Bill Meltzer: Flyers Double Gameday: 9-16-13 Away @ Toronto, Home vs. Washington

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Double Gameday: 9-16-13 Away @ Toronto, Home vs. Washington
- bmeltzer

For a double game day blog, you should have gone with the orange jersey



Still it's sooo intense!

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Double Gameday: 9-16-13 Away @ Toronto, Home vs. Washington
- bmeltzer

Holy that Stolarz guy is pretty amazing if he was able to pull 14 saves out of 5 shots

Holy that Stolarz guy is pretty amazing if he was able to pull 14 saves out of 5 shots
- blizzzard

He's from Jersey, so he's stronger than the storm.

He's from Jersey, so he's stronger than the storm.
- Jsaquella

Sounds about right

Holy that Stolarz guy is pretty amazing if he was able to pull 14 saves out of 5 shots
- blizzzard

Was juggling a lot of pucks .

Typo fixed.

Gill is far too slow to play in this system.

Gill is far too slow to be a linesman.
- Feanor

FTFY

Was juggling a lot of pucks .

Typo fixed.
- bmeltzer

No worries we all have typo's, me a lot more then others

Hey Bill, nice summary.
It was so great to see actual hockey....as in a game that I didn't already know the final score....

I was wondering if you had any insight into a "throw away" comment that Jackson and Coatsey alluded too, that the Flyers dressing room had factions last season and that some of the changes in the offseason were made to address that. I looked at who was gone: Fedatenko, Bryz, Boucher, Leighton, Foster, Lilja, Knuble, Gagne (I think I got them all and misspelled them all too)...so do you have any idea who or what they are alluding too? I know that Rusty had some issue with being a 4th line center. I know that Boucher has always generated a bit of a cult of personality in the room but that was never seen as a bad thing since he is also a pretty solid citizen and knows his place.

As for watching pre season hockey...it was still hockey...Stolarz and Cousins looked good. Hartnell and B Schenn are in mid season frustration mode already (maybe that means they will start the season on a hot streak). Laughton looked positionally good and seemed to be a step ahead of his line mates in his thinking in the O-zone. At times he was looking far post or near post and they were in the high slot or half boards. That will work out with time. Gill looked ok but I thougt Laurissden looked better of the two towers.

FWIW Some observations from last night's game:

Mason: couldn't really fault him at all on 2 of the 3 goals. I did like that his play seemed to get sharper as the game went on.

Stolarz: Except for one bad rebound, the kid looked good. Very impressed with his quickness for a guy that big.

Gustafsson: Struggled early, but looked really good in the 3rd.

Grossmann: Looked to be in mid-season form, just hope he can remain healthy

Mezaros: Just happy to see him get thru a game injury free! All kidding aside, he played pretty well especially when you consider how little he has played in the past year.

Gill: Looked like he was really struggling to keep up, unless he can improve significantly, he may be headed towards retirement.

L. Schenn: Looked like a typical vet in his first pre-season game. Nothing terrible, nothing great.

Lauridsen: Didn't notice him much out there, for a dman though, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

B. Schenn: Looked good, real good. This could be a big breakout year for the younger Schenn brother.

Hartnell: Another vet in a pre-season game. He did however pick it up in the 3rd.

Read: Made a few mistakes, made a few nice plays, nothing to be concerned about for sure.

Rinaldo: just hope he isn't seriously hurt, though it really didn't look that bad.

Cousins: Looked very good out there. However you can't read too much into the play of an amped kid against vets just going through the motions. That being said, I have little doubt that he will be an NHL player.

Clarkson: Should be a solid Phantom and a guy you can call up in a pinch

Laughton: Looked ok, didn't really stand out. He needs to show a bit more if he is going to make the roster.

Holmstrom: Glad to see he is healthy, hope he enjoys his season in Adirondack

Rosehill: Took a penalty, other than that I barely noticed him. He's a role player that knows his role.

All in all, it was a typical preseason game; lots of boredom with a few moments of excitement sprinkled in.

Hey Bill, nice summary.
It was so great to see actual hockey....as in a game that I didn't already know the final score....

I was wondering if you had any insight into a "throw away" comment that Jackson and Coatsey alluded too, that the Flyers dressing room had factions last season and that some of the changes in the offseason were made to address that. I looked at who was gone: Fedatenko, Bryz, Boucher, Leighton, Foster, Lilja, Knuble, Gagne (I think I got them all and misspelled them all too)...so do you have any idea who or what they are alluding too? I know that Rusty had some issue with being a 4th line center. I know that Boucher has always generated a bit of a cult of personality in the room but that was never seen as a bad thing since he is also a pretty solid citizen and knows his place.

As for watching pre season hockey...it was still hockey...Stolarz and Cousins looked good. Hartnell and B Schenn are in mid season frustration mode already (maybe that means they will start the season on a hot streak). Laughton looked positionally good and seemed to be a step ahead of his line mates in his thinking in the O-zone. At times he was looking far post or near post and they were in the high slot or half boards. That will work out with time. Gill looked ok but I thougt Laurissden looked better of the two towers.
- wbon22

Reference to Bryzgalov. Rusty wasn't happy with his role (but was used properly IMO) but isn't one to rock the boat

FWIW Some observations from last night's game:

Mason: couldn't really fault him at all on 2 of the 3 goals. I did like that his play seemed to get sharper as the game went on.

Stolarz: Except for one bad rebound, the kid looked good. Very impressed with his quickness for a guy that big.

Gustafsson: Struggled early, but looked really good in the 3rd.

Grossmann: Looked to be in mid-season form, just hope he can remain healthy

Mezaros: Just happy to see him get thru a game injury free! All kidding aside, he played pretty well especially when you consider how little he has played in the past year.

Gill: Looked like he was really struggling to keep up, unless he can improve significantly, he may be headed towards retirement.

L. Schenn: Looked like a typical vet in his first pre-season game. Nothing terrible, nothing great.

Lauridsen: Didn't notice him much out there, for a dman though, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

B. Schenn: Looked good, real good. This could be a big breakout year for the younger Schenn brother.

Hartnell: Another vet in a pre-season game. He did however pick it up in the 3rd.

Read: Made a few mistakes, made a few nice plays, nothing to be concerned about for sure.

Rinaldo: just hope he isn't seriously hurt, though it really didn't look that bad.

Cousins: Looked very good out there. However you can't read too much into the play of an amped kid against vets just going through the motions. That being said, I have little doubt that he will be an NHL player.

Clarkson: Should be a solid Phantom and a guy you can call up in a pinch

Laughton: Looked ok, didn't really stand out. He needs to show a bit more if he is going to make the roster.

Holmstrom: Glad to see he is healthy, hope he enjoys his season in Adirondack

Rosehill: Took a penalty, other than that I barely noticed him. He's a role player that knows his role.

All in all, it was a typical preseason game; lots of boredom with a few moments of excitement sprinkled in.
- BiggE

Gustafsson had a really rough first period, but definitely picked it up.

It'd be nice to see the Caps game tonight, I'd love to see Lecavalier, but I'm really interested to see Raffl. From what the powers that be keep saying, he looks like the odds on favorite to steal that 3rd line LW job.

FWIW Some observations from last night's game:

Mason: couldn't really fault him at all on 2 of the 3 goals. I did like that his play seemed to get sharper as the game went on.

Stolarz: Except for one bad rebound, the kid looked good. Very impressed with his quickness for a guy that big.

Gustafsson: Struggled early, but looked really good in the 3rd.

Grossmann: Looked to be in mid-season form, just hope he can remain healthy

Mezaros: Just happy to see him get thru a game injury free! All kidding aside, he played pretty well especially when you consider how little he has played in the past year.

Gill: Looked like he was really struggling to keep up, unless he can improve significantly, he may be headed towards retirement.

L. Schenn: Looked like a typical vet in his first pre-season game. Nothing terrible, nothing great.

Lauridsen: Didn't notice him much out there, for a dman though, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

B. Schenn: Looked good, real good. This could be a big breakout year for the younger Schenn brother.

Hartnell: Another vet in a pre-season game. He did however pick it up in the 3rd.

Read: Made a few mistakes, made a few nice plays, nothing to be concerned about for sure.

Rinaldo: just hope he isn't seriously hurt, though it really didn't look that bad.

Cousins: Looked very good out there. However you can't read too much into the play of an amped kid against vets just going through the motions. That being said, I have little doubt that he will be an NHL player.

Clarkson: Should be a solid Phantom and a guy you can call up in a pinch

Laughton: Looked ok, didn't really stand out. He needs to show a bit more if he is going to make the roster.

Holmstrom: Glad to see he is healthy, hope he enjoys his season in Adirondack

Rosehill: Took a penalty, other than that I barely noticed him. He's a role player that knows his role.

All in all, it was a typical preseason game; lots of boredom with a few moments of excitement sprinkled in.
- BiggE

I didn't think much of Meszaros, to be honest. Yeah, he hasn't played for the better part of a year, but at the same time, he looked pretty sloppy defensively. Not that Gus had a stellar game either. Neither looked like a top-6 NHL dman last night.

Gustafsson had a really rough first period, but definitely picked it up.

It'd be nice to see the Caps game tonight, I'd love to see Lecavalier, but I'm really interested to see Raffl. From what the powers that be keep saying, he looks like the odds on favorite to steal that 3rd line LW job.
- Jsaquella

What powers were they? I still don't get the hype of a guy who played Div. 2 Swedish hockey. Maybe he'll surprise, but I just don't see it.

I didn't think much of Meszaros, to be honest. Yeah, he hasn't played for the better part of a year, but at the same time, he looked pretty sloppy defensively. Not that Gus had a stellar game either. Neither looked like a top-6 NHL dman last night.
- jmatchett383

I think Mez was just trying to get his feet wet and up to speed. It's not like he's a kid trying to make the team, he's going to play in the NHL if healthy, it may not be in Philly, but he will be in the league.

Gus had a terrible 1st period, but I thought he played very well in the 3rd. Still a little too early to judge, but with what he showed down the stretch last year and in the World Championships, I have no problem considering him a top 6 dman.

What powers were they? I still don't get the hype of a guy who played Div. 2 Swedish hockey. Maybe he'll surprise, but I just don't see it.
- jmatchett383

Holmgren, Pryor, Laviolette have all made statements of praise specifically about Raffl. In Panaccio's latest blog here he says

What I am hearing on the side right now is that the Flyers staff is very impressed with Austrian winger Michael Raffl. In fact, more impressed with him than Scott Laughton and Tye McGinn at this point.

It would be a bit unusual for a European skater to play for the Flyers in his first year - regardless of age _ without playing in NOrth America for a least a half season but the Flyers feel if Raffl shows he belongs here, then he stays here.

I can only go off what has been said by Homer, Laviolette and Pryor have said, not having seen Raffl in camp or pre-season games.

Gustafsson had a really rough first period, but definitely picked it up.

It'd be nice to see the Caps game tonight, I'd love to see Lecavalier, but I'm really interested to see Raffl. From what the powers that be keep saying, he looks like the odds on favorite to steal that 3rd line LW job.
- Jsaquella

I'd like to see Raffl too. Even if he plays well in preseason, I wouldn't read too much into it. The key will be how he holds up in regular season competition. That is, assuming he can make the opening day roster.

I'd like to see Raffl too. Even if he plays well in preseason, I wouldn't read too much into it. The key will be how he holds up in regular season competition. That is, assuming he can make the opening day roster.
- BiggE

From what it sounds like, the Flyers seem to be real high on him...I only know what Bill's written & what I have hunted down on YouTube.

I think Mez was just trying to get his feet wet and up to speed. It's not like he's a kid trying to make the team, he's going to play in the NHL if healthy, it may not be in Philly, but he will be in the league.

Gus had a terrible 1st period, but I thought he played very well in the 3rd. Still a little too early to judge, but with what he showed down the stretch last year and in the World Championships, I have no problem considering him a top 6 dman.
- BiggE

I wasn't expecting much out of Meszaros, but I'd like to see Gus standout in a positive way in these pre-season games.

Headed to the game tonight down at the WFC and I'm excited to get a look at Sam Morin and Petr Straka.

Also, since I'm paying regular season prices for a minor league talent, I fully admit that I expect to see Derek Mathers drop the mitts. I feel like a savage just typing that.

Holmgren, Pryor, Laviolette have all made statements of praise specifically about Raffl. In Panaccio's latest blog here he says



I can only go off what has been said by Homer, Laviolette and Pryor have said, not having seen Raffl in camp or pre-season games.
- Jsaquella

Well, I hope he at least makes it a strong competition for one of the open roster spots. Hell, I hope every player at camp becomes an NHL star. We'll see. Going Tuesday, should be good for a bloodbath if nothing else.

I wasn't expecting much out of Meszaros, but I'd like to see Gus standout in a positive way in these pre-season games.

Headed to the game tonight down at the WFC and I'm excited to get a look at Sam Morin and Petr Straka.

Also, since I'm paying regular season prices for a minor league talent, I fully admit that I expect to see Derek Mathers drop the mitts. I feel like a savage just typing that.
- johndewar

I'm sure Mathers will do his best to make your savage side happy.

Is either game televised tonight?

Cousins was a nice surprise last night.
I thought Mez looked good. He and Grossmann were the only two who didn't look shakey at one point or another.
Both Read and Hartnell had some step in their game. I felt Hartnell was put in a position he wasn't used to, that of a playmaker. He was setting up plays more than you would normally see on a line with G. And Read was all over the ice (in a good way).
I hope Rinaldo is ok. I do want to see more of him this season!
It seemed like Clarkson could use some time in the AHL as he was noticeable but not finishing.
Laughton and McGinn weren't as hot as I would have hoped for.

Is either game televised tonight?
- MBFlyerfan

Not in this area. TML game is on Sportsnet in Ontario.