Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/30/15 @ BUF, Flyers-Devils Wrapup

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/30/15 @ BUF, Flyers-Devils Wrapup
- bmeltzer

1st



These young dmen can't get here fast enough

Just awful!! Some of the worst hockey I've seen this year! Uninspired, undisciplined, lackluster,...I could go on, but why? Sucks!

A fact not mentioned enough is how bad Laughton is on face-offs. Came in at 33% for the season before going 17% tonight. Hopefully he turns it around or they may have to start experimenting with him at wing. I know Schenn went in multiple times to take the draw. Gagner isn't so hot either, but his time at center is limited.

"They deserved the 2 points. We didn't play good enough to win the game"




They deserved nothing.

Nailed the last part though

We need Couts back for the faceoofs and PK badly. Same with Bellamre. Read he's heading to IR tho

They are who we thought they were

Oilers team > flyers

The Flyers played tonight like old people (frank). Slow & sloppy.

I hate when people drag out the whole "playing down to the lesser opposition" narrative, but it'd be nice if the team didn't hand them the ammo. The bottom line is they have the same record this season after 9 games that they did last year, and are averaging fewer goals scored than they did a year ago.

It's going to be an up and down season, but they're going to need to start giving a better effort as well as executing better. The worst part is, as bad as they've played, they could have won the last two games had they converted on an exceptional scoring chance or two.

The good news is Mason can play better and they're shooting at an unsustainably bad level, so things should get better. But they're going to be an up & down bubble team this year, and that's annoying. They have to be better than they have been this week.

Voracek looks an absolute mess. To me he's not even close to scoring.

The Flyers played tonight like old people (frank). Slow & sloppy.

I hate when people drag out the whole "playing down to the lesser opposition" narrative, but it'd be nice if the team didn't hand them the ammo. The bottom line is they have the same record this season after 9 games that they did last year, and are averaging fewer goals scored than they did a year ago.

It's going to be an up and down season, but they're going to need to start giving a better effort as well as executing better. The worst part is, as bad as they've played, they could have won the last two games had they converted on an exceptional scoring chance or two.

The good news is Mason can play better and they're shooting at an unsustainably bad level, so things should get better. But they're going to be an up & down bubble team this year, and that's annoying. They have to be better than they have been this week.
- Jsaquella

Hakstol has to be grinding his teeth after the last 2 games. It's just flat out unacceptable in terms of effort level and execution. But he is also in a precarious position. He's coached 9 games as an NHL head coach; this is a new team for him. He has to be careful about what buttons he pushes this early. I wonder if some buttons will start being pressed.

Voracek looks an absolute mess. To me he's not even close to scoring.
- Just5

This was his first real groan worthy game, and he still led the team in shots (MDZ was second with 3. Jake had 6) and had his chances and was slicing through the NZ when just about no Flyer could. It's so obvious he is not confident in his decision making right now. I'm still of the belief that if he sticks to what he's been doing most of the season so far, he will get bushels full of points.

Just to spit out what else is running through my mind:

Get Manning out and Gudas back in. Still that is small potatoes when the rest of the team can't do anything and the issue is scoring at evens. Schultz....I think he got a season low ice time tonight, and he looked the same as he has all season (and the second half of last year). I hope he sees himself onto the third pairing soon.

Vinny. Did we expect anything different than what we got? I'd wager to say no. He had the one 2 v 1 shot on the rush and was his slow, ineffective self the rest of the time. FWIW, VDV and White played pretty well in spite of him. I don't know what the cap situation is regarding if anyone can be called up, but 2+ weeks with Vinny on the 4th line won't be pretty.

Do G and Jake get broken up? Raffl got bumped off, but I thought he played ok/fine. He's doing his job, and Matt Read (who did have jump) isn't going to change the fact that the only people who can dig G and Jake out of their scoring holes are...G and Jake. I thought Umberger has had back to back bad games, which is disappointing given how good he's looked.

Hakstol has to be grinding his teeth after the last 2 games. It's just flat out unacceptable in terms of effort level and execution. But he is also in a precarious position. He's coached 9 games as an NHL head coach; this is a new team for him. He has to be careful about what buttons he pushes this early. I wonder if some buttons will start being pressed.
- Mononoke

Not even sure. His hands are tied with that D. Up front, with full health, he has options.

I'm giving him slack on line combos and usage, because I'm sure he's getting a load of input from his assistants. But they need to get back to bringing the same 200 foot game and transition play they had for most of the first 7 games. The last two games they've been sloppy, undisciplined and careless.

As far as what buttons he can push...the options are limited. Lecavalier showed he really wasn't an option. Guys like White & VandeVelde are not really top,9 guys. Split Giroux & Voracek?

Hopefully it's just two games where they're missing Couturier & what he brings and can right the ship. Really need to avoid a slide here

As far as what buttons he can push...the options are limited. Lecavalier showed he really wasn't an option. Guys like White & VandeVelde are not really top,9 guys. Split Giroux & Voracek?

Hopefully it's just two games where they're missing Couturier & what he brings and can right the ship. Really need to avoid a slide here
- Jsaquella

You're right. I'm not even sure exactly what I meant. I was just speaking in bland generic meaningless hockey pseudo-analyst babble. Been watching too much NBCSN I think

I miss Voracek Prime

If you like sports which I'm assuming you do try to catch the Portland Timbers / KC penalty kick replay. Holy moly (and I'm happy the Timbers won)

Voracek looks an absolute mess. To me he's not even close to scoring.

Just5

People should relax.Devils game was a bad one in 3rd period but really doesn't matter in a 82 game season when ALMOST everyone guess was that Flyers will not make the playoff.
Start to season was OK and if they win in Buffalo and return from West Canada
road trip with 5 to 6 point everything is still according to plan
And also Jake will find his groove at some point.
Read,RJ and also Laughton are already better then last year and so was Bellemare

Voracek looks an absolute mess. To me he's not even close to scoring.

Just5

People should relax.Devils game was a bad one in 3rd period but really doesn't matter in a 82 game season when ALMOST everyone guess was that Flyers will not make the playoff.
Start to season was OK and if they win in Buffalo and return from West Canada
road trip with 5 to 6 point everything is still according to plan
And also Jake will find his groove at some point.
Read,RJ and also Laughton are already better then last year and so was Bellemare
- goenzoy

What doesn't matter is what almost everyone was guessing. That is irrelevant. What matters is how they've played the last few games, and that Voracek is not producing. I appreciate the optimism, but the effort in the last two games is unacceptable.

You're right. I'm not even sure exactly what I meant. I was just speaking in bland generic meaningless hockey pseudo-analyst babble. Been watching too much NBCSN I think
- Mononoke

That NBCSN isn't good for anyone.

Hopefully this is a two game blip, and we get a renewed & refocused effort tonight. They key is to get past this and avoid a slide. Last year after the 4-3-2 start they had that dreadful run that effectively killed them.

If they come out and handle their business on this road trip, the last two games can just be a learning experience

Hopefully it's just two games where they're missing Couturier & what he brings and can right the ship. Really need to avoid a slide here
- Jsaq

If Couturier is the blood and guts of this team, there's more wrong than anybody thought.

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!

If Couturier is the blood and guts of this team, there's more wrong than anybody thought.
- tangent_man

exactly

Hopefully it will be a learning experience, but I'd like to no how many times does this team need to learn the same lesson? When you're the home team, the road team normally is the team that has to weather the storm from the opening puck drop. They can come out skating and play solid games against Chicago and the Rangers, but can't against Buffalo and the Devils? That's not about talent because talent doesn't change from game to game. It's about leadership if you ask me. Leadership is not just about Giroux, although I don't think he's been very good lately, it's about all the veteran top players on the team. They haven't been very good lately either.

Re Couturier:
Maybe some folks will now think twice before disparaging his importance to this team. Good D isn't flashy or pretty, but it's vital to winning games. Couturier, IMO, is the best defensive player on this team and that includes the entire D corps.

Now that being said, showing up utterly flat, like they did last night, is still inexcusable.