So I got tix for my son and I for the Nashville game on 12/27. Just go ahead and chalk it up in the L column now. They have not won in the last 3 trips I've made to see them.

The drought is probably more than that if you go back to my DC area days. I have memories (nightmares?) of them putting up 47 shots on the Caps but getting stonewalled by Ollie Kolzig.

Lack of speed has always been an issue, lack of toughness in my option is becoming one.
- SuperSchennBros

Agree and totally agree!

Oh please, there is no pleasing this group regardless. Most focus on the bad and ignore everything else. Downie's penalty minutes isn't slowing down the Pens and getting us away from those types of players is doing very little for us now. Round peg, square hole.
- SuperSchennBros

Watching the home team play well.

A cold beverage.

I'm as happy as a clam.

Who, 2real?

He's found several good prospects in the 2nd-4th rounds, most notably Ryan O'Reilly and Tyson Barrie.

The Avalanche also had four guys in the Subway Super Series. They have some pretty solid young depth in their system and Pracey is a big part of that.
- Jsaquella

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...p?thread_id=122416&page=4

The LA Kings are definitely not a weak team and they're definitely bigger then us. They play a physical game.
- SuperSchennBros

They play a hard forecheck. Also not to be confused with plain toughness. I think hard work is more essential to an effective forecheck than just muscle.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/boards/thread.php?thread_id=122416&page=4
- -davies-

The one questionable draft was the 2012 draft. He didn't have a first rounder, and most of the guys he drafted that year were projects that will need time, or won't pan out.

2009, he took three stud NHLers in the first three rounds. His 2010 first rounder suffered a serious concussion the season after his draft and missed two full years dealing with the after effects. 2011, he had two first rounders and then nothing until round 4. He grabbed Gabriel Landeskog-an out and out stud-and Duncan Siemens, who has been slow to develop.

He's had lottery picks and nailed them all. He's found all star level players in rounds two and three. Compared to Edmonton and Florida(prior to the last couple years), he did a solid job.

As big an issue as the decisions on who to draft, has been the trading away of picks.

Tampa beat guys think Nabokov will be in goal for Bolts tomorrow. Coach Jon Cooper said, "...it'd be really hard to come back in 24 hours"

Tampa beat guys think Nabokov will be in goal for Bolts tomorrow. Coach Jon Cooper said, "...it'd be really hard to come back in 24 hours"
- Jsaquella

Shutout coming.

Shutout coming.
- hereticpride

I do wonder if they will recall Vasilevski and give him the start...Nabokov didn't exactly inspire a ton of confidence tonight

I think speed has proven itself essential to win, and while toughness is important, I'm not sure toughness has proven itself essential to winning. Teams like Chicago and LA aren't especially tough, or at least they aren't prided on their toughness. They're prided on speed, two-way play, and hard work (especially in the corners), while being able to bring a necessary but balanced level of toughness. Hard work in the corners and toughness can be confused a bit, I think, but the hard work is more important than the natural toughness. I'll be fine if we're "soft" and only have a couple regular fighters, I just want to see a team that more regularly works hard in the corners and keeps it's feet moving. I wouldn't be at all surprised if 60-70% of all of Jake Voracek's self created scoring chances resulted from his world class puck possession and hard work in the corners. If he could teach that to every other guy on the team then we'd at least double our chances at a deep playoff run.
- JAKEw1234

I really think how you define toughness is important here. Is toughness just about fighting? I think it's really more then that. When it comes to a lot of what you talk about here, LA might be the toughest team in the League. In the sense that they are the toughest to play against. That's the kind of tough I'm interested in.

They play a hard forecheck. Also not to be confused with plain toughness. I think hard work is more essential to an effective forecheck than just muscle.
- JAKEw1234

They play a hard game all over the ice. LA is a very physical team. 2nd in the League in total hits, to only Toronto. One thing interesting here, in the real time stats. Check out the discrepancy between road hits and home hits for Toronto.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/te...ts&viewName=realTimeStats

I really think how you define toughness is important here. Is toughness just about fighting? I think it's really more then that. When it comes to a lot of what you talk about here, LA might be the toughest team in the League. In the sense that they are the toughest to play against. That's the kind of tough I'm interested in.
- MJL

I am interested in " toughest to play " as well, however the Flyers need to be more tough in sense of aggressive fore check finishing checks, winning board battles.
This team does not do that too often. This is not a typical tough Flyer team to play against

I am interested in " toughest to play " as well, however the Flyers need to be more tough in sense of aggressive fore check finishing checks, winning board battles.
This team does not do that too often. This is not a typical tough Flyer team to play against
- 3flyerkids

They need to be tougher all over the ice. They've been a soft team to play against for a lot of games this season.

They need to be tougher all over the ice. They've been a soft team to play against for a lot of games this season.
- MJL

I wouldn't mind a guy like Big Buf on this team. IMO he could bring that physical element and can play both forward and D. I know a lot of people crap on him but he seems pretty effective to me. Flyers are way too soft in front of their own net and along the boards

I wouldn't mind a guy like Big Buf on this team. IMO he could bring that physical element and can play both forward and D. I know a lot of people crap on him but he seems pretty effective to me. Flyers are way too soft in front of their own net and along the boards
- 3flyerkids

I don't think you trade for Buff unless youre sure youll only be playing him on D. Its where he excels.

I wouldn't mind him here. But the whole point of drafting Morin Sanhiem Ghost and Hagg is so they wouldn't have to overpay to trade for a player of that ilk.

Big game for the Flyers tomorrow night. They have games in hand and have to use them to make up ground, or they're toast with the teams all around them grabbing points.

My fantasy team thanks you greatly for this update.
- hereticpride

Mine doesn't

Ben Bishop didn't come out for the 2nd period tonight and isn't on the bench
- Jsaquella

you know what that means, right?

vasilevski who's like 9'14" and just got player of the week or some poop like that in the minors will make his nhl debut and shut us out tomorrow. g-(frank)ingdamnit.

Big game for the Flyers tomorrow night. They have games in hand and have to use them to make up ground, or they're toast with the teams all around them grabbing points.
- wolfhounds

It is a HUGE game. They have a game or two in hand on some teams, but it's not enough to make up much ground.

Right now Toronto and the Rangers hold the wild cards. They are 12 points behind the Leafs and 5 behind New York. They have a game on the Leafs, but NY has a game in hand on them. Florida has 5 more points and a game in hand. Division-wise, they trail the Caps by 6 and both have played 29 games.

The good news is, they're right on the heels of New Jersey, Buffalo, Ottawa and Boston, and do have games in hand on all of them. The Flyers will need to get hot like they did last season.

In December, they had a possible 28 points to grab. They have taken 8 of a possible 12 so far. If they can keep up that pace and end up with 18 or 19 points this month, it will be a huge step in the right direction.

There's 16 possible points the rest of the month. I think they need to grab at least ten of those to stay alive and in the thick of things.

good luck getting one down low.

you know what that means, right?

vasilevski who's like 9'14" and just got player of the week or some poop like that in the minors will make his nhl debut and shut us out tomorrow. g-(frank)ingdamnit.
- hammarby31

Here I am trying to be positive or at least avoiding negativity and I get no praise or thanks for my efforts

Here I am trying to be positive or at least avoiding negativity and I get no praise or thanks for my efforts
- Jsaquella

i'm just keepin' it 2real.

I do wonder if they will recall Vasilevski and give him the start...Nabokov didn't exactly inspire a ton of confidence tonight
- Jsaquella

- stayinthefnnet

(frank)in' Brian Dumoulin scored! C'mon!

you know what that means, right?

vasilevski who's like 9'14" and just got player of the week or some poop like that in the minors will make his nhl debut and shut us out tomorrow. g-(frank)ingdamnit.
- hammarby31

i.e. 10'2"

pls be efficient