Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Period Woes Strike Again

New trade proposal... Homer for hexy???

Of course you are! And in his eyes you always will be.

It just feels like the Flyers won two faceoffs all night. And lost board battles. The first period had me feeling so optimistic. And in the end I'm just discouraged. It's also annoying to have the "As the Crowd Turns"--they're even quicker to sag than the players.

should have called time out after that second icing, you could see trouble coming from a mile away

such a bummer after a really good first 25-30 minutes

We speculate on trades here all the time. I'm not sure I've ever felt the need to make a move more than now. I don't know if its something as simple as adding a Gagne type to infuse some skill on the wing or a bold move to shift the make up of our D.

I just feel like staying the course isn't going to get us much further with the roster as it is currently constructed. They're largely young. I hope they prove me wrong.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Period Woes Strike Again
- bmeltzer

Good to see you getting the boy out to the games...good he's too young to understand the debacle that the 3rd period was.

A lot of poor decision making and inability to seal the deal doomed the Flyers after a great first period.

The Flyers seemed to take their foot off the pedal and when the Ducks kicked it into another gear they couldn't match them. One huge difference in the third is the Ducks could double shift their big line because they could roll their fourth line out there all night and let the scoring lines get a break.

Adding insult to injury, on Cogliano's goal, after the horrible Grossmann turnover, Jay Rosehill stood still and didn't even move towards Cogliano until the shot was being made. He made a terrible read and was lazy, besides.

Let this sink in fellas, Homer traded away Carter, Richards, JVR for this team....makes me sick. Those are three quality pieces you traded away for young unproven players for all we know will be no better than they are today. Just brutal management how Homer is still GM is beyond me. And for the record hated all three moves from get the get go.This team is 3-8, after a season when they were AWFUL all season. They wont magically turn it around, not one player will turn this around. Aside from Giroux, have a fire-sale and start from scratch with a top flight D-man being first priority.

"In Tuesday night's 4-3 loss against the Anaheim Ducks, the Flyers played arguably their best 20 minutes of hockey in the season. They were up on their skates, forechecking and backchecking with gusto. "

Don't know what game you were watching, but this was a 3-2 game.
- ducks31

Its the usual, losing games but its okay if the Flyers played "good hockey" they will eventually turn it around this season only a matter of time. Will be the first team to win 30 games in a row or so.

* This game was the first live hockey game attended by my four-year-old son, Benjamin, who sat in the stands with his mom. I had the opportunity to come down from the pressbox to see him after the first and second periods and my little guy was having a blast before sleepiness started to set in and he left for the house. He's already been getting bitten by the hockey bug, and I think this will be the first of many games to come. Actually, he tells his friends in pre-K that his daddy is the "Phillydelphia" Flyers goalie AND the coach!

Awesome! You should be Goalie, Coach, and GM, then you could make some necessary changes for the team!

They bury a few of their chances when it's 2-0
and who knows. Allow a team like that to stick around and that's what you get.

Bill, glad you're starting your son out so early. I had the pleasure of having a great dad who took me to my first Flyers game when I was about two years old in the Spectrum.

Special bond you can have at games.

Wlcome to the newest blog you douches.
- SMS4016

Wow, got some issues, 1st stop the drinking, 2nd get back from the edge.....we lost to a good team, it happens......did they kill us, no....we can work on something's and get better.....don't be a hater and if you're go away.

. And for the record hated all three moves from get the get go.This team is 3-8, after a season when they were AWFUL all season
- flyerfan28

You are a genius. Give yourself a pat on the back.

This team needed a culture change, plain and simple, back in 2011.

It's a frustrating loss. The first period they played was tremendous and that's why it tastes so bad.

It's simple. When this team doesn't turn the puck over, they can be a tough team to play against. But when the stupid goes around and we start turning the puck over right at our own blueline....well....let's look back at the 2nd and 3rd periods.

I'm staying optimistic. The NYI game against a solid hockey team and tonight's first 30 minutes against a Cup contender can be building blocks.

I think Berube for the most part is coaching this team out of the hole that they dug themselves into and I think this team will be a good hockey team this season

EDIT: Thanksgiving is my deadline. Optimistic til then, barring anything ridiculous, and if they're like 8 games under .500 in a month, then I'll have some problems

It's a frustrating loss. The first period they played was tremendous and that's why it tastes so bad.

It's simple. When this team doesn't turn the puck over, they can be a tough team to play against. But when the stupid goes around and we start turning the puck over right at our own blueline....well....let's look back at the 2nd and 3rd periods.

I'm staying optimistic. The NYI game against a solid hockey team and tonight's first 30 minutes against a Cup contender can be building blocks.

I think Berube for the most part is coaching this team out of the hole that they dug themselves into and I think this team will be a good hockey team this season

EDIT: Thanksgiving is my deadline. Optimistic til then, barring anything ridiculous, and if they're like 8 games under .500 in a month, then I'll have some problems
- Giroux_Is_God

As much as I got sick of the Lavy timeout
poop, Berube could call one when the writing is on the wall

Lots of empty seats at home this season, looking like the Wings home arena.

Can't say i blame them though with the product on the ice.

Painful game to watch. They played well the first period, but then the Flyers sat back, and watched the Ducks get back into it. The turnovers were horrible. I knew that if the Flyers didn't get that third goal, that they would let the game slip away. Old habits die hard when you are not a good team in the league. For some reason, the first Ducks goal seemed to deflate the team. I really think a trade is needed to kick the team in the pants. Nobody should be safe but Mason. Mason once again he played well. If the players struggle again, I can see something happening. The Flyers lacked any type of finishing off of the Ducks that should have happened in the second period. I could see the Ducks frustrated, and struggling to get into the zone to make something happen during that first period. I don't know what Bruce said to them, but they came out in the second like a different team. The book on the Flyers right now is to push them until they give up. You can out play them, if you play for 60 minutes, and if the game is close you can grind down the Flyers until they roll over. You just have to work a little harder, and be patient. The Flyers have very little will to shut down teams, and to solidly win a game. Other than a trade, I don't see how you can change their mindset. If they blow up the team, then Homer will lose his job for sure. I am also a little surprised the Mez was put in again. I know that Gus struggled a little bit, but you have to let him work it out. During the two previous wins, they started looking like a team that could compete for 60 minutes. Anyway, I don't know if the Flyers have the mindset to win on a regular basis. In my opinion, the Flyers need a real leader that will get them over that hump, and to give them the mental toughness that they need. I don't see G, Hartz, or V-check as that person. They are followers, and not leaders. I like what I have seen in Vinny so far. I guess the only knock on him is that he has an injury bug. But, a change of scenery is probably what he needed when he left Tampa. I really don't see a trade for Buff as an answer. He is a big body, but I think that we have enough big bodies. Good luck on figuring out the Flyer's puzzle Homer. Your job depends on it.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Period Woes Strike Again
- bmeltzer

I see l.schenn's icetime is down to around 15 minutes. Is he really playing bad or are the other guys out playing him? or is they planning to move him?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Third Period Woes Strike Again
- bmeltzer

I see l.schenn's icetime is down to around 15 minutes. Is he really playing bad or are the other guys out playing him? or is they planning to move him?

I see l.schenn's icetime is down to around 15 minutes. Is he really playing bad or are the other guys out playing him? or is they planning to move him?
- MrPerfect316

He has struggled and was likely one of players Berube felt was in good muscular shape but not in good skating shape (based on Schenn requesting extra skating after practice - unusual for a non-scratched or injury rehab player). Another part of it is that is seems Berube has had more confidence in Coburn and Grossmann as his shutdown pairing. Schenn played a bit better in the two wins leading up to last night.

Not sure why but Giroux lacks 'fire' that he used to play with. All he does is set up on the half boards and give up shooting opportunities on the rush. He makes good passes but he is struggling badly for the most part. Simmonds and Hartnell have also been 'bums' in my opinion. Poor decisions with the puck. Raffl is ineffective on the top line. Put Voracek or Hartnell with Giroux and Vinny and MAYBE they'll have 1 (frank)ing line that can consistently put up serious pressure. This team will continue to lose until their TOP players start playing like it. PERIOD

Not sure why but Giroux lacks 'fire' that he used to play with. All he does is set up on the half boards and give up shooting opportunities on the rush. He makes good passes but he is struggling badly for the most part. Simmonds and Hartnell have also been 'bums' in my opinion. Poor decisions with the puck. Raffl is ineffective on the top line. Put Voracek or Hartnell with Giroux and Vinny and MAYBE they'll have 1 (frank)ing line that can consistently put up serious pressure. This team will continue to lose until their TOP players start playing like it. PERIOD
- GOA88

I don't think he is an ideal first line Winger, but Raffl wasn't ineffective last night. If anyone was ineffective on that top line last night, it was Giroux.

Some observations:
I don't care who his linemates are, Giroux needs to play better and quite frankly, harder. He disappears too often for a 1st line impact forward.

Bill I have to disagree with you some on Timonen. He just looks done to me. Even in their 2 recent victories, he looked mediocre. and for most of the season he's looked pretty bad. Gus should get back in the lineup, and Timonen should come out.

Mason was terrific. could have easily been 6-2 if not for his stellar play.

Coburn and Read skated hard and played well for 60 minutes. Along with Mason, they are the only Flyers who should be proud of their effort last night.

I don't think he is an ideal first line Winger, but Raffl wasn't ineffective last night. If anyone was ineffective on that top line last night, it was Giroux.
- MJL

yes

As much as I got sick of the Lavy timeout
poop, Berube could call one when the writing is on the wall
- wilsonecho91

A good coach can use a timeout to correct things, bu when he has to rely on it every game, there's issues.

It was a tough, gut wrenching loss...but it's a good learning experience for the Flyers, and hopefully their coaches.

I'll say it again, the ability of Anaheim's fourth line to play 8-10 minutes effectively allowed Boudreau to double shift the Getzlaff-Perry line late in the game and not run out of gas.

That said, the Flyers took their foot off the gas, and tried to make a 2-1 lead stand up against a team with a load of fire power. That's generally not a good idea.