Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 3/20/14 vs. Dallas

Go Flyers!

Keep it going Flyers!



Nice write up Bill

Flyers have no reason to lose this game if they continue to play the same way as the last 3 games.

Lets carry the momentum. No room for slack in the Metro (still hate that name)

I am about 100x more exicited for the game tonight than the 16 some-odd round 1 games in the NCAA. College hoops are fun but nothing compared to hockey.

I don't want to be a negative nelly but this game has " trap game" written all over it. Hope I'm wrong

I don't want to be a negative nelly but this game has " trap game" written all over it. Hope I'm wrong
- Sms401

except wouldnt Dallas have to suck in order for it to qualify? They arent exactly the Sabers

I don't want to be a negative nelly but this game has " trap game" written all over it. Hope I'm wrong
- Sms401

Definitely a concern. But hopefully getting whipped by the Stars last time, as well as the importance of every game down the stretch, is enough to keep the Flyers from looking past the Stars to the weekend showdown with the Blues.

Get revenge for that last 5 - 1 game Flyers. Couturier has his work cut out for him tonight against Seguin. I think he's got this though.

I really hope Thomas doesn't kick our butts tonight

I don't want to be a negative nelly but this game has " trap game" written all over it. Hope I'm wrong
- Sms401

If this were a team like the Devils or NYI, I'd agree.

The Flyers know this team kicked them in the jewels last time. I don't expect a let down tonight.

Get revenge for that last 5 - 1 game Flyers. Couturier has his work cut out for him tonight against Seguin. I think he's got this though.

I really hope Thomas doesn't kick our butts tonight
- FlyersSteve118

I am far more concerned about a motivated Tim Thomas in net than I am about this being some sort of trap game (which I don't believe it is).

If this were a team like the Devils or NYI, I'd agree.

The Flyers know this team kicked them in the jewels last time. I don't expect a let down tonight.
- johndewar

Exactly....hopefully Tim Thomas goes too. That will get them going

I honestly don't think this is a trap game, at all -- they have to know that a regulation win tonight, if combined with a couple of favorable results from a couple of other games, puts a playoff spot almost in a choke-hold.

I don't think they're getting off the gas tonight, at all. They may or may not play well, but they're not getting off the gas, not now.

I honestly don't think this is a trap game, at all -- they have to know that a regulation win tonight, if combined with a couple of favorable results from a couple of other games, puts a playoff spot almost in a choke-hold.

I don't think they're getting off the gas tonight, at all. They may or may not play well, but they're not getting off the gas, not now.
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah with a win tonight we will be ahead of both of the wild card spots.

Who do you think takes third in our division? Rangers or Columbus?

Unrelated, but both Kane and Fowler out for 3 weeks, Paul Ranger taken off the ice on a stretcher, and Pietrangelo looked like he may have broken his foot (100% unconfirmed). Rough night around the league (technically, Fowler's was from Friday, revealed yesterday).

Yeah with a win tonight we will be ahead of both of the wild card spots.

Who do you think takes third in our division? Rangers or Columbus?
- FlyersSteve118

Totally up for grabs. I think it depends on Lundqvist. If he plays well, the Rangers will have enough to get in. If he plays more or less pedestrian, Columbus makes it. I'd give the edge to the Rangers.

Unrelated, but both Kane and Fowler out for 3 weeks, Paul Ranger taken off the ice on a stretcher, and Pietrangelo looked like he may have broken his foot (100% unconfirmed). Rough night around the league (technically, Fowler's was from Friday, revealed yesterday).
- jmatchett383

Ugh! Rough timing. I hope they are all back playing soon. I was watching the Ranger hit when it happened. I hate seeing that.

Unrelated, but both Kane and Fowler out for 3 weeks, Paul Ranger taken off the ice on a stretcher, and Pietrangelo looked like he may have broken his foot (100% unconfirmed). Rough night around the league (technically, Fowler's was from Friday, revealed yesterday).
- jmatchett383

I don't know what to make of the Paul Ranger thing.

It looked like he turned into the hit a bit....and I don't feel like there was a ton of intent there to put the guy into next week. It happened and I guess the ref has to call that and throw the guy out if, for no other reason, to keep him from getting killed.

What did you think?

I don't know what to make of the Paul Ranger thing.

It looked like he turned into the hit a bit....and I don't feel like there was a ton of intent there to put the guy into next week. It happened and I guess the ref has to call that and throw the guy out if, for no other reason, to keep him from getting killed.

What did you think?
- johndewar

I think that he could of but didn't let up...
Was it malicious? No. He continued and completed his check on a vulnerable player.
Will he get suspended? Probably.
Ranger did turn into the hit and made it worse - and they'll take that into consideration, but I think there will still be some fall out.
I thought that the automatic game misconduct did stop the retaliation. So I was ok with it.

I don't know what to make of the Paul Ranger thing.

It looked like he turned into the hit a bit....and I don't feel like there was a ton of intent there to put the guy into next week. It happened and I guess the ref has to call that and throw the guy out if, for no other reason, to keep him from getting killed.

What did you think?
- johndewar

That seems to be the consensus, even from the Leafs' players. The 5-minute major/game were probably just one of those necessary evils.

Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekguXZhNQ8w

The more I see it, the more you can tell that he changes his path when Ranger turns. The glides, and I don't think he meant to hurt him, and Ranger definitely put himself into a vulnerable position, but he he continued on his path, he would have missed the hit so he ended up hitting him when he sees the numbers. Not sure what to make of it.

I don't know what to make of the Paul Ranger thing.

It looked like he turned into the hit a bit....and I don't feel like there was a ton of intent there to put the guy into next week. It happened and I guess the ref has to call that and throw the guy out if, for no other reason, to keep him from getting killed.

What did you think?
- johndewar

Tough to tell. Looks like Ranger turned at the last minute.

I don't know what to make of the Paul Ranger thing.

It looked like he turned into the hit a bit....and I don't feel like there was a ton of intent there to put the guy into next week. It happened and I guess the ref has to call that and throw the guy out if, for no other reason, to keep him from getting killed.

What did you think?
- johndewar

i watched it on nhl network and the hosts agreed that he will likely not be suspended. the league will look at it unlike orpik's completely intentional board of couts on saturday where he waited until he was 3 ft from the wall then planted a nice crosscheck into his back. couts was fortunate not to end up hurt on that play

That seems to be the consensus, even from the Leafs' players. The 5-minute major/game were probably just one of those necessary evils.

Edit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekguXZhNQ8w

The more I see it, the more you can tell that he changes his path when Ranger turns. The glides, and I don't think he meant to hurt him, and Ranger definitely put himself into a vulnerable position, but he he continued on his path, he would have missed the hit so he ended up hitting him when he sees the numbers. Not sure what to make of it.
- jmatchett383

It almost looks like he was going to that "legal boarding" thing where they just lift the guy into the glass and than Ranger just randomly turns the opposite way. Killorn definitely knows the spot Ranger is in because he is looking at the guys numbers the entire way in. I don't get why Killorn buries him at that point. I know its all just instinct. Don't want the guy to go around you, but you gotta know where you are on the ice.

It almost looks like he was going to that "legal boarding" thing where they just lift the guy into the glass and than Ranger just randomly turns the opposite way. Killorn definitely knows the spot Ranger is in because he is looking at the guys numbers the entire way in. I don't get why Killorn buries him at that point. I know its all just instinct. Don't want the guy to go around you, but you gotta know where you are on the ice.
- FlyersSteve118

he turned back for the puck. he looks over his right shoulder and didn't see the player coming from his left. nasty result

Totally up for grabs. I think it depends on Lundqvist. If he plays well, the Rangers will have enough to get in. If he plays more or less pedestrian, Columbus makes it. I'd give the edge to the Rangers.
- jmatchett383

That's where I am with it -- I like Bob, but if Lundqvist gets hot, he's one of the three or four best goalies in the world.