- Philly1980

Omits the best part:

"Turn that Seravalling camera off!"

Just for fun, I ran an analysis of players that were overseas during the lockout and the top 30 point scorers in the league this season to see if there was a correlation between the two. Of the top 30 scorers in the league, only 11 played overseas. Of those 11 players, most are having subpar years. Those players include Zetterberg, Giroux, Datsyuk, Joe Thornton, Malkin, and Kovalchuk. Only 4 of the 11 are having career seasons: P. Kane, Tavares, Duchene, Semin.

He's 100% right.

Not only that, they are catching a break facing Moose twice when they play Jersey.

If they can't take advantage of this, they don't deserve to make the playoffs.
- johndewar

pretty sure fatso will make a miraculous recovery

no JBo, soupy yet?

He was my second choice after Lavi in 2009 when it was rumored Stevens was getting fired.
- Flyskippy

What is the issue with that dude? I'm puzzled why he never made it back to the NHL.

I'm pretty sure that Lavi, like most coaches, are constantly harping about the importance of back-pressure (remember Lavi knocking Hartnell on 24/7 for "casual strides"), even though forwards at the NHL level are expected to do it without needing to be reminded. Short of lacing up a pair of skates and pushing a guy like Briere from behind, what is a coach to do to get a player up and down the ice going at 100% effort?

He can talk until he's red in the face, he can staple butts to the bench, he can switch to a passive 1-2-2 or a 1-4 (Lavi's done both, I think), but does it really accomplish the task of getting the most out of your players and your team?

At some point, the responsibility of the coach has to end somewhere, and the players then have to be accountable for how they play. When times are tough, and nobody wants to tinker with the lineup, it's like that divide doesn't even exist anymore.
- Tomahawk

A Coach can harp on it all he wants. If that's all it takes to be an NHL Coach, everyone on here can be one. Just get in their ear and harp on backchecking. That's like an NFL Coach telling his team they have to run the ball, but not installing the plays to do so, or teaching the correct techniques to be effective doing it.
Did you watch the Pens 1-2-2 in the 3rd period the last game against the Flyers? There was nothing passive about it.

Omits the best part:

"Turn that Seravalling camera off!"
- Flyskippy

So you're saying that Bylsma adjusted to the situation he was faced with? They understand how to play that "system" because it's been taught to them, and they've spent time learning it and how to play it. Are you telling me that Vokoun had to be lights out in the 3rd period of that game?
- MJL

The Flyers haven't been without their top scorers, save for Hartnell, like the Pens were when Bylsma changed to this system a few years ago. Nope Vokoun had didly squat to do because the Flyers stopped playing after the first period! Lavy didn't need to change, because after the first they were beating the snot out of them 4-1.

Dave Isaac ‏@davegisaac

Bryz says this week is the season...and he's right. "You lose both games, you’re done. That’s it. This is it. This is reality."
- hammarby31

He's right.

He's surely being crucified by someone for saying it, too.

- Philly1980

Which game is that?

He's 100% right.

Not only that, they are catching a break facing Moose twice when they play Jersey.

If they can't take advantage of this, they don't deserve to make the playoffs.
- johndewar

Not sure playing against Moose is a break...Flyers tend to make every backup look like the next Patrick Roy!

Which game is that?
- Scoob

One of the games versus the Penguins last year, game one maybe?

The Flyers haven't been without their top scorers, save for Hartnell, like the Pens were when Bylsma changed to this system a few years ago. Nope Vokoun had didly squat to do because the Flyers stopped playing after the first period! Lavy didn't need to change, because after the first they were beating the snot out of them 4-1.
- aantny88

Chris Pronger.

Not sure playing against Moose is a break...Flyers tend to make every backup look like the next Patrick Roy!
- aantny88

and the flyers will probably have 12 shots on goal

Chris Pronger.
- Jsaquella

I try to forget about him...

The Flyers haven't been without their top scorers, save for Hartnell, like the Pens were when Bylsma changed to this system a few years ago. Nope Vokoun had didly squat to do because the Flyers stopped playing after the first period! Lavy didn't need to change, because after the first they were beating the snot out of them 4-1.
- aantny88

You don't have ot be without you're top scorers to make adjustments. Laviolette knew what his roster was going to be before the Season started. Knew that they weren't going to have Pronger, Meszaros, and Carle. Zero adjustments made.
How do you win a game when you're leading 4-1 after the first period? You do what the Pens did in the 3rd period. It is not there on this team. The Coach has not installed a strategy or Coached the team to play with a lead, and institute a systems change like the Pens have. If he had, the game would of been all but over.

It seems it's black and white with this fanbase. Win and they played with effort. Lose a lead, or a game, they didn't play with effort. Not always the case.

Chris Pronger.
- Jsaquella

I was wondering when he'd get a mention

and the flyers will probably have 12 shots on goal
- vejim

It's hard to get shots on goal when you're hemmed in your own zone for fifty minutes

You don't have ot be without you're top scorers to make adjustments. Laviolette knew what his roster was going to be before the Season started. Knew that they weren't going to have Pronger, Meszaros, and Carle. Zero adjustments made.
How do you win a game when you're leading 4-1 after the first period? You do what the Pens did in the 3rd period. It is not there on this team. The Coach has not installed a strategy or Coached the team to play with a lead, and institute a systems change like the Pens have. If he had, the game would of been all but over.

It seems it's black and white with this fanbase. Win and they played with effort. Lose a lead, or a game, they didn't play with effort. Not always the case.
- MJL

Definitely not black and white here. I know there is no easy solution to what ails this team. Winning a game with a 4-1 lead can be done in two different ways: keep their foot on the gas and continuing scoring goals or clamp down defensively, play a 1-2-2 or 1-4. Either way can be just as effective. The Flyers did neither. I'm sure Lavy prefers option A, but when the players stop playing neither option works.

Definitely not black and white here. I know there is no easy solution to what ails this team. Winning a game with a 4-1 lead can be done in two different ways: keep their foot on the gas and continuing scoring goals or clamp down defensively, play a 1-2-2 or 1-4. Either way can be just as effective. The Flyers did neither. I'm sure Lavy prefers option A, but when the players stop playing neither option works.
- aantny88

It can't be effective when you play the way Laviolette does. Because all you're doing is trading scoring chances the rest of the game. Why would you want to play that way with a 4-1 lead? Against the potent offense of a team like the Pens? Do you know how much more energy that takes on a game by game basis?
Again it's black and white when you say the players stopped playing. Any idea why they "stopped playing"?

think i figured out lavys system

Just for fun, I ran an analysis of players that were overseas during the lockout and the top 30 point scorers in the league this season to see if there was a correlation between the two. Of the top 30 scorers in the league, only 11 played overseas. Of those 11 players, most are having subpar years. Those players include Zetterberg, Giroux, Datsyuk, Joe Thornton, Malkin, and Kovalchuk. Only 4 of the 11 are having career seasons: P. Kane, Tavares, Duchene, Semin.
- aantny88

So inconclusive?

whether the issue is the dmen or the forwards, the flyers have had issues in their own zone for the last few yrs. obvi, they need a puck mover, but the way they struggle seems system related and when they play lockdown teams - even with comparable or less talent- its almost certainly a defeat. blame who you like, but I'm sick of it.

It can't be effective when you play the way Laviolette does. Because all you're doing is trading scoring chances the rest of the game. Why would you want to play that way with a 4-1 lead? Against the potent offense of a team like the Pens? Do you know how much more energy that takes on a game by game basis?
Again it's black and white when you say the players stopped playing. Any idea why they "stopped playing"?
- MJL

Right it's black and white when the players admit that they sat back, but Hartnell has no clue what he's talking about.

think i figured out lavys system


- Philly1980

I had to log in just to tell you how funny that is. I'm still laughing.. I like the touch with Briere. hahaha

(Back to contstantly lurking)