Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Persistence Pays Off in 4-2 Win vs Tampa

Thank you Bill, Morning coffee just isnt' the same without your Blog. You are the man.

Back to back really solid efforts. Great to see. Off until Friday. They could take the ice Friday night 6 points behind Detroit, 5 behind Pittsburgh. All of the OT/shootout losses, has unfortunately left them with zero margin of error. Schedule gets mighty tough now as well. Hopefully the solid play continues.

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pffft.....






lol! :-)

Back to back really solid efforts. Great to see. Off until Friday. They could take the ice Friday night 6 points behind Detroit, 5 behind Pittsburgh. All of the OT/shootout losses, has unfortunately left them with zero margin of error. Schedule gets mighty tough now as well. Hopefully the solid play continues.
- PLindbergh31

With three games against them, Pittsburgh is well within reach. I've been saying since August that I don't think they'll make the playoffs but I'd love to be wrong.

Great win. A few days off then time for another down in Florida.

Really impressive homestand. Hopefully the wings drop a game tue or thu to keep the flyers within distance. Just so tough to keep up this pace of play. They've been battling extremely hard

The good thing about playing established playoff teams is you have chances to catch them on an off night or the flyers can be their trap game like we were last night. So the schedule isn't worrisome to me

That forcheck was out of this world lastnight. Every forward back checked, and Tampa just couldn't enter the zone.

I also can't stress enough how important couts is at protecting a lead. That line of him, Pierre-Édouard Bellemare, and Chris VandeVelde (I think it was him) always seems to keep the puck trapped behind the opposing teams net for what seems like an eternity

I can't recall the last time I saw that complete of an effort.

With three games against them, Pittsburgh is well within reach. I've been saying since August that I don't think they'll make the playoffs but I'd love to be wrong.
- Scoob

They may not make it. If they play well and just get beat by better teams, you just tip your cap.

Laughton and cousins were terriers last night. I don't care that they didn't score they played a mans game last night

Really impressive homestand. Hopefully the wings drop a game tue or thu to keep the flyers within distance. Just so tough to keep up this pace of play. They've been battling extremely hard
- Just5

CLB & WPG have to think they get minimum 3 points. It's kind of garbage that the Western Conf. has 14 teams, while the Eastern Conf. has 16. It's not a level playing field. There are 30 teams in the NHL, the League has got to figure out a way for each conference to have the same amount of team. Geography be damned.

the league will find a way to make it balanced on both sides.....its called expansion. cause you know, more is better

CLB & WPG have to think they get minimum 3 points. It's kind of garbage that the Western Conf. has 14 teams, while the Eastern Conf. has 16. It's not a level playing field. There are 30 teams in the NHL, the League has got to figure out a way for each conference to have the same amount of team. Geography be damned.
- PLindbergh31

Play the cards you're dealt and be quiet about it.

Was at the game last night...

That second period was as good as I have seen the Flyers look all season and that is without Jake.. They were just dominant.

One of the things I like about this years flavor of the team, flaws and all, is that when things arent going right they dont seem to cave. Each time they tried a shot and it was stopped rather than wilting they seemed to dig in and skate just a bit harder..was very noticeable and while I dont agree with all of his lineup moves I think a good % of the credit for that goes to Hak. For a first year coach on a team that is clearly in transition he has been a pleasant surprise.

The thing I took away most from last night though is the following. Ghost adds an element of skill that I believe will be surpassed by Provorov. Over the next 3-4 years if just 2 of those prospects turn out to be first pairing players we should be entering an era unlike anything we have known.

Thanks Bill. The last goal with five minutes to go had me holding my breath. I hate the last five minutes of every period in every game. We have a tendency to lift off the pedal during that time for some reason, and don't always finish on a high note.
Gudas' point streak came to an end...darn. I really wanted him to lead the team in goals this season. Ghost continues to rock; that guy has such a wicked shot.
Will we make the playoffs? The next few away games will tell......

Was at the game last night...

That second period was as good as I have seen the Flyers look all season and that is without Jake.. They were just dominant.

One of the things I like about this years flavor of the team, flaws and all, is that when things arent going right they dont seem to cave. Each time they tried a shot and it was stopped rather than wilting they seemed to dig in and skate just a bit harder..was very noticeable and while I dont agree with all of his lineup moves I think a good % of the credit for that goes to Hak. For a first year coach on a team that is clearly in transition he has been a pleasant surprise.

The thing I took away most from last night though is the following. Ghost adds an element of skill that I believe will be surpassed by Provorov. Over the next 3-4 years if just 2 of those prospects turn out to be first pairing players we should be entering an era unlike anything we have known.
- opeth_pa

I think 100% credit goes to him. He's done a fantastic job this season.

I think 100% credit goes to him. He's done a fantastic job this season.

I think his lack of pro experience was over blown from the start, Hockey is hockey, the X's and O's are the same.

Personalities may be different, but that is just selling pro players short in terms of maturity and professionalism.

Hackstol knows hockey, that is the bottom line.

I think 100% credit goes to him. He's done a fantastic job this season.
- Scoob

I won't pretend he's been perfect, but Hak's given me no reason to doubt he can do the job.

Really starting to like this team. The coach seems to have provided this attitude of hard work for 60 minutes. They keep their feet mobbing and everyone is backchecking. Schenn made a great play to break up an open net.

Just a question but once voracek is back who sits? I would think it might be Gagner. He lost his man twice last night on goals. Even looked a little lazy on the first one. Also the other lines seem to be clicking.

Edit: I know fancy stat people tell me I am wring but for some reason I feel the Flyers play a better structured game on defense when Manning is in over Medvedev. I know Medvedev is more dynamic but something is just different when Mannning is in the lineup.

Laughton and cousins were terriers last night. I don't care that they didn't score they played a mans game last night
- Just5

I still want to know what Cousins says. Another great post whistle turn and chase after Cousins by a Tampa player.

Really fun, really exciting game. If the Flyers put forth that effort every night, I won't be upset if they do or don't make the playoffs. Ghost continues to impress and, much like the rest of the team, keeps on battling even when pucks aren't going in. Mason had little to no chance on either goal and made several nice saves in limited chances.

One thing that I did notice, however, is the play on both sides of the puck in the neutral zone. Especially in the first last night, the Flyers would receive a pass near the red line to a stationary player. Against Tampa Bay, all you can do is dump it because they will be all over you. They had trouble gaining the blue line with speed (especially on the PP). On the other side, they let TB come at them uncontested through the neutral zone. Their d-zone coverage was great, but I'd like to see more of a challenge before it gets there.

Edit: The offensive forecheck was tremendous last night. The forwards were hard on the defense all night long and were coming away with a majority of 50/50 pucks. The Giroux goal was a creation of Simmonds and Schenn just wanting the puck more.

Really starting to like this team. The coach seems to have provided this attitude of hard work for 60 minutes. They keep their feet mobbing and everyone is backchecking. Schenn made a great play to break up an open net.

Just a question but once voracek is back who sits? I would think it might be Gagner. He lost his man twice last night on goals. Even looked a little lazy on the first one. Also the other lines seem to be clicking.

Edit: I know fancy stat people tell me I am wring but for some reason I feel the Flyers play a better structured game on defense when Manning is in over Medvedev. I know Medvedev is more dynamic but something is just different when Mannning is in the lineup.
- J35Bacher

They gotta sit White. He brings nothing and hasn't all season. I'd sit Manning over Medvedev too. Won't be as easy to hide him on the road.

Won't let me quote, but I'm not worried about our schedule down the stretch , I'm worried about Pens and Wings schedule. They both have an easier schedule imo conspired to us when in comes to playing against playoff and non playoff teams.