Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 11/14/14 @ MTL; Flyers Lose Sloppy to CBJ

well that sucked

Turned out to be a perfect night to have a dinner engagement.

Poor defensive play and they gave up way too many shots, could have been quite a bit worse without some really good saves by Mason. Looking for a rebound game against the Habs.

* Berube on the play of the line of Umberger, Lecavalier and Jason Akeson: "They need to work harder and compete harder. They need to win battles, that’s the bottom line. You can’t go out there and play in this league if you don’t want to compete and you don’t want to skate. As a line they need to do that.”

Absolutely true because they were absolutely brutal -- that line was straight-up tragic tonight

I understand certain realities; they aren't the fastest or, in Akeson's case, the biggest. But Umberger's 6-2, 215, and VLC's 6-4, 215. It's OK to not get blown off the puck or actually knock somebody else off it, just so everybody knows you have a pulse

We all get it: They're not Lindros/LeClair out there. But they can do better than what they did tonight -- or if they can't, somebody needs to get in there who can

Just got home from a gig, how bad was it?

Just got home from a gig, how bad was it?
- BiggE

Man, don't even ask -- three hours later, and I still can't believe what I freaking saw

Man, don't even ask -- three hours later, and I still can't believe what I freaking saw
- AllInForFlyers

Christ that bad? It was only 4-3, right?

Let's put it this way: Ryan Johansen had four assists tonight. If Mason hadn't been sharp and Johansen wasn't a little off, he could've dropped three more goals on 'em

Christ that bad? It was only 4-3, right?
- BiggE

It's the most ridiculous loss I've seen out of them in years. You remember the game they played against Calgary a few years back, after they had traded Scottie Upshall and they clearly went out and got drunk? Then got their asses absolutely handed to them because they were clearly hung over?

It was worse than that. They probably should've given up seven or eight tonight

Let's put it this way: Ryan Johansen had four assists tonight. If Mason hadn't been sharp and Johansen wasn't a little off, he could've dropped three more goals on 'em
- AllInForFlyers

From what I backread, seems like only the top lone, Mason and MDZ showed up. I'm convinced, if they keep dressing Umberger and Vinnie they will have a lottery pick

Christ that bad? It was only 4-3, right?
- BiggE

I stopped watching my recording once I saw the final score had already been reached. Not good.

Luckily, I got to hear some good music instead of seeing that game live on the tube.

It's the most ridiculous loss I've seen out of them in years. You remember the game they played against Calgary a few years back, after they had traded Scottie Upshall and they clearly went out and got drunk? Then got their asses absolutely handed to them because they were clearly hung over?

It was worse than that. They probably should've given up seven or eight tonight
- AllInForFlyers

Ugh, now Im really glad I had a gig tonight.

I stopped watching my recording once I saw the final score had already been reached. Not good.

Luckily, I got to hear some good music instead of seeing that game live on the tube.
- tangent_man

Thanks bud!!

From what I backread, seems like only the top lone, Mason and MDZ showed up. I'm convinced, if they keep dressing Umberger and Vinnie they will have a lottery pick
- BiggE

The backread is correct -- it wasn't even close. Streit/Grossmann were neutral, at best. Schultz wasn't awful -- really, you can't even put this on the defense, though Coburn looked pretty damn average, which was disappointing.

The forwards, though?

Man, the passing -- oh, my God. The passing. Just atrocious. You'd have thought some of them had never seen a puck before -- they had a 3-on-2, whoever was on the left, possibly VLC, had a wide-open passing lane to Akeson, on the RW.

It's a pass that has to be made. It's the (frank)ing NHL. It's a pass that has to be on the tape.

Whoever it was not only butchered the pass, he put it BEHIND Akeson, who had to take a (frank)ing penalty in order to prevent an odd-man rush the other way.

It was un-(frank)ing-believable. That play exemplified the game tonight. Without the PP/Top Line, they get blown out of the WFC

The backread is correct -- it wasn't even close. Streit/Grossmann were neutral, at best. Schultz wasn't awful -- really, you can't even put this on the defense, though Coburn looked pretty damn average, which was disappointing.

The forwards, though?

Man, the passing -- oh, my God. The passing. Just atrocious. You'd have thought some of them had never seen a puck before -- they had a 3-on-2, whoever was on the left, possibly VLC, had a wide-open passing lane to Akeson, on the RW.

It's a pass that has to be made. It's the (frank)ing NHL. It's a pass that has to be on the tape.

Whoever it was not only butchered the pass, he put it BEHIND Akeson, who had to take a (frank)ing penalty in order to prevent an odd-man rush the other way.

It was un-(frank)ing-believable. That play exemplified the game tonight. Without the PP/Top Line, they get blown out of the WFC
- AllInForFlyers

Yikes!
The Habs must be salivating. I can excuse Conurn, it will takexa few games for him to get in sync, but the forwards...don't even know what to say

Yikes!
The Habs must be salivating. I can excuse Conurn, it will takexa few games for him to get in sync, but the forwards...don't even know what to say
- BiggE

5 day layoff...disappointing, especially since a lot of people expected it. It shouldn't happen, but it's become commonplace.

Yikes!
The Habs must be salivating. I can excuse Conurn, it will takexa few games for him to get in sync, but the forwards...don't even know what to say
- BiggE

What will be infuriating is if they come out tomorrow and play like they should've played tonight -- focused and business-like. They were happy and joking and (frank)ing around with Hartnell, then the next thing you know, they're getting their asses handed to them by a team with a winless goalie with a season SVPCT under .890

Christ that bad? It was only 4-3, right?
- BiggE

they were (frank)ing horrible. stood around and watched, got hemmed in their end shift after shift, handled the puck like it had aids, lost board battles and virtually never seemed to get to a single loose puck.

i thought G, V and Mason were good. Schenn was involved late, and mdz was also decent. fourth line was skating and forechecking well, but didn't do much else.

it was an abomination of a game, despite their 3 pp goals, the crossbar shot, and wisnewski save. made me (frank)ing sick.

What will be infuriating is if they come out tomorrow and play like they should've played tonight -- focused and business-like. They were happy and joking and (frank)ing around with Hartnell, then the next thing you know, they're getting their asses handed to them by a team with a winless goalie with a season SVPCT under .890
- AllInForFlyers

Emery tomorrow?

Emery tomorrow?
- wilsonecho91

If it were up to me, yes -- TBH, I would've played Emery tonight and Mason against the Habs, but I'm not second-guessing Chief on that one. Just what I would've done

Had some of the best seats of any Flyers game I've been to tonight. A student's parents donate tickets once in awhile and they give them away to faculty. Thirtieth time was the charm for me... 9th row right on the blue line. I haven't seen the Flyers in in person in the last six games I've gone to.

At least I got to see Del Zotto's beautiful goal up close. Sad that that was the highlight. Total letdown of a night.

Passing was atrocious. Whenever there was a loose puck, they were looking everywhere but where the puck actually was. I feel like this has been a common theme the past few seasons.

Had some of the best seats of any Flyers game I've been to tonight. A student's parents donate tickets once in awhile and they give them away to faculty. Thirtieth time was the charm for me... 9th row right on the blue line. I haven't seen the Flyers in in person in the last six games I've gone to.

At least I got to see Del Zotto's beautiful goal up close. Sad that that was the highlight. Total letdown of a night.

Passing was atrocious. Whenever there was a loose puck, they were looking everywhere but where the puck actually was. I feel like this has been a common theme the past few seasons.
- ThirdEye

Sorry you had to see that live -- I always feel worse for the people who feel fortunate to attend a game, appreciate it and spend a ton of money on food/parking/transit, and then have to see them play like that

Emery tomorrow?
- wilsonecho91

i would. mason was good tonight. no reason to play him back to back.

Had some of the best seats of any Flyers game I've been to tonight. A student's parents donate tickets once in awhile and they give them away to faculty. Thirtieth time was the charm for me... 9th row right on the blue line. I haven't seen the Flyers in in person in the last six games I've gone to.

At least I got to see Del Zotto's beautiful goal up close. Sad that that was the highlight. Total letdown of a night.

Passing was atrocious. Whenever there was a loose puck, they were looking everywhere but where the puck actually was. I feel like this has been a common theme the past few seasons.
- ThirdEye

the loose puck issue made crazy tonight. (frank)ing crazy.