the loose puck issue made crazy tonight. (frank)ing crazy.
- hammarby31

Man, it's nights like tonight that make you question a lot of things you thought you knew about this team

Man, it's nights like tonight that make you question a lot of things you thought you knew about this team
- AllInForFlyers

i don't know anything other than vl and rju are (frank)ing plugs.

i don't know anything other than vl and rju are (frank)ing plugs.
- hammarby31

I said it earlier, but I'm not certain how much more "trying hard" the Flyers can take out of Umberger and Read -- if that's the best Umberger's got at max effort...well, I already have an idea what's going down with him this summer

That bad, eh?

Man Matt read has to be hurt or something. He has been awful. Can't win with so many guys playing this bad. At least Voracek is still scoracek!

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

We have to lose Umberger now!! That dude is really, very bad.

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 top line was good on the PP, and in the offensive zone. Other then that every line was poor defensively, spent time hemmed into the defensive zone. The defenseman, including Del Zotto were poor. The only good thing Del Zotto really did was score the goal. The Lecavalier line wasn't very good, but neither was any other line overall.

This team is going to challenge for a playoff spot all year.

I think they have to be at the point where they need to bury the corpses and cobble a good line out of Bellemare, Lecavalier & maybe Akeson. I don't think Lecavalier has played well, but at this point, compared to Umberger, he's the lesser of two evils.

Bellemare makes things happen, and Akeson has played his best hockey with him. I'd be fine if Rinaldo was with them and they used the Umberger, Lecavalier, VandeVelde trio as a "4th" line.

I have been a strong backer of Akeson getting a legitimate shot, in a role that suits his ability, but I'm sorry, I'm not overly impressed with what he's done, outside of his time with Bellemare. Still have no idea why he's not on the 2nd PP, though

Turned out to be a perfect night to have a dinner engagement.
- 77rams

Well after all they won't play 82 perfect regular season games..........

I think they have to be at the point where they need to bury the corpses and cobble a good line out of Bellemare, Lecavalier & maybe Akeson. I don't think Lecavalier has played well, but at this point, compared to Umberger, he's the lesser of two evils.

Bellemare makes things happen, and Akeson has played his best hockey with him. I'd be fine if Rinaldo was with them and they used the Umberger, Lecavalier, VandeVelde trio as a "4th" line.

I have been a strong backer of Akeson getting a legitimate shot, in a role that suits his ability, but I'm sorry, I'm not overly impressed with what he's done, outside of his time with Bellemare. Still have no idea why he's not on the 2nd PP, though
- Jsaquella

I'm guessing Chief's response to this loss will be to dress Blair Jones and put him on the top-line.

I'm guessing Chief's response to this loss will be to dress Blair Jones and put him on the top-line.
- Tomahawk

It will be to move Akeson to the top line

I'm guessing Chief's response to this loss will be to dress Blair Jones and put him on the top-line.
- Tomahawk

Stortini call up....Zach, see those two red headed fellas?

Th Couturier line isn't getting a break, but they at least generated some chances, even if they were flubbed. I thought Schenn looked good. But they got to get Bellemare into a bigger role. The guy is a damned good player and he makes things happen.

I don't care if he's on wing or at center. His speed, smarts and puck skills are needed.

Stortini call up....Zach, see those two red headed fellas?

Th Couturier line isn't getting a break, but they at least generated some chances, even if they were flubbed. I thought Schenn looked good. But they got to get Bellemare into a bigger role. The guy is a damned good player and he makes things happen.

I don't care if he's on wing or at center. His speed, smarts and puck skills are needed.
- Jsaquella

When Raffl returns, I suggest:
Simmonds-G-Jake
Schenn- Couturier-Read
Raffl-Bellemare-Rinaldo
VDV-VLC-Akeson
spare: Jones
waived: Umberger

I'd prefer at that point that they'd bring up Laughton and either Cousins or Leier, but I don't think Hexy will so thats the best I can do with what we got

Stortini call up....Zach, see those two red headed fellas?

Th Couturier line isn't getting a break, but they at least generated some chances, even if they were flubbed. I thought Schenn looked good. But they got to get Bellemare into a bigger role. The guy is a damned good player and he makes things happen.

I don't care if he's on wing or at center. His speed, smarts and puck skills are needed.
- Jsaquella

It would be cool if the real Matt Read came to a game this year. He looks like the little aliens from Space Jam came and took his talent.

It would be cool if the real Matt Read came to a game this year. He looks like the little aliens from Space Jam came and took his talent.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, he's been awful. If he's not injured then WTF?

Yeah, he's been awful. If he's not injured then WTF?
- BiggE

Late bloomer who shot his wad? Or maybe just a victim of the way the whole team is playing...

It would be cool if the real Matt Read came to a game this year. He looks like the little aliens from Space Jam came and took his talent.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's definitely dragging the other two down at this point. Hopefully it's just a bad streak, soon to be followed by an incredible hot one.

Late bloomer who shot his wad? Or maybe just a victim of the way the whole team is playing...
- tangent_man

I understand the frustration with Read to this point, but he's been a really good player since day 1 as a Flyer. Most players are one point or another, fall into a rut or a slump. What makes Read any different? Look at last year and the start that Giroux and Voracek had. Giroux didn't score his first goal until how many game into the season? Read is still a good player, who is struggling and probably has a little bit of a confidence issue right now. I'm fully confident he'll get out of it, and return to the player that he's been in the past.

Yeah, he's been awful. If he's not injured then WTF?
- BiggE

Not sure whats wrong with him. Sometimes, I think it's injury, but I'm not sure. He looks completely different than the last 3 years.

He's definitely dragging the other two down at this point. Hopefully it's just a bad streak, soon to be followed by an incredible hot one.
- Tomahawk

I would ride it out and hope he bounces back. He's been a very good player for them in the past. I think he just needs some confidence.

Yeah, he's been awful. If he's not injured then WTF?
- BiggE

More than Rj struggling this has concerned me. I wonder if it's the product of his linemates? I don't have a reason.. He needs to be better and I have no idea why he's been so bad..

The whole team was absolutely crap last night.. hemmed in the zone playing tentative.. lucky we only lost by 1.. More points pissed away and now we go to Montreal where it's very hard to win. With how inconsistent this team is, we'll probably play like we did vs LA and beat them...

I would ride it out and hope he bounces back. He's been a very good player for them in the past. I think he just needs some confidence.
- PhillySportsGuy

It wouldn't be so bad if the funk wasn't creeping into his D/PK work, too.

any link to the hartsy tribute?

Thanks!

I would ride it out and hope he bounces back. He's been a very good player for them in the past. I think he just needs some confidence.
- PhillySportsGuy

I was hoping Read would do something last night. I am willing to be patient with him, but I can't see how or why somebody would want Umberger in this lineup.
He is done! Hextall got burned. I believe they could have got a much better return for Hartnell