The Flyers seem to struggle more at clearing their zone than other teams. It's not just an "any given night" thing. It's been going on a long time with them.
-bendecko

It has been going on for a long time and the only constant here is the players, since as we know there have been plenty of coaches over the past several years. I cautioned over the weekend that even though the Flyers got 2 shutouts, they were not playing well, giving up way to many quality scoring chances and the only reason the won those games is because the Sabres didn't bury their chances. Well last night Pittsburgh buried their chances.

Its not about bad goaltending, slow skating or an unwillingness to shoot the puck any more, its about being an intelligent team that knows when to take risks and when to make the percentage play, and this group of players for whatever reason just does not do this well. Ghost's dumb play in the 2nd period last night is just one example, but there are others, like giving up a 4 on 2 when on the PP, or a simple thing like TK understanding he has to get the puck deep to get the extra attacker versus trying to make a move at the blue line. This is just a dumb team overall right now.

they suck we need captain that can actually lead against the top teams not just feed off of the trash in the league
- 2Real

Yes, this! Fully agreed

It has been going on for a long time and the only constant here is the players, since as we know there have been plenty of coaches over the past several years. I cautioned over the weekend that even though the Flyers got 2 shutouts, they were not playing well, giving up way to many quality scoring chances and the only reason the won those games is because the Sabres didn't bury their chances. Well last night Pittsburgh buried their chances.

Its not about bad goaltending, slow skating or an unwillingness to shoot the puck any more, its about being an intelligent team that knows when to take risks and when to make the percentage play, and this group of players for whatever reason just does not do this well. Ghost's dumb play in the 2nd period last night is just one example, but there are others, like giving up a 4 on 2 when on the PP, or a simple thing like TK understanding he has to get the puck deep to get the extra attacker versus trying to make a move at the blue line. This is just a dumb team overall right now.
- jd250

So dumb that they sit in the top 10 in the league in winning percentage. So dumb that as I listen to NHL radio, every analyst has the Flyers as a top 10 team in their power rankings.
Your analysis of the Sabres games is way off base. The Flyers dominated both of those games. They weren't close and the Sabres were never in the game. You lack the understanding of score effects.
The Flyers definitely have some areas where they need to get better and I'm disappointed in last night's game. They simply didn't play well. As another poster said, they key is how they respond.

I'll finish with I'm not at all shocked that you're overreacting to one loss.

20 points 17 games can't carry them every game oh and he has 10 goals to giroux's one
- 2Real

If we had pavelski on a skinner deal all of our problems would be immediately solved.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap:
- bmeltzer

Bet hexy had a talk with Sullivan beforehand about how best to beat a team that he largely put together. Regardless, I bet he’s smiling today.

Jarry played much better than last time we faced them and that was a big difference although a lot of shots were unscreened from outside.

So dumb that they sit in the top 10 in the league in winning percentage. So dumb that as I listen to NHL radio, every analyst has the Flyers as a top 10 team in their power rankings.
Your analysis of the Sabres games is way off base. The Flyers dominated both of those games. They weren't close and the Sabres were never in the game. You lack the understanding of score effects.
The Flyers definitely have some areas where they need to get better and I'm disappointed in last night's game. They simply didn't play well. As another poster said, they key is how they respond.

I'll finish with I'm not at all shocked that you're overreacting to one loss.
- MJL

Come back with moose. If he wins and plays well, maybe give him another start Saturday. These games are key with the standings. Pitt takes all three and it’s not good. One of the 5 Good teams in the div will not make it and we could have really put some separation between us and the pens with this series.

Is this the time to sell high on Ghost? He's looking more his old self, and I'm loving that, but it sure seems he's out there during goals against. Just wondering if his value is at its highest...
- therabbi

He’s driving play man!! That’s all, those goals against don’t really matter, do they?

Come back with moose. If he wins and plays well, maybe give him another start Saturday. These games are key with the standings. Pitt takes all three and it’s not good. One of the 5 Good teams in the div will not make it and we could have really put some separation between us and the pens with this series.
- Hextall271

Elliott is going to get at least one start but I don't think Hart played poorly.

If we had pavelski on a skinner deal all of our problems would be immediately solved.
- Hextall271

I miss that guy. He was a decent coach but I couldn't fathom why he had such a hatred for the longhairs. 🆓 🐦! (✌️ ☮️)

He’s driving play man!! That’s all, those goals against don’t really matter, do they?
- ClaudeFather

Gostisbehere played a poor game. There is no denying that. It happens. He's played pretty well up until that point.

Gostisbehere played a poor game. There is no denying that. It happens. He's played pretty well up until that point.
- MJL

He has, fun guy to bash though. The bizarro board thinks he’s still the guy from 2016 that had 65 points

So dumb that they sit in the top 10 in the league in winning percentage. So dumb that as I listen to NHL radio, every analyst has the Flyers as a top 10 team in their power rankings.
Your analysis of the Sabres games is way off base. The Flyers dominated both of those games. They weren't close and the Sabres were never in the game. You lack the understanding of score effects.
The Flyers definitely have some areas where they need to get better and I'm disappointed in last night's game. They simply didn't play well. As another poster said, they key is how they respond.

I'll finish with I'm not at all shocked that you're overreacting to one loss.
- MJL

Why is everything I post to you an overreaction? Even AV brought this up in his post game presser after the Sunday's game against Buffalo. I am not making stuff up out of thin air. Also, how many of those radio or TV analysts actually follow the Flyers and watch the games as much as even you or I do? You know as well as I do looking at highlights or stats after the game can give a very different picture than actually watching it. Buffalo is not a good team and the Flyers did dominate some parts of both games, but they also had bad 3rd periods in that they gave up way too many scoring chances. I said at the time the Sabres couldn't finish them, but Pittsburgh could and last night you saw it first hand. I am not saying the Flyers are not a good team, they clearly are, but they have lots of players, especially veteran players, that make really bad decisions out there that shoot themselves and their team in the foot.

Elliott is going to get at least one start but I don't think Hart played poorly.
- MJL

Not all on him but he wasn’t as strong as he can be. The second goal I didn’t like. I wonder if they end up sitting ghost. That turnover on the 1st goal was egregious

He has, fun guy to bash though. The bizarro board thinks he’s still the guy from 2016 that had 65 points
- ClaudeFather

That was a train wreck last night but he’s still been overall quite solid. I want him out on the pp as qb. I expect av might sit him
Though.

Not all on him but he wasn’t as strong as he can be. The second goal I didn’t like. I wonder if they end up sitting ghost. That turnover on the 1st goal was egregious
- Hextall271

Hart was far from the reason we lost that game

Calling Kevin Hayes, where are you?

Why is everything I post to you an overreaction? Even AV brought this up in his post game presser after the Sunday's game against Buffalo. I am not making stuff up out of thin air. Also, how many of those radio or TV analysts actually follow the Flyers and watch the games as much as even you or I do? You know as well as I do looking at highlights or stats after the game can give a very different picture than actually watching it. Buffalo is not a good team and the Flyers did dominate some parts of both games, but they also had bad 3rd periods in that they gave up way too many scoring chances. I said at the time the Sabres couldn't finish them, but Pittsburgh could and last night you saw it first hand. I am not saying the Flyers are not a good team, they clearly are, but they have lots of players, especially veteran players, that make really bad decisions out there that shoot themselves and their team in the foot.
- jd250

Calling them a dumb team is an overreaction. Calling them a slow team is an overreaction. On and on and on. Like I said in my previous posts, you don't understand score effects. How the score and the time of the game affects things like shot attempts and scoring chances. Buffalo was never a threat in either game. The Flyers played with some of the best structure they had all season in both of those games.
The Flyers have some areas that they need to clean up and get better at. No doubt. However they have a very talented and deep team. The Flyers lost last night due to individual breakdowns, a poor coverage down low and poor PP execution. They also didn't get enough from some top players. Like I said previously, the key is how to they react to the loss and how do they respond on Thursday. Let's not make too much of one disappointing loss. Too bad we didn't get Ekholm yet. He would've prevented that loss.

Not all on him but he wasn’t as strong as he can be. The second goal I didn’t like. I wonder if they end up sitting ghost. That turnover on the 1st goal was egregious
- Hextall271

I think another poster said it best, with Ghost you have to take the good with the bad. However the bad last night far out-weighed the good and in the playoffs those types of plays can send a team home very quickly. This is why Ghost can not be a top pairing defenseman that plays 18+ minutes a night, you just can't trust him, especially when the games mean much more.

Calling them a dumb team is an overreaction. Calling them a slow team is an overreaction. On and on and on. Like I said in my previous posts, you don't understand score effects. How the score and the time of the game affects things like shot attempts and scoring chances. Buffalo was never a threat in either game. The Flyers played with some of the best structure they had all season in both of those games.
The Flyers have some areas that they need to clean up and get better at. No doubt. However they have a very talented and deep team. The Flyers lost last night due to individual breakdowns, a poor coverage down low and poor PP execution. They also didn't get enough from some top players. Like I said previously, the key is how to they react to the loss and how do they respond on Thursday. Let's not make too much of one disappointing loss. Too bad we didn't get Ekholm yet. He would've prevented that loss.
- MJL

Earlier in the season when I called the Flyers a slow team, they WERE a very slow team! When I call the Flyers now a dumb team, its because right now they ARE a dumb team. All I am doing is objectively stating what I am watching, putting aside my strong desire for this team to win a cup. I think you look at things much more from a fan's perspective.

Is this the time to sell high on Ghost? He's looking more his old self, and I'm loving that, but it sure seems he's out there during goals against. Just wondering if his value is at its highest...
- therabbi

Well, last night he was so I guess yeah. Though the previous 2 games he was out there for no goals against.

Calling Kevin Hayes, where are you?
- ClaudeFather

I was going to post something about him. I wasn’t even sure he was playing last night. He was absolutely invisible. We need him to control some play in the o zone protecting the puck and also driving to the net.

Some major breakdowns. And they capitalized as they usually do.

I feel our guys controlled a lot of the play and had good chances. Had one or two of them gone in early who knows. But it’s hockey and this happens some times. Hopefully they take the next two.

What is going on with the we score they score nonsense.

Calling them a dumb team is an overreaction. Calling them a slow team is an overreaction. On and on and on. Like I said in my previous posts, you don't understand score effects. How the score and the time of the game affects things like shot attempts and scoring chances. Buffalo was never a threat in either game. The Flyers played with some of the best structure they had all season in both of those games.
The Flyers have some areas that they need to clean up and get better at. No doubt. However they have a very talented and deep team. The Flyers lost last night due to individual breakdowns, a poor coverage down low and poor PP execution. They also didn't get enough from some top players. Like I said previously, the key is how to they react to the loss and how do they respond on Thursday. Let's not make too much of one disappointing loss. Too bad we didn't get Ekholm yet. He would've prevented that loss.
- MJL

Just my opinion, nothing more; if Ekholm joined this team, he would be the Flyers best defenseman.

Hart was far from the reason we lost that game
- ClaudeFather

AV pointed this out as well in his post game presser, that Hart kept the team in the game last night, he played a very good game. The stats don't show it because the Flyers are allowing such high quality scoring chances right now.

So the middle 6...

We have talked a lot about Patrick’s struggles, but Hayes and Laughton are off right now also. Temporarily, 2-3 games, maybe G goes back to center. I could see a line like...

Lindblom-G-Voracek

They need some spark.

I’m guessing NAK will be back next game. I wonder who sits.