Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/27/13 @ Lightning

Good morning all, well a Flyers game tonight and a day off tomorrow, woohoo!!

Hopefully the boys come out fired up tonight after losing on Monday. Also hoping Raffl gets a chance to play tonight, but Im not holding my breath.

My 3 keys for tonight:

1. Play with some fire and emotion. Flyers need to come out with a chip on their shoulders and outhustle the Bolts

2. Tampa really has only one dangerous line, match Couturiers line up against them whenever possible.

3. Score early. Take the crowd out of the game and force Tampa to chase the game.

Go Flyers!!

It seems pretty common with this team that when the chips are down they start gripping sticks and pushing a little more. That either works and you slip in a goal and then the pressure valve is released....or it doesn't work and they get tighter and tighter. You can actually see guys with open shots or opportunities passing the puck to someone else as if they don't want to be THE guy. This is what made the last game frustrating to me, combined with what seemed to be a small lack of effort.

Hopefully it was a small regression and they can turn things around tonight in Tampa who is coming off an emotional night with St. Louis's big game.

Prediction 3-2 Flyers

Also, although I enjoy seeing Mason get fired up, I'm not in favor of it. He seems to be at his best when he stays on an even keel.

i'd like to see emery tonite and saturday to give mason a short breather but he'll probably only play on fri. or saturday.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/27/13 @ Lightning
- bmeltzer

Hopefully the Florida loss serves as a wake up call, and shows that getting to .500 isn't the goal. Going to need a good effort tonight, and get Bishop moving.

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!!!

Good morning all, well a Flyers game tonight and a day off tomorrow, woohoo!!

Hopefully the boys come out fired up tonight after losing on Monday. Also hoping Raffl gets a chance to play tonight, but Im not holding my breath.

My 3 keys for tonight:

1. Play with some fire and emotion. Flyers need to come out with a chip on their shoulders and outhustle the Bolts

2. Tampa really has only one dangerous line, match Couturiers line up against them whenever possible.

3. Score early. Take the crowd out of the game and force Tampa to chase the game.

Go Flyers!!

- BiggE

you're in for a surprise

Hopefully the Florida loss serves as a wake up call, and shows that getting to .500 isn't the goal. Going to need a good effort tonight, and get Bishop moving.
- Jsaquella

At this level a wake up call shouldn't be needed but that one came when they made the coaching change.

Not that I think Tampa is the better team but Flyers always suck in Tampa. Not feeling confident tonight

you're in for a surprise
- RileyB77

You're in for a surprise if you think the Lightnings early season success is anything more than an illusion. They will fail to make the playoffs.

Happy Early Turkey Day!!!

you're in for a surprise
- RileyB77

Tops in the conference with one line! This might be the best team phillys faced in 3 or 4 weeks.

Looking forward to this game and I'm hoping Vinny has a successful night back in TB.

Happy Early Turkey Day!!!
- phi1671

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everybody!

Here's hoping Berube supplied the Flyers with bottles... to catch the Lightning.

Looking forward to this game and I'm hoping Vinny has a successful night back in TB.
- johndewar

Consensus here in the office seems to be Vinny gets a hat trick tonight. I hope so.

I also wish I could stop at my former employers' to see what Cliff the mailman's latest prediction is.

you're in for a surprise
- RileyB77

Care to expand? Inquiring minds are actually interested.

Can't wait for tonight's game. Obviously tough to beat these guys in Tampa so I'll be happy if we just play well.

Anyone think Mezaros will get back into form and be a contributor to the team this year? Or have the shoulder, back, and achilles injuries ruined his chances? I miss the Mezaros from 2010....especially watching Streit and Schenn bungle the puck around back there.

Care to expand? Inquiring minds are actually interested.
- MBFlyerfan

he said the lightning only have 1 good line, so I feel hes in for a surprise if hes entering the game with that thought. its not too deep of a concept

You're in for a surprise if you think the Lightnings early season success is anything more than an illusion. They will fail to make the playoffs.
- GOA88

its just an illusion that theyre 2nd in the east? its all a fairy tale right?

You're in for a surprise if you think the Lightnings early season success is anything more than an illusion. They will fail to make the playoffs.
- GOA88

Can't wait for tonight's game. Obviously tough to beat these guys in Tampa so I'll be happy if we just play well.

Anyone think Mezaros will get back into form and be a contributor to the team this year? Or have the shoulder, back, and achilles injuries ruined his chances? I miss the Mezaros from 2010....especially watching Streit and Schenn bungle the puck around back there.
- Husqyghost

Unless there's an injury, I don't think he ever gets back in the lineup. By the trade deadline, the Flyers will have already paid 75% of his actual salary, at that point he will likely be dealt for a mid round pick or worst case, future considerations.

.500 point-getting mark
- bmeltzer

Thank you, not only for that, but for all the work you do to keep us informed.

I wish you and yours a happy Thanksgiving.

its just an illusion that theyre 2nd in the east? its all a fairy tale right?
- RileyB77

Its an 82 game season. Plenty of teams have looked good after 25-30 games and then faded over the long haul and missed the playoffs. If Stamkos was healthy perhaps they're a playoff team, but without him for much of the remainder of the year, I just don't see it.

Can't wait for tonight's game. Obviously tough to beat these guys in Tampa so I'll be happy if we just play well.

Anyone think Mezaros will get back into form and be a contributor to the team this year? Or have the shoulder, back, and achilles injuries ruined his chances? I miss the Mezaros from 2010....especially watching Streit and Schenn bungle the puck around back there.
- Husqyghost

As bad as you think Streit and Schenn have been, Mez was worse out there, IMO.

Mez has become the NHL's most expensive blue line insurance policy. I don't think he sees the ice again unless someone's play drastically falls off or someone gets hurt.

Its an 82 game season. Plenty of teams have looked good after 25-30 games and then faded over the long haul and missed the playoffs. If Stamkos was healthy perhaps they're a playoff team, but without him for much of the remainder of the year, I just don't see it.
- BiggE

well the reality is that we will just have to wait, we can make all the speculations wed like but no one will know until 82 games are up, you could be right or wrong