Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Regular Season Finale, Pre-Playoff Thoughts

Flyers in 6. Thats my thoughts

site says this was posted -1 years ago

Flyers in 6. Thats my thoughts
- GOA88

Me too!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Regular Season Finale, Pre-Playoff Thoughts
- bmeltzer

lets get to thursday!!

bILL,

Will all the Akesonites get there wish with him playing on the third line in the playoffs? I might like to see him play instead of Downie. I know what downie brings but his miscues seem to always end up in our own net.

I know playoffs start on Thursday, but I'm a bit concerned that MacDonald isn't signed yet. Something tells me that they're going to play the wait-and-see game with Timonen (retirement) before they tender any offer to MacDonald. He's had an above-average stint here after the TDL and I think an above-average playoff run will really inflate his asking price. Not sure what the precedent is on signing players, but hoping the Flyers announce a signing before the playoffs kick off.

Me too!

- BiggE

I'm...not quite ready to guess yet.

I try to be realistic about certain things. I think the Rags are better than they get credit for being, but they do have some flaws that can be exploited. Same as the Flyers -- there are things the Flyers do well, and a few that don't.

I guess there are three things that trouble me about the Flyers, as of today:

1. Will the Flyers get any production from the second line at even strength? I don't worry about Wayne Simmonds on the PP, but will that line have enough positive shifts to help the Flyers over four, five, six or seven games?

2. Will the Flyers play a lineup that is more prone to taking penalties? In other words, are the things that Zac Rinaldo does well, or Steve Downie -- and there some things they can do -- enough to offset the inherent risks that come with playing them consistently?

3. Who is playing RW with Sean Couturier and Matt Read? Is it conceivable that Jason Akeson might actually play in Game 1, if Craig Berube opts not to go with Downie or Rinaldo?

Playoffs Baby!

No fear

Bill, great as always

I thought Heeter's performance, on closer review, was a perfect example of not getting your feet settled and square with your shoulders and hips...this leaves the 5 hole open (been there, done that). It looked like, especially in the 3rd period, someone (Reese I hope) had told him to be aware of keeping his feet under his hips.

Was surprised they didn't dress a Phantom on the blueline as well but....

Here come the Blueshirts!!!

I'm excited to have a series against the Rangers. You know, the Penguins/Flyers games are always a great amount of fun, but I've always loved the tight checking games of the Flyers/Rangers rivalry. It's going to be interesting.

Let the bloodletting begin:

Dan Rosen ‏@drosennhl 1m

Predators beat reporter @JoshuaCooper reporting Barry Trotz will not be back in Nashville next season.

Let the bloodletting begin:

Dan Rosen ‏@drosennhl 1m

Predators beat reporter @JoshuaCooper reporting Barry Trotz will not be back in Nashville next season.
- AllInForFlyers

Imagine Lavi trying to teach a run and gun style to the Predators

Let the bloodletting begin:

Dan Rosen ‏@drosennhl 1m

Predators beat reporter @JoshuaCooper reporting Barry Trotz will not be back in Nashville next season.
- AllInForFlyers

The ownership in Nash has to be slightly irritated with consecutive non playoff appearances since they ponied up all that dough to keep Shea.

Imagine Lavi trying to teach a run and gun style to the Predators
- flyersbuzz

Peter Laviolette's been really quiet, hasn't he?

I mean, REALLY quiet. He poked his head up for the Olympics, and I haven't heard hardly a peep about him since.

He's gotta be back in the mix for next season, somewhere, right?

I'm...not quite ready to guess yet.

I try to be realistic about certain things. I think the Rags are better than they get credit for being, but they do have some flaws that can be exploited. Same as the Flyers -- there are things the Flyers do well, and a few that don't.

I guess there are three things that trouble me about the Flyers, as of today:

1. Will the Flyers get any production from the second line at even strength? I don't worry about Wayne Simmonds on the PP, but will that line have enough positive shifts to help the Flyers over four, five, six or seven games?

2. Will the Flyers play a lineup that is more prone to taking penalties? In other words, are the things that Zac Rinaldo does well, or Steve Downie -- and there some things they can do -- enough to offset the inherent risks that come with playing them consistently?

3. Who is playing RW with Sean Couturier and Matt Read? Is it conceivable that Jason Akeson might actually play in Game 1, if Craig Berube opts not to go with Downie or Rinaldo?
- AllInForFlyers

I worry about that second point. Still, no fear.

The ownership in Nash has to be slightly irritated with consecutive non playoff appearances since they ponied up all that dough to keep Shea.
- Hextall271

I can't even imagine -- if you believe what you read, they had to tap into their personal wealth to pay the signing bonuses for the first two years.

Maybe, for a 48-game season, you were hoping you'd make the playoffs but after Ryan Suter left, maybe you didn't budget for it.

But for a full 82-game season, to not make it after paying all that money to one player...OUCH.

Peter Laviolette's been really quiet, hasn't he?

I mean, REALLY quiet. He poked his head up for the Olympics, and I haven't heard hardly a peep about him since.

He's gotta be back in the mix for next season, somewhere, right?
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, I guess, but you'd think his system would work a little better with the Canucks or Leafs, I don't think Nashville is offensive-minded enough to play to his system. He likes to win 9-8 games, while Trotz likes to win 1-0 games, though I am quite interested to see what he could do with Rinne and Weber.

I'm...not quite ready to guess yet.

I try to be realistic about certain things. I think the Rags are better than they get credit for being, but they do have some flaws that can be exploited. Same as the Flyers -- there are things the Flyers do well, and a few that don't.

I guess there are three things that trouble me about the Flyers, as of today:

1. Will the Flyers get any production from the second line at even strength? I don't worry about Wayne Simmonds on the PP, but will that line have enough positive shifts to help the Flyers over four, five, six or seven games?

2. Will the Flyers play a lineup that is more prone to taking penalties? In other words, are the things that Zac Rinaldo does well, or Steve Downie -- and there some things they can do -- enough to offset the inherent risks that come with playing them consistently?

3. Who is playing RW with Sean Couturier and Matt Read? Is it conceivable that Jason Akeson might actually play in Game 1, if Craig Berube opts not to go with Downie or Rinaldo?
- AllInForFlyers

I try and not be a homer as well but the Rangers have players that tend to disappear in the playoffs and the Flyers have tons of guys that step up. My question mark is Mason. Will he choke? If not the Flyers will grind out a series win. Rangers aren't as good as everyone is thinking. Flyers are due for a win at the Garden.

Playoffs Baby!


- SchennBros

So...Flyers fans are a bunch of retards?

I can't even imagine -- if you believe what you read, they had to tap into their personal wealth to pay the signing bonuses for the first two years.

Maybe, for a 48-game season, you were hoping you'd make the playoffs but after Ryan Suter left, maybe you didn't budget for it.

But for a full 82-game season, to not make it after paying all that money to one player...OUCH.
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, I know.. If they don't make it for let's say the next two years..I'd say it's a disaster. I am actually kind of surprised they aren't letting the Gm go as well there..

I think the Key to the series is the Flyers doing all the right things at ES to draw penalities. Philly will win this series on the PP. So get under thier skin, and play hard. Make them take retalitory penalities or obstrustion penalities.

The Rangers shut down ice in front of Lundquist. You can't get pucks through from the point, and you can't do cross ice passes. Any shot from the parimeter that isn't blocked, will get swallowed up by Lundquist.

We need Hartnell, Simmonds, Schenn to park themselves in front of the net to bury rebounds, screen Hank, and deflect pucks at ES. On the PP the ice in the center will open up and give us some passing lanes.

This will be a short series IMO either way. 5 games. I'll say Flyers, but could be the other way and Rangers taking it in 5.

I kinda feel bad for Weber, he signed that deal with Philly because he wanted out, and then they matched it. Imagine A D corps with your top 4 being Weber, Kimmo, Coburn and AMac.

Peter Laviolette's been really quiet, hasn't he?

I mean, REALLY quiet. He poked his head up for the Olympics, and I haven't heard hardly a peep about him since.

He's gotta be back in the mix for next season, somewhere, right?
- AllInForFlyers

He is waiting for when Pitt loses horribly in the first round again and they fire Bylsma.