In my opinion, there are far bigger issues with this team right now than Vandevelde playing. With the state of the team right now, taking out Vandevelde for another player, likely wouldn't change much, without other issues being corrected. I'm far more frustrated with the inconsistent team play.
- MJL

I wonder what happens when everyone is healthy. Do they look to move a defender sooner rather than later?

Does Laughton go back to Lehigh Valley?

I think Cousins needs to go back to center and Bellemare back to the 4th line.

My thought too.

They were not playing for the win in OT. They wanted to take it to the shootout. And it was probably do to the Flyers not being a good shootout team.
- J35Bacher

You think that's what it was do to?

I don't think that inserting Lyubimov in for Vandevelde is going to make Wayne Simmonds play better.
- MJL

Yep the only people that move could help would be Gordon and whoever the other wing ends up being.

I don't think that inserting Lyubimov in for Vandevelde is going to make Wayne Simmonds play better.
- MJL

Simmonds (and the rest of the team) doesnt have to do as much when 12 minutes of the game arent spent "trying not to lose" Vandevelde is a waste of space, and he should be replaced with one of the players who are clearly better than him regardless of whether or not that is the biggest issue facing the team

We paid AMac 2 years removed from Jagr. It was the Carle/Weber contract negotiations that blocked Jagr from signing right away.
- jmatchett383

I thought it was Parise and Sutter offers that made both Carle and Jagr sign elsewhere. From my understanding, both players wanted to return to Flyers but Homer shifted full focus on the big fish.

I think that was far more about maintaining possession, during line changes in the 3 on 3, then it was about playing for the shootout. I think it's strategy that if you watch Buffalo play in OT on other occasions, you'd see them using it on a regular basis to maintain possession. I think other team might adopt.
- MJL

Couldn't you just as easily skate the puck out to the NZ instead of passing it 200 feet backwards?

Good news: great comeback last night, the resilience of this team is amazing. Mase looked great and it was nice to see the pp come to life.

Bad news: the first 2 periods. Neuvy looked pretty shaky, the 3rd line is a dumpster fire and the sooner AMac & Streit are gone the better

Couldn't you just as easily skate the puck out to the NZ instead of passing it 200 feet backwards?
- jmatchett383

If you want to make line changes last longer, and the players staying near the O-zone in OT can prevent the defense from changing players

You think that's what it was do to?
- jmatchett383

I do.

The Flyers trouble in shootouts is well known. When they started doing it that was my thought. Two points in OT are the same as 2 in shootout. I think they thought they had the better advantage in the skills contest over a more open 3v3.

Good news: great comeback last night, the resilience of this team is amazing. Mase looked great and it was nice to see the pp come to life.

Bad news: the first 2 periods. Neuvy looked pretty shaky, the 3rd line is a dumpster fire and the sooner AMac & Streit are gone the better
- BiggE

Remember when folks wanted to trade Mason and give Neuvy the job full-time? That was fun, right?

It's not a bad thing to have two good goaltenders.

If you want to make line changes last longer
- YuenglingJagr

I do.

The Flyers trouble in shootouts is well known. When they started doing it that was my thought. Two points in OT are the same as 2 in shootout. I think they thought they had the better advantage in the skills contest over a more open 3v3.
- J35Bacher

I'll take the to points two.

If and when all the forwards are available, I'd like to see them shake up the lines and D pairs and try:

Raffl-G-Jake
TK-Coots-Schenn
Read-Cousins-Simmonds
PEB-Gordon-Weise

MDZ-Ghost
Provorov-Gudas
Manning-Streit

Simmonds (and the rest of the team) doesnt have to do as much when 12 minutes of the game arent spent "trying not to lose" Vandevelde is a waste of space, and he should be replaced with one of the players who are clearly better than him regardless of whether or not that is the biggest issue facing the team
- YuenglingJagr

If your 4th line is breaking even, then you're in good shape. If your top line isn't getting it done, then you have a big problem. Thinking that inserting a different player for Vandevelde is going to mean that players like Simmonds don't have to do as much, doesn't make sense. Vandevelde is not a waste of space, that's hyperbole. If he was, he wouldn't be on the team. I'm in agreement that they can upgrade that spot, but as outlined previously, Vandevelde has some value as a player, which is why Hakstol apparently trusts him.

If you want to make line changes last longer, and the players staying near the O-zone in OT can prevent the defense from changing players
- YuenglingJagr

Just put 4 guys on the ice and have 1 player play the puck offsides.

I do.

The Flyers trouble in shootouts is well known. When they started doing it that was my thought. Two points in OT are the same as 2 in shootout. I think they thought they had the better advantage in the skills contest over a more open 3v3.
- J35Bacher

They arent the first team to try to hold the puck in OT. You're probably right that they werent worried about the Flyers in a shootout, but with almost no downside to controlling possession in overtime, that is really what it was about

ttt

Remember when folks wanted to trade Mason and give Neuvy the job full-time? That was fun, right?

It's not a bad thing to have two good goaltenders.
- johndewar

Absolutely

Know what is awesome?

When you DVR the game, utilize the auto-extender feature so you dont miss any of it if it goes late, and then watch the replay only to have it stop recording with 7 minutes remaining in the game.

(frank)ing comcast.
- jak521

Wtf kind of dvr stops recording before the show/event is over? Even my 11 year old DirecTV box knows how to record until the event ends.

If your 4th line is breaking even, then you're in good shape. If your top line isn't getting it done, then you have a big problem. Thinking that inserting a different player for Vandevelde is going to mean that players like Simmonds don't have to do as much, doesn't make sense. Vandevelde is not a waste of space, that's hyperbole. If he was, he wouldn't be on the team. I'm in agreement that they can upgrade that spot, but as outlined previously, Vandevelde has some value as a player, which is why Hakstol apparently trusts him.
- MJL

Vandevelde is a goal waiting to happen with little to no offense. He could have perfect position on every play, it doesn't matter because it doesn't equal anything tangible to the Flyers winning.

Hakstol trusts him to a fault. It is a flaw that can be corrected, and if it were it would help the Flyers. The situation has nothing to do with Wayne Simmonds

Couldn't you just as easily skate the puck out to the NZ instead of passing it 200 feet backwards?
- jmatchett383

You could, but with the other players coming off the bench in the line change, they can get the puck from the goaltender, while the player who passed it back to the goalie, can then go for a change. How many times do you see a player try to attack 1 on 2 in the OT, only to lose possession? Regroups are a standard play in hockey. Passing it back to the goalie, is just part of a regroup in the 3 on 3. Smart play.

Remember when folks wanted to trade Mason and give Neuvy the job full-time? That was fun, right?

It's not a bad thing to have two good goaltenders.
- johndewar

But we always play better in front of Neuvy and Mason was terrible in the playoffs so clearly Neuvy is our #1

If and when all the forwards are available, I'd like to see them shake up the lines and D pairs and try:

Raffl-G-Jake
TK-Coots-Schenn
Read-Cousins-Simmonds
PEB-Gordon-Weise

MDZ-Ghost
Provorov-Gudas
Manning-Streit
- BiggE

Raffl needs to be kept away from the top line. Lets get some players who are closer to the skill level Giroux has.

It's ashame we're so weak on the LW. Need to find someone to compliment Giroux better while also being able to be a threat without the hand holding.

go read Garth the idiots blog..that hack is trying to defend the hit...he is the worst writer on this site....that being said what a come back...imagine what they could do if they played 60 minutes....they were lucky to come out with the win tonight the way they played thru the 1st and 2nd period..but resilience paid off they got the win
- flyer186

Worse than Tanner? That'd be quite an accomplishment.

I wonder what happens when everyone is healthy. Do they look to move a defender sooner rather than later?

Does Laughton go back to Lehigh Valley?

I think Cousins needs to go back to center and Bellemare back to the 4th line.
- J35Bacher

I think Laughton needs to go to LHV to get some ice time.

And I agree; I'd rather see Cousins at 3C and Bellemare back to 4LW.