Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/12/13 @ Detroit; 2-1 Loss to PHO; Phantoms; Quick Hits

Thanks for the writeup Bill.
This team can't catch a break, we are struggling to score goals and are now down two top six forwards. Hopefully Raffl or who ever else fills in can spark something.

Do ever sleep or merely go from writing about one hockey team to another?

The top 6 look ok but the bottom 6 look absolutely dreadful. I'd love to see Laughton on the third line right about now but I know that isn't possible.

Luke Schenn looks like he's one step above being a healthy scratch. If that ends up happening, at least in the short term, the JVR - Schenn trade will be criticized even more.

What do the Flyers do if Rinaldo keeps taking boneheaded penalties? It's not like they have a wealth of depth in the AHL as witnessed by the projected lines tonight.

Do ever sleep or merely go from writing about one hockey team to another?

The top 6 look ok but the bottom 6 look absolutely dreadful. I'd love to see Laughton on the third line right about now but I know that isn't possible.

Luke Schenn looks like he's one step above being a healthy scratch. If that ends up happening, at least in the short term, the JVR - Schenn trade will be criticized even more.

What do the Flyers do if Rinaldo keeps taking boneheaded penalties? It's not like they have a wealth of depth in the AHL as witnessed by the projected lines tonight.
- Flyers_01

Rinaldo has had one game where he lost control, and was undisciplined. He's worked incredibly hard at becoming more reliable. I going to give him the benefit of the doubt, and just look at it as a he had a bad night. Not sure what the problem is with L Schenn. Maybe he did show up in camp out of shape. But he needs to be better.

That was Rinaldo's worst game as a Flyer. I don't think that will be the norm. But both him and Rosehill better wise up and not put the team in a bad position again. I thought overall the team looked a little better, but the D does seem a step or two slow.

That was Rinaldo's worst game as a Flyer. I don't think that will be the norm. But both him and Rosehill better wise up and not put the team in a bad position again. I thought overall the team looked a little better, but the D does seem a step or two slow.
- LJF

Even if they do, what is Berube going to do? Bench them for ECHL players?

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!

I watched the game last night, but didn't participate in the HB thread -- though that was entertaining, at some points -- because really, that game encapsulated a lot of what I've been saying.

You can't give Zac Rinaldo more minutes. He should absolutely be on the team. But you cannot give him more minutes than a fourth-line player. If you are doing that, you are crippling your chances of winning games in the National Hockey League -- and he will likely be a culprit in that.

The offense has been horrific. So losing Hartnell and Lecavalier won't help...but how will it hurt, really? Other players deserve a chance. Whoever's playing well down in Adirondack deserves a chance.

I get that Craig Berube's going to dress toughness. And I don't necessarily disagree with that. But right now, with the Flyers having a razor-thin margin for error, carrying players in the lineup who cannot contribute at even strength is a luxury they cannot afford.

The Flyers need to dress the best 12 forwards and best six defensemen they can find. And if Jay Rosehill is the 12th-best forward you can dress when you are 1-4 and scoring one goal a night, then you deserve the record you have.

Let the hextall era begin. I don't see this team solving problems without a rebuild. Unfortunately most of the players we need to get rid of to start this are on nmc for the next half decade

Do ever sleep or merely go from writing about one hockey team to another?

The top 6 look ok but the bottom 6 look absolutely dreadful. I'd love to see Laughton on the third line right about now but I know that isn't possible.

Luke Schenn looks like he's one step above being a healthy scratch. If that ends up happening, at least in the short term, the JVR - Schenn trade will be criticized even more.

What do the Flyers do if Rinaldo keeps taking boneheaded penalties? It's not like they have a wealth of depth in the AHL as witnessed by the projected lines tonight.
- Flyers_01

Sadly, that was a clunker for Rinaldo. I have been very happy with him thus far this year. He has been playing more inspired than just about anyone else this year. It will be an awful shame if a call up like Raffl is the one who comes in an provides a spark, but I will take it. There isn't enough chemistry, gel, cohesiveness out there. They are playing like a bunch of uninspired individuals. And G needs to put this damn team on his shoulders and lead here.

I watched the game last night, but didn't participate in the HB thread -- though that was entertaining, at some points -- because really, that game encapsulated a lot of what I've been saying.

You can't give Zac Rinaldo more minutes. He should absolutely be on the team. But you cannot give him more minutes than a fourth-line player. If you are doing that, you are crippling your chances of winning games in the National Hockey League -- and he will likely be a culprit in that.

The offense has been horrific. So losing Hartnell and Lecavalier won't help...but how will it hurt, really? Other players deserve a chance. Whoever's playing well down in Adirondack deserves a chance.

I get that Craig Berube's going to dress toughness. And I don't necessarily disagree with that. But right now, with the Flyers having a razor-thin margin for error, carrying players in the lineup who cannot contribute at even strength is a luxury they cannot afford.

The Flyers need to dress the best 12 forwards and best six defensemen they can find. And if Jay Rosehill is the 12th-best forward you can dress when you are 1-4 and scoring one goal a night, then you deserve the record you have.
- AllInForFlyers

A lot of people shredded Laviolette for not holding players accountable. Let's see Berube sit Rinaldo for the clown show he put on last night.

Who is the Detroit enforcer? That waste of oxygen Rosehill better not sniff the ice tonight.

Even if they do, what is Berube going to do? Bench them for ECHL players?
- Flyers_01

There are other players that can play instead. It was one game not that concerned, if it continues I'd be concerned. The team is getting better it's going to take time.

We are blasting Rinaldo and Rosehill, but what about the top line? What have they done? R and R need to be better about their penalties, but the top players need to start scoring.

If this team is truly out of shape I put that on the players. To me that is a sign that they don't care.

It's going to be a long season for Flyer/Devils and maybe even Rangers fans.

We are blasting Rinaldo and Rosehill, but what about the top line? What have they done? R and R need to be better about their penalties, but the top players need to start scoring.

If this team is truly out of shape I put that on the players. To me that is a sign that they don't care.
- LJF

Blasting isn't the right word -- though in each of the last two games, those two players have done things that are not mistakes during the run of play, but instead have taken selfish penalties that cost the entire team.

Yes, you need your best players to score. But what you absolutely don't need is your worst players to take penalties that lead to the GWG against, nor do you need your worst players doing what you would expect them to do: Fail to capitalize on scoring chances in the slot.

It's going to be a long season for Flyer/Devils and maybe even Rangers fans.
- blizzzard

It looks like it.. Isles Pens and Blue jackets will prob make it and we'll be golfing... sad part is, we'll be golfing by mid season at this pace.

It looks like it.. Isles Pens and Blue jackets will prob make it and we'll be golfing... sad part is, we'll be golfing by mid season at this pace.
- Hextall271

Yea not the way I pictured this season. It's pretty frustrating you guys have all the offensive gun power, we have some young guys ready to shine and our coach won't play them because he is in love with our old slow guys who are horrible and the rangers right now just don't have a clue what they are doing. At least if this keeps up both you guys have a first this year

maybe the flyers find a way to win tonite, but i doubt it. they will face a DET team that rolls lines and dresses the best 12 plyrs it has. they expect to get a certain amt of goals from their 4th line because they are plyrs, not enforcers or even energy guys, per se.

i was obviously wrong about ROFL. he did absolutely earn a place on this team when you consider that 3/4 of the forwards have looked like AHL'ers. surely, he could bring more...

luke schenn is having his challenges early this yr as reflected by his ice time and overall play. even at his best, i pegged him as a #4 dman who we acquired for an inconsistent young pwr forward who has the ability to be a game changer and a big game performer.

looking back, the worm prob turned w/ the JVR trade. we moved a scoring winger that we certainly could use and let go of a puck mover, who despite his faults, was valuable plyr we have attempted to replace in some part by signing a past-his-prime streit. these transactions may be the final ones referred to in the epilogue of the homer GM tenure.

what is said is its October 12th and I am sitting here wondering how deep the draft is this year.

don't forget failing to bring back jagr for 1 or 2 more seasons. imagine giroux w/ 2 more years of jagr on his wing?....we don't have to imagine him without him there. not saying G won't snap out of it eventually, but i think Jagr was willing to come back here cheap (even last year and this year) and without a viable, proven option he should have had him here

maybe the flyers find a way to win tonite, but i doubt it. they will face a DET team that rolls lines and dresses the best 12 plyrs it has. they expect to get a certain amt of goals from their 4th line because they are plyrs, not enforcers or even energy guys, per se.

i was obviously wrong about ROFL. he did absolutely earn a place on this team when you consider that 3/4 of the forwards have looked like AHL'ers. surely, he could bring more...

luke schenn is having his challenges early this yr as reflected by his ice time and overall play. even at his best, i pegged him as a #4 dman who we acquired for an inconsistent young pwr forward who has the ability to be a game changer and a big game performer.

looking back, the worm prob turned w/ the JVR trade. we moved a scoring winger that we certainly could use and let go of a puck mover, who despite his faults, was valuable plyr we have attempted to replace in some part by signing a past-his-prime streit. these transactions may be the final ones referred to in the epilogue of the homer GM tenure.
- isaiah520

what is said is its October 12th and I am sitting here wondering how deep the draft is this year.
- nastyflyergirl

i'm with you. this is not a good hockey team, for whatever reason, and my gut says it's going to be a horrible season. didn't feel that way in the summer, but i do now. plenty of time to turn this ship around, but i don't see it.

i'm encouraged by the goalies. maybe for once everyone won't blame them for the why they didn't win. give these guys some (frank)ing goal support for (frank)'s sake. this team couldn't score with a fist full of hundreds in a brothel.

and now hartnell and bunny are hurt. terrific.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli attended the game on a scouting mission for Team Canada.


Not that it matters to the Flyers or us as Flyers fans but at what point does G play himself right off of team Canada?

i'm with you. this is not a good hockey team, for whatever reason, and my gut says it's going to be a horrible season. didn't feel that way in the summer, but i do now. plenty of time to turn this ship around, but i don't see it.

i'm encouraged by the goalies. maybe for once everyone won't blame them for the why they didn't win. give these guys some (frank)ing goal support for (frank)'s sake. this team couldn't score with a fist full of hundreds in a brothel.

and now hartnell and bunny are hurt. terrific.


- hammarby31

Schenn and Bunny were really looking together too. I don't know what it is about this team. I mean, I wish they had more speed and skill and I am not a fan of the 4th line but I really didn't think they would be this inept at scoring. Something just seems off chemistry wise. in the two games Berube has been in charge the team defense has looked a little better. We have that

maybe the flyers find a way to win tonite, but i doubt it. they will face a DET team that rolls lines and dresses the best 12 plyrs it has. they expect to get a certain amt of goals from their 4th line because they are plyrs, not enforcers or even energy guys, per se.

i was obviously wrong about ROFL. he did absolutely earn a place on this team when you consider that 3/4 of the forwards have looked like AHL'ers. surely, he could bring more...

luke schenn is having his challenges early this yr as reflected by his ice time and overall play. even at his best, i pegged him as a #4 dman who we acquired for an inconsistent young pwr forward who has the ability to be a game changer and a big game performer.

looking back, the worm prob turned w/ the JVR trade. we moved a scoring winger that we certainly could use and let go of a puck mover, who despite his faults, was valuable plyr we have attempted to replace in some part by signing a past-his-prime streit. these transactions may be the final ones referred to in the epilogue of the homer GM tenure.
- isaiah520

right now i would take streit over kimmo any day ... kimmo has looked horrible he is showing his age and it is proven by the obstruction penalties he keeps taking... he is getting out hustled and out skated... it was a bad resign... luke schenn... well toronto saw his problems that why they moved him they new what he was about....JVR that was a lavy choice i am sure any person can see his offensive potential just had to wait for him to blossom..oh wait he did after they traded him....homer is on his last legs stupid move after stupid move.... time for him to flow lavy out the door....... i think this team needs a wake up shake up... a trade to kick then in the a$$ maybe a brayden schenn or talbot being moved... a shake up to show them no one is safe ...

i'm with you. this is not a good hockey team, for whatever reason, and my gut says it's going to be a horrible season. didn't feel that way in the summer, but i do now. plenty of time to turn this ship around, but i don't see it.

i'm encouraged by the goalies. maybe for once everyone won't blame them for the why they didn't win. give these guys some (frank)ing goal support for (frank)'s sake. this team couldn't score with a fist full of hundreds in a brothel.

and now hartnell and bunny are hurt. terrific.


- hammarby31

I hated that Vinny signing when it happened, an injury waiting to happen, & it happened already.
Looks like a sniper is becoming our greatest need now over a top defenseman.
Right back to where teams can confidently run there backups out against us without a problem.