Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Character-Building Victory; Knuble; Meszaros

Loved the effort last night. Bryz was on! The PK was fantastic at the end of the third period.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Character-Building Victory; Knuble; Meszaros
- bmeltzer

Coutirier and talbot were great last night. Bryz was solid. The team looked great and it was nice to see a W. Simmonds looked great with G.

I still cant get over the fourth lines play last night. Shelly had jump (for shelly) and Sestito was all over the place. They looked like the LCB line. Okay bit of a stretch but was an impressive night.

I don't like it when people say 'it is not Bryz's fault' when clearly he has been awful. But yesterday, he played a great game

I don't like it when people say 'it is not Bryz's fault' when clearly he has been awful. But yesterday, he played a great game
- strongsupporter

He has played well enough to give the team a chance in all four games.

For instance, it's worth bringing up that the Flyers' fourth line (Eric Wellwood centering Tom Sestito and Jody Shelley) got 10 shifts last night and spent most of them pounding New York deep in their own end of the ice. Ditto the makeshift third line of Scott Laughton centering Tye McGinn and Ruslan Fedotenko.

I thought the "North-South" style of play from these lines set a nice tone. More of this, please.

With Knuble coming in, who is going to lose out here, in terms of the lineup?

I hope the Flyers find a way to keep either Sestito or McGinn in the lineup for most of the year, even when Rinaldo returns. The added physicality and feistiness in the lineup is something the Flyers were seriously lacking the first 3 games.

Get well Mez and welcome back Mike.

He has played well enough to give the team a chance in all four games.
- bmeltzer

Yep. And he did more than that last night.

I don't like it when people say 'it is not Bryz's fault' when clearly he has been awful. But yesterday, he played a great game
- strongsupporter

Just in thinking back over the past 4 games, the only goal that I thought was a bit of a "Bryzaster" was the James Neal goal in the Pens game.

Would I have liked him to stop Kovalchuk on the penalty shot? Yeah, sure. You want your highly paid keeper to make that stop.

Otherwise, on the list of things that need to be addressed on this team, I would suggest goaltending is further down the list than many in the hockey journalism community outside of Philadelphia (who love and cling to the Philly goaltender narrative much like out of town journalists cling to the "They throw snowballs at Santa" narrative) would like to admit.

I thought the "North-South" style of play from these lines set a nice tone. More of this, please.

With Knuble coming in, who is going to lose out here, in terms of the lineup?
- johndewar

It also remains to be seen if Laughton is retained for the full year or returned to his junior team after Saturday's game.

I think Simmonds has earned the chance to play in Hartnell's spot for the time being and the idea of Knuble on Briere's line is pretty dicey on two fronts (defense primarily and offensive zone penalties secondarily). However, I think Knuble could start out with Briere and Schenn.

I just want to point out the positive impact that having two right handed d-men on the blue line last night had on our puck movement. I cant remember the last time we were able to go point to point like that.. we kept the rags hemmed in their own zone for numerous stretches of play.. just because of the point to point passes..

I really like what I've seen from Luke Schenn so far. While I don't see him as being a speedster by any means. From what I've seen of his play so far, his lack of footspeed has been blown way out of proportion. Which is not surprising to me.

Just in thinking back over the past 4 games, the only goal that I thought was a bit of a "Bryzaster" was the James Neal goal in the Pens game.

Would I have liked him to stop Kovalchuk on the penalty shot? Yeah, sure. You want your highly paid keeper to make that stop.

Otherwise, on the list of things that need to be addressed on this team, I would suggest goaltending is further down the list than many in the hockey journalism community outside of Philadelphia (who love and cling to the Philly goaltender narrative much like out of town journalists cling to the "They throw snowballs at Santa" narrative) would like to admit.
- johndewar

Neal's goal was a point blank shot from close distance with time to shoot, from one of the top goal scorers in the League.

I really loved the job the 3rd and 4th line did last night. For as much crap Shelley gets for being on this team at that cap hit, I will give him his due credit. I also was extremely happy with Grossmann and Schenn.

Its going to be interesting to see what they do with laughton after the weekend. as well as he has played, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they send him back being Briere should be back Tuesday, Knuble and Schenn in the lineup tomorrow, Rinaldo only expected to miss a week and McGinn/Sestito looking like they are just fine in the lineup.

Neall's goal was a point blank shot from close distance with time to shoot, from one of the top goal scorers in the League.
- MJL

Perhaps you're misremembering. It was from the top of the circle:

http://video.flyers.nhl.c...3,2,1&event=PHI75&lang=en

Even though he didn't score I thought Matt Read played well. I noticed him in the Devil's game - he had his heart on his sleeve... So I was happy to see him playing with G last night. I fully expect him to lose his spot on the top line to Brayden but I'd like to see him get some more time. I really hope we find a way to keep him. If he stays healthy I think he could be really, really good.

I also thought that Wellwood was inspired by Sestito and Shelley. I've never seen him try to make so many hits in his life.

Just in thinking back over the past 4 games, the only goal that I thought was a bit of a "Bryzaster" was the James Neal goal in the Pens game.

Would I have liked him to stop Kovalchuk on the penalty shot? Yeah, sure. You want your highly paid keeper to make that stop.

Otherwise, on the list of things that need to be addressed on this team, I would suggest goaltending is further down the list than many in the hockey journalism community outside of Philadelphia (who love and cling to the Philly goaltender narrative much like out of town journalists cling to the "They throw snowballs at Santa" narrative) would like to admit.
- johndewar

I think you are being completely unfair to Bryz. He has been far and away the best player on this team. There hasnt been a single goal this season that he "should" have made a save on.

That Neal goal was off of a clean draw and he had two players standing in front of him. So you have a 40+ goal scorer who gets a clean look at the top of the circle with two players screening the goalie.. Thats a hell of a predicament to be in.

As for the Kovalchuk goal.. seriously? You want your "highly paid" keeper to save that? Kovalchuk is probably the most dangerous player in the entire NHL when on a breakaway. Maybe even more so than Datsyuk.

There is NO issue with goaltending. Its not even on the list.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Character-Building Victory; Knuble; Meszaros
- bmeltzer

It was a good win, and honestly we saw the result of across the board improvement-crisper, smarter passing, not forcing things that simply were not there, far better defensive coverage, really good puck support and good physical play.

Even on the lone goal, the PK unit played well. They blocked shots, got in passing lanes and disrupted the flow. It was simply a unfortunate bounce that landed right on the stick of a dangerous guy.

Bryzgalov made several huge momentum saves. He looked locked in, focused and confident last night.

Even though he didn't score I thought Matt Read played well.
- FlyersGrace

I fully agree.

I'm not misremembering at all. I know exactly where the shot came from. That's point blank range and a dangerous area of the ice for a sniper with a shot like Neal has.
- MJL

Our definitions of "point blank range" differ perhaps.

Bryz should have had that shot.

I really loved the job the 3rd and 4th line did last night. For as much crap Shelley gets for being on this team at that cap hit, I will give him his due credit. I also was extremely happy with Grossmann and Schenn.

Its going to be interesting to see what they do with laughton after the weekend. as well as he has played, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they send him back being Briere should be back Tuesday, Knuble and Schenn in the lineup tomorrow, Rinaldo only expected to miss a week and McGinn/Sestito looking like they are just fine in the lineup.
- nastyflyergirl

Pretty much everytime Shelley plays, he comes in, play his position well, makes the simple play. And provided a physical presence. I wouldn't want him playing every game. But he is fine as an extra forward. And I have no problem when he is in the lineup.

I really loved the job the 3rd and 4th line did last night. For as much crap Shelley gets for being on this team at that cap hit, I will give him his due credit. I also was extremely happy with Grossmann and Schenn.

Its going to be interesting to see what they do with laughton after the weekend. as well as he has played, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they send him back being Briere should be back Tuesday, Knuble and Schenn in the lineup tomorrow, Rinaldo only expected to miss a week and McGinn/Sestito looking like they are just fine in the lineup.
- nastyflyergirl

As good as he as been, I completely agree with you. I think Sestito and McGinn both should be in the lineup.. great games by both last night.

Our definitions of "point blank range" differ perhaps.

Bryz should have had that shot.
- johndewar

Not a routine save at all. There's a reason why guys like Neal score as many goals as they do. Do you know how fast that shot get's on a goalie. No way you can blame Brzgalov for that.

Pretty much everytime Shelley plays, he comes in, play his position well, makes the simple play. And provided a physical presence. I wouldn't want him playing every game. But he is fine as an extra forward. And I have no problem when he is in the lineup.
- MJL

He was perfect last night. He kept it simple, hit everybody he could, and didnt make any mistakes. I still say if he was paid 900k, people wouldnt be female doging nearly as much.

With that said.. I wouldnt wanna see him play more than 20 games this year..

I'm not misremembering at all. I know exactly where the shot came from. That's point blank range and a dangerous area of the ice for a sniper with a shot like Neal has.
- MJL

While I agree that was a great shot from a dangerous player, I'm sure the debate on the definition of "point blank range" will rage on all day.