That game was basically marked 1/3 pole for the season. Here is what I see.

-Hart needs to be consistently good. No reason to doubt this will happen.
-TK needs to get going. I am concerned but I think he will produce soon
-Defense needs to stop having 10 minutes of awful play against good teams. Not sure this will change without personnel adjustments.
-Forecheck needs to be consistent and productive. The last three games it has been. Hopefully, that continues on most nights.
- mickel25

What is going on with tk? Before he was out with covid, he was struggling as well. Is he trying to focus on d first? Very worried with his playoff performance and now this year. He’s another guy who is invisible many nights.

The nausea coming from the Eastern media in Canada is sickening. The Leafs are playing well, within the Canadian Division, but they don't really have any really difficult competition. Edmonton and Winnipeg are decent teams, they're not terrible, but they're not Cup good like some of the better teams in the U.S.

I hope they get their asses handed to them once again in the first round. At least the Oilers have been in the second round in the past decade
- DraftandDestroy

Its almost comical how good Toronto looks when they arent in the same division as Tampa and Boston.

Out of curiosity, how will they slot teams for the semifinals (3rd round) this year? Does East play North?

The nausea coming from the Eastern media in Canada is sickening. The Leafs are playing well, within the Canadian Division, but they don't really have any really difficult competition. Edmonton and Winnipeg are decent teams, they're not terrible, but they're not Cup good like some of the better teams in the U.S.

I hope they get their asses handed to them once again in the first round. At least the Oilers have been in the second round in the past decade
- DraftandDestroy

I know. It’s insane isn’t it? I expected Montreal to do a lot better and maybe they’ll get it together soon.

Its almost comical how good Toronto looks when they arent in the same division as Tampa and Boston.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Funny how that works isn’t it haha

Out of curiosity, how will they slot teams for the semifinals (3rd round) this year? Does East play North?
- NC Flyers Fan

I was wondering that too. Not sure. My guess would be east plays north.

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.
- Hextall271

I’m just not a Kevin Hayes, guy.

I was wondering that too. Not sure. My guess would be east plays north.
- Hextall271

I was under the impression (from listening to that satellite radio hockey station) that the Canadian Division will play the West. I may have mis-interpreted that though.

Agreed. You need a lot to go right and some luck on top of that to get it done.

This is why I was on board with the patient plan of hextall which has thankfully been followed up by fletch. Don’t construct your team Or make decision looking for short term success. Due to all the factors we mention, draft well and don’t flip assets over and over in win now mode (think pitt although they did get 3 I think they should now be changing gears). Set yourself up for 5 or 10 years of being in that zone and go all in when you’re pretty certain you only need a couple of pieces to get you over the top.

You’re probably going to need several legit shots at it To get one. Look at Tampa as you say. They’re right back in the mix as the top team and should go for it again with this window open.
- Hextall271

agree, if you make a move it has to be a move with being better for 3-5 years, you need that window to get 1 cup. Why I said, dont trade for an Ekholm if you are not ready to bring in the other pieces you need. I think the Flyers are 1 D and 1 O from being contenders. They have the assets from their rebuild to make the moves but they have to be the right moves and they have to be done together or close.

I really think it is next year. All of Provy, Sanheim and Myers will be a year older, especially Myers, people tend to overlook it is his first full season. Then you add a D but you still need that upper end O piece in my opinion. Who is that? Someone like a Hall in his MVP season, hard to find. But the Flyers have the prospects and they can part ways with a Lindblom, Patrick or even a TK, if it opens that 3-5 year window.

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.
- NC Flyers Fan

Laughton has been off for one game.

Was there some bad blood between Friedman and the Flyers or were they just running him to draw a penalty? Seemed like they were targeting him.

Laughton has been off for one game.
- SuperSchennBros

Laughton had a goal the other night didn't he?

Provy has been subpar all year, idk what’s up with him. He was really good the second game in Buffalo but that’s about it. Thing is Ghost made his decision at the worst possible time, we had just scored, they are down guys, he changed the complexion of the game as others pointed out.
- ClaudeFather

Ghost looks fantastic against teams like the Rangers and Sabers but when it’s time to take on a real threat, this is what we get. In the offseason, a Provorov and Ghost paid sounds amazing. In the playoffs, that pair just sends us back to the offseason.

Laughton had a goal the other night didn't he?
- Ftown19125

He had a hat trick before getting COVID.

agree, if you make a move it has to be a move with being better for 3-5 years, you need that window to get 1 cup. Why I said, dont trade for an Ekholm if you are not ready to bring in the other pieces you need. I think the Flyers are 1 D and 1 O from being contenders. They have the assets from their rebuild to make the moves but they have to be the right moves and they have to be done together or close.

I really think it is next year. All of Provy, Sanheim and Myers will be a year older, especially Myers, people tend to overlook it is his first full season. Then you add a D but you still need that upper end O piece in my opinion. Who is that? Someone like a Hall in his MVP season, hard to find. But the Flyers have the prospects and they can part ways with a Lindblom, Patrick or even a TK, if it opens that 3-5 year window.
- wcorvette

Yes. I’ve always thought that they will trade from their offensive prospects to supplement the lineup. Even though there are growing pains and holes in the lineup, I forget sometimes how good the young d corps is. Still some growing but at least three legit top four guys in my view. I think York will form part of that as well eventually.

He had a hat trick before getting COVID.
- SuperSchennBros

yeah, and a goal his first game back. no points the 2 after.

I’m just not a Kevin Hayes, guy.
- SuperSchennBros

Yeah. I wasn’t either but last years performance won me over. He hasn’t been as solid this year and we need him at that level.

Its almost comical how good Toronto looks when they arent in the same division as Tampa and Boston.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Facebook has been trying to convince me that Jason Spezza is a great player for the past four days and would do well in the top their top six.

Laughton has been off for one game.
- SuperSchennBros

I know Laughts is just get back from his Covid protocol pause but I really think among the 6 or 7 guys available in the middle six they need to get at least one line scoring and going strong and build from there. However is fine with me.

I don’t like the idea of breaking up the Coots line. Maybe if it was a string of these games, but not after 1. That line is the best in the league right now.

Yeah. I wasn’t either but last years performance won me over. He hasn’t been as solid this year and we need him at that level.
- Hextall271

still is 3rd on the team in points, but I agree I'd like to see more. seemed like even when he wasn't scoring last season he was creating chances or making nice plays defensively/on the penalty kill. he's been invisible the last few games.

if i'm remembering correctly, a lot of nyr fans would say he would disappear for games at a time.

There are a lot of combinations that might work but I remember the great chemistry Laughton had on LW for Hayes line last year. It’s just a thought.

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

Said this 4 years ago and got lambasted for ‘trolling’

I appreciate your opinion, do you have any data to support your opinion? The Flyers win percentage is that in spite of their terrible D? Other teams below them in win %, they have mistake free D but their O sucks?
- wcorvette

Yes, I suggest you watch the highlights from last night's game, that will give you all the data you need to understand what this Flyers team is and is not. Every team makes mistakes, and that is why they have goalies to bail them out. But look at last night's game and you will see that no goalie could have bailed out the Flyers last night.

First goal - horrible mistake by Ghost send Kapanen on a break away
Second goal - Braun drifts too high in the slot leaving Sanheim all alone to defend 3 Penguins
Third goal - Ghost and Provy let not 1 but 2 Penguins get behind them, again in the slot, for an easy tap in goal. Also on this one, ever notice how many Flyers shots from the points don't get through, but shots like this one from the Penguins do?
Fourth goal - the Flyers let up a 4 on 2 with Nolan Patrick back on defense after just closing the score to 3-2, the results an easy tic tac toe goal for Penguins
Fifth goal - TK makes a horrible decision to deke at the blue line when the play is to get the puck deep to get the extra attacker, thus giving up the puck for an easy Pittsburgh goal in an empty net.

Good teams just don't make these kinds and quantity of mistakes!

Facebook has been trying to convince me that Jason Spezza is a great player for the past four days and would do well in the top their top six.
- SuperSchennBros

I’ve heard leafs fans claiming he and Thornton are the teams saviour and their incredible depth will lead them to a cup. Defence and goaltending win in the playoffs. Not run and gun scoring. Boston and tb would destroy them.

Was there some bad blood between Friedman and the Flyers or were they just running him to draw a penalty? Seemed like they were targeting him.
- easY

while with us this year, Friedman took some silly penalties like extra shots out of frustration after whistles. Seems the Flyers were trying to get him to commit penalties the same way