Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/23/14 @ Columbus

I like Berube a lot, but if there's one thing that hasn't changed much since Lavy left, it's our unfailing ability to get hemmed in the defensive zone for long periods of time.

Failed clears are the norm. Weak and/or inept attempts to get the puck out to center ice are easily countered by an aggressive fore check (and, if we know anything, it's that the best way to beat the Flyers is to fore check like hell). When we DO get the puck, it's hot potato time.

Despite what I've said so far, I'm more optimistic than a lot of people here regarding this team. There's a LOT of talent here. I love the Mason/Emery duo ... and I think our forwards are among the most talented in the league. But, God help us, this D group is a VERY bad mix.

We're not years away from competing for the Cup ... but, with this particular defense, we'll never get there, either.

Besides changing up the defense, Homer has to find SOME way to improve the speed and/or quickness of this team. They must have the slowest reaction time to loose pucks in the league. It's almost as if they wait for the puck to stop bouncing before going to get it. lol

Rant over. Bed time.

Let's go Flyers!

Let's go Flyers!

Last night's game was miserable and we're going to need a whole lot more zip to get past Columbus tonight. Someone needs to check and see if VL and Downey even have a pulse. They've been invisible lately...

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/23/14 @ Columbus
- bmeltzer

Bill, is Vinny still injured?

Wouldn't McGinn give the Couturier/Read line more in his place?

a big body thumping on the forecheck?

Would it be safe to say that even if we had any interest in Del Zotto, that the Rangers would not have dealt him to an opponent within a tight division?

Bill, is Vinny still injured?

Wouldn't McGinn give the Couturier/Read line more in his place?

a big body thumping on the forecheck?

Would it be safe to say that even if we had any interest in Del Zotto, that the Rangers would not have dealt him to an opponent within a tight division?
- puckhead17

Let's just say that Rangers/Flyers deals are far from the norm. Only one that comes to mind was the Lindros deal, so it's safe to say they hate dealing with each other.

Let's just say that Rangers/Flyers deals are far from the norm. Only one that comes to mind was the Lindros deal, so it's safe to say they hate dealing with each other.
- jmatchett383

Kjell Samuelsson and Vlad Malakhov are the only trades I remember happening in-season... trading us Del Zotto while both teams are neck and neck in a PO race would be risky to say the least.

As for Lindros, he was holding out trying to dictate his destination, so that was a special circumstance. Last one was Syvret for Newbury... real barn burner of a trade there.

Losing games to these bottom feeder teams who start one backup goalie after another is becoming pretty worrisome. Pissing valuable points away could definitely cost them a playoff spot. The schedule after the Olympic break is brutal.

Let's take a impromptu poll... When will Bobrovsky get pulled tonight?

My guess is 8:23 of the second period.

These speed-based teams -- Carolina, Tampa, the Islanders, etc. -- are going to be pains in our arses until we adjust the defense corps. I wish it would change sooner, but it's just the truth.

Columbus has some of those aspects...but at the same time, their defensive coverages are a bit suspect. The Flyers have been able to score on them.

If there's any way to tighten it up tonight, it would be nice. But at the same time, we just have to settle in and withstand some of these games until help arrives.

This is a work in progress, defensively. We all know it.

Losing games to these bottom feeder teams who start one backup goalie after another is becoming pretty worrisome. Pissing valuable points away could definitely cost them a playoff spot. The schedule after the Olympic break is brutal.

Let's take a impromptu poll... When will Bobrovsky get pulled tonight?

My guess is 8:23 of the second period.
- PLindbergh31

60:00 when he skates off the ice in victory

Let's just say that Rangers/Flyers deals are far from the norm. Only one that comes to mind was the Lindros deal, so it's safe to say they hate dealing with each other.
- jmatchett383

exactly, believe it or not I kept checking to see if there was a chance the Preds would deal us MDZ after acquiring him, (if we made a better offer then Klein to NY)
because unless we offered too much for him, NY will not make a deal that could hurt them in the playoff race, or next year etc.

I like Berube a lot, but if there's one thing that hasn't changed much since Lavy left, it's our unfailing ability to get hemmed in the defensive zone for long periods of time.

Failed clears are the norm. Weak and/or inept attempts to get the puck out to center ice are easily countered by an aggressive fore check (and, if we know anything, it's that the best way to beat the Flyers is to fore check like hell). When we DO get the puck, it's hot potato time.

Despite what I've said so far, I'm more optimistic than a lot of people here regarding this team. There's a LOT of talent here. I love the Mason/Emery duo ... and I think our forwards are among the most talented in the league. But, God help us, this D group is a VERY bad mix.

We're not years away from competing for the Cup ... but, with this particular defense, we'll never get there, either.

Besides changing up the defense, Homer has to find SOME way to improve the speed and/or quickness of this team. They must have the slowest reaction time to loose pucks in the league. It's almost as if they wait for the puck to stop bouncing before going to get it. lol

Rant over. Bed time.

- FlyerGuy

if you define optimism as "hope for the future" then there are a lot of people that follow the flyers that would agree. what i'm seeing from this team presently is the same thing we were seeing 5 years ago: poor effort WAY too often. the core of young forwards is encouraging and if mez continues to play well and mab makes a return to the big club we could have a decent team this year. i doubt they go far until they figure out how to outwork the other team and play hard for 60 minutes.
when i see them losing these games this way i find it hard to tout the potential of the team in the future at that moment and often prefer to vent/suggest/ rant/ about what is currently wrong and how to change it

here's hoping berube makes some lineup changes tonight....Frankly he will never sit Coburn despite his horrid play of late....but I would insert Gus for Schenn in a heart beat.....and maybe a day of rest for Timo might be in order for some of these back to back games.....Man he looks slow and for him....thats sayin a lot.....for being close if not at the top of the most expensive D in the league this unit is sub par and the weakest link on the team.
as well.....Vinny doesn't seem to have a place in this lineup....the first line regresses when he supplants Raffl....he hurts the third line and its checking role because quite frankly he is soft in the D zone....
same thing with Downey.....not sure where he fits? I do hope if the Flyers make a move its for a young puck mover with some upside.....

if you define optimism as "hope for the future" then there are a lot of people that follow the flyers that would agree. what i'm seeing from this team presently is the same thing we were seeing 5 years ago: poor effort WAY too often. the core of young forwards is encouraging and if mez continues to play well and mab makes a return to the big club we could have a decent team this year. i doubt they go far until they figure out how to outwork the other team and play hard for 60 minutes.
when i see them losing these games this way i find it hard to tout the potential of the team in the future at that moment and often prefer to vent/suggest/ rant/ about what is currently wrong and how to change it
- hogweed

your right......Chris Pronger was the main difference.....he personally held guys responsible....they don't have that leadership and quite frankly that is what they need....lack of effort, going through the motions is unexceptable.

Nice snow show for Mason last night, compliments of Luke Sloth.

Its weird how we were dominating teams when the downie couts read line was shutting down every teams top line. Maybe that needs to be put back together and used in the same situations as it was earlier in the season? Now the third line is a defensive liability with lecavalier racking up the +/- the way he is...

Nice snow show for Mason last night, compliments of Luke Sloth.


- PLindbergh31

I get the hate people have for Schenn but there was no way he or any other dman had a shot on that play. he is stationary at the blue line when a bad pass comes back his way between his feet bouncing. Gerbe, who is already a fast player, is skating forward with all his speed while Schenn is stationary facing the play. I'm sorry but that could have been Coburn and the results would have been the same.

Nice snow show for Mason last night, compliments of Luke Sloth.


- PLindbergh31

again, what could Luke do???

the pass came to him & he had one of the fastest players on the other team bearing in on him, if he misses it & he did, the only thing he could have done (should have done) was pull Gerbe down so he doesn't breakaway, I would have preferred him to do that, but not much anyone could do in that situation.

your right......Chris Pronger was the main difference.....he personally held guys responsible....they don't have that leadership and quite frankly that is what they need....lack of effort, going through the motions is unexceptable.
- landros 2

I don't see a lack of "try" being the problem... what I see happening is 20 guys pulling on a rope, but not necessarily the same one. I think that's where Pronger would help -- getting everybody on the same page, working within the system.

Its weird how we were dominating teams when the downie couts read line was shutting down every teams top line. Maybe that needs to be put back together and used in the same situations as it was earlier in the season? Now the third line is a defensive liability with lecavalier racking up the +/- the way he is...
- FlyersSteve118

I agree, but we have to give Vinny ice time no matter what.
His reputation precedes him & he will never be in a doghouse, nor questioned, I say he's still injured, he's giving nothing.

Did you see Boruk ask Coates & Tocchet abpout Vinnie's struggles, neither one wanted to answer the question, until Coates responded by saying he's not the same player after the back injury

I don't see a lack of "try" being the problem... what I see happening is 20 guys pulling on a rope, but not necessarily the same one. I think that's where Pronger would help -- getting everybody on the same page, working within the system.
- Tomahawk

no, they are being out hustled, outplayed, the other team wants it more, it appears that way.

no, they are being out hustled, outplayed, the other team wants it more, it appears that way.
- puckhead17

It's the NHL... 99% of the players got there by being willing to out-work and out-want everybody on the way up... you can count the Semins and Wellwoods in the league on one hand, and AFAIK, the Flyers don't have any of those.

Poor positioning, lack of structured support and general poor decision-making are making them look slower than they are, and further behind the play than they should be. I guess the end-result could seem like a Carlylian lack of "compete", but it's mostly a symptom of playing like individuals vs playing as a team.

I get the hate people have for Schenn but there was no way he or any other dman had a shot on that play. he is stationary at the blue line when a bad pass comes back his way between his feet bouncing. Gerbe, who is already a fast player, is skating forward with all his speed while Schenn is stationary facing the play. I'm sorry but that could have been Coburn and the results would have been the same.
- nastyflyergirl

I agree... I'm just pretty frustrated by his regression. It was a tough pass to handle, but not impossible.

I think everyone would agree for the most part he's been terrible this year. Disappointing since he played well last year.

no, they are being out hustled, outplayed, the other team wants it more, it appears that way.
- puckhead17

The first period was simply awful...the Flyers looked like they were skating in quicksand. The effort, if it was there at all, was very lackadaisical. Downie, Vinny, Coburn and the entire fourth line have been worthless out there lately.