We are comparable. The systems maybe aren’t the best matchup. But they have executed. And have one of the best coaches guiding them well.
- Peter Richards

Not exactly comparable. We cannot match their speed ( you can say that about most teams we play)

Just like his description earlier of what ghost hasn’t brought.
- Peter Richards

No, its a completely different situation. Its embarrassing that you don't realize that.

No, its a completely different situation. Its embarrassing that you don't realize that.
- MJL

You missed the point. Not embarrassing at all. For me anyway.

Exactly. The turnovers by in large self inflicted. The Islanders have a strong heavy forecheck game, but the Flyers are just recklessly passing the puck around in their own end like it's a grenade.
- PLindbergh31

I think there is some legitimacy to saying Flyers D is young for playing playoff hockey, both because they are indeed young and because of the kind of mistakes they have made. (Having said that, imo Niskanen is no longer a legit #2D when playing deep in post-season, and Provorov is, well, at best not there yet).

To me, the key has been the complete ineffectuality of the first line. I think that's structural. They are not quick enough to score on the rush, and they are not creative enough to break down a playoff-defense when it is set. Lots of board battles, perimeter shots, scrambles around the net. 1st line should be able to create mismatches one on one. Never happens. I always feel the chances of them scoring on any given shift is a low one at best.

Shifts burden of scoring to 2nd line. There, Konecny is young and inexperienced for this kind of hockey. There is less space for him now. Hasn't managed to adjust. Laughton played poorly before his benching (but has come on strong after that, very gratifying). Anyway, 2nd line has not done much, save for some flashes from Hayes. But again, like the D, could be youth.

Down to 3rd line. Grant/JVR/Pitlick etc are not going to reverse your offensive misfortunes. They will flourish only when the first 2 lines start to score. And so on.

Bottom line, no pun intended: dominoes toppling is your 1st line players playing no more than an advanced form of the 'energy game.'

Not exactly comparable. We cannot match their speed ( you can say that about most teams we play)
- DaveofYork

This is something I hope we can address sooner that later. No one seems to have break away speed on our team. No one.

If grant pitlick and Nate all walk. Yes we have lindblom and maybe Patrick. I would consider Grabner for the 4 th line for a year or two. Pk ability and pure breakaway speed. But not a long term solution or fix. Frost will be quick but a lot of nhl player s are. Two or three of our centers aren’t breakneck either.

I’d the three above I am interested in keeping pitlick around.

Self inflicted wounds being capitalized on by a hard-working team.
- Scoob

The "a little bit of both" approach!

You missed the point. Not embarrassing at all. For me anyway.
- Peter Richards

Nope, didn't miss anything. You're free to elaborate though.

The "a little bit of both" approach!
- aantny88

One of which can be changed.

This is something I hope we can address sooner that later. No one seems to have break away speed on our team. No one.

If grant pitlick and Nate all walk. Yes we have lindblom and maybe Patrick. I would consider Grabner for the 4 th line for a year or two. Pk ability and pure breakaway speed. But not a long term solution or fix. Frost will be quick but a lot of nhl player s are. Two or three of our centers aren’t breakneck either.

I’d the three above I am interested in keeping pitlick around.
- Peter Richards

We dont even know what we have in Allison or Lyncski yet let alone the chance for Twarinski and Ratcliffe to step up in camp.. I'd rather have young legs get a chance...especially with a flat cap.

He hasn't been in a bonafide hockey game of any kind in 5 1/2 months. There's barely practice time in the bubble. The pre-bubble scrimmages (which are not a substitute for real games) are now a month ago. He had a bit of a rollercoaster first pro year (which is understandable and not cause for long-term alarm).

Right now, plain and simple, he is not a viable lineup candidate for a potential elimination game.
- bmeltzer

Same goes for Lindblom I guess. But both he and Frost do bring an element of offence that is missing....I don’t think it’s fair to the players to expect anything but at this point I’d be up for some line up moves...in the end those decision are with the coach. Seems a tad desperate, but that’s where they are heading into tonight.

This is something I hope we can address sooner that later. No one seems to have break away speed on our team. No one.

If grant pitlick and Nate all walk. Yes we have lindblom and maybe Patrick. I would consider Grabner for the 4 th line for a year or two. Pk ability and pure breakaway speed. But not a long term solution or fix. Frost will be quick but a lot of nhl player s are. Two or three of our centers aren’t breakneck either.

I’d the three above I am interested in keeping pitlick around.
- Peter Richards

With the salary cap being flat the next few years, the Flyers like some others, will have to turn to more youth....some of those roles being filled by guys like Grant, Pitlick and Thompson will probably be eaten up by some of the youth that is coming down the pipe.

We dont even know what we have in Allison or Lyncski yet let alone the chance for Twarinski and Ratcliffe to step up in camp.. I'd rather have young legs get a chance...especially with a flat cap.
- juiced

Agreed.

Putting Frost into the lineup would reek of desperation and most likely not produce positive results. Ghost playing might help (especially if they put him on PP1) but I don't think AV is going to change the lineup. I think at this point, he'll go down with the ship and the crew that got them this far. Any word on why Raffl isn't playing? Is he hurt?
- aantny88

A move like Frost would reek of desperation ....but that is their current situation.

One of which can be changed.
- Scoob

Must be changed. The wound from turnovers are not survivable in this series.

Hopefully they go out meekly and the gm os forced to make the needed changes

One of which can be changed.
- Scoob

Absolutely! I only hope it isn't too late!

To me, the key has been the complete ineffectuality of the first line. I think that's structural. They are not quick enough to score on the rush, and they are not creative enough to break down a playoff-defense when it is set. Lots of board battles, perimeter shots, scrambles around the net. 1st line should be able to create mismatches one on one. Never happens. I always feel the chances of them scoring on any given shift is a low one at best.


- PT21

I would disagree on this. You score consistently on the rush when creating transition off of turnovers and quick puck movement. If you don't create that then you're constantly trying to score against a 5 man defensive unit. Creativity doesn't break that down. You don't get mismatches in that situation due to team puck support. You break that down by winning puck battles, playing high to low and getting pucks to the net while crashing the net. No line is going to break down a disciplined team defense consistently. That's why teams like the Isles have the low GA that they have. Think about the goals the Isles have scored and how? Off of turnovers resulting in blown coverages due to the disorganization is causes.

This is something I hope we can address sooner that later. No one seems to have break away speed on our team. No one.

If grant pitlick and Nate all walk. Yes we have lindblom and maybe Patrick. I would consider Grabner for the 4 th line for a year or two. Pk ability and pure breakaway speed. But not a long term solution or fix. Frost will be quick but a lot of nhl player s are. Two or three of our centers aren’t breakneck either.

I’d the three above I am interested in keeping pitlick around.
- Peter Richards

Grabner!

Hopefully they go out meekly and the gm os forced to make the needed changes
- login

Be interesting to see what they can do going forward....or how this ends tonight. Last chance to elevate their game and perhaps keep playing. I think these playoffs have pointed to some area’s that will most certainly be addressed when this is over.

Absolutely! I only hope it isn't too late!
- aantny88

The Islanders haven't won four games yet, so it's not too late.

We really gotta pick up some speed in the offseason. And a goal scorer. Preferably in one package.

Hope they bring ghost in and shake the D up some. Move Konecny to third line. Move up Pitlick or JVR to line 2. Gotta try something different.

Hopefully they go out meekly and the gm os forced to make the needed changes
- login

Changes will be extremely limited in the offseason due to cap constraints and the high cap hits/NMC for some of the older vets. Not that I agree with moving on from G and Jake. JVR I could care less if they jettison him. Same with Grant and Thompson. Can't really count on Lindblom, though I hope he's fully recovered or Patrick. Ghost will most likely want to or will be traded.

We really gotta pick up some speed in the offseason. And a goal scorer. Preferably in one package.
- hereticpride

Unless they make some sort of big splash, I see them trying to trade Gostisbehere for a replacement for Braun and that's about it.

Hopefully they go out meekly and the gm os forced to make the needed changes
- login

I think if you are expecting big changes going into next season you are going to be disappointed. A lot of their high priced players have contracts that will be extremely difficult to move. Perhaps if they are willing to take a bad contract back as a change of scenery type deal.

The upgrades hopefully will be a healthy Lindblom and Patrick replacing Grant & Thompson.