Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 3/11/14 vs. New Jersey

Hate to cheer against Jagr but hey, he's a Devil now. Would be nice to see Mason and co. shore up the defensive woes and come away with a pretty sound victory.

Have to get 2 points tonight. 6 of the next 7 games are against the following teams:

Pitt
@Pitt
Chicago
St. Louis
LA Kings
@NY Rangers

Brutal schedule. Couldn't be any harder.

For People going to the game tonight please report back on how vinny looks. I don't think they can go into next year with him plugged into the LW spot on the 2nd line if he doesnt raise his game

Have to get 2 points tonight. 6 of the next 7 games are against the following teams:

Pitt
@Pitt
Chicago
St. Louis
LA Kings
@NY Rangers

Brutal schedule. Couldn't be any harder.
- PLindbergh31

Agreed. A regulation win tonight is a must. Fortunately, four of those games are at home and against the west. Just get a point at minimum in the western conference games. They are in good shape to make the playoffs they just need to win the games they should and get the loser point when they lose.

Have to get 2 points tonight. 6 of the next 7 games are against the following teams:

Pitt
@Pitt
Chicago
St. Louis
LA Kings
@NY Rangers

Brutal schedule. Couldn't be any harder.
- PLindbergh31

The way I see it, if you are going to do anything in the playoffs you have to step up in big games, anyway. Might as well play top teams in the stretch drive. It is weird but I actually worry more about "trap games" this time of year to some degree.

The teams playing with no pressure and players just playing for jobs next season very often are dangerous opponents despite their record. That's especially true when you play a top team on either side of playing a draft lottery club.

Sometimes, the top teams -- the ones that already know they'll be in the playoffs and are trying to keep sharp (but also healthy) until then -- have less motivation for stretch drive games than the clubs fighting to get to the dance.

I know that it makes no sense in terms of degree of difficulty and the iverall records of the teams involved but I often prefer to see the Flyers play the very best teams either in October or late in the season.

Downie returning from the imaginary "flu". In other words, The Devils aren't starting a goon.



Yeah it looks just as stupid reading it as when I typed it.

Giving up 7 third period goals on home ice against the Tavares-less Fishsticks.....

Have to get 2 points tonight. 6 of the next 7 games are against the following teams:

Pitt
@Pitt
Chicago
St. Louis
LA Kings
@NY Rangers

Brutal schedule. Couldn't be any harder.
- PLindbergh31

The gauntlet.

If we can somehow move vinny this summer. I'd like to see the flyers be in the mix for Raymond or pouliot to add to the mix and get some more speed on that 2nd line

The way I see it, if you are going to do anything in the playoffs you have to step up in big games, anyway. Might as well play top teams in the stretch drive. It is weird but I actually worry more about "trap games" this time of year to some degree.

The teams playing with no pressure and players just playing for jobs next season very often are dangerous opponents despite their record. That's especially true when you play a top team on either side of playing a draft lottery club.

Sometimes, the top teams -- the ones that already know they'll be in the playoffs and are trying to keep sharp (but also healthy) until then -- have less motivation for stretch drive games than the clubs fighting to get to the dance.

I know that it makes no sense in terms of degree of difficulty and the iverall records of the teams involved but I often prefer to see the Flyers play the very best teams either in October or late in the season.
- bmeltzer

All fair points Bill. I agree. You want to be battle tested heading into the playoffs. I think what makes it so daunting is playing one contender after another with no "soft games" in between. Not that there are any soft opponents in the NHL. On any given night if a team doesn't bring it, they will get beat.

The gauntlet.
- aightwebang17

After that stretch, I think we'll have a pretty good idea if the Flyers are going to make the playoffs or not.

Giving up 7 third period goals on home ice against the Tavares-less Fishsticks.....


- PLindbergh31

Seven goals on 15 shots. I repeat: Seven goals on 15 shots.

At this point, I actually think the players in Vancouver haven't just quit on Fonzie; they've quit on the organization, as well.

Have to get 2 points tonight. 6 of the next 7 games are against the following teams:

Pitt
@Pitt
Chicago
St. Louis
LA Kings
@NY Rangers

Brutal schedule. Couldn't be any harder.
- PLindbergh31

Well, all 6 could be road games. That would be harder.

If they split these games, I think they make the playoffs.

Hate to cheer against Jagr but hey, he's a Devil now. Would be nice to see Mason and co. shore up the defensive woes and come away with a pretty sound victory.
- jmatchett383

The fact that you used the phrase "shore up" properly means you win the Internet for March 11, 2014.

Downie returning from the imaginary "flu". In other words, The Devils aren't starting a goon.



Yeah it looks just as stupid reading it as when I typed it.
- MBFlyerfan

Is that what they said Downie had? The flu?

/eye roll

Seven goals on 15 shots. I repeat: Seven goals on 15 shots.

At this point, I actually think the players in Vancouver haven't just quit on Fonzie; they've quit on the organization, as well.
- AllInForFlyers

Love it! The way their fans behaved after losing game 7 of the SCF a few years ago, I hope they get another decade of this.

Oh yeah, and screw Tortorella. He looks like a clown.

Seven goals on 15 shots. I repeat: Seven goals on 15 shots.

At this point, I actually think the players in Vancouver haven't just quit on Fonzie; they've quit on the organization, as well.
- AllInForFlyers

Stuck with twin sisters conjoined at the hip

Well, all 6 could be road games. That would be harder.

If they split these games, I think they make the playoffs.
- johndewar

Agreed, with this caveat: Need two in regulation against the Devils tonight, I think, for it to go like that.

Well, all 6 could be road games. That would be harder.

If they split these games, I think they make the playoffs.
- johndewar

That's true. 4 of the games are at home. Flyers will need 60 minute efforts in these games to get points. No taking periods off. They also need to find a way to win at MSG. That place has been a house of horrors the last few years.

The fact that you used the phrase "shore up" properly means you win the Internet for March 11, 2014.
- AllInForFlyers

Oh man...I did, didn't I?

Caps and pens are supposed to be a fierce rivalry. Im sorry I didn't see it last night. Not much stuff after the whistle at all. I think the flyers can be dangerous if they get to playoffs. They are playing with tenacity

The pens certainly look like the same team. They don't worry me

Agreed, with this caveat: Need two in regulation against the Devils tonight, I think, for it to go like that.
- AllInForFlyers

Agreed.

That's true. 4 of the games are at home. Flyers will need 60 minute efforts in these games to get points. No taking periods off. They also need to find a way to win at MSG. That place has been a house of horrors the last few years.
- PLindbergh31

The Pitt-Pitt-off-Chi games are going to be tough. Whether it's Heeter or Emery, someone's going to need to get one of those starts. If Mason plays the back-to-back against Pittsburgh, his arms will be so heavy from all those SA that he won't be able to lift them for a few days. And I don't think I want our backup in either of them.

Love it! The way their fans behaved after losing game 7 of the SCF a few years ago, I hope they get another decade of this.

Oh yeah, and screw Tortorella. He looks like a clown.
- PLindbergh31

Mike Gillis read it totally wrong up there. He couldn't have read it more incorrectly had he tried.

They bench Roberto Luongo, a respected veteran, and anoint Cory Schneder the starter. They extend Schneider and expressly tell him, and the world, that Luongo will be traded and he will not.

So...Gillis trades Schneider.

They fire Alain Vigneault, which is defensible...but bring in John Tortorella. With the not-so-subtle reason being "We think you're soft, and it's your fault that you haven't won."

Tortorella loses his mind, gets suspended. All while preaching accountability and discipline.

Tortorella returns, decides to play the "hot goalie" in Eddie Lack...therefore leaving Luongo on the bench for the Heritage Classic. Respected Veteran Roberto Luongo, who has endured much in Vancouver.

Luongo is traded.

Yeah. I think it's safe to say that the players have had just about enough of who's telling them what to do in Vancouver.