Bill Meltzer: Game 4 Wrap: Penguins Blitz Flyers, 5-0

Bill Meltzer: Game 4 Wrap: Penguins Blitz Flyers, 5-0
- bmeltzer

hello bill

Good to see Patrick stepping up. Silver lining.

Thank you Bill.

Was curious about your take on the Simmonds slashing penalty at the end of the first. Seemed like the Pens players stick hit Simmond’s stick on the follow through and the stick snapped.

I didn’t like the Read call 3 minutes in either. Both players get tangled up and the Penguin player clamps his arm down onto Read’s stick.

Not that it would have mattered tonight anyway but the game was still competitive when those calls were made .

Missed it due to a EKG course tonight.

Kids are getting experience, if they lose whatever.

Will say it is concerning to see G, V and Simmonds do very little as veteran leaders of this "core".

Wont go into the coaching thing, I bang that drum enough.

The goaltending is the biggest ? imo for next year.

Missed it due to a EKG course tonight.

Kids are getting experience, if they lose whatever.

Will say it is concerning to see G, V and Simmonds do very little as veteran leaders of this "core".

Wont go into the coaching thing, I bang that drum enough.

The goaltending is the biggest ? imo for next year.
- flyer_nutter

Patrick was the lone bright light.
Provy and TK were pretty good.
That’s all I got for positive.

Blame Giroux and Voracek all you like but the Flyers have pretty much no depth at all so in a playoff series when the checking gets tighter what do you expect. How is Voracek going to produce against Malkin when he has Filppula as center and Raffl as his winger. Also how is Hakstol so clueless that he doesn't move Giroux to center for this game.

Biggest issue I see as to why these games aren't at least competitive and total blowouts has to be the goaltending. Look at every other single team in the playoffs currently and they all have goalies that are better than Elliott. They need to upgrade that position if they want to be competitive in the playoffs next year plain and simple. When you are a team that seems to be as fragile as this one having a guy like Elliott back there does nothing to help you play your game because you are constantly worried the other team is going to march right back down the ice and score on you no matter how much pressure you may put on them. I like Elliott as a person, seems like a stand up guy but they need to improve in that area. If they plan on going with him and Neuvirth again next season I think that's going to disappoint a lot of people. Hart is still at least 3 years away here.

Patrick was the lone bright light.
Provy and TK were pretty good.
That’s all I got for positive.
- Marc D

The fact that Patrick is already this good at 19 is pretty amazing. I feel like he is going to have a total break-out year next season with an idea of what the NHL is like and a full summer to train. Should be fun to see.

If they believe they have a real shot with Carter Hart, I think we will see more of the same average stop gap goalie situations until he’s here

xx

Blame Giroux and Voracek all you like but the Flyers have pretty much no depth at all so in a playoff series when the checking gets tighter what do you expect. How is Voracek going to produce against Malkin when he has Filppula as center and Raffl as his winger. Also how is Hakstol so clueless that he doesn't move Giroux to center for this game.
- FreshFlyer

Your best players have to be your best players. It wouldn't matter if the Flyers bottom six was on par with the Pens bottom six when their top players are outplaying and outscoring the Flyers top players by a wide margin. Up until this game, Voracek had Patrick as his center and has done virtually nothing, while Patrick has probably been the Flyers best forward. I would put this series just as much on Giroux and Voracek as I would on Elliott.

If they believe they have a real shot with Carter Hart, I think we will see more of the same average stop gap goalie situations until he’s here
- funmaster18

Hart is at least 3 years away. How good will Giroux and Voracek even be by then? They don't need to get Carey Price in net or anything in these next 3 years but it has to be something better than Elliott and Neuvirth. I would be satisfied with a guy like Bernier tbh. We could have even had him instead of Elliott. This off season go for a guy like Pickard or a younger goalie that is in a backup position that has something to prove at least. Elliott is only going to get older and worse IMO.

If they believe they have a real shot with Carter Hart, I think we will see more of the same average stop gap goalie situations until he’s here
- funmaster18

Unfortunately you are probably correct. I'm guessing they don't sign Mrazek but hopefully they send Neuvirth packing. They go is way to fragile. I'm actually surprised he made in through the game without an injury.

backup goalies aren't going to elevate this team when you have garbage defense

If they believe they have a real shot with Carter Hart, I think we will see more of the same average stop gap goalie situations until he’s here
- funmaster18

That’s realistically 3 years away.
The D should be great by then.
In 3 years the forwards are a question mark.
Although I think Patrick and TK are the real deal.
The rest of the prospects who really knows.

Your best players have to be your best players. It wouldn't matter if the Flyers bottom six was on par with the Pens bottom six when their top players are outplaying and outscoring the Flyers top players by a wide margin. Up until this game, Voracek had Patrick as his center and has done virtually nothing, while Patrick has probably been the Flyers best forward. I would put this series just as much on Giroux and Voracek as I would on Elliott.
- FlyerFan16

Yeah but the Flyers need depth guys that are good to help free up Voracek and Giroux for easier matchups. For example lets be real here, Crosby is better than Giroux and Malkin is better than Voracek so the Pens are already winning in that regard. If you have a 3rd and 4th line that can score and is actually balanced in scoring ability then the matchups may change. I think thats the hope with all these young guys as they continue to improve. By the looks of it Patrick will be the Flyers best player in a couple years so as he gets better that will free Giroux up more of the top matchups or at least you hope.

backup goalies aren't going to elevate this team when you have garbage defense
- Doctor DOOM

Hopefully next year, it's not garbage. Hopefully it's just younger.

When was the last time they were competitive vs the Pens? Was it really 2012, 6 years ago?

backup goalies aren't going to elevate this team when you have garbage defense
- Doctor DOOM

That should change next season IMO. I highly doubt we see Gudas and Manning back, if so we probably see something like this :

Provy-Ghost
Sanheim-Morin
A-Mac-Hagg

People also need to realize Provorov is what 20 years old and already this good. A player typically hits their prime between ages 24-30 so he is only going to get even better which is pretty scary to think about.

Hell cant help it haha.

The longer that Hextall is going to be loyal to Hak/Lappy the more he ties his future with the club to those men as well.

Interesting to see how it works out.

Biggest issue I see as to why these games aren't at least competitive and total blowouts has to be the goaltending. Look at every other single team in the playoffs currently and they all have goalies that are better than Elliott. They need to upgrade that position if they want to be competitive in the playoffs next year plain and simple. When you are a team that seems to be as fragile as this one having a guy like Elliott back there does nothing to help you play your game because you are constantly worried the other team is going to march right back down the ice and score on you no matter how much pressure you may put on them. I like Elliott as a person, seems like a stand up guy but they need to improve in that area. If they plan on going with him and Neuvirth again next season I think that's going to disappoint a lot of people. Hart is still at least 3 years away here.
- FreshFlyer

The goaltending is a thing. It has been for a long time. I know they think Hart is some all star, and I hope he is. However I would explore Crawford/Holtby this off-season maybe.

Out of all the teams in the playoffs - who would willingly switch their tandem for the Flyers? Its a weakness for sure. Has been ignored for too many years.

0____0

Yeah but the Flyers need depth guys that are good to help free up Voracek and Giroux for easier matchups. For example lets be real here, Crosby is better than Giroux and Malkin is better than Voracek so the Pens are already winning in that regard. If you have a 3rd and 4th line that can score and is actually balanced in scoring ability then the matchups may change. I think thats the hope with all these young guys as they continue to improve. By the looks of it Patrick will be the Flyers best player in a couple years so as he gets better that will free Giroux up more of the top matchups or at least you hope.
- FreshFlyer

3 (frank)ing assists between the two of them. They should be completely embarrassed.
Fully agree they need to upgrade the bottom six. Need more speed, PKers and pests. This team plays with no emotions and isn't hard to play against.

When was the last time they were competitive vs the Pens? Was it really 2012, 6 years ago?
- Marc D

Yeah unfortunately. Honestly they have the pieces there to be a very good team next year somethings just need to change. You have to get rid of Gudas and Manning, but those should be easy replacements with Morin and Hagg. They need to sign a legitimate 3C who can help out the pk and also provide at least 15-20 goals. In my opinion they also need to get rid of Neuvirth and/or Elliott and sign a goalie or trade for one that can give the team more consistency in net and a better chance to win.