talking in vague terms here. If people wanna argue semantics, the coach of the winning team was able to get his guys to play their system better than our coach was able to get our guys. In my mind that is the simplest form of being out coached.

They do not have to convince the League that he is trying to come back at any point.
- MJL

they need to get approval

I can't really see that as a problem.

With the NHL battling public perception that it isn't doing enough to protect players from head injuries, I doubt they will play hardball and try to force Pronger back onto the ice.

"Hey Chris, you still trying to come back?"

"Yes, Gary, I am. Still a no-go."

"Okalie-dokalie."
- Atomic Wedgie

that's all i was saying...it's just going through the basics...
it's a matter of paperwork.

As stated by Bill there was zero respect for the Flyers defenseman in the offensive zone. The Devils werent even covering the Flyers point guys. They were all get down low and outnumbering the Flyers.
- stveshdy

Well you have the fluffin muffin, Coburn who cant hit the net, Timonen who is decent enough, but isnt 27, Lilja (lol), and Gusty who has only played in like 20 games, and isnt exactly crushing the puck.