Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Fast Start, Top Line, Big PK & Elliott Key 3-1 Win vs. Chicago

solid win. nice to see them ready to play, especially after a 4 day layoff. would have liked them to push the play more in the 2nd half of the game but they seemed in control the whole - except for dangerous 5 on 3 at the end of the 2nd. killing that off was big. different game if they give one up late there.

also great to see elliott sharp. he needed it. the team needed it.

good work.

yay™

Nice write up Bill, great team victory but Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Gostisbehere and Elliot were lights out. Fun game to watch and hopefully this is the beginning of an Elliot hot streak. He is streaky and he is due. Sanheim is getting more comfortable every game and Hagg had another strong game. Let's go Flyers!

As much as most of dump on Manning, We have to give credit where credit is due. He has been eating minutes, and playing simple hockey and has been steady enough back there.

I think once TK gets a goal, they will start coming in bunches, he gets scoring chances every game. Would like to see Weal get going, but most important is to see Wayne start going, seems to bobble the puck a lot and just not getting quality chances and playing a lot to the outside and not around the net lately. He has to be injured of some sort.

Solid night in net by Elliot. Maybe his strongest game of the season.

Watched last night's game with Tangentman. He said he misses and loves you all.






Yeah, right. What he really said was to tell all you morons to go (frank) yourselves.

Great game last night!!

yes great game but they need more scoring beside the 1st line, funny how missing Patrick a rookie, affects the depth. Weise just doesnt help in anyway. Simmonds agreed, something is wrong. I guess if he is going to have an off season, this is a good one, it would be better for the CAP

Weal, what can you expect he has Lehtera and Weise

I would like to see TK, Simmonds and Patrick when he is back. That leaves Flip, Weal and TBD, really need a winger with some size and speed.

Went to the game last night. Had a blast. Coots continues to display that total lack of offensive upside that I always read about on these pages.


Most important takeaway from the game: Giroux has like.. more than twice as many points as Slow Mo No Show Joe. (Poor Sharksfan)

I hope you all have a lovely morning (well.. most of you), I don't have to work today so I'm gonna crawl back into bed.

Watched last night's game with Tangentman. He said he misses and loves you all.






Yeah, right. What he really said was to tell all you morons to go (frank) yourselves.

Great game last night!!
- BiggE

Nice win!

I'm hoping no one else on the coaching staff has a kid that plays in the league.

that kid certainly gets up to play when his dad is behind the opposing bench. every game. hes a 3rd pairing dman, but always in the play when we play him.

yes great game but they need more scoring beside the 1st line, funny how missing Patrick a rookie, affects the depth. Weise just doesnt help in anyway. Simmonds agreed, something is wrong. I guess if he is going to have an off season, this is a good one, it would be better for the CAP

Weal, what can you expect he has Lehtera and Weise

I would like to see TK, Simmonds and Patrick when he is back. That leaves Flip, Weal and TBD, really need a winger with some size and speed.
- wcorvette

It's going to be tough right now getting much more offense from other lines. Konecny is up on his skates and creating chances, but Simmonds clearly struggling and/or playing hurt right now and Filppula's play has dropped off a bit too. There is only so much Weal can do on his line as long as he is saddled with Weise and cement skates. The 4th line right now is your best bet, they at least generate some chances off the forecheck and maybe a guy like Ghost, Sanheim or Provorov can jump up and bury one of the chances they generate.

Nice win!

I'm hoping no one else on the coaching staff has a kid that plays in the league.
- johndewar

I only was able to watch the last 12 minutes, but it sounded like another great game from the top line.

Can anyone tell me how the other three lines looked? Simply reading the stat sheet, I'm a bit worried on the lack of secondary scoring, compared to the top line.

yes great game but they need more scoring beside the 1st line, funny how missing Patrick a rookie, affects the depth. Weise just doesnt help in anyway. Simmonds agreed, something is wrong. I guess if he is going to have an off season, this is a good one, it would be better for the CAP

Weal, what can you expect he has Lehtera and Weise

I would like to see TK, Simmonds and Patrick when he is back. That leaves Flip, Weal and TBD, really need a winger with some size and speed.
- wcorvette

Maybe when they bring up Lindblom.

Had the Blackhawks played all 60 minutes on the powerlay, Flyers only win 2-1. So there is that.

It's remarkable that the Flyers are playing well with a top defensive pairing that contains a 20 and 22 year old and even the other four defensemen are fairly young at 21, 24, 27, and 27. They aren't playing like they are that young.

Side note, I'm really impressed with the player Hagg is; I didn't see that coming.

I only was able to watch the last 12 minutes, but it sounded like another great game from the top line.

Can anyone tell me how the other three lines looked? Simply reading the stat sheet, I'm a bit worried on the lack of secondary scoring, compared to the top line.
- VladDrag

TK-Filp-Simmonds

Konecny was skating well and creating chances all night. Simmonds seems clearly labored in both his skating and in his puck control, it's hard to believe that he's not playing through some type of injury. Filppula was ok, but seems to not be playing as well as he did earlier in the season.

Weal and the stiffs

Weal played well, but Lehtera, while not awful, is just 2 steps behind most of the time. However, he did do a good job on faceoffs and did nothing in particular to hurt the team. Weise, OTOH, has no business playing in an NHL teams top 9. If Lindblom keeps playing well, I'd like to see them send down Read and bring the kid up and put him in Weise's spot. Patrick can't get back soon enough either.

The 4th line
They played a solid game and generated some good chances down low. They aren't the best finishers, but they are doing all you can expect from a 4th line. Also Laughton and Leier were outstanding on the PK.

Well if we are contenders come trade deadline we def need a winger for the third line. I’ve seen all I care to see in Weise, Lehterä , and read.

Sanheim is looking solid out there man

It's remarkable that the Flyers are playing well with a top defensive pairing that contains a 20 and 22 year old and even the other four defensemen are fairly young at 21, 24, 27, and 27. They aren't playing like they are that young.

Side note, I'm really impressed with the player Hagg is; I didn't see that coming.
- ManCity

The whole D, except for a few screw ups by Gudas played really well last night. Hagg and Provorov have been fantastic and I see no reason not to keep them together even when AMac returns. Sanheim had a solid game, but I actually think he could be even better with a steadier partner. When AMac returns, I'd like to see:

Provorov-Hagg
Ghost-Gudas*
Sanheim-AMac

*if Gudas doesn't start playing better, I'd have no problem sitting him for a few games and putting Manning in for him.

While I'd love to see Morin up, I can't see him replacing anyone at this time. That being said, at age 22, I don't think a 3rd season and getting top pair ice time at LHV, is doing him any long term harm.

Well if we are contenders come trade deadline we def need a winger for the third line. I’ve seen all I care to see in Weise, Lehterä , and read.
- jmdodgeser4

I can't see them as legit Cup contenders yet, especially with an Elliott/Neuvirth tandem in goal. I'm just hoping that Patrick gets healthy soon and Lindblom continues to play well at LHV and by mid season we see:

G-Coots-Jake
TK-Filppula-Simmonds
Lindblom-Patrick-Weal
Leier-Laughton-Raffl

in the Cote suite: Weise and Lehtera
in LHV: Read

TK-Filp-Simmonds

Konecny was skating well and creating chances all night. Simmonds seems clearly labored in both his skating and in his puck control, it's hard to believe that he's not playing through some type of injury. Filppula was ok, but seems to not be playing as well as he did earlier in the season.

Weal and the stiffs

Weal played well, but Lehtera, while not awful, is just 2 steps behind most of the time. However, he did do a good job on faceoffs and did nothing in particular to hurt the team. Weise, OTOH, has no business playing in an NHL teams top 9. If Lindblom keeps playing well, I'd like to see them send down Read and bring the kid up and put him in Weise's spot. Patrick can't get back soon enough either.

The 4th line
They played a solid game and generated some good chances down low. They aren't the best finishers, but they are doing all you can expect from a 4th line. Also Laughton and Leier were outstanding on the PK.
- BiggE

When Weise passed that puck on that 2 on 1 in prime shooting position....that was neat

The middle 6 right now is about as bad as it gets with the 1st and 4th lines about as good as it gets

When Weise passed that puck on that 2 on 1 in prime shooting position....that was neat

The middle 6 right now is about as bad as it gets with the 1st and 4th lines about as good as it gets
- Just5

Yeah right now, at ES, I'd almost be willing to try TK-Filppula-Weal as the 2nd line, move the 4th line up and maybe try Simmonds with Leier and Laughton which would give them a better finisher on the line and make Raffl-Lehtera-Weise the 4th line.

They badly need Patrick back and someone to come up from LHV (I'm hoping for Lindblom) to upgrade their middle 6.

I remember all those years talking about how the Flyers couldn't develop a defenseman to save their lives. All the years of trading for or acquiring vets in free agency and it occasionally working out.

I have to give the Flyers credit for the steps they've taken to remedy that. I know Ghost and Provy are great but they both seemed like they were destined to be great and started showing it pretty quick. The real credit is for Hagg. I remember maybe 2 seasons ago he was being talked about as the one d prospect that might bust or might be available to trade but here he is and I think he's been fantastic this year. Kudos to the Flyers for dropping back and re-evaluating their process and kudos to Hagg for all his hard work, its really paying off for everyone.

I remember all those years talking about how the Flyers couldn't develop a defenseman to save their lives. All the years of trading for or acquiring vets in free agency and it occasionally working out.

I have to give the Flyers credit for the steps they've taken to remedy that. I know Ghost and Provy are great but they both seemed like they were destined to be great and started showing it pretty quick. The real credit is for Hagg. I remember maybe 2 seasons ago he was being talked about as the one d prospect that might bust or might be available to trade but here he is and I think he's been fantastic this year. Kudos to the Flyers for dropping back and re-evaluating their process and kudos to Hagg for all his hard work, its really paying off for everyone.
- shekkie

I guess that Lehigh Valley pixie dust worked out pretty well.