Is the tide starting to turn concerning MacDonald here in Philadelphia?

- MJL

sometimes you don't know what you have til its gone.

When you are at # what in defense depth chart on the ice a point is good. Alt really shouldn't be a Flyer this season. I'm not excusing Gudas being a dumb ass but today in the scheme of things is really a game we should be happy with a point. I really believe with Gudas and A Mac we win today.
- dragonoffrost

How can you be happy with a point on home ice when you have a two goal lead in full control and 4 consecutive undisciplined penalties coupled with a non competitive PK turns the game around.

How can you be happy with a point on home ice when you have a two goal lead in full control and 4 consecutive undisciplined penalties coupled with a non competitive PK turns the game around.
- PLindbergh31

Look big picture. It's the division games where that happens that are worse. Today should be a learning experience.

Look big picture. It's the division games where that happens that are worse. Today should be a learning experience.
- dragonoffrost

I look at it as a point given away. This team doesn't have any margin of error when it comes to making the playoffs. Every point is vital. Agree to disagree I guess.

AMac is what he is. I view him this season as Therien to Rico. Coburn to Kimmo.
- dragonoffrost

Lewis to Martin.

Obviously not the result anyone wanted today. The undisciplined play, obviously, was the main culprit.

There were some bright spots today though, obviously. Obviously, Nolan Patrick being one of them. Thought his good play today was pretty obvious.

In the beginning of the season the Flyers looked like a quicker team that had improved their skill. I really think they need some injury luck to get their full lineup intact to get some continuity going to get into a rhythm. Chemistry can be important.

I look at it as a point given away. This team doesn't have any margin of error when it comes to making the playoffs. Every point is vital. Agree to disagree I guess.
- PLindbergh31

As well as a point given away on Thursday. It gets said many many times, giving away points early on in the season gets harder later to make up.

How can you be happy with a point on home ice when you have a two goal lead in full control and 4 consecutive undisciplined penalties coupled with a non competitive PK turns the game around.
- PLindbergh31

The penalties aspect, I agree with but angst about the PK is misguided. All three goals had a fluke factor to them. Monahan's tip, Hagg blocking a shot that caroms to a flame, elliot making a great save but theyre outnumbered on the rebound and lastly, Leier getting hurt and the Flames used his freed up space to their advantage. Weird bounces, bad breaks or whatever are going to happen to every team, every game, but this was ridiculous. The issue is what caused them to be in those situations in the first place.

Crazy idea. Why not try nolan with g and Jake for a bit and see if coots can drive play with some other linemates. We can always go back to it if it doesn't work.

The only player we truly misses from the lineup today was amac. Gudas has been pretty awful lately and I'd say ytd our worst defenseman. Everyone else has been here and helped us win games when we look good this year. I don't find injuries as an acceptable excuse especially when you had a lead of 3-1 and than 4-3 on home ice.

Is the tide starting to turn concerning MacDonald here in Philadelphia?

- MJL

Let's be honest, from day 1 of this season until he got hurt, he was playing, by far, the best he ever has in a Flyer uniform. If he had played like this the entire time he'd been in Philly, there wouldn't have been nearly as much criticism of him. That being said, I still prefer Hagg on the top pair with Provorov. I like the physical element he adds along with his greater strength and reach.

Let's be honest, from day 1 of this season until he got hurt, he was playing, by far, the best he ever has in a Flyer uniform. If he had played like this the entire time he'd been in Philly, there wouldn't have been nearly as much criticism of him. That being said, I still prefer Hagg on the top pair with Provorov. I like the physical element he adds along with his greater strength and reach.
- BiggE

Ghost MacDonald plz or maybe he can be the sanheim whisperer

Undisciplined penalties, not a coach issue?
Blowing 2 goal leads, not a coach issue?
Staying with a PK when they were clearly having difficulty and not tweeking it before the 3 PPGoals allowed, not a coach issue?

Let's be honest, from day 1 of this season until he got hurt, he was playing, by far, the best he ever has in a Flyer uniform. If he had played like this the entire time he'd been in Philly, there wouldn't have been nearly as much criticism of him. That being said, I still prefer Hagg on the top pair with Provorov. I like the physical element he adds along with his greater strength and reach.
- BiggE

In my opinion MacDonald has been what he has always been, which is a solid top 4 defenseman who is a better player than he has been given credit for and he received a ton of vitriol and criticism that was always undeserved. However not a player without limitations and weaknesses. The commentary from the fanbase on MacDonald has never been fair. I would have no problem keeping Hagg where he is when MacDonald returns because that is better for the Flyers future.

Undisciplined penalties, not a coach issue?
Blowing 2 goal leads, not a coach issue?
Staying with a PK when they were clearly having difficulty and not tweeking it before the 3 PPGoals allowed, not a coach issue?
- Konalover

Nope..undisciplined penalties are on the undisciplined player that took them..

What PK change would you have had them make mistake when thr PK was fine coming in?

Undisciplined penalties, not a coach issue?
Blowing 2 goal leads, not a coach issue?
Staying with a PK when they were clearly having difficulty and not tweeking it before the 3 PPGoals allowed, not a coach issue?
- Konalover

Gostisbehere mouthing off at the ref from the bench is a coaching issue? Gostisbehere in post game interviews took responsibility for being selfish and not being a team player in that situation. Certainly the coach as always deserves part of the criticism but not all of it. A team is not going to all of a sudden "tweak" a PK system and how they play mid game. As Bill Meltzer indicated the PK was on a solid period of play killing off 14 of 15 and 83.3% for the month coming into the game.

Nope..undisciplined penalties are on the undisciplined player that took them..

What PK change would you have had them make mistake when thr PK was fine coming in?
- opeth_pa

An undisciplined players happen because of them not fearing any repercussions from the "coach" for being undiscipline.

After the second goal maybe coach maybe says, "yes good over past 24 but today looks like they are not getting the breaks. Maybe for this third PP let me mix it up for just these remaining few periods to try something different, spark the team etc...."

Ghost MacDonald plz or maybe he can be the sanheim whisperer
- Tfaehner

I'd like to see him mostly with Sanheim at ES, I think Sanheim needs to play with a steady vet. However on the PK and late in the game or in the last minute or 2 of the 1st or 2nd when leading, I'd play him with Manning. Right now, even if he wasn't suspended, Gudas would be the guy in the Cote suite. At some point Manning will be Manning and Gudas would come back in.

An undisciplined players happen because of them not fearing any repercussions from the "coach" for being undiscipline.

After the second goal maybe coach maybe says, "yes good over past 24 but today looks like they are not getting the breaks. Maybe for this third PP let me mix it up for just these remaining few periods to try something different, spark the team etc...."
- Konalover

Explain to me in detail how the coach should handle the undisciplined players from todays game. How specifically should he handle what Gostisbehere did today?

Expecting a team to change a PK system mid game without practicing the change would be stupid.

Explain to me in detail how the coach should handle the undisciplined players from todays game. How specifically should he handle what Gostisbehere did today?

Expecting a team to change a PK system mid game without practicing the change would be stupid.
- MJL

You win coaches can't do jack poop ever!!!
They are there to not motivate/discipline/take any accountability for the way a team plays because the gm gives him poopty players so them sucking has nothing to do with the coach.
God forbid that a professional hockey player would not know how to kill a penalty if he were moved from say 2 pk or has looked good in practice killing penalties na na thats not for a coach to know his pieces.
Just ice a team and stand there and don't take any action whatsoever cause you have bad players....I got it....
Teams need to stop wasting money on coaches cause they have absolutely nothing to do with how a team plays or is playing....
(frank)ing stupid logic!!!

You win coaches can't do jack poop ever!!!
They are there to not motivate/discipline/take any accountability for the way a team plays because the gm gives him poopty players so them sucking has nothing to do with the coach.
God forbid that a professional hockey player would not know how to kill a penalty if he were moved from say 2 pk or has looked good in practice killing penalties na na thats not for a coach to know his pieces.
Just ice a team and stand there and don't take any action whatsoever cause you have bad players....I got it....
Teams need to stop wasting money on coaches cause they have absolutely nothing to do with how a team plays or is playing....
(frank)ing stupid logic!!!
- Konalover

This is just a bunch of hyperbole. I asked a simple question. What should Hakstol have done either during the game or after the fact to handle what Gostisbehere did during the game?

What players should they use on the PK instead?

The problem isn't blaming the coach, it's blaming the coach for everything and not blaming the players for anything.

Again, there seems to be some absurd idea that coaches have to give a pre game prep speech before every game to motivate NHL player being paid millions to play hockey.

Sixers are so much more fun than the Flyers, though today's game was better than usual in the Fun Department.

This team isn't that great, no forward depth, rookie D-men and a decent, but not great, journeymen goalie. Simmonds, Weal, Patrick and Konecny are great players and part of the future but they're underachieving and it is affecting everyone else. Things will get better, but don't delude yourselves into thinking they are much more than a bubble playoff team. The future is bright, give the youth the experience they need, trade as much dead weight as you can at the deadline, bring up more youth to replace them and buy out some bad contracts.

Oh and keep drafting well, two first rounders in a deep draft? Yes please. Add them to Frost, Rubstov, Myers, Morin, Allison, Ratcliffe, Hart and a half dozen more. This team isn't good but it will be. Think long term. Sign Simmonds when he isn't playing well at a discount. Oh and draft Bode Wilde to play with Provorov. Kids a stud.

The Flyers are a one-line team with a VERY young inconsistent defense, and average at best goaltending. This is not a playoff team, but hey, we're not the Coyotes (who we gave their first win to) at least. If anyone had high expectations for them this season, they're nuts.

Sixers are so much more fun than the Flyers, though today's game was better than usual in the Fun Department.
- Mononoke

This game is amazing