before yesterday's game i was thinking about the 04 run, and the first thing that came to mind was primeau's dominance and how the flyers could really use a performance like that from someone...anyone. it was glorious to watch.
- hammarby31

I thought after the goal in game 2 that Czechie was going to be that. He CAN be that. But he and everyone else seems to have lost their way.

I do wish that a guy on the rush with followers would just shoot hard on net so if there were a rebound the follower could pot it. It seems they always pull up and set up, giving the D and goalie a chance to do the same.

I'd like to see the Flyers come out for the start of the game, and play the entire game like they did the last 5 minutes of the first period. It seems as though they need something to fire them up, to reach that higher gear.
- MJL

That's where hartnell and Simmonds come in. Throw some hits. Chirp in people's faces. Get into fights. Fire up the boys. Hartnell floats around trying to figure out his plans for the night.

There's more to it than that, being behind so often doesn't help, because the Rangers not only love to sit on a 1-0 or 2-1 lead, they're really good at it. They frustrate teams and goad them into forcing plays and that's how they win.

The Flyers need to be more creative. It shouldn't take 20+ blocked shot to realize that outside slap shots were not gonna work last night. Stationary, set piece offense isn't going to beat the Rangers. The Flyers have to be more creative and really drive the net, can't settle for outside shots and hope to get one through the Ranger Maze of bodies.
- Jsaquella

That's...gonna be tough.

The Flyers do some things well, and the way they play is successful a lot of the time.

But we all know they only have a few guys who would truly qualify as creative, and having the overt skill, the puck-handling/passing accuracy/shooting accuracy...that's asking a lot from certain other guys in the lineup, at least at this stage of their careers

I don't know. The Rags...the graphic last night showed they were 23-8-2 in their last 33 road games. That's no joke -- at some point, something clicked for those boys, and we're not the only ones who haven't solved them yet

I thought after the goal in game 2 that Czechie was going to be that. He CAN be that. But he and everyone else seems to have lost their way.

I do wish that a guy on the rush with followers would just shoot hard on net so if there were a rebound the follower could pot it. It seems they always pull up and set up, giving the D and goalie a chance to do the same.
- bodiva88

Voracek needs a lot more ice time. He seems to be the only real threat the Flyers have right now.

It's not a misuse of the word. It's dead on accurate.
- Flyersgod

It's interesting.

It's fascinating.

It's not what you expect.

It's not ironic.

Texas apparently also has the largest prison population.
- wolfhounds

They've got a lot of gang issues from Mexico. The border is pretty brutal. Lots of smuggling etc.

It's interesting.

It's fascinating.

It's not what you expect.

It's not ironic.
- Atomic Wedgie

Just leave. Go golf with your team. Bye!

We're not talking court settlements... we're talking government mandated payouts for wrongful imprisonment... many states don't offer anything:

http://www.innocenceproje....org/fix/Compensation.php


Edit: you just wouldn't expect Texas, a state that is pretty callous toward inmate rights in general, to have such a generous policy... hence the irony.
- Tomahawk

I confess to knowing absolutely nothing about this, but my one question would be this: does this prevent the wrongfully convicted from suing the state?

That's where hartnell and Simmonds come in. Throw some hits. Chirp in people's faces. Get into fights. Fire up the boys. Hartnell floats around trying to figure out his plans for the night.
- Flyersgod

Both have to pick it up. Need more of what Hartnell did in game 1. Plastering McDonagh on the forechck and setting up an offensive opportunity. Simmonds to me, has been incredibly disapointing in this Series. He should be tailor made for the playoffs. He has been losing board battles, and puck battles. Not getting to the net. Other then the great effort for the EN goal in game 2, he has been ineffective in my opinion.

Got it. Giroux gets a free pass for his poop play. If he doesn't have to perform, who does?

I normally agree with you, but your dead (frank)ing wrong dude. Dead wrong.
- Flyersgod

We can disagree, and maybe I am wrong.

But Claude Giroux isn't the first, and only, star player who has gotten shut down in the playoffs, and he won't be the last

They've got a lot of gang issues from Mexico. The border is pretty brutal. Lots of smuggling etc.
- Flyersgod

Yup. My buddy has family and friends down there. People go missing quite often. Forget that.

It's not what you expect.

It's not ironic.
- Atomic Wedgie

Kind of the definition of ironic right there, bud.

Anyway, Texas is renowned as the leader in public executions and highest incarceration rates also having the most generous law compensating the wrongly accused is pretty ironic.

We can disagree, and maybe I am wrong.

But Claude Giroux isn't the first, and only, star player who has gotten shut down in the playoffs, and he won't be the last
- AllInForFlyers

That is definitely true. But does that make it wrong to state that he hasn't played well. Hasn't lead the team, and hasn't been the team's best player? And that they need him to be that player at some point to advance, or make a long playoff run?

That's...gonna be tough.

The Flyers do some things well, and the way they play is successful a lot of the time.

But we all know they only have a few guys who would truly qualify as creative, and having the overt skill, the puck-handling/passing accuracy/shooting accuracy...that's asking a lot from certain other guys in the lineup, at least at this stage of their careers

I don't know. The Rags...the graphic last night showed they were 23-8-2 in their last 33 road games. That's no joke -- at some point, something clicked for those boys, and we're not the only ones who haven't solved them yet
- AllInForFlyers

No, but the Flyers will have to adjust and make a better effort to solve them.

They will also need guys like Brayden Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier and Giroux to start producing. I'm harder on the first two, because neither has done anything, but Giroux needs to find a way to get himself untracked. Two assists in 3 games isn't going to cut it.

No, but the Flyers will have to adjust and make a better effort to solve them.

They will also need guys like Brayden Schenn, Vincent Lecavalier and Giroux to start producing. I'm harder on the first two, because neither has done anything, but Giroux needs to find a way to get himself untracked. Two assists in 3 games isn't going to cut it.
- Jsaquella

i haven't been on since earlier today, but I heard Giroux guaranteed a victory in game 4?? what is he doing???

That is definitely true. But does that make it wrong to state that he hasn't played well. Hasn't lead the team, and hasn't been the team's best player? And that they need him to be that player at some point to advance, or make a long playoff run?
- MJL

Sure, you can say it -- but we all know that. But saying it without acknowledging the obvious -- that it's hard as hell to get going when you're the focal point of an opposing team...it just feeds into this perception of "lacking effort/heart/blah blah blah" that simply isn't true.

Jonathan Toews, of all people, was getting the same crap said about him last year when the Blackhawks were on their way to the Stanley Cup, because he only scored three goals -- THREE -- in the playoffs. Three goals in 23 games. He was a virtual non-factor in the finals against the Bruins.

It's difficult, man -- these teams, these coaches, don't get paid millions of dollars to get beat by Jonathan Toews and Claude Giroux. They take their freaking chances with Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland and dare those guys to beat them!

Kind of the definition of ironic right there, bud.

Anyway, Texas is renowned as the leader in public executions and highest incarceration rates also having the most generous law compensating the wrongly accused is pretty ironic.
- Tomahawk

We'll kill you, but if we're wrong, we'll pay your family a lot.

i haven't been on since earlier today, but I heard Giroux guaranteed a victory in game 4?? what is he doing???
- flyersfan51

Same thing he did when he guaranteed a playoff berth at 1-7

i haven't been on since earlier today, but I heard Giroux guaranteed a victory in game 4?? what is he doing???
- flyersfan51

Trying to show the plebes that he cares?

Sure, you can say it -- but we all know that. But saying it without acknowledging the obvious -- that it's hard as hell to get going when you're the focal point of an opposing team...it just feeds into this perception of "lacking effort/heart/blah blah blah" that simply isn't true.

Jonathan Toews, of all people, was getting the same crap said about him last year when the Blackhawks were on their way to the Stanley Cup, because he only scored three goals -- THREE -- in the playoffs. Three goals in 23 games. He was a virtual non-factor in the finals against the Bruins.

It's difficult, man -- these teams, these coaches, don't get paid millions of dollars to get beat by Jonathan Toews and Claude Giroux. They take their freaking chances with Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland and dare those guys to beat them!
- AllInForFlyers

Depth and defense wins. End up with guys like Mad Max scoring 2 goals in game 7 of the finals in a 2-1 game… nothing from the big stars. Stars aren't always the heroes in the playoffs.

While Giroux can and does need to play better, can we acknowledge some good things he's also done? 2A, including starting the play that lead to last night's goal… leads the team in +/- at +3 (higher than Jake and Hartnell), and is over 60% on face-offs.

i haven't been on since earlier today, but I heard Giroux guaranteed a victory in game 4?? what is he doing???
- flyersfan51

I can't wait to read how the Rangers are going to clip out the article, pin it on the bulletin board in the dressing room, and use it as motivation.

Sure, you can say it -- but we all know that. But saying it without acknowledging the obvious -- that it's hard as hell to get going when you're the focal point of an opposing team...it just feeds into this perception of "lacking effort/heart/blah blah blah" that simply isn't true.

Jonathan Toews, of all people, was getting the same crap said about him last year when the Blackhawks were on their way to the Stanley Cup, because he only scored three goals -- THREE -- in the playoffs. Three goals in 23 games. He was a virtual non-factor in the finals against the Bruins.

It's difficult, man -- these teams, these coaches, don't get paid millions of dollars to get beat by Jonathan Toews and Claude Giroux. They take their freaking chances with Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland and dare those guys to beat them!
- AllInForFlyers

Back to the same thing. I think every NHL fan knows that the playoffs are difficult. And that the best teams are playing in the playoffs. It's not supposed to be easy, that is a given. This to me says, well Giroux is trying, but what do you want, the playoffs are difficult. Coaches are scheming against the other teams top players. Is any of this anything new. Every player who has ever played in the playoffs has faced the same situation. Players have found ways to rise above it. Giroux has done so in the past. And what about the top players who have lit it up in the playoffs, and been point a game players? How did they do it, with the Coaches being paid millions to not let that happen?
And I don't believe that Giroux lacks heart, nor will I feel that if the Flyers get knocked out, that Giroux isn't the player he is thought to be. It will just be one bad playoff series to me. And I'll still believe in him as a player. But that dosn't change that to this point, Giroux isn't getting it done.

Trying to show the plebes that he cares?
- Tomahawk

he can show he cares in other ways.

And I don't believe that Giroux lacks hart....
- MJL

Soon!

Depth and defense wins. End up with guys like Mad Max scoring 2 goals in game 7 of the finals in a 2-1 game… nothing from the big stars. Stars aren't always the heroes in the playoffs.

While Giroux can and does need to play better, can we acknowledge some good things he's also done? 2A, including starting the play that lead to last night's goal… leads the team in +/- at +3 (higher than Jake and Hartnell), and is over 60% on face-offs.
- eayost

Exactly -- guys get shut down all the time. It happens every single year.