The only flaw is your interpretation. We'll just agree to disagree.

And with the way the Rangers clog the shooting lanes and block shots, there aren't many "clean" shots at Lundqvist. Lecavalier cannot create that shot with his lack of speed either. He's hurting this team more than he's helping, imo.
- bradleyc4

My interpretation is dead on. That's one of the biggest issues with the stats gurus. They put the cart before the horse. The 3% shooting percentage is not the cause of the Flyers offensive issues in game 3. It is the result. And you have to look deeper to see why they only shot 3%. Then there will be a clear picture of what happened. Blindly looking at the stat doesn't show anything.
Lecavalier is not a player that creates his own offense.

Good, that's exactly how a player like Lecavalier should be used. That's a good thing, not a bad thing.
- MJL

Its a bad thing when your "2C" is getting 3 shots for every 7 he allows despite playing against weak competition and starting most shifts in the offensive zone.

I think based on this post, we viewed the game in the same way. Flyers dominated puck possession, and they lost. They didn't generate many quality opportunities. Bottom line, puck possession while important. Is vastly overrated.
- MJL

i can tell you this is true from playing just about every game i've played in over the last 5 years, including last night.

He plays shielded minutes, against lower competition, with a low DZ start % and still has bad CF% and CF% REL numbers.

Like the stats or not, that is an alarming trend.
- Jsaquella

Does misusing a player factor into this?

Wait. So they don't include any PP time? Wow....
- Flyersgod

Yeah, purely at ES. Most 4th-lines (and scoring lines) get deployments skewed toward the o-zone, but Vinny's way out ahead. The fact that he's being put in prime situation to produce but not producing is what's vexing.

Its a bad thing when your "2C" is getting 3 shots for every 7 he allows despite playing against weak competition and starting most shifts in the offensive zone.
- PhillySportsGuy

2c? Since when?

He plays shielded minutes, against lower competition, with a low DZ start % and still has bad CF% and CF% REL numbers.

Like the stats or not, that is an alarming trend.
- Jsaquella

I know. I don't know what else people need to see in order for it to sink in.

Lets call it the FGML Advanced Stats

What we'll do is this. Each shift a player has, we'll count the amount of times he takes a full stride. Then count the half strides. Then count the seconds he coasts during his shift. This will give us our compete level %.

You do the first three games. If it turns out to be decent, I'll do the next 3 games.

Deal?
- Flyersgod

You might be on to something... Hartnell would probably get run out of the league.

2c? Since when?
- Flyersgod

Since their last game...

lies. this didn't happen.
- hammarby31

Hey, c'mon.

We got the immortal Pavel Brendl in that deal. How could you forget?

"TAKE OFF YER SHERT! SHOW US YER BEWBS!"

Does misusing a player factor into this?
- Flyersgod

It can, but Lecavalier hasn't been misused. He's given the easiest matchups and starts most of his shifts in the offensive zone. That should help a player's performance in terms of things like Corsi & Fenwick. The fact that Lecavalier's possession numbers are so bad is a staggering trend.

Yeah, purely at ES. Most 4th-lines (and scoring lines) get deployments skewed toward the o-zone, but Vinny's way out ahead. The fact that he's being put in prime situation to produce but not producing is what's vexing.
- Tomahawk

Most of his production comes on the PP. He's used as a power play guy. Kind of seems unfair don't you think?

Vinny had 13 shifts in game one
16 shifts in game 2
20 shifts in game 3

49 shifts in 3 games. I wish I knew where to find how many PP shifts. My point is however, the fewer shifts he has, the larger the impact of playing bad shifts has.

Since their last game...
- PhillySportsGuy

You guys are abusing the poop out of stats. It's not even funny.

THIS!! Exactly THIS. That's the key in today's game. Sure, speed and foot-work is clutch, but knowing how to protect the puck, where to work it, where to skate it, and having the ability to read the play out there is massive.
- Flyers_V88

Jagr is often cited as an example that speed isn't absolutely required, but I think we sometimes forget that he is a living NHL legend who, if not for his KHL stint, would probably have finished 2nd all time in NHL points. His "knowing how to protect the puck", "where to work it", "reading the play" are otherworldly and obviously compensates for lack of speed these days.

Normal humans who lack foot speed don't have otherworldly skills to fall back on

Jagr is often cited as an example that speed isn't absolutely required, but I think we sometimes forget that he is a living NHL legend who, if not for his KHL stint, would probably have finished 2nd all time in NHL points. His "knowing how to protect the puck", "where to work it", "reading the play" are otherworldly and obviously compensates for lack of speed these days.

Normal humans who lack foot speed don't have otherworldly skills to fall back on
- eayost

It's always fun to watch him work the corners and protect that puck

Jagr is often cited as an example that speed isn't absolutely required, but I think we sometimes forget that he is a living NHL legend who, if not for his KHL stint, would probably have finished 2nd all time in NHL points. His "knowing how to protect the puck", "where to work it", "reading the play" are otherworldly and obviously compensates for lack of speed these days.

Normal humans who lack foot speed don't have otherworldly skills to fall back on
- eayost

Nonsense. That's like saying Wayne Gretzky would be good. He sucked. He had a soft shot, wasn't fast, and couldn't play physically. Obviously, a terrible player.

It's always fun to watch him work the corners and protect that puck
- Streit2ThePoint

Dude's worth the price of admission every game.

Except for the Winter Classic, because he only played 1 period and it was really expensive.

Most of his production comes on the PP. He's used as a power play guy. Kind of seems unfair don't you think?
- Flyersgod

Don't even need him to score goals at ES... just need him to be able to hold the fort against 4th-line players he's up against. He's not just giving ground, he's giving a LOT of ground to Boyle/Moore/Dorsett.

He gets only a few shifts per game probably b/c Chief has recognized that if you give him more, it ups your chances of getting exposed even more.

They got away with using him like a forward equivalent of MA Bergeron during the regular season, mainly as a situational/PP weapon... but the Rangers being so deep/balanced, they have nowhere to hide him at ES.

Either Vinny has to get a lot better quickly, or they need to start thinking contingency.

I know. I don't know what else people need to see in order for it to sink in.
- PhillySportsGuy

Non-displaced fracture in his back. Don't know exactly the injury he had in that fight, but was bad enough to sideline him and force him to wear a cage.

He fractured his mf'ing back. And came back way too early. No doubt in my mind he's still hurting. It takes a LONG time to recover from this injury to be 100% again.

Now I understand the ice time.

Don't even need him to score goals at ES... just need him to be able to hold the fort against 4th-line players he's up against. He's not just giving ground, he's giving a LOT of ground to Boyle/Moore/Dorsett.

He gets only a few shifts per game probably b/c Chief has recognized that if you give him more, it ups your chances of getting exposed even more.

They got away with using him like a forward equivalent of MA Bergeron during the regular season, mainly as a situational/PP weapon... but the Rangers being so deep/balanced, they have nowhere to hide him at ES.

Either Vinny has to get a lot better quickly, or they need to start thinking contingency.
- Tomahawk

We need more than just Vinny to get better. What about B. Schenn? Read? Raffl? Hartnell? Simmonds?

They escape any of this non-sense for a reason that escapes me.

We need more than just Vinny to get better. What about B. Schenn? Read? Raffl? Hartnell? Simmonds?

They escape any of this non-sense for a reason that escapes me.
- Flyersgod

Hartnell and Raffl have been just fine.

Jagr is often cited as an example that speed isn't absolutely required, but I think we sometimes forget that he is a living NHL legend who, if not for his KHL stint, would probably have finished 2nd all time in NHL points. His "knowing how to protect the puck", "where to work it", "reading the play" are otherworldly and obviously compensates for lack of speed these days.

Normal humans who lack foot speed don't have otherworldly skills to fall back on
- eayost

lol, this is true. But I think with hard work and dedication, they're learnable and trainable skills that a player can acquire and incorporate into their game.

We need more than just Vinny to get better. What about B. Schenn? Read? Raffl? Hartnell? Simmonds?

They escape any of this non-sense for a reason that escapes me.
- Flyersgod

They do need to play better. Pretty much everyone needs to step it up a bit.

The problem with Vinny is that he's needed to step it up for months, not just a week or two.

Flyers announce Steve Mason will start game 4