They do have comparable numbers. Different types of players. One kinda drives play and the other picks up his points around the net. I’m not opposed to seeing JVR get more time on the powerplay though.

I guess what it comes down to is the coach is sending a message and figures JVR can handle it.
- Flyers1218

Sounds about right.

I think he needs to play with talent to be effective.
- SuperSchennBros

This is what I would say as well. Over the last 3 years, JVR has our highest shooting % among all players on the Flyers. Is he Stamkos, who even with his impaired movements still is lethal with his sniping? Far from it. But he is the best we have.

Given that we have him, and given that he is never going to play like NAK, is it better to put him in situations that plays to his strengths and weaknesses? Or is it better to goad him into more effort? AV clearly feels it is the latter, and he did get noticeably more effort out of JVR after his earlier demotions in the regular season, so I cannot in all fairness argue he is wrong.

The only adjustment I would make is replacing Konecny with JVR in the 1st pp. All of our SOG occur from the center or left side of the pp anyway (looking from Provy's perspective). Provy's shot is never from the right, Voracek will never get off a good shot from the right, and you can see PKers drifting left throughout the kill. Putting Coots closer to the paint and JVR a little in front (and JVR has excellent touch on deflections and is out biggest player) prevents this sort of cheating.

Yes, I know he plays on the 2nd unit, but the second unit is not much of a pp unit.

This is what I would say as well. Over the last 3 years, JVR has our highest shooting % among all players on the Flyers. Is he Stamkos, who even with his impaired movements still is lethal with his sniping? Far from it. But he is the best we have.

Given that we have him, and given that he is never going to play like NAK, is it better to put him in situations that plays to his strengths and weaknesses? Or is it better to goad him into more effort? AV clearly feels it is the latter, and he did get noticeably more effort out of JVR after his earlier demotions in the regular season, so I cannot in all fairness argue he is wrong.

The only adjustment I would make is replacing Konecny with JVR in the 1st pp. All of our SOG occur from the center or left side of the pp anyway (looking from Provy's perspective). Provy's shot is never from the right, Voracek will never get off a good shot from the right, and you can see PKers drifting left throughout the kill. Putting Coots closer to the paint and JVR a little in front (and JVR has excellent touch on deflections and is out biggest player) prevents this sort of cheating.

Yes, I know he plays on the 2nd unit, but the second unit is not much of a pp unit.
- PT21

I agree. Hard to make adjustments when the top unit scored last night but I do agree with you.

Personally, I’m not a fan of our second unit. We look like we put a bunch of names in a hat and pulled five names.

Voracek being moved to the 3rd line is a combination of Voracek coming off of an injury and looking to get offensive depth through the lineup. Farabee played well on the top line in the round robin. If he can continue to do that, he had a goal last night and Voracek can help a lower line get going offensively, then the Flyers are a deeper and better team. Those are the obvious reasons for the move rather than a 8.5M player not fitting into the top line. Farabee seems to play better on a top scoring line than he does on the 4th line. It's about balance.
- MJL

I understand and dont disagree with the way the coaches are using them. Maybe I used a poor choice of words when I said they are having TROUBLE fitting $7 mil plus players into their lineup. You cant deny that it's odd (remarkable? unusual?) that they have two guys being paid as stars being used to "balance" the lines. And it's a credit to the depth of this team that they are playing so well with their "star" players not performing as well as hoped. But, if Voracek was playing up to his ability he'd be on the first line not balancing out the bottom six. JVR would be putting in major time on the PP if he was doing what he is here for.

Julian rushed to hospital?

Julian rushed to hospital?
- SuperSchennBros

Yep, a couple sites are reporting that... Out for the series. Kirk Muller will assume head-coaching duties

Yep, a couple sites are reporting that... Out for the series. Kirk Muller will assume head-coaching duties
- leon neon

Holy crap! I’m sorry to hear this.

Niskanen has had 2 games now (tampa and game 1) where he missed some assignments and had some bad passes. I wonder if he has some nagging injury or just shaking off rust. He wasn't bad per say but wasn't his usual self.

Myers moment for me was in the scrum behind the net people were pulling each other off and weber tugs at his shoulder and he goes face to face with him and shoves him. Weber didn't push back they just stared each other down as the conflict ended. Physical isn't everything but you stared down one the baddest men in hockey and said eff you. Fearless. And then his poke check on the 2 on 1 was niceeeee too.

The craziest thing about Hart and our organization is that we still have 2 or 3 more goalies who could reach Hart level. What a change. He has the potential to be the greatest goalie in flyers history.

And to my earlier comment. I took issue with what to me was chasing contact with Nak. More than a few bad turnovers but also times he chased contact and let the play get behind him. And 2 games of bad penalties that ended up in our net. Im not saying bench him but im not giving him a free pass either.
- Tfaehner

When Myers wrestled down someone behind the net during a scrum and pinned him to the ice I was like “now he knows he can assert himself more.” I really like what he is turning into. Kind of what I hoped for from Moran (not saying Moran can’t still grow into this player).

I agree. Hard to make adjustments when the top unit scored last night but I do agree with you.

Personally, I’m not a fan of our second unit. We look like we put a bunch of names in a hat and pulled five names.
- SuperSchennBros

That was an unplanned double deflection. Voracek was trying to get out of the way but failed.

And so now, we have a red-hot pp at 7% for the playoffs.

Having said that, on that pp, right from the start TK took Voracek's spot. The first pp unit went off the ice and then came back very shortly thereafter, and this new look continued.

That was an unplanned double deflection. Voracek was trying to get out of the way but failed.

And so now, we have a red-hot pp at 7% for the playoffs.

Having said that, on that pp, right from the start TK took Voracek's spot. The first pp unit went off the ice and then came back very shortly thereafter, and this new look continued.
- PT21

We basically have one PP unit and JvR isn’t apart of it.

When Myers wrestled down someone behind the net during a scrum and pinned him to the ice I was like “now he knows he can assert himself more.” I really like what he is turning into. Kind of what I hoped for from Moran (not saying Moran can’t still grow into this player).
- peesinwind

I don’t know if Myers will ever have the bite Morin has but I’ll say this, our second best player to Carter Hart was Phil Myers last night.

2-1 Jackets

So what’s the deal with Vasilevskiy? Wasn’t he suppose to be the next big thing, which is why Tampa could afford giving up Bishop? Was Bishop the guy, the last time Tampa was able to go on a deep run?

Absolutely not. Who cares about any of that. The Habs are a quick team and they pressure the puck. We need Gostisbehere's elusiveness and puck skills.
- MJL

Not like Roberg Hagg being in the lineup suddenly means Farabee doesn't get hit or something.

The Habs are speedy, elusive and move the puck around very quickly. And they are a tough nut to crack defensively. With all due respect to Hagg, the series is not a great matchup for him.

2-1 Jackets

So what’s the deal with Vasilevskiy? Wasn’t he suppose to be the next big thing, which is why Tampa could afford giving up Bishop? Was Bishop the guy, the last time Tampa was able to go on a desk run?
- SuperSchennBros

He is very, very good.

2-1 Jackets

So what’s the deal with Vasilevskiy? Wasn’t he suppose to be the next big thing, which is why Tampa could afford giving up Bishop? Was Bishop the guy, the last time Tampa was able to go on a deep run?
- SuperSchennBros

He is easily one of the best in the league. All great goalies have bad stints or showings.

Not like Roberg Hagg being in the lineup suddenly means Farabee doesn't get hit or something.

The Habs are speedy, elusive and move the puck around very quickly. And they are a tough nut to crack defensively. With all due respect to Hagg, the series is not a great matchup for him.
- Tomahawk

I am just saying that as the series goes a long, we might want to be more physical, and having one of the team leaders in hits on the bench might not be the most beneficial. Especially since the habs strong forecheck seemed to impact ghost last night. And as was mentioned, the Braun-Hagg pairing seemed to have pretty good chemistry prior to the pause.

Well wishes for Coach Julian.

2-1 Jackets

So what’s the deal with Vasilevskiy? Wasn’t he suppose to be the next big thing, which is why Tampa could afford giving up Bishop? Was Bishop the guy, the last time Tampa was able to go on a deep run?
- SuperSchennBros

I have the game on but with sound off so missed all the goals. Have they been bad today? Anyway, he's very, very good and if they have been bad it's uncharacteristic. Were I a Tampa fan I would have zero concerns with him manning the crease.

Yes. that is EXACTLY what has been said today.

EXACTLY.
- jmatchett383

To a tee! Thank you for the incredible summary, SSB! I must not have been paying as good of attention as others.. Thank you again!

Farabee adds some forechecking "jump" to line 1, that Voracek doesn't have. Not that this is any time to experiment... but I'd like to see how NAK would do with Claude and Coots (and Farabee-Grant-Jake at three)
- leon neon

I think it would be a big mistake to play Aube-Kubel on the top line. That's asking too much of the player. He's a bottom 6 forward. I don't see Farabee as being better than Voracek at anything at this point in time.

I understand and dont disagree with the way the coaches are using them. Maybe I used a poor choice of words when I said they are having TROUBLE fitting $7 mil plus players into their lineup. You cant deny that it's odd (remarkable? unusual?) that they have two guys being paid as stars being used to "balance" the lines. And it's a credit to the depth of this team that they are playing so well with their "star" players not performing as well as hoped. But, if Voracek was playing up to his ability he'd be on the first line not balancing out the bottom six. JVR would be putting in major time on the PP if he was doing what he is here for.
- Dkos

I don't think being odd has anything to do with it. Nor does their cap hit. It's simply about trying to optimize the lineup.

Holy poop. Just need to give Korpisalo the Conn Smythe right now. He’s got like a .985 save percentage.... well over 100 shots in 2 games. Bananas

Post-practice report

https://www.nhl.com/flyer...-news--quotes/c-318459864

Holy poop. Just need to give Korpisalo the Conn Smythe right now. He’s got like a .985 save percentage.... well over 100 shots in 2 games. Bananas
- Boyer83

Accidentally flagged this post. 😬

He has been playing out of his mind. I never really thought much of him but man is he on fire right now.

Post-practice report

https://www.nhl.com/flyer...-news--quotes/c-318459864
- bmeltzer

Sounds like we need to keep drafting kids born on August 13th!

Holy poop. Just need to give Korpisalo the Conn Smythe right now. He’s got like a .985 save percentage.... well over 100 shots in 2 games. Bananas
- Boyer83

Just saw that they won wow. Tampa has their hands full. As hard as Montreal is I want no part of cbj