Mason was a beast. The manner in which the Kings took over the game after the first period is a concern, because no goalie is going to be able to consistently do what Mase did yesterday.

I've been critical of him, but Nick Grossmann played well yesterday, as did Couturier. The PK did some good work, which is the most encouraging aspect of the game, at least from a team perspective.

In the end, it was a needed two points. The team should be buying Mason drinks for a month after the way he played on this California leg of the road trip.
- Jsaquella

He should have a contract like Brodeur's with the Blues.

Brodeur's contract states that he will receive $10,000 for every point the Blues collect with him in goal. He picked up a quick $20,000 last night with the blues win.

Only saw the third.
Raffl looked really good defensively.
And Mase wow.

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.
- MJL

Giroux has become one of the more reliable faceoff guys in the league the last couple of seasons. Last year, he was 3rd in the league in total faceoffs taken, with 52.9% won. Only Crosby and Vermette had more. This year, he is leading the league in total faceoffs taken, and 55.6% won.

edit: also led the league in total faceoffs taken in 12-13 with 54.5%.

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.
- MJL

it does happen to players but he had time to settle it and clear it. Careless. players make careless plays at times. He made one. otherwise a very nice game by Umberger. He will never be worth that cap hit but hopefully he continues to play better. I always liked the guy so I feel bad watching him struggle.

Giroux has become one of the more reliable faceoff guys in the league the last couple of seasons. Last year, he was 3rd in the league in total faceoffs taken, with 52.9% won. Only Crosby and Vermette had more. This year, he is leading the league in total faceoffs taken, and 55.6% won.

edit: also led the league in total faceoffs taken in 12-13 with 54.5%.
- feelingkettle

They miss Adam Hall's prowess at the dot. Still the coach could lessen the burden on Giroux by giving Laughton more responsibility in the defensive end. He's been a good two way player at every level, might as well see if he can be in the NHL

They miss Adam Hall's prowess at the dot. Still the coach could lessen the burden on Giroux by giving Laughton more responsibility in the defensive end. He's been a good two way player at every level, might as well see if he can be in the NHL
- Jsaquella

True. But it seems like his normal workload at this point.

Giroux has become one of the more reliable faceoff guys in the league the last couple of seasons. Last year, he was 3rd in the league in total faceoffs taken, with 52.9% won. Only Crosby and Vermette had more. This year, he is leading the league in total faceoffs taken, and 55.6% won.

edit: also led the league in total faceoffs taken in 12-13 with 54.5%.
- feelingkettle

Definitely, which is why they use him so much on faceoffs. I'd like to see a lot more of those faceoffs happening in the O zone or in the neutral zone.

True. But it seems like his normal workload at this point.
- feelingkettle

Yep. The Flyers mantra-give more workload to Giroux and pray he stays healthy

Definitely, which is why they use him so much on faceoffs. I'd like to see a lot more of those faceoffs happening in the O zone or in the neutral zone.
- MJL

true dat

True. But it seems like his normal workload at this point.
- feelingkettle

I think where is more important then how many. 20 of 27 faceoffs Giroux took were in the D zone.

He should have a contract like Brodeur's with the Blues.

Brodeur's contract states that he will receive $10,000 for every point the Blues collect with him in goal. He picked up a quick $20,000 last night with the blues win.
- Flyers_01

Interesting bonus clause

I think where is more important then how many. 20 of 27 faceoffs Giroux took were in the D zone.
- MJL

Yeah, I'm sure that happens when most of the team kind of sucks.

Yeah, I'm sure that happens when most of the team kind of sucks.
- feelingkettle

how dare you.

whoops

whoops
- -davies-

how dare you.

they owe us for patrick sharp. so, maybe?
- hammarby31

they owe us for kane too

Yeah, I'm sure that happens when most of the team kind of sucks.
- feelingkettle

Really puts the game in perspective. The Kings dominated the game by a wide margin, especially from the 2nd period on. Mason was spectacular, and even though it may be true that a lot of shots were from the perimeter. When you spend that much time defending, a mistake is bound to happen, or a bad bounce, and a whole host of things. Not to mention that you aren't spending a lot of time in the other team's end obviously.
And think about how many shifts the Flyers have in some games where the end result is barely getting the puck out of their end and dumping it in just to get a change. Or lobbing the puck out to change behind it, while the opposition regroups and renters the Flyers zone, and the process of spending the entire shift defending, starts all over again.
They can never get a forecheck established, to spend time in the other end. That just wears down a team, especially when a team is as physical as LA is, and gives them an even bigger advantage.

how dare you.
- feelingkettle

itchy trigger finger

there were long stretches where the kings looked like they were on the pp, with possession and attack time in the flyers end - which we've seen repeatedly all season long from their opponents. it's a huge problem. more often than not, they'll lose with that kind of play. mason bailed them out (long with some good d play in front of him for the most part) and was lucky on a few plays like carter missing a wide open net or pucks just not redirecting to open players on broken plays or scrambles. it's not sustainable. this is not a team like the old devils where they were disciplined machine playing a team wide defensive system, waiting patiently for their neutral zone turnovers to strike and go on for a 2-1 win.

i'm glad they collected some points on the road, and maybe can start to build from this a little. simmonds has woken up some, and read and coots are starting to pick it up a bit. i really like what i see from laughton, but he struggled some yesterday. he's not going back down. i wonder what's going to happen with vinny. it's not like umberger is really improving, despite his goal against the ducks. he almost cost them a potential point with his puck over the glass yesterday, which was unnecessary. he was unchecked and he panicked/was overzealous in trying to clear.

it's a joy to watch mason, even when they lose. he's just a really good goalie. i wish he had a little bit of attitude on the ice though.
- hammarby31

Agreed. After that game in San Jose, I was expecting to see Mason go postal. I'm with you, I would like to see him show more attitude and emotion.

There were some players like Umberger who improved their play on this California road trip, but collectively the Flyers didn't play very well. If not for Mason being superhuman they could have got zero points instead of three. I think this team has a lot of holes. There will be stretches where they put up some points, but I do not think this is a playoff team. Nor to I think they will be in the mix for a top 3 draft pick.

itchy trigger finger
- -davies-

o i c

Agreed. After that game in San Jose, I was expecting to see Mason go postal. I'm with you, I would like to see him show more attitude and emotion.

There were some players like Umberger who improved their play on this California road trip, but collectively the Flyers didn't play very well. If not for Mason being superhuman they could have got zero points instead of three. I think this team has a lot of holes. There will be stretches where they put up some points, but I do not think this is a playoff team. Nor to I think they will be in the mix for a top 3 draft pick.
- PLindbergh31

i've seen mason get ticked off at the opposition now and then... maybe he wants to stay calm and feels like that would be more helpful than freaking out. he and emery can good cop bad cop it.

This is not a playoff team by any stretch of the imagination. The Flyers play about 1 period of good hockey and then take the rest of the day off leaving both goal tenders to fend for themselves. They do not forecheck, they lose just about every battle for the puck, and not one team in the league has any reservation about skating through the nuetral zone because they know the the Flyers will just skate backwards toward their own zone. This team is about as submissive as they come. It is almost like they are on the ice trying to not get hurt.
- Daveflyers36

all those things can be thrned sround, theres guys losing board battles that shouldnt be, besides the league is watered down.

anybody interested in Morin, 23 yrs old, from CHI? might be the type of situation where a guy stuck on a great team's scratch list just needs a prolonged opp. LW who shoots R. already a proven scorer @ AHL level. prob cost pick or a prospect...
- isaiah520

yes

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
- Jsaquella

looks to me like he did wait for the puck to settle before he clearly drove trhe puck over the flyers bench. the puck is flat when his blade strikes it. or very close to flat on the ice.
someone upthread sugeesting how we didnt know if he was trying to send it down the middle of the ice? his follow through goes right towards the boards.