Bryzgalov's save % and GAA considerably worse currently than his numbers last year. The difference he's been consistent most of the year, as well as limiting the soft goals.

He hasn't been as good lately, but he's been hung out to dry a bunch by this awful commitment to team defense.
- PLindbergh31

He hasnt been good the past week or so, but in the same time, he (like you said) has been burned by the lack of defense. I dont think there was a single goal I could directly blame on him in that span, but there have been goals I would like to have seen saved.

Last night was a real bummer. They came out and looked good.. very good. They had the Panthers hemmed in their zone, they were out working them and winning puck battles, getting shots... but three breakdowns in 3 minutes all led to goals. From there on it was just ugly.

Gonna need popcorn early today...
- Flyskippy

Bagel, cereal, juice, and coffee for right now. This is better than reading the paper, though.

He hasnt been good the past week or so, but in the same time, he (like you said) has been burned by the lack of defense. I dont think there was a single goal I could directly blame on him in that span, but there have been goals I would like to have seen saved.

Last night was a real bummer. They came out and looked good.. very good. They had the Panthers hemmed in their zone, they were out working them and winning puck battles, getting shots... but three breakdowns in 3 minutes all led to goals. From there on it was just ugly.
- jak521

I made the point last night, that with the Read news, coupled with a dreadful performance, the win over the Penguins couldn't even be enjoyed.

Bryzgalov has to start making some saves on breakaways. He looks helpless. Sure the team has to limit the number of turnovers and odd man rushes, but Bryzgalov has to start stopping a few. That's not too much to ask.

Timonen is a guy that is always pretty candid with his comments - so the notion of mental mistakes due to tiredness may be a valid one. Of course, all teams are going to deal with these situations. The Flyers need to start to find some modicum of consistency if they are going to make up for the lost points of the early season (said captain obvious). The next 4 games are winnable. Get 8 points, or at the every least 7, and begin to step-ladder up the standings.

I personally don't see the reason why they lost due to it being a trap game. The Flyers had plenty of energy last night in the game. They lost for the same reasons they've been losing all year. And it starts on the defensive side of the puck. Look at all the goals scored. Twice in the game, Mueller is allowed to just cruise down the slot unchecked waiting for a pass or a rebound opportunity, while a Flyers forward just glides and watches. Once by Rinaldo, and once by Talbot. Mueller literally skated right by Talbot as Talbot decided to become a fan. This has happened too many times with Talbot this year. He's a veteran player. . Another veteran, Timonen leaves a guy behind him at the net. Another goal, one defenseman changing behind the play. Gustafsson is up in the neutral zone, totally out of the play, with a man behind him. Like Bill says, attack, attack, attack. This team is on the wrong side of the puck far too often. A lot of it is on the players. But it's also on the Coach. Because that is what he preaches, and that is the mindset that he drives into the players. Florida won, because they played a structured game, and played well defensively. And they got good goaltending. No doubt Bryzgalov has not played well lately. But how about playing some sound defense and limiting the A rate chances? This team can't do it. They're not taught to do it. And same message isn't being driven into them to play well defensively.
- MJL

I agree, and it's annoying that the players even bring up that kind of stuff (trap game), because it leads me to believe they buy into it.

He hasnt been good the past week or so, but in the same time, he (like you said) has been burned by the lack of defense. I dont think there was a single goal I could directly blame on him in that span, but there have been goals I would like to have seen saved.

Last night was a real bummer. They came out and looked good.. very good. They had the Panthers hemmed in their zone, they were out working them and winning puck battles, getting shots... but three breakdowns in 3 minutes all led to goals. From there on it was just ugly.
- jak521

I had Panthers fan in front of me acting like a buffoon. Thought I was gonna get hit with something as I was close enough to him to be within splash radius, but I guess the low turnout plus bad play causing folks to leave early prevented me from a Lindy Ruff beaning incident.

I made the point last night, that with the Read news, coupled with a dreadful performance, the win over the Penguins couldn't even be enjoyed.

Bryzgalov has to start making some saves on breakaways. He looks helpless. Sure the team has to limit the number of turnovers and odd man rushes, but Bryzgalov has to start stopping a few. That's not too much to ask.
- PLindbergh31

How many games are we into the Season? And how many breakaway opportunities have other teams had? I'd say the solution is stop giving up breakaway opportunities in the first place, and we won't have to worry about Bryzgalov making the saves.

I made the point last night, that with the Read news, coupled with a dreadful performance, the win over the Penguins couldn't even be enjoyed.

Bryzgalov has to start making some saves on breakaways. He looks helpless. Sure the team has to limit the number of turnovers and odd man rushes, but Bryzgalov has to start stopping a few. That's not too much to ask.
- PLindbergh31

I agree. Im glad he will get a few days of rest here...

I dont think it is a coincidence though that as the Flyers goals for have gone up, Bryz's numbers have gotten worse.

Bagel, cereal, juice, and coffee for right now. This is better than reading the paper, though.
- tangent_man

Well, yeah... Animals and their waste don't block your view on HB (generally).

I'm not a stepford. I'm somebody that realizes when you trade two 26 year old, in their prime stars players for guys who are 20 and 22 years of age, plus draft picks, there will be growing pains. I realize that there would be bad games.

I definitely lean to the glass being half full side of things, but I'm also a realist.
- Jsaquella

when the flyers win the cup this year I will apologize to Homer, just so freakin frustrated listening to the panthers idiots

How many games are we into the Season? And how many breakaway opportunities have other teams had? I'd say the solution is stop giving up breakaway opportunities in the first place, and we won't have to worry about Bryzgalov making the saves.
- MJL

Even the best defensive teams give up some breakaways. The Flyers give up way too many no one would contest that. My point is the goaltender has to make a stop every once in a while. Every breakaway or odd man rush ends up in the back of the Flyers net.

Bagel, cereal, juice, and coffee for right now. This is better than reading the paper, though.
- tangent_man

Definitely has its fair share of Comics.

Definitely has its fair share of Comics.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

That said, does anyone enjoy Family Circus?

How many games are we into the Season? And how many breakaway opportunities have other teams had? I'd say the solution is stop giving up breakaway opportunities in the first place, and we won't have to worry about Bryzgalov making the saves.
- MJL

In hockey, as in life, prevention > cure.

There were lots of things to be concerned about last night but the most concerning thing to me was during Lavi's timeout, everyone was huddled in around him listening intently and Giroux was looking around clearly not plugged in or interested. Given he is the captain this worries me. Why would he be so unplugged and set such an example?

Bill - what do you make of this? Or did you notice?

That said, does anyone enjoy Family Circus?
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

I do. At least I did back when I read the papers.

Even the best defensive teams give up some breakaways. The Flyers give up way too many no one would contend that. My point is the goaltender has to make a stop every once in a while. Every breakaway or odd man rush ends up in the back of the Flyers net.
- PLindbergh31

That to me is like blaming the Safety in Football for not making the game saving tackle when the running back just ran through the entire defense for a 60 yard touchdown run. Certainly you would like Bryzgalov to make a save. But the breakdown is the issue.

I had Panthers fan in front of me acting like a buffoon. Thought I was gonna get hit with something as I was close enough to him to be within splash radius, but I guess the low turnout plus bad play causing folks to leave early prevented me from a Lindy Ruff beaning incident.
- Flyskippy

a panthers fan? had to be a philly fan

Definitely has its fair share of Comics.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Uh oh. I foresee a "favorite comics" discussion followed by avatar changes reflecting such.

after watching the Panther broadcasters mock the Flyers I realized that this organization is never going to win anything with Holmgren as GM. He made 2 good trades getting Timonen, Hartnell and Coburn, trades JVR for a turnover machine, trades his 2 best players for promise and signs a wacky goalie for 9 years. Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? He could have drafted Carlson, Markstrom and Hamilton. I think Bozo the clown could do a better job.
- vejim

So Carter for Voracek and the first-round draft pick used on Couturier wasn't a good trade? Acquiring Grossmann for two second-round picks wasn't a good deal?

Homer's drafting strategy is questionable? Would that be the strategy that enabled the Flyers to draft Claude Giroux when Holmgren was assistant GM at the time and ran the scouting department? Would it be the strategy for drafting JVR in the first place, or was it somehow both a bad draft choice and a bad decision to trade him straight up for Schenn? Would it be drafting Luca Sbisa (who is at least now a solid #4 defenseman) or trading him as part of the Chris Pronger trade?

BTW, you can do the same "could have drafted Player X but drafted Player Y (or traded that pick for Player Z)" exercise for every single organization in the NHL and they will never look good in hindsight. That's especially true when you simply dismiss the picks that clicked.

Was signing the "wacky goalie" long-term the mistake? Or was the mistake to go into 2010-11 with Michael Leighton, a rookie (Bobrovsky) and Brian Boucher as their goalies in effort to save money on goaltending and use the cap space on other areas?

You can't have it both ways, and you can't focus only on the negative. There are some poorly run teams in the NHL. The Flyers, while they do have their flaws (number one being impatience and a tendency to try to "win last year's Cup"), are one of the better-run teams, and their won-loss record since the 1995 lockout bears that out.

Uh oh. I foresee a "favorite comics" discussion followed by avatar changes reflecting such.
- Flyskippy

Calvin and Hobbes, easy.

a panthers fan? had to be a philly fan
- vejim

Claimed he had season tickets when he lived in FLA. Wore a blank Panthers jersey and Panthers hat.

That to me is like blaming the Safety in Football for not making the game saving tackle when the running back just ran through the entire defense for a 60 yard touchdown run. Certainly you would like Bryzgalov to make a save. But the breakdown is the issue.
- MJL

So every time there is a breakaway it has to result in a goal against? Cause that's what happens now.

Claimed he had season tickets when he lived in FLA. Wore a blank Panthers jersey and Panthers hat.
- Flyskippy

wow, there are no panther fans here...lol

I'm really questioning signing Timonen for next year. Overpaying him isn't even the issue, he looks basically shot to me.