i said it last night - the flyers will make the playoffs. book it.
- hammarby31

Beating the Pens in the final game of the season to make it into the playoffs while knocking them out would be pretty sweet. Shame they'd retain their 1st round pick, but sacrifices must be made.

I'm coming around to this. They have borderline talent, but I think Hakstol has them doing the right things.

With this talent, who would have thought they'd get 3 points out of this weekend?

Not me. I don't think they'll go far, but I think they'll scare the poop out of whoever they play.
- johndewar

If-big if-they can maintain the ES play and get the special teams back where they have generally been, even just inside the top ten, they're going to be a tough matchup.

They're special teams rankings are both around 25. This is a team that's been a top 5 PP team for the last 4-5 years or longer.

Beating the Pens in the final game of the season to make it into the playoffs while knocking them out would be pretty sweet. Shame they'd retain their 1st round pick, but sacrifices must be made.
- wolfhounds

let's hope it doesn't come down to that, but if it does, so be it. no guarantee they'll get a guy who amounts to anything.

let's hope it doesn't come down to that, but if it does, so be it. no guarantee they'll get a guy who amounts to anything.
- hammarby31

Best case, Flyers meet Pens in round one, sweep them. Pens lose 1st rounder, get creamed in playoffs.

If-big if-they can maintain the ES play and get the special teams back where they have generally been, even just inside the top ten, they're going to be a tough matchup.

They're special teams rankings are both around 25. This is a team that's been a top 5 PP team for the last 4-5 years or longer.
- Jsaquella

That's the eff'd up thing. I still think they only have marginal talent.

But the way they are contesting the neutral zone. It finally feels like they are playing the right way, for this era.

I still don't think they have contender talent. But honestly, other than Washington, there really isn't anything special in the Eastern Conference.

Beating the Pens in the final game of the season to make it into the playoffs while knocking them out would be pretty sweet. Shame they'd retain their 1st round pick, but sacrifices must be made.
- wolfhounds

I still can't believe it's almost February and they haven't played the Pens yet.

And the funny thing is, both teams are kinda not the best of the East anymore.

That's the eff'd up thing. I still think they only have marginal talent.

But the way they are contesting the neutral zone. It finally feels like they are playing the right way, for this era.

I still don't think they have contender talent. But honestly, other than Washington, there really isn't anything special in the Eastern Conference.
- johndewar

Yup, exactly. I don't see them as a contender, but as for playoffs, why the (frank) not? They're as good as anyone in the East outside of a couple of teams, so long as they play their game and execute well.

I think they're getting a chip on their shoulders, too. They're starting to not only believe in themselves, they're starting to demand more out of themselves and each other. There's confidence where there was a bit of doubt.

Maybe it's not sustainable, maybe they fall short. But being competitive and in the mix right up to game 82 would be a good step forward from last year. And making the playoffs, would be a big step.

Best case, Flyers meet Pens in round one, sweep them. Pens lose 1st rounder, get creamed in playoffs.
- Jsaquella

i'm hammarby31, and i approve this message.

about time couture (frank)ing scores

Mike Hoffman got clapt the (frank) up...drove his collarbone right into the post.

I'm coming around to this. They have borderline talent, but I think Hakstol has them doing the right things.

With this talent, who would have thought they'd get 3 points out of this weekend?

Not me. I don't think they'll go far, but I think they'll scare the poop out of whoever they play.
- johndewar

recent and distant history suggests this weekend would go poorly, but i'm not surprised they came away with at least 2 points based on how they've been playing as a team, and the emergence of the coots line combined with the return of gost and continued strong goaltending.

obviously they don't want to continue to chase games in the 3rd period, because ultimately that's not a recipe for success, but it's great to see they're a resilient bunch that keep games within reach and have battled for a lot of points. the teams from the last couple of years would have likely rolled over and died. it's a good sign.

Yup, exactly. I don't see them as a contender, but as for playoffs, why the (frank) not? They're as good as anyone in the East outside of a couple of teams, so long as they play their game and execute well.

I think they're getting a chip on their shoulders, too. They're starting to not only believe in themselves, they're starting to demand more out of themselves and each other. There's confidence where there was a bit of doubt.

Maybe it's not sustainable, maybe they fall short. But being competitive and in the mix right up to game 82 would be a good step forward from last year. And making the playoffs, would be a big step.
- Jsaquella

It just feels like, for once, we are actually trying to play the right way for THIS cup and not the cup won 5 years ago.

recent and distant history suggests this weekend would go poorly, but i'm not surprised they came away with at least 2 points based on how they've been playing as a team, and the emergence of the coots line combined with the return of gost and continued strong goaltending.

obviously they don't want to continue to chase games in the 3rd period, because ultimately that's not a recipe for success, but it's great to see they're a resilient bunch that keep games within reach and have battled for a lot of points. the teams from the last couple of years would have likely rolled over and died. it's a good sign.
- hammarby31

I was in the house for the Saturday game against NYR. I've seen them lose that sort of game all too often. Getting a point out of that game was OK.

Beating Detroit, in Detroit? Shootout or no, You've been a fan at least as long as me. You know that poop doesn't happen often.

I was in the house for the Saturday game against NYR. I've seen them lose that sort of game all too often. Getting a point out of that game was OK.

Beating Detroit, in Detroit? Shootout or no, You've been a fan at least as long as me. You know that poop doesn't happen often.
- johndewar

yes, and yes. i think the streak in detroit finally ended a season or two ago. i can't remember when exactly. i would have rather they beaten ny, for obvious reasons, but i'm thrilled with the 3 points in a back to back against 2 tough teams. besides, ny got smoked by the caps yesterday, so we gained a point on them.

way to go sharkies. :-)

Best case, Flyers meet Pens in round one, sweep them. Pens lose 1st rounder, get creamed in playoffs.
- Jsaquella

Yup, that's even better. This gets my vote.

I find it hard to believe the Kings would want Vinny on their cap. They only took him on the condition he retired. Their cap is a mess.

I still can't believe it's almost February and they haven't played the Pens yet.

And the funny thing is, both teams are kinda not the best of the East anymore.
- johndewar

Packed em all towards the end of the season knowing both teams would be scratching for a playoff spot and the games would be absolute battles.

Yeah, I'm giving those NHL schedulers a lot of credit.

It just feels like, for once, we are actually trying to play the right way for THIS cup and not the cup won 5 years ago.
- johndewar

Yeah, they've really change the approach, if not the culture. It's not about shortening long odds to win by sacrificing the future. The more important part is, skill and skating seems to be paramount in the draft classes.

Even though Holmgren had started to become more interested in hanging on to picks in his last few seasons, they still did things like the MacDonald trade, which gave them an incremental improvement, but didn't really make them much better.

Hextall came in, laid out a plan, has followed the plan and doesn't seem likely to deviate from the plan. He seems to recognize the team's position and respond accordingly and realistically. Not paying a premium for a guy who isn't good enough to get them over the hump.

I find it hard to believe the Kings would want Vinny on their cap. They only took him on the condition he retired. Their cap is a mess.
- Mononoke

$63mm committed right now, counting Vinny. That's with 11 forwards on current roster signed, 3 defensemen and Quick.

One of the unsigned forwards is Lucic, the other is Trevor Lewis. How can they add/keep those two and add four defensemen & a goalie with maybe $10-12mm in cap space.

Yeah, they've really change the approach, if not the culture. It's not about shortening long odds to win by sacrificing the future. The more important part is, skill and skating seems to be paramount in the draft classes.

Even though Holmgren had started to become more interested in hanging on to picks in his last few seasons, they still did things like the MacDonald trade, which gave them an incremental improvement, but didn't really make them much better.

Hextall came in, laid out a plan, has followed the plan and doesn't seem likely to deviate from the plan. He seems to recognize the team's position and respond accordingly and realistically. Not paying a premium for a guy who isn't good enough to get them over the hump.
- Jsaquella

i only see hextall "deviating" if the deal is a deal he can't refuse.

$63mm committed right now, counting Vinny. That's with 11 forwards on current roster signed, 3 defensemen and Quick.

One of the unsigned forwards is Lucic, the other is Trevor Lewis. How can they add/keep those two and add four defensemen & a goalie with maybe $10-12mm in cap space.
- Jsaquella

firesale.

$63mm committed right now, counting Vinny. That's with 11 forwards on current roster signed, 3 defensemen and Quick.

One of the unsigned forwards is Lucic, the other is Trevor Lewis. How can they add/keep those two and add four defensemen & a goalie with maybe $10-12mm in cap space.
- Jsaquella

They are in the definition of cap trouble. Vinny is playing exactly how well he was here. But he hasn't entered a Lazarus pit, to borrow a DC reference. He's still the Vinny we know. His early usage seems to me to indicate they get the idea too. If Vinny wants to sign elsewhere after terminating, maybe some idiot GM will be duped by a handful of goals. But Lombardi is in dangerous waters cap wise. No way he wants Vinny on the roster next year. The interest was in Schenn in the trade anyways.

sharks blow it. figures.

bob ryab: 15 goals on the season so far. not bad.