My biggest gripe with Hak is game management. No timeout, no goalie switch, I just don’t get it. Terrible D zone play, huge gaps between forwards and D. They looked like mites on ice at times out there. To go from how they played in Vegas to this horror show in less than a week is troubling to say the least.
- BiggE

Feels like this team needs Mike Keenan type of coach.

I mean the game wasn't pretty whatsoever and I stayed for the whole thing despite having to listen to the annoying fair weather fans there most of the game. But it's game 3 let's relax a bit here.

Hey look on the bright side, the last team to lose the home opener at wells fargo by a score of 8-2 went on to win the Stanley Cup....
- ajw12

exactly

40 saves..wow

48 shots....wtf?

The only thing I felt for Elliott tonight was bad. He needs to stop that first goal regardless of whether or not it was a 2 on 1. As for the second, he left a bad rebound, but to be fair the shot was a changeup and crossed up his timing slightly. No back coverage on Pavelski who got a gift.

The rest of the game was up to the leadership group and the coach to right the ship. Neither did anything.

It was inexcusable that Hakstol left him in there to wilt on the vine. I kept thinking about the Roy debacle in Montreal. Especially after goal 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What was also inexcusable was how this team responded.

At least Ghost recognized that they hung their goalie out to dry. They allowed Moose to take all the heat, all the boos, all the jeers when he made one of his 40 saves. The game could have been 15-2. That is how bad it was.

One of the most pathetic efforts and results I have ever seen as a fan of this team.
- MBFlyerfan

Second year in a row the score is 8:2 in home opener. Last year's loser went on to win a SC. There is hope.

We smoked Washington early on last season and they won the cup soooo
- bulet13

Yeah, but they weren't coached by Hakstol so...

- Scoob

His leadership style is sorely missed.

#3 for sure (all of this really), I just feel like Elliott plays a defensive game if that makes sense. Side angle shots he is often sideways. that first goal he had so many holes i think i could have scored (obviously not but you know what I mean). I am just not a fan. sure he plays like he did vs Vegas on occasion and he is probably the best option between the 3 goalies on the NHL roster but god I pray Hart is the real deal. the building was electric and they came out hard and boom 2 weak goals took the air out of the building
- nastyflyergirl

Both goals were total team breakdowns, but FFS we need a goalie who can bail us out on occasion there. The five hole goal, Provy takes away the pass completely and Elliot was just late to get down. Almost looks like he lacks that explosive ability to go down honestly. We were joking that he looked like and 80's goalie. Stacking pads and standing up and stuff. The second goal was a horrendous rebound and (frank) if I know what Mac was doing there, but just brutal.

The third goal should have been a penalty on Pavelski for the crosscheck on Ghost.

The fourth we though Hak was gonna challenge again.. He and Murphy looked long and hard at it, but then he waved the ref off and then they announced the review from upstairs was a good goal. Elliot had NO shot at that one. Fluky.

5th he had no shot on either. Kane had that right in the slot with all day. Shooters goal.

6th was a powerplay rebound goal.. again not on Elliot. I think it deflected or something too.

The 7th goal was absolutely horrible on Mac. First he watches Hertl beat him to the puck, then wiffs on a poke and falls over?? and then Hertl makes a good move on a bad aggressive play by elliot. Oh well at that point.

The 8th was a short handed two man break away.. God only knows how the (frank) that happens.

To be honest guys, I think its time for your team to gut itself and rebuild. you have quality young D, a promising young G and Patrick. Since we know that G and D take a little longer to mature, now should be the time to clean house up front and tank. That way when the next 2-3 top of the draft picks get there, the D will be the leaders, the goalie will be ready and the top end talent up front can just be plug and play.

Your team reminds me of Buffalo when we had Vanek, Roy, Pomminville and Miller as the leaders. There is talent, but its just not getting it done. Plus, itll be a few years before you can challenge Toronto and Tampa (the cap is going to catch up to them ). Otherwise, in 3 years when Giroux, Simmonds, and Voracek are all mid 30 and you've finished 6th, 7th or 8th in the East the last 3 years, where are you going to be.

I think its a perfect time for the rebuild
- RippedFuel

The Flyers have rebuilt on the fly. They don't need to tank. They probably need a move that might reshape the core but they are a young team and will be fine. We all really are over reacting. Even myself.

How long has the Buffalo rebuild been going on? Did tanking really change you much?

tanking isn't any guarantee to fixing anything.

Keith Jones is employed by Comcast and a former Flyer. He does his best to not be critical of the team. Jak agreed that Hakstol was animated for 30 seconds. Perhaps that was the same point in the game that Jonesy was describing?
- Dkos

Its exactly the same spot. I said that from the get go too. It looked like he said "Are you (frank)ing kidding me.. or youve gotta be (frank)ing kidding me" and then I couldnt see what he was saying cause he turned to who ever it was that was climbing over the boards, and he sent a different line out. But he turned from his left (our net) and walked to his right while barking.

Either way.. Him being animated for a half of a minute in an 8-2 game is EXACTLY what I was talking about.

I also admit that I have no clue whats going on in the locker rooms obviously.

Provy had a horrific night and smashed his stick as he exited the ice at the end of the game. Most of the guys just had blank stares. Sorta like Hak.

Both goals were total team breakdowns, but FFS we need a goalie who can bail us out on occasion there. The five hole goal, Provy takes away the pass completely and Elliot was just late to get down. Almost looks like he lacks that explosive ability to go down honestly. We were joking that he looked like and 80's goalie. Stacking pads and standing up and stuff. The second goal was a horrendous rebound and (frank) if I know what Mac was doing there, but just brutal.

The third goal should have been a penalty on Pavelski for the crosscheck on Ghost.

The fourth we though Hak was gonna challenge again.. He an Mullen looked long and hard at it, but then he waved the ref off and then they announced the review from upstairs was a good goal. Elliot had NO shot at that one. Fluky.

5th he had no shot on either. Kane had that right in the slot with all day. Shooters goal.

6th was a powerplay rebound goal.. again not on Elliot. I think it deflected or something too.

The 7th goal was absolutely horrible on Mac. First he watches Hertl beat him to the puck, then wiffs on a poke and falls over?? and then Hertl makes a good move on a bad aggressive play by elliot. Oh well at that point.

The 8th was a short handed two man break away.. God only knows how the (frank) that happens.
- jak521

Elliott kicked that rebound right to the Shark player standing right next to him for an easy tap-in.

Elliott's rebound control is terrible.

The Flyers have rebuilt on the fly. They don't need to tank. They probably need a move that might reshape the core but they are a young team and will be fine. We all really are over reacting. Even myself.

How long has the Buffalo rebuild been going on? Did tanking really change you much?

tanking isn't any guarantee to fixing anything.
- J35Bacher

Your three best forwards are soon to be all over 30. Are you going to win this year??? next year?? youre going to challenge Toronto or Tampa in the next 2-3 years? Fast forward 3 years...Giroux is 33 and lost a step. Vorachek is 32 and cares even less than he does now...and Simmonds has another 3 years of injuries....who is going to replace them?? Patrick??? Couturier is a quality #2 but where is all the top end talent??

Our rebuild got off track by Tim Murray making a LOT of bad calls...Lehner and OReilly first and foremost. if finishing 7th in the east and getting Toronto every year in the first round is OK with you.....then who am I to argue?

Elliott kicked that rebound right to the Shark player standing right next to him for an easy tap-in.

Elliott's rebound control is terrible.
- ggunky

Im not blaming Elliot on that one. It deflected up high off of Lindblom or Voro and he had to throw his leg out.. It was bang bang .

I wont argue with your second point though.

I love the sky is falling haters. Hope that cave you crawled out of wasn’t too cold.

ONE GAME.

They win tonight and we have a reset. They lose and there might be a coaching change in the near future. Everybody chill out it’s gonna be irie.

His leadership style is sorely missed.
- missingmike

I loved it when DiPietro wanted to fight Carcillo and Pronger just put DP in a bear hug and started laughing at all the lunacy that was going on.

I love the sky is falling haters. Hope that cave you crawled out of wasn’t too cold.

ONE GAME.

They win tonight and we have a reset. They lose and there might be a coaching change in the near future. Everybody chill out it’s gonna be irie.
- coffee junkie

We have become Eagles fans.

Well, hopefully THAT kind of game is now out of the team's system nice and early this year.

I wouldn't make changes based on last nights game, lets see how they play tonight.

I will say, and I'm not one to criticize the coach too much, but I'd like to see him sometimes be a little more reactive to what's going on in the game. I can't remember a time where Hakstol has pulled a Lavi-esque timeout to change the game momentum. Last night was an opportune moment for that move. In the past when asked about this Hak has mentioned the need to save that timeout for review-able plays but I'd rather he was more in the moment instead of saving it.

Well, hopefully THAT kind of game is now out of the team's system nice and early this year.

I wouldn't make changes based on last nights game, lets see how they play tonight.

I will say, and I'm not one to criticize the coach too much, but I'd like to see him sometimes be a little more reactive to what's going on in the game. I can't remember a time where Hakstol has pulled a Lavi-esque timeout to change the game momentum. Last night was an opportune moment for that move. In the past when asked about this Hak has mentioned the need to save that timeout for review-able plays but I'd rather he was more in the moment instead of saving it.
- shekkie

Id make some tweaks.

Giroux Couturier Voracek
Lindblom Patrick Konecny
Laughton Vorobyev Simmonds
Raffl Lehtera Weise

We smoked Washington early on last season and they won the cup soooo
- bulet13

except washington had a good coach and team

I love the sky is falling haters. Hope that cave you crawled out of wasn’t too cold.

ONE GAME.

They win tonight and we have a reset. They lose and there might be a coaching change in the near future. Everybody chill out it’s gonna be irie.
- coffee junkie

it's not just one game is a culmination of 4 years

The 8th was a short handed two man break away.. God only knows how the (frank) that happens.
- jak521

Was it on the first or second PP unit? I honestly forget.

Id make some tweaks.

Giroux Couturier Voracek
Lindblom Patrick Konecny
Laughton Vorobyev Simmonds
Raffl Lehtera Weise
- Baxter27

I don't want Weise.

Rather Twarynski or Aube-Kubel.

except washington had a good coach and team
- 2Real

If this team is as bad as everyone thinks they are because they went 1-2 vs 3 good teams then Hakstol will be fired and players will be traded.

Was it on the first or second PP unit? I honestly forget.
- Scoob

They blamed Patrick on the broadcast but to me it was Vorobyev getting exposed at the point. He got a pass on his off hand and fell over trying to recieve it.

The Flyers have rebuilt on the fly. They don't need to tank. They probably need a move that might reshape the core but they are a young team and will be fine. We all really are over reacting. Even myself.

How long has the Buffalo rebuild been going on? Did tanking really change you much?

tanking isn't any guarantee to fixing anything.
- J35Bacher

This is not Pittsburgh - creators of the tank.

Turned it off after the "knowledgeable" fans gave Elliott the Bronx cheer when we made a save after the 4th goal. He was the least of their problems last night.

That said, as bad as it was, it was one game early in the season. They all matter the same in the end, but it's just one game. Move on, come out hard tonight, and move on.
- jmatchett383

I agree, but man.. I do not get the rationale from Hak at all with not calling a timeout and leaving Elliott and not going to Pickard. It's lunacy. Elliott got hurt last year because we played him too much. Perfect opportunity to get him a break. If you wanted to see how he responded in the second, ok maybe..but once 5 goes in..time to take him out.

You embarrassed him, and I don't care about the rationale. He has to come out.

Was it on the first or second PP unit? I honestly forget.
- Scoob

2nd ... Voro tried to pass the puck or something to Patrick and hit the d-man and they had a two man breakaway lol