They have players on the roster capable of that. It's not a roster problem. They are coached to play a more reserved style of hockey whereas someone like Lavi wanted the poop stirred just about every game.

Frankly, with how terrible the PK is they can't afford to play loose like that.
- hereticpride

That’s where my issue comes in. I’m not a coach, but I played very competitive hockey (albeit nothing close to pro level) and I have never EVER seen a passive penalty kill that lets teams set up and pass around be successful.

Yes, when being aggressive, you may get burned, but it has way more effectiveness than sitting back passively.

I felt for Provy last night on the Isles pp goal. If he went to Tavares it was a back door slam dunk. Gave the goalie the shooter and played the pass, got burned anyway. (Nice whiff on the clear Radko).

hopefully Jake gets all the stupid out of his game before the playoff's. That was just dumb.
- landros 2

Imagine if he had any bit of hockey IQ. He’s a fantastic player, but he may be the dumbest good hockey player I’ve ever seen on the ice.

A lot of coaches might shorten the bench in must win game with 7 minutes left.
- PLindbergh31

Bingo. Rolling four lines is a necessity in the middle of the season. It’s a luxury in crunch time, if that line is good.

That’s where my issue comes in. I’m not a coach, but I played very competitive hockey (albeit nothing close to pro level) and I have never EVER seen a passive penalty kill that lets teams set up and pass around be successful.

Yes, when being aggressive, you may get burned, but it has way more effectiveness than sitting back passively.

I felt for Provy last night on the Isles pp goal. If he went to Tavares it was a back door slam dunk. Gave the goalie the shooter and played the pass, got burned anyway. (Nice whiff on the clear Radko).
- Flyers1218

The Flyers in the past had a lot of issues with being burned by cross ice passes, so they changed for a diamond and one formation which is a widely used PK formation. I don't believe the coaching staff coaches or wants the PK to be as passive as it is. I believe it is part of the same reason why they have issues closing out games late, it's a confidence issue among the team. That leads to over cautiousness. I understand the idea that a change has to be made, but most of it is simply execution issues.
Like you said last night, Provorov had to choose his method of execution last night. He chose correctly and had to let Taveras go one on one with the goaltender because in my opinion Filppula did not drop down to cover the back door. If Provorov goes to Taveras, easy cross ice pass and slam dunk as you alluded to. That's not a coaching issue, that's a player not getting it done.

Yup, and they didn't keep him around very long.
- bmeltzer

12 games

Is Elliot going to be in Thursday or what?

2 home games left. Get the 4 points. Forget the rest.

I'm not confident, but this is the bed they made for themselves.
- Pelle31Forever

but Florida pretty much needs to win out so we got this

Is Elliot going to be in Thursday or what?
- Just5

Yesno

Yesno
- Streit2ThePoint

possibly

Bingo. Rolling four lines is a necessity in the middle of the season. It’s a luxury in crunch time, if that line is good.
- Flyers1218

Coaches are looking for certain matchups. Harder to get on the road. Last night in order to get the team to wake up, he changed some lines around. You want to keep your best offensive lines away from having to play head to head against the Islanders top lines, the Taveras, and Barzal lines so they don't spend their shifts checking in the defensive zone. The result of the changes had Konecny and Simmonds, who had an awful game, playing with Fillpula. So he was reluctant to use that line against the Islanders top lines. That leaves the 4th line that he elected to use for a shift against the Barzal line after the Flyers tied the game.

Yesno
- Streit2ThePoint

fresno ?

I think a player can be criticized especially for his poor plays the last two games without disparaging or disrespecting the player outright. Personally, next game, I would reinsert Laughton, place Raffl in Simmonds spot and scratch Simmonds.
- MJL

If Simmonds is trying to play through an injury, that would make sense to scratch him.
Otherwise I’d let him play. He’s a leader on the team and they need him, but if struggling because of injury, I can see sitting him.

Criticism is deserved but as to long term decisions about his next deal, well I think maybe wait and see if he is playing injured and then if they can get a deal done that is reasonable for both sides.

I’m biased because I love Simmonds, even though streaky, he is to me is a perfect Flyer, would go through walls to win.

lol, yeah "reality"
- Scoob

Look no further than my comments yesterday between 3:30pm and 5pm. It's not a matter of owning a crystal ball. Everything that's wrong and right about this team was on full display last night.

Tell me another fairy about how it's possible we could survive the first round of the playoffs.

If Simmonds is trying to play through an injury, that would make sense to scratch him.
Otherwise I’d let him play. He’s a leader on the team and they need him, but if struggling because of injury, I can see sitting him.

Criticism is deserved but as to long term decisions about his next deal, well I think maybe wait and see if he is playing injured and then if they can get a deal done that is reasonable for both sides.

I’m biased because I love Simmonds, even though streaky, he is to me is a perfect Flyer, would go through walls to win.
- Marc D

I believe that frustration sets in and affects a player mentally leading to mistakes and poor play due to physical issues limiting a player. I hope that is what is happening to Simmonds. Otherwise I would agree with you to let him continue to play through it, but I think he needs a reset.

Hot Lava.


- Lexington Flyer

Laviolette I believe called Ron Hextall I believe at the end of last season, he said "No, you play more defensive in your system".

Not buying Lindbum was a typo
- nastyflyergirl

I'm not paid by the blog. Someone tell Bill it's Power Play, not Power Pay.

Islanders get last change.
- J35Bacher

No poop. Kind of why it's incredibly dumb to throw out your 4th line against an unknown. After making it 4-4 you gotta know you're getting the JT or Barzal line

No poop. Kind of why it's incredibly dumb to throw out your 4th line against an unknown. After making it 4-4 you gotta know you're getting the JT or Barzal line
- JFlyers00

There was no unknown. There was nothing dumb about it.

I'm not paid by the blog. Someone tell Bill it's Power Play, not Power Pay.
- SuperSchennBros

His name is Oskar Lindblom.

Look no further than my comments yesterday between 3:30pm and 5pm. It's not a matter of owning a crystal ball. Everything that's wrong and right about this team was on full display last night.

Tell me another fairy about how it's possible we could survive the first round of the playoffs.
- SuperSchennBros

Without Brayden Schenn? No shot at making the playoffs, let alone surviving the first round. I don't even know why they're playing these last few games.

If Simmonds is trying to play through an injury, that would make sense to scratch him.
Otherwise I’d let him play. He’s a leader on the team and they need him, but if struggling because of injury, I can see sitting him.

Criticism is deserved but as to long term decisions about his next deal, well I think maybe wait and see if he is playing injured and then if they can get a deal done that is reasonable for both sides.

I’m biased because I love Simmonds, even though streaky, he is to me is a perfect Flyer, would go through walls to win.
- Marc D

bad Simmonds > good Raffl

Without Brayden Schenn? No shot at making the playoffs, let alone surviving the first round. I don't even know why they're playing these last few games.
- Ftown19125

Yeah, they should have just forfeited the decade after that trade. No point in even trying.

I'm not paid by the blog. Someone tell Bill it's Power Play, not Power Pay.
- SuperSchennBros

Alright big guy let's settle down

Alright big guy let's settle down
- Mordecai

DER TERK ER SCHENN!

His name is Oskar Lindblom.
- Fryman4

Can't tell if you intended it, but I read this the same way as "His name is Robert Paulson."