Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/23/14 @ MIN

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 12/23/14 @ MIN
- bmeltzer

Lets go Vinny! I'm rooting for him for so many reasons

Minny is one good team but with goalie issues. Could be another barn burner ala the last two games.

BTW: I'd put Zepp right back in, though I expect to see Emery.

Go Flyers, let's make it 3 in a row.

Hoping for another big win tonight! While I don't think this is a playoff team, I would LOVE IT if they proved me wrong!! Also watching the play of Voracek and Giroux this season has simply been a treat!!

GO FLYERS!!

Hoping for another big win tonight! While I don't think this is a playoff team, I would LOVE IT if they proved me wrong!! Also watching the play of Voracek and Giroux this season has simply been a treat!!

GO FLYERS!!
- BiggE

Enjoying the wins and hoping against hope for a playoff berth, but also realistic enough to know the odds are heavily against them. The reality always was that they were a bubble playoff team. They're beating the teams they should beat, and having trouble with the ones that are better.

Hoping for another big win tonight! While I don't think this is a playoff team, I would LOVE IT if they proved me wrong!! Also watching the play of Voracek and Giroux this season has simply been a treat!!

GO FLYERS!!
- BiggE

I never cheer against my team but I know the silver lining this year is a great draft, so that makes it easier to take if we don't make playoffs.
They still have a long way to go. G-Jake rule!
I will stick with my " lucky Chivas" tonight, it is on a 2 game win streak!

Hey Bill, do you think that White will get a rehab stint with the Phantoms prior to playing making his debut with the Flyers?

Enjoying the wins and hoping against hope for a playoff berth, but also realistic enough to know the odds are heavily against them. The reality always was that they were a bubble playoff team. They're beating the teams they should beat, and having trouble with the ones that are better.
- Jsaquella

This is much preferred to having them go 2/3rd of the season with a .75 win percentage and then poopting the proverbial bed in the final third of the season.. cough cough eagles.

Thanks Bill. I was wondering if Jones would ever return to the line up? He had a pretty good preseason, so I am surprised that he was sent back down.
In addition, I found this funny article on G:

http://www.csnphilly.com/...ooger-linesman-last-night

I don't know if it was ever discussed, but I couldn't stop laughing when I read the article. I think it's too early for April 1st..lol.

Enjoying the wins and hoping against hope for a playoff berth, but also realistic enough to know the odds are heavily against them. The reality always was that they were a bubble playoff team. They're beating the teams they should beat, and having trouble with the ones that are better.
- Jsaquella

13th pick and another year of Coburn, here we come!

This is much preferred to having them go 2/3rd of the season with a .75 win percentage and then poopting the proverbial bed in the final third of the season.. cough cough eagles.
- jak521

Yeah, the head & heart are at odds this year.

Got this baby all sewn up

It would be nice to have B Schenn get back to contributing. I guess it is no coincidence that he has dropped off since his movement from first line.
However, I do love that line of Laughton, Schenn, Simmonds. IMO a much better trio than 14 24 18

Got this baby all sewn up
- PhillySportsGuy

Playoffs or a lottery pick

Has anyone else noticed the change in the breakout system the last few games?
They were hemmed in a bit in Winnipeg, but when they come up clean along the boards in their own zone there is a trailer breaking out straight up the next lane in from the boards who accepts the breakout pass from the stationary winger. Most of the time the winger on the boards has accepted the pass and is half turned facing the trailer coming up. I cant remember if its forehand or backhand passing. They dont use it all the time with all lines, it seems like some type of safe system that is also generating speed with the puck moving.
Its not the second coming of the red army team but it is different and can be effective.

That was two tough games with travel back to back. I have to give them credit and maybe they were too tight in some ways, as I said before turning the sticks into sawdust. When I saw LeCavalier had 2 goals I thought hades had frozen over or I was in an alternate universe.

I am with everyone else with mixed emotions, you hate to see them not tank when they should, but you dont want a toxic atmosphere of losing being acceptable. Jake and G have their breakout year and we have no depth or D

It would be nice to have B Schenn get back to contributing. I guess it is no coincidence that he has dropped off since his movement from first line.
However, I do love that line of Laughton, Schenn, Simmonds. IMO a much better trio than 14 24 18
- 3flyerkids

He's put up points, but it's been streaky

Has anyone else noticed the change in the breakout system the last few games?
They were hemmed in a bit in Winnipeg, but when they come up clean along the boards in their own zone there is a trailer breaking out straight up the next lane in from the boards who accepts the breakout pass from the stationary winger. Most of the time the winger on the boards has accepted the pass and is half turned facing the trailer coming up. I cant remember if its forehand or backhand passing. They dont use it all the time with all lines, it seems like some type of safe system that is also generating speed with the puck moving.
Its not the second coming of the red army team but it is different and can be effective.

That was two tough games with travel back to back. I have to give them credit and maybe they were too tight in some ways, as I said before turning the sticks into sawdust. When I saw LeCavalier had 2 goals I thought hades had frozen over or I was in an alternate universe.

I am with everyone else with mixed emotions, you hate to see them not tank when they should, but you dont want a toxic atmosphere of losing being acceptable. Jake and G have their breakout year and we have no depth or D
- Steelmanpa

I think it has mostly been about better execution. I finally was able to watch the Leafs game. One of their best games in terms of skating. Hopefully this team is getting in a better mental state, and continues to skate and play with intensity.

Thanks Bill. I was wondering if Jones would ever return to the line up? He had a pretty good preseason, so I am surprised that he was sent back down.
In addition, I found this funny article on G:

http://www.csnphilly.com/...ooger-linesman-last-night

I don't know if it was ever discussed, but I couldn't stop laughing when I read the article. I think it's too early for April 1st..lol.
- OrangeAndBlack1

He should have wiped it on Brayden Schenn.

G's boogers might bolster 2nd line scoring.

I think it has mostly been about better execution. I finally was able to watch the Leafs game. One of their best games in terms of skating. Hopefully this team is getting in a better mental state, and continues to skate and play with intensity.
- MJL

The Leaf game was great. But I thought the Flyers lacked intensity against the Jets for most of game. I give them credit for coming back, but I would like to see 3 periods of aggressive ( not bone head) hockey. That would be a key for tonight

The Leaf game was great. But I thought the Flyers lacked intensity against the Jets for most of game. I give them credit for coming back, but I would like to see 3 periods of aggressive ( not bone head) hockey. That would be a key for tonight
- 3flyerkids

I wasn't happy with the first period, but overall I thought they competed well against the Jets. Keep in mind that it was a back to back with a long travel day in between. Tough situation. To get the win there is huge.

13th pick and another year of Coburn, here we come!
- hereticpride

The Leaf game was great. But I thought the Flyers lacked intensity against the Jets for most of game. I give them credit for coming back, but I would like to see 3 periods of aggressive ( not bone head) hockey. That would be a key for tonight
- 3flyerkids

See, yet again I dont agree witht he lack of intensity. This team is different then most Flyers teams. They are not as aggressive physically. I would even argue they are a bit of a soft team. Watching the Jets, Panthers, Islanders... those teams are ultra aggressive. They finish checks with aplomb, they wear teams down, they are super physical. The Flyers just dont have that kind of roster.. and unfortunately, people think they lack intensity because of it.

Out of our entire lineup, Id say we have about 4 skaters that bring that type of tenacity, and of the 5, only two bring it with any sort regularity, maybe three.

Rinaldo, Laughton, Raffl, B. Schenn, Simmonds.


Raffl has really started to take his gritty, no-backing-down from anyone, gnattiness to that next level.

I think it has mostly been about better execution. I finally was able to watch the Leafs game. One of their best games in terms of skating. Hopefully this team is getting in a better mental state, and continues to skate and play with intensity.
- MJL

The leaf game was fantastic live......after the first 5 minutes I thought it might be a short night at the ACC....but then they got a couple of plays put together and got the Leafs back on their heals.....they skated really well in this game....it was also nice to see Phenuef back down from Simmonds who was responding to a Pheneuf/laughton hit.

The Wild will be a dangerous team for the Flyers. They have one of the worst ES save percentages of all teams but are one of the best puck possession teams in the league. If Kuemper and the defense play well for Minnesota, the Flyers will really have to be on their A-game.

EDIT: Wild have the worst on-ice save percentage at 5-on-5.

See, yet again I dont agree witht he lack of intensity. This team is different then most Flyers teams. They are not as aggressive physically. I would even argue they are a bit of a soft team. Watching the Jets, Panthers, Islanders... those teams are ultra aggressive. They finish checks with aplomb, they wear teams down, they are super physical. The Flyers just dont have that kind of roster.. and unfortunately, people think they lack intensity because of it.

Out of our entire lineup, Id say we have about 4 skaters that bring that type of tenacity, and of the 5, only two bring it with any sort regularity, maybe three.

Rinaldo, Laughton, Raffl, B. Schenn, Simmonds.


Raffl has really started to take his gritty, no-backing-down from anyone, gnattiness to that next level.
- jak521

he continues to progress.....he also learned to maybe skip running at big Buff the next time.....the guy is simply to big and sturdy.