i was expecting a 4-1 win. That would have made me feel good. That win just made me feel worse.
- PhillaBully

i'm pretty much right there with you. i'm actually glad they didn't get their first 3 goal game from an empty netter. i saw some individual players haven ice games, and mason was stellar again.

A win's a win.

It was great to see Read get on the board. He's been working his tail off all season long, and finally got rewarded.

Still have concerns. They keep trying to be too fancy. Keep things simple and drive the net, make the easy pass, don't force things and when it doubt blast it at the net.

Mason with another solid game. Really like how he is not letting a fluky goal turn into two or three goals.
- Jsaquella

while they did hit 2 post (from the point) and with a little luck the score could have been 4-1, they are still so frustrating to watch offensively. Talbot looked shaky to me and left up rebounds and squeakers going through his equipment but the Flyers just always seem to be playing the perimeter too much. They don't get in the "dirty areas". I know Berube said he was happy with the lines but I honestly was eh about the first two lines and liked the 3rd and 4th lines. I didn't look at the stats but it seemed like the 4th line spend most of their time in the offensive zone and got chances. really like Couturier's game. Read as well.

while this is still a work in progress, there is no denying they look much better defensively under Berube and they break out of their zone much better. The puck support is much better

Mason......what can you say, he has just been solid to great game in and game out. Maybe the kid just needed a fresh start. He certainly is looking more like the kid who won the Calder in Columbus.

Talbot. man, just love the guy.

Oh, and I'm fairly convinced at this point that, unless Couturier and BSchenn develop into these beastly offensive players, this team does not have enough forward talent to compete.

So much female doging and moaning about the defense, yet we have a guy (Raffl) who was playing in Sweden's 2nd best professional league on their top line.
- johndewar

i'd like to think they could have found room for gagne.

To me the seem to be chasing the play. They are constantly a step behind everything. The passing is terrible. So scripted and easy to read. They are playing as a bunch of individuals still. It is seriously frustrating to watch.

Guys (G is one of the worst when it comes to this) arent not moving their feet, and are avoiding the important areas of the ice. Raffl needs to go back to the AHL as soon as Hartnell is back. I am pulling for the kid, but he was atrocious last night.

On a positive note: Finally nice to see Read get on the sheet tonight. Kid is a workhorse. I also thought Coburn had his best game in probably a year and half. He looked good at both ends. Mason has just been amazing so far as a Flyer.. I know, I know.. small sample size.


For the season he is 2-5 with a GAA of 2.17 and a s/p of .930%

As a Flyer Mason has now played in 14 games posting STELLAR numbers... 2.03 gaa and .937%
- jak521

agreed. especially your first paragraph. they're so slow to react and get beat to pretty much every loose puck. you can see they're going to lose the rac before it even begins.

i thought G was terrible last night. and V wasn't any better. i don't get it.

Only make a move if it's going to help the future. No short term fixes. Don't throw a pick away to add a veteran scorer on the last year of a deal. This team isn't close, so rentals make absolutely zero sense.
- PLindbergh31

I agree, I really do.

But at the same time, a "grit for skill deal" is something that this team shouldn't laugh at, right now.

I thought the Flyers did some good things last night, and they rang a couple of posts.

But at the same time, they just might've gotten shut out if Henrik Lundqvist was playing and in good form.

That's just unaccceptable -- 13 goals in nine games is completely unacceptable, and I give the Flyers credit for being patient with that crap, because I would've done something by now.

Mason is solid for you guys. Bit of a surprise.

I was very happy to see talbot not hurt. I'll take the 2 PTs but we have lots of work to do. They should have put the rangers away. The 2 on 1 with jake and Schenn was played well. Great pass and good shot. Just got robbed. The 3 on 1 however after it was horribly executed. Timonen and giroux were over passing and getting too cute. Keep it simple one pass shoot.
- Hextall271

I'm with Bill on that one, I thought Jake telegraphed pass the whole way. Makes is much easier for the goalie to cheat towards the pass.

yes, i was watching the kings/coyotes game and seeing richie and carter out there on the pk (richards with the great sweep check at the blue line sends carter in on a sh semi-break) made me wonder all over again. it does look like a different game
- hogweed

Let it go already, the trades were 2 years ago and we got a good return for them. They did not win the cup by themselves in LA, they were key pieces like a lot of other guys and rode an absolutely stellar goalie to the Cup. We need to focus on what we can do now instead of whining about what could have been if we would have kept these 2. Every blog there is always someone who keeps bringing it up and it is tiresome

I agree, I really do.

But at the same time, a "grit for skill deal" is something that this team shouldn't laugh at, right now.

I thought the Flyers did some good things last night, and they rang a couple of posts.

But at the same time, they just might've gotten shut out if Henrik Lundqvist was playing and in good form.

That's just unaccceptable -- 13 goals in nine games is completely unacceptable, and I give the Flyers credit for being patient with that crap, because I would've done something by now.
- AllInForFlyers

I'm surprised they haven't made any moves. But perhaps there aren't any teams willing to deal so early in the season.

Other GM's will be like sharks in bloody water. I think it's best to just stand pat now, and don't make any desperation trades.

I agree, I really do.

But at the same time, a "grit for skill deal" is something that this team shouldn't laugh at, right now.

I thought the Flyers did some good things last night, and they rang a couple of posts.

But at the same time, they just might've gotten shut out if Henrik Lundqvist was playing and in good form.

That's just unaccceptable -- 13 goals in nine games is completely unacceptable, and I give the Flyers credit for being patient with that crap, because I would've done something by now.
- AllInForFlyers

Flyers main focus -- to improve the team -- is to continually search for a top pairing defenseman.

I think the offense will come around on its own. Sure, I'd love to add a sniper. But they have talent up front. They just need to work harder to get into better scoring areas. I think Brayden Schenn is about to explode offensively. Been putting himself in good position to score on several occasions and just snake-bitten right now.

while this is still a work in progress, there is no denying they look much better defensively under Berube and they break out of their zone much better. The puck support is much better.
- nastyflyergirl

D-zone coverage looks better, but there's a gaping unprotected hole in the high slot... I don't know if it's the way they're scripted to defend when the puck is behind the net, or if the high forwards collapse so deep, but that needs to be addressed. There's been multiple times in every game it seems, when an attacker receives the puck in the high slot and then has forever to tee it up. Luckily, Mason (and his glove hand) have been equal to the task so far...

Yeah Read had a nice game. Pretty alarming after 6 days off, no aspects of their game really improved. The passing is dreadful, and the PP actually regressed as hard as it is to believe.
- PLindbergh31

With Streit on the first unit I really liked the way they gained the zone with speed. then it all went to poop from there. they all just freaking stand still and pass. then they are suprised when the defensive team jumps on them, wins the battle and ices the puck? its so infuriating to watch.

Let it go already, the trades were 2 years ago and we got a good return for them. They did not win the cup by themselves in LA, they were key pieces like a lot of other guys and rode an absolutely stellar goalie to the Cup. We need to focus on what we can do now instead of whining about what could have been if we would have kept these 2.
- Daceroni

I understand and agree. But in hindsight I really wish we had those two over what we got in return. It is what it is.

With Streit on the first unit I really liked the way they gained the zone with speed. then it all went to poop from there. they all just freaking stand still and pass. then they are suprised when the defensive team jumps on them, wins the battle and ices the puck? its so infuriating to watch.
- nastyflyergirl

Yup. Guys are like cigar store indians out there. No moving around on the PP.

At least they got two points, maybe it gives them some confidence.

To me the seem to be chasing the play. They are constantly a step behind everything. The passing is terrible. So scripted and easy to read. They are playing as a bunch of individuals still. It is seriously frustrating to watch.

Guys (G is one of the worst when it comes to this) arent not moving their feet, and are avoiding the important areas of the ice. Raffl needs to go back to the AHL as soon as Hartnell is back. I am pulling for the kid, but he was atrocious last night.

On a positive note: Finally nice to see Read get on the sheet tonight. Kid is a workhorse. I also thought Coburn had his best game in probably a year and half. He looked good at both ends. Mason has just been amazing so far as a Flyer.. I know, I know.. small sample size.


For the season he is 2-5 with a GAA of 2.17 and a s/p of .930%

As a Flyer Mason has now played in 14 games posting STELLAR numbers... 2.03 gaa and .937%
- jak521

I don't agree about Raffl. He has played well so far for the most part. He should NOT be on the top line tho. its not like I would call McGinn a top line guy either but I honestly felt like he looked much better on the top line. Raffl needs to be on the 3rd or 4th line.

i'm pretty much right there with you. i'm actually glad they didn't get their first 3 goal game from an empty netter. i saw some individual players haven ice games, and mason was stellar again.
- hammarby31

yup mason is playing well. i feel confident in him.

I'm surprised they haven't made any moves. But perhaps there aren't any teams willing to deal so early in the season.

Other GM's will be like sharks in bloody water. I think it's best to just stand pat now, and don't make any desperation trades.
- PLindbergh31

I hate this league right now for that reason -- teams just won't deal. They'd rather just go down in flames for 82 freaking games than just take any risk.

I'm with Bill on that one, I thought Jake telegraphed pass the whole way. Makes is much easier for the goalie to cheat towards the pass.
- nastyflyergirl

I thought BSchenn shot it right into Talbot.

What the hell is wrong with Claude Giroux???
- LeftCoaster

Best player in the world jitters.

You know what? I am going to single out Jakub Voracek. That guy hasn't looked like he's going to score a goal in a single game this season. Between his cross-ice passes on odd-man rushes, unwillingness to drive to the net with the puck and unwillingness to be a net presence in the offensive zone, then what the hell value is he bringing to this team right now?

He's doing as little as Andrej Meszaros was when I was begging for him to be benched. Voracek's done damn near NOTHING this season.

I know they won't do it, but to me, you can't get worse if you scratch him -- they're already not scoring. If I was Craig Berube, I'd at least not score with guys who are going to the freaking net and not passing up shots on odd-man rushes!
- AllInForFlyers

I agree with this 100%! If not benched, stick him on the 4th line til he gets his head out of his crack.

Flyers main focus -- to improve the team -- is to continually search for a top pairing defenseman.

I think the offense will come around on its own. Sure, I'd love to add a sniper. But they have talent up front. They just need to work harder to get into better scoring areas. I think Brayden Schenn is about to explode offensively. Been putting himself in good position to score on several occasions and just snake-bitten right now.
- bradleyc4

I do think Schenn is quietly playing well; he's got some limitations to his game, but at the same time, I do think he's developing.

I'm with Bill on that one, I thought Jake telegraphed pass the whole way. Makes is much easier for the goalie to cheat towards the pass.
- nastyflyergirl

yep. and schenn didn't put that puck where he wanted either. better placement, and it's a goal.

V also didn't drive the net in an oddman in the third. he pulled up and tried to make a play through the slot, which of course got broken up. that's a play where he should have driven with his left knee/leg and shoulder and gone right to the crease.

Tyrell Goulbourne should be ready in a year or two.
- bradleyc4

Gretzky 2.0

D-zone coverage looks better, but there's a gaping unprotected hole in the high slot... I don't know if it's the way they're scripted to defend when the puck is behind the net, or if the high forwards collapse so deep, but that needs to be addressed. There's been multiple times in every game it seems, when an attacker receives the puck in the high slot and then has forever to tee it up. Luckily, Mason (and his glove hand) have been equal to the task so far...
- Tomahawk

i noticed this as well, especially last night. there was one sequence in the 3rd where they could have been scored on 2 or 3 times from that spot. it just didn't go in.

i'd like to think they could have found room for gagne.
- hammarby31

I actually don't understand what happened there. and he is still not signed. I don't get that. I mean, no NHL team can use a solid 3rd line veteran who can kill penalties?