Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/13/18 vs. VGK

Geez, that Phantom game sounded ugly. Hopefully they bounce back quickly.

Gonna be a tough one today. I know the Knights are at end of a tough stretch but they have to be pretty desperate for a win at this point. The Flyers are going to need to get their act together if they want to come away with 2 points today. Hopefully Provorov will start to look like himself today, that alone would be a huge help.

Geez, that Phantom game sounded ugly. Hopefully they bounce back quickly.

Gonna be a tough one today. I know the Knights are at end of a tough stretch but they have to be pretty desperate for a win at this point. The Flyers are going to need to get their act together if they want to come away with 2 points today. Hopefully Provorov will start to look like himself today, that alone would be a huge help.
- BiggE

Provy will start to come around, kids a stud. The D overall has not looked very stable beyond the play of ghost. The PK is really the issue with this team though. I think one thing always overlooked is goaltending on the PK....the Flyers Pk has been below average for the last few years, and honestly so has their goaltending. I saw a stat in one of those preview books and Elliot last year had one of the worst svpct in the entire league during the PK. Like is always, has always and will always be the case, great goaltending can mask a lot of warts on a team.

Hopefully TK is fine, that forward depth is starting to look pretty ugly with each passing game.

*Imagines a Flyers season where the team is fully healthy for more than a week*

What is really amazing is how poor defensive play in front of an even great goalie can make them look pretty bad at times.

Should we think about trading Carter Hart now?

What is really amazing is how poor defensive play in front of an even great goalie can make them look pretty bad at times.

Should we think about trading Carter Hart now?
- MBFlyerfan

Yup, you can’t just look at numbers. How many times on the pk have our goalies simply been hung out to dry and given no chance? Besides putting little pressure on the pp once it’s set up, the Flyers D do a terrible job of keeping the crease clear and letting the goalie get a look at the shot. It’s a recipe for disaster.

Open forward spots on the Flyers and the GM at the game and that’s how the farm team performs? That’s really troubling.

Provy will start to come around, kids a stud. The D overall has not looked very stable beyond the play of ghost. The PK is really the issue with this team though. I think one thing always overlooked is goaltending on the PK....the Flyers Pk has been below average for the last few years, and honestly so has their goaltending. I saw a stat in one of those preview books and Elliot last year had one of the worst svpct in the entire league during the PK. Like is always, has always and will always be the case, great goaltending can mask a lot of warts on a team.
- landros 2

Actually the opposite happens a lot more. Remember the defensive trap years with the Devils then all of a sudden the NHL wanted to get rid of that because it was boring? Then Brodeur started letting in more goals...

How about the legendary Patrick Roy on those solid defensive Montreal Canadien teams then they became horrible defensively and Roy would get torched. Following his hissy fit he got traded to a really solid defensive team and his numbers became great again.

Now name another great goaltender...whats that team like in front of them? It's a two way street, giving up goals is not always the goaltenders fault. It depends a lot on the type of shots they are facing. No goalie, even the best of the best, will be able to stop constant breakaways, odd man rushes or point blank shots all game.

What is really amazing is how poor defensive play in front of an even great goalie can make them look pretty bad at times.

Should we think about trading Carter Hart now?
- MBFlyerfan

We must of been thinking the same thing. Maybe that is why the Flyers always have goaltending issues, bad team defense......

What is really amazing is how poor defensive play in front of an even great goalie can make them look pretty bad at times.

Should we think about trading Carter Hart now?
- MBFlyerfan

That’s true as well. But when #s are a trend and not one off’s they can’t and shouldn’t be ignored. I’m not suggesting goaltending IS the problem, I’m saying it’s part of it.

Actually the opposite happens a lot more. Remember the defensive trap years with the Devils then all of a sudden the NHL wanted to get rid of that because it was boring? Then Brodeur started letting in more goals...

How about the legendary Patrick Roy on those solid defensive Montreal Canadien teams then they became horrible defensively and Roy would get torched. Following his hissy fit he got traded to a really solid defensive team and his numbers became great again.

Now name another great goaltender...whats that team like in front of them? It's a two way street, giving up goals is not always the goaltenders fault. It depends a lot on the type of shots they are facing. No goalie, even the best of the best, will be able to stop constant breakaways, odd man rushes or point blank shots all game.
- Glak18

I agree to a point, and your right about a pour d can really even out the greats to the others and those are two instances where they did look human. I’m just pointing out that there are some times where the guys in net for philly over the last few years shouldn’t be forgotten when talking about a poopty PK.
The great ones make saves that sometimes they shouldn’t be able to make....that’s what makes them great.....who have the Flyers had in recent years that fit that bill?

Mason and Mr glass have yielded far more stoppable shots on the PK than Elliott over the PK's poor number's period

I agree to a point, and your right about a pour d can really even out the greats to the others and those are two instances where they did look human. I’m just pointing out that there are some times where the guys in net for philly over the last few years shouldn’t be forgotten when talking about a poopty PK.
The great ones make saves that sometimes they shouldn’t be able to make....that’s what makes them great.....who have the Flyers had in recent years that fit that bill?
- landros 2

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying the Flyers don't need a solid goaltender, but the Flyers issues in the recent past have been far from 1 goaltender away from being a top team.

One perfect example is Bob. He looked good at times when he was a Flyer, but he also got lit up as well. Now this is a guy who went to another team and won 2 Vezinas, would he have done that with the Flyers...probably not.

Not a popular opinion but I really feel like the team is missing a big defensive defenseman that can wipe out plays in his own zone and clear the porch. Maybe that is Morin if he ever gets here. But I think a guy like that is really missing from the back end. Would certainly go a long way to helping the PK as well.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/13/18 vs. VGK
- bmeltzer

Third jersey day!!

Not a popular opinion but I really feel like the team is missing a big defensive defenseman that can wipe out plays in his own zone and clear the porch. Maybe that is Morin if he ever gets here. But I think a guy like that is really missing from the back end. Would certainly go a long way to helping the PK as well.
- hereticpride

I’ve always felt this way. They addressed size because JvR, Sanheim and Folin are big. They’re just not strong, tough or play with an edge.

high scoring game today

IF the Flyers once again come out on their heels and get out-skated and out checked in the first 10 minutes of a home game when they are the rested team there really will need to be some long soul searching as to how the team is put together and how it is coached. There is no excuse for this ongoing behavior from this team. Everyone likes to talk about G and the shift against the Penguins, but that was a different team and a different coach.

Not a popular opinion but I really feel like the team is missing a big defensive defenseman that can wipe out plays in his own zone and clear the porch. Maybe that is Morin if he ever gets here. But I think a guy like that is really missing from the back end. Would certainly go a long way to helping the PK as well.
-hereticpride

I see this too. I thought Morin looked ready last year in preseason and thought he should have made the team and been in the lineup. Thought that Sanheim wasn’t ready. Completely disagreed with the d-men decisions. Lectured at the TV during that first west coast road trip. The only time I have truly felt irate toward Hak. We were facing big teams and having a horrible time in front of the net.

I see this too. I thought Morin looked ready last year in preseason and thought he should have made the team and been in the lineup. Thought that Sanheim wasn’t ready. Completely disagreed with the d-men decisions. Lectured at the TV during that first west coast road trip. The only time I have truly felt irate toward Hak. We were facing big teams and having a horrible time in front of the net.
- NC Flyers Fan

Agree 100% with this, I thought the big guy clearly outplayed Sanheim in the 2017 preaseason. Re today’s game: not thrilled with Weal between Lindblom and TK. Would rather see Vorobyev in that spot and Weal between the more physical Laughton and Simmonds.

The bottom paired D man on the flyers earns almost 6 mill👍

Gritty should change his name to Michal Handzus.

Gritty should change his name to Michal Handzus.
- SuperSchennBros

At least Bundy's replacement looks much better than he does....

Mason and Mr glass have yielded far more stoppable shots on the PK than Elliott over the PK's poor number's period
- KINGKENZO

typical rinaldo post

typical rinaldo post
- Nucker101

I am Negan