Not correct as usual......people always complain that the Flyers are a slow team and have guys that are slow....a good system that is understood and played to its strengths makes a team faster...simply because when you don't have to think about where to skate you arrive there quicker....LA plays a great system with everyone on the same page....that's why they win. Yes they are bigger and have more depth then the Flyers...but hockey is a team sport and when everyone is rowing in unison and playing to a team system that is a tough team to beat.
- landros 2

You are partially correct but where you go off, is thinking it is about the system. It is not. The system is not what makes LA what they are. If LA was playing the system the Flyers use, they would still dominate possession against the Flyers. Simply because they are a bigger, stronger, and better team. No system can make one of the Flyers defenseman into what Drew Doughty is. They have a stronger lineup 1-through 20 then the Flyers do. Its that simple.
If the Flyers used the LA system, they aren't going to turn into the team that LA is. So much is misunderstood about systems. Every NHL team has a sound system. Some just don't have the talent to play a certain system, or just don't execute it well. Systems don't win games, players do.

Let's discuss systems. What system do the Flyers use?

The puck went up on edge as he was attempting to clear the puck. That happens on occasion. I disagree with blaming Umberger there. It was simply bad luck.
- MJL

Pucks go on edge all the time....Umberger was un marked and had time...it was bad luck but also a panic play on his part....typical of the types of mistakes this current group always seem to make.....the mark of a average team.

Pucks go on edge all the time....Umberger was un marked and had time...it was bad luck but also a panic play on his part....typical of the types of mistakes this current group always seem to make.....the mark of a average team.
- landros 2

I disagree. There was no panic involved there . What happened is simply what he said happened. The puck rolled up on top of his stick as he tried to clear it. It had zero to do with having time to make the play. If he waited however longer, and the same thing happened when he shot it, the result would've been the same.

i want to see him be harder to play against along with the walls, and win some puck battles. i just don't see it yet. he skates fine, and i see him around the net a bit, which is great, but it doesn't really accomplish much. i had much higher hopes for him than most, but it's not happening. at least yet. maybe he's been better the last few, and i just haven't noticed.
- hammarby31

Baby steps...baby steps. At this point, I'm fine if he provides slightly above replacement player level of play and doesn't hurt them with dumb/lazy mistakes

Not correct as usual......people always complain that the Flyers are a slow team and have guys that are slow....a good system that is understood and played to its strengths makes a team faster...simply because when you don't have to think about where to skate you arrive there quicker....LA plays a great system with everyone on the same page....that's why they win. Yes they are bigger and have more depth then the Flyers...but hockey is a team sport and when everyone is rowing in unison and playing to a team system that is a tough team to beat.
- landros 2

Sigh, but his point was that when both teams are playing their system well, The Kings will win because they are bigger and faster. Its not rocket science.

yep. we've had many conversations about jvr getting moved before he got moved. our #2 draft pick has turned into a #6 scratched dman. great.
- hammarby31

you know I really didn't want to see them move him but yeah, we both knew it as going to happen. Granted he may be inconsistent but he is still a talent and another case of giving up on a player too soon.

as far as Schenn goes, he has played well at times and horribly at others. He did seem to really step up when getting a lot of ice time in the past but he has been so far from consistent

Pucks go on edge all the time....Umberger was un marked and had time...it was bad luck but also a panic play on his part....typical of the types of mistakes this current group always seem to make.....the mark of a average team.
- landros 2

the biggest issue was he slapped the puck, and was close to the boards where he directed it. he could have wristed or snapped it giving him a better chance to keep it low, and shot it down the midldle or even to the right where there was more room. it's a play that simply should not happen.

you know I really didn't want to see them move him but yeah, we both knew it as going to happen. Granted he may be inconsistent but he is still a talent and another case of giving up on a player too soon.

as far as Schenn goes, he has played well at times and horribly at others. He did seem to really step up when getting a lot of ice time in the past but he has been so far from consistent
- nastyflyergirl

he's uneven. i agree. there are times where he looks good. makes smart plays. gets the puck out of trouble etc...but the scale is tipped in the other direction. we got (frank)ing hosed on that deal. plain and simple. i don't think we'll see schenn ever live up to his potential.

You are partially correct but where you go off, is thinking it is about the system. It is not. The system is not what makes LA what they are. If LA was playing the system the Flyers use, they would still dominate possession against the Flyers. Simply because they are a bigger, stronger, and better team. No system can make one of the Flyers defenseman into what Drew Doughty is. They have a stronger lineup 1-through 20 then the Flyers do. Its that simple.
If the Flyers used the LA system, they aren't going to turn into the team that LA is. So much is misunderstood about systems. Every NHL team has a sound system. Some just don't have the talent to play a certain system, or just don't execute it well. Systems don't win games, players do.
- MJL

The system is not what makes LA better then the Flyers.....as I said above.....it's not that they have a better system then the Flyers or other teams.....they play their own system properly....they understand it...they use it and they thrive.....Hockey is a team sport....a system played to its strengths is an advantage over a team that does
not.....talent wise the Kings are more talented then the Flyers...that's easy....but they are not more talented then Chicago....Boston....and some others....
A proper system does win games....a piss poor execution of one can lose you games as well....see the "Flyers".

I disagree. There was no panic involved there . What happened is simply what he said happened. The puck rolled up on top of his stick as he tried to clear it. It had zero to do with having time to make the play. If he waited however longer, and the same thing happened when he shot it, the result would've been the same.
- MJL

You disagreeing with everyone doesn't make you right.

Sigh, but his point was that when both teams are playing their system well, The Kings will win because they are bigger and faster. Its not rocket science.
- MBFlyerfan

More times then not for sure. If they played that same game yesterday, 10 times, the Kings are going to win the majority of the times. And it's not because they have a better system then the Flyers do.

You disagreeing with everyone doesn't make you right.
- landros 2

And you thinking that he had time and panicked, doesn't make you right.

What I did is watch the play, see what happened, and how the puck rolled up as he shot it. And also took into account what the player said happened. And came to a conclusion.

Sigh, but his point was that when both teams are playing their system well, The Kings will win because they are bigger and faster. Its not rocket science.
- MBFlyerfan

Rocket science...no....but that's why they play the games....I go back to games 20-80 last year....they bought in to the team concept and flourished.

he's uneven. i agree. there are times where he looks good. makes smart plays. gets the puck out of trouble etc...but the scale is tipped in the other direction. we got (frank)ing hosed on that deal. plain and simple. i don't think we'll see schenn ever live up to his potential.
- hammarby31

yep

The system is not what makes LA better then the Flyers.....as I said above.....it's not that they have a better system then the Flyers or other teams.....they play their own system properly....they understand it...they use it and they thrive.....Hockey is a team sport....a system played to its strengths is an advantage over a team that does
not.....talent wise the Kings are more talented then the Flyers...that's easy....but they are not more talented then Chicago....Boston....and some others....
A proper system does win games....a piss poor execution of one can lose you games as well....see the "Flyers".
- landros 2

You had it right until the end. And with what you're saying here, you're wrong in stating that I was wrong in what I said, because you're saying the same thing I was, just in different words. A proper system doesn't win games. Players win games.

And you thinking that he had time and panicked, doesn't make you right.

What I did is watch the play, see what happened, and how the puck rolled up as he shot it. And also took into account what the player said happened. And came to a conclusion.
- MJL

I didn't have to think about what happened.....I saw it with my eyes....

the biggest issue was he slapped the puck, and was close to the boards where he directed it. he could have wristed or snapped it giving him a better chance to keep it low, and shot it down the midldle or even to the right where there was more room. it's a play that simply should not happen.
- hammarby31

Regardless of how hard he shot it, with the puck up on edge, that can happen. How do you know that he wasn't aiming down the middle of the ice?

And you thinking that he had time and panicked, doesn't make you right.

What I did is watch the play, see what happened, and how the puck rolled up as he shot it. And also took into account what the player said happened. And came to a conclusion.
- MJL

the puck was up on its edge but I honestly feel like he had plenty of time to settle it and clear it. I don't know if I would say It was a panic move but it was careless.

Regardless of how hard he shot it, with the puck up on edge, that can happen. How do you know that he wasn't aiming down the middle of the ice?
- MJL

Because by watching the game on TV and playing in over 30 leagues we all know exactly what a player should have done in any given situation.

Puck on edge, meh..he was panicking.

the puck was up on its edge but I honestly feel like he had plenty of time to settle it and clear it. I don't know if I would say I was a panic move but it was careless.
- nastyflyergirl

He had plenty of time. The shot by Muzzin was stopped by Mason, and the rebound kicked out into the circle. Umberger tracked down the loose puck and immediately shot it into the stands. He made no attempt to settle it or control it, just one timed it up into the crowd.



It's at the tail end of the video

the puck was up on its edge but I honestly feel like he had plenty of time to settle it and clear it. I don't know if I would say I was a panic move but it was careless.
- nastyflyergirl

Can't agree. If the puck rolls up on it's edge while a player is in the act of shooting, the puck rolls off the top of the stick, which is what Umberger said happened. That's not an issue of settling the puck. It happens, and it's just bad luck.

He had plenty of time. The shot by Muzzin was stopped by Mason, and the rebound kicked out into the circle. Umberger tracked down the loose puck and immediately shot it into the stands. He made no attempt to settle it or control it, just one timed it up into the crowd.


- Jsaquella

Yeah. That was a horrible decision. I just laughed when it happened. Put a damper on possibly his best game of the season as well.

Yeah. That was a horrible decision. I just laughed when it happened. Put a damper on possibly his best game of the season as well.
- PhillySportsGuy

It did. Up until that point, Umberger had, IMO, a pretty effective game. Fortunately his mistake didn't cost the Flyers.

Yeah. That was a horrible decision. I just laughed when it happened. Put a damper on possibly his best game of the season as well.
- PhillySportsGuy

Horrible decision to try and clear the puck down the ice? Hardly!

One stat from yesterday's game that says a lot. The Kings had to take 9 defensive zone draws. The Flyers had to take 30 defensive zone draws.
One of the things that has been talked about, is having Laughton on the team can help take some of the defensive load off of Couturier. Yesterday, Couturier took 7 D zone draws and Giroux took 20 D zone draws. Laughton took zero. I'm sure that some of those D zone draws that Giroux took, he was on the PK, or out with another line, but having your top offensive center taking that many D zone draws isn't a good thing. That's how much better the Flyers need to get in terms of possession, and controlling the game.