In my opinion


The defenseman were under siege all game. Not easy to play under those circumstances. And considering all the D zone time and forecheck they were exposed to, they limited the damage and had the game at 1-1 until the penalties broke it open. Flyers have to play a quicker and more intense game.
- MJL

mcdonald definitely helps. but i dont see the ability in your defense pairings to consistently display the ability to skate it out without forward help coming back for shorter outlets.

But a big chunk of that is their own doing. You can't discredit that. Its not 1995 anymore. Forwards are going to be marked in the neutral zone. Figure out another way.
- Just5

In my opinion

If that is the case, why did the Rangers have an easier time breaking out? How did their forwards get open? Why weren't their forwards "marked"?

Lecavalier 7:42 TOI

Well, the team got outplayed in all three periods -- some more than others -- so Vigneault did better.
- bmeltzer

Politically correct response.

But a big chunk of that is their own doing. You can't discredit that. Its not 1995 anymore. Forwards are going to be marked in the neutral zone. Figure out another way.
- Just5

The Flyers D-men actually did a good job of not getting taken off pucks when they got pressured. There needs to be a short-range pass as a safety valve. But, yes, I'd like to see quicker retrievals and breakouts.

mcdonald definitely helps. but i dont see the ability in your defense pairings to consistently display the ability to skate it out without forward help coming back for shorter outlets.
- stayinthefnnet

In my opinion


I agree. This defense is not a skate it out defense. But there's more then one way to skin a cat.

Simmonds 12 min TOI
Giroux 17min


wtf

In my opinion

If that is the case, why did the Rangers have an easier time breaking out? How did their forwards get open? Why weren't their forwards "marked"?
- MJL

Because the Flyers did not skate well tonight.....the Rangers were quicker on the puck from start to finish.

Because the Flyers did not skate well tonight.....the Rangers were quicker on the puck from start to finish.
- landros 2

In my opinion


No question about that.

Simmonds 12 min TOI
Giroux 17min


wtf
- Chris48

Those # s won't win this series.

Voracek only 14 min


No wonder only 15 shots

Because the Flyers did not skate well tonight.....the Rangers were quicker on the puck from start to finish.
- landros 2

the Flyers stood around and/or backpedaled more often than any game in recent weeks.

It was a bad time to rekindle bad habits.

In my opinion

Time to re-group and come out fired up for game 2. Go Flyers!

In my opinion


I agree. This defense is not a skate it out defense. But there's more then one way to skin a cat.
- MJL

that there is. but sometimes your limited to what your personnel allows. and against a team that clogs the neutral zone like the rangers, i dont know what way would be more effective than forwards being conscientious about coming back to provide higher percentage options. id take my chances with a guy like voracek skating through the neutral zone than making coburn lug it, or having a guy like schenn try to spring someone deep

In my opinion


I agree. This defense is not a skate it out defense. But there's more then one way to skin a cat.
- MJL

Simmonds 12 min TOI
Giroux 17min


wtf
- Chris48

christ. who did get consistent ice time for you guys?

In my opinion

If that is the case, why did the Rangers have an easier time breaking out? How did their forwards get open? Why weren't their forwards "marked"?
- MJL

They are quicker retrieving the puck and yes they have more Dmen that skate it out. Their forwards are quicker too, especially on the wing. Their D can pinch up in the neutral zone more to clog because they skate/recover well.

Voracek only 14 min


No wonder only 15 shots
- Chris48

He doesn't kill penalties and the Flyers put themselves shorthanded five times in the third period. That was worth several mins of lost ice time.

that there is. but sometimes your limited to what your personnel allows. and against a team that clogs the neutral zone like the rangers, i dont know what way would be more effective than forwards being conscientious about coming back to provide higher percentage options. id take my chances with a guy like voracek skating through the neutral zone than making coburn lug it, or having a guy like schenn try to spring someone deep
- stayinthefnnet

In my opinion


Well the first thing you can do is get the puck deep in their end, and make them play deep and work to get the puck out, and spend more time in their end. And in turn, less in your end. That might help the defenseman out some.

I get that Berube wants Coots, Read and Raffl as much as possible out there as a defensive line but your best players have to be your best players.

Giroux's line, Simmonds and Vinny played few min tonight.

then the forwards need to make sure they come back a little bit to try to provide the defenders with a shorter, higher percentage pass.
- stayinthefnnet

That's a (big) part of it, sure. I wasn't specifically calling out the defensemen, but the entire team.

It would help if there was even one guy who could just skate the puck out of danger on a regular basis, but that issue can't be solved before the summer.

In my opinion

If that is the case, why did the Rangers have an easier time breaking out? How did their forwards get open? Why weren't their forwards "marked"?
- MJL

I think it was because The Flyers send one man in on forecheck, and then a 2nd if the first guy is at least in a 50-50 battle. 3rd guy generally stays back. Rangers outnumber the one or two forwards, take the puck up. Flyers D is deep near the blue line, 3rd forward is easy to avoid. Some quick short passes and suddenly they are hitting the blue-line with speed and flyers D is backpedaling. This leads to a pretty good zone entry by Rangers.

Either the 2nd guy needs to come in quicker and the 3rd needs to come in more often or the 1st/two need to win more deep battles or they at least need to not get so far behind the play and backcheck more vigorously. The Flyers forecheckers tend to semi-lazily go back, even Giroux - they are not really clinging to the D. By the time they have taken up position, flyers are already pinned deep.

How often did the puck come in to the Flyers zone and come right back out? Almost never.

They are quicker retrieving the puck and yes they have more Dmen that skate it out. Their forwards are quicker too, especially on the wing. Their D can pinch up in the neutral zone more to clog because they skate/recover well.
- Just5

In my opinion

They were quicker tonight that's for sure. But the Flyers can play quicker, and play better. And they can be more efficient on the breakouts. So this idea that it's not 1995 and forwards are going to be marked, doesn't hold water. Flyers simply have to play better. And skate better.

joke this team is A JOKE

I think it was because The Flyers send one man in on forecheck, and then a 2nd if the first guy is at least in a 50-50 battle. 3rd guy generally stays back. Rangers outnumber the one or two forwards, take the puck up. Flyers D is deep near the blue line, 3rd forward is easy to avoid. Some quick short passes and suddenly they are hitting the blue-line with speed and flyers D is backpedaling. This leads to a pretty good zone entry by Rangers.

Either the 2nd guy needs to come in quicker and the 3rd needs to come in more often or the 1st/two need to win more deep battles or they at least need to not get so far behind the play and backcheck more vigorously. The Flyers forecheckers tend to semi-lazily go back, even Giroux - they are not really clinging to the D. By the time they have taken up position, flyers are already pinned deep.

How often did the puck come in to the Flyers zone and come right back out? Almost never.
- PT21

that was a big part of tonight's result ... the Flyers must have lost 90% of those puck battles, simply by being outmanned and/or outworked.