Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Settle For a Point in Montreal

Too bad ...thought they had it. They sat back too much near the end. Emery was solid all night but one bad rebound in OT and that was all she wrote!

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Settle For a Point in Montreal
- bmeltzer

Lecavalier is going to get shredded, but I think MDZ had a rough OT. Maybe Vinny could have gotten off quicker, but MDZ should have recognized he was headed off, and he played the GWG poorly, at best.

The Flyers got outplayed, sure, but during the first period, they did a good job executing. They made good passes out of the zone, the gap control was good, they had speed hitting the Montreal line. In the second and third, the Habs really hemmed them in, but at the same time, the Flyers had chances to move the puck out and failed to do so.

Sucks for Emery, he deserved a better fate.

Too bad ...thought they had it. They sat back too much near the end. Emery was solid all night but one bad rebound in OT and that was all she wrote!
- Cable2k

Credit to Emery. He played a great game. Pretty good game all around.

One other thought, I'm really missing Raffl on that top line. Brayden Schenn is just not fitting in, and neither Giroux or Voracek has played well of late.

Crazy how sick that flyers team would be with solid mobile defense

Bill, just a suggestion. On a non game day coming up maybe you could break down what needs to happen in the standings for us to obtain a wild card spot? I recognize and appreciate the improved play of late but I think some people are getting a little ahead of themselves here with thoughts of a late season comeback. Especially considering the absence of Mason.

One other thought, I'm really missing Raffl on that top line. Brayden Schenn is just not fitting in, and neither Giroux or Voracek has played well of late.
- Jsaquella

He really is missed.

Starting to think BSchenn could be the odd man out here.

Crazy how sick that flyers team would be with solid mobile defense
- QuickSCF

It really is largely all they're missing. The only other big hole this team has is a 2nd line LW.

Its going to be interesting how they get the 4 D prospects in without inserting too much youth back there at once.

Vinny should not be on the ice in OT but MdZ butchered that pass even though he was not under pressure.

He really is missed.

Starting to think BSchenn could be the odd man out here.
- hereticpride

Possibly. I think I'd drop him to another line, maybe try to get him at C and move Laughton to LW

Possibly. I think I'd drop him to another line, maybe try to get him at C and move Laughton to LW
- Jsaquella

Laughtons played the whole season at center, Schenns played the whole season as a winger. They aren't going to get flipped now.

This particular Flyers team is a very mediocre bunch in dire need of a serious overhaul by Hexy. I simply can't get my hopes up for an extended playoff run until Hexy redesigns this team. As it is now, I just can't see it ... as much as I want to.

This particular Flyers team is a very mediocre bunch in dire need of a serious overhaul by Hexy. I simply can't get my hopes up for an extended playoff run until Hexy redesigns this team. As it is now, I just can't see it ... as much as I want to.
- FlyerGuy

i actually don't think they're that far away piece-wise.

but i think they're miles away when you factor in how they can get those pieces.

i actually don't think they're that far away piece-wise.

but i think they're miles away when you factor in how they can get those pieces.
- kicksave856

well said ... I agree.

i actually don't think they're that far away piece-wise.

but i think they're miles away when you factor in how they can get those pieces.
- kicksave856

They need a 2 solid defensemen IMO

They need a 2 solid defensemen IMO
- Symba007

Even adding a good, legit top pair guy would help.

There's talent up front, not sure of the mix, but they have skill. The goaltending has been excellent for most of the year, especially when Mason has been able to go. But if they added a good guy, like a Bouwmeester or similar level guy, it would help a great deal.

The trouble is, how can they land one and further, fit him under the cap?

Laughtons played the whole season at center, Schenns played the whole season as a winger. They aren't going to get flipped now.
- Feanor

Probably not. That's why I said it's what I would do, not what the Flyers will do.

Crazy how sick that flyers team would be with almost league average defense
- QuickSCF

[quote=Giroux_Is_God]

If Hextall can dump a couple of the more overpriced guys, the turnaround could be a quicker one.

If Hextall can dump a couple of the more overpriced guys, the turnaround could be a quicker one.
- Jsaquella

oh yeah. im not saying its even plausible, but if the flyers somehow moved vinny and bought out umberger, and used the difference to sign a guy like giordano, and even ONE of the defensive prospects pan out, i really think this team is in the playoffs.

Even adding a good, legit top pair guy would help.

There's talent up front, not sure of the mix, but they have skill. The goaltending has been excellent for most of the year, especially when Mason has been able to go. But if they added a good guy, like a Bouwmeester or similar level guy, it would help a great deal.

The trouble is, how can they land one and further, fit him under the cap?
- Jsaquella

He has to move a contract out in order to have some room to play with moving forward. Vinny and RJ are quite unlikely. Right now I would say Read is as well. I would look at getting Coburn or Grossmann out of here for picks. Possibly both of them with Ghost and Schultz filling those spots much cheaper next year.

I would strongly consider two-for-one'ing the Schenns for the right LW too if possible.

The Flyers played a great first period. They had trouble with the Habs speed and it caught up to them about half way through the game. Had they buried some of those breakaways and odd man rushes earlier they would have won.

Impressed with their commitment to team D. Night and day from the earlier part of the year.

Galchenyuk is going to be a beast. Price was great too.

One other thought, I'm really missing Raffl on that top line. Brayden Schenn is just not fitting in, and neither Giroux or Voracek has played well of late.
- Jsaquella

i hate schenn on that line. get. him. off. it. now.

The Flyers played a great first period. They had trouble with the Habs speed and it caught up to them about half way through the game. Had they buried some of those breakaways and odd man rushes earlier they would have won.

Impressed with their commitment to team D. Night and day from the earlier part of the year.

Galchenyuk is going to be a beast. Price was great too.
- Marc D

i tihnk price was largely a non factor. he made a couple of nice stops, but could have and probably should have been beaten on both, and he was beaten cleanly and badly while falling down in an awkward position and the puck hit the post. not nearly enough rubber on him in the 2nd and 3rd periods. that he was named a star of the game is a (frank)ing joke.

i was impressed by their ability to bend but not break. until they did.