Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Can't Solve Avalanche

Tough game, but not for a lack of effort. Colorado's a big, fast team that's getting some great goaltending.

Per Bill's point to the clean hit, I wanted to hit Steve Coates with a cheese grater to the face last night for talking about how it was late, interference, a hit from behind, etc. Dude has elevated his in-game whining to equal or surpass Jim "They say it's onside" Jackson.

Tough game, but not for a lack of effort. Colorado's a big, fast team that's getting some great goaltending.

Per Bill's point to the clean hit, I wanted to hit Steve Coates with a cheese grater to the face last night for talking about how it was late, interference, a hit from behind, etc. Dude has elevated his in-game whining to equal or surpass Jim "They say it's onside" Jackson.
- jmatchett383

I have to agree, our commentators last night were horrible. Its insulting to intelligent fans.

I thought Philly played a good, tough game. Mason has been stellar for you guys.

You can't win them all, but I don't like the decision to play rosehill over vandevelde against one of the fastest teams in te league. Turn overs were a huge problem and not being able to finish. The flyers can't win every game but lack of speed against a speedy team also killed us. Mason played great and the flyers will bounce back.

I have to agree, our commentators last night were horrible. Its insulting to intelligent fans.
- shekkie

Worst in the league. Worse then baaaston

Tough game, but not for a lack of effort. Colorado's a big, fast team that's getting some great goaltending.

Per Bill's point to the clean hit, I wanted to hit Steve Coates with a cheese grater to the face last night for talking about how it was late, interference, a hit from behind, etc. Dude has elevated his in-game whining to equal or surpass Jim "They say it's onside" Jackson.
- jmatchett383

How would you characterize that hit, if not a hit from behind when the guy didn't have the puck?

Tough game, but not for a lack of effort. Colorado's a big, fast team that's getting some great goaltending.

Per Bill's point to the clean hit, I wanted to hit Steve Coates with a cheese grater to the face last night for talking about how it was late, interference, a hit from behind, etc. Dude has elevated his in-game whining to equal or surpass Jim "They say it's onside" Jackson.
- jmatchett383

I'd need to see it again, and although I would never call it dirty, it looked borderline late. Clearly Raffl didn't expect to get hit, that's what made it dangerous.

McGinn's goal, which gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 11:14 of the first period, came off a 2-on-1 rush. The sequence was somewhat similar to Calgary's lone goal in Tuesday's game, in that it started with a neutral zone turnover that saw defenseman Mark Streit getting caught out of position on the counterattack.

Sean Couturier was unable to control a Vincent Lecavalier pass outside his blueline and the Avs took over possession near the red line. While Couturier was trying to get a handle on the puck, Streit skated right past him. That left only Nicklas Grossmann back to defend the odd-man rush when Erik Johnson took the puck away from a flat-footed Couturier.

Mark Streit giveth, Mark Streit taketh away.

I'd hate to hear what Brian Burke and the Team USA brass would have to say about Streit's game... in light of how they agonized over the risk/reward of a much better defensive player in Keith Yandle.

Worst in the league. Worse then baaaston
- Just5

Eh, I wouldn't go that far.

Here's the video: http://www.csnphilly.com/...concussed-flyers-loss-avs

Just looks like a freak accident. Could have been boarding, but that's about it.

I'd need to see it again, and although I would never call it dirty, it looked borderline late. Clearly Raffl didn't expect to get hit, that's what made it dangerous.
- wolfhounds

I didn't think it was dirty, either. I doubt Landeskog had any ill intent.

Mark Streit giveth, Mark Streit taketh away.

I'd hate to hear what Brian Burke and the Team USA brass would have to say about Streit's game... in light of how they agonized over the risk/reward of a much better defensive player in Keith Yandle.
- Tomahawk

At least he giveth A lot lately

Here's the video: http://www.csnphilly.com/...concussed-flyers-loss-avs

Just looks like a freak accident. Could have been boarding, but that's about it.
- wolfhounds

It wasn't an accident, Raffy was meant to be hit, but it didn't look that bad either in real time or on the replay. It wasn't more than a bump, he didn't move that far into the boards, and it didn't look as if his head hit the glass with much force.

Weird play really.

Anyone read Garth's blog? Briere to Buffalo he says.

I'd need to see it again, and although I would never call it dirty, it looked borderline late. Clearly Raffl didn't expect to get hit, that's what made it dangerous.
- wolfhounds

He pushed the puck forward and gets hit EXACTLY one second later. It was a strong hit against a player tight against the glass. Freak accident that he got hurt. Those hits happen 10 times a game.

With that being said, I love what Raffl has brought to this team, but he needs to learn how to take a hit. My man has been crushed about 25 times this year. Lucky he made it this far without being injured.

He pushed the puck forward and gets hit EXACTLY one second later. It was a strong hit against a player tight against the glass. Freak accident that he got hurt. Those hits happen 10 times a game.

With that being said, I love what Raffl has brought to this team, but he needs to learn how to take a hit. My man has been crushed about 25 times this year. Lucky he made it this far without being injured.
- jak521

I like him to buy yes this was only a matter of time for him

Hoping for a speedy recovery for raffl. Guy has been playing very well as of late, all the best

Varlamov was a wall last night. It took a great deflection/screen to get one by.

I love what Raffl has brought to this team, but he needs to learn how to take a hit. My man has been crushed about 25 times this year. Lucky he made it this far without being injured.
- jak521

Sounds like Ville Leino.

Sounds like Ville Leino.
- jmatchett383

Good hands like ville, doesn't have the vision, way more 2 way ability

How would you characterize that hit, if not a hit from behind when the guy didn't have the puck?
- johndewar

It was a hit from behind, when a guy who was (fairly) tight against the boards, a moment after having the puck. He wasn't violently shoved from behind, he wasn't charged, he didn't hit him in the head. It's a play that happens several times a game, every game. Sucks that he got hurt, but it wasn't an atrocious, dirty hit like Coatsey was saying.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Can't Solve Avalanche
- bmeltzer

Its so funny because so many people hate on Jay Rosehill, and I thought the fourth line had one or two shifts last night where they were generating some scoring chances. This isn't me coming to the defense of Rosehill but what I believe I saw last night.

Good hands like ville, doesn't have the vision, way more 2 way ability
- Just5

I just meant constantly getting cranked. Leino got decked on a nightly basis.

It was a hit from behind, when a guy who was (fairly) tight against the boards, a moment after having the puck. He wasn't violently shoved from behind, he wasn't charged, he didn't hit him in the head. It's a play that happens several times a game, every game. Sucks that he got hurt, but it wasn't an atrocious, dirty hit like Coatsey was saying.
- jmatchett383

But he did get hit from behind. Are they trying to legislate those hits out of the league or not?

Look, I'm not trying to bury Landeskog or get him suspended (I wish we had him!). I don't think the hit rises to that, necessarily. I think his wallet should be a tad lighter today is all.