Gained a new respect for mcconaghy. Love him in this.
- aightwebang17

Yeah all those years doing silly romcoms.

not to be the Richard, but he should be better than a PPG player. granted, it went out the window with the whole team being awful the first month. but next year, given a fresh slate. i would say he should be in the realm where he should be pushing mid 90s.
- stayinthefnnet

I agree. He had 6 points in the first 15 games. You take that stretch out, and assume he averages what he has since, he'd have 76 points, and over 82 games, 99 points.

I can only assume that the wrist/finger injury was troubling him, and quite honestly, he and his linemates had some Godawful luck

I agree. He had 6 points in the first 15 games. You take that stretch out, and assume he averages what he has since, he'd have 76 points, and over 82 games, 99 points.

I can only assume that the wrist/finger injury was troubling him, and quite honestly, he and his linemates had some Godawful luck
- Jsaquella

im glad you took that for the expectation driven compliment that it was and not a bashing of your star. but yeah, i agree. from a purely number driven standpoint, all players being healthy, he should be right there with malkin in that notch just below crosby.

I agree. He had 6 points in the first 15 games. You take that stretch out, and assume he averages what he has since, he'd have 76 points, and over 82 games, 99 points.

I can only assume that the wrist/finger injury was troubling him, and quite honestly, he and his linemates had some Godawful luck
- Jsaquella

They did -- he was hitting posts, Hartnell looked like his decline was going to be tragic, and Voracek was throwing cross-ice passes every time he got the puck in the offensive zone.

The worst was the Anaheim game, when Michael Raffl wasn't quite ready for top-line duty, missed the net by a foot off a Giroux feed in the slot, and Holmgren brought Steve Downie in the next day.

To me, that was the turnaround point -- though they got annihilated by Washington and still had lots of digging out to do, Downie eventually helped Couturier stabilize, Giroux finally scored, and it's been a lot of good, a lot less bad ever since

I agree. He had 6 points in the first 15 games. You take that stretch out, and assume he averages what he has since, he'd have 76 points, and over 82 games, 99 points.

I can only assume that the wrist/finger injury was troubling him, and quite honestly, he and his linemates had some Godawful luck
- Jsaquella

With the way he's playing now, he still could realistically touch 90. 26 points in 19 games is obtainable, albeit tough due to their upcoming schedule. Either way, with every game having a dramatic impact on the playoff landscape, he needs to be their best player.

im glad you took that for the expectation driven compliment that it was and not a bashing of your star. but yeah, i agree. from a purely number driven standpoint, all players being healthy, he should be right there with malkin in that notch just below crosby.
- stayinthefnnet

I knew where you were headed. I was actually doing math for a post on twitter, so it was a good segue into this as well

They did -- he was hitting posts, Hartnell looked like his decline was going to be tragic, and Voracek was throwing cross-ice passes every time he got the puck in the offensive zone.

The worst was the Anaheim game, when Michael Raffl wasn't quite ready for top-line duty, missed the net by a foot off a Giroux feed in the slot, and Holmgren brought Steve Downie in the next day.

To me, that was the turnaround point -- though they got annihilated by Washington and still had lots of digging out to do, Downie eventually helped Couturier stabilize, Giroux finally scored, and it's been a lot of good, a lot less bad ever since
- AllInForFlyers

Downie gave them a presence in the top 9 they were lacking...it's not a knock on Talbot. It just sucks that Downie has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.

Downie gave them a presence in the top 9 they were lacking...it's not a knock on Talbot. It just sucks that Downie has struggled with injuries and inconsistency.
- Jsaquella

Exactly -- it doesn't have to be "Downie is better than Talbot." It just means that Downie, for that stretch of games, helped Couturier get going, which meant Read got going, which meant the secondary scoring helped them win a few games until Giroux caught fire.

With the way he's playing now, he still could realistically touch 90. 26 points in 19 games is obtainable, albeit tough due to their upcoming schedule. Either way, with every game having a dramatic impact on the playoff landscape, he needs to be their best player.
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Absolutely, they have a rough stretch coming up. He's going to need to keep it up. It helps that Jake is starting to really get hot. You can tell when he's confident, because he's shooting more and feeling it.

That helps Giroux, because then he can just do his thing and Jake can finish.

I loved the 5th goal. Hartnell hit Voracek with the pass, and G set up for a quick one timer...Jake didn't even glance at him. Those two feeling confident and bringing it, they're going to be a handful

I knew where you were headed. I was actually doing math for a post on twitter, so it was a good segue into this as well
- Jsaquella

there really arent guys that are locks to be pushing 100 points in the league anymore. all bias aside, give crosby and malkin 80 game slates, and they will. but who else? i dont think either sedin comes close again in their careers. OV will have a hard time without the assist totals in my opinion. same with stamkos. (as of now.) datsyuk is past that point in his career. toews, for all his studliness, isnt a numbers guy. i think given more stability in the organization, tavares will be a regular threat.

but really, behind 87 and 71, there really arent any guys i can rattle off that should be a lock for more points than giroux.

Absolutely, they have a rough stretch coming up. He's going to need to keep it up. It helps that Jake is starting to really get hot. You can tell when he's confident, because he's shooting more and feeling it.

That helps Giroux, because then he can just do his thing and Jake can finish.

I loved the 5th goal. Hartnell hit Voracek with the pass, and G set up for a quick one timer...Jake didn't even glance at him. Those two feeling confident and bringing it, they're going to be a handful
- Jsaquella

EXACTLY.

It's not that anybody wants them to be selfish. It's just that when they shoot when they should shoot, Good Lord, those two are a handful

I defended him all along. The guy's been a PPG player for the past 4 years. You don't do that and forget how to play.

As for the bad captain poop, on October 22nd, Giroux told reporters that the Flyers would make the playoffs. They have gone 32-17-6 since that day
- Jsaquella

I tore him a new a-hole back in the spring. He deserved it. Credit to him he turned it around.

What are the chances Kimmo plays next year?
In October/November I would have said zero.
Now I think he could be a real option
Coburn has had a turn around season in no small part due to playing with him.
I know he's lost a step but he is still damn good.

I like winning.

Nutter is the yellow king
- aightwebang17

truth

I like winning.
- BulliesPhan87

me too. i hate losing more.

What are the chances Kimmo plays next year?
In October/November I would have said zero.
Now I think he could be a real option
Coburn has had a turn around season in no small part due to playing with him.
I know he's lost a step but he is still damn good.
- Marc D

I think it depends on how he feels after the season.

I also think it depends on what he feels he should be paid. There is no Olympic incentive next year, so if he comes back next year, he's gotta be thinking "one more kick at the can for a Cup" or some such thing.

Cant wait for the finale, to see how they wrap it up
- KINGKENZO

Marty's in on it.

- Giroux_Is_God

What are the chances Kimmo plays next year?
In October/November I would have said zero.
Now I think he could be a real option
Coburn has had a turn around season in no small part due to playing with him.
I know he's lost a step but he is still damn good.
- Marc D

Maybe he could come back after the season started like Scott Niedermayer did in 2007.

Maybe he could come back after the season started like Scott Niedermayer did in 2007.
- Feanor

Two things:

1) I've been wrong on the board, and I own it when I am. But I remember very clearly when they were struggling, and people were questioning the $8-plus million, and I said this: "That guy is the last person on this team to worry about, because he is a flat-out superstar."

2) I'm sad that he didn't go to Sochi, because I know he wanted to go. But that dude might tear the NHL a new one because he's still pissed
- AllInForFlyers

I was one of those ripping him for his play.

I missed the first two periods yesterday. How did everyone feel A Mac played?

I missed the first two periods yesterday. How did everyone feel A Mac played?
- FrmRusiaWifGlov

Definitely an upgrade. You missed two very good periods by the Flyers and watched one really bad one.

Marty's in on it.
- twotoekenn

He could be, but I don't think so.

I'm prepared for the idea that they won't catch the bad guy and the series will just end.