Mason has been fine of late, last night he wasn't to blame and played far better than his numbers suggest.

In terms of worries, my bigger ones are with Schenn and Couturier. Couturier needs to start turning the really good underlying numbers into points if he's going to be the 2C. He does enough other stuff where his contract isn't bad if he doesn't produce at a 2C level and ends up an elite shutdown guy who scores 10-15 goals and 40-45 points. But they really want him to be that 2C who scores 20-23 goals and gets 50 points.

Schenn on the other hand is invisible. He's getting some production, but he's not doing much else-and the production he's getting isn't really him creating, it's born from usage on the PP and with talented linemates. He really needs to be the guy he was in the 2nd half last season. If he doesn't approach that or is the same inconsistent guy he's been for the past 3-4 years(not just in production but overall play) he's not worth his contract.

They also really need Giroux (and to a lesser extent Voracek) to play better. Production is needed, but Giroux was almost invisible last night. You can't have that from your top player. Need to hear his name a lot, especially if the points aren't coming.
- Jsaquella

Because he's getting shadowed, and beaten up again, because there's no #2C threat that scares anyone, even when Couturier is in.

I will tell you that he did outplay Vas. Weises's goal was weak, and I liked Provy's goal, but that was stoppable. The ones on Mase were absolute breakdowns. Was it possible to stop them? Of course, but you've got to be realistic as well.

Looking back. Mase played solid vs Winnipeg where they were outshot, and I also think he was solid vs the Wild. As I already mentioned, he's starting to round into form with all the work. Rebound control has been great, and although many think that he sucks because he can't stop everything, what you look for is to stop all the ones that are routine, most of those difficult and some of the extremely difficult ones. He did that last night.
- Hextall271

Game in and game out, it seems like the Flyers give up a dozen grade A scoring chances a game. It simply has to improve. Far too many breakdowns are happening. There does not seem to be any progress in correcting that.

I will tell you that he did outplay Vas. Weises's goal was weak, and I liked Provy's goal, but that was stoppable. The ones on Mase were absolute breakdowns. Was it possible to stop them? Of course, but you've got to be realistic as well.

Looking back. Mase played solid vs Winnipeg where they were outshot, and I also think he was solid vs the Wild. As I already mentioned, he's starting to round into form with all the work. Rebound control has been great, and although many think that he sucks because he can't stop everything, what you look for is to stop all the ones that are routine, most of those difficult and some of the extremely difficult ones. He did that last night.
- Hextall271

Maybe it's time to beef up in front of him then?
Either that, or score 4-5 a night

4M a year is not a lot of money in today's NHL. If the player is putting up 40 points, and playing strong defensively, and on the PK, then not only can we pay him that kind of money, it would unwise not to. I'll be the first to admit that even defensively this season, Couturier's game has been sub par, but he has a proven track record in this league as being a very solid two way center.
- MJL

Coots will be fine. I'm more worried about Giroux playing like poop.

Because he's getting shadowed, and beaten up again, because there's no #2C threat that scares anyone, even when Couturier is in.
- puckhead17

Crosby gets shadowed every game.

Great players play through it. Giroux gets shut the (frank) down by every team in the league.

This is on him not coots.

and Happy Thursday to you guys.
- Jsaquella

No turkey but I will blow off work and watch football this afternoon...

4M a year is not a lot of money in today's NHL. If the player is putting up 40 points, and playing strong defensively, and on the PK, then not only can we pay him that kind of money, it would unwise not to. I'll be the first to admit that even defensively this season, Couturier's game has been sub par, but he has a proven track record in this league as being a very solid two way center.
- MJL

Bob Clarke pretty much told him he needs to produce offensively this year, 40 points isn't going to cut it anymore.
I guess Bob Clarke doesn't know what he's saying.

Mason has been fine of late, last night he wasn't to blame and played far better than his numbers suggest.

In terms of worries, my bigger ones are with Schenn and Couturier. Couturier needs to start turning the really good underlying numbers into points if he's going to be the 2C. He does enough other stuff where his contract isn't bad if he doesn't produce at a 2C level and ends up an elite shutdown guy who scores 10-15 goals and 40-45 points. But they really want him to be that 2C who scores 20-23 goals and gets 50 points.

Schenn on the other hand is invisible. He's getting some production, but he's not doing much else-and the production he's getting isn't really him creating, it's born from usage on the PP and with talented linemates. He really needs to be the guy he was in the 2nd half last season. If he doesn't approach that or is the same inconsistent guy he's been for the past 3-4 years(not just in production but overall play) he's not worth his contract.

They also really need Giroux (and to a lesser extent Voracek) to play better. Production is needed, but Giroux was almost invisible last night. You can't have that from your top player. Need to hear his name a lot, especially if the points aren't coming.
- Jsaquella

Everyone knows Schenn is a player who doesn't create anything. He will never live up to his contract.

Game in and game out, it seems like the Flyers give up a dozen grade A scoring chances a game. It simply has to improve. Far too many breakdowns are happening. There does not seem to be any progress in correcting that.
- MJL

Yeah I agree. One thing that fans have to recognize is that it's not the amount of shots, it's the quality of them that matters. It seems that when mase has been called upon to make WAY too many 10 bell saves. People only look at the ones that go in and say, he should have had that not considering that he had to make 5 other stops on ridiculous breakdowns and that the one he let in was also nearly impossible to make because he had no support. Of late, he's not letting in wrist shots from outside the dots, these are two on 1's or other grade a opportunities.

When the Flyers were having success early in the season scoring a lot of goals it was with Giroux and Voracek on separate lines and they definitely need to return to that. We've seen before that loading up with Giroux and Voracek on the same line doesn't work for this team because once you shut those two down the rest of the lineup can't score. Put Voracek with Cousins and Konecny and put Simmonds back with Giroux.

Crosby gets shadowed every game.

Great players play through it. Giroux gets shut the (frank) down by every team in the league.

This is on him not coots.
- MikesPillBottle

Wha??????

I must have missed our MALKIN in our lineup somewhere?
seriously dude?
You cover Crosby, you get Malkin, you cover Giroux, you get Coots?, Cousins?

Wow

Everyone knows Schenn is a player who doesn't create anything. He will never live up to his contract.
- MikesPillBottle

AND, your 2 for 2

Maybe it's time to beef up in front of him then?
Either that, or score 4-5 a night
- puckhead17

I think it's overall team D that has been an issue in front of him. As we all know, if we're not scoring on the PP, this team has real issues winning. It takes superior goaltending to keep it close let alone win.

Bob Clarke pretty much told him he needs to produce offensively this year, 40 points isn't going to cut it anymore.
I guess Bob Clarke doesn't know what he's saying.
- puckhead17

That's simply a logical fallacy. My simple point is that a player who is capable of playing away from the puck defensively like Couturier can, along with scoring in the 40 point range, is still a very valuable player in this league, and very much worth what he is getting paid, even if that's where he tops out offensively. Now if we want to say, that if he is going to be the #2 center, then yes, we need him to produce more offensively. Either way, Couturier is still a building block for this team moving forward, and a lot of teams would be perfectly willing to insert Couturier into their lineup, and pay him what he's signed for.

I don't understand the excuse that penalties wore down the team. Penalties mean a lot of guys are also spending a lot of time sitting on the bench.

I think it's overall team D that has been an issue in front of him. As we all know, if we're not scoring on the PP, this team has real issues winning. It takes superior goaltending to keep it close let alone win.
- Hextall271

I guess Mason has been good, but not superior enough for the breakdowns.

I don't understand the excuse that penalties wore down the team. Penalties mean a lot of guys are also spending a lot of time sitting on the bench.
- Dkos

I think it was part of it for sure. The Flyers seemed like a tired team last night, but were still in position to win the game. Breakdowns and individual mistakes are what really cost them the game.

Wha??????

I must have missed our MALKIN in our lineup somewhere?
seriously dude?
You cover Crosby, you get Malkin, you cover Giroux, you get Coots?, Cousins?

Wow
- puckhead17

You are right on this point. Our top 6 depth isn't good enough. If I had a wish list it would start with getting a big bodied power left winger who can score. You can plug raffl or Schenn or whoever you want into the spot, but that doesn't make them capable of performing in that role. If we had that, then everyone slots into more appropriate roles. D needs some work as well, but top 3 dmen don't grow on trees.

That's simply a logical fallacy. My simple point is that a player who is capable of playing away from the puck defensively like Couturier can, along with scoring in the 40 point range, is still a very valuable player in this league, and very much worth what he is getting paid, even if that's where he tops out offensively. Now if we want to say, that if he is going to be the #2 center, then yes, we need him to produce more offensively. Either way, Couturier is still a building block for this team moving forward, and a lot of teams would be perfectly willing to insert Couturier into their lineup, and pay him what he's signed for.
- MJL

Your hysterical.
I'm not saying he stinks, or he's a waste, not at all.
I'd rather pay someone else less to be a stud defensive center, and have my #2C be more of an offensive threat, so G doesn't get blamed for not scoring when he's "hogtied"

Like everyone today saying G isn't this, or that.
He needs a #2C threat behind him so he doesn't get "Hedman-ed", like last night.

I guess Mason has been good, but not superior enough for the breakdowns.
- puckhead17

That's my read on it, but that's just IMO. Up until I'd say five games ago, we were not getting the goaltending needed to win. Mase was letting in a softie a game and so was Neuvy. Mase is rounding into form. With the efforts he's given the last 5 games I'd say, we always had a chance to win.

On a positive note, Provy is really starting to get comfortable. Now that he's got the first goal monkey off his back, I expect he'll be even better. he can just settle in and start gaining confidence. So happy to see it.

You are right on this point. Our top 6 depth isn't good enough. If I had a wish list it would start with getting a big bodied power left winger who can score. You can plug raffl or Schenn or whoever you want into the spot, but that doesn't make them capable of performing in that role. If we had that, then everyone slots into more appropriate roles. D needs some work as well, but top 3 dmen don't grow on trees.
- Hextall271

Everyone is burying G again in here, but if your Tampa and u put Hedman on him, are you worried about Cousins that much?
How about Coots?
Great 2way center, but it's too easy, blanket G, and V, and you have a great shot at beating them.
Simmonds, and Schenn need a center who can create, and produce like they can.

On a positive note, Provy is really starting to get comfortable. Now that he's got the first goal monkey off his back, I expect he'll be even better. he can just settle in and start gaining confidence. So happy to see it.
- Hextall271

Love him!
But notice how his production, (points), has increased with his confidence?

Everyone is burying G again in here, but if your Tampa and u put Hedman on him, are you worried about Cousins that much?
How about Coots?
Great 2way center, but it's too easy, blanket G, and V, and you have a great shot at beating them.
Simmonds, and Schenn need a center who can create, and produce like they can.
- puckhead17

Yep. high end forward depth is lacking for sure. We have all kinds of bottom 6 role players who can now and again move up to top 6 and do ok, but can't drive the play or score consistently.

Your hysterical.
I'm not saying he stinks, or he's a waste, not at all.
I'd rather pay someone else less to be a stud defensive center, and have my #2C be more of an offensive threat, so G doesn't get blamed for not scoring when he's "hogtied"

Like everyone today saying G isn't this, or that.
He needs a #2C threat behind him so he doesn't get "Hedman-ed", like last night.
- puckhead17

I didn't state that you did say he stinks, or he's a waste. No idea where you are getting that thought from. I'm simply saying that I disagree with your statement that it is too much money to pay Couturier is he's only scoring in the 40 point range. I think that is completely wrong.

How much do you think you'd have to pay a 3rd line center who can play as well defensively as Couturier can, and can score in the 40 point range?

Even if the Flyers had a higher scoring 2nd line center, teams are still going to play their best defenseman against whoever they deem is the team's top line whenever possible. So that might not stop it. Crosby still sees more than his fair share of top defenseman, even with Malkin in the lineup.