First in the shower, last one out!
- mayorofangrytown

The blue line got 2 minutes in the box for this:


- Lexington Flyer

Surprised it didn't get a call from Shanahan as well

You said Streit is a top 4 defenseman, but the 6th best defenseman on the team. That would mean EVERY other defenseman is, at least, a top 4 defenseman. I'm just using your reasoning.
- PhillySportsGuy

That is incorrect. That is not what I said.

At least I can admit it. I like Schenn, but I wouldn't list him as a reliable defensive player.
- PhillySportsGuy

The list of consistently reliable forwards on the Flyers is a pretty short one:

Couturier
Read
Raffl
Hall

That's about it, others like G, Hartnell, Jake and Rinaldo are often good defensively, but not all the time.

Maybe it does, so I'll explain what reliable means to me. I wouldn't say it's a glowing endorsement of a players defensive ability. In fact if I had to rank the Flyers top 6 defensively, Streit would be 6th.
Reliable to me means that he won't be a liablity out there and will play reasonably well defensively, in the right matchups. You're not going to play him against top lines or on the PK. But he can hold his own out there.
- MJL

That's worrisome for the playoffs, because the top-6 are going to get a ton of ice time. That means the Flyers prized offseason defensive acquisition, signed for 3 more seasons, is going to get about 12 minutes of ES ice time per game, or else he's going to have the "wrong" matchups.

So every Flyers defenseman is a top 4 defenseman? If Streit is #6 and he's top 4…
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd say that is pretty much true. Top 4 means first or second pairing and I think all of the Flyers top 6 guys can be successful on a 2nd pairing. The problem is that only Coburn and Timonen can play on a top pair and to do so ideally, they'd be paired with a #1 guy.

You said Streit is a top 4 defenseman, but the 6th best defenseman on the team. That would mean EVERY other defenseman is, at least, a top 4 defenseman. I'm just using your reasoning.
- PhillySportsGuy

in Homer's eyes they are all top 4

The list of consistently reliable forwards on the Flyers is a pretty short one:

Couturier
Read
Raffl
Hall

That's about it, others like G, Hartnell, Jake and Rinaldo are often good defensively, but not all the time.
- BiggE

You forgot Rosehill.

In my mind the Flyers punched their playoff ticket with splitting points in the last two games against those teams.
- Just5

Gaining 19 points out of a possible 28 against St Louis (2), Boston, Toronto (2). NYR (2), LA, Dallas, Chicago, Pitts (2), NJ and Washington has been HUGE. I was afraid this stretch would bury the team but playing .679 hockey against that quality is stellar.

That's worrisome for the playoffs, because the top-6 are going to get a ton of ice time. That means the Flyers prized offseason defensive acquisition, signed for 3 more seasons, is going to get about 12 minutes of ES ice time per game, or else he's going to have the "wrong" matchups.
- jmatchett383

He's been put in the right matchups as much as possible this Season, and used in more offensive and neutral zone starts. And he's played over 17 a game at ES. I don't see any of that changing in the playoffs.

I'd say that is pretty much true. Top 4 means first or second pairing and I think all of the Flyers top 6 guys can be successful on a 2nd pairing. The problem is that only Coburn and Timonen can play on a top pair and to do so ideally, they'd be paired with a #1 guy.
- BiggE

Well, they can be top-4, or they have been top-4 guys in the right circumstances. But on this team, I don't think Streit qualifies. On a team like Buffalo r Edmonton though, probably any of our starters could be a top-4 guys, so I guess it's sorta true.

You forgot Rosehill.
- jmatchett383

As did the Flyers coaching staff

He's been put in the right matchups as much as possible this Season, and used in more offensive and neutral zone starts. And he's played over 17 a game at ES. I don't see any of that changing in the playoffs.
- MJL

So you expect teams in the playoffs to give the same amount of ice time to all 4 lines as they do in the regular season? Because if they don't, then Streit will be going up against better competition if he's used the same amount.

I see the merry go round is up and running today.

Surprised it didn't get a call from Shanahan as well
- BiggE

where'd Ray find this guy? Mexico?

As did the Flyers coaching staff

- BiggE

Oh no, they know he's there. He's in charge of making sure there's enough soap in the locker room showers and sometimes handles Berube's dry cleaning.

So you expect teams in the playoffs to give the same amount of ice time to all 4 lines as they do in the regular season? Because if they don't, then Streit will be going up against better competition if he's used the same amount.
- jmatchett383

Yes, I expect the roles and matchups to be pretty much the same in the playoffs as they are now. The only possible change could be Timonen getting more minutes at ES.

Gaining 19 points out of a possible 28 against St Louis (2), Boston, Toronto (2). NYR (2), LA, Dallas, Chicago, Pitts (2), NJ and Washington has been HUGE. I was afraid this stretch would bury the team but playing .679 hockey against that quality is stellar.
- nastyflyergirl

I'm pretty happy with the way they played lately except for the game in New York but 1-2-2 and 4 of a possible 10 points needs to get turned around. If they do that over the next five they could be looking at Boston in the first round.

I see the merry go round is up and running today.
- twotoekenn

Eh, maybe. Civility is actually reigning somewhat supreme.

should we be worried desean is with Wash now?

Yes, I expect the roles and matchups to be pretty much the same in the playoffs as they are now. The only possible change could be Timonen getting more minutes at ES.
- MJL

Okay well, I'm just gonna disagree, as (without looking up stats) I seem to remember playoff teams giving severely cut minutes to their 4th and, to a degree, 3rd lines, and giving a large boost in minutes to the top-6. I guess we'll see.

should we be worried desean is with Wash now?
- 2Real

Nah, shouldn't have much effect on the Flyers.

I guess reliable means something different to you than me.
- PhillySportsGuy

To me it means he takes care of his defensive assignment in whatever role he is playing. So even if he is being kept away from the tougher match ups, he still needs to take care of business defensively against the payers he IS matched up against.

should we be worried desean is with Wash now?
- 2Real

hail to the gangsta

hail to the gangsta
- vejim

RG3 throwing to Desean? I can just see them smacking the Eagles D