Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/14/17 @ BOS; Flyers vs. Penguins 50th Anniv Alumni Game

Not going to lie. Part of me wants to see Nuveirth go back to back.

I'll be at the alumni game tonight. Excited to see the old heads lace them up again.

Here is the D I'd kill to see today, would just have to waive Schultz too:
Provorov-Gudas
Morin-Ghost
MDZ-Streit

Here is the D I'd like to see today based on the current roster:
Provorov-Gudas
MDZ-Streit
Manning-Ghost

And, here is what I'm afraid I'll see:
AMac-Provorov
Streit-Gudas
Schultz-Ghost

sigh

Not going to lie. Part of me wants to see Nuveirth go back to back.

I'll be at the alumni game tonight. Excited to see the old heads lace them up again.
- Pelle31Forever

The alumi game should be great have fun!!

As long as Neuvirth plays well today, I have no problem going with him tomorrow. I really think Hak did both Mason and Stolarz a disservice with the way he used them during Neuvirth's absence. Stolarz should have had at least 2, and more likely 3 more starts than he did. I really think that Mason is just spent right now. Hopefully a week off will allow him to recharge and bounce back.

Think we need 4 points out of this weekend..
Wouldnt want to go into 5 days of no hockey with losses as this place would then become like the Arena from Spartacus..

Think we need 4 points out of this weekend..
Wouldnt want to go into 5 days of no hockey with losses as this place would then become like the Arena from Spartacus..
- opeth_pa

I'll be impressed if they can go into Washington, less than 24 hours after playing in Boston, and come away with 2 points. I'd be thrilled with 3 points, but I'm guessing that 2 is more realistic and getting only 1 wouldn't really shock me.

The musical chairs of healthy scratching on D is becoming a joke.

MDZ somehow finished with the most ice time by a nice margin last game and get's scratched today?

Bill,

Why is MacDonald not a candidate to be scratched? He's been terrible this past week! Does Hakstol simply think that this is irresolvable? Others can learn, but MacDonald is a nincompoop?

I am sure that an NHL head coach knows more about hockey than I do, but this just seems so obvious...

The musical chairs of healthy scratching on D is becoming a joke.

MDZ somehow finished with the most ice time by a nice margin last game and get's scratched today?
- Yosimar89

Look, if the dart lands on MDZ, he's gotta sit. That's the way the game of Hak is played.

Bill,

Why is MacDonald not a candidate to be scratched? He's been terrible this past week! Does Hakstol simply think that this is irresolvable? Others can learn, but MacDonald is a nincompoop?

I am sure that an NHL head coach knows more about hockey than I do, but this just seems so obvious...
- ritns028

shhh
If you criticize AMac and Hak in the same post, he who must not be named will appear and argue semantics with you for at least 6 hours.

Bill,

Why is MacDonald not a candidate to be scratched? He's been terrible this past week! Does Hakstol simply think that this is irresolvable? Others can learn, but MacDonald is a nincompoop?

I am sure that an NHL head coach knows more about hockey than I do, but this just seems so obvious...
- ritns028

MacDonald hasn't been any worse than any other player. We have to have our scapegoats. This team is terrible as a team defensively. Unfortunately, MacDonald is one the better players defensively on the team.

See, I told you.

I know Del Zotto was careless with his stick the last game, but that's really an anomaly. I don't agree with playing Schultz over Del Zotto. I guess it's about accountability with Del Zotto and Manning sitting. Boston is a tough team, and that takes some grit out of the lineup.

Think we need 4 points out of this weekend..
Wouldnt want to go into 5 days of no hockey with losses as this place would then become like the Arena from Spartacus..
- opeth_pa

Don't know about NEED, but no less than a split. They get swept in regulation to both, that could be the first nail in the coffin.

The alumi game should be great have fun!!

As long as Neuvirth plays well today, I have no problem going with him tomorrow. I really think Hak did both Mason and Stolarz a disservice with the way he used them during Neuvirth's absence. Stolarz should have had at least 2, and more likely 3 more starts than he did. I really think that Mason is just spent right now. Hopefully a week off will allow him to recharge and bounce back.
- BiggE

I agree. With both your goalies UFA, you would have figured Stolarz would have had a longer look at. Mason is mentally, and maybe physically spent. I'd give him the weekend off. Nuveirth is rested and should handle a back to back.

Don't know about NEED, but no less than a split. They get swept in regulation to both, that could be the first nail in the coffin.
- Pelle31Forever

I would imagine that if they get swept in regulation in both we may see some roster changes over the break...

I would think so too. At least hope so.

MacDonald hasn't been any worse than any other player. We have to have our scapegoats. This team is terrible as a team defensively. Unfortunately, MacDonald is one the better players defensively on the team.
- MJL

No. He's not. He passes neither the eye test nor the advanced stats test. MacDonald is a problem. He's the 7th best defenseman on the team, and that's a generous assumption based on the fact that Schultz hasn't played much at all this year.

No. He's not. He passes neither the eye test nor the advanced stats test. MacDonald is a problem. He's the 7th best defenseman on the team, and that's a generous assumption based on the fact that Schultz hasn't played much at all this year.
- ritns028

See, now you've gone and done it. I hope you have some time on your hands.

No. He's not. He passes neither the eye test nor the advanced stats test. MacDonald is a problem. He's the 7th best defenseman on the team, and that's a generous assumption based on the fact that Schultz hasn't played much at all this year.
- ritns028

You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.


Have you looked at GA/60? It's a team stat, like the majority of advanced stats are, but it helps to tell what is happening on the ice. Eye test depends on the eye.

No. He's not. He passes neither the eye test nor the advanced stats test. MacDonald is a problem. He's the 7th best defenseman on the team, and that's a generous assumption based on the fact that Schultz hasn't played much at all this year.
- ritns028

I'm not sure that Schultz is any better than AMac, but at this point, I'd rather see Morin in the lineup over the 2 of them and Manning as well.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.


Have you looked at GA/60? It's a team stat, like the majority of advanced stats are, but it helps to tell what is happening on the ice. Eye test depends on the eye.
- MJL

Eye test does depend on the eye. But my question was for Bill Meltzer, in the first place.

I do have things to do today, so let's just agree that you are probably the only person on this board who thinks the way you do, and we can all move on with our lives.

I'm not sure that Schultz is any better than AMac, but at this point, I'd rather see Morin in the lineup over the 2 of them and Manning as well.
- BiggE

How do you know Morin is ready for the NHL, and would be better than any of those 3 players at the NHL level?

I'm not sure that Schultz is any better than AMac, but at this point, I'd rather see Morin in the lineup over the 2 of them and Manning as well.
- BiggE

I wasn't saying that Schultz is. My point was, that Schultz is not. I am deferring to Hakstol that he knows what he's doing, I'm just often not sure if I know why he's doing it.

MacDonald hasn't been any worse than any other player. We have to have our scapegoats. This team is terrible as a team defensively. Unfortunately, MacDonald is one the better players defensively on the team.
- MJL