Flyers fan here...

Penguins are a cup winning team, the Flyers are not. I would not worry too much. The Flyers have a very slim chance of advancing. Last night when the game was 3-0, it really should have been more like 3-3. Penguins missed many opportunities to score and like the blog said, Murray let softies in and Elliott made some nice saves.

This is a great learning experience for the very young Flyers. All I want is for these two clubs to meet in the postseason for the rest of Crosby's prime. Because our time is nearing and this series is an invaluable experience.

Nice write up. Thanks for not blaming the refs.

Flyers fan here...

Penguins are a cup winning team, the Flyers are not. I would not worry too much. The Flyers have a very slim chance of advancing. Last night when the game was 3-0, it really should have been more like 3-3. Penguins missed many opportunities to score and like the blog said, Murray let softies in and Elliott made some nice saves.

This is a great learning experience for the very young Flyers. All I want is for these two clubs to meet in the postseason for the rest of Crosby's prime. Because our time is nearing and this series is an invaluable experience.

Nice write up. Thanks for not blaming the refs.
- Koplinsky

Pens lose Letang, they're gonna have a bad time.

https://twitter.com/mattf...status/984953524181241857

Link to his hand if anyone wants to see the gash. It definitely needs some stitches.

Pens lose Letang, they're gonna have a bad time.
- j.boyd919

He came back last night and played.

He came back last night and played.
- MattStrat

Yeah I know, but how maNY times in the past have guys come back to play only to miss extended periods of time after?

Such typical classless Flyer fans... showing up in swarms when you win, no where in sight when you lose.

Enjoy your beatdown Sunday, we won't see you around after that game as per your usual cowardice.
- Guile

good lord. 🙄

Yeah I know, but how maNY times in the past have guys come back to play only to miss extended periods of time after?
- j.boyd919

True.

EDIT: DK reporting he has maintenance day but HCMS said he will travel with team and most certainly play.

for a single game, Save % will likely tell you a lot about the game outcome, but little about the goalies. Goals can be great shots, lucky bounces, or goalie mistakes. As well as Elliott played, he was flat out lucky Crosby missed an open net and hit a post.
And neither of those would have been Elliott mistake had they scored.

what i dont understand is how he cut his hand from all of that
- bulet13

Its obvious, Giroux had a switchblade.

I see RW is continuing to just blame Murray and ignore when Letang helps the other team score...

No mention of the PK giving up 2?

I'll agree, keep controlling the shots like that and I love our chances, but there was a little more then just the goalies. Some other Pens had rough moments and some Flyers had brilliant ones.

It was as honest as Horny falling into the boards on that cross check late in the game
- Guile

AMac absolutely cross checked him. It was a penalty, no doubt. But despite what Pierre said, watch the replay. Horny gets his hand out in front when he hits. His head never hits despite it whipping back. Also, Horny is a-ok immediately after such a violent collision. Lastly, when last I looked, AMac isn't a contender for World's Strongest Man, and he didn't push him hard at all. I don't think that would have knocked me off my skates.

I wouldn't have called Horny personally, but he absolutely accentuated it.

AMac absolutely cross checked him. It was a penalty, no doubt. But despite what Pierre said, watch the replay. Horny gets his hand out in front when he hits. His head never hits despite it whipping back. Also, Horny is a-ok immediately after such a violent collision. Lastly, when last I looked, AMac isn't a contender for World's Strongest Man, and he didn't push him hard at all. I don't think that would have knocked me off my skates.

I wouldn't have called Horny personally, but he absolutely accentuated it.
- jmatchett383

yeah this is a pretty fair assessment.

yeah this is a pretty fair assessment.
- stayinthefnnet

this is not the content i come here for. its no fun when rational people agree

Sometimes the Hockey Gods are just fickle. The Pens took (attempted) twice as many shots as the Flyers. Their CF was 66% to 33% for the Flyers. They hit at least 3 posts and missed the net, A LOT. They also frankly passed up on shots when what they should be doing is putting everything they can on leaky Elliot.

There is not a doubt the Flyers played better than game 1, but it would be hard not to. If the Penguins continue to generate that kind of disparity in shot attempts and puck possession, the pucks are going to go in and they are going to win most nights.

The PK is still a mess though. Have to fix that.

Sometimes the Hockey Gods are just fickle. The Pens took (attempted) twice as many shots as the Flyers. Their CF was 66% to 33% for the Flyers. They hit at least 3 posts and missed the net, A LOT. They also frankly passed up on shots when what they should be doing is putting everything they can on leaky Elliot.

There is not a doubt the Flyers played better than game 1, but it would be hard not to. If the Penguins continue to generate that kind of disparity in shot attempts and puck possession, the pucks are going to go in and they are going to win most nights.

The PK is still a mess though. Have to fix that.
- Emperor Filonius

Yeah, the PK and goaltending have been problematic all season.

Sometimes the Hockey Gods are just fickle. The Pens took (attempted) twice as many shots as the Flyers. Their CF was 66% to 33% for the Flyers. They hit at least 3 posts and missed the net, A LOT. They also frankly passed up on shots when what they should be doing is putting everything they can on leaky Elliot.

There is not a doubt the Flyers played better than game 1, but it would be hard not to. If the Penguins continue to generate that kind of disparity in shot attempts and puck possession, the pucks are going to go in and they are going to win most nights.

The PK is still a mess though. Have to fix that.
- Emperor Filonius

This is James Tanner ca. May 2017

I usually like Ryan's blog because he does a good job breaking down the games. I agree with his statistical analysis around the Penguins having the better of the play and definitely were more dangerous throughout the whole game; however, I don't think you can discount some real skill that was on display by other Flyers than Elliott. Couturier had one hell of a game after getting severely outplayed by the Pen's top line last game. Not only did he limit Crosby's line to a sparse amount of chances, he played well offensively. Ivan Provorov also turned in one hell of a performance and we saw a glimpse of what Travis Konecny can do when he gets going.

I think there was a bit of salt in the analysis and lack of credit to some of the key players on the Flyers. I'll be the first to admit the Penguins utterly torched those same players in game 1 with speed, skill, and a phenomenal ability to turn over pucks in keys areas of the ice ("hunting the puck"). There were definitely some adjustments made last night to counteract the game 1 turnovers. I saw more players chipping out pucks earlier instead of trying to make a tape to tape pass when they didn't have time. The Penguin's transition game is still what scares me the most and was on display again last night. If the Flyers continue to turnover pucks at the blue lines and in the neutral zone, the Penguins will run away with it.
- flyers20032002

You don't read a lot of Gunners blogs do you?

Sometimes the Hockey Gods are just fickle. The Pens took (attempted) twice as many shots as the Flyers. Their CF was 66% to 33% for the Flyers. They hit at least 3 posts and missed the net, A LOT. They also frankly passed up on shots when what they should be doing is putting everything they can on leaky Elliot.

There is not a doubt the Flyers played better than game 1, but it would be hard not to. If the Penguins continue to generate that kind of disparity in shot attempts and puck possession, the pucks are going to go in and they are going to win most nights.

The PK is still a mess though. Have to fix that.
- Emperor Filonius

Do you think the Caps fans thought that last season in round 2? This trust the process malarkey is just that. They just played 60 minutes & that is now over, they will play another game tomorrow that has zero connection to that yesterday, it's a new data field that has its own results. They may play horrible & win, or play great & lose. They have to play what's In front of them & adapt to whatever they are faced with.

Hitting the post isn't luck/unlucky, it's just not a good shot for whatever reason. They have to shoot better & be more accurate. Playing the same won't necessarily get them a win if the Flyers take their chances - Again that depends on a lot of things as well & Muzza is pivotal but so is the play leading up to the shots that he will face & hopefully save.

This is James Tanner ca. May 2017
- jmatchett383

Good to see the Devils warming to their task!

Leafs getting steamrolled!

Leafs getting steamrolled!
- Thorny87

They're finished. While they may still have lost with him, losing Kadri seals their fate. I'll be surprised if they win more than one game if they even win one.

Leafs getting steamrolled!
- Thorny87

Broons are a good team that will be hard to beat.

Broons are a good team that will be hard to beat.
- Aussiepenguin

They have the refs in their pocket too...like Philly and Chicago always tend to.

They have the refs in their pocket too...like Philly and Chicago always tend to.
- taleisyreXIII

Yes there's few free passes given to them. (better look out saying that will bring in the Broons trolls ).

The lunacy of NHL officiating: all 4 zebras huddle together, during the Vegas-LA game, to determine if the puck was cleared directly over the glass by Vegas defender (during OT); No such huddle/ conversation happens for two polar opposite boarding incidents (Pens-Flyers).

#NHL Junk science