I think you're alone there.
- Tomahawk

The Coach thought it was a good enough idea. The bottom line is that line would be better if there was a playmaker and puck carrier on the line. But the Flyers only have two of those players in Giroux and Voracek. And they don't show any signs of being willing to separate those two players. So that only leaves certain options.

idk, but its an obvious problem and it we have lose alot points over the years with horrible shootout showings, there are things that can be done.

you dont have to be a supestar to be good at shootouts, oshie and there are a few no namers out there that score regular at these, just saying that if no current flyers are good at it and it cant be taught or practiced maybe bring in a guy or 2 with a good shootout percentage
- mydoglicks

Trade for Brad Boyes or Jussi Jokinen.

I kinda want to see Giroux and Voracek separated. They both have the ability to create space and scoring chances. Why not try playing Giroux with Simmonds and Voracek with Couturier? Couturier has been strictly a third line center at ES though. Jsaq tweeted some stats yesterday and Couts had started something like 25% of his shifts in the offensive zone.
- NickTheKid87

That is seriously frustrating. How can you expect the guy to be a point producer or even take on a more offensive role when he is constantly starting in his own end? He has looked good in his limited offensive situations.. give him some more.

If I were to split the line I would go this route...

Read-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Couts-Voracek
Schenn-Bellemare-Umberger
Akeson-Jones-Rinaldo

How have they sent that message; by not putting him in one posititon for more than 20 games in a row? They may have said that, but their actions speak much differently. They even moved him around in preseason this year.
- VladDrag

Playing a guy with about 3 games worth of NHL experience at center with Schenn on the wing doesn't send a message? (I'm referring to Bellemare)

I hope Brayden Schenn sees it as a message because it sure as (frank) is intended as one.

I kinda want to see Giroux and Voracek separated. They both have the ability to create space and scoring chances. Why not try playing Giroux with Simmonds and Voracek with Couturier? Couturier has been strictly a third line center at ES though. Jsaq tweeted some stats yesterday and Couts had started something like 25% of his shifts in the offensive zone.
- NickTheKid87

When Voracek first came over he played with Couts and they looked pretty good together. However... I think it held Voracek back some on scoring..... When you have to struggle to find linemates to work with Couts in order to score points thats a problem. His offensive game is not there....

He was implying that Schenn would crush Jake's game and there would be calls from Jake to get traded
- TheGreat28

I don't think so

There would be a drop off from G playing without Jake

You can't really replace Voracek with Read or Simmer on G's line so the first line would be hurt but the 2nd line becomes a legit threat

Trade for Brad Boyes or Jussi Jokinen.
- Feanor

They should seriously consider a specialist. I mean, teams bring in PK specialists all the time, right? And look how it worked out for Chip Kelly bringing in top-notch special teams players this off-season.

Is that another 20 on top of the 196 games he has already played. He doesn't give enough effort continusly to make up for games he is not scoring or doing much of anything else.

Rinado has played well this year. His effort is there each shift and he hasn't been getting out of position. He hasn't been getting out of position and now is killing penalites too. He is making the best of his minutes and chances.

If we want to wait 20 games until Schenn is comfortable and it never happens then what. Why can a guy like Couturier make it work with different wingers. Good players make the adjustments. It is not like this is the first year with the Flyers for Schenn. He is with these guys enough to know tendancies and how guys play
- J35Bacher

You're forgetting some information.
1. Schenn just turned 23 years old. I'm sure you where a model of consistency at that age.
2. He scored 20 goals as a 22 year old playing between LW and C.
3. Schenn played his entire career as a Center, and he hasn't been given a full go at LW to gain confidence there.

Couts is a different player has nothing to do with Schenn's development.

Each player develops at their own pace. Good players do make adjustments;however, they're not asked to make them every 10 games.

They should seriously consider a specialist. I mean, teams bring in PK specialists all the time, right? And look how it worked out for Chip Kelly bringing in top-notch special teams players this off-season.
- TheGreat28

A perfect guy for this would be Matt Hendricks. Great in SO and only needs to play 4th line minutes.

They should seriously consider a specialist. I mean, teams bring in PK specialists all the time, right? And look how it worked out for Chip Kelly bringing in top-notch special teams players this off-season.
- TheGreat28

Ideally, Akeson would be that guy - he's already in the top 12. But he wasn't anything special in AHL shootouts.

Its pathetic how awful everyone else is at the shootout. Vinny could have helped. Maybe even try Schenn.
- GOA88

Last season, BSchenn was 1/2, Raffl was 1/3. Outside of G, nobody else was over 33%.

Vinny was 2/8, Voracek 0/1, Akeson 0/1, Umberger 0/0, Coots 1/5, Read 1/6. The latter two keep getting sent out there like they're due, or something.

Year before that, the only other guy besides G to score on the SO was Read 1/3. Read was 4/6 in 2011-12, maybe that's where his rep w/ the coaches stems from.

Yea I was kidding... But seriously I got laughed at by the bobby Ryan groupies when I said jake is a poor man's Jagr ... Who's laughing now?



Anyway yes! That play right there is the kind of stuff I need to see from our captain too btw, he's capable. Take control of the game make poop happen
- JoeRussomanno

I never laughed
Jake is the man
After the Rangers series the NYR players said he was the best Flyer, hardest to play against.

And I expect G to do it too, hopefully soon.

Playing a guy with about 3 games worth of NHL experience at center with Schenn on the wing doesn't send a message? (I'm referring to Bellemare)

I hope Brayden Schenn sees it as a message because it sure as (frank) is intended as one.
- johndewar

Let's just hope the message doesn't change later on in the year....

That is seriously frustrating. How can you expect the guy to be a point producer or even take on a more offensive role when he is constantly starting in his own end? He has looked good in his limited offensive situations.. give him some more.

If I were to split the line I would go this route...

Read-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Couts-Voracek
Schenn-Bellemare-Umberger
Akeson-Jones-Rinaldo
- jak521

Yeah it's frustrating that Berube says he wants to see more offense from Couturier and then puts him in situations that make it difficult to produce offensively. It's like telling a chef he needs to make a 5-star meal and giving him Lunchables as ingredients.

I don't think so

There would be a drop off from G playing without Jake

You can't really replace Voracek with Read or Simmer on G's line so the first line would be hurt but the 2nd line becomes a legit threat
- Marc D

I like it. Coach B? Not so much. Then again, he's only created 43 possible line combinations so far. Give him another 5 games and he'll get there

Simmer could be the LeClair to G's Lindros, though. Not sniping goals, but still goals in abundance.
- Tomahawk

Simmonds is so good in front of the net and he's capable of being effective without the puck. G and Jake both need the puck to be effective. I've never understood this need to keep them together when Simmonds is a first line talent.

I never laughed
Jake is the man
After the Rangers series the NYR players said he was the best Flyer, hardest to play against.

And I expect G to do it too, hopefully soon.
- Marc D

Its a great loosely based analogy. He is an extremely strong skater, and when he is on top of his game it is nearly impossible to take him of the puck. Last night's third period Jake is a crazy scary player. I wish he could bottle that up and bring it that way a lot more often. He would be a star.

i disagree, the shooter has an advantage coming in alone on a defenseless goalie, how come we have the worst shootout in the league for years now?

is it because our players suck or is it because the coach dont care and takes it for a joke?

did chip kelly take his special teams seriously? and practice certain things? or did he say its just a kickoff/punt maybe we will get lucky?
- mydoglicks

The Flyers have a bad shootout record because their shooters don't score enough goals.

Yeah it's frustrating that Berube says he wants to see more offense from Couturier and then puts him in situations that make it difficult to produce offensively. It's like telling a chef he needs to make a 5-star meal and giving him Lunchables as ingredients.
- NickTheKid87

Excellent analogy

I never laughed
Jake is the man
After the Rangers series the NYR players said he was the best Flyer, hardest to play against.

And I expect G to do it too, hopefully soon.
- Marc D

The thing Voracek has over Giroux is size and skating. Giroux is better at everything else. Not even a question.

The Flyers have a bad shootout record because their shooters don't score enough goals.
- MJL

Their goalies have not been very good either. It's both the shooters and the goaltending. I think a lot of it is bad luck too. It seems like when they score, they can't get stops and vice versa

Last season, BSchenn was 1/2, Raffl was 1/3. Outside of G, nobody else was over 33%.

Vinny was 2/8, Voracek 0/1, Akeson 0/1, Umberger 0/0, Coots 1/5, Read 1/6. The latter two keep getting sent out there like they're due, or something.

Year before that, the only other guy besides G to score on the SO was Read 1/3. Read was 4/6 in 2011-12, maybe that's where his rep w/ the coaches stems from.
- Tomahawk

Yeah the decsions don't make much sense. I always though Kimmo should shoot when healthy especially last year.

Trade for Brad Boyes or Jussi Jokinen.
- Feanor

why not most of these wouldnt require much in trade and some were available the last ufa season, we always overpaid for an ebforcer to play 5 min a game why not a shootout specialist? some these guys would be an upgrade on the ice also

http://www.sportingcharts...shootout-statistics/2013/

Excellent analogy
- PhillySportsGuy

Made me hungry for Lunchables...

When Voracek first came over he played with Couts and they looked pretty good together. However... I think it held Voracek back some on scoring..... When you have to struggle to find linemates to work with Couts in order to score points thats a problem. His offensive game is not there....
- GOA88

He doesn't get put in situations where he can produce offense consistently. He starts way too many shifts in the defensive zone against the teams top line. He's being used as a third line shut down center and is being expected to produce like a 2nd line center. Not to mention we don't have the best defensemen for moving the puck up the ice.