What doesn't matter is what almost everyone was guessing. That is irrelevant. What matters is how they've played the last few games, and that Voracek is not producing. I appreciate the optimism, but the effort in the last two games is unacceptable.
- MJL

Did not see Buffalo game but they did twice equalizer in 3rd period.
Something what they rarely managed last year.And 3 on 3 OT will be ever for any team just like playing lottery.
True Devil game was bad and you could see that just from the start that they will
properly will not win it.Which is of course disappointing for any home game
because the home games will decide Flyers fate related to Playoff

If Couturier is the blood and guts of this team, there's more wrong than anybody thought.
- tangent_man

I don't know if I agree with that altogether. Couturier is a player that plays the game the right way on both sides of the puck. He has a bigger effect on the game than many people think. They miss him, he changes the dynamic of the Flyers.

Did not see Buffalo game but they did twice equalizer in 3rd period.
Something what they rarely managed last year.And 3 on 3 OT will be ever for any team just like playing lottery.
True Devil game was bad and you could see that just from the start that they will
properly will not win it.Which is of course disappointing for any home game
because the home games will decide Flyers fate related to Playoff
- goenzoy

Can't ignore the process, because games like Buffalo are not sustainable. More times that not, with that effort, you'll lose the game. The only thing good about that game was not losing in regulation, and getting a point.

I don't know if I agree with that altogether. Couturier is a player that plays the game the right way on both sides of the puck. He has a bigger effect on the game than many people think. They miss him, he changes the dynamic of the Flyers.
- MJL

Yes, he's an impact player, but he's not a 'they can't win without him' guy. All I'm saying is, if the team can't come to play when he's out, it's not good.

As you said earlier, we've seen this type of play from these guys for entirely too long, with or without Couturier in the lineup.

so glad hakstol finally saw the light and put the savior, vinny back in... what ever were we thinking that he can't play anymore?!

Yes, he's an impact player, but he's not a 'they can't win without him' guy. All I'm saying is, if the team can't come to play when he's out, it's not good.

As you said earlier, we've seen this type of play from these guys for entirely too long, with or without Couturier in the lineup.
- tangent_man

He's played all the previous games against the Devils... don't see how he's the xfactor they were missing... ok instead of 4-1 it might've only been 3-1

I don't know if I agree with that altogether. Couturier is a player that plays the game the right way on both sides of the puck. He has a bigger effect on the game than many people think. They miss him, he changes the dynamic of the Flyers.
- MJL

on the defensive side yes, offensive side? no, hands are too mediocre and so is the speed.

shutdown seanie will right the ship. the flyers are just not that good of a team. most people ,I think, realize this.

Didn't watch the game, but it sounds like I didn't miss much. Listened to a bit on the radio and it sounded like the same thing from the other night against Buffalo; not much energy, failure to get pucks in deep and retrieve them, no cycle, poor special teams. It was odd though...I get the sportscenter updates on my phone and early in the 3rd, I received an score update that indicated the Flyers (Laughton) scored a goal to make it 2-2. Was there an actual goal by Laughton that was reviewed and reversed?

Yes, he's an impact player, but he's not a 'they can't win without him' guy. All I'm saying is, if the team can't come to play when he's out, it's not good.

As you said earlier, we've seen this type of play from these guys for entirely too long, with or without Couturier in the lineup.
- tangent_man

I agree with that.

on the defensive side yes, offensive side? no, hands are too mediocre and so is the speed.
- JoeRussomanno

There's a lot that goes into the offensive side. Couturier's hands are not mediocre, and his speed is fine. He's not fast, but he skates well enough. His hockey sense and anticipation offsets that.

Didn't watch the game, but it sounds like I didn't miss much. Listened to a bit on the radio and it sounded like the same thing from the other night against Buffalo; not much energy, failure to get pucks in deep and retrieve them, no cycle, poor special teams. It was odd though...I get the sportscenter updates on my phone and early in the 3rd, I received an score update that indicated the Flyers (Laughton) scored a goal to make it 2-2. Was there an actual goal by Laughton that was reviewed and reversed?
- aantny88

No reversed goal.

If Couturier is the blood and guts of this team, there's more wrong than anybody thought.
- tangent_man

Not saying he's the blood and guts, but he plays a hugely important role. I'm just saying it might be a factor.

Bad stretches happen to every team. Montreal started off on fire, got blown out by Vancouver & then blew a 3-0 lead to an inconsistent Oilers team. I doubt any Habs fans are seriously shredding their team.

The key is not to overreact. The team has to prevent this two game slide from becoming a 5 or 10 game problem

Re Couturier:
Maybe some folks will now think twice before disparaging his importance to this team. Good D isn't flashy or pretty, but it's vital to winning games. Couturier, IMO, is the best defensive player on this team and that includes the entire D corps.

Now that being said, showing up utterly flat, like they did last night, is still inexcusable.
- BiggE

They've had bad games with Couturier in the line up. He's an important guy, but he's one guy in the roster.

Things like this happen. Again, look at Montreal. They key is limiting the bad games to one or two, and not allowing it to become 5 or 10 or more. Part of that is leadership, part of it is being able to execute and part of it is everyone stepping up and doing their job. You shouldn't need Mark Messier on the roster to play with a good effort & produce on a regular basis

What really ticks me off is it almost seems every player has a pass first mentality. Yeah just don't shoot the puck just to shoot it, but my god we are so predictable with our passing when we are in the O zone. We fiddle with the puck trying to create these big or fancy chances. It's bad when there is 45 secs left down 2 goals and we are just passing it around the outside of ozone Giroux to Streit back and forth like its a PP instead of trying to shoot and generate a scoring chance. It was like playing keep away despite being down 2

No reversed goal.
- MJL

Very odd, but thanks for the clarification!

What really ticks me off is it almost seems every player has a pass first mentality. Yeah just don't shoot the puck just to shoot it, but my god we are so predictable with our passing when we are in the O zone. We fiddle with the puck trying to create these big or fancy chances. It's bad when there is 45 secs left down 2 goals and we are just passing it around the outside of ozone Giroux to Streit back and forth like its a PP instead of trying to shoot and generate a scoring chance. It was like playing keep away despite being down 2
- arichardson22

I wonder if the overpassing is tied to confidence. When a team has guys that aren't producing, sometimes that team starts trying to create an ideal shot or opportunity, rather than just take the open shot and then crash for the rebound/garbage goal.

At the same time, there's not really a shoot first guy on the team, or at least not one who has regularly been a sniper as a pro player. Guys like Giroux, Voracek & even Schenn can shoot, but they're not out there like Brett Hull or Ovechkin, where the mindset is grip and rip.

getting to the point where you expect the Flyers to lose to the Devils...the Flyers D is dreadful

I wonder if the overpassing is tied to confidence. When a team has guys that aren't producing, sometimes that team starts trying to create an ideal shot or opportunity, rather than just take the open shot and then crash for the rebound/garbage goal.

At the same time, there's not really a shoot first guy on the team, or at least not one who has regularly been a sniper as a pro player. Guys like Giroux, Voracek & even Schenn can shoot, but they're not out there like Brett Hull or Ovechkin, where the mindset is grip and rip.
- Jsaquella

To me they were holding the puck to long looking for that perfect shot in the ozone. Which would lead to a high turnover as they'd give the puck to the dmen who would shoot or pass it into the skates of a well positioned devil. They had passing lanes that they more than often passed up.

As the season is going along they are doing less and less of the things hakstol is trying to instill, namely the one touch passing game.

Some things I thought:
Defense kills this team in trying to transfer out of the zone.
I thought Luke played well
Simmonds hasn't impressed me. I know he is loved on here.
Read has looked bettwr
Top line needs to change. I let b schenn get up there.
Vinny still looks slow.
Couturier is missed.
Leaders are playing small right now.

To me they were holding the puck to long looking for that perfect shot in the ozone. Which would lead to a high turnover as they'd give the puck to the dmen who would shoot or pass it into the skates of a well positioned devil. They had passing lanes that they more than often passed up.

As the season is going along they are doing less and less of the things hakstol is trying to instill, namely the one touch passing game.
- Just5

There's an element of that as well. Their transition game and 200 foot play has dipped the last two games, from where it was in the earlier games. They need to get back to that

shutdown seanie will right the ship. the flyers are just not that good of a team. most people ,I think, realize this.
- rinaldo

sarcasm.....i think what bothers people is the lack of energy and effort that is on display with some regularity. when this team has energy and plays a full 60 min game they are a playoff team (although not elite, but better than buffalo and NJ)....tough to figure why they so often play like it doesn't matter

getting to the point where you expect the Flyers to lose to the Devils...the Flyers D is dreadful
- vejim

"Since 1995"

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!
- ggunky

play boldly. 2 bench minors wasn't good to start the 1 and 3 period. shouldn't happen. this team has no identity and hasn't for a while now.

I didn't have much a problem with the Shultz deal. that being said he has been horrible and is in a bad spot playing where he shouldnt. even towards the end of last year his play dropped. with teams hurting for Dman I wouldn't hesitate to move him.

this team is pretty much made up of mediocre players imo with a few stars who are not producing.