Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Solid Start But a Fade at Finish for Flyers

Trying something a bit different with the post-game analysis/recap format. Let me know if you like this better or prefer the previous continuous narrative plus notes at the end.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Solid Start But a Fade at Finish for Flyers
- bmeltzer

Really enjoyed the new layout. Very in-depth and only at testament to all the hard work you put into breaking down the game. Especially in games like these, where you can highlight all the good points, review the bad, correct it and move on.

It's stated all the time, but I will speak for everyone when I say you're in a league of your own in terms of hockey writers.

Especially in this city

Bill, I like the new format really informative about the game if you didn't watch it (the highlights are the icing on the cake). Since I watched the game, I like the analysis you provided about each period, and the end game quotes so I can see how the team reacted.

I don't think Simmonds fit well with Vinny and Read despite having a good game. I'd find someone better for that line.

Trying something a bit different with the post-game analysis/recap format. Let me know if you like this better or prefer the previous continuous narrative plus notes at the end.
- bmeltzer

May take a few. On the one hand, like the breakdown, but think it may limit off the cuff commentary.

Really enjoyed the new layout. Very in-depth and only at testament to all the hard work you put into breaking down the game. Especially in games like these, where you can highlight all the good points, review the bad, correct it and move on.

It's stated all the time, but I will speak for everyone when I say you're in a league of your own in terms of hockey writers.

Especially in this city
- GirouxForTheShow

What about Dallas?

Trying something a bit different with the post-game analysis/recap format. Let me know if you like this better or prefer the previous continuous narrative plus notes at the end.
- bmeltzer

love this version, thank you

- Winning

I don't get what cause them to get so mad at each other.

I don't get what cause them to get so mad at each other.
- 2Real

If Bill covered those teams, it would be in the blog. To make a long story short, blow out game, Lovejoy hit McKinnon with a very quasi knee on knee, 4th lines go out there, a little mayhem. Roy chirps Ducks players. Escalates. But that is just what I read on twitter.

I don't get what cause them to get so mad at each other.
- 2Real

rookie nathan mackinnon was being bossed around by the big bad ducks and roy didnt like it , not one bit

and then took the least at 2:30 of the the third period.

Good write-up, Bill. Definitely making more work for yourself, but I think it's safe to say all of us here appreciate your work and dedication.

How about the 4 forward, 1 d line toward the end of the game with Read as the blue-liner/in-betweener. That was different.

Simmonds, who almost always puts in the effort, is just not very good at penalty shots. It's just not his thing.

FACEOFFS: Flyers won 9 of 23 (overall 33 for 69, 47.8 percent; Couturier led with 8-for-11)

Faceoffs is a problem that needs to be fixed asap. Giroux seemed particularly bad on the draw, especially in the o-zone.

I don't get what cause them to get so mad at each other.
- 2Real

Patrick Roy is off his meds.

He's also good at destroying doors in his house. Ask his ex.

I think there are a few points we can all agree on coming out of this game:

1. The Flyers, on the whole, played a solid game. I don't know who said it on the last thread, but he (or she) put it nicely: If they play like this every night, they'll win a lot of games.

2. Bernier was incredible. Sometimes you run into a hot goalie and boy we did tonight

3. Mason also had himself a great game

4. Vinny and Read are really, really fun to watch play the game together. I'm excited to see those 2 be part of offensive threat #1b. Both players played excellent hockey.

5. Gotta score on the powerplay

Trying something a bit different with the post-game analysis/recap format. Let me know if you like this better or prefer the previous continuous narrative plus notes at the end.
- bmeltzer

What you have provided here is awesome Bill, Flyers fans are spoilt to see the work you do.

Great stuff.

Like the new format. But, also liked the old one as well. Especially in cases where I had not been able to watch the game.

Only one small disagreement with the overall interpretation. I thought Mason played okay. But, he was out goaltended. The second goal was not a bad play by Mason but it seemed to take the gas out of the entire team.

Sometimes you just need a goalie to give you a huge save to keep you in the game.

Like the new format. But, also liked the old one as well. Especially in cases where I had not been able to watch the game.

Only one small disagreement with the overall interpretation. I thought Mason played okay. But, he was out goaltended. The second goal was not a bad play by Mason but it seemed to take the gas out of the entire team.

Sometimes you just need a goalie to give you a huge save to keep you in the game.
- spatso

If this team gets behind by 1 goal at the start of the third and gives up, that's on the team not the goalie. Once Toronto pushed back, the flyers wilted. Bernier played well, but a mentally weak team that gives up with a little adversity was a calling card for last years flyers.

Mike Richards: "We have our chances. I think we generate a lot of offense in the first period and then they kept going the whole game. You know, it’s a tough loss in front of our fans but you know what, we did a lot of good things out there. Most of the game we dominated and we were responsible defensively but a couple mistakes cost us."

Oh wait!

i only have a few things to say about the game last night .... the 1st period flyers played well out played toronto for most of the period.... the 2nd flyers started to show some defensive break downs and just couldn't finish... the 3rd disgusting the flyers looked terrible team defense was disappearing the entire period, blown coverage( the 1st bolland goal) and then just poor play overall after that. on the 2nd consecutive power play against a tired penalty kill could barley enter the zone.... the flyers need to play better i no its early only the 1st game but they just need to be better......

The flyers just aren't very good. Leafs are a more complete team top to bottom. How is it that the team on a back to back is the one stepping on the throat at the end of the game

This game had nothing to do about systems and everything to do with talent level and team cohesion. The leafs have it over the flyers

Bernier I didn't think was spectacular. Positionally he was very sound, but I dont recall many highlight saves

Good write-up, Bill. Definitely making more work for yourself, but I think it's safe to say all of us here appreciate your work and dedication.

How about the 4 forward, 1 d line toward the end of the game with Read as the blue-liner/in-betweener. That was different.

Simmonds, who almost always puts in the effort, is just not very good at penalty shots. It's just not his thing.



Faceoffs is a problem that needs to be fixed asap. Giroux seemed particularly bad on the draw, especially in the o-zone.
- wolfhounds

Ohhh, he played last night? I didn't notice him.

Why does it feel like after the first game we are already feeling a sense of desperation? It seems like we are critiquing every skate stride. The team had jam in the first half of the game and when TO tied it you could hear a collective, audible "uh oh". It seems as though there was so much time evaluating talent in the preseason that their was little time to develop chemistry. Jake and G's injuries have them a step behind with Jake being dropped to the 3rd line. Already trying to play catch up at game one. It seems this teams biggest problem now is collective confidence. They are pressing and gripping sticks to tightly already. And for having the most expensive blue line in the NHL, it sure doesn't feel that way in action. Just play one game at a time with 60 minutes of effort PLEASE.

The flyers just aren't very good. Leafs are a more complete team top to bottom. How is it that the team on a back to back is the one stepping on the throat at the end of the game

This game had nothing to do about systems and everything to do with talent level and team cohesion. The leafs have it over the flyers

Bernier I didn't think was spectacular. Positionally he was very sound, but I dont recall many highlight saves
- Just5

I guess when you're in position, saves don't look flashy.

I guess when you're in position, saves don't look flashy.
- magmoo

That's exactly right. He played calm and controlled and did well. The flyers made it easy on him

A couple thoughts...

Not sure if I'm in favor of their new pp entry play. When it works it looks nice, they have options, when it doesn't work you have G flying in on a sling shot and everyone else having to try and catch up from a mostly still position. It will be interesting to see how it looks a few weeks down the road.

Is Voracek still banged up? It looked to me like he missed some shifts late in the second period and early in the third.

Do the Leafs have an overly large defense? It seemed that after about halfway through the second period every time we went into the O-zone at least one of our players was getting put on the ground behind the Toronto net.

Overall, I liked the way the Flyers played, they didn't seem to sit back and spent much more time in Toronto's end of the ice.