Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 4/5/21 @ BOS

Biggest week of the season. I hope we start it off on a good note.

Really glad to see Morin sticking in the lineup.
He makes some mistakes, but at least we're not getting pushed around all over the ice.

These are huge games coming up.
I hope we at least show up.

I was at the Phantoms game this past Saturday. Allison and Forester looked great and Wisdom looked good. Ratcliffe was disappointing, the only reason he was noticeable was because of his size.

I was at the Phantoms game this past Saturday. Allison and Forester looked great and Wisdom looked good. Ratcliffe was disappointing, the only reason he was noticeable was because of his size.
- WhiskeyMan

Ratcliffe has been often used the 4th line and PK since the middle of last season. He also went a little awkwardly into the boards on Saturday night.

I don't know if Willman will see any time in the NHL next season, but what he's done for the Phantoms this season has been outstanding. An older player than most prospects (age 26) but he's been a catalyst for LV.

When I asked Brent Flahr about Willman's NHL signing for the Prospect Pipeline podcast he said, quite simply, "If we didn't sign him, someone else would have."

I bet Marchand/Bergeron/Pastrnak will combine for zero points tonight.

Like taking candy from a baby.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 4/5/21 @ BOS
- bmeltzer

Bill will Hagg be inserted back onto the lineup when healthy do you think? Will Morin stay in?

dbth

Biggest week of the season. I hope we start it off on a good note.
- arichardson22

Yep. It basically will determine whether or not they get into the playoffs.

To finish bmeltzer's sentence in his article, the Flyers Power play ranks 19th in the league, and 22nd in the league in Net PP%. Given the talent that the Flyers are putting out there, they should be closer to top 10 in the league, and this is one the areas that have sunk the Flyers this season. I still don't think the Flyers have enough shoot-first players, but you have to look at the coaching as being mainly responsible for not being able to fix this. And for the love of every thing Holy, can we just kill the sling shot!

I bet Marchand/Bergeron/Pastrnak will combine for zero points tonight.

Like taking candy from a baby.
- PLindbergh31

Are you sure you don't want to put a One in front of that zero?

Ratcliffe has been often used the 4th line and PK since the middle of last season. He also went a little awkwardly into the boards on Saturday night.

I don't know if Willman will see any time in the NHL next season, but what he's done for the Phantoms this season has been outstanding. An older player than most prospects (age 26) but he's been a catalyst for LV.

When I asked Brent Flahr about Willman's NHL signing for the Prospect Pipeline podcast he said, quite simply, "If we didn't sign him, someone else would have."
- bmeltzer

Bill, I got to watch Willman a bit more this past week. He kind of reminds me of another Ghost. Do you think he adds any more than Ghost does?

Really glad to see Morin sticking in the lineup.
He makes some mistakes, but at least we're not getting pushed around all over the ice.

These are huge games coming up.
I hope we at least show up.
- Nh_kong

I actually think Morin's slot coverage has been very good, and he is physical, making the other team's player pay for going to that area which is what every defenseman on this team should do!

To finish bmeltzer's sentence in his article, the Flyers Power play ranks 19th in the league, and 22nd in the league in Net PP%. Given the talent that the Flyers are putting out there, they should be closer to top 10 in the league, and this is one the areas that have sunk the Flyers this season. I still don't think the Flyers have enough shoot-first players, but you have to look at the coaching as being mainly responsible for not being able to fix this. And for the love of every thing Holy, can we just kill the sling shot!
- jd250

The sling shot works. Which is why most teams use it. The Flyers need to add some creativity to the PP and they need to shoot more and quicker. When the fancy plays aren't there. Get the puck on the net with traffic.

Bill, I got to watch Willman a bit more this past week. He kind of reminds me of another Ghost. Do you think he adds any more than Ghost does?
- jd250

Hard to compare because Willman is a forward and Ghost is, of course, a defenseman. But there is a certain similarity between how Willman has played and how Ghost plays when he's on his game. Good energy, likes the puck on his stick, keeps plays going in the offensive zone.

I bet Marchand/Bergeron/Pastrnak will combine for zero points tonight.

Like taking candy from a baby.
- PLindbergh31

That's the spirit, Pavel .

Hard to compare because Willman is a forward and Ghost is, of course, a defenseman. But there is a certain similarity between how Willman has played and how Ghost plays when he's on his game. Good energy, likes the puck on his stick, keeps plays going in the offensive zone.
-bmeltzer

Sorry my bad, I got Willman mixed up with Millman the defenseman.

The sling shot works. Which is why most teams use it. The Flyers need to add some creativity to the PP and they need to shoot more and quicker. When the fancy plays aren't there. Get the puck on the net with traffic.
- MJL

I'm sure the sling shot works when you have McDavid carrying the puck. Do you think its worked for the Flyers this season? Do you think they enter the zone any easier using it? I see it as a big waste of valuable seconds. But in general, I agree with you that the Flyers need to set up quicker and get better quality shots on net.

Bill will Hagg be inserted back onto the lineup when healthy do you think? Will Morin stay in?
- login

I think Morin will stay in the lineup for now, even after Hägg is cleared.

I know that Myers returned to the game on Saturday after the way he went into the boards but he still seemed to be favoring his shoulder and was likely pretty sore. Yesterday was an off-day. Hopefully, Myers is able to go tonight. If not, they'll have to dress Prosser.

Hägg returned to practice last Friday; he'd been skating on his own with Angelo Ricci for a couple weeks, including working back fairly quickly to shooting pucks again before taking part in practice. He should be getting fairly close to being cleared but I don't think he's there yet.

Sorry my bad, I got Willman mixed up with Millman the defenseman.
- jd250

Easy to do! Millman has great wheels and moves the puck quite well. Still quite under-developed physically. He's 19 but still has the tallish, gangly look of a 15-year-old.

I'm sure the sling shot works when you have McDavid carrying the puck. Do you think its worked for the Flyers this season? Do you think they enter the zone any easier using it? I see it as a big waste of valuable seconds. But in general, I agree with you that the Flyers need to set up quicker and get better quality shots on net.
- jd250

The sling shot has absolutely been effective for the Flyers this season.

I actually think Morin's slot coverage has been very good, and he is physical, making the other team's player pay for going to that area which is what every defenseman on this team should do!
- jd250

I think Morin has been our best defensive defender on the back end. The only thing that has hurt him is physical play but those penalties seem more about him Rescuing opposing players than anything else.

Yep. It basically will determine whether or not they get into the playoffs.
- Scoob

That ship has sailed my friend.

The sling shot works. Which is why most teams use it. The Flyers need to add some creativity to the PP and they need to shoot more and quicker. When the fancy plays aren't there. Get the puck on the net with traffic.
- MJL

Creativity is missing but so is a real net from presence or bumper player, We have no one to play the hartnell or Simmonds role. JVR was great earlier in the year but I can’t remember the last time he got a good tip or screen goal on the PP. I hate the two unit system as well, load up on one and get going. I’d like to see G JVR Coots Ghost and Jake

I really like Sam in the line up. He doesn't seem panicked and his presence provides a little relief for us.