@billmeltzer

Hextall on Lindblom "I haven’t seen him in 3 weeks because of schedule. He was playing well before that. He's come along very nicely, playing good minutes, producing. He’s right on track. If you said to me after first 10 games he'd be where he is right now, I’d be very happy.”

maybe he hasn't actually seen goulbourne either

Sanheim cannot replace MacDonald on the Flyers defense corps now. MacDonald plays too big of a role on the Flyers.
- MJL

while I agree with you, this is not a year we can win, I am ok sitting Manning or Hagg but I would like the message it would send to the vets by sitting AMAC

Not just that, their d-zone coverage was spotty. I really like Hagg, but he's had a few rough games in a row and could probably use a game or 2 off. Also, Sanheim needs to be playing, whether it's in the NHL or AHL.

But, as we all know, Hakstol has shown over his tenure that he prefers to keep the same lineup when the team wins more often than not. I hope that next game is one of the "not" times, as Elliott needs a game off if nothing else.
- jmatchett383

agree but the Leir and Weise combo was awful, should be easy to sit one or both of them

Yeah, Lehtera's big buy he doesn't really use his size. He's slow, doesn't really hit, and doesn't have hands. If Leier is a honeybee, Lehtera's a carpenter bee.
- jmatchett383

I don't want either of them or Weiss too for that matter, playing on a regular basis on the 3rd OR 4th lines. Raffl was the perfect player on that 4th line. He moved up, second line plays better, 4th line falls apart.
We are still 2 forwards away from playing more consistently.
I would love Lindblom to be up and maybe time for Veccs to see some games with the big club.

I think Provorov develops with the qualities that Timonen brought(quiet leadership, dependable, brilliant hockey IQ) with better size and tools.

Ghost skates like Scott Niedernayer and has a pretty high hockey IQ himself. So I'd be hesitant to put a ceiling on him. Agree with your point that I'm not expecting him to be a #1 defender.
- Baxter27

not a #1 but he doesnt get enough credit for how many times he stops zone entry with his anticipation. His struggle is in the corners

Team and potentially coach got the message. Not sure those 3 fights were a coincidence. They've been pretty hesitant to drop the gloves all year. Couturiers fight was ill timed but it was good to see the team sticking together and battling for a win.
- Baxter27

two slumping teams, fights were going to happen. I actually like who Courtier took off the ice with him, I think it could have saved the game

not a #1 but he doesnt get enough credit for how many times he stops zone entry with his anticipation. His struggle is in the corners
- wcorvette

He has great vision and anticipation. He breaks up a ton of plays before they start. But he is a little guy. He just gets out muscled at times, both on the boards and in front of the net.

His level of skating is poor, but you're right in that if he was better in other facets of his game, skating wouldn't be an issue. See Couts.

That's his overall problem with his game, he doesn't excel in one area. Okay puck skills, not great; sense isn't terrible, but not very good; has good size, but doesn't use it effectively or consistently; not a great skater.

Just overall not good enough for the NHL.
- VladDrag

compared to Weise he is not far off, but does have better hands and passing. Add in the fact he plays very little and Weise has been in the lineup, I think Weise should sit of the 2 of them

He has great vision and anticipation. He breaks up a ton of plays before they start. But he is a little guy. He just gets out muscled at times, both on the boards and in front of the net.
- jaws1955

they need a net nasty D so bad

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Outslug NYI, 6-4
- bmeltzer

Not a perfect game but a fun games at least. Good to see the team show some life but they really need to learn how to hang on to a lead and not allow teams back in.

they need a net nasty D so bad
- wcorvette

They have that guy Morin but can't call him up because he is still hurt. He needs to play 8 or 10 games without breaking before he gets called up.
As an aside I recall Sammy getting the same surgery that G and Ghost got that same summer. The way he keeps reinjuring his LBI, have to think it is groin related.

The effort last night and the way they played vs Tampa as another example is how they have to play to win. But imho it’s just not sustainable for this team over 82 games. They have to skate with playoff level intensity every night, because otherwise they lose. They have too many holes in the line up at this point for them to coast to a win.
- Marc D

yeah, there's no coasting.

they need a net nasty D so bad
- wcorvette

morin. if he can ever stay healthy.

The Goulbourne call up doesn't seem to have been well managed considering they let him go to Toronto with the Phantoms on Wednesday.

It shouldn't have been difficult for Hextall to make a call telling the Phantoms to leave Ghoul behind. Now he will at most get to play two NHL games before the 5 day no-practice holiday starts.
- Feanor

But he was nhl ready on Thursday...not Wednesday

The effort last night and the way they played vs Tampa as another example is how they have to play to win. But imho it’s just not sustainable for this team over 82 games. They have to skate with playoff level intensity every night, because otherwise they lose. They have too many holes in the line up at this point for them to coast to a win.
- Marc D

Intensity every night is the problem. You are not going to get consistent effort with a roster that has 4 defensemen with less than 3 years of experience. Add to that 4 or 5 forwards in the same phase of their career. They are all still learning to play a NHL game.

This is a planned roller coaster ride. It is a maddening experience for the fans.

So, what's got everyone's panties in a bunch today?

not a #1 but he doesnt get enough credit for how many times he stops zone entry with his anticipation. His struggle is in the corners
- wcorvette

At the same age Ghost is now, Mark Howe was a high scoring left wing. There is no reason, if he dedicates himself to proper training and working on being a better defender, that Ghost can't become a successful top pair Dman. He probably won't be as good as Howe, but he has all the tools to be a top pair guy.

They have that guy Morin but can't call him up because he is still hurt. He needs to play 8 or 10 games without breaking before he gets called up.
As an aside I recall Sammy getting the same surgery that G and Ghost got that same summer. The way he keeps reinjuring his LBI, have to think it is groin related.
- jaws1955

I wasn't aware they had confirmed it was a LBI.

Yeah, Lehtera's big buy he doesn't really use his size. He's slow, doesn't really hit, and doesn't have hands. If Leier is a honeybee, Lehtera's a carpenter bee.
- jmatchett383

I want Lehtera on the Phantoms, but he can go in here instead.

I wasn't aware they had confirmed it was a LBI.
- Feanor

He had several problems that I read were LBI, not sure if it was mentioned this time or not and don't really care. He is hurt again after not being able to skate when injured and was not skating again. Don't have any direct knowledge. I live in freaking Florida, all my info is long distance and most comes from Bill.

His level of skating is poor, but you're right in that if he was better in other facets of his game, skating wouldn't be an issue. See Couts.

That's his overall problem with his game, he doesn't excel in one area. Okay puck skills, not great; sense isn't terrible, but not very good; has good size, but doesn't use it effectively or consistently; not a great skater.

Just overall not good enough for the NHL.
- VladDrag

The bottom line is that two points in 228 combined ES + PP minutes is not close to being good enough for an NHL forward unless they were a great defensive player, which Lehtera is not.

For comparison, last year Matt Read had 18 points in 812 ES + PP minutes.

The bottom line is that two points in 228 combined ES + PP minutes is not close to being good enough for an NHL forward unless they were a great defensive player, which Lehtera is not.

For comparison, last year Matt Read had 18 points in 812 ES + PP minutes.
- Feanor

Lehtera, Weise and Leier have no business being In the lineup of a good NHL team, sadly the Flyers are still a few players short of being a good NHL team.

Nice to see Patrick with extra pep in the step last night as well. Really looking forward to watching this kid next season, injury aside a good off season to get a little stronger will go a long way for him in the corner battles.

Lehtera, Weise and Leier have no business being In the lineup of a good NHL team, sadly the Flyers are still a few players short of being a good NHL team.
- BiggE

Yet when the GM tries to address that by calling up a replacement he sees suited for 4th line duty people absolutely lose their poop in here.

Also see Weise as a fine 4th liner. But he's been getting far too many opportunities this season that he hasn't justified.

Yet when the GM tries to address that by calling up a replacement he sees suited for 4th line duty people absolutely lose their poop in here.

Also see Weise as a fine 4th liner. But he's been getting far too many opportunities this season that he hasn't justified.
- Baxter27

I think people are more upset that a 4th liner who couldn't play his way out of the ECHL 8 months ago gets a call up as opposed to a guy who's been on an offensive tear in the AHL. If they'd call up Lindblom along with Goulborune to replace Weise on the 3rd line and Lehtera on the 4th, I think a lot more people would be less WTF.