Looking at their schedule over the next month or so if Flyers play well they can get right back in the mix....Some lesser opponents and a couple against the Caps and Rangers I believe.
- flyerfan28

Could/should have Raffl back next week, likely Grossmann back in for Coliacovo...could be interesting

Since they don't play until Thursday, and are at home, they should be able to get some good practice in, Mason rests a little, Giroux/Voracek get a little breather

With the way MDZ is playing, they could stay on a run here.

No, they aren't making up 9 points with all the games in hand that they don't have. I'm absolutely not saying that they will

But they could make it interesting for the last 32 games

Could/should have Raffl back next week, likely Grossmann back in for Coliacovo...could be interesting

Since they don't play until Thursday, and are at home, they should be able to get some good practice in, Mason rests a little, Giroux/Voracek get a little breather

With the way MDZ is playing, they could stay on a run here.

No, they aren't making up 9 points with all the games in hand that they don't have

But they could make it interesting for the last 32 games
- AllInForFlyers

The only interesting part of the season would be the lottery pick. I dont want them to just miss out on the playoffs. Just suck please.

The Maple Leafs were easily the hungrier team. Not by leaps and bounds because I didn't think either side looked great but the better might have lost last night.

For me, the Maple Leafs biggest issue is the structure of their team. They do not have a bonafied number center, they haven't since squeezing the life out of what was left of Mats Sundin and they're trying to justify Tyler Bozak's contract by being one. He isn't.

I feel sorry for a lot of the players on the Leafs. James van Riemsdyk is unquestionably their second best player and even some of the Flyers fans are still trying rationalize by telling themselves he's not that good. He is. He's tied for 11th in points in the league on a bad team. Phil Kessel is a gamer and his talent has been wasted on Tyler Bozak. Cody Franson is a really good two way defenseman who held Giroux and Voracek in check last night. Dion Phaneuf shouldn't have the weight of being a Captain anywhere. He has his shortcomings but he was a much better player in Calgary when he didn't have to be "the guy". Truth be told, just because a player is on a bad team, doesn't mean the team doesn't have good players.

As for us, we made it easy on them. The Leafs played good enough to at least tie the game but they're just going through a tail spin and Mason is an above average goalie. Last night's game is another example of why I'd fire Berube at the end of the season. We sat back. We have two of the top three point producers in the league and we sat back. They played around 18 minues in a one goal game with the control of home ice advantage. I am within the belief that this team really lacked a killer instinct and that we should have remained agressive. Take it to them, not let them take it to us.
- SuperSchennBros

I think you are correct about " the structure" of the Leafs. A team cannot be built around Phil Kessel. He is simply not that player. He can ONLY score goals.. And that comes in streaks. Would not want him on my team. They have no #1 centre and Dion is not a 50 million dollar Dman. I think JVR is their best player, and just wish we still had him

The only interesting part of the season would be the lottery pick. I dont want them to just miss out on the playoffs. Just suck please.
- jmdodgeser4

You're going to be disappointed, most likely -- they're just not that bad.

Barring injuries, they're just not bad enough to pick higher than fifth or sixth, and that's if they really go down the toilet.

Other average-to-poor teams haven't even started selling yet. The Flyers just aren't a high lottery team.

You're going to be disappointed, most likely -- they're just not that bad.

Barring injuries, they're just not bad enough to pick higher than fifth or sixth, and that's if they really go down the toilet.

Other average-to-poor teams haven't even started selling yet. The Flyers just aren't a high lottery team.
- AllInForFlyers

I never thought they would be a bottom 5(in the standings) team, but I also never expected them to be a playoff team, either. They still have an outside shot at being the latter, but as long as Mason stays healthy, they won't drop into the bottom 5.

The concerning thing to me is that some of the injury replacements have played better than the guys who got hurt.

I think you are correct about " the structure" of the Leafs. A team cannot be built around Phil Kessel. He is simply not that player. He can ONLY score goals.. And that comes in streaks. Would not want him on my team. They have no #1 centre and Dion is not a 50 million dollar Dman. I think JVR is their best player, and just wish we still had him
- 3flyerkids

JvR doesn't play the game the 'right way' either. He and Phil are both cheating-up-the-ice, little-things-be-damned, compete-only-when-the-puck-is-on-stick bumholes.

They both put up gaudy numbers, but any team dependent on the pair of them isn't going to do much winning once the slog starts to gets incrementally tougher as the season goes on.

JvR doesn't play the game the 'right way' either. He and Phil are both cheating-up-the-ice, little-things-be-damned, compete-only-when-the-puck-is-on-stick bumholes.

They both put up gaudy numbers, but any team dependent on the pair of them isn't going to do much winning once the slog starts to gets incrementally tougher as the season goes on.
- Tomahawk

I think that's why they have most of their success as a team when those two are paired with Bozak. He's not really a 1C, but he's a solid two way guy and with those two, you need a guy who can recognize his goalie on the street.

JvR & Kessel probably couldn't pick Bernier or Riemer out of a police line up

They're not that bad -- they were never that bad
- AllInForFlyers

They were that bad for a while. In fact, they are that bad on the road, or at least they have been.

The only interesting part of the season would be the lottery pick. I dont want them to just miss out on the playoffs. Just suck please.
- jmdodgeser4

You don't like Mediocrity? Average? Almost Good Enough?

You don't like Mediocrity? Average? Almost Good Enough?
- wolfhounds

I'm enjoying sorta not too bad.

I never thought they would be a bottom 5(in the standings) team, but I also never expected them to be a playoff team, either. They still have an outside shot at being the latter, but as long as Mason stays healthy, they won't drop into the bottom 5.

The concerning thing to me is that some of the injury replacements have played better than the guys who got hurt.
- Jsaquella

I think that's a good thing, though, because it makes everyone realize that the upgrades that this roster needs aren't some unattainable dream scenario where you must throw picks and long-term FA contracts at it.

Incremental upgrades make this team look different, and better. The injuries the Flyers have had show that this team can move forward with different pieces and compete

Giroux, Voracek, Mason.

Then Simmonds, Streit and Couturier.

Then everybody else -- every single player on the roster -- is eminently replaceable, to some degree

I'm enjoying sorta not too bad.
- Jsaquella

No doubt, there's a lot to like about this team and what it's doing. Just wish it had been a bit earlier in the season when they put together their first 4 wins in a row.

They were that bad for a while. In fact, they are that bad on the road, or at least they have been.
- wolfhounds

The PK on the road is absolutely ridiculous, and while it is still a joke, even that shouldn't have been sustainable.

I mean, seriously -- does anyone really believe that they can only kill at 69 percent on the road? I'm not saying that they're the 2000 Devils, but they can kill at, what, 77 percent on the road, can't they?

Them playing that way was ridiculous. If they played that way for 82 games, then the last three years would've been one big (frank)ing joke

I think that's a good thing, though, because it makes everyone realize that the upgrades that this roster needs aren't some unattainable dream scenario where you must throw picks and long-term FA contracts at it.

Incremental upgrades make this team look different, and better. The injuries the Flyers have had show that this team can move forward with different pieces and compete

Giroux, Voracek, Mason.

Then Simmonds, Streit and Couturier.

Then everybody else -- every single player on the roster -- is eminently replaceable, to some degree
- AllInForFlyers

That got good pieces. They have some other not good pieces. They have some good pieces moving forward. I think they'll be a bubble team next season, but after that things look really bright, especially if they can move out a couple of contracts.

I never thought they would be a bottom 5(in the standings) team, but I also never expected them to be a playoff team, either. They still have an outside shot at being the latter, but as long as Mason stays healthy, they won't drop into the bottom 5.

The concerning thing to me is that some of the injury replacements have played better than the guys who got hurt.
- Jsaquella

Starting to think we aren't going to move coburn or grossman for anything real decent. One thing is clear. One needs to go at the deadline for pennies on the dollar if need be. Grossman for a 4th? Done. Grossman, schenn, coburn. This trio is a toxic mix

No doubt, there's a lot to like about this team and what it's doing. Just wish it had been a bit earlier in the season when they put together their first 4 wins in a row.
- wolfhounds

They don't need to do a complete rebuild, they have good pieces. I think that if they stay the course, they'll be a serious contender in 2016-17, or the season after at worst.

I think that's a good thing, though, because it makes everyone realize that the upgrades that this roster needs aren't some unattainable dream scenario where you must throw picks and long-term FA contracts at it.

Incremental upgrades make this team look different, and better. The injuries the Flyers have had show that this team can move forward with different pieces and compete

Giroux, Voracek, Mason.

Then Simmonds, Streit and Couturier.

Then everybody else -- every single player on the roster -- is eminently replaceable, to some degree
- AllInForFlyers

I would put coots in replaceable along with streit

Starting to think we aren't going to move coburn or grossman for anything real decent. One thing is clear. One needs to go at the deadline for pennies on the dollar if need be. Grossman for a 4th? Done. Grossman, schenn, coburn. This trio is a toxic mix
- Just5

They can make a deal at the draft, not so worried about the TDL, so long as they can make changes in time to get a few picks.

Starting to think we aren't going to move coburn or grossman for anything real decent. One thing is clear. One needs to go at the deadline for pennies on the dollar if need be. Grossman for a 4th? Done. Grossman, schenn, coburn. This trio is a toxic mix
- Just5

Totally agree: One needs to go at the TDL

I would put coots in replaceable along with streit
- jmdodgeser4

No worries -- as always, others have differing views that are equally as valid as mine

Thanks Bill. I was worried that the Flyers would fall into that "trap game," and lose by big numbers. However, they rode the Mace Parade to a win, which says a lot about Mace, and how far he has come. Now, I am worried that they might burn Mace out by depending on him to make every save, and play in every game.
I realize that the team may not have faith in Emery right now, but to be fair to him, he may need to get into a rhythm of regular play to get back into his usual steady form.
Anyway, it's another break, and it will be interesting to see how they play on Thursday.

They can make a deal at the draft, not so worried about the TDL, so long as they can make changes in time to get a few picks.
- Jsaquella

Not worried; they're gonna get a second from somewhere, which is really all they truly need for this upcoming draft

TBH, if they move Grossmann, I'm not so sure I don't want a defensive forward with a little size in return

Not worried; they're gonna get a second from somewhere, which is really all they truly need for this upcoming draft

TBH, if they move Grossmann, I'm not so sure I don't want a defensive forward with a little size in return
- AllInForFlyers

They need to get rid of umberger,vinny,grossman,mcdonald this year before draft.

They don't need to do a complete rebuild, they have good pieces. I think that if they stay the course, they'll be a serious contender in 2016-17, or the season after at worst.
- Jsaquella

Still want them to buy out Umberger, but I'll suck it up if they don't

Really want to make sure, though, that one of Umberger/Wheels isn't back next year.

You can carry one. You cannot carry both, IMO -- not because they are horrible people. But the Flyers need a different player in the contract/roster slot.

One of them has to go, IMO

I thought their puck support was really good last night