Gudas does belong in the NHL.
He needs to be on a regular basis.
- Rang

Agreed.

Zajac sure showed Gudas' helmet and back who's in charge.

I don't care for Gudas, and whether the hit was intentional or not, it's a play you can't make, so I applaud Zajac for stepping up for his teammate. But just because Zajac threw a bunch of punches, I don't think he actually landed one on Gudas' face.
- jmatchett383

They should check his hand for a concussion. Is there a concussion protocol for the hand in the NHL?

Gudas, pinching in on the play, was trying to get back out to his point position, saw Palmieri right in his path and made the strange choice to try to hurdle his opponent, accidentally knocking him hard to the ice instead.

Lots of logical gymnastics here, Bill.

Lots of logical gymnastics here, Bill.
- TheRollingPuck

It was a dumb play, but more reactionary than malicious, kind of when a player instinctually throws his leg out to stop a player. Just because it wasn't intentional/malicious doesn't mean he shouldn't be disciplined.

That said, it wasn't half as bad as James Neal's flying elbow on Couturier, something that he was not even given a minor penalty for in addition to no supplementary discipline.

Does Ronald start to feel any pressure to help the team he has neglected? Another year of clode wasted.
- rinaldo

Go figure..you and the rest of TN were pretty much absent for the past 20 games but now its the "team he neglected"

Go figure..you and the rest of TN were pretty much absent for the past 20 games but now its the "team he neglected"
- opeth_pa

Don't encourage him, he'll start to think that people actually care.

No matter what happens this season there is no way Laparriere can be back next season.

I would try to get Laughton and Leier back on the PK. they did seem to be able to put pressure on the PP early in the season.

Also the defenders need to be better. Too many failed clears and just not strong on sticks in close to the net.
- J35Bacher

The entire reason why the Flyers play a passive if you will triangle and one formation is to prevent cross ice passes and easy passing lanes. In the Washington game there was an easy lane to pass to the net on one PP GA and last night there was an easy cross ice open passing lane on the Palmeiri goal. Fillpula is a LH shot there but he has to have his stick in the passing lane.

Gudas and Manning were brutal again. They both stayed in the corner holding the Devils on the wall, Manning was just leaning on his guy, meanwhile Gudas was kicking and spinning, puck comes out and no one in front of the net but Raffle. That is where should have been closer to, just not sure what both of them were thinking, maybe the ref would blow a whistle, maybe it is back in the 80's, NO HOCKEY SENSE.

yes again brutal non calls by ref

If this team doesn't commit another penalty all year, they might, MIGHT, get a wild card spot.

How they are 28th or 29th in the league in PK with a couple teams worse than them is mind boggling. What do those other teams do? Shoot at their own net?

Several of us kept predicting 1-0 ,2-1 and sure enough NJ scored.

You always gasp on a penalty kill, but now it's like death and taxes guaranteed.

Zajac sure showed Gudas' helmet and back who's in charge.

I don't care for Gudas, and whether the hit was intentional or not, it's a play you can't make, so I applaud Zajac for stepping up for his teammate. But just because Zajac threw a bunch of punches, I don't think he actually landed one on Gudas' face.
- jmatchett383[/quote

he also eat an uppercut

The PK was at 75% before Lehtera became a regular on 1/6/18. Since then it's at 69.7%, and Lehtera has been on the ice for 6 GA in 15 minutes.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,1&sort=penaltyKillPctg

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,1&sort=penaltyKillPctg

http://www.naturalstattri...te=n&v=g&playerid=8474627

Scott Laughton not being be used ahead of Lehtera on the PK is a disgrace. It's hurting his development as a player, and it's hurting the team.
- Feanor

The PK is a team issue, not one player. It's been bad all season regardless of what personnel they use. I guess every one of those 6 goals is on Lehtera.

No matter what happens this season there is no way Laparriere can be back next season.

I would try to get Laughton and Leier back on the PK. they did seem to be able to put pressure on the PP early in the season.

Also the defenders need to be better. Too many failed clears and just not strong on sticks in close to the net.
- J35Bacher

I thought that AMac especially was having trouble with clears all night long, but he's been pretty solid all season long. He's been a strong point for them defensively this season. Not an ideal PK guy, but he's been at least adequate for the better part of the year.

However, I'm not liking the AMac/Hagg pair, and I'm not thrilled with the Gudas/Manning pair either. I'd rather call up Sanheim and go Gudas/Hagg and AMac/Sanheim.

The PK seems like a perfect Scott Laughton role, given his style as a player.
- johndewar

Scott Laughton ranks second only to Couturier in PK ice time per game among Flyer forwards.

Gudas and Manning were brutal again. They both stayed in the corner holding the Devils on the wall, Manning was just leaning on his guy, meanwhile Gudas was kicking and spinning, puck comes out and no one in front of the net but Raffle. That is where should have been closer to, just not sure what both of them were thinking, maybe the ref would blow a whistle, maybe it is back in the 80's, NO HOCKEY SENSE.

yes again brutal non calls by ref
- wcorvette

How defenseman handle a play like that is dependent on the team's defensive coverage scheme. Some teams will leave a defenseman at the net with the puck deep but most team want both defenseman on the puck with the first forward deep. It's not about hockey sense, it's about scheme. The issue is that they lost the puck battle and the coverage at the net was soft. Konecny was slow to cover the open man that was his responsibility.

I thought that AMac especially was having trouble with clears all night long, but he's been pretty solid all season long. He's been a strong point for them defensively this season. Not an ideal PK guy, but he's been at least adequate for the better part of the year.

However, I'm not liking the AMac/Hagg pair, and I'm not thrilled with the Gudas/Manning pair either. I'd rather call up Sanheim and go Gudas/Hagg and AMac/Sanheim.
- jmatchett383

That's the problem with having Provorov and Gostisbhere paired together. It leaves the MacDonald-Hagg pairing to take a lot of heavy lifting where all they do is defend. Ideally in the future more of the young defenseman develop and the Flyers can spread out their dynamic defenseman more through the lineup.

That's the problem with having Provorov and Gostisbhere paired together. It leaves the MacDonald-Hagg pairing to take a lot of heavy lifting where all they do is defend. Ideally in the future more of the young defenseman develop and the Flyers can spread out their dynamic defenseman more through the lineup.
- MJL

I think they need to go back to Provorov/MacDonald, Hagg/Gostisbehere and then some sort of third pair.

While not perfect it allowed to the two pairs to have some semblance of puck moving/stay at home. Sucks to break up the Gostisbehere/Provorov pairing but unless they acquire someone or make some move i think it needs to happen to space out the talent.

Flyers should try Ghost on the PK he is aggressive with his stick and has done a good job of getting in lanes this season in his own end. It's not like they have anything to lose with switching it up on the pk at this point considering how bad it is.

Post

Manning’s mistakes piling up highlights 5 storylines from a blown lead in New Jersey


Manning’s mistakes piling up
Another game, and yet another defensive breakdown by the Brandon Manning and Radko Gudas defensive pairing. This time it came in the third period, allowing the Devils to tie the game at three.

Manning was once again on the ice for a goal against, and although it wasn’t directly his fault this time, it’s becoming a disturbing trend. He has now been on the ice for a 5v5 goal against in each of the last four games, including two goals against in back-to-back games prior to last night. In those four games he has been on the ice for six of the 10 goals the Flyers have allowed at 5v5. This includes three of the four goals in this week’s back-to-back.

It’s getting to the point that Manning can’t be relied on as even a third-pairing defenseman, which is what many have been saying, and Travis Sanheim should be called up sooner rather than later. I understand wanting Sanheim to develop by playing top-pair minutes in the AHL, but he could just as easily play 12-15 minutes a night in the NHL, grow as a player, and help the Flyers win. Sons of Penn


this must have been their bounce back game

The PK is a team issue, not one player. It's been bad all season regardless of what personnel they use. I guess every one of those 6 goals is on Lehtera.
- MJL

Again, we are back to you being unable to admit that the Flyers coaches are making suboptimal lineup decisions. Even when presented with overwhelming evidence.

Lehtera has had twice as much SH TOI as Laughton in the past month, and the PK has suffered accordingly. Yes, it needs a new coach and a new approach, but that doesn't mean the personnel choices don't matter.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...ed,gte,1&sort=shTimeOnIce

Post
- BiggE

thanks, guru

Manning’s mistakes piling up highlights 5 storylines from a blown lead in New Jersey


Manning’s mistakes piling up
Another game, and yet another defensive breakdown by the Brandon Manning and Radko Gudas defensive pairing. This time it came in the third period, allowing the Devils to tie the game at three.

Manning was once again on the ice for a goal against, and although it wasn’t directly his fault this time, it’s becoming a disturbing trend. He has now been on the ice for a 5v5 goal against in each of the last four games, including two goals against in back-to-back games prior to last night. In those four games he has been on the ice for six of the 10 goals the Flyers have allowed at 5v5. This includes three of the four goals in this week’s back-to-back.

It’s getting to the point that Manning can’t be relied on as even a third-pairing defenseman, which is what many have been saying, and Travis Sanheim should be called up sooner rather than later. I understand wanting Sanheim to develop by playing top-pair minutes in the AHL, but he could just as easily play 12-15 minutes a night in the NHL, grow as a player, and help the Flyers win. Sons of Penn


this must have been their bounce back game
- wcorvette

Observations:

- This team needs Elliott back. Not saying he was Bobrovsky in there but he seemed to be a calming influence on this team.

- The 3rd pairing just isn't what it needs to be right now. I don't have much faith in either guy at this time. Maybe it's time to slide Alt in or bring Sanheim back up. They need more skill back there.

- Didn't mind the line shake up in the bottom 6. I actually thought the 3rd line looked faster. Raffl has looked MEH to me lately.

- If you want to roll 4 lines then you need to upgrade somewhere. Either bring up Lindblom to play on the 3rd line and slide Raffl down to the 4th line or somehow upgrade the 4th line. And I didn't the 4th line was bad last night.

- What is up with Weise? Not saying I really want to see him but maybe he would be motivated if slid back in on the 4th line and back in the lineup.

- Need to get back on the winning track saturday. Too close in standings to go into any prolonged losing streak
- J35Bacher

1. Agreed

2. I'd much rather see Sanheim or even Myers before Alt. Alt is not an NHL Dman, I don't want him in the lineup unless it's an emergency.

3. Raffl is Raffl, he just doesn't have the hands and creative hockey sense to generate a lot of offense, but overall I agree, the bottom six looked a bit better.

4. Lindblom in and Lehtera out would be an improvement. No doubt about it.

5. I'd play Weise over Lehtera at this point, at least Weise can keep up with the play, but I'd rather see Lindblom over either. Hell, I'd bring up NAK and roll him on the 4th with Filppula and Leier before Lehtera and Weise at this point.

6. Without a doubt.

That's the problem with having Provorov and Gostisbhere paired together. It leaves the MacDonald-Hagg pairing to take a lot of heavy lifting where all they do is defend. Ideally in the future more of the young defenseman develop and the Flyers can spread out their dynamic defenseman more through the lineup.
- MJL

The problem is the coach refuses to put Gudas with Hagg, and MacDonald with Sanheim, which would mean the bottom two pairings both had one good possession defenseman to pick up the slack from their partner.

I’m glad Bc konecny and Patrick are up on the top 2 lines. I thought weal looked good the last couple games...he’s trying to make something happen.

Leier on the 2nd pp after being scratched for forever? What the hell is that?

There is a 3rd line spot ready for Lindblom to take. I’m not sure what else they need to see from him. No he’s not setting the world on fire but when you watch him he has nhl tools, skating and size. He’s 21 not a baby anymore.
- Just5

Not only a 3rd line spot, but he could help the 2nd pp unit too.