3 on 3 is a situation where offensive creativity and skill is needed. Gagner didn't get a shift in OT, what does that say about him? I though B Schenn with the game he had, should've seen icetime in the 3 on 3.

Now that I've come down from my high on the Ghost goal, that was actually a very fun, entertaining game. I still don't get why they can't bring an effort like that (or the TB game) more consistently. They just got beat by a better team last night, but had they played like this against the likes on Buffalo/NJ/Edmonton/Calgary, etc. they'd be in a much better spot. I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but it's really mind boggling.

On Ghost: Without a doubt their best defenseman last night. When the Flyers are scrambling in their zone, once he gets the puck things calm down. He's able to skate it out on his own, he moves it well, and if need be, he makes generally safe clears. His defensive woes aren't as bad as I'd expected. Dude deserves to stay, and is just fun to watch.

On Manning: Best game I've seen him play. Was good with the puck, made a lot of good reads, and was a pretty quiet game (a la what you want from Grossmann). Far from perfect, but also far from, well, the usual.

Overall, a fun game that the Flyers could have (probably should have) won but LA was just a hair better last night. Will take 82 games played like that gladly.

Now that I've come down from my high on the Ghost goal, that was actually a very fun, entertaining game. I still don't get why they can't bring an effort like that (or the TB game) more consistently. They just got beat by a better team last night, but had they played like this against the likes on Buffalo/NJ/Edmonton/Calgary, etc. they'd be in a much better spot. I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but it's really mind boggling.

On Ghost: Without a doubt their best defenseman last night. When the Flyers are scrambling in their zone, once he gets the puck things calm down. He's able to skate it out on his own, he moves it well, and if need be, he makes generally safe clears. His defensive woes aren't as bad as I'd expected. Dude deserves to stay, and is just fun to watch.

On Manning: Best game I've seen him play. Was good with the puck, made a lot of good reads, and was a pretty quiet game (a la what you want from Grossmann). Far from perfect, but also far from, well, the usual.

Overall, a fun game that the Flyers could have (probably should have) won but LA was just a hair better last night. Will take 82 games played like that gladly.
- jmatchett383

Not that it's all on them, but the Gostisbehere-Manning defensive pairing got shellacked at ES.

# 89, 76 and 24 need to go bye byes
- vejim

Yeah, I have no idea what's up with Read. Missed a cross-ice feed (or cross-ice rebound, I forget) on a wide open net and just hasn't seemed like Matt Read. I gave him the benefit of the doubt due to injury, but he still seems off.

Gagner had a piss-poor preseason, then got hot for a bit to start, but now he's back to barely noticeable. Would not be upset to see him go.

As for VdV...he's Hakstal's guy, he's here.

Not that it's all on them, but the Gostisbehere-Manning defensive pairing got shellacked at ES.
- MJL

Well, glad that you're around to bring me down after feeling good about a game. Thanks buddy.

Well, glad that you're around to bring me down after feeling good about a game. Thanks buddy.
- jmatchett383

I feel good about the game also, and I love Gostisbehere's play with the puck and the element he adds to the Flyers. It's needed and it's exciting. It's not a criticism of Gostisbehere per se, because he has linemates and a defense partner, but they lost the territorial battle to the Brown, Shore, Lewis line, pretty significantly. Kings are a tough strong team, and has a physical advantage there.

Yeah, I have no idea what's up with Read. Missed a cross-ice feed (or cross-ice rebound, I forget) on a wide open net and just hasn't seemed like Matt Read. I gave him the benefit of the doubt due to injury, but he still seems off.

Gagner had a piss-poor preseason, then got hot for a bit to start, but now he's back to barely noticeable. Would not be upset to see him go.

As for VdV...he's Hakstal's guy, he's here.
- jmatchett383

That rebound was tough and on him quick and was off the ice, I believe. Very tough play. I think Read has been one of the better players on the team in recent games.

I feel good about the game also, and I love Gostisbehere's play with the puck and the element he adds to the Flyers. It's needed and it's exciting. It's not a criticism of Gostisbehere per se, because he has linemates and a defense partner, but they lost the territorial battle to the Brown, Shore, Lewis line, pretty significantly. Kings are a tough strong team, and has a physical advantage there.
- MJL

I actually though Ghost did a very good job against Brown in particular. For a much more physical player, Ghost held his own numerous times. They had issues with the Kings' cycle, but I felt the acquitted themselves nicely all things considered. Guess we can just disagree about how horrendous they were (hyperbole intended).

That rebound was tough and on him quick and was off the ice, I believe. Very tough play. I think Read has been one of the better players on the team in recent games.
- MJL

Well, I didn't and don't think so. So let's just agree to disagree right here and move along.

I actually though Ghost did a very good job against Brown in particular. For a much more physical player, Ghost held his own numerous times. They had issues with the Kings' cycle, but I felt the acquitted themselves nicely all things considered. Guess we can just disagree about how horrendous they were (hyperbole intended).
- jmatchett383

Mason bailed them out a couple of times, which is the goaltenders job. It's a bend but don't break kind of deal, so even though they lost the battle, they didn't lose the war. I think he has some development to still do obviously defensively, and he is at a physical disadvantage in some cases, but overall, he hasn't been a liability defensively. The Flyers also have some matchup issues. A player of Gostisbehere's offensive ability, shouldn't be playing with Vandevelde, Raffl, and Bellemare ideally at ES.

Well, I didn't and don't think so. So let's just agree to disagree right here and move along.
- jmatchett383

Check out a replay. Pretty tough play to make.

Check out a replay. Pretty tough play to make.
- MJL

Sure. I disagree. Let's move on.

Ghost made the players around him better last night. There was a confidence with him on the puck. The Flyers could use more of that from their defense.

And yes, the top line was dominant last night. I'm not sure it was primarily because of Schenn's presence, but keep him there for now.

Solid effort, even if they had won the shootout I still wouldnt be a fan of it. Im just happy they actually had decent scoring chances and had a respectable number of shots

They seemed to manage fine against Chicago after honoring Timonen. Last night's game was also there for the taking and was well-played. Even in the Buffalo game after honoring Briere, the Flyers managed to get a point despite not playing well.

Last year, they played pretty well but had a narrow regulation loss to Minnesota on Lindros-LeClair HOF night and lost in a shootout after a so-so performance against Buffalo on Desjardins HOF night. They lost 3-1 to Tampa on Peter Forsberg night.

Overall, that's 1-2-3 over the last two years on "player night" games. We'll see how they do on Brind'Amour & Watson HOF nights.
- bmeltzer

They better play well on Brindy's night this Monday, it's the only game this season that I have tickets for!!

3 on 3 is a situation where offensive creativity and skill is needed. Gagner didn't get a shift in OT, what does that say about him? I though B Schenn with the game he had, should've seen icetime in the 3 on 3.
- MJL

That he is a lazy, relatively useless player and the coaching staff has absolutely no confidence in him?? It says something when an offensively starved team like Arizona can't wait to move the guy for an injury prone defensive Dman and some dead cap space.

Now that I've come down from my high on the Ghost goal, that was actually a very fun, entertaining game. I still don't get why they can't bring an effort like that (or the TB game) more consistently. They just got beat by a better team last night, but had they played like this against the likes on Buffalo/NJ/Edmonton/Calgary, etc. they'd be in a much better spot. I know this has been discussed ad nauseum, but it's really mind boggling.

On Ghost: Without a doubt their best defenseman last night. When the Flyers are scrambling in their zone, once he gets the puck things calm down. He's able to skate it out on his own, he moves it well, and if need be, he makes generally safe clears. His defensive woes aren't as bad as I'd expected. Dude deserves to stay, and is just fun to watch.

On Manning: Best game I've seen him play. Was good with the puck, made a lot of good reads, and was a pretty quiet game (a la what you want from Grossmann). Far from perfect, but also far from, well, the usual.

Overall, a fun game that the Flyers could have (probably should have) won but LA was just a hair better last night. Will take 82 games played like that gladly.
- jmatchett383

I still have to wonder if part of the equation is that the good teams just don't get up for the Flyers anymore?

They better play well on Brindy's night this Monday, it's the only game this season that I have tickets for!!

- BiggE

the ceremony may be the highlite of the night

a Couturier two-on-one with Gostisbehere where Quick made a 10-bell save

I really thought Ghost was going to score there. I didn't even watch the shootout.

Well, glad that you're around to bring me down after feeling good about a game. Thanks buddy.
- jmatchett383

I really would like to see Medvedev either get back in the lineup, or if he has a concussion, put on LTIR and bring up AMac.

I'd then go with:

MDZ-Gudas
AMac or Medvedev-Schultz
Ghost-Schenn

That rebound was tough and on him quick and was off the ice, I believe. Very tough play. I think Read has been one of the better players on the team in recent games.
- MJL

Was at a concert so I didnt get to watch the game, but I do agree that Read has been one of the better players this year. Maybe not score 20 goals matt read, but at possession and making plays in all 3 zones he has been great

I feel good about the game also, and I love Gostisbehere's play with the puck and the element he adds to the Flyers. It's needed and it's exciting. It's not a criticism of Gostisbehere per se, because he has linemates and a defense partner, but they lost the territorial battle to the Brown, Shore, Lewis line, pretty significantly. Kings are a tough strong team, and has a physical advantage there.
- MJL

For a guy like Ghost, the Kings are probably as bad a matchup as there is due to their combo of size and speed up front. It's even worse when you pair him with a borderline NHL player like Manning.

I still have to wonder if part of the equation is that the good teams just don't get up for the Flyers anymore?
- BiggE

watching the game last night I realized how outdated the Wells Fargo center has become...they show that same hockey machine on the upper concourse that was there when we had our season tix

I still have to wonder if part of the equation is that the good teams just don't get up for the Flyers anymore?
- BiggE

That could be. However, elite teams like Chicago, LA, TB, etc. should be able to steam roll bad teams based on talent alone. You didn't see teams like Buffalo, Edmonton, Arizona, and Carolina winning/narrowly losing to the elite teams the past few years.

What a clapper from Ghost