Hak deserves credit for benching MacDonald, and making use of his ability to pull the goalie and call a timeout. Good shootout choices, too.

However, the two main issues of his time as coach were on full display again. Yet another woeful first period, and yet another blown 3rd period lead. When the Flyers have the long change they outscore the opposition.

Flyers goal difference under Hakstol
1st period: 166 - 202 = -36
2nd period: 267 - 244 = +23
3rd period: 234 - 238 = -4
Overtime: 26 - 18 = +8
- Feanor

To be fair weak first period starts have been an issue with this core of players going all the way back to Lavi.

He's like a current-day Randy McKay. He can fight and score, he's a real PITA to play against and agreed, I would love him on this team.
- jmatchett383

He plays the way I want and hope Twarynski plays. Might not score as much but brings that PITA play game in and game out

I've liked Hagg's game this year...couple of hiccups here and there but he's playing tougher and more physical. He is making it tough on the other team.
- landros 2

I agree. I'm not going to look at the fancy stats, and I still say any offense from him is a bonus, but he's more assertive out there and is making better reads. Also, aside from just hitting, he seems to be developing a bit of a mean streak, which is what I want out of the Swede.

Jamie Benn vs Miles Wood, good scrap.

https://youtu.be/OfIARzZEsuQ
- DraftandDestroy

that was a good one.

Saying Hagg was terrible in his own end makes me question your hockey knowledge to be honest. Are there times when he might hold the puck a little too long or make a less simple play (chip off glass), yes but to say he was terrible in his own end last night is just dumb. He had a great game.
- ClaudeFather

He gets in trouble when he’s relied on to move the puck. When he has to turn around to retrieve the puck, I am always scared. He sometimes gets caught looking are puck and looses coverage and mobility is an issue too.

That being said, I think Hagg has put together a decent opening to the season to his standards. He’s had his gaffs, but looks okay right now. If we carry a defensive defenseman, I would prefer a player who can skate and consistently make a good first pass — kinda like a Morin potential type.

considering how injury prone the goaltending situation is in Philly, I have a feeling Nuevy will actually see a bunch of action in the net for the Flyers. Besides Elliot has not inspired much confidence so far this year. I, like the rest of the fan base can't wait until the Flyers settle on a franchise type goalie.
- landros 2

AMEN

It has nothin to do with Hockey knowledge it’s literally what I watched at the game lol. In the 1st period he fumbled the puck at least 4 times when he had it on his stick and turned it over. Two of times it almsot directly lead to a goal. He was terrible in his end in the 1st period. Didn’t say he had a bad game but he wasn’t good in the 1st.
- arichardson22

That's not even true and if you watched the game the whole team was sleeping for the first 10 minutes so to say he didn't have a good first period is kind of stupid when not many did. We went into the second down 1-0 showing not much life until about 10 minutes went by, but keep trying to feed that narrative

He gets in trouble when he’s relied on to move the puck. When he has to turn around to retrieve the puck, I am always scared. He sometimes gets caught looking are puck and looses coverage and mobility is an issue too.

That being said, I think Hagg has put together a decent opening to the season to his standards. He’s had his gaffs, but looks okay right now. If we carry a defensive defenseman, I would prefer a player who can skate and consistently make a good first pass — kinda like a Morin potential type.
- VladDrag

I agree, i know he doesn't have the ceiling some of our other young guys have but he has been really solid to start the year.

I agree. I'm not going to look at the fancy stats, and I still say any offense from him is a bonus, but he's more assertive out there and is making better reads. Also, aside from just hitting, he seems to be developing a bit of a mean streak, which is what I want out of the Swede.
- jmatchett383

It was one of the things that scouts said he lacked. Probably trying to show them up.

I agree, i know he doesn't have the ceiling some of our other young guys have but he has been really solid to start the year.
- ClaudeFather

Hagg is a guy your going to need moving forward. You can't pay every defensman 6-8 million. I could see Hagg being that solid dman you can keep around at 3.5-4 million a year.

That's not even true and if you watched the game the whole team was sleeping for the first 10 minutes so to say he didn't have a good first period is kind of stupid when not many did. We went into the second down 1-0 showing not much life until about 10 minutes went by, but keep trying to feed that narrative
- ClaudeFather

This argument is kind of stupid. He thought Hagg didn't play well to start the game and you did, big deal. No need to bash his "hockey knowledge" because he has a different view than you.

It was one of the things that scouts said he lacked. Probably trying to show them up.
- VladDrag

How's sleep deprivation treating you?

FWIW, I think the problems with the Flyers D are due more to ill fitted pairings than anything else

AMac/Folin, Gudas and Hagg are all going to be more successful players if paired with a skilled, mobile, puck moving partner. However, if you are wedded to keeping Provorov/Ghost as a pairing this is impossible right now. Until you replace one of the less skilled members of this group with a guy like Myers, I think the team would be better off if they broke up the top pair and went with:

Provorov-Gudas
They often play together on the PK anyway so it's not like they are strangers. Gudas has been solid this season and I see no reason not to give this pair a look in situations other than PK.

Hagg-Ghost
This pair brings the added dimension of both players being able to play the off side, so you can switch them up based on the line you are matching up against and/or for D and O zone faceoffs. They have some experience together and Ghost is playing well enough now that I think he'd still be successful with any partner.

Sanheim-Folin (until AMac is healthy)
This is the classic old school offense/defense pair that can settle nicely, especially once AMac returns as he and Sanheim seemed to be developing some good chemistry down the stretch last year.

Now, if at some point, you move a veteran (Gudas or AMac) and add Myers to the mix, then you can put Provy and Ghost back together as a top pairing and your secondary pairs would be:

Sanheim-AMac or Gudas
Hagg-Myers

This argument is kind of stupid. He thought Hagg didn't play well to start the game and you did, big deal. No need to bash his "hockey knowledge" because he has a different view than you.
- ajw12

Go take your lunch break lol

Glad they got the 2 points but their start this season has been pretty mediocre asside from 2 games vs Vegas. 2 wins vs upcoming divisional foes would be a big step in the right direction.

Weal played great last night. I hope they continue his opportunity at C with Konecny and Lindblom. Id actually shake up the other 2 scoring lines.

Giroux Patrick Voracek
Laughton Couturier Simmonds
Lindblom Weal Konecny

He gets in trouble when he’s relied on to move the puck. When he has to turn around to retrieve the puck, I am always scared. He sometimes gets caught looking are puck and looses coverage and mobility is an issue too.

That being said, I think Hagg has put together a decent opening to the season to his standards. He’s had his gaffs, but looks okay right now. If we carry a defensive defenseman, I would prefer a player who can skate and consistently make a good first pass — kinda like a Morin potential type.
- VladDrag

I think Morin does have a higher ceiling than Hagg. His reach is just ridiculous which will aid the PK and of course, he brings an element of flat out nasty that no other current Flyer Dman brings. I also think he has better puck skills than Hagg and makes a better, more accurate first pass. However, he is going to need to get healthy first. Since he's not expected back until Feb, I think this will pretty much be a lost season for the big guy and he will be behind Hagg on the depth chart in 18-19, but I could absolutely see him winning a spot in the top 6 for 19-20

How's sleep deprivation treating you?
- jmatchett383

Actually okay. He doesn’t cry too much. I have been home last two weeks with an ability to take naps. We’ll see what happens when I get to the office

Go take your lunch break lol
- ClaudeFather

lol - thanks for the reminder - gotta make sure I have a nice cup of joe for today's show

Actually okay. He doesn’t cry too much. I have been home last two weeks with an ability to take naps. We’ll see what happens when I get to the office
- VladDrag

Good stuff. Glad to hear you're all getting by.

That's not even true and if you watched the game the whole team was sleeping for the first 10 minutes so to say he didn't have a good first period is kind of stupid when not many did. We went into the second down 1-0 showing not much life until about 10 minutes went by, but keep trying to feed that narrative
- ClaudeFather

I watched the whole game dude. Even my girlfriend who is new to hockey asked twice “what the hell is #8 doing there.” Just because it was 1-0 doesn’t mean play wasn’t good. I’m not “feeding a narrative” it was a simple observation, and what I saw. I like Hägg unlike most people on this board. And think people rip on him for no reason. But Again, I said he had a bad 1st period, not game. You can relax about your Swedish crush.

Has Freidman passed Myers on the depth chart? He is rarely mentioned.

FWIW, I think the problems with the Flyers D are due more to ill fitted pairings than anything else

AMac/Folin, Gudas and Hagg are all going to be more successful players if paired with a skilled, mobile, puck moving partner. However, if you are wedded to keeping Provorov/Ghost as a pairing this is impossible right now. Until you replace one of the less skilled members of this group with a guy like Myers, I think the team would be better off if they broke up the top pair and went with:

Provorov-Gudas
They often play together on the PK anyway so it's not like they are strangers. Gudas has been solid this season and I see no reason not to give this pair a look in situations other than PK.

Hagg-Ghost
This pair brings the added dimension of both players being able to play the off side, so you can switch them up based on the line you are matching up against and/or for D and O zone faceoffs. They have some experience together and Ghost is playing well enough now that I think he'd still be successful with any partner.

Sanheim-Folin (until AMac is healthy)
This is the classic old school offense/defense pair that can settle nicely, especially once AMac returns as he and Sanheim seemed to be developing some good chemistry down the stretch last year.

Now, if at some point, you move a veteran (Gudas or AMac) and add Myers to the mix, then you can put Provy and Ghost back together as a top pairing and your secondary pairs would be:

Sanheim-AMac or Gudas
Hagg-Myers
- BiggE

Totally agree.

Also I would like to see Konecny back on that top unit. they need to get him going and I think getting him with Couturier and Giroux would help. Also, while i know Voracek plays well with Giroux, I just prefer him on the 2nd line where he is the main guy for some reason. Once Patrick is healthy I would look to this:

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
Lindblom - Patrick - Voracek
Weal/Laughton - Laughton/Weal - Simmonds
Raffl - Lehtara - Weise

Totally agree.

Also I would like to see Konecny back on that top unit. they need to get him going and I think getting him with Couturier and Giroux would help. Also, while i know Voracek plays well with Giroux, I just prefer him on the 2nd line where he is the main guy for some reason. Once Patrick is healthy I would look to this:

Giroux - Couturier - Konecny
Lindblom - Patrick - Voracek
Weal/Laughton - Laughton/Weal - Simmonds
Raffl - Lehtara - Weise
- J35Bacher

Those are the lines I proposed earlier. I like Vorobyev, but he is struggling and probably would benefit from more time at LHV.

leave Laughton at Wing. no need to keep switching him around. Go get another center if need be.

Good stuff. Glad to hear you're all getting by.
- jmatchett383

👍