Questioning the character of the team is the wrong read. Even though they played poorly, they fought back in the 3rd period. Unfortunately, they lost, and that was really a deserving outcome for them. This team has the most points in the league earned when losing entering the 3rd period I believe. That points to their character. They have some work to do still as a team, and they have some areas where talent needs to be upgraded. Flyers didn't play well, but I don't think it was an effort issue.
Pronger isn't here. You do remember the year the Flyers went to the Cup finals? Great playoff run, but they had to win a shootout just to get in the playoffs, and that team had a much better roster, and also had their issues, including having the coach fired in December of that season. All while having Pronger on the team.
- MJL

The Leafs lack high end talent and their position in the standings poorly reflects it, but this is a very well coached team. Resilient and relentless, as good as Toronto has looked since Pat Quinn.

Flyers top 6 and top 4 were solid. The depth was out of its league. While Toronto doesn't have the big line they rarely have lines outmatched rolling shorts shifts. Polak and Matthias would be nice deadline depth additions 😉.

That was a great play by Ghost for sure. Had they gotten to overtime, perhaps there was more on the table with 3 on 3.

The Gudas icing just wasn't necessary. He has played very well this season, but that lost them at least a point.
- ManCity

A lot went wrong on that faceoff.

Faceoff wasn't won cleanly

Schenn got muscled off a little in the battle.

Raffl didn't get to his point coverage fast enough and Hundwick had too much time.

Tough deflection off del zotto.

To me it looked like a team that was getting fatigued a little from the weekend games and battling back in the third.

enough of umberger. Ronnie you lost that trade big time. No need to continue this nonsense. Accept it. RJ has to go.

really want to see laughton down on the phantoms playing 20+ minutes in all situations. not really sure how much he is benefitting by playing 8 minutes a game right now.

enough of umberger. Ronnie you lost that trade big time. No need to continue this nonsense. Accept it. RJ has to go.

really want to see laughton down on the phantoms playing 20+ minutes in all situations. not really sure how much he is benefitting by playing 8 minutes a game right now.
- rinaldo

I can't really say if the Hartnell/Umberger trade is a pure lost. Did Hextall get what he wanted? If his play was to get out of the Hartnell contract faster for the future then I can't say its a lost. All depends on what he wanted in the trade.

As for Laughton, if Servalli is correct and Laughton is no longer waiver exempt, then there is no way they place him on waivers.

He should have reeled in and covered the rebound better. OTOH, with any sort of backchecking support at all -- the entire side of the ice was open, which was why Polak was able to go all the way to the net unimpeded -- it's just a routine cover for a stoppage.
- bmeltzer

They lost this game for one simple reason. From midway through the first period until about a third of the way through the 3rd period, they were outworked. It's really that simple. This has been going on for a couple of years now. It's not on the coaches, or the goalies for that matter, but it is squarely on the rest of the players.

No excuse.

I can't really say if the Hartnell/Umberger trade is a pure lost. Did Hextall get what he wanted? If his play was to get out of the Hartnell contract faster for the future then I can't say its a lost. All depends on what he wanted in the trade.

As for Laughton, if Servalli is correct and Laughton is no longer waiver exempt, then there is no way they place him on waivers.
- J35Bacher

well that's your opinion. it was a total loss imo. people always seem to forget hextall said he liked RJ the player and thought he would help. what's done is done.

why would he be no longer waiver exempt as didn't see that?

Questioning the character of the team is the wrong read. Even though they played poorly, they fought back in the 3rd period. Unfortunately, they lost, and that was really a deserving outcome for them. This team has the most points in the league earned when losing entering the 3rd period I believe. That points to their character. They have some work to do still as a team, and they have some areas where talent needs to be upgraded. Flyers didn't play well, but I don't think it was an effort issue.
Pronger isn't here. You do remember the year the Flyers went to the Cup finals? Great playoff run, but they had to win a shootout just to get in the playoffs, and that team had a much better roster, and also had their issues, including having the coach fired in December of that season. All while having Pronger on the team.
- MJL

Character can't be defined by one loss....It's the next game that will show what this team is made of.....Win or Lose their compete level and FOCUS must be better...worst game of the year for turnovers, at least by the naked eye. These games happen, but It's the response from the players and the coaching that interests me about the next game.

I'm happy with Gudas overall this season, but that was a really bad, unnecessary icing. Very Grossmann-like.

Vinny with another goal tonight

cant make this poop up
- Just5

What's to make up? He knew he is still a viable NHL player. The powers that be in Philly just didn't have a spot for him. Now that he's with a team that had a spot for him he's backing up his words and beliefs with actions. Bravo to him I say!

They lost this game for one simple reason. From midway through the first period until about a third of the way through the 3rd period, they were outworked. It's really that simple. This has been going on for a couple of years now. It's not on the coaches, or the goalies for that matter, but it is squarely on the rest of the players.

No excuse.
- BiggE

to be fair though there have been less efforts like this so far this season ....at least since Mid Novemeber...hmmm the same week Ghost got called up and seemed to energize every one .

I'm happy with Gudas overall this season, but that was a really bad, unnecessary icing. Very Grossmann-like.
- Feanor

wasn't Gudas's finest moment for sure....but the faceoff after was deplorable...fine to lose a draw, but the other four guys on the ice all have a job to do when you lose a draw.

FWIW, this would be my lineup for tomorrow night's game:

Voracek-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Schenn
Raffl-Weal-Laughton
VDV-Bellemare-CMac

MDZ-Gudas
Schultz-Streit
Manning-Ghost

Healthy scratches: White, Umberger and Medvedev

Yeah, I'd bring up CMac. White has had 2 poopty games in a row, he could use a night in the press box. You could flip Read and Raffl if you want, but I think Raffl could add some grit to that line without losing much speed, and Read has looked good playing with Couturier and Schenn in the past.

Character can't be defined by one loss....It's the next game that will show what this team is made of.....Win or Lose their compete level and FOCUS must be better...worst game of the year for turnovers, at least by the naked eye. These games happen, but It's the response from the players and the coaching that interests me about the next game.
- landros 2

Yeah, it can. Especially when it's part of a pattern (losing to bottom feeders) that has been going on for a long time.

They lost this game for one simple reason. From midway through the first period until about a third of the way through the 3rd period, they were outworked. It's really that simple. This has been going on for a couple of years now. It's not on the coaches, or the goalies for that matter, but it is squarely on the rest of the players.

No excuse.
- BiggE

the Flyers need a player who can put his foot up a teams ass

to be fair though there have been less efforts like this so far this season ....at least since Mid Novemeber...hmmm the same week Ghost got called up and seemed to energize every one .
- landros 2

Yes and no. Their record against weaker teams in the standings is pitiful. That tells me that in many of those games, the effort put out by the Flyers was simply unacceptable.

the Flyers need a player who can put his foot up a teams ass
- vejim

This is where not having a Chris Pronger or Kimmo Timonen really hurts.

Laughton can still be demoted without going thru waivers. He has to play 160 NHL games, not 80.

a skater who signs their entry-level contract at 18 will become exempt after playing 160 NHL games, or after 5 seasons (whichever comes first)

https://www.hockeyscap.com/waivers_faq

And Laughton signed his ELC at age 18.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=639440

Laughton can still be demoted without going thru waivers. He has to play 160 NHL games, not 80.



https://www.hockeyscap.com/waivers_faq

And Laughton signed his ELC at age 18.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=639440
- Feanor

If that is the case, I'd rather see him in LHV playing 20 minutes per game in all situations. Between Gagner, CMac and Cousins, they certainly have other players that they can bring up.

As much as that sucked...they defintiely didnt deserve a point

the two things that cheer me up are
1) that play by ghost was a thing of beauty
2) at least it was against the leafs. There has been a lot about the Flyers "playing down to the competition" and whether or not its true, as long as we beat the good teams, it is actually better to have losses like this against a team like toronto instead of one we are going up against for playoff position

If that is the case, I'd rather see him in LHV playing 20 minutes per game in all situations. Between Gagner, CMac and Cousins, they certainly have other players that they can bring up.
- BiggE

ding ding we have a winner

Pretty good assesment. He has even shown very good hands on 5vs 5 but his skating is an absolute liability. That being said in the kings system it doesn't hurt him that much because your center is essentially a 3rd defenseman in your own zone. Move the puck out get a change.

I've been pleasantly surprised by Schenn, he is playing his role moving the puck quickly and been very good clearing the sight lines on the pk.

Overall I hope Weal produces for you guys. What a sick pick off and rush by ghost. that kid is fun to watch.
- QuicksEnnormous

Thank you for posting here and also for your other comments to the poster above.

I really think 99% of the Flyers fans wish Vinnie well and have no hard feelings. He was not a good fit here. He is a classy guy and it's good to see him get a chance to play in LA.

As for Luke he should fit really well in LA. At times his desicion making can be questionable but when he keeps things simple and doesn't get out of position he can be a solid player. He also has a pretty good wrist shot and can contribute scoring at times. Being the other side of the JVR trade here was a tough spot for him for some fans, not his fault but it's reality. He wasn't going to be re signed here as a UFA but maybe he will stick with LA. Good replacement for Matt Greene.

Please post here more often, we appreciate intelligent fans from other teams.

They lost this game for one simple reason. From midway through the first period until about a third of the way through the 3rd period, they were outworked. It's really that simple. This has been going on for a couple of years now. It's not on the coaches, or the goalies for that matter, but it is squarely on the rest of the players.

No excuse.
- BiggE

Yup. The first part of the game the Leafs looked like a dead team going through the motions. After Phaneuf pounded Schenn it gave them jump and they outplayed the Flyers most of the game.

Yes and no. Their record against weaker teams in the standings is pitiful. That tells me that in many of those games, the effort put out by the Flyers was simply unacceptable.
- BiggE

Those games happen....acceptable ? probably not, but I think the next one is the tell tale.... that's my only point.

edit: a game against the Pen's couldn't have come at a better time.

Do we assume Nuveirth is in net tomorrow?

Mason wasn't the issue, just asking?