Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: After Comeback Point, Flyers Fall Again in Shootout

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: After Comeback Point, Flyers Fall Again in Shootout
- bmeltzer

There were signs of improvement tonight but they still need to play from whistle to whistle and from the start of a period, to the end of a period.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: After Comeback Point, Flyers Fall Again in Shootout
- bmeltzer

i refuse to believe the flyers have 27 career shootout victories. moar points left on the table.

This team needs to acquire a LW. Raffl being asked to play on the top line is a joke.

can we bring up Powe to play defense?

What was the impression of the Kesler vs Grossmann into the boards play?

Accidental?

Initially I thought Kesler kicked Grossmann's left skate but on review it seemed unintentional.

Glad to see Grossmann back up, it looked ugly at first.

This team needs to acquire a LW. Raffl being asked to play on the top line is a joke.
- hereticpride

you mean after we traded hartnell away

What was the impression of the Kesler vs Grossmann into the boards play?

Accidental?

Initially I thought Kesler kicked Grossmann's left skate but on review it seemed unintentional.

Glad to see Grossmann back up, it looked ugly at first.
- Marc D

dirty play but what do you expect from the ducks

What was the impression of the Kesler vs Grossmann into the boards play?

Accidental?

Initially I thought Kesler kicked Grossmann's left skate but on review it seemed unintentional.

Glad to see Grossmann back up, it looked ugly at first.
- Marc D

Kesler did nothing.

you mean after we traded hartnell away
- 2Real

They decided to gamble on Schenn in order to get a shorter contract in Umberger. That is what it is. Raffl is being asked to be a top line player right now and that is laughable

Raffl might have the most giveaways on the team considering how many shots of his go wide of the net.

What was the impression of the Kesler vs Grossmann into the boards play?

Accidental?

Initially I thought Kesler kicked Grossmann's left skate but on review it seemed unintentional.

Glad to see Grossmann back up, it looked ugly at first.
- Marc D

Incidental contact, hockey play gone bad.

Tonight's game was more encouraging, but they got killed by defensive breakdowns and failed clears. Far too often the Flyers are blindly firing puck up the boards and it's becoming predictable.

They need to play with more intensity for 60 minutes and they need to be smarter. I do think the effort was there tonight for 60 minutes, though and that's an improvement.

They decided to gamble on Schenn in order to get a shorter contract in Umberger. That is what it is. Raffl is being asked to be a top line player right now and that is laughable

Raffl might have the most giveaways on the team considering how many shots of his go wide of the net.
- hereticpride

If they were truly gambling on Schenn, it'd be nice if they gave him more than 4 periods.

Incidental contact, hockey play gone bad.

Tonight's game was more encouraging, but they got killed by defensive breakdowns and failed clears. Far too often the Flyers are blindly firing puck up the boards and it's becoming predictable.

They need to play with more intensity for 60 minutes and they need to be smarter. I do think the effort was there tonight for 60 minutes, though and that's an improvement.
- Jsaquella

I was pretty happy with their game overall.
The third period and the PP especially.
Something to build on.
MDZ I thought was solid.
Brayden showed signs of life.
Jake, I expect that domination from him every game, he has that kind of skill.
What an intro to the NHL for Bellemare, going up against Getzlaff, Kesler, Perry. He did OK I thought.

Now they have Read playing RW. They could use a natural LW or two.

Incidental contact, hockey play gone bad.

Tonight's game was more encouraging, but they got killed by defensive breakdowns and failed clears. Far too often the Flyers are blindly firing puck up the boards and it's becoming predictable.

They need to play with more intensity for 60 minutes and they need to be smarter. I do think the effort was there tonight for 60 minutes, though and that's an improvement.
- Jsaquella

Watched on DVR. 'They need to be smarter' is right. A lot of bad decisions.

*EDIT* (snipped for content)

I want them to win but I can't stand the 'style' of play. it's not pretty whatever it is

Raffl shouldn't be on the top line, but he isn't the problem, not by a long shot.

It's interesting that even with VLC out, Schenn hasn't been moved back to center but rather Bellemare has been moved up to the middle. Not sure what else to read into that other than Schenn isn't getting it done.

Why Couts before Simmonds in the skills competition?

If they were truly gambling on Schenn, it'd be nice if they gave him more than 4 periods.
- Jsaquella

my exact thoughts

Raffl shouldn't be on the top line, but he isn't the problem, not by a long shot.

It's interesting that even with VLC out, Schenn hasn't been moved back to center but rather Bellemare has been moved up to the middle. Not sure what else to read into that other than Schenn isn't getting it done.

Why Couts before Simmonds in the skills competition?
- wolfhounds

maybe to get him going offensively?

Raffl shouldn't be on the top line, but he isn't the problem, not by a long shot.

It's interesting that even with VLC out, Schenn hasn't been moved back to center but rather Bellemare has been moved up to the middle. Not sure what else to read into that other than Schenn isn't getting it done.

Why Couts before Simmonds in the skills competition?
- wolfhounds

Raffl is the problem we have a 3rd/4liner playing on the first line

maybe to get him going offensively?
- 2Real

Maybe. We just don't seem to have anybody outside of G who can deke and get it done in the shootout. The Flyers just really need to stop going to OT.

I don't think this team is nearly as bad as most on here say they are. Sure there are improvements to be made besides their pathetic shootout. They have had a chance to win every game so far. Tighten up the defense a bit and the wins will come!

Raffl is the problem we have a 3rd/4liner playing on the first line
- 2Real

That's more a Flyers problem than a Raffl problem. Just like Bellemare - a first year former Swedish Elite League player - got bumped up to center the 2nd line.

The Flyers just have some holes.

generally speaking, the Flyers are missing a nastiness to their game. And I don't mean they need an enforcer, or to start fighting ... I mean an in-your-face attitude as they battle for pucks.

I see very little of that on this team, except from Simmonds, Rinaldo (and perhaps surprisingly) a bit from Jake.

the rest of the team is WAY too much on the soft side for my liking.

I don't think this team is nearly as bad as most on here say they are. Sure there are improvements to be made besides their pathetic shootout. They have had a chance to win every game so far. Tighten up the defense a bit and the wins will come!
- Cable2k

The problem is they are not bad enough. Getting outscored 12-6 at even strength means this team still stinks at 5 on 5 and thus has zero shot of winning a cup. If the absolute pinnacle of this team is a 1st round playoff lost, I would rather them finish last in the league. A team can get trapped in mediocrity for a decade if they aren't careful.

The problem is they are not bad enough. Getting outscored 12-6 at even strength means this team still stinks at 5 on 5 and thus has zero shot of winning a cup. If the absolute pinnacle of this team is a 1st round playoff lost, I would rather them finish last in the league. A team can get trapped in mediocrity for a decade if they aren't careful.
- psuhockey

They won't get trapped in mediocrity for a decade.