Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Why Do Flyers Lose So Many 3rd Period Leads?

The funny thing is that the Flyers are one of the stronger teams in terms of shot differential at even strength when leading by 1 or 2 goals in games. They're 8th-best when up by one goal, and 7th-best when up by 2.


Gotta be some bad luck involved.


Edit: Also, the Eagles safeties suck. Thank God for Foles though.

BECAUSE THEY STINK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THEY STINK

BECAUSE THEY STINK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THEY STINK
- broncohorvath

there's some expert analysis for you

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Why Do Flyers Lose So Many 3rd Period Leads?
- bmeltzer

Do you think Mason is showing some cracks?

I think the better he plays the more they rely too much on him, & do not support him.

also wondering if the contract extension may be affecting (somewhat).

Remember the old days where no matter how bad we were we always at least drove to the net.

This perimeter game doesn't get teams a cup. It gets them a top 10 draft pick.

Why get guys like Simmonds and Hartnell if you aren't going to crash the net?

Do you think Mason is showing some cracks?

I think the better he plays the more they rely too much on him, & do not support him.

also wondering if the contract extension may be affecting (somewhat).
- puckhead17

A goalie can only do so much. We have come to expect him to continue to play at a HOF level and now that he's playing at all star level we are starting to think the worst.

The problem is our team blows and Mason has covered that up for awhile now. Without Mason we would be the last place team right now.

Remember the old days where no matter how bad we were we always at least drove to the net.

This perimeter game doesn't get teams a cup. It gets them a top 10 draft pick.

Why get guys like Simmonds and Hartnell if you aren't going to crash the net?
- Flyersgod

They had a few chances in the 3rd to ice it with another goal, Giroux & Voracek were stopped in the 3rd in tight, but the dump & chase grind, make them go 200 feet, etc, plan should have been employed in the last 10 minutes & it wasn't.
Why the coach watched his team lose a 3 goal lead in 9 minutes, w/o ever using his timeout to instill this point.

A goalie can only do so much. We have come to expect him to continue to play at a HOF level and now that he's playing at all star level we are starting to think the worst.

The problem is our team blows and Mason has covered that up for awhile now. Without Mason we would be the last place team right now.
- Flyersgod

can't disagree with you, he's covered a lot of mistakes, this defense needs a serious overhaul.

I think defense is the problem. You need a shutdown defenseman, big time.

I think defense is the problem. You need a shutdown defenseman, big time.
- powerhouse

We're beating a dead horse everyday on this, I personally can live with Coburn Grossman & Gus moving forward, (and Timmonen obviously, but he may be retired after this season), Luke Schenn is still young enough to possibly regain the consistency he played with last year.
I can't see the point in retaining Streit moving forward, this was as bad a signing as Bryzgalov.
Not saying it would be easy to do this, but what does he bring to the table?
He handles the puck in most cases like a time bomb & is still very inconsistent in hitting the net.
Edit everyone loathes Byfuglien so much & I don't know if he would be available, or be the answer, but their salaries are very close & even with his issues he would be an upgrade.

Because Hartnell. I hear that he is the worst sports player of ever.

We're beating a dead horse everyday on this, I personally can live with Coburn Grossman & Gus moving forward, (and Timmonen obviously, but he may be retired after this season), Luke Schenn is still young enough to possibly regain the consistency he played with last year.
I can't see the point in retaining Streit moving forward, this was as bad a signing as Bryzgalov.
Not saying it would be easy to do this, but what does he bring to the table?
He handles the puck in most cases like a time bomb & is still very inconsistent in hitting the net.
Edit everyone loathes Byfuglien so much & I don't know if he would be available, or be the answer, but their salaries are very close & even with his issues he would be an upgrade.
- puckhead17

But Streit cost only money/cap. Byfuglien would cost that and several other valuable assets. But yes, he would be an upgrade.

"Who, on this Flyers team, have been their crunch-time take-charge players on a regular basis this season? How about last season? The answer, sadly, is no one."

Then none of them need to get 8 mill a year starting next year.

I think defense is the problem. You need a shutdown defenseman, big time.
- powerhouse

Actually a bigger issue is a puck moving, top pair defenseman.

Overall, they lack hockey sense. Too often they make simple, routine plays into nightmares. They lack discipline, & I don't just mean that they take too many penalties. They don't stay in their assignments & when forced to make reads they tend to make the wrong ones.

But Streit cost only money/cap. Byfuglien would cost that and several other valuable assets. But yes, he would be an upgrade.
- jmatchett383

Correct, when you don't draft defenseman or assemble proper balance then you have to do or give up something or you have what we have.
Stockpiling young forwards isn't making us a better team in our own zone.

Correct, when you don't draft defenseman or assemble proper balance then you have to do or give up something or you have what we have.
Stockpiling young forwards isn't making us a better team in our own zone.
- puckhead17

Well they've been working on that. In the past 2 years, they've drafted and acquired 4 players who have an possibility to be top pair (at least top-4) players. I'd rather preach patience opposed to a quick fix.

"Who, on this Flyers team, have been their crunch-time take-charge players on a regular basis this season? How about last season? The answer, sadly, is no one."

Then none of them need to get 8 mill a year starting next year.
- JoeRussomanno

$9mil?

"Who, on this Flyers team, have been their crunch-time take-charge players on a regular basis this season? How about last season? The answer, sadly, is no one."

Then none of them need to get 8 mill a year starting next year.
- JoeRussomanno

How dare you criticize Hockey sur Jésus.

How dare you criticize Hockey sur Jésus.
- MBFlyerfan

We call him "Fraud" because his name is "Claude" and it's funny because they sound the same and it's derogatory.

1. They can't skate with over 80% ove the teams in the league...they are just flat out slow.
2. Teams don't fear thier offense, so in the third they know they can take risks and not have it cost them...
3. They are fragile and aren't frequently up on thier skates driving the net, which with all of the other small issues, they are a team that has to give 100% every night to get a win..and that is just not possible.
4. The are a one shot wonder in the offensive zone. More times than not, the shot comes from the sideboards and misses, is blocked, or a save is made and the puck is immediately headed the other direction...when the can control the puck and cycle they are pretty good, but that happens so rarely on a regular basis that it limits the ability to lock down a game and kill clock.
5. Few pure goal scorers, this is the OT and shootout issue...they just dont have guys that can create every time they have the puck...there is a reason we can almost 100% know we are not getting the second point in a SO. I am not sure how the front office does not see the glaring issue...if you go to a shoot out 7-10 time a season, you just can't afford to hand over 80% of those points...and that is what we have done since the leagure went to the SO format...sorry, gimic or not, those are points the Flyers can't earn...

Bill you are spot on again. This team is mediocre as currently constructed. We all need to realize that. I have not enjoyed a lot of the games this year just because I do not have my expectations in the right spot.

Moving forward I just want to see progress. That means no more Rosehill or Meszaros. Let the young guys play. Make moves with an eye to the future. Hopefully they make the playoffs. Cannot stand the playoffs without the Flyers.

1. They can't skate with over 80% ove the teams in the league...they are just flat out slow.
2. Teams don't fear thier offense, so in the third they know they can take risks and not have it cost them...
3. They are fragile and aren't frequently up on thier skates driving the net, which with all of the other small issues, they are a team that has to give 100% every night to get a win..and that is just not possible.
4. The are a one shot wonder in the offensive zone. More times than not, the shot comes from the sideboards and misses, is blocked, or a save is made and the puck is immediately headed the other direction...when the can control the puck and cycle they are pretty good, but that happens so rarely on a regular basis that it limits the ability to lock down a game and kill clock.
5. Few pure goal scorers, this is the OT and shootout issue...they just dont have guys that can create every time they have the puck...there is a reason we can almost 100% know we are not getting the second point in a SO. I am not sure how the front office does not see the glaring issue...if you go to a shoot out 7-10 time a season, you just can't afford to hand over 80% of those points...and that is what we have done since the leagure went to the SO format...sorry, gimic or not, those are points the Flyers can't earn...
- JW98FlyerFan

Pretty good assessment. They are paying premium coin for years to players with mediocre talent. Its a flawed structure. They are a lot like the Cowboys and Raiders of the NFL. Once proud franchises with ancient organizational philosophies that dont transfer to a cap world. The result is middling teams with huge immovable contracts and flashy names. All have loyal fanbases that look to the distant past success to defend them.

Bill you are spot on again. This team is mediocre as currently constructed. We all need to realize that. I have not enjoyed a lot of the games this year just because I do not have my expectations in the right spot.

Moving forward I just want to see progress. That means no more Rosehill or Meszaros. Let the young guys play. Make moves with an eye to the future. Hopefully they make the playoffs. Cannot stand the playoffs without the Flyers.
- mickel25

I'm okay with this. IMO this team just makes one bad decision after another and they are lead by their captain. Just because occasionally it doesnt hurt them doesnt mean that the decisions are good.

I know Streit scored a goal last night but he has just been an overall poor performer and a lazy skater.

Giroux proves he CAN turn it on when he wants to, but does not always skate hard and leads by example. Another penalty on the faceoff? he didnt learn the last time? Go ahead put your team down against the CAPS! For what good reason????

You think by now they would just know to NOT pass the puck cross ice in your own zone or at your own blue line.

And the third line should be called "fumblethumbs" because although I like the heart of Hartnell/Schenn/Simmonds these guys should not be playing together and none of them can finish.

1. They can't skate with over 80% ove the teams in the league...they are just flat out slow.
2. Teams don't fear thier offense, so in the third they know they can take risks and not have it cost them...
3. They are fragile and aren't frequently up on thier skates driving the net, which with all of the other small issues, they are a team that has to give 100% every night to get a win..and that is just not possible.
4. The are a one shot wonder in the offensive zone. More times than not, the shot comes from the sideboards and misses, is blocked, or a save is made and the puck is immediately headed the other direction...when the can control the puck and cycle they are pretty good, but that happens so rarely on a regular basis that it limits the ability to lock down a game and kill clock.
5. Few pure goal scorers, this is the OT and shootout issue...they just dont have guys that can create every time they have the puck...there is a reason we can almost 100% know we are not getting the second point in a SO. I am not sure how the front office does not see the glaring issue...if you go to a shoot out 7-10 time a season, you just can't afford to hand over 80% of those points...and that is what we have done since the league went to the SO format...sorry, gimmick or not, those are points the Flyers can't earn...
- JW98FlyerFan

I believe I agree with this assessment.