On the plus side, the Flyers won. That is always to be desired.

On the bad side, they barely won.

As was pointed out, there was a time when this would have been seen as playing down to the level of their opponent. Not the case last night. The Flyers were "present" for about 40 minutes of total ice time. Maybe less. The Sabres weren't even present for the remaining 20.

Both teams looked to be in need of answers/makeovers. The Flyers just seem to need less work than the Sabres...but that could be deceiving as well.

I will not be convinced that this team, with this coaching staff and player personnel department, is capable of winning and being a legitimate long term contender, until I see it. They are consistently on the cusp and or just off it. Glaring holes remain from the NHL level down to the ECHL team. And there is an apparent disconnect between the head coach and the GM as to how/what kind of team this is or should be style wise.

Last nights win was like being at college again.... It's 2:30 and your at the last party you look around and there's a couple trashed girls that are like a 4 or a 5 and you think to yourself, hey it's something
- Just5

*nods, sadly, in the affirmative*

On a positive note... Loved seeing kimmo's breakout pass to gagne from his own zone to other blue line. Maybe 1st time this season I've seen that this year. Makes me want that puck moving dman even more.

No reason to buy out Bryz. He is playing well enough. And considering you'd have to give up additional assets to get another goalie in here he is certainly playing well enough to not have to worry about that.

If it's me I buy out Briere(if he isn't traded) and you hold on to the 2nd buyout in hopes, as small as the chance may seem, that Pronger can get cleared for play and be bought out. If Bryz plays very poorly and you still have the second buyout right before it expires then that's when I would consider a Bryz buyout. Right now the guy has had one bad year in an otherwise pretty solid career. Let's not poop ourselves over it.
- hereticpride

everyone knows briere is gone. bryz's sv % for his tenure here is ~ .903. he is certainly a candidate for a buyout if an alternative becomes available. he hasn't been good enuf this yr either. homer might be forced to go one more yr with him, but it should not be interpreted as anything more than lacking better alternatives until the nxt off season.

This team is just not that good. They're aren't.

And they have a home and home with the Devils this week. When the Devils streak off with the Flyers' lunch money again twice this week, I'd be interested to hear from the optimists at that point.

This team has given zero reasons to be optimistic.

I think you have it exactly right.

Bryzgalov has played pretty well. Right now he appears to be fatigued. Flyers need a top back up that provide some timely relief. No need to buy out Brzgalov. If it does prove necessary, it can be done after next season.
- spatso

wouldnt Bob be nice right now, whats with Bryz not controlling rebounds?

everyone knows briere is gone. bryz's sv % for his tenure here is ~ .903. he is certainly a candidate for a buyout if an alternative becomes available. he hasn't been good enuf this yr either. homer might be forced to go one more yr with him, but it should not be interpreted as anything more than lacking better alternatives until the nxt off season.
- isaiah520

I was thinking about this as that puck squeezed through Bryz's pads and almost tied the game last night.

I think, more and more, that it's going to be Bryz that goes and not Briere.

This team is just not that good. They're aren't.

And they have a home and home with the Devils this week. When the Devils streak off with the Flyers' lunch money again twice this week, I'd be interested to hear from the optimists at that point.

This team has given zero reasons to be optimistic.
- johndewar

The fact that there is any debate is what is silly. The expectations for a team that took a step back in the offseason are ridiculous. I'm just glad this was a shortened season so we didn't start whining about the reality of the situation in October.

The fact that there is any debate is what is silly. The expectations for a team that took a step back in the offseason are ridiculous. I'm just glad this was a shortened season so we didn't start whining about the reality of the situation in October.
- section32

oh God, I wish I could be at that meeting tonight

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Contenders vs. Pretenders
- bmeltzer

they're pretenders, and they know it. we know it, too.

Not sure I get the criticism for winning a one goal game against Buffalo. You don't get style points for winning by more than one goal.

The legit concern would be that once again the team didn't play a full 60 minutes. The third period was lackluster to put it kindly.

I was thinking about this as that puck squeezed through Bryz's pads and almost tied the game last night.

I think, more and more, that it's going to be Bryz that goes and not Briere.
- johndewar

no reason to keep briere in any case...no longer fits.

The fact that there is any debate is what is silly. The expectations for a team that took a step back in the offseason are ridiculous. I'm just glad this was a shortened season so we didn't start whining about the reality of the situation in October.
- section32

They should still be a playoff team. Their not even that

they're pretenders, and they know it. we know it, too.
- hammarby31

27 games into a 48 game schedule it certainly appears that way.

Good blog, Bill. I agree too. This team is still deep in the woods somewhere. The home and home against the Devils should be interesting. If Laviolette doesn't adjust and they lose both games then he's gotten be canned, right?

The fact that there is any debate is what is silly. The expectations for a team that took a step back in the offseason are ridiculous. I'm just glad this was a shortened season so we didn't start whining about the reality of the situation in October.
- section32

What exactly are these ridiculous expectations you speak of? I don't recall one person ever saying in here this team was a cup contender. We all expected playoffs, but then we expect that every season.

Some of you need to slow your rolls when it comes to over stating your cases trying to prove some non existent argument.

Not sure I get the criticism for winning a one goal game against Buffalo. You don't get style points for winning by more than one goal.

The legit concern would be that once again the team didn't play a full 60 minutes. The third period was lackluster to put it kindly.
- PLindbergh31

Some bad line changes as well. One lead to a goal and the other, an odd man rush.

Not sure I get the criticism for winning a one goal game against Buffalo. You don't get style points for winning by more than one goal.

The legit concern would be that once again the team didn't play a full 60 minutes. The third period was lackluster to put it kindly.
- PLindbergh31

The "legit concern" you mention is the crux of the criticism.

Sagging the way they did last night in that 3rd period is why they went 0 - 3 last week. They sagged at the wrong times and it ended up in the Flyers' net every time. This team cannot afford to be lax.

I'd hate to see what would have been in the papers had the Sabres come back to tie that game.

Not sure I get the criticism for winning a one goal game against Buffalo. You don't get style points for winning by more than one goal.

The legit concern would be that once again the team didn't play a full 60 minutes. The third period was lackluster to put it kindly.
- PLindbergh31

I think some people are being overly critical. Buffalo is a desperate team. They have been playing okay coming into last night's game. The Flyers did what they had to do. Some of you guys are complaining about the style points.

no reason to keep briere in any case...no longer fits.
- isaiah520

I don't disagree there.

Some bad line changes as well. One lead to a goal and the other, an odd man rush.
- NickTheKid87

Yup. Well we talked last week about securing 3 points in the games against the Rags, Pens, and Bruins. They managed a big fat zero. Not good.

Good blog, Bill. I agree too. This team is still deep in the woods somewhere. The home and home against the Devils should be interesting. If Laviolette doesn't adjust and they lose both games then he's gotten be canned, right?
- NickTheKid87

If the Sabres had come back and tied that game, you think Laviolette is still the Flyers' coach this AM?

Good blog, Bill. I agree too. This team is still deep in the woods somewhere. The home and home against the Devils should be interesting. If Laviolette doesn't adjust and they lose both games then he's gotten be canned, right?
- NickTheKid87

somebody needs to be canned and I am not sure its Lavy

wouldnt Bob be nice right now, whats with Bryz not controlling rebounds?
- vejim

What kills me is flyers hyped up bob. Athletic, quick, hard worker. Sooo give up on him get slug, stiff, space head... I said it then and I say it now, Philly traded it's core and went young( which was great move IMO ) but we should have stayed with bob, let him develop with a vet bEhind him and when young core developed if bob couldn't hd his own then make move for a goalie. Bryz never and will never be the answer. I get destroyed on this this site for saying go get a young goalie and buy out bryz. Now I laugh as bob is brought up. God this team is a joke. But I'm a sucker. Still watch. Still support team. Sorry foR the rant.

The "legit concern" you mention is the crux of the criticism.

Sagging the way they did last night in that 3rd period is why they went 0 - 3 last week. They sagged at the wrong times and it ended up in the Flyers' net every time. This team cannot afford to be lax.

I'd hate to see what would have been in the papers had the Sabres come back to tie that game.
- johndewar

If Couturier buries his chance early in the third period it becomes a 4-1 laugher. He hits the crossbar, and of course Buffalo scores immediately after that.