Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Sharks Devour Flyers, 8-2; Gameday Preview: Flyers @ Senators

Well that did not go as I thought it would, just a tragic effort!!

woof. All my optimism for this season is gone.

Hakstol said he kept Elliot in because he was battling. I thought pulling him to change the momentum would have better in-game tactic.

Bill, were you at the game?

Bill, were you at the game?
- 2Real

Yes. I am at every home game and 90 percent of home practices.

Of course.
- bmeltzer

I feel sorry for you must have been brutal to stay the whole time.
I was hard enough watching it on tv.

I feel sorry for you must have been brutal to stay the whole time.
I was hard enough watching it on tv.
- 2Real

Not a fun night.

IMO this team will never reach their potential with Hakstol behind the bench. As you all know and probably don't care I have been very unhappy with Hakstol and Hextall going back a couple years now. These two guys are like watching Dumber and Dumber. Hextall is going to have to can him by the 20 game mark if he wants to save himself from the same fate. I can go on forever and why he is so bad but nobody wants to hear it. Yes it was only one game but it was damn ugly.

Hextall is doing a great job! From where we were when he took over to this point you can see a difference.
I am not a fan of Hak. I wont lie. His decision making is questionable at times and so is his choice of personnel on the ice.
I agree that hak wont lead us to the holy grail.
I'm more concerned with this happening year after year. The laziness and noncompetitiveness of this team infuriates me some days
The kids that needed to step up and contribute more havent done anything. At all
Patrick looked better tonight but they are passing when it should be a goal and they can't finish.
Its early though...right...?

Hextall is doing a great job! From where we were when he took over to this point you can see a difference.
I am not a fan of Hak. I wont lie. His decision making is questionable at times and so is his choice of personnel on the ice.
I agree that hak wont lead us to the holy grail.
I'm more concerned with this happening year after year. The laziness and noncompetitiveness of this team infuriates me some days
The kids that needed to step up and contribute more havent done anything. At all
Patrick looked better tonight but they are passing when it should be a goal and they can't finish.
Its early though...right...?
- sILKAsSINASALO

it's early every year/game according to many here

Lol

Every member of this franchise embarrassed themselves last night.

[quote=sILKAsSINASALO]Hextall is doing a great job! From where we were when he took over to this point you can see a difference.
I am not a fan of Hak. I wont lie. His decision making is questionable at times and so is his choice of personnel on the ice.
I agree that hak wont lead us to the holy grail.
I'm more concerned with this happening year after year. The laziness and noncompetitiveness of this team infuriates me some days
The kids that needed to step up and contribute more havent done anything. At all
Patrick looked better tonight but they are passing when it should be a goal and they can't finish.

Laziness I will give you. Speed and finesse cannot be taught, It has to be drafted

This coach does simply the worst job of in game management I’ve ever seen. No timeouts, no goalie changes. How many times has he said he should’ve made a change? The guy never even makes an attempt

woof. All my optimism for this season is gone.
- Doctor DOOM

This is the home opener of Year 4 of a rebuild in which the fans have been asked to continuously be patient. And many of us have been patient.

I don't think asking the team to be competitive in the home opener in Year 4 of a rebuild is asking a whole lot.

Instead, this team came out and competed like a wet fart. Elliot included (please everyone stop excluding Elliot from this mess....he's as culpable as anyone and I'm not interested in his anger at Hakstol or anyone else).

What they do in Ottawa tonight might or might not matter, I don't know. I think responses to games like last night do matter.

But, really, after a whole off season of soul searching and mea culpas, this team doesn't look any different than the team that got embarrassed by Pittsburgh in the playoffs last year.

They didn't look ready and they need to hold this "L" for awhile, because as bad as it looked on paper, it was worse by the eye test.

Hakstol said he kept Elliot in because he was battling. I thought pulling him to change the momentum would have better in-game tactic.
- Sublime55

"You get to roll that time out over to the next game, right Hak?"

Hextall has accomplished what again ? Well other being on an L.A staff ... For the Flyers he's been poor at best.

Be patient, be patient were told... NO, TIRED of being patient while a mediocre team is put on the ice

This is the home opener of Year 4 of a rebuild in which the fans have been asked to continuously be patient. And many of us have been patient.

I don't think asking the team to be competitive in the home opener in Year 4 of a rebuild is asking a whole lot.

Instead, this team came out and competed like a wet fart. Elliot included (please everyone stop excluding Elliot from this mess....he's as culpable as anyone and I'm not interested in his anger at Hakstol or anyone else).

What they do in Ottawa tonight might or might not matter, I don't know. I think responses to games like last night do matter.

But, really, after a whole off season of soul searching and mea culpas, this team doesn't look any different than the team that got embarrassed by Pittsburgh in the playoffs last year.

They didn't look ready and they need to hold this "L" for awhile, because as bad as it looked on paper, it was worse by the eye test.
- johndewar

Could not agree more...nothing’s changed.

While I think it may be time for a new coach, it’s also time to change the leadership group of this team. That was an inexcusable embarrassment last night. It reminded me of the blowout by Buffalo in 2006 that was followed by Clarke’s resignation and Hitchcock’s firing.

Unload some vets and bring up some kids, at least they’ll give you some (frank)ing effort.

My most likely Overreaction observations:

- While Elliott battled and was left out on his own, the first 2 goals are goals that just can't happen. Flyers came out with pressure and had chances but needed that five hole save. It just seems other goalies make that and it's something the Flyers don't get.

- Provorov is just bad right now. He'll fix it but my god he is struggling

- How many times are the Flyers players going to fan on passes, clearing attempts, shots?

- Jake Voracek frustrates me. While I know he is talented there are so many things that frustrate me. Passes that always seem to be saucer type or up in the air, the one handed carry the puck in the zone lossing an edge in the corner. Would it be dumb to move a guy like Voracek if it allowed you to resign Simmonds?

- MacDonald still looks hurt. Sanheim also struggled.

- I actually understand Hakstols reasoning for Elliott in. While it may look bad I think he was allowing him to keep playing since he was battling all night.

- Did Jordan Weal play? One thing that bothers me about Weal is if he isn't producing he doesn't bring anything else. i could live with Twarynski and Aube-Kubel in there because if they aren't producing at least they can bring some edge or physicality.

- Maybe this embarrassment was good early in the season. A kick to the nuts and hopefully this team pounds the Sens tonight and gets the ship right.

The lack of back check and gap control has been an issue whenever this team has gone sideways over the last few years.

The importance of a win tonight can’t be overstated.

While I think it may be time for a new coach, it’s also time to change the leadership group of this team. That was an inexcusable embarrassment last night. It reminded me of the blowout by Buffalo in 2006 that was followed by Clarke’s resignation and Hitchcock’s firing.

Unload some vets and bring up some kids, at least they’ll give you some (frank)ing effort.
- BiggE

Giroux has always been a guy who loves the spotlight when things are good, but when things go wrong cannot be found, don't even get started on Voracek. No leadership on the back line either. A team needs a leader on the backline, Doughty, Keith, Burns, Chara (in his heyday) type. The Flyers just don't have that. Ive heard for years about all this blueline talent. 8 goals?? ouch. Im sure youre in store for a story about a "closed door" meeting...ugh...

- Jake Voracek frustrates me. While I know he is talented there are so many things that frustrate me. Passes that always seem to be saucer type or up in the air, the one handed carry the puck in the zone lossing an edge in the corner. Would it be dumb to move a guy like Voracek if it allowed you to resign Simmonds?



- I actually understand Hakstols reasoning for Elliott in. While it may look bad I think he was allowing him to keep playing since he was battling all night.

- J35Bacher

On the first point, I wouldn't do it if it was a choice of either or. Voracek was one of the few players who played well last night.

I normally support Hakstol but last night he did nothing to try and stem the tide. Down 4-0 in the first, not likely to win the game. Perfect opportunity to get Pickard some game action with the team. Pickard should have started the 2nd period. Timeout should've been called after the two goal SJ outburst.