He just needs to be a bit careful with some of those hits. They are right on the line.

But I like the intensity.
- johndewar

Yes the intensity is nice to see and I don't think you ask him to dial it back. This is what we need to have him and Simmonds making the Caps defencemen looking back over their shoulders when the puck is dumped in. He must have knocked at least 5 guys off their skates last night.
Simmonds fight was ok by me, he did not initiate, he skated over and gave Wilson a shot just to say watch yourself, Wilson dropped his gloves and attacked him. He had to defend himself and he won the fight, that should have produced some intensity for the Flyers but did not, The Wilson penalty should have been 5 Minute Boarding major and 2 minute instigating and I think Simmonds was thinking the same thing.
The Canadian announcers could not believe he didn't get 5 for that and an extra two for instigating. He took about 12 strides in and hit him in the numbers.

It happens. The puck is in the air, and your instinct is to try to knock it out of the air. I don't think he's intentionally trying to bat it out of play. It just happens.
- jmatchett383

If there's a better example of why the rule needs to be changed to allow for referee discretion on intent I'd like to see it.

I think they need some more "structure" and "experience" in the lineup...
- jmatchett383

hahaha


I see where your going with that.

I think they need some more "structure" and "experience" in the lineup...
- jmatchett383

So that leaves Umberger. I think I would rather have Laughton.

I think they need some more "structure" and "experience" in the lineup...
- jmatchett383

Well....Mr. Structure DID score a PP goal in the last regular season game. HE'S ON A ROLL!

So what the move. Laughton comes in at 3C I guess.
- MBFlyerfan

Not like they have many other options. I can't see Weal or RJ going in before Laughton. My guess is that they move Schenn to C and go with:

Jake-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Schenn-Gagner
Laughton-Cousins-Read
the usual 4th

So that leaves Umberger. I think I would rather have Laughton.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah, me too. It'd be good experience.

Not like they have many other options. I can't see Weal or RJ going in before Laughton. My guess is that they move Schenn to C and go with:

Jake-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Schenn-Gagner
Laughton-Cousins-Read
the usual 4th
- BiggE

Have to play Medvedev. He can move the puck, and generate some offense. Of course he wouldn't be able to flip the puck into the stands as adeptly as Manning did. That delay of game penalty led to the Caps first goal.

Only 8 shots on goal over the last two periods. And most of them from the perimeter. Part of that is being on the PK over and over again. Uphill battle now, but we knew that before the series started.

Have to play Medvedev. He can move the puck, and generate some offense. Of course he wouldn't be able to flip the puck into the stands as adeptly as Manning did. That delay of game penalty led to the Caps first goal.

Only 8 shots on goal over the last two periods. And most of them from the perimeter. Part of that is being on the PK over and over again. Uphill battle now, but we knew that before the series started.
- PLindbergh31

I'm fine with swapping Medvedev in for Manning. However, I'm not sure the coaching staff is. If they lose game 2 though, I think they will make the switch.

From the Caps blog
- Scoob

That was a clear assumption

They lost a close road game to the best team in the league... and they somehow managed to mostly contain OV/Kuz/Backstrom despite losing Coots for much of the night. It wasn't so bad.

#optimist
- Tomahawk

That's fair, but we absolutely cannot win this series without the PP coming alive and so from that perspective it was very disheartening.

To put some hard numbers on it I'd say a PP% of 25 and a PK% of 85 would be necessary for the Flyers to beat the Caps.

The score was close, but imho the game didn't feel close. It felt to me that the Flyers were just trying to weather the storm and maybe get a lucky break.
- Scoob

You mean they played like it was a PO road opener again the best team in the league?

Not that I don't agree with you about Jake being off (we can assume why), but I saw this a few times on the last thread: this notion that the PP is messed up because of Jake. Wouldn't he have to touch to puck for him to be messing with it?

The problem with the PP1 imo is that Jake (and Schenn and Simmonds) don't touch it ENOUGH. The PP has become obvious, too deliberate, and just plain stale. Sure they give up the space to Jake but G and Ghost just play pitch and catch with each other, don't amply use said space, get swarmed, and then things go to poop. The PP dynamic needs serious re working. Moving the puck around quicker and to more skaters is a start. PP is a 5v4 that feels more like a 2v4.
-
Mononoke

agreed- it looked like the was the unpopular last kid picked for a team, they never got him the puck

Just seemed like the Flyers were playing for that "lucky" goal. There was no pressure, no net presence, no real threat at all of creating any chances. Loose tomorrow and it's done in 5. The loss of Couturier will be too much to over come.

And please Mr Hextall try to acquire some 2nd line scoring depth.
- 3flyerkids

If they buyout Umberger and the cap goes up to $74m they should have around $6m in space, and that includes hefty raises for Schenn and Gudas. Trading Streit for a pick after his bonus is paid on July 1st and he's only owed $2m would free up $5.25m.

I'm interested in adding Ladd as a second line LW, if he's not too expensive.

looked like the Caps were out to injure any Flyer ...#8 should be their target
- vejim

Yeah Orpik the neck breaker was definitely trying some ish last night. Would gladly welcome a step up crushing open ice hit by Gudas on Ovechkin. The problem with that is the Flyers don't really have the horses to hang with an elite player like Ovechkin. He's too big, strong and FAST. You can't hit what you can't catch up to. Couturier has been in the playoffs before. Thought he was a little nonchalant as Ovechkin finished him against the boards. It's playoff hockey.

You mean they played like it was a PO road opener again the best team in the league?
- Tomahawk

Well, if that is the strategy then just wrap it up in four.

- TobyFlenderson

lol ty for cheering me up

Not like they have many other options. I can't see Weal or RJ going in before Laughton. My guess is that they move Schenn to C and go with:

Jake-G-Simmonds
Raffl-Schenn-Gagner
Laughton-Cousins-Read
the usual 4th
- BiggE

please put jake back on the right side, anything to help him

It happens. The puck is in the air, and your instinct is to try to knock it out of the air. I don't think he's intentionally trying to bat it out of play. It just happens.
- jmatchett383

I think the rule should be changed so batted pucks aren't penalties. It should have to be lifted from the ice to be a delay of game.

lol ty for cheering me up
- -davies-

Tough game. Seemed like they started off well but couldn't CAPITALize on the power play. That was a killer. Then losing couturier didn't help. I hope Laughton is ready to put his big boy skates on and make an impact. Thank god for Mason giving us a chance.

If they buyout Umberger and the cap goes up to $74m they should have around $6m in space, and that includes hefty raises for Schenn and Gudas. Trading Streit for a pick after his bonus is paid on July 1st and he's only owed $2m would free up $5.25m.

I'm interested in adding Ladd as a second line LW, if he's not too expensive.
- Feanor

I wonder what Patrick Elias would cost on a 1 year deal. Always a solid 2 way guy. Could he be a nice 3rd line center with two younger wings like Laughton and Leier?

I am not a fan of ladd.

The only big money I would want to spend is for Stamkos.

I don't want 2nd teir guys like Lucic, Okposo or Eriksson.

I think you slide Laughton on Cousins wing slip Ganger up to line 2 and slide Schenn into the pivot on line 2 for the next game.

It wasn't totally bad game and there is a lot to build on in there. But I think they let the Caps know it won't be easy.

I wonder what Patrick Elias would cost on a 1 year deal. Always a solid 2 way guy. Could he be a nice 3rd line center with two younger wings like Laughton and Leier?

I am not a fan of ladd.

The only big money I would want to spend is for Stamkos.

I don't want 2nd teir guys like Lucic, Okposo or Eriksson.
- J35Bacher

I actually like the current 4 centers of the Flyers. Cousins is growing on me he has a Keith Jones (yes I know he was a wing) vibe to me which is a great person to have on the roster. I loved how after each penalty he drew last night he had a grin on his face like HA GOTCHA! If they can get two wings that are more of a threat than Read, Laughton, current Jake, Gagner I think we could see something really special.

If we move one of Read/Laughts to line 4 I'd be ok with that next year. But we need 2 wings to really fix the scoring woes this team falls into.

I think you slide Laughton on Cousins wing slip Ganger up to line 2 and slide Schenn into the pivot on line 2 for the next game.

It wasn't totally bad game and there is a lot to build on in there. But I think they let the Caps know it won't be easy.
- dragonoffrost

Think that has to be the plan.


I would slide Voracek off the top line.

Raffl - Giroux - Simmonds
Gagner - Schenn - Voracek
Laughton - Cousins - Read
4th line