I think what happened was Hakstol knew, correctly, that Thornton was gonna be out there down low and he didn't want AMac to be in a position to get overpowered

Gudas just is stronger, physically. Thornton was a problem all freaking night. I understood it. Gudas just can't take the freaking penalty he did
- AllInForFlyers

...if only they had another large defenseman who could handle a player like Thornton...

Elliot flopped around a lot last night. Roman Cuckmanek was brought up last night. Great comparison.
- SuperSchennBros

He was shaky int he first. Had the missed poke check and a few other instances where he was flopping a bit. Seemed to calm down as the game moves on, and had that nice sprawling save (although the player hit the side of the net) in the 3rd.

We all know MacDonald doesn't belong on a top pairing but that's just a question of available talent. They could move Gudas up to that spot but that would weaken a lower pairing. Right now based on the personnel available, MacDonald is one of the best choices for that spot next to Provorov until the young defenseman are either thrown to the wolves or gain more experience to gain the trust of the coaching staff to play in that spot.
- MJL

My honest feelings on the players mentioned. Amac was ok. the goal off his skate which I am sure people were ripping him for could have happened to anyone. just a bad break. Manning/Gudas was bad. Just a really bad game. I would dress morin over Manning but that's me. Loved the lines except line 3. just really don't like the mix. as with last year its like lines 1, 2 and 4 are put together and line 3 is the rest. I love Konecny but the rest just meh. Hopefully they just need time to get chemistry

stuff never changes in here

Your Honor, my client, Mr. YuenglingJagr, (side bar: say that three times fast, amiright judge?lol) was merely responding to the plaintiff's post where he admitted to being a fan of the red-headed stepchild hockey team in western Pennsylvania. The plaintiff has also proudly admitted to wearing said team's jersey.
- Scoob

Wasn't your last trial in defense of Chris Vandevelde?

Did you wa...

No we already established that you did not watch the game.

1-I am not assuming anything. I am saying that people are going to have opinions, and when the vast majority of the opinion is the same its usually for a reason. Sometimes the criticism is overblown, and sometimes the denial to that criticism is equally unwarranted.


2- Gudas was bad. Manning was really bad.


- jak521

My post was a general point and not a specific point to last nights game as I previously stated.

Winning the game with less than two minutes to go.. why put a guy who struggled all night out there? He promply takes a boarding penatly and puts the Flyers at a disadvantage.

I get having a defensive player out there.. so put out Provorov and let him finish the final 2 minutes.


- jak521

What was the shift rotation? It is perfectly reasonable coaching strategy to put a veteran defenseman out in that situation. You don't look to play a defenseman on a 2 minute shift at the end of a game. As a coach with that much time you know that there is likely at least 2 shifts to finish the game. You claimed on one point that the criticism offered was fair and correct and then offer an example of a poorly thought out criticism towards a coach. Gudas taking a penalty is on Gudas, not on Hakstol.

Prior to that our PP was (i believe) 3/4. Not only were they 3/4 but they were very good at keeping the zone. The best way to not lose the game is to not give up the puck. Gudas and Manning were pretty much the worst at that last night.
- jak521

The coach knows that the opposition is going to pull the goaltender to take away the PP advantage. Adopting a defensive posture there and changing personnel to suit is a strategy that is sound and one that most coaches would be likely to adopt.

Wasn't your last trial in defense of Chris Vandevelde?
- YuenglingJagr

I believe he wanted to get VdV's name changed to Claude Vilgrain.

To YuenglingJagr:

I view your depiction of me as a "Penguins fan" to be a personal attack and will be reporting you to the mods because you hurt my feelings.
- jmatchett383

...if only they had another large defenseman who could handle a player like Thornton...
- jmatchett383

Ha! I know we don't always talk about the other team, but Thornton looked really good last night. I thought he was the best forward out there, at his age -- I was surprised by how well he was moving

He was hell to deal with at ES

Provorov is so solid. The fact that he is only in his second season and is both great defensively and contributing offensively is incredible. In every key situation last night he was on the ice.

MacDonald wasn't bad and I don't think he's coming out of the lineup. I think Hakstol views him as the needed veteran on defense.

The Flyers could definitely upgrade over the performances of the Manning-Gudas pairing. I'm curious if the powers-that-be would consider inserting a Morin-Sanheim pairing in tonight instead of Manning-Gudas. It's probably wishful thinking, but I don't like the penalties with Gudas. There was no reason to take that second penalty last night, whether or not you think it is a penalty. He didn't need to do that.

Exactly. I understand tweaking the unit to have 2 Dmen on the ice, but why not just put Provorov and AMac out there? At least they are a regular pairing.
- BiggE

http://www.nhl.com/scores...rts/20172018/TV020004.HTM


http://www.nhl.com/stats/shiftcharts?id=2017020004

Wasn't your last trial in defense of Chris Vandevelde?
- YuenglingJagr

Only with regard to the initials used her to represent him. The record clearly reflects that. Ad nauseum lol

VDV - It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous.

Provorov is so solid. The fact that he is only in his second season and is both great defensively and contributing offensively is incredible. In every key situation last night he was on the ice.

MacDonald wasn't bad and I don't think he's coming out of the lineup. I think Hakstol views him as the needed veteran on defense.

The Flyers could definitely upgrade over the performances of the Manning-Gudas pairing. I'm curious if the powers-that-be would consider inserting a Morin-Sanheim pairing in tonight instead of Manning-Gudas. It's probably wishful thinking, but I don't like the penalties with Gudas. There was no reason to take that second penalty last night, whether or not you think it is a penalty. He didn't need to do that.
- ManCity

I think we may see one of the kids in for Manning tonight, but that's all.

Ha! I know we don't always talk about the other team, but Thornton looked really good last night. I thought he was the best forward out there, at his age -- I was surprised by how well he was moving

He was hell to deal with at ES
- AllInForFlyers

He absolutely was. We don't get to see him often, but man he's good.

My honest feelings on the players mentioned. Amac was ok. the goal off his skate which I am sure people were ripping him for could have happened to anyone. just a bad break. Manning/Gudas was bad. Just a really bad game. I would dress morin over Manning but that's me. Loved the lines except line 3. just really don't like the mix. as with last year its like lines 1, 2 and 4 are put together and line 3 is the rest. I love Konecny but the rest just meh. Hopefully they just need time to get chemistry
- nastyflyergirl

We'll see what happens tonight. Coaches tend to not change the lineup after a win.

My post was a general point and not a specific point to last nights game as I previously stated.



What was the shift rotation? It is perfectly reasonable coaching strategy to put a veteran defenseman out in that situation. You don't look to play a defenseman on a 2 minute shift at the end of a game. As a coach with that much time you know that there is likely at least 2 shifts to finish the game. You claimed on one point that the criticism offered was fair and correct and then offer an example of a poorly thought out criticism towards a coach. Gudas taking a penalty is on Gudas, not on Hakstol.



The coach knows that the opposition is going to pull the goaltender to take away the PP advantage. Adopting a defensive posture there and changing personnel to suit is a strategy that is sound and one that most coaches would be likely to adopt.
- MJL

Sure.

I think we may see one of the kids in for Manning tonight, but that's all.
- jmatchett383

What is the point though? They just wanted to give Manning a game to start the season? If he thought Manning was a better option than Morin/Sanheim last night, why would it be different tonight?

What is the point though? They just wanted to give Manning a game to start the season? If he thought Manning was a better option than Morin/Sanheim last night, why would it be different tonight?
- YuenglingJagr

Because he was the worst player on the ice last night, and because they have 3 games in 4 nights.

I'm glad they won and all but I'd rather see them lose with the kids in the lineup than win with the dead weight they threw out there last night.

Someone soon today
- Scoob

Haha

Because he was the worst player on the ice last night, and because they have 3 games in 4 nights.
- jmatchett383

I think he had all preseason to figure that out

I think he had all preseason to figure that out
- YuenglingJagr

Yeah, but remember that no veterans ever try in the preseason.

In fact, many veterans take shame if it looks like they are actually trying in the preseason.


But really, I think that, with Ghost being injured, he wanted to have an extra vet in case it flared up. Since Ghost acquitted himself (health-wise) last night, I could see the move.

I think we may see one of the kids in for Manning tonight, but that's all.
- jmatchett383

That's probably what i would do, because Kopitar and Carter can be the same kind of problem -- as Carter has gotten older, I have noticed him getting more physical in the slot, corners and on the boards. People forget how big that dude is

I understand Gudas being out there at the end of the game. Yes, he took two bad penalties, and he and Manning were by far the worst pairing in last nights game. But Gudas was one of the team's more reliable defenseman last season. There was too much time left to just keep the Provorov pairing out through the end of the game. So would it really have made sense to put Gostisbehere out there trying to protect a lead just because Gudas had been rough up to that point? I'm not sure that's a good decision either.

That's probably what i would do, because Kopitar and Carter can be the same kind of problem -- as Carter has gotten older, I have noticed him getting more physical in the slot, corners and on the boards. People forget how big that dude is
- AllInForFlyers

They didn't call him "Beer can" for nothing.

We'll see what happens tonight. Coaches tend to not change the lineup after a win.
- MJL

wouldn't surprise me either way. would like to see Morin's size vs LA. all in all a good win. I was so happy to see the team speed. even more happy to see the jump in Giroux's game. that is vital if they are to have a successful season