Detroit can't catch the Flyers for 3rd, and the Flyers hold tie breaker on Columbus
- Jsaquella

If Detroit and Columbus get 4 points and we get less than that, we'll get the second wildcard spot and play Boston.

You sound like my fiancé. She cries when she has to give blood.
- PhillySportsGuy

As does my wife

I would rather them sign a younger guy that never really got a shot, like Johnson.
- FlyersSteve118

Emery isn't old, it's his injury history that is worrisome.

Yeah...just...yeah.

We've had some bad luck with that, from goalies. From John VanBriesbrouck's inexplicable short-side goal against Toronto in '99, to obtaining Sean Burke maybe two years too late before that, to not scoring any goals for Roman Cechmanek...it just seems that we just never get the breaks that some other teams do. Just never get those breakds

Then, when we finally ride the hot goalie in Michael Leighton, he doesn't finish off the storybook ending AND gives up the bizarre goal AND somehow injures himself so he's never the same goalie who can even play at the NHL level again

It's enough to drive you crazy sometimes
- AllInForFlyers

i often think i will wake up and i'll be standing on broad st watching the parase and it will all have been a bad dream

If Detroit and Columbus get 4 points and we get less than that, we'll get the second wildcard spot and play Boston.
- Feanor

I'm aware. But if We get 4 & Columbus gets 4, the Flyers hold third

Its just annoying that this team is playing such bad hockey right now. It feels like they are going back into their early season struggles.
- FlyersSteve118

Yeah, there are reasons for concern. I'm certainly not blind to those, and some of it is frustrating. It is absolutely frustrating that I have no damn clue what a couple of the players are going to do each night who the Flyers are counting on.

But I do think that there are some positives, more than there were at the start of the season.

Again, I know people won't like this, but I'd totally sit Giroux out for one of the games this weekend, and Timo and Coburn, too.

I would. I think that the Flyers aren't playing perfectly, but some of it was that they played about as well as they could for, what...five weeks? And that isn't sustainable.

I think -- hope -- that they'll play better next week. I'm more concerned with their health/energy/legs

Yeah...just...yeah.

We've had some bad luck with that, from goalies. From John VanBriesbrouck's inexplicable short-side goal against Toronto in '99, to obtaining Sean Burke maybe two years too late before that, to not scoring any goals for Roman Cechmanek...it just seems that we just never get the breaks that some other teams do. Just never get those breakds

Then, when we finally ride the hot goalie in Michael Leighton, he doesn't finish off the storybook ending AND gives up the bizarre goal AND somehow injures himself so he's never the same goalie who can even play at the NHL level again

It's enough to drive you crazy sometimes
- AllInForFlyers

That's not even mentioning the tragedy with # 31. Even the great Bernie Parent had to retire at 33 due to injury. Depressing.

i often think i will wake up and i'll be standing on broad st watching the parase and it will all have been a bad dream
- hogweed

Some of it's definitely been the stuff of nightmares, that's for sure

I'm aware. But if We get 4 & Columbus gets 4, the Flyers hold third
- Jsaquella

So the Flyers control their own destiny. Not sure how much motivation it is to go start a series where they have lost 8 times in a row. I guess when the the alternative is the Bruins, neither option is all that appealing.

What Bill said in his blog I think most would agree with. If the Flyers play their best hockey, they can beat the Rangers, their A game might not be good enough to beat the Bruins.

That's not even mentioning the tragedy with # 31. Even the great Bernie Parent had to retire at 33 due to injury. Depressing.
- PLindbergh31

I remember sitting there that day and just trying to grasp the concept of it. I was still young enough where I didn't want to understand professional athletes were still human

I remember sitting there that day and just trying to grasp the concept of it. I was still young enough where I didn't want to understand professional athletes were still human
- AllInForFlyers

I remember my Dad telling me what happened. As a 10 year old kid I wasn't tuning into Dan Rather yet. I remember my Dad starting the conversation with I'm going to tell you something that is going to make you really sad.....

So the Flyers control their own destiny. Not sure how much motivation it is to go start a series where they have lost 8 times in a row. I guess when the the alternative is the Bruins, neither option is all that appealing.

What Bill said in his blog I think most would agree with. If the Flyers play their best hockey, they can beat the Rangers, their A game might not be good enough to beat the Bruins.
- PLindbergh31

The thing about the Rags is that if we're honest about it, they're slightly ahead of us on the development scale, while the Bruins are at least two years, maybe even three years, ahead of us.

That's not a crime -- that's what moving Richards/Carter meant, and TBH, with the way Boston annihilated them in 2011, I don't think it was incorrect to wonder if beating Boston with that core was going to work

The Flyers need to pay some dues, yet, with this group of younger players. With the Rags...Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard are farther along in their development than Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, and their defense is more settled.

That doesn't mean we can't beat those teams. It's just that we're not quite as far along, and it might not happen this year.

I'll be the first to admit I won't be singing that tune at this time next year

Good thing they aren't seeding the conferences 1 thru 8 anymore or we would have a good chance of playing Tampa Bay in the playoffs.

And Tampa need to keep winning to get home ice over Montreal so they should be going all out tonight against Columbus.

Good thing they aren't seeding the conferences 1 thru 8 anymore or we would have a good chance of playing Tampa Bay in the playoffs.

And Tampa need to keep winning to get home ice over Montreal so they should be going all out tonight against Columbus.
- Feanor

I would rather play TB then the NYR, or Bruins. In the end I guess it really doesn't matter, to reach the ultimate goal you have to beat good teams.

The thing about the Rags is that if we're honest about it, they're slightly ahead of us on the development scale, while the Bruins are at least two years, maybe even three years, ahead of us.

That's not a crime -- that's what moving Richards/Carter meant, and TBH, with the way Boston annihilated them in 2011, I don't think it was incorrect to wonder if beating Boston with that core was going to work

The Flyers need to pay some dues, yet, with this group of younger players. With the Rags...Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard are farther along in their development than Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, and their defense is more settled.

That doesn't mean we can't beat those teams. It's just that we're not quite as far along, and it might not happen this year.

I'll be the first to admit I won't be singing that tune at this time next year
- AllInForFlyers

Yep. The Rangers have some weaknesses. They have trouble scoring at times, and after McDonagh, and Girardi their blueline isn't spectacular.

I'm trying to think what the Bruins weakness is, and I can't come up with anything.

Yep. The Rangers have some weaknesses. They have trouble scoring at times, and after McDonagh, and Girardi their blueline isn't spectacular.

I'm trying to think what the Bruins weakness is, and I can't come up with anything.
- PLindbergh31

Really...the Bruins don't have any. You kinda ask yourself about their depth at center, as far as if David Krejci gets hurt, but really, that's no different than asking us what we'd do if Giroux got hurt

They could still lose, but beating Boston...I don't know. I'm not entirely sure how you do that, at this exact moment.

Really...the Bruins don't have any. You kinda ask yourself about their depth at center, as far as if David Krejci gets hurt, but really, that's no different than asking us what we'd do if Giroux got hurt

They could still lose, but beating Boston...I don't know. I'm not entirely sure how you do that, at this exact moment.
- AllInForFlyers

Play hard, don't make mistakes, and pray as hard as you can that the puck bounces favorably.

No chance. Doing something to get into the top 10, constitutes making a splash. Unpossible. The Flyers will ABSOLUTELY make their pick which will be in the 15-20 range.

Edit: And if they do make a trade, it has nothing to do with draft location, it will be a hockey related transaction that they would have made on Mars.
- PLindbergh31

No I disagree, the Flyers will obviously base their strategy on what they do at the draft based on it being in Philly. Never mind that a draft could impact a franchise for a decade or longer down the road. They will obviously fore go that line of thinking, in order to make a splash for that one day, just for the fans!

All this MacDonald talk..... I personally think he has been very good. I noticed the difference after we got him immediately. He has calmed the defense down and he is very good at getting the puck out of the zone, above average skater and passer. Do I need to mention his shot blocking capabilities? The PK has been better to. He isnt flashy but he gets the job done.
- GOA88

Absolutely. He has made a significant impact on this team. He is a solid 2nd pairing, stabilizing defenseman, who doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Solid with the puck, and solid defensively. And blocks a lot of shots. Not real physical, but he doesn't have to be to effective. The Flyers would be fools not to re-sign him as long as the price is within reason.

The difference was good for a good stretch of games. But what has he done recently? He played way too soft in last nights game. The whole team did. They allowed way to much time and space for Tampa to pass. You can't just keep a team to the outside, you gotta take away their space. You can't let them get good looks across the ice to make the passes they were allowed to make.
- FlyersSteve118

He wasn't soft last night, and he was the team's best defenseman. He played 25 minutes. And when he was on the ice, the Flyers generated 32 shots to the Bolts 16. And the only goal he was on the ice for was Stamkos PP goal. He played a strong game last night.

No I disagree, the Flyers will obviously base their strategy on what they do at the draft based on being in Philly. Never mind that a draft could impact a franchise for a decade or longer down the road. They will obviously fore go that line of thinking, in order to make a splash for that one day, just for the fans!

- MJL

I'm not digging up the salty boy picture again, so you two are going to have to share.

Good thing they aren't seeding the conferences 1 thru 8 anymore or we would have a good chance of playing Tampa Bay in the playoffs.

And Tampa need to keep winning to get home ice over Montreal so they should be going all out tonight against Columbus.
- Feanor

Do you see them surviving round 1 regardless of the team they play

He wasn't soft last night, and he was the team's best defenseman. He played 25 minutes. And when he was on the ice, the Flyers generated 32 shots to the Bolts 16. And the only goal he was on the ice for was Stamkos PP goal. He played a strong game last night.
- MJL

I didn't say he was bad by any means. I said he was soft. He doesn't take the player. He usually skates his way out of things and uses his stick effectively.

Looking over a lot of numbers in comparison. Some I like, some I don't. But with the exception of a couple of areas such as goal scoring, and the physical game, with hits. Byfuglien is basically a more physical Mark Streit. And would be a decent upgrade over Streit. A #1 defenseman? Hardly!

I didn't say he was bad by any means. I said he was soft. He doesn't take the player. He usually skates his way out of things and uses his stick effectively.
- FlyersSteve118

Eric Desjardin was the same way. Not to compare. But neither was a physical player. Doesn't make a player soft. He's a finesse defenseman.