Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Trap Game Ensnares Flyers Again in 3-2 Loss to Toronto

They didn't deserve a point. Not in the least. They were outplayed for the majority of the game, they did a poor job in pretty much all facets...and they were 7 seconds from stealing a point.

It all came down to a needless icing, a lost draw and a gut punch.

Still, they've managed to grab 11 out of their last 14 possible points, are still in decent shape to make a run for a playoff spot and still control their own destiny. They just have to start avoiding these bad performances against teams below them in the standings.

They didn't deserve a point. Not in the least. They were outplayed for the majority of the game, they did a poor job in pretty much all facets...and they were 7 seconds from stealing a point.

It all came down to a needless icing, a lost draw and a gut punch.

Still, they've managed to grab 11 out of their last 14 possible points, are still in decent shape to make a run for a playoff spot and still control their own destiny. They just have to start avoiding these bad performances against teams below them in the standings.
- Jsaquella

The fact that they even got that close to "earning" a point in that game was remarkable. They were terrible.

Can we start talking about whether it might be a good idea to send Scott Laughton to Lehigh Valley?

I don't know if it's the right thing or not. He might just need to go through this and he'll be better for the experience.

The fact that they even got that close to "earning" a point in that game was remarkable. They were terrible.

Can we start talking about whether it might be a good idea to send Scott Laughton to Lehigh Valley?

I don't know if it's the right thing or not. He might just need to go through this and he'll be better for the experience.
- johndewar

Moot point. Seravalli tweeted tonight that Laughton, by playing tonight, is no longer waiver exempt.

Moot point. Seravalli tweeted tonight that Laughton, by playing tonight, is no longer waiver exempt.
- Jsaquella

Thanks! Didn't know that.

Since Scotty is here for the duration, he's just gonna have to go through this. I don't think he gets better by sitting.

Maybe reconstituting or inserting Weal into the lineup is an answer for that Read-Laughton-Umberger mess.

Vinny with another goal tonight

cant make this poop up

Vinny with another goal tonight

cant make this poop up
- Just5

Good for him. He wasn't going to play here. It didn't work. I can't even get upset over what he does for them. Because he wasn't gonna do it here.

Good for him. He wasn't going to play here. It didn't work. I can't even get upset over what he does for them. Because he wasn't gonna do it here.
- johndewar

Im glad he's gone. Especially since he was apparently going to hold the flyers hostage if they didn't trade him. I'd like to see Weal. More dead weight needs to go. Umberger needs to go far far away.

They didn't deserve a point. Not in the least. They were outplayed for the majority of the game, they did a poor job in pretty much all facets...and they were 7 seconds from stealing a point.

It all came down to a needless icing, a lost draw and a gut punch.

Still, they've managed to grab 11 out of their last 14 possible points, are still in decent shape to make a run for a playoff spot and still control their own destiny. They just have to start avoiding these bad performances against teams below them in the standings.
- Jsaquella

i thought the goaltending was very good. i really thought they'd have a better outing tonight.

Thanks! Didn't know that.

Since Scotty is here for the duration, he's just gonna have to go through this. I don't think he gets better by sitting.

Maybe reconstituting or inserting Weal into the lineup is an answer for that Read-Laughton-Umberger mess.
- johndewar

The whole bottom six-hell whole team-was awful tonight. I definitely think they need to give Weal a look, just depends who they end up sitting to give him a peak.

i thought the goaltending was very good. i really thought they'd have a better outing tonight.
- hammarby31

Mason was solid, except for the fumbled rebound. Other than that he was great

Mason was solid, except for the fumbled rebound. Other than that he was great
- Jsaquella

he didn't even fumble it. he was corralling it with his stick. if the leaf wasn't there, he gets it under the glove a split second later. 2 unfortunate goals against him. nothing he could on the lupul goal.

Mason was solid, except for the fumbled rebound. Other than that he was great
- Jsaquella

He should have reeled in and covered the rebound better. OTOH, with any sort of backchecking support at all -- the entire side of the ice was open, which was why Polak was able to go all the way to the net unimpeded -- it's just a routine cover for a stoppage.

Mason was solid, except for the fumbled rebound. Other than that he was great
- Jsaquella

How many times did he save their asses tonight on dopey and just absurd turnovers in their own zone?

He should have reeled in and covered the rebound better. OTOH, with any sort of backchecking support at all -- the entire side of the ice was open, which was why Polak was able to go all the way to the net unimpeded -- it's just a routine cover for a stoppage.
- bmeltzer

True. I'm not blaming him. Mason wasn't the problem. Not even close.

How many times did he save their asses tonight on dopey and just absurd turnovers in their own zone?
- johndewar

25? Mason was fine. Better than fine. It could have been 5-1 after that second.

He should have reeled in and covered the rebound better. OTOH, with any sort of backchecking support at all -- the entire side of the ice was open, which was why Polak was able to go all the way to the net unimpeded -- it's just a routine cover for a stoppage.
- bmeltzer

That goal was right in front of my seats; I feel like Mason should have squeezed it, but I also felt like the entire team let the 2nd half of the 1st period slip away from them.

I don't feel like Mason was the problem tonight. He wasn't perfect, but I felt like he was good enough to win. Not sure how many other guys in the lineup you can say that about.

25? Mason was fine. Better than fine. It could have been 5-1 after that second.
- Jsaquella

At one point during the game, they flashed a turnover stat on the scoreboard and the dude behind me and I just laughed. The number they flashed even seemed low. It seemed that the Flyers coughed up the puck consistently in bad spots tonight. They got what they deserved.

At one point during the game, they flashed a turnover stat on the scoreboard and the dude behind me and I just laughed. The number they flashed even seemed low. It seemed that the Flyers coughed up the puck consistently in bad spots tonight. They got what they deserved.
- johndewar

Yeah, they were really awful for the middle 40 minutes or so.

And Schenn hit the crossbar a few minutes after Gostsbehere tied it at two.

Vinny with 3 PP goals on 9 shots doesn't seem particularly sustainable. Especially when he is getting demolished at evens. I do wish him well...it's just the people acting like he's the player of old again are kind of scaring me. He felt like he didn't get a fair shake here and had something left to offer. Now he's had good early results if not really good performances, the blogosphere is raving about him....I worry he won't retire.

It's his choice obviously, the Kings have cap issues too, but I sure would like all of his hit off the Flyers cap.

Vinny with 3 PP goals on 9 shots doesn't seem particularly sustainable. Especially when he is getting demolished at evens. I do wish him well...it's just the people acting like he's the player of old again are kind of scaring me. He felt like he didn't get a fair shake here and had something left to offer. Now he's had good early results if not really good performances, the blogosphere is raving about him....I worry he won't retire.

It's his choice obviously, the Kings have cap issues too, but I sure would like all of his hit off the Flyers cap.
- Mononoke

Well, that's like when he put up 20 in his first year here, but we all knew how that happened.

I can't hate Vinny. It's not his fault. I feel like Robin Williams in "Good Will Hunting".

The whole bottom six-hell whole team-was awful tonight. I definitely think they need to give Weal a look, just depends who they end up sitting to give him a peak.
- Jsaquella

I honestly wonder if they'd sit Laughton over Umby. Lord knows he did himself no favors tonight. Shame because Umby probably would've been scratched otherwise.

I've said it before: I just don't see a center man in Scott Laughton. His game doesn't seem to jibe with passing and puck control, his defense is horrendous, but he has nice wheels and a terrific shot. This has been season long. Even when he has a good game, he strikes me as a winger. Weal is supposed to be responsible if not great 2 way and a creative playmaker. Move Laughts to RW (where I think he gravitates towards) or switch sides with Read, who can play either. It's just tough to watch and has been for 90% of the season.

I honestly wonder if they'd sit Laughton over Umby. Lord knows he did himself no favors tonight. Shame because Umby probably would've been scratched otherwise.

I've said it before: I just don't see a center man in Scott Laughton. His game doesn't seem to jibe with passing and puck control, his defense is horrendous, but he has nice wheels and a terrific shot. This has been season long. Even when he has a good game, he strikes me as a winger. Weal is supposed to be responsible if not great 2 way and a creative playmaker. Move Laughts to RW (where I think he gravitates towards) or switch sides with Read, who can play either. It's just tough to watch and has been for 90% of the season.
- Mononoke

Something has to be done with Laughton. Moving him to wing might be the answer. I worry about him just getting lost.

Well, that's like when he put up 20 in his first year here, but we all knew how that happened.

I can't hate Vinny. It's not his fault. I feel like Robin Williams in "Good Will Hunting".
- johndewar

No one can hate him for being a class act in his time here. It's not like he won't score given PP time and soft minutes, even if whether he negates everything else is in doubt. But he's not shooting 33% the rest of the season. Last year he had a streak on the 4th line where he put up points before regressing. He is fresh having barely played this year and feeling good, but that's going to happen most likely in LA too. His underlying data is same old, same old. The people raving about his rejuvenation is what is making me might nervous

Vinny with 3 PP goals on 9 shots doesn't seem particularly sustainable. Especially when he is getting demolished at evens. I do wish him well...it's just the people acting like he's the player of old again are kind of scaring me. He felt like he didn't get a fair shake here and had something left to offer. Now he's had good early results if not necessarily performance, the blogosphere is raving about him....I worry he won't retire.

It's his choice obviously, the Kings have cap issues too, but I sure would like all of his hit off the Flyers cap.
- Mononoke

The 3(now 4) games I've watched he hasn't really stood out as good-more Johnny on the spot for his goals-and his possession metrics are hideous. He does seem to have a bit more jump, but he doesn't look like a guy who has found the fountain of youth.

If he doesn't retire, well, it still helps the Flyers. The cash left is still less than a buyout, it's gone after a season or two and I doubt the Flyers were immediately going to run out and spend the difference this summer.

I still don't think the production is sustainable. It just seems really similar to the hot streak he had last season when him, VDV & PEB were shooting 25% for that 8-10 game stretch. I hope, short of beating the Flyers for the Cup, he gets his happy ending. I like Vinny. It just didn't work out here.