That's what gets me when a team starts attacking their transitional game this team is dead in the water...they played well enough to win the game, but I'm mad that no adjustments were made once again to counter that and fix this damn transition
- PhillaBully

That's been my biggest issue with Laviolette....some of it falls on the players, too.

Biggest worry from tonight remains 5 on 5 play. They got outshot by the Leafs at 5 on 5, and despite all the PP's, they didn't generate enough chances at even strength as the game went on.
- Jsaquella

This.

But I was heartened that the team didn't seem to simply get penned in their own zone. I thought the break outs were better.

There was some good stuff. It was a start. Of course, if they don't build on this and win this weekend, it's pointless.

you guys will be fine. Bernier won us the game, but you guys didn't do yourself any favors with all those PPs. Still say Philly makes the playoffs. Cheers, good overall game, you guys have a lot of pieces, just need to gel. And you will.

Not really, they created some great chances and Bernier played great. that's why you have to play better at 5 on 5, can't expect PP to carry you every night.
- Jsaquella

yea but if you can't score 4v5 how can do score 5v5?

I really have no idea why you keep pointing Mason out. He was solid tonight. He had little chance on any of the goals.
- MJL

That was the only thing I was happy about tonight was that mason played well.. Not as good as bernier but well for a starter

God is love
Love is blind
Ray Charles is blind
Ray Charles is God
- GirouxForTheShow

Money is the root of all evil
Money makes the world go 'round
The world is Evil

agree about Couturier. Not sure I liked his line. I definitely prefer Jake with G and Hartnell. Read played well. maybe go back to what the original line was going to be with Talbot/Couturier/read and Schenn/Vinny/Simmonds. Should see Laughton with Hall and Rinaldo on Saturday
- nastyflyergirl

Couts got 11 minutes, G 26+. Horrible distribution. I understand the PP has something to do with it but 26 minutes a game and G will be toast in no time.

Brilliant!

That's been my biggest issue with Laviolette....some of it falls on the players, too.
- Jsaquella

It does but it seems that the more time goes on the sloppier they get trying to play a certain way... It's like someone is trying to get them to put a square peg through a round hole

I really have no idea why you keep pointing Mason out. He was solid tonight. He had little chance on any of the goals.
- MJL

Who, would you say, was the better goalie tonight?

you guys will be fine. Bernier won us the game, but you guys didn't do yourself any favors with all those PPs. Still say Philly makes the playoffs. Cheers, good overall game, you guys have a lot of pieces, just need to gel. And you will.
- clark_griswold

Thanks Chico
*flicks toothpick*

that TSN broadcast was brutal, such Homers and nothing nice to say about the Flyers organization

yea but if you can't score 4v5 how can do score 5v5?
- 2Real

Ask the Bruins. Last year they were 26th on the PP and went to the SCF. They were 20th when they won the Cup.

Positives:

Really liked how Streit, Lecavalier, Read and Grossmann played. I thought Mason wasn't at fault. The PP absolutely should've gotten more than one -- just tough luck.

Negatives:

I'll...save those. It's the first game of the season. They played hard, I thought, for the whole game. That's a start -- they didn't look as good as this throughout the preseason.

Concerns:

The even-strength goal-scoring. Maybe, just maybe...we need a one-dimensional goal scorer. Something to think about.
- AllInForFlyers

i thought they've been down a goal scoring winger since JVR was sent packing, but if anything stood out to me strictly personnel-wise, it was the contrast in the mobility of the TOR d corp vs ours. mez has looked real shaky so far since the exhib gms.

do the flyers desreve to win?

no, bc the leafs came to play on a back to back.

And their coverage down low was superior to the Flyers.

And if you give me the choice, I'll take the leafs lineup everday as opposed to the flyers.

cant blame lava tonight
- Just5

I'll take he Flyers lineup hands down!

Ask the Bruins. Last year they were 26th on the PP and went to the SCF. They were 20th when they won the Cup.
- Jsaquella

hmm but how was their pk and even strength defense?

I'll take he Flyers lineup hands down!
- MJL

Without the coach

It does but it seems that the more time goes on the sloppier they get trying to play a certain way... It's like someone is trying to get them to put a square peg through a round hole
- PhillaBully

They tried to be way too fancy at times, for sure. Way too often they gained the zone with only one guy moving, and the Leafs snuffed it really quickly. They're a good defensive team, though

Biggest worry from tonight remains 5 on 5 play. They got outshot by the Leafs at 5 on 5, and despite all the PP's, they didn't generate enough chances at even strength as the game went on.
- Jsaquella

Kimmo racing to the blueline, stopping and dropping it back to center to Giroux has to stop. He does it every time and causes the other two wingers to lose their stride. It is also very predictable and teams will start breaking it up at the line or Giroux is going to get nailed.

This.

But I was heartened that the team didn't seem to simply get penned in their own zone. I thought the break outs were better.

There was some good stuff. It was a start. Of course, if they don't build on this and win this weekend, it's pointless.
- johndewar

the breakouts looked a little different from last year ... but I'm not sure how.

Who, would you say, was the better goalie tonight?
- Dkos

I'd give the edge to Bernier. But that doesn't mean that Mason didn't play well.

bernier is on the leafs the flyers couldn't outplay bernier
therefore the leafs outplayed the flyers
- 2Real

that's really not accurate

They tried to be way too fancy at times, for sure. Way too often they gained the zone with only one guy moving, and the Leafs snuffed it really quickly. They're a good defensive team, though
- Jsaquella

So who tells them to stand at the blue line?

hmm but how was their pk and even strength defense?
- 2Real

That's kind of my point...you get out played at 5 on 5, you're not going to win often

that's really not accurate
- nastyflyergirl

why are we trying t spin this loss and try to rationalize it wasn't a full on team (frank) up

Couts got 11 minutes, G 26+. Horrible distribution. I understand the PP has something to do with it but 26 minutes a game and G will be toast in no time.

Brilliant!
- jstross

imagine another useful winger added to the mix and couts plays w/ him after special teams situations instead of a guy like rosebud. another reason to support the DET approach to team toughness and usher out the goon.