Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Workmanlike Win in Pittsburgh, Quick Hits

Finally, we win a tight game like this. I think this will bolster their confidence and help right the ship for this season.

Let's hope they are starting to put it all together on a consistant basis. The last 2 games have been very promising.

Only 3 cities currently with 3-game win streaks: Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Half-heartedly calling that being in good company.

Great game last night. But it seems to me that Coots was out more against Crosby and the put Vinny's line out against Malkins. Anyways great solid job all the way around and a big WOOT WOOT to Ray Emery!!!

Great game last night!

Emery was excellent. He was letting a few rebounds get away from him early but settled in nicely and kept the Flyers in the game early, when the PEns were swarming.

B.Schenn continues to take steps in the rite direction. That first goal, man! He placed that shot in the top corner, what a thing of beauty!

The 3rd period was a little scary in the final 5 - 10 minutes, but second game of back to backs, i guess thats to be expected.

Excellent gritty win!

I guess I lost track of my days, I thought last night's game WAS the 3rd game in 4 nights. The Flyers could really help themselves by reeling off a healthy string of victories here.

At the end of the month, they get hit with another stretch of 3 games in 4 nights, starting with a Black Friday 11:30am start at home vs. Winnipeg. The following night, they will be in Nashville, which will start a 6 game road stretch. They play in Minnesota on Dec. 2, two days later.

That's going to be a really tough set of games.

Having said all of that, last night's game was immensely enjoyable. Other than a few poorly timed penalties, and a couple brutal giveaways (think: Mark Streit v. Crosby just inside the offensive blueline), the Flyers turned in a solid performance against a talented (and hated) opponent.

a win is a win!

but

Emery won this game as well as the hockey gods allowing the penguin gunners to miss the net on a ton of open shots, Emery's great positioning & rebound control may have been the reason they missed so often as they were frustrated & trying to aim too much or kill the puck, but like they say, we got through the first 10 minutes which were scary, but he held them in.

I like the commentators on when Giroux was slashed in the hand & they said he accentuated it a little, but when, again & again Crosby goes down pretty easy nothing is said, including in the 3rd period in front of our net when he dove in frustration trying to get one more power play with about 6 minutes left.

We played well, but again, the goaltending primarily won it!

Random non-Flyers thought: I wonder what the over-under for Nazem Kadri's suspension should be? He had himself quite a night.

Random non-Flyers thought: I wonder what the over-under for Nazem Kadri's suspension should be? He had himself quite a night.
- Doc_Sarcasm

2 or 3. The second hit wasnt too nice, but without the first on Backstrom I don't think he'd have gotten a phone call unless it was just Shanny saying "tut tut! No more of that"

Can't give a goalie a blatant forearm shiver. I woulda thought 2 as a first time offender, but because he did it again I'll say maybe 3.

http://www.philly.com/phi..._clutter_in_his_mind.html

I've thought about this myself and have seen a number of comments about Luke Schenn being better with more ice time... Obviously it's hard to earn more ice time if you don't play as well with less. He'll just have to work through how to deal with getting 14 minutes or 24 minutes and play the same game regardless.

Random non-Flyers thought: I wonder what the over-under for Nazem Kadri's suspension should be? He had himself quite a night.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I actually thought the Backstrom hit was worse than the other one. Deliberately stuck out the forearm/elbow, and followed it up by landing on his head. I've indifferent on him overall, but it was quite bush league last night.

The Penguins came out flying. I was really concerned those first few minutes. But I'm proud of our boys. They did what had to be done and I agree that some of those power play shots on us could have just as easily gone in. I'll be grateful for the win.
Sadly I missed most of the NHL rival piece and that makes me sad I'm hoping I can catch it again.
I'm always disgusted with the diving. I hate when G does it and I hate when Crosby does it.
The announcers last night were so friggin biased I wanted to puke.
And can I ask why Malkin mauling Coots last night wasn't called? If the cameraman has time to pan away from the puck and go back into another zone so we can all watch then the refs obviously thought it was all good. Which is ridiculous.

The goaltending has been a pleasant surprise. A breath of fresh air.

Winning is more fun than losing.

Edit: Hope Hextall is patient. Hope he doesn't have any interest in the Buffalo GM job.

You guys deserved that one last night. Is NBCSN the worst network ever or is it just me?

I hate you all.

The goaltending has been a pleasant surprise. A breath of fresh air.

Winning is more fun than losing.

Edit: Hope Hextall is patient. Hope he doesn't have any interest in the Buffalo GM job.
- PLindbergh31

One day, the Flyers will need to get a solid NHL goalie.

You guys deserved that one last night. Is NBCSN the worst network ever or is it just me?

I hate you all.
- nbartley9

We love you too.

You guys deserved that one last night. Is NBCSN the worst network ever or is it just me?

I hate you all.
- nbartley9

It's strange isn't it. It's like NBC has this charicature of what hockey should be so they try and always stereotype games into it.
Somedays I think the media really underestimates the public (of course talk to me tomorrow after dealing with some idiots and I might have a different opinion )
Don't get me wrong - I like the whole rivalry bit (although sometimes they stretch it when it's not a true relevant rivalry) - I think it's a good idea.
I'm just tired of the good guy / bad guy roles they hand out as if that's ALL hockey is.
I do however appreciate that they are getting it out to a wider audience and pumping money into the system...

It's strange isn't it. It's like NBC has this charicature of what hockey should be so they try and always stereotype games into it.
Somedays I think the media really underestimates the public (of course talk to me tomorrow after dealing with some idiots and I might have a idfferent opinion )
Don't get me wrong - I like the whole rivalry bit (although sometimes they stretch it when it's not a true relevant reivalry) - I think it's a good idea.
I'm just tired of the good guy / bad guy roles they hand out as if that's ALL hockey is.
I do however appreciate that they are getting it out to a wider audience and pumping money into the system...
- FlyersGrace

Pens/Flyers is a top rivalry right now. They've essentially killed Detroit/Chicago (why not move Chicago the East to balance the conferences?). Boston/Montreal has died down over the past few years. Montreal and Toronto haven't met in the playoffs this century I don't think. Right now, it's the best.

However, I'm sick of them selling Washington vs. Pittsburgh to us. Because they're wrong, there is no rivalry there. There was a Crosby vs. Ovechkin individual rivalry for a few years, culminating in the double hat trick Game in the 2009 playoffs. But there's no real extra animosity between them. The Penguins might be the Capital's biggest rival, but the Capitals take back seats to the Flyers, as well as the Islanders and Bruins (playoffs last year excluded) as the teams they seem to hate.

You guys deserved that one last night. Is NBCSN the worst network ever or is it just me?

I hate you all.
- nbartley9

yes, i couldn't decide who i wanted to hurt more crosby or mike emerick
i really don't like listening to those guys....when it wasn't on csn philly i even tried root but it was only on nbcsn

It's strange isn't it. It's like NBC has this charicature of what hockey should be so they try and always stereotype games into it.
Somedays I think the media really underestimates the public (of course talk to me tomorrow after dealing with some idiots and I might have a different opinion )
Don't get me wrong - I like the whole rivalry bit (although sometimes they stretch it when it's not a true relevant rivalry) - I think it's a good idea.
I'm just tired of the good guy / bad guy roles they hand out as if that's ALL hockey is.
I do however appreciate that they are getting it out to a wider audience and pumping money into the system...
- FlyersGrace

i really wanted to hear more about how many times the flyers have been the leaders in PIM.

yes, i couldn't decide who i wanted to hurt more crosby or mike emerick
i really don't like listening to those guys....when it wasn't on csn philly i even tried root but it was only on nbcsn
- hogweed

When Emrick retires Dave Strader will be the # 1 guy. He's excellent.

I think Jim Jackson is about the worst pbp guy in the league. Can't listen to him.

We hate you too.
- jmatchett383

FTFY

When Emrick retires Dave Strader will be the # 1 guy. He's excellent.

I think Jim Jackson is about the worst pbp guy in the league. Can't listen to him.
- PLindbergh31

Over Jack Edwards? At least Jackson's never laughed at a player being injured.
And I don't really like Jeanerette, legend or not. He sounds like a rooster being castrated while drowning in water...and is a pretty big homer.

But yeah, after those 2, Jackson's pretty bad.

Over Jack Edwards? At least Jackson's never laughed at a player being injured.
And I don't really like Jeanerette, legend or not. He sounds like a rooster being castrated while drowning in water...and is a pretty big homer.

But yeah, after those 2, Jackson's pretty bad.
- jmatchett383

Edwards is brutal. Don't care for him at all. Jeanerret I get a kick out of.