Bar.
- rangerdanger94

thank god you hurried back

i'm fine with that
- -davies-

It wouldn't be a demotion for Hartnell; I actually think Hartnell's ability to hold the puck down low and play physically helps Schenn get going, while Raffl's speed backs people off just a bit more, along with Voracek, so Giroux has more room to breathe

The worry to me is the lack of adjustments, combined with the sloppy play, is a killer against a good forechecking team.

The best way to attack a forecheck like the Rangers is to breakout quickly, play North-South without the D to D passes that allow teams like the Rangers to get set in their "trap"(for lack of a better word) and start hounding the defense.

Defenseman gets the puck, while the forwards are still in the zone, get it to them and get them started. Too often a defnseman gets the puck, hesitates and passes to the other defenseman, and then the forecheckers are all over them and they can't do more than just clear it out of the zone at best, and at worst get tied down.

Toss in a bad pass and you're basically guaranteeing an entire shift spend chasing the play in your own end

Hard to argue that!
- Flyersgod

Why aren't you wearing the avatar I made you?

He left Stepan wide open on the 3rd pp and went to an already covered man.
- PT21

Dude had to cover 9 guys all by himself. Cut him some slack.

To me it looked like the Rangers had a plan for defending out PP, a plan for attacking out PK, and a plan for shutting down Giroux.

To me it looked like the Flyers had a plan to sit back and make this the most boring game ever and pretend to care for 60 minutes. I'd say they should feel well rested for Sunday's game because they barely skated... but we all know that wouldn't be true.

They'll learn from this matchup, as well.

I thought Brayden Schenn was playing physically, which is how I feel he needs to play.

Coburn looked good. Couturier was good. Read and Akeson and Coots were effective as a line.

Gotta find a way to move the puck a little faster out of the d-zone, and gotta find a way to get Giroux loose.

Don't know that I wouldn't risk Raffl/Giroux/Voracek, Hartnell/Schenn/Simmonds in Game 2...I'd consider that
- AllInForFlyers

Absolutely they will learn
Best thing bout making the playoffs this year
They have a lot of inexperienced guys they are counting on

That ice time thing is kind of disturbing.

Luke Schenn: 18:21
Timonen: 16:56

LeCavalier: 7:42
Giroux: 17:08
Voracek: 14:22

That's not good enough by Berube. I understand having good defensive match-ups but you have to play your best players.

That back end is being spread out with playing time, but again, have to play your best guys.

Penalties are a small part of that, but not such a incredible factor.
- flyer_nutter

Maybe too much overthinking of match ups and all that, and as you say, not letting your best guys just go out and play. We'll see what they do next game.

thank god you hurried back
- -davies-

Only to switch from my sportsbar clothes to my real bar clothes.

Why aren't you wearing the avatar I made you?
- rangerdanger94

Was on my phone until just now. Waiting for the wife to leave the room.

I think Zuccarello definitely had more elite passing plays than Giroux that game.
- rangerdanger94

you DO realize that when people respond to your posts it's only because of your avatar, and not because of anything you say?

I'll acknowledge all the great things Berube has done this year, but he coached like a jackass tonight. The minutes allocation to certain players has already been pointed out so I'll focus on others.

1) The conservative game plan was straight up stupid. This team doesn't have the players to just sit back and wait for the other team to make a mistake. Not only that, VL is the only guy on the team to play in such a system before.

2) Not just minutes, but use of players at certain times was inexcusable. I'm going out on a limb, but I'd say at least half the time we actually managed an offensive zone draw in the first two periods we put the fourth line out there. I can understand that occasionally, but the amount Berube did it was retarded. Also, using Akeson on the 2nd PP unit? Someone whose never watched hockey could've told you that was stupid when the situation was explained to them.

3) Not exactly Berube's fault, but all the players were robots in this game. Absolutely no emotion. And besides Hartnell's forecheck that led to our only goal, I saw no physicality all game.

They better wake the F up for game 2 or this will be a short series.
- EducatedOpinion

In my opinion

I don't believe that the game plan was to play conservatively. I seriously doubt that they way they played was the game plan. Berube wanted the Flyers to get the puck deep and play against their defense down low. Well the Ranger pretty much did that to the Flyers.

I think the minutes reflect the players that the Coach thought were the better players.

The Flyers only had 6 offensive draws, in which the 4th line took half of them. The Rangers were primarily using Moore and Boyle for D zone draws, so that was Berube matching lines.

Akeson is an offensive player, and a scorer in the AHL. Why not use him on the 2nd PP unit. That unit hasn't exactly lit it up.

And the last I agree with. Not enough emotion from the team tonight.

Was on my phone until just now. Waiting for the wife to leave the room.


- Flyersgod

you DO realize that when people respond to your posts it's only because of your avatar, and not because of anything you say?

- FlyerGuy

The worry to me is the lack of adjustments, combined with the sloppy play, is a killer against a good forechecking team.

The best way to attack a forecheck like the Rangers is to breakout quickly, play North-South without the D to D passes that allow teams like the Rangers to get set in their "trap"(for lack of a better word) and start hounding the defense.

Defenseman gets the puck, while the forwards are still in the zone, get it to them and get them started. Too often a defnseman gets the puck, hesitates and passes to the other defenseman, and then the forecheckers are all over them and they can't do more than just clear it out of the zone at best, and at worst get tied down.

Toss in a bad pass and you're basically guaranteeing an entire shift spend chasing the play in your own end
- Jsaquella

More skill on D is needed, but heck thats not news

He left Stepan wide open on the 3rd pp and went to an already covered man.
- PT21

In my opinion

He was left to cover two Rangers, with one directly in front of the net. Not much he could do there.

In all seriousness, good game guys. Series is far from over but obviously, as a Rangers fan, I liked what they did tonight. Will be interesting (and scary) to see how the Flyers adjust and respond on Sunday. I expect they'll make it a real series then.

More skill on D is needed, but heck thats not news
- BiggE

It is needed, but smarter play can make it less of an issue.

Maybe too much overthinking of match ups and all that, and as you say, not letting your best guys just go out and play. We'll see what they do next game.
- eayost

Yes there was an overtime..

However pretty sure Cooper played Stamkos about 4 something minutes of the first period yesterday. Kid finished with 27minutes played.

Berube got out-coached in this one for me. One game, lets see what happens in #2.

You guys worry to much. Seven game series not a one game playoff. Flyers will win the next three games book it.
You know it's a weird day when I'm the sane one
Winning out biotches

The worry to me is the lack of adjustments, combined with the sloppy play, is a killer against a good forechecking team.

The best way to attack a forecheck like the Rangers is to breakout quickly, play North-South without the D to D passes that allow teams like the Rangers to get set in their "trap"(for lack of a better word) and start hounding the defense.

Defenseman gets the puck, while the forwards are still in the zone, get it to them and get them started. Too often a defnseman gets the puck, hesitates and passes to the other defenseman, and then the forecheckers are all over them and they can't do more than just clear it out of the zone at best, and at worst get tied down.

Toss in a bad pass and you're basically guaranteeing an entire shift spend chasing the play in your own end
- Jsaquella

I wonder if the D is passing to one another because the Forwards are going for a change after getting dominated in their own zone for 2 minutes...

I thought that during the game.. when I couldn't manage to see any other Flyer on the ice except Coburn standing next to the net with the puck trying to find someone to pass to.

Actually, he really didn't get his stick up. That's the kicker. He hit the Ranger with his shoulder, then lost his balance and torqued around, and that's when his stick said "what's up" to the face of the Ranger.

Just bad luck really.

If he doesn't fall on that hit, it's no penalty, and it's a whole different game at that point.

But....alas....

It is a series that is far from over, though. Bring it.
- Giroux_Is_God

Agreed, didn't mean to imply it was a high/illegal hit in anyway. Just like you said, tried to shift his balance, lost his footing and got Hagelin in the mouth.

Not that I'd directly place any blame on Emery, other than possibly his lateral movement on the Richards goal, but is Mason more expected to be back for game 2 or 3?

It is needed, but smarter play can make it less of an issue.
- Jsaquella

True

That ice time thing is kind of disturbing.

Luke Schenn: 18:21
Timonen: 16:56

LeCavalier: 7:42
Giroux: 17:08
Voracek: 14:22

That's not good enough by Berube. I understand having good defensive match-ups but you have to play your best players.

That back end is being spread out with playing time, but again, have to play your best guys.

Penalties are a small part of that, but not such a incredible factor.
- flyer_nutter

In my opinion

Once the game got out of hand, Berube cut Timonen's icetime in the 3rd. Which was a smart thing to do.
I expect his icetime to rise.

sloppy and weak, they have to be better than this

More skill on D is needed, but heck thats not news
- BiggE

Its the weakness, and has been on this team for me. Who on that back end is able to skate the puck out consistently, or initiate a transition game. To start the play.

Few and far between. The guy who is pretty good at that, played the least among d-men tonight. Timonen.

Every other d-man up around 20 minutes. That's too spread out, when there is indeed a drop off from your first pairing to your second/third.

It is needed, but smarter play can make it less of an issue.
- Jsaquella

The only real problem with it is that a couple of guys just don't see those lanes as easily as a couple of others...it's tougher for them.

The Rags made it hard on the defense when they went D-to-D in their zone...you are dead on about that