Bill Meltzer: Flyers Pull Away from Penguins, Win 6-3 in Opener

Bill,

Is there something you could do with your platform to get lindblom his applause ? Like fans could tape their cheers at home and flyers could make it into some sort of montage?

As for the game. Tons of thing to be excited for. 3 lines played great hockey. G hayes Bee was downright dominant. Our 4th line matched up against pens top 6 i think it was nearly 7 minutes and won the goal battle. Our defense was steady enough. My two negative take aways.

Line 3 even given the most favorable match up got absolutely caved in. Now granted both goals were defenseman errors. But they were out shot and got the worse of play.

Braun provy. Understanding braun wasn't expected to be a top pairing defenseman this was still a rough go. Provy seemed to feel like he had to over compensate for braun at times and the first pens goal was a direct cause of that. It also looked like he wasn't playing as freely, which when he's at his best he does. There has to be an answer here.

I loved that both Sanheim and Meyers were very physical with Malkin, he’s a player that gets frustrated and was on the verge of taking a dumb penalty all night it seemed. Meyers was really using his body tonight. I don’t love Braun on that top pair but it is what it is for now.

As for the game. Tons of thing to be excited for. 3 lines played great hockey. G hayes Bee was downright dominant. Our 4th line matched up against pens top 6 i think it was nearly 7 minutes and won the goal battle. Our defense was steady enough. My two negative take aways.

Line 3 even given the most favorable match up got absolutely caved in. Now granted both goals were defenseman errors. But they were out shot and got the worse of play.

Braun provy. Understanding braun wasn't expected to be a top pairing defenseman this was still a rough go. Provy seemed to feel like he had to over compensate for braun at times and the first pens goal was a direct cause of that. It also looked like he wasn't playing as freely, which when he's at his best he does. There has to be an answer here.
- Tfaehner

Jake got lost behind the net and came to the front covering absolutely no one in front on one of those goals, he’s got to read that play better.

Slow start fast finish. The guys who needed to show something did. Pierre McGuire sounds like he has to be forced to say nice things about the Flyers and doesn’t care if he sounds disgusted by it when he does.

Agree sloppy at times. And you could tell timing is off as there were a couple chances that were very promising but fell apart due to timing.

My how different the vibe is from a few years ago. I feel the Crosby goal would’ve deflated our team two or three years ago.


That fourth line will be our difference maker in a lot of games. Drawing their second line match up last night. Good work.

I hope Gus offense compensates for his giveaways. Do we really want him and Ghost in the same line up? We can't score 6 every game. Hopefully one game sample.

Jake was bad. We may be wasting Patty if they're always chasing the play or hemmed in own zone. I don't know the answer. Can't sit Jake.

One game. Long way to go. I'm seriously excited for the first time in awhile. Cautiously optimistic.

I hope Gus offense compensates for his giveaways. Do we really want him and Ghost in the same line up? We can't score 6 every game. Hopefully one game sample.

Jake was bad. We may be wasting Patty if they're always chasing the play or hemmed in own zone. I don't know the answer. Can't sit Jake.

One game. Long way to go. I'm seriously excited for the first time in awhile. Cautiously optimistic.
- cdearth23

It was one game and isn't it a little early for talking about sitting a player after a 6-3 win? Defenseman who handle the puck a lot are going to have giveaways. Although that whiff in the Tanev goal was bad. Need to settle the puck there.

Bill,

Is there something you could do with your platform to get lindblom his applause ? Like fans could tape their cheers at home and flyers could make it into some sort of montage?
- Tfaehner

That'd be a cool idea. To be honest, I don't know offhand who is in charge right now of Game Presentation because Anthony Gioia is no longer with the organization and the presentation coordinator I worked with more directly on a weekly basis (Corrine Yamada) in sending Fast Facts and trivia for pregame use left after 2018-19. But I could find out, and suggest it. I think Artie Halstead and Max Farrara are still aboard, so I can inquire about it.

They are big, fast and deep!

(That's what she said!)

In all seriousness we looked good and that Pgh team stinks.

As for the game. Tons of thing to be excited for. 3 lines played great hockey. G hayes Bee was downright dominant. Our 4th line matched up against pens top 6 i think it was nearly 7 minutes and won the goal battle. Our defense was steady enough. My two negative take aways.

Line 3 even given the most favorable match up got absolutely caved in. Now granted both goals were defenseman errors. But they were out shot and got the worse of play.

Braun provy. Understanding braun wasn't expected to be a top pairing defenseman this was still a rough go. Provy seemed to feel like he had to over compensate for braun at times and the first pens goal was a direct cause of that. It also looked like he wasn't playing as freely, which when he's at his best he does. There has to be an answer here.
- Tfaehner

Braun wasn't the direct cause of the goal. The pass McCann made would have been neutralized by Provorov but it changed direction off Tanev and went right to a wide-open Jankowski. Flyers needed a forward helping with both D-men engaged. That said, yes, McCann twisted away from Braun to open a lane.

I hope Gus offense compensates for his giveaways. Do we really want him and Ghost in the same line up? We can't score 6 every game. Hopefully one game sample.

Jake was bad. We may be wasting Patty if they're always chasing the play or hemmed in own zone. I don't know the answer. Can't sit Jake.

One game. Long way to go. I'm seriously excited for the first time in awhile. Cautiously optimistic.
- cdearth23

Four giveaways is about two too many and one of them ended up in the net for the third Pittsburgh goal to re-tie the game early in the third period. But Gus is going to have his giveaways and icings because he's a very creative passer and he is daring. Gotta love his point shot, too. He doesn't blast it like Ghost, but he is accurate with it and it's deflectable, too.

It does worry me having Gostisbehere and Gustafsson in the same starting six. Both need a very high percentage of offensive zone starts and you can't really pair the two together except if you're desperate for some offense (trailing in 3rd pd, etc).

Braun wasn't the direct cause of the goal. The pass McCann made would have been neutralized by Provorov but it changed direction off Tanev and went right to a wide-open Jankowski. Flyers needed a forward helping with both D-men engaged. That said, yes, McCann twisted away from Braun to open a lane.
- bmeltzer

Agreed. Defenseman played it right positionally. Voracek needs to be in better position playing the center position in the D zone. JVR needs to drop down on the back side.

Always good to start the season off with a win, especially this season where the Flyers are going to be playing really good teams and rivals every game. My biggest take-aways last night were first, I liked seeing Gustafsson shoot the puck on the PP, that was an area I thought the Flyers needed to improve, i.e. getting more pucks on net versus trying to make the perfect play. Secondly I liked seeing JVR parked in front of the net. If the Flyers are going to get anything out of him consistently this year, this is the area he needs to get to and fight to stay. Finally, I loved seeing Hayes win puck battle after puck battle, it was his tenacity that set up Farabee's slick goal down low. And I loved Hayes' response to the question post game when asked what is this year's Flyers identity, and he responded "A fast team that plays right defensively". All around a nice beginning! Its a tough division, and if the Flyers can somehow go something like 10 games over .500 I think that will be a nice accomplishment.

Four giveaways is about two too many and one of them ended up in the net for the third Pittsburgh goal to re-tie the game early in the third period. But Gus is going to have his giveaways and icings because he's a very creative passer and he is daring. Gotta love his point shot, too. He doesn't blast it like Ghost, but he is accurate with it and it's deflectable, too.

It does worry me having Gostisbehere and Gustafsson in the same starting six. Both need a very high percentage of offensive zone starts and you can't really pair the two together except if you're desperate for some offense (trailing in 3rd pd, etc0>
- bmeltzer

It worries me in situational play and in that regard it's not the right mix. However at 5 on 5, I want puck movers and defenseman jumping into the play offensively. Gustafsson is trying to one touch pass the puck to JVR in a transition play which if executed would've resulted in a transition rush. He whiffed on the pass however.

Agreed. Defenseman played it right positionally. Voracek needs to be in better position playing the center position in the D zone. JVR needs to drop down on the back side.
- MJL

My problem with Voracek is just the continuous turn overs and lost puck battles. He is the opposite of a player like Hayes.

Slow start fast finish. The guys who needed to show something did. Pierre McGuire sounds like he has to be forced to say nice things about the Flyers and doesn’t care if he sounds disgusted by it when he does.
- Shrike

Interesting point of view, because I don't get that from McGuire at all. He is generally a really positive guy that loves hockey in general, but really likes the story behind each player's ascent to the NHL. He has been a big supporter of Konecny from day 1 in the draft!

It was one game and isn't it a little early for talking about sitting a player after a 6-3 win? Defenseman who handle the puck a lot are going to have giveaways. Although that whiff in the Tanev goal was bad. Need to settle the puck there.
- MJL

Just for context, in Boston they used to call Ray Bourque "Give-away Ray". Giveaways happen when you play a lot of minutes and handle the puck a lot. It did seem the Flyers curse of every mistake ended up in the back of their net was on full display last night though.

Four giveaways is about two too many and one of them ended up in the net for the third Pittsburgh goal to re-tie the game early in the third period. But Gus is going to have his giveaways and icings because he's a very creative passer and he is daring. Gotta love his point shot, too. He doesn't blast it like Ghost, but he is accurate with it and it's deflectable, too.

It does worry me having Gostisbehere and Gustafsson in the same starting six. Both need a very high percentage of offensive zone starts and you can't really pair the two together except if you're desperate for some offense (trailing in 3rd pd, etc).
- bmeltzer

I originally read the bold part as "he is a darling".


I'm just happy hockey is back and the Flyers got the win.

My problem with Voracek is just the continuous turn overs and lost puck battles. He is the opposite of a player like Hayes.
- jd250

Voracek wins a lot of puck battles, and his turnovers are about average for players who handle the puck as much as he does. Check his career stats: 52.7 percent individual Corsi (last night was ugly in that regard, but that's not his norm) and roughly 0.5 giveaways per game. He does sometimes make low-percentage plays but I think this is a case of eye-test confirmation bias. Statistically over a 916-game career sample (675 as a Flyer), he does not match your description.

That'd be a cool idea. To be honest, I don't know offhand who is in charge right now of Game Presentation because Anthony Gioia is no longer with the organization and the presentation coordinator I worked with more directly on a weekly basis (Corrine Yamada) in sending Fast Facts and trivia for pregame use left after 2018-19. But I could find out, and suggest it. I think Artie Halstead and Max Farrara are still aboard, so I can inquire about it.
- bmeltzer

Awesome ! I think even in a pandemic world we can show a player the cities behind him.

Just for context, in Boston they used to call Ray Bourque "Give-away Ray". Giveaways happen when you play a lot of minutes and handle the puck a lot. It did seem the Flyers curse of every mistake ended up in the back of their net was on full display last night though.
- jd250

Yup. Nicklas Lidström once led the NHL in giveaways and was top 5 in six seasons. Others who led the NHL in giveaways include Sidney Crosby and Joe Sakic. Highly skilled players, D and forwards, are going to have more gives because they handle the puck so much more often, and that's part of the trade off. I don't think anyone in their right mind would say those players and Bourque (or Mark Howe, who had his share before it became an officially kept stat) didn't come out way on the positive side of the ledger when they had the puck.

Voracek wins a lot of puck battles, and his turnovers are about average for players who handle the puck as much as he does. Check his career stats: 52.7 percent individual Corsi (last night was ugly in that regard, but that's not his norm) and roughly 0.5 giveaways per game. He does sometimes make low-percentage plays but I think this is a case of eye-test confirmation bias. Statistically over a 916-game career sample (675 as a Flyer), he does not match your description.
- bmeltzer

Id have to find it but didn't Charlie have a breakdown that showed players who handle the puck as much as Jake guys like panarin, aho were actually much worse with turnovers. I expect Jake to be himself. He did mention he didn't have as much access to rinks / gyms in the time off. He could be a late riser. I just dont love the make up of that line.

Always good to beat the Pens. The depth shined through in the third. I think we will see that a lot this year.

Myers was a stud last night. Hopefully, he continues to use his size. The Pens are not very good. There D is bad. They will need to outscore teams to win. (I know. Everyone has to do that to win). That will be tough in this division with four teams that are really good at not giving up goals.

Hoping for a repeat on Friday.