Bill Meltzer: Phantoms Playoff Gameday (Gm 3 @ HER), Vorobyov, Simmonds

Congrats to Wayne Simmonds. He is a character player. Glad he is a Flyer.

Let's all agree to never refer to Hershey as "Chocolate Town" again.

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Let's all agree to never refer to Hershey as "Chocolate Town" again.
- hereticpride

I lived close to Hersey, there is chocolate everywhere. It is Chocolate Town.

Wonder if Vorobyov could one day play a similar role as Couturier.

Congrats to Wayne Simmonds. He is a character player. Glad he is a Flyer.
- MJL

Wonder if Vorobyov could one day play a similar role as Couturier.
- BiggE

I was just happy to see his size. We are woefully small and slow at forward.

I was just happy to see his size. We are woefully small and slow at forward.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, I expect that to change over the next few years. Vorobyov and Lindblom are both 6 foot plus and over 200 pounds, Laberge is 6'1 and should play at 190-195 or so, Allison 6'2 205, Bunnamon 6'1 207 and Rubtsov is 6'1 and expected to play at 195 or so as well.

Let the kid Hart play, why shouldn't he? Kids played high level hockey before, I don't want to hear anything about his confidence being ruined about a bad game either. If anything if he has a bad game it should light a fire under his a$$ to have a good summer and come in as a better player for camp.

Let the kid Hart play, why shouldn't he? Kids played high level hockey before, I don't want to hear anything about his confidence being ruined about a bad game either. If anything if he has a bad game it should light a fire under his a$$ to have a good summer and come in as a better player for camp.
- ClaudeFather

Agreed, I'd put in Myers and Friedman too, why not? They are actual prospects unlike Lamarche who is a 6/7 guy at the AHL level and Alt who was flat out terrible in game 2. Good game or bad game, it doesn't matter. FFS, if their confidence is so fragile that one bad pro game could ruin them, they have no chance anyway.

Play the kids!

Let the kid Hart play, why shouldn't he? Kids played high level hockey before, I don't want to hear anything about his confidence being ruined about a bad game either. If anything if he has a bad game it should light a fire under his a$$ to have a good summer and come in as a better player for camp.
- ClaudeFather

if 1 bad game would ruin him then he wasn't strong to begin with. give him a taste

I couldn't agree more with the starting Hart people. Everyone is talking about how it might hurt his confidence if he has a bad game. What about Ouellette he just let in 2 goals on 4 shots is his confidence not at least shaken? Yeah he isn't a long term prospect, but in the case of starting the best player why wouldn't it be Hart?

I couldn't agree more with the starting Hart people. Everyone is talking about how it might hurt his confidence if he has a bad game. What about Ouellette he just let in 2 goals on 4 shots is his confidence not at least shaken? Yeah he isn't a long term prospect, but in the case of starting the best player why wouldn't it be Hart?
- johm12

What's the worst that happens? He plays gets shelled and they are eliminated? If the kid can't shake off a bad game then that's on him, personally I think he'd play well and maybe it's a good thing for him.

What's the worst that happens? He plays gets shelled and they are eliminated? If the kid can't shake off a bad game then that's on him, personally I think he'd play well and maybe it's a good thing for him.
- ClaudeFather

Sadly, Scott "Scotty Bowman" Gordon doesn't agree with us.

I expect Dove-McFalls to be signed once his QMJHL playoffs are over. He's had a pretty good season, and losing an asset for nothing doesn't seem like a Hextall move. But he'd be looking at a 4C role on the phantoms next season, while Vorobyov should be the 1C or 2C.

He scored a nice goal off a center ice faceoff last night; it's shown one minute in.

http://theqmjhl.ca/video/...3-sea-dogs-5-sagueneens-0

What's the worst that happens? He plays gets shelled and they are eliminated? If the kid can't shake off a bad game then that's on him, personally I think he'd play well and maybe it's a good thing for him.
- ClaudeFather

Would the Flyers start a rookie goaltender in an elimination game?

Both goalies have little or no experience playing in the AHL. I can see the reasoning for choosing Ouellete who has more experience than Hart.

Agreed, I'd put in Myers and Friedman too, why not? They are actual prospects unlike Lamarche who is a 6/7 guy at the AHL level and Alt who was flat out terrible in game 2. Good game or bad game, it doesn't matter. FFS, if their confidence is so fragile that one bad pro game could ruin them, they have no chance anyway.

Play the kids!
- BiggE

Whoa there, Mr Hasty. Freidman has only been with the team for a month now. That's clearly not enough time to learn the intricacies of Gordon's system. It's much safer to leave the ECHL stud Lamarche in there.

Would the Flyers start a rookie goaltender in an elimination game?

Both goalies have little or no experience playing in the AHL. I can see the reasoning for choosing Ouellete who has more experience than Hart.
- Streit2ThePoint

Haven't followed much but didn't someone say Oullete faced 4 shots and let in two?

What's the worst that happens? He plays gets shelled and they are eliminated? If the kid can't shake off a bad game then that's on him, personally I think he'd play well and maybe it's a good thing for him.
- ClaudeFather

The worst thing that can happen is you put an 18-year-old goalie who has scarcely even practiced with the Phantoms out to get shelled in an elimination game and have that experience be how he exits the season. Then it weighs in him until whenever he plays his next pro game. It's not fair to him or the team. Any other coach worth a damn would start Oullette. He is the one who gives the team the best chance to win tonight's game. This is isn't about 2 years from now.

The worst thing that can happen is you put an 18-year-old goalie who has scarcely even practiced with the Phantoms out to get shelled in an elimination game and have that experience be how he exits the season. Then it weighs in him until whenever he plays his next pro game. It's not fair to him or the team. Any other coach worth a damn would start Oullette. He is the one who gives the team the best chance to win tonight's game. This is isn't about 2 years from now.
- bmeltzer

I guess you also think it's better to play Lamarche, an AHL/ECHL tweener rather than Friedman who's been with the team for weeks and is a legit prospect?

Haven't followed much but didn't someone say Oullete faced 4 shots and let in two?
- ClaudeFather

Yup, future hall of famer for sure.

The worst thing that can happen is you put an 18-year-old goalie who has scarcely even practiced with the Phantoms out to get shelled in an elimination game and have that experience be how he exits the season. Then it weighs in him until whenever he plays his next pro game. It's not fair to him or the team. Any other coach worth a damn would start Oullette. He is the one who gives the team the best chance to win tonight's game. This is isn't about 2 years from now.
- bmeltzer

Give me a break. This kid is supposedly a top goalie prospect, I don't want to hear he can't man up and take one on the chin. Get in the net.

Give me a break. This kid is supposedly a top goalie prospect, I don't want to hear he can't man up and take one on the chin. Get in the net.
- ClaudeFather

I think it has more to do with the unfamiliarity of how everyone plays.

I don't think playing him will be this detrimental event in his development, but I don't think it is a good idea to play his first ever professional game in a playoff elimination game on the road

Oullete has been fine for them