Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Bitter Pill, Power Outage, Shero and More

I like the idea of referees being able to review their some of their own calls with video replay. Could be a happy medium to calls like the one last night, and even though there is no guarantee he would change his mind, at least he could see the play again and from different angles to reevaluate.

I thought for sure the Flyers were going to do some damage with the PP the way they started the game with that 1st chance. And the Devils kept giving the Flyers opportunities, something uncharacteristic...Flyers just couldn't get it done.

Regarding the disallowed goal, I don't even think Brodeur was hit all that hard, and I think the puck was going in regardless. Mason got run into with a lot more force while the Devils were on a PP, right after the Flyers got called for goaltender interference, and of course there was no call... A bit annoying.

Good luck with the book, Bill. Sounds like a labor of love. And you'll do Shero justice.

Rotation 5, with Hartnell inside the box and cranking one home, is always fun to watch when it works.

I wouldn't be surprised if Downie came down with some concussion-like symptoms after that hit to the head from Ruutu. He took it pretty good on the jaw.

Good luck with the book, Bill. Sounds like a labor of love. And you'll do Shero justice.
- bodiva88

Thanks, Bo. And hopefully this time, my as-yet-to-determined publisher will actually use the cleaned-up copy edits I send as the final live version rather than going from an earlier draft copy (sent for context and not with the intention of being their working copy) with their own copy editor who had dozens of things slip through.

They need to do something with Lecavalier, every time this unit gets on the ice they wind up getting pinned in the defensive zone and allow chances.

Marty has cried and whined his whole career...he gets the calls.


Always a good read Bill


Good luck with the book.

Thanks, Bo. And hopefully this time, my as-yet-to-determined publisher will actually use the cleaned-up copy edits I send as the final live version rather than going from an earlier draft copy (sent for context and not with the intention of being their working copy) with their own copy editor who had dozens of things slip through.
- bmeltzer

Well, I'm available again, maybe they should contract out to me?

Just finished reading a Nook book where they had OCRed the hard copy and no one proofed the electronic version.

carried became earned
mirror was minor
and so on....crazy making for a nitpicker such as I.

Rotation 5, with Hartnell inside the box and cranking one home, is always fun to watch when it works.

I wouldn't be surprised if Downie came down with some concussion-like symptoms after that hit to the head from Ruutu. He took it pretty good on the jaw.
- wolfhounds

Ruutu was bad Ruutu last night. And I wouldn't be surprised either. It seems like Steven's head is in the sights of every evil elbow and shoulder around.

Frustrating way to lose. Flyers really need to figure out that 2nd line. Berube can't shield them for an entire game. At some point, they need to just man up and play against top lines. Couts and Giroux can't play the entire game.

That call last night made me even angrier than the call by our overzealous R2 the other night against Toronto.

I don't think anyone here would argue it cost them the game, we don't know what may have happened after, or in OT. But its safe to say it cost them a point when you factor in how much time was left in the game.

It was the wrong call no matter how many times I watch the replay. It was a play that happens all the time in the NHL, players crashing the net and scoring ugly.

They need to do something with Lecavalier, every time this unit gets on the ice they wind up getting pinned in the defensive zone and allow chances.
- ICUBB

He would hate this but I think his best role right now is a fourth line center and power play specialist. Speaking of puck rotations on the power play, the only two that the second unit ever have any success with are the ones of clearing out the right side for a Lecavalier shot (with Schenn going to the net) or Lecavalier rotating the puck to Streit to pull the trigger. The second unit does not work the ice nearly as well as the first, even when they do get a little more with which to work.

Rotation 5, with Hartnell inside the box and cranking one home, is always fun to watch when it works.

I wouldn't be surprised if Downie came down with some concussion-like symptoms after that hit to the head from Ruutu. He took it pretty good on the jaw.
- wolfhounds

I wonder if Ruutu will get his wallet lightened a bit.

Sure seems like he should.

Marty has cried and whined his whole career...he gets the calls.


Always a good read Bill


Good luck with the book.
- phi1671

I cant stand the guy. I was hoping I would need to craft an open letter to all the sister in laws in Minnesota if he got traded. But he is the uber flopper of the NHL. I see Stewie wrote a blog about certain players getting a reputation...its a wonder Broduer never has when he so known for selling plays like this.

Refs should be embarrassed every time he make them look like fools.

They need to do something with Lecavalier, every time this unit gets on the ice they wind up getting pinned in the defensive zone and allow chances.
- ICUBB

Is Lecavalier the only reason why?

He would hate this but I think his best role right now is a fourth line center and power play specialist. Speaking of puck rotations on the power play, the only two that the second unit ever have any success with are the ones of clearing out the right side for a Lecavalier shot (with Schenn going to the net) or Lecavalier rotating the puck to Streit to pull the trigger. The second unit does not work the ice nearly as well as the first, even when they do get a little more with which to work.
- bmeltzer

The 2nd unit just doesn't have a puck distributor like Giroux on it. The 2nd unit should be a shooting unit where it's kept simple and just getting pucks on the net, and crashing the net. And it's also really hard to get things going when you get on the ice for the last 30 seconds or so, and starting from deep in their own zone.

He would hate this but I think his best role right now is a fourth line center and power play specialist. Speaking of puck rotations on the power play, the only two that the second unit ever have any success with are the ones of clearing out the right side for a Lecavalier shot (with Schenn going to the net) or Lecavalier rotating the puck to Streit to pull the trigger. The second unit does not work the ice nearly as well as the first, even when they do get a little more with which to work.
- bmeltzer

I've always thought about adding Vinny to the top unit in place of Voracek. It would give them a better shot from that side.

The 2nd unit could then run through Voracek, a very good passer.

I, too, agree about moving Vinny to the 4th line. I just don't see that happening.

Is Lecavalier the only reason why?
- MJL

Every line he plays on seems to struggle. Every line Raffl plays on seems to get better. Yet, Raffl is on the 4th line and Vinny is on the 2nd line.

Bill, why in the world is Raffl not playing on the 3rd line instead of Downie?

Every line he plays on seems to struggle. Every line Raffl plays on seems to get better. Yet, Raffl is on the 4th line and Vinny is on the 2nd line.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yup. I'd try to get Raffl out on the 2nd unit PP from time to time as well, get him some exposure and see how it goes.

Every line he plays on seems to struggle. Every line Raffl plays on seems to get better. Yet, Raffl is on the 4th line and Vinny is on the 2nd line.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think one player is entirely responsible for the struggles of a line. Put Lecavalier on the top line with Giroux like Raffl was, and see what happens.

Bill, why in the world is Raffl not playing on the 3rd line instead of Downie?
- CACannon18

Downie is on that line to be the gritty forechecker who creates space for his linemates and can get them the puck. He did that early after getting here from the Avs but not in months.

Raffl is by far the better skater and smarter two-way player. He does get involved physically, too. There's already a RH shot on the line in Read so the fact that Raffl is a LH and Downie a RH shot really shouldn't enter into it.

So the best answer here is "I don't know".

I don't think one player is entirely responsible for the struggles of a line. Put Lecavalier on the top line with Giroux like Raffl was, and see what happens.
- MJL

I know what you are getting at, but Lecavalier can't play the LW at all and isn't as effective on RW as at C. But with B. Schenn also better at center and Lecavalier struggling defensively in one-on-one matchups, it creates a real dilemma about where and with whom to play Lecavalier. Berube has all but come and said it directly a couple times -- he dances around it in the most thinly veiled of ways.

The truth is that the most effective way to maximize Lecavalier offensively would be to move Giroux back to a wing for the first time in years and have Lecavalier center the top line. But that's not going to happen.

I was thinking last night that this may be the final handful of games we get to watch Timonen play in the NHL.

I'm going to savor them.

For his entire career, he seems to be under appreciated except by maybe a handful of knowledgable fans and writers.

Truly a remarkable player.
The Finnish God of Defense.

I don't think one player is entirely responsible for the struggles of a line. Put Lecavalier on the top line with Giroux like Raffl was, and see what happens.
- MJL

that may be the last resort......he hasn't played very well for long stretches, his #s are simply terrible considering the type of player he is supposed to be...but they did commit to him long term. Im not sure they know what to do with him?