Some observations:
I don't care who his linemates are, Giroux needs to play better and quite frankly, harder. He disappears too often for a 1st line impact forward.

Bill I have to disagree with you some on Timonen. He just looks done to me. Even in their 2 recent victories, he looked mediocre. and for most of the season he's looked pretty bad. Gus should get back in the lineup, and Timonen should come out.

Mason was terrific. could have easily been 6-2 if not for his stellar play.

Coburn and Read skated hard and played well for 60 minutes. Along with Mason, they are the only Flyers who should be proud of their effort last night.
- BiggE

I agree. The problems last night were the carelessness with the puck, and not getting enough from top players again, such as Giroux. The 4th line didn't cost them the game. Flyers forwards played comparable minutes to Anaheim throughout the game, and in the 3rd period.

I agree. The problems last night were the carelessness with the puck, and not getting enough from top players again, such as Giroux. The 4th line didn't cost them the game. Flyers forwards played comparable minutes to Anaheim throughout the game, and in the 3rd period.
- MJL

The Flyers 4th line played 3 fewer minutes than Anaheim's, and Jay Rosehill failed to even attempt to pick up Andrew Cogliano on the first Anaheim goal, after the brutal turnover by Grossmann.

When a team seemingly runs out of gas, and you have a line playing only 4-7 minutes at even strength, it definitely could be a factor. The Ducks 4th line played 8+ minutes at even strength and was far more effective than the Flyers Goon Unit.

The ineffectiveness of the 4th line wasn't the only issue, but it overlook it is wrong.

I don't think he is an ideal first line Winger, but Raffl wasn't ineffective last night. If anyone was ineffective on that top line last night, it was Giroux.
- MJL

Yeah, Im really having a hard time understanding what happened to him. Looks like a completely different player. I know some people would say he was great because of Jagr but he made plenty of plays on his own without the help of Jagr, even before that season. Now Giroux just seems intent with just giving the puck away. He doesnt want the puck on his stick.....

A good coach can use a timeout to correct things, bu when he has to rely on it every game, there's issues.

It was a tough, gut wrenching loss...but it's a good learning experience for the Flyers, and hopefully their coaches.

I'll say it again, the ability of Anaheim's fourth line to play 8-10 minutes effectively allowed Boudreau to double shift the Getzlaff-Perry line late in the game and not run out of gas.

That said, the Flyers took their foot off the gas, and tried to make a 2-1 lead stand up against a team with a load of fire power. That's generally not a good idea.
- Jsaquella

I don't think the Flyers ran out of gas, and I think they just were frustrated by Anaheim's checking. And if you look at the shift charts and the TOI for the game. Not much difference between the two teams. There's about a 2 minute difference between the bottom two Anaheim Forwards in the icetime, and the bottom 2 Flyers forwards in icetime. Do you really think that 2 minuteswas a big factor in the game? I seriously doubt it. The turnovers, and the Flyers inability to get past Anaheim crowding the neutral zone is what cost them the game. Not the 4th line.

Did Timonen get injured last night? His icetime was 15:17

The Flyers 4th line played 3 fewer minutes than Anaheim's, and Jay Rosehill failed to even attempt to pick up Andrew Cogliano on the first Anaheim goal, after the brutal turnover by Grossmann.

When a team seemingly runs out of gas, and you have a line playing only 4-7 minutes at even strength, it definitely could be a factor. The Ducks 4th line played 8+ minutes at even strength and was far more effective than the Flyers Goon Unit.

The ineffectiveness of the 4th line wasn't the only issue, but it overlook it is wrong.
- Jsaquella

I don't think how much the 4th line played was even a little bit of a factor. I think it's being incredibly overblown. Just my opinion. Much bigger issues with this team.

Let this sink in fellas, Homer traded away Carter, Richards, JVR for this team....makes me sick. Those are three quality pieces you traded away for young unproven players for all we know will be no better than they are today. Just brutal management how Homer is still GM is beyond me. And for the record hated all three moves from get the get go.This team is 3-8, after a season when they were AWFUL all season. They wont magically turn it around, not one player will turn this around. Aside from Giroux, have a fire-sale and start from scratch with a top flight D-man being first priority.
- flyerfan28

I think loosing pronger has way more to do with it then trading those three. In terms of production we have gotten more back then we gave up.

People forget the gutless loss 0-4 loss to the bruins when those two were around. Or how they faded under the brightest lights during the cup finals.

I don't think how much the 4th line played was even a little bit of a factor. I think it's being incredibly overblown. Just my opinion. Much bigger issues with this team.
- MJL

Perhaps 2 goals or less in 10 out of 11 games is an issue. Mind boggling with the abundance of proven 20+ goal scorers on the roster.

Let this sink in fellas, Homer traded away Carter, Richards, JVR for this team....makes me sick. Those are three quality pieces you traded away for young unproven players for all we know will be no better than they are today. Just brutal management how Homer is still GM is beyond me. And for the record hated all three moves from get the get go.This team is 3-8, after a season when they were AWFUL all season. They wont magically turn it around, not one player will turn this around. Aside from Giroux, have a fire-sale and start from scratch with a top flight D-man being first priority.
- flyerfan28

lost in that very fact is this team was two wins away from the cup.... Now Carter and Richards have already done what Homer thought they couldn't do here...yes there were some holes ....but to basically trade away your young nucleus because of an early playoff exit after the cup run was ballsy and has proven out to be stupid.

The Flyers 4th line played 3 fewer minutes than Anaheim's, and Jay Rosehill failed to even attempt to pick up Andrew Cogliano on the first Anaheim goal, after the brutal turnover by Grossmann.

When a team seemingly runs out of gas, and you have a line playing only 4-7 minutes at even strength, it definitely could be a factor. The Ducks 4th line played 8+ minutes at even strength and was far more effective than the Flyers Goon Unit.

The ineffectiveness of the 4th line wasn't the only issue, but it overlook it is wrong.
- Jsaquella

I do agree that Rosehill needs to sit, but an extra 2 or 3 minutes of ice time for the 4th line most likely doesn't make Giroux play any better last night or help the team make better decisions with the puck in the neutral zone. It's hard to see fatigue as a factor when they arent coming off a back to back or in the middle of a heavy stretch of games.

Did Timonen get injured last night? His icetime was 15:17
- PLindbergh31

Nope. Berube's been hiding him. Hasnt been over 20 minutes of ice time in any of the last 4 games

Nope. Berube's been hiding him. Hasnt been over 20 minutes of ice time in any of the last 4 games
- Jsaquella

Keeping him fresh for the stretch run.

lost in that very fact is this team was two wins away from the cup.... Now Carter and Richards have already done what Homer thought they couldn't do here...yes there were some holes ....but to basically trade away your young nucleus because of an early playoff exit after the cup run was ballsy and has proven out to be stupid.
- landros 2

Got in on a shootout.....next season swept by the bruins...to me that sounds like regression not progression...

I don't think how much the 4th line played was even a little bit of a factor. I think it's being incredibly overblown. Just my opinion. Much bigger issues with this team.
- MJL

There are bigger issues, but the fourth line being totally incapable of being effective is an issue. The Ducks fourth line was effective, and able to keep the pressure up on the Flyers. The Flyers fourth line was awful.

if giroux continues being a perimeter plyr, this team's cooked....

I do agree that Rosehill needs to sit, but an extra 2 or 3 minutes of ice time for the 4th line most likely doesn't make Giroux play any better last night or help the team make better decisions with the puck in the neutral zone. It's hard to see fatigue as a factor when they arent coming off a back to back or in the middle of a heavy stretch of games.
- BiggE

Those are factors as well. It's not as if I'm saying that getting a better, more effective 4th line will magically lead to wins, but it is an issue.

When the Flyers fourth line is on, generally they're chasing the puck and forcing the defensemen on the ice to have to work harder, because they're stuck in their own end.

So, no icing a better, more effective fourth line won't cure Giroux's reluctance to shoot, or cure Hartnell and Simmonds of their dumb, or suddenly turn Brayden Schenn into a focused player who effectively channel his effort into points. But it would definitely be a nice thing to have, so you don't have to use guys like Giroux in every role and grind him further into the ground.

if giroux continues being a perimeter plyr, this team's cooked....
- isaiah520

play dead for mcdavid

if giroux continues being a perimeter plyr, this team's cooked....
- isaiah520

That's a bigger issue than anything. He was highly effective in the first, then seemed to be content with avoiding the traffic.

play dead for mcdavid
- PhillaBully

McDavid is in the 2015 draft, not next year.

if giroux continues being a perimeter plyr, this team's cooked....
- isaiah520

Pshhh... No worries! Hometown discount!

McDavid is in the 2015 draft, not next year.
- Jsaquella

I know, but never to early to start preparing the suckfest.

In yesterday's thread I mentioned numerous times how Raffl doesn't belong on the first line, and the 4th line being a waste of oxygen.

I would love to prove my theory to be fact. But it was indeed bullet holed.

Claude Giroux could've played better last night, but he wasn't the problem. Yeah, Michael Raffl's young, but you can't just miss the net when you're cruising down the slot -- that was off a nice setup by Giroux. You bury that, you're up 3-0 and have likely delivered a killshot.

A player's inability to score should never be glossed over. If the guy who can't score should've scored, then you need to replace him with someone who will score.

That being said, at least no one was injured. The Ducks are a better team than the Flyers right now. The Flyers can practice today and try to get back on track against Washington -- some matchups are just bad for this roster right now, and last night's was one of them.

In yesterday's thread I mentioned numerous times how Raffl doesn't belong on the first line, and the 4th line being a waste of oxygen.

I would love to prove my theory to be fact. But it was indeed bullet holed.


- PLindbergh31

I'd like to see Hartnell on the top line, with Giroux and Lecavalier.
Then I'd go with Simmonds, B Schenn and Voracek-who had a great game last night, loved his effort. The third line, I'd recall McGinn and play him with Couturier and Read. My fourth line would be Talbot, with Ben Holmstrom and Raffl.

That gives you four capable lines, with plenty of guys that can slide up or down as needed. It also has you covered in case of injuries.

I'd love to include Zac Rinaldo in that top 12, but to me, he's taken a huge step back from last year. He's drawn 1 penalty in 11 games this year, and his play has been very undisciplined.

In moving Hartnell up to Giroux's line with Lecavalier, I'd be hoping that Hartnell and Giroux could rediscover their chemistry and that Giroux would get that chip back on his shoulder.