Sad to hear of the passing of Volquez's father prior to his start.
- jak521

Very sad. People on Twitter were being critical of him not being told. But apparently his family asked that he not be told and be allowed to pitch. Then family members were there to meet him in locker room to tell him when he was pulled.

Fox says they did not discuss on air (I was at Flyers game, so don't know if that is true) for fear he would be in locker room during game for some reason and learn that way.If that's true that's remarkably thoughtful of them.

I got home when it was 3-3 and Volquez was leaving game.

Very sad. People on Twitter were being critical of him not being told. But apparently his family asked that he not be told and be allowed to pitch. Then family members were there to meet him in locker room to tell him when he was pulled.

Fox says they did not discuss on air (I was at Flyers game, so don't know if that is true) for fear he would be in locker room during game for some reason and learn that way.If that's true that's remarkably thoughtful of them.

I got home when it was 3-3 and Volquez was leaving game.
- bodiva88

Exactly what I heard... I read an article that stated Ned Yost (who I really like btw) said all he wanted to do was tell him that he needed to call his wife, because he felt really bad that he knew and couldnt tell him (family's wish). He respected the wish and Volquez found out after the game.

So this isn't big deal? Boy I'm sure Parent and Bartulis saw a lot of time against Toews and Kane in 2010's Cup Final.
- SuperSchennBros

LOL you are nuts. Completely different situations....but go ahead, keep posting about it all day

Exactly what I heard... I read an article that stated Ned Yost (who I really like btw) said all he wanted to do was tell him that he needed to call his wife, because he felt really bad that he knew and couldnt tell him (family's wish). He respected the wish and Volquez found out after the game.
- jak521

That truly is remarkable. I know they get paid a lot, but it is really incredible the sacrifices pro athletes and their families have to make

Very sad. People on Twitter were being critical of him not being told. But apparently his family asked that he not be told and be allowed to pitch. Then family members were there to meet him in locker room to tell him when he was pulled.

Fox says they did not discuss on air (I was at Flyers game, so don't know if that is true) for fear he would be in locker room during game for some reason and learn that way.If that's true that's remarkably thoughtful of them.

I got home when it was 3-3 and Volquez was leaving game.
- bodiva88

Not gonna say whether it's right or wrong, but I do remember Bill Barber coached the Flyers hours after finding out his wife had died.

That truly is remarkable. I know they get paid a lot, but it is really incredible the sacrifices pro athletes and their families have to make
- YuenglingJagr

Unimaginable what that must be like to be told that while trying to enjoy a career experience.

I had a weird feeling the defense would stay frustratingly healthy this season. Sucks that the injuries are happening to people we like haha.

I don't buy into the criticism of hakstol for matchups. The only thing that I really have a problem with so far is the tendency to dump and chase. Last night the forechecking was not able to sustain any pressure and we literally just kept giving them back the puck and letting them come up the ice.

It works fine when the forecheck is on and the neutral zone is controlled, but it is very frustrating to watch the team keep dumping the puck when they are down a goal with 5 minutes left


@ whoever mentioned Mason getting beat on the breakaway...I agree he was a bit deep, but you also have to remember the latvian locomotive was coming in with a ton of speed. I thought he timed the shot very well too. Just sucks Johnson made the save a few seconds earlier

The way they're taking better care of the puck as a team is definitely something they can carry forward with them.

But that d-corps... it's gonna catch up to them in a major way. And if Mason's gonna be just OK by his standards this year.... yikes.
- Tomahawk

i'm anxious to see neuvirth back in net. mason is still the guy and for good reason. i think he'll be ok. but i want to see a bit more of the other guy, too.

I had a weird feeling the defense would stay frustratingly healthy this season. Sucks that the injuries are happening to people we like haha.

I don't buy into the criticism of hakstol for matchups. The only thing that I really have a problem with so far is the tendency to dump and chase. Last night the forechecking was not able to sustain any pressure and we literally just kept giving them back the puck and letting them come up the ice.

It works fine when the forecheck is on and the neutral zone is controlled, but it is very frustrating to watch the team keep dumping the puck when they are down a goal with 5 minutes left


@ whoever mentioned Mason getting beat on the breakaway...I agree he was a bit deep, but you also have to remember the latvian locomotive was coming in with a ton of speed. I thought he timed the shot very well too. Just sucks Johnson made the save a few seconds earlier
- YuenglingJagr

x2

I had a weird feeling the defense would stay frustratingly healthy this season. Sucks that the injuries are happening to people we like haha.

I don't buy into the criticism of hakstol for matchups. The only thing that I really have a problem with so far is the tendency to dump and chase. Last night the forechecking was not able to sustain any pressure and we literally just kept giving them back the puck and letting them come up the ice.

It works fine when the forecheck is on and the neutral zone is controlled, but it is very frustrating to watch the team keep dumping the puck when they are down a goal with 5 minutes left


@ whoever mentioned Mason getting beat on the breakaway...I agree he was a bit deep, but you also have to remember the latvian locomotive was coming in with a ton of speed. I thought he timed the shot very well too. Just sucks Johnson made the save a few seconds earlier
- YuenglingJagr

agree on the dump-ins. need to have a reasonable shot of getting it back, or at least being able to force a turnover in the neutral zone on the way out. not my favorite brand of hockey.

laughton should have buried that and won the game. great desperation save by johnson, but let's call it what it really is: lucky.

i had my eye on girgenson (or whatever the (frank) that guy's name is) the whole game and had a feeling he would pot one. he moves really, really well - dangerous player. no shame in getting sniped on a breakaway.

i'll say this once - people think it should be an automatic save on a 5 hole shot - and really have no (frank)ing clue how fast those guys release the rubber. it's not an easy stop even if it's right at you dead center like that. it just isn't.

That was Raffl.
- jmatchett383

Dang it! My bad.

I had a weird feeling the defense would stay frustratingly healthy this season. Sucks that the injuries are happening to people we like haha.

I don't buy into the criticism of hakstol for matchups. The only thing that I really have a problem with so far is the tendency to dump and chase. Last night the forechecking was not able to sustain any pressure and we literally just kept giving them back the puck and letting them come up the ice.

It works fine when the forecheck is on and the neutral zone is controlled, but it is very frustrating to watch the team keep dumping the puck when they are down a goal with 5 minutes left


@ whoever mentioned Mason getting beat on the breakaway...I agree he was a bit deep, but you also have to remember the latvian locomotive was coming in with a ton of speed. I thought he timed the shot very well too. Just sucks Johnson made the save a few seconds earlier
- YuenglingJagr

That's what happens when you spend a lot of time in your own end and just have to get the puck out to get a change. Can't develop any zone time or forecheck.

agree on the dump-ins. need to have a reasonable shot of getting it back, or at least being able to force a turnover in the neutral zone on the way out. not my favorite brand of hockey.

laughton should have buried that and won the game. great desperation save by johnson, but let's call it what it really is: lucky.

i had my eye on girgenson (or whatever the (frank) that guy's name is) the whole game and had a feeling he would pot one. he moves really, really well - dangerous player. no shame in getting sniped on a breakaway.

i'll say this once - people think it should be an automatic save on a 5 hole shot - and really have no (frank)ing clue how fast those guys release the rubber. it's not an easy stop even if it's right at you dead center like that. it just isn't.
- hammarby31

I agree, no shame in that goal, he just got beat by a good shot. There's been a lot of goals scored 5 hole in the history of the league for a reason. A goalie can't take everything away all the time. I keep reading how poor Mason is on breakaways. He's made a lot of big stops on breakaways. If a goalie faced nothing but breakaways, what would an average SV% be? 50%?

Team's shooting 1% when he's on the ice so far... how long do you think that will continue? He and Gudas have been seeing a 60% share of puck-time when they're out together... that's a really strong sign that the lack of production is luck-based, not play-based.




With all due respect...
- Tomahawk

I'll take the guy actually producing while getting the hardest minutes on the team over the guy with a goose egg despite being given an armchair ride.

Having a CF% slightly over 50 while getting 60% OZ starts isn't difficult. MacDonald did that last season after returning from his injury.

The way they're taking better care of the puck as a team is definitely something they can carry forward with them.

But that d-corps... it's gonna catch up to them in a major way. And if Mason's gonna be just OK by his standards this year.... yikes.
- Tomahawk

I have noticed that Mason has been leaker, with looser rebound control, thus far this season

I'm not concerned yet. It's eight games. But yeah, if he is more top 15 than top 6-9, yeah.

I'll take the guy actually producing while getting the hardest minutes on the team over the guy with a goose egg despite being given an armchair ride.

Having a CF% slightly over 50 while getting 60% OZ starts isn't difficult. MacDonald did that last season after returning from his injury.
- Feanor

Mdz is seeing the hardest minutes on the team behind the dynamic duo of Schultz and Streit...so he's not being given an armchair role. He could probably be given even more having said that. Zone starts are not as big a factor as you're making them when placed in context of QoC.

Watching the game and seeing MDZ and Medvedev drive possession, it's actually amazing they're not scoring more. But they're not scoring in spite of their play, not due to it. They are in the same category of Jake: driving possession, making plays, just not getting the points/goals. I think patience is the best thing for evaluating the points totals of those two right now. I didn't even know about the on ice shooting percentage of MDZ -- that's going to rocket up eventually.

Welp, they are paying Vinny, so if he's next up, might as well play him. Put him on the 2nd PP unit and shelter his ES minutes as best you can.
- johndewar

All you can do, really. Hope he plays well at best, at worst, hope they are able to not get scored on, which is really no different than any other fourth lines

Buffalo was breaking out and transitioning after a quick entry by the Flyers into their zone nearly the entire game.

Mdz is seeing the hardest minutes on the team behind the dynamic duo of Schultz and Streit...so he's not being given an armchair role. He could probably be given even more having said that. Zone starts are not as big a factor as you're making them when placed in context of QoC.

Watching the game and seeing MDZ and Medvedev drive possession, it's actually amazing they're not scoring more. But they're not scoring in spite of their play, not due to it. They are in the same category of Jake: driving possession, making plays, just not getting the points/goals. I think patience is the best thing for evaluating the points totals of those two right now.
- Mononoke

I'm stunned that MDZ hasn't been generating more at ES, but at the same time, the dude is not getting lit up in his own zone and has been retrieving and moving the puck out, competing, so I will gladly take that

I don't mean to slight Streit, though I do think he is slowing down. I simply think MDZ is better than him at this stage of the game. JMO

Buffalo was breaking out and transitioning after a quick entry by the Flyers into their zone nearly the entire game.
- Pixote Andolini

That was tough to watch. Some of that appeared to be less determination to get to loose pucks, especially after Bellemare went down

I think White and Vandevelde, Simmonds too, hunt pucks fairly well. When Giroux is on, he is disruptive.

The rest of the forwards could be a little more determined in their forechecking, though Laughton is still developing and does show promise

I'm stunned that MDZ hasn't been generating more at ES, but at the same time, the dude is not getting lit up in his own zone and has been retrieving and moving the puck out, competing, so I will gladly take that

I don't mean to slight Streit, though I do think he is slowing down. I simply think MDZ is better than him at this stage of the game. JMO
- AllInForFlyers

I think Tomahawk's point was he is generating. But when he is on the ice the team shooting percentage is 1%. That's absurd. Is that due to him? Mostly not. When he is on the ice, possession is driven as well as anyone on the team. They're establishing possession and no one is getting a goal. It happens. He will be due for regression. He's the Jake of d men right now. The process is playing out, and it's a question of when not will he.

for the next few years watching the draft will be the most exciting part of being a Philly sports fan
- vejim

There's already been some great ones. It's going to be hard to top the embiid draft

i'll say this once - people think it should be an automatic save on a 5 hole shot - and really have no (frank)ing clue how fast those guys release the rubber. it's not an easy stop even if it's right at you dead center like that. it just isn't.
- hammarby31

I had absolutely no problem with the goal -- nice shot, actually. Ripped it

Sometimes, people could try a little harder to acknowledge that the other guys get paid too

I'm stunned that MDZ hasn't been generating more at ES, but at the same time, the dude is not getting lit up in his own zone and has been retrieving and moving the puck out, competing, so I will gladly take that

I don't mean to slight Streit, though I do think he is slowing down. I simply think MDZ is better than him at this stage of the game. JMO
- AllInForFlyers

Forwards just aren't burying their chances when he's on the ice, particularly that top-line.

Kind of the opposite of what happened to him last year... he and Schenn saw ridiculously low on-ice SV%'s for the first few games, and ppl were freaking out.

%'s will even out over the long-haul, nothing to worry about.

I think Tomahawk's point was he is generating. But when he is on the ice the team shooting percentage is 1%. That's absurd. Is that due to him? Mostly not. When he is on the ice, possession is driven as well as anyone on the team. They're establishing possession and no one is getting a goal. It happens. He will be due for regression. He's the Jake of d men right now. The process is playing out, and it's a question of when not will he.
- Mononoke

Absolutely -- I believe in regression to the mean, positive and negative. Voracek's gonna score, and MDZ's points are coming