Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Not Pretty, But Two Points

Crazy end to the game. Two points indeed...

Need to get all the points we can from Buffalo now cause they are going to be a real tough team in a couple years with a scary good D corps.

A win is a win is a win.

But that was ugly. I think the next guy who might need to see the Cote/Shelley suite is Grossmann. Give Gus some time again.

Many of the same defensive zone breakdowns that happened over the weekend vs TB and the Rangers showed up again tonight. Only the Flyers were lucky it was against a lesser talented team, and because of that they gained 2 points.

Also, I haven't been a fan of Rinaldo's play this season, but with him and Downie out of the lineup they looked SO easy to play against. The grit and tenacity was in short supply, for sure.

This D can't be fixed soon enough.

Bill what's your take on Adam Hall and VandeVelde being the fourth line center? Are you happy with that, or would you trade a prospect or picks to get a rental fourth line center at the trade deadline? A guy like Stajan, Bolland, Ott, Fiddler, Malholtra, Goc, Konopka, or Halpern? Laughton will be the guy for that role next year, so wouldn't it be very beneficial for the Flyers to make a move to improve that position until that time comes for Laughton?

19/10/17 seems to be working, despite having Harts and Simmer together on the same line. Until the penalty fest against the NYRs I thought that line was leading a possible comeback, and they were good tonight too.

Great to have Matt Read back, he is really a key guy for this team.

Mase seems to be regressing towards the mean.

I like Grossmann, and Streit is what he is, but I really hate that pairing.

Raffl on a championship calibre team would be a great 4th liner, who could move up and down as needed. Hope they bring him back next season.

I have no idea where VL should play on this team. Happy to have his shot, but where does he fit best?

I know it's coming....all the female doging and moaning about how this team is terrible. All the negativity....all the "This team is a pretender because they come out flat, take penalties, and only beat the bad teams/play in a way that good teams will beat them"

I just want to say that this team is finding ways to win games. Be that by miraculous comebacks in the 3rd or going 3/6 on the PP or Mason stealing the show....they're finding ways to win games.

Sure, we know this team has flaws (I'm looking at you slow D corps)....but despite them, they're winning games.

Good teams consistently find ways to win games.

@G is G

They are a good team with some great players, but they have some serious holes too.

I love that they find ways to win, but tonight was kind of scary against a rebuilding Sabres squad.

@G is G

They are a good team with some great players, but they have some serious holes too.

I love that they find ways to win, but tonight was kind of scary against a rebuilding Sabres squad.
- Marc D

I'll be the first one to admit that they have holes.

That being said, I think filling the holes does more harm than good, because filling the holes means waving buh bye to Coots, Schenn, a defenseman, Laughton, Morin, or picks

I'm not about that life. Not with this group of players.

Now if they can somehow land Niskanen in the offseason, that'd be pretty swell. Til then, no moves. Homer's shown patience- let's not buck the trend all of a sudden.

I'll be the first one to admit that they have holes.

That being said, I think filling the holes does more harm than good, because filling the holes means waving buh bye to Coots, Schenn, a defenseman, Laughton, Morin, or picks

I'm not about that life. Not with this group of players.

Now if they can somehow land Niskanen in the offseason, that'd be pretty swell. Til then, no moves. Homer's shown patience- let's not buck the trend all of a sudden.
- Giroux_Is_God

Niskanen would be a good fit.
Hopefully Gus can step up and fill the other hole soon.
We'll see.

Bad turnovers, terrible defense, and the constant trips to the penalty box. How is the "Berube system" any different than what got Lavi fired? The Flyers got lucky they were playing a bad team last night because we all saw this weekend what happens when that style of play is played against decent teams.

Whats the deal with Downie? They had a nice line going... they break it up.. and he struggles.. and they bench him?

Niskanen would be a good fit.
Hopefully Gus can step up and fill the other hole soon.
We'll see.
- Marc D

Gus is, and always has been, nothing more than a AHL call up. I firmly believe that. Love the guy, and wish I was wrong.

I know it's coming....all the female doging and moaning about how this team is terrible. All the negativity....all the "This team is a pretender because they come out flat, take penalties, and only beat the bad teams/play in a way that good teams will beat them"

I just want to say that this team is finding ways to win games. Be that by miraculous comebacks in the 3rd or going 3/6 on the PP or Mason stealing the show....they're finding ways to win games.

Sure, we know this team has flaws (I'm looking at you slow D corps)....but despite them, they're winning games.

Good teams consistently find ways to win games.
- Giroux_Is_God

Believe it or not, how you win is often just as telling as if you win.

Take Toronto for example... they started the season on a tear... winning a lot of games despite giving up a ton of shots/chances against... goalies were bailing them out left and right... historically streaky players were piling up points, helping them overcome poor team D and PK'ing.

Fast forward to today and they have been predictably free-falling for weeks... with like 3 regulation wins since late November, or something crazy like that... out of the PO picture.

Luck catches up... hot goaltending cools off... the bounces will even out over the course of a season... when those things happen, if you don't have a truly solid team foundation to fall back on, it often means hard times are a coming.

Believe it or not, how you win is often just as telling as if you win.

Take Toronto for example... they started the season on a tear... winning a lot of games despite giving up a ton of shots/chances against... goalies were bailing them out left and right... historically streaky players were piling up points, helping them overcome poor team D and PK'ing.

Fast forward to today and they have been predictably free-falling for weeks... with like 3 regulation wins since late November, or something crazy like that... out of the PO picture.

Luck catches up... hot goaltending cools off... the bounces will even out over the course of a season... when those things happen, if you don't have a truly solid team foundation to fall back on, it often means hard times are a coming.
- Tomahawk

all true points!

this was a painfully ugly game to watch
poor defense, & Mason was not very good, again, he made some great stops on deflections, & screens, but another leaky goal thru the legs from a bad angle
this team is in such demand for another solid D man, its redundant
power play alone should have won this game long before the last minute of play

I'll be the first one to admit that they have holes.

That being said, I think filling the holes does more harm than good, because filling the holes means waving buh bye to Coots, Schenn, a defenseman, Laughton, Morin, or picks

I'm not about that life. Not with this group of players.

Now if they can somehow land Niskanen in the offseason, that'd be pretty swell. Til then, no moves. Homer's shown patience- let's not buck the trend all of a sudden.
- Giroux_Is_God

I like Girardi over Niskanen, I know he will cost more, but he's a way better player, and would make a huge difference, but its only a dream, I think he'll resign in NY

I just feel that the players have somewhat abandoned the defense first mindset because they have been scoring a lot of goals lately, that is what is getting them in trouble. All in all though.... this team does find ways to win, 3 lines capable of getting hot and carrying the load when the other lines are in a "slump" or Mason can steal games for you. Right now Mason is inconsistent, hardly can blame him with the turnovers but he is failing to make some big saves. Hopefully everyone gets hot come playoff time......

Clement called grossmans play last night "solid and effective" towards the end of the game

Believe it or not, how you win is often just as telling as if you win.

Take Toronto for example... they started the season on a tear... winning a lot of games despite giving up a ton of shots/chances against... goalies were bailing them out left and right... historically streaky players were piling up points, helping them overcome poor team D and PK'ing.

Fast forward to today and they have been predictably free-falling for weeks... with like 3 regulation wins since late November, or something crazy like that... out of the PO picture.

Luck catches up... hot goaltending cools off... the bounces will even out over the course of a season... when those things happen, if you don't have a truly solid team foundation to fall back on, it often means hard times are a coming.
- Tomahawk

Yep. They are a playoff bubble team. They are going to string us along all year

Clement called grossmans play last night "solid and effective" towards the end of the game
- Just5

His slap shot attempt from the top of the circle late in the 3rd was eerily reminiscent of early JVR...slow backswing leading to a deflection. A low wrister would have been so much more effective.

Its time to get familiar with the 2014 draft picks. This team isnt going to make it.

Steve Mason (16 saves) went long stretches in this game without seeing shots. His performance was average; no more and no less. On two of the three goals Mason yielded, he opened up the five-hole and wasn't able to seal off his pads in time.

I don't think the second goal went 5-hole. It looked like the deflection had enough loft to go over his pads and under his arm.

Bill what's your take on Adam Hall and VandeVelde being the fourth line center? Are you happy with that, or would you trade a prospect or picks to get a rental fourth line center at the trade deadline? A guy like Stajan, Bolland, Ott, Fiddler, Malholtra, Goc, Konopka, or Halpern? Laughton will be the guy for that role next year, so wouldn't it be very beneficial for the Flyers to make a move to improve that position until that time comes for Laughton?
- TonyBazz

I'm OK with the 4th line center options right now. Fiddler or Ott, both of whom I saw play on a game-in and game-out basis with Dallas, would be great additions but at what asset cost? Neither player will just be given away for a conditional pick, and Ott would be a bit pricey for what he brings because there will be multiple teams interested and the Sabres supposedly want to keep Ott and sign him to a contract extension.

Bill what's your take on Adam Hall and VandeVelde being the fourth line center? Are you happy with that, or would you trade a prospect or picks to get a rental fourth line center at the trade deadline? A guy like Stajan, Bolland, Ott, Fiddler, Malholtra, Goc, Konopka, or Halpern? Laughton will be the guy for that role next year, so wouldn't it be very beneficial for the Flyers to make a move to improve that position until that time comes for Laughton?
- TonyBazz

Playoff bubble teams shouldn't trade for 4th line rentals.

Playoff bubble teams shouldn't trade for 4th line rentals.
- Feanor

the bubble is going to burst on this team...if they cant manhandle the last place team when they are in a playoff hunt they arent going to beat the upcoming opponents.