You have such a way with words

NYI will be tough, got the better of us in the regular season. Playoffs are different though

Puck support will be key...last 2 games of the series the Flyers got away from that. Puck support > quick easy passes > speed through the NZ > controlled entries. No Price to stop dump ins should help too

We'll see
- Giroux_Is_God

I’m hoping for a clean slate and see guys playing a little looser finally getting out of the first round. Would love to see them play with the confidence and swagger we saw before the first round.

It was more like Caps gambled by not paying him and taking a wait + see approach, then he goes and wins a Stanley Cup, and then Caps were like "ok, we'll pay you" and he's like "Nah man, good luck." Up until that point you couldn't argue with their logic. Before they won he was the Andy Reid of hockey. Good teams, high expectations, no championships. If that season turned out like all of his other seasons then they'd be geniuses to let him walk without paying him. But that's life, I guess. They're the goat now (not the good kind of GOAT).
- atibus

You are quite right. I am not sure that the Caps core had the mental toughness to realize their potential. The SC year was the anomaly. Before and after, the norm was under-achievement.

The power play HAS GOT to start going if they want to go any deeper, regardless of the opponent. Hopefully they can come in a bit more relaxed in this series knowing they got the first round monkey off their back finally.
- funmaster18

I think it will. I am concerned that they have to resort to strange gimmicks like Giroux banking passes off the boards behind the net. Hopefully the plan A is good enough for at least the first couple of games.

Loving how this season is going and not trying to take away from tonight but i was reading a lot of writings about other teams and the offseason and it does make me wonder what the Flyers will do. With the cap not moving I have to assume that someone like van Reismdyk might be looked at to move. Possibly Gostisbehere? Bruan I assume might be let to walk. Same with Thompson. I like Grant and wouldn't mind him in a 4th line C role as he can move up if needed. Patrick could be back. Which would be scary with Couturier, Hayes and Patrick down the middle. Lindblom too. I think Aube-Kubel is a solid bottom 6 guy who can move around if needed almost like Raffl.

Just curious as I like this team but will be curious how it moves forward with the way things are in the cap world.

So, what the Flyers strategy for containing Barzal? They don't have Weber or Price. But Habs don't have anyone like Barzal.

Does Couturier match up against Barzal or Nelson? Couturier against Barzal may not go to the advantage of Couturier. Usually, the Center he goes up against is a bigger guy. Barzal is shifty.

That could be the single most important matchup: Barzal versus the Flyers.
- PT21

Couturier owned Barzal in the 3 games they played this season. It was startling.

So how should the Flyers go about trying to shut him down? Two words: Sean Couturier. Look at how Barzal has performed against Couturier over the past three seasons, and then what he’s done when facing anyone other than Couturier.


In 48 minutes against Couturier, Barzal has been a nonfactor, even bordering on a liability for the Islanders. Against anyone else he has torn the Flyers apart.

Now, this is a fairly small sample, and not necessarily predictive of how Barzal will fare against Couturier in this series. But Couturier does seem to be a particularly tough matchup for Barzal. Couturier’s disruptive, high-IQ style has the potential to frustrate Barzal as he attempts to pull off high-difficulty maneuvers with the puck on the attack, and Coots’ puck possession style could force Barzal to do the one thing he doesn’t particularly like doing: playing defense. Barzal also struggles to win faceoffs (41.6 percent in 2019-20), and Couturier is on the shortlist for best faceoff man in the NHL.

The Flyers should aim to get Couturier matched up against Barzal as much as possible. And Islanders head coach Barry Trotz should do all he can to avoid the matchup to give his most talented weapon as much space as possible.

https://theathletic.com/2...nd-round-playoff-matchup/

I think everyone will agree that the Flyers will need to gin up the power play to at least average in order to have a chance. The Habs reminded me of the Smurfs - Rangers, who smoked the heavily favored Flyers 3-0 in the 1983 divisionals. They never stopped skating.

Couturier owned Barzal in the 3 games they played this season. It was startling.








https://theathletic.com/2...nd-round-playoff-matchup/
- MBFlyerfan

Edit: this is what I mean. These small shifty centers present a completely different challenge than the Malkin type he does so well against.

Wow.

Double Edit: Your post said absolutely the opposite of what I thought it said. Now you have made me happy.

I think they do too. Weber completely nullified Couts. How many times did we see him lose a board battle, or be unable to finish in the blue with the jaws of the Weber Python all around him?
- PT21

These are great points. Weber was a beast and completely molested coots repeatedly.

The power play HAS GOT to start going if they want to go any deeper, regardless of the opponent. Hopefully they can come in a bit more relaxed in this series knowing they got the first round monkey off their back finally.
- funmaster18

I agree. My gut tells me it will vs the caps, but who knows? If it’s true they have had bad special teams maybe we can take advantage. If the pp starts clicking look out.

I agree. My gut tells me it will vs the caps, but who knows? If it’s true they have had bad special teams maybe we can take advantage. If the pp starts clicking look out.
- Hextall271

Who is playing the caps?

Who is playing the caps?
- Deasr1

That’s a typo. Should read my gut tells me it will vs the isles.

That’s a typo. Should read my gut
- Hextall271

Oh you navel gazer, you.

Habs and a couple other playoff teams have a couple of nifty deflection plays. I believe Boston is also one of those teams. Now that’s something I wish the Flyers would add to their Repertoire.
- SuperSchennBros

We do. Some may not be as good as past NAK but we do have players that can and have deflected the puck. And they are set plays. Lindblom was good at this. Tk and it appears farabee are as well.

You are quite right. I am not sure that the Caps core had the mental toughness to realize their potential. The SC year was the anomaly. Before and after, the norm was under-achievement.
- PT21

It wasn’t an anomaly. It was coaching.

Loving how this season is going and not trying to take away from tonight but i was reading a lot of writings about other teams and the offseason and it does make me wonder what the Flyers will do. With the cap not moving I have to assume that someone like van Reismdyk might be looked at to move. Possibly Gostisbehere? Bruan I assume might be let to walk. Same with Thompson. I like Grant and wouldn't mind him in a 4th line C role as he can move up if needed. Patrick could be back. Which would be scary with Couturier, Hayes and Patrick down the middle. Lindblom too. I think Aube-Kubel is a solid bottom 6 guy who can move around if needed almost like Raffl.

Just curious as I like this team but will be curious how it moves forward with the way things are in the cap world.
- J35Bacher

It will be an interesting offseason. With the cap trades may be harder to come by. But u f a’s won’t be able to command top dollar. Will be interesting to see how many shattenkirk like contracts happen for a chance to win.

It wasn’t an anomaly. It was coaching.
- Peter Richards

The same coach appeared 3 years earlier, and was there during disappointing exits and leads lost in playoff series before he broke through.

Bye Brett Brown.

Hopefully Ben Simmons is next.

Omfg. Yes. What a gong show. Now Holtby will walk. I think the window for them and Pitt has closed. If I’m pitt, I shop Malkin to get some good young talent and picks or it could be all she wrote for sid.
- Hextall271

Caps should have won though. The fact that they were too soft was their downfall.

In Game 1 they blew a 2-0 lead.

In Game 2 they had the 1-0 lead. Then Isles scored 2-3 unanswered goals

In Game 3 they gave Barzal a breakaway in OT to gift wrap them the game.

Caps Won Game 4

Isles dominated Game 5.

I watched every game in that series. Caps basically gift wrapped the series for them.

Also even though Holtby may walk they still have Samsonov who is their up and coming young goalie who had a great season.

Bye Brett Brown.

Hopefully Ben Simmons is next.
- hereticpride

I like Brett Brown a lot. He handled this team through some tough years with nothing but class and dignity.

I’m not saying it wasn’t the right move because I do think he was a little too player friendly, but to me Brand should also get the boot. That roster is completely incompatible. Not a single guard that can create their own shot, let alone make an open look somewhat consistently.

I’m keeping Simmons and Embiid and build around them. Everyone else is disposable.

Omfg. Yes. What a gong show. Now Holtby will walk. I think the window for them and Pitt has closed. If I’m pitt, I shop Malkin to get some good young talent and picks or it could be all she wrote for sid.
- Hextall271

It’s not closed for them yet. But Rutherford isn’t helping their chances. Hahaha

I like Brett Brown a lot. He handled this team through some tough years with nothing but class and dignity.

I’m not saying it wasn’t the right move because I do think he was a little too player friendly, but to me Brand should also get the boot. That roster is completely incompatible. Not a single guard that can create their own shot, let alone make an open look somewhat consistently.

I’m keeping Simmons and Embiid and build around them. Everyone else is disposable.
- StepfordSam

I like Brown too. He did the best he could with what he was given. Which was nothing, then with parts that just didn’t fit together.

I keep Embiid and everyone else can go. Keeping Simmons will require so many moves around him to get shooters that I just don’t think it’s realistic.

The same coach appeared 3 years earlier, and was there during disappointing exits and leads lost in playoff series before he broke through.
- PT21

The exact same coach?

Edit I realize what you said. But I disagree in thinking them winning was an anomaly. Especially when last year a team in last place turned things around to win the Stanley. That’s more of an anomaly to me. Other wise you can just say who wins each year unless they are in first place all year, is an anomaly. If Trotz has stayed. I think they would be in a much better position. And again they were a playoff team.

Bye Brett Brown.

Hopefully Ben Simmons is next.
- hereticpride

simmons sucks

they really need to give embiid some help 1 man can't do everything

simmons sucks

they really need to give embiid some help 1 man can't do everything
- 2Real

And they’ll be just good enough that if they keep Simmons that they won’t be ever get a top draft pick. I’ve seen enough of the Simmonds show. Guy isn’t ever going to shoot and we don’t have the assets to trade for quality shooters to put any good ones around him.

I have a gentle piece of advice for you, which really should not even be need to be said, so obvious is it.

The piece has already been posted. I posted it with good intentions at heart, but I understand you may not like it, and many others will not either.

Fair enough. I understand.

Now think about how you can limit the damage. By arguing with the poster about the damage already done by your estimation, or by ignoring it.

Anyway, I am done here.
- PT21

This is a nice segue with some of your other comments you've made in the past about people using or not using logic. This is a perfect example of how you're not using logic. Also with your repeated claims of what something is intended to be about. Obviously you don't have the common sense that even though something may not be intended to be offensive, doesn't mean that it isn't. I'm sure Mike Milbury did not intend to offend anyone. Pleas stop with this BS on HB.