Vandevelde did a lot of nice things on that PK but he needs to clear that puck when he got the chance.

Son of a female dog this is (frank)ing frustrating
- Giroux_Is_God

For once in a rare occasion I blame the refs on that one

Thanks all

weak call on Kimmo

would love to see em tie it up before the end of the 1st

Well at least they had a good start...
- Yosimar89

bad starts = good finish

good starts = bad finish

That play right there. Man. 8 years ago no pro hockey player in N. America would ever just stand that way to protect the puck.
- Pixote Andolini

That's the thing -- it's a penalty. I get it.

But damn. When did players stop protecting themselves? Josi took a look back, saw Timonen coming, and STILL turned his back to the checker.

Vandevelde did a lot of nice things on that PK but he needs to clear that puck when he got the chance.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed

bad starts = good finish

good starts = bad finish


- dillpx183

Plenty of time

Plenty of time
- Giroux_Is_God

Very frustrating period. The game changed on that save by Hutton on Vandevelde.

2 bad TO's lead to goals by the Preds. Can't give a team who lacks offensive talent any help.

That's the thing -- it's a penalty. I get it.

But damn. When did players stop protecting themselves? Josi took a look back, saw Timonen coming, and STILL turned his back to the checker.
- AllInForFlyers

it's not that the players aren't protecting themselves ... it's that they're deliberately trying to get bumped in the back so they can fall forward into the boards for a penalty.

Giroux has done it a few times this year, too ... and I hate it.

Did anybody notice how Lecavalier was out there with G and Jake, and then Downie was back with Read and Couturier? I hope to god Berube keeps it like that!

That's the thing -- it's a penalty. I get it.

But damn. When did players stop protecting themselves? Josi took a look back, saw Timonen coming, and STILL turned his back to the checker.
- AllInForFlyers

As soon as the NHL tweaked the rules it became free range for players to work on 'drawing' calls. Hockey is a tough sport for a reason. So many teams can now cycle down low - you can't hit them when they're against the boards and you can't hold them. So you just have to push on them lightly and stab your stick in to try and push the puck away.

I don't think this team deserves to be down 2-1 after how they played this period.

1 flukish goal and another goal on a 5-3 that really had no business being a 5-3.

The Big Cheese gets stoned....they were forcing turnovers....great energy....

They can win this game.

I don't think this team deserves to be down 2-1 after how they played this period.

1 flukish goal and another goal on a 5-3 that really had no business being a 5-3.

The Big Cheese gets stoned....they were forcing turnovers....

They can win this game.
- Giroux_Is_God

I think they will end up winning this game.

I don't think this team deserves to be down 2-1 after how they played this period.

1 flukish goal and another goal on a 5-3 that really had no business being a 5-3.

The Big Cheese gets stoned....they were forcing turnovers....

They can win this game.
- Giroux_Is_God

other than a little running around in their own zone near the end of the period, I thought the Flyers played well.

it's not that the players aren't protecting themselves ... it's that they're deliberately trying to get bumped in the back so they can fall forward into the boards for a penalty.

Giroux has done it a few times this year, too ... and I hate it.

- FlyerGuy

As someone who believes in the "Keep Your Head Up, Kid" style of hockey, I have to say that it's pretty horrifying to play that way.

I'd never depend on someone else letting up just because my back was turned.

Did anybody notice how Lecavalier was out there with G and Jake, and then Downie was back with Read and Couturier? I hope to god Berube keeps it like that!
- TonyBazz

I don't think this team deserves to be down 2-1 after how they played this period.

1 flukish goal and another goal on a 5-3 that really had no business being a 5-3.

The Big Cheese gets stoned....they were forcing turnovers....

They can win this game.
- Giroux_Is_God

Flyers have a serious problem down low in their own zone against the Pred's forecheckers.

They need to generate some shots and traffic in front of Hutton. Yo guys! It's Carter Hutton, for cripes sake.

As soon as the NHL tweaked the rules it became free range for players to work on 'drawing' calls. Hockey is a tough sport for a reason. So many teams can now cycle down low - you can't hit them when they're against the boards and you can't hold them. So you just have to push on them lightly and stab your stick in to try and push the puck away.
- Pixote Andolini

Yeah -- it's definitely tough. No real crosschecking allowed, no grabbing with the free arm when a player's shielding the puck on the boards...it's definitely tough playing down low, defensively.

As someone who believes in the "Keep Your Head Up, Kid" style of hockey, I have to say that it's pretty horrifying to play that way.

I'd never depend on someone else letting up just because my back was turned.
- AllInForFlyers

true ... but if you keep yourself just a bit further from the boards than usual, and you expect to get bumped, you can fall into the boards without any danger of hurting yourself.

that play almost looked choreographed.

Flyers have a serious problem down low in their own zone against the Pred's forecheckers.

They need to generate some shots and traffic in front of Hutton. Yo guys! It's Carter Hutton, for cripes sake.
- 77rams

Did they though? Because before the powerplays started, the Predators were playing strictly perimeter hockey.

Did they though? Because before the powerplays started, the Predators were playing strictly perimeter hockey.
- Giroux_Is_God

Around the 7 or 8 minute mark, the game turned and the Predators started outworking the Flyers. That and the dumb giveaways have led to the 2-1 deficit.

Yeah -- it's definitely tough. No real crosschecking allowed, no grabbing with the free arm when a player's shielding the puck on the boards...it's definitely tough playing down low, defensively.
- AllInForFlyers

I remember the days of Lindros, Primeau and even Tocchet putting an end to extended cycling in the Flyers D zone by simply just bulling thru and breaking up the play. Those days are over as players now will just face the boards and wait to get hit.

Voila - Powerplay!

Did they though? Because before the powerplays started, the Predators were playing strictly perimeter hockey.
- Giroux_Is_God

On the Nystrom goal, for example, they controlled the puck in the Flyer zone for what it seemed like a full two minutes.