I thought Mrazek was OK, and not the problem tonight.

Give Tavares that much time and space -- and from one of his favorite shooting areas -- and he's going to score. Didn't think that was soft except for soft coverage. The second Tavares goal was strictly on the guys in front of him. The Barzal one was a sick shot, albeit short side.

Also, when the game was still 2-1 Islanders, it easily could -- even should -- have already been about 4-1 or 5-1.
- bmeltzer

Thank you Bill.

Mrazek didn't stand on his head, but he played well enough for them to win. Meanwhile, the overall team D gave them no chance to win. Provorov was off his game, and the rest of the D is a house of cards. /tumble

You guys are kidding me right? This comment is like when someone brought up how incredible our top pair is. Patrick, Voracek and Lindbum were our top line and it took forever to score his first. The other two aren't consistent scorers.
- SuperSchennBros

"Lindbum".... ummmm, yeah.

This. (Although their 2nd line is decent and getting better imo)

I'm all for rooting for your team but you have to be realistic too. Coach often gives too much ice time to the wrong players in the wrong situations. There seems to be no accountability for a putrid penalty kill. And the goaltending is just an absolute mess until Elliott comes back.
- hereticpride

I think Mrazek would be fine behind a decent defense.

Look, this is the time of year where coaches pay close attention to detail. Our fourth line against their very white hot second line is not paying attention to anything. It's not like the Lehtera line was out there due to an icing. Hakstol put them out there!!

Hexstall will not fire Hakstol, because that would show that Hexstall made a big mistake in hiring Hakstol. I do believe that Hakstol has been hamstrung with the bench coaches that Hexstall gave him. The bench coaches must go, especially Lappy. Loved him a player, but he's sucked as a coach.
- Thors-Hammer

In my opinion Hextall wouldn't hesitate a single second to fire Hakstol if he felt that was best for the team. he won't fire Hakstol because the coach has done a good job this season.

Might as well trade Simmonds if he’s going to be replaced on PP1

I think Mrazek would be fine behind a decent defense.

Look, this is the time of year where coaches pay close attention to detail. Our fourth line against their very white hot second line is not paying attention to anything. It's not like the Lehtera line was out there due to an icing. Hakstol put them out there!!
- SuperSchennBros

He'd certainly be better with a better defense in front of him. Still lets up way too many stoppable goals however.

No excuse for Hak with that call. If they make the playoffs these kind of decisions will (frank) them. Guaranteed.

Good thing Boston lost last night. They ar tied with Tampa and they will be bringing it in their 2 games against Florida

Might as well trade Simmonds if he’s going to be replaced on PP1
- Just5

I have no doubt that Simmonds is getting dealt at the draft. Re-signing him, for what it's going to cost, is completely against Hextall's philosophy. He has made it clear, numerous times, that he believes a team is built up the middle (goal, defense, center). There is no way he is going to pay a big bucks to a power forward winger who will be 31 in the first year of any new deal. None.

Game Observations:

- While he scored a goal i wasn't fan of Simmonds game last night. Bad cross ice turnover and then on the back check he stops moving his feet and just tries to take two swats at Tavares.

- Thought Gudas was "meh". Wold prefer to see Hagg in over him.

- Nice to see the switch with Patrick going on PP1. I know a couple people on here kept asking for it, myself included, so it was a good switch to spark the team.

- Didn't like the coaching move to have the 4th line on the ice after the tying the game at 4. You had to know the Islanders would come back with a scoring line. But that wasn't the only mistake. Provorov probabaly shouldn't have went for the pinch.

- While Lehtara has played ok I don't like having him in over Laughton. I think your too slow in the middle when you have him and Filppula centering your 3rd and 4th lines. I would get laughton back in with Raffl and Read next game.

He'd certainly be better with a better defense in front of him. Still lets up way too many stoppable goals however.

No excuse for Hak with that call. If they make the playoffs these kind of decisions will (frank) them. Guaranteed.
- hereticpride

I wouldn't say that. He also made the call to switch Patrick and Simmonds on the PP which sparked the come back. he also helped get this team from last into a playoff spot with the solid hockey they played in January and February.

I have no doubt that Simmonds is getting dealt at the draft. Re-signing him, for what it's going to cost, is completely against Hextall's philosophy. He has made it clear, numerous times, that he believes a team is built up the middle (goal, defense, center). There is no way he is going to pay a big bucks to a power forward winger who will be 31 in the first year of any new deal. None.
- BiggE

Wasn't it you and I that kept wanting patrick on the top PP1? What was the rebuttal from the majority " Can't take the best net front presence of the top PP!!"

I think the move was ok and should benefit them moving forward.

I wouldn't say that. He also made the call to switch Patrick and Simmonds on the PP which sparked the come back. he also helped get this team from last into a playoff spot with the solid hockey they played in January and February.
- J35Bacher

Can we just please focus on the negatives, trade everyone and fire everyone who didnt get traded?

I have no doubt that Simmonds is getting dealt at the draft. Re-signing him, for what it's going to cost, is completely against Hextall's philosophy. He has made it clear, numerous times, that he believes a team is built up the middle (goal, defense, center). There is no way he is going to pay a big bucks to a power forward winger who will be 31 in the first year of any new deal. None.
- BiggE

I agree. Although I think Hextall could hold onto him next year if he doesn't like the offers he gets this summer.

That said, if Simmonds is off PP1 next year I don't see how his value goes up at all next year.

He'd certainly be better with a better defense in front of him. Still lets up way too many stoppable goals however.

No excuse for Hak with that call. If they make the playoffs these kind of decisions will (frank) them. Guaranteed.
- hereticpride

I can't think of any goalie that wouldn't be better with an improved defense in front of them. You're right about his uncanny ability to let in sh*t goals at awful times and lack of momentum changing saves. One on one hockey, the goalie has a huge advantage, apparently unless they wear Orange & Black!

Hakstol may be doing some things that are commendable with the development on young players, but his inability to allow them to deal tough game situations really defies the psychological fact that people learn more from difficulty. Way too much reliance on vets that are significantly past their primes and the Manning/Gudas pairing just plain stinks. Moving G to wing on a line with Coots was a great idea, but that's where it ends for my praise of Hakstol.

Good thing Boston lost last night. They ar tied with Tampa and they will be bringing it in their 2 games against Florida
- Just5

Agreed. At best, I see Florida getting 4 points in their last 3 games. This means the Flyers need 1 point out of 2 home games against Carolina and the Rags. They are going to make the playoffs. However, they will almost certainly end up the last seed and will probably be playing Boston in the first round. This team just doesn't have the horses to pull an upset against a deep Boston team in a 7 game series. They'll make a good show of it, but I very much doubt it goes past 6 games.

They badly need to address the following prior to 18-19:

The penalty killing
The PK has been atrocious for way too long and if anything, it seems to be getting worse. It's not all on Lappy, but a new voice calling the shots would be a good move, IMO. Also replacing Filppula with a better PK center and adding Morin to the D group would help as well.

Secondary scoring from the bottom 6
This just has to be better. Hopefully, they can get a young, NHL ready player as part of a Simmonds deal who can slot into the 3rd line and improve this. Other than that, since I don't see Hextall addressing this through any big FA moves, help will have to come from within. They have some solid to very good forward prospects, but other than possibly Vecchs, I don't see any stepping right up in game one next October.

Finding a serviceable 3rd pairing
This is a must. I think they are ok with Provorov, Ghost, Sanheim and AMac as the top 4, but they need a 3rd unit. Hagg should be in the lineup next season, and I'm crossing my fingers that Morin will be healthy and will fill the other spot. I would also, at times, break up the Provorov/Ghost unit and go with:
Provorov-Hagg
Sanheim-AMac
Morin-Ghost

I wouldn't say that. He also made the call to switch Patrick and Simmonds on the PP which sparked the come back. he also helped get this team from last into a playoff spot with the solid hockey they played in January and February.
- J35Bacher

Those calls have zero to do with the decision I'm referencing. You can make the right decisions for 95% of the game. That doesn't mean the bad ones aren't still bad. And boy was that a bad decision.

Wasn't it you and I that kept wanting patrick on the top PP1? What was the rebuttal from the majority " Can't take the best net front presence of the top PP!!"

I think the move was ok and should benefit them moving forward.
- J35Bacher

Me and others as well. Simmonds won't be here next year, so getting Patrick onto the top unit was a good move. I just wish it happened a little sooner.

Game Observations:

- While he scored a goal i wasn't fan of Simmonds game last night. Bad cross ice turnover and then on the back check he stops moving his feet and just tries to take two swats at Tavares.

- Thought Gudas was "meh". Wold prefer to see Hagg in over him.

- Nice to see the switch with Patrick going on PP1. I know a couple people on here kept asking for it, myself included, so it was a good switch to spark the team.

- Didn't like the coaching move to have the 4th line on the ice after the tying the game at 4. You had to know the Islanders would come back with a scoring line. But that wasn't the only mistake. Provorov probabaly shouldn't have went for the pinch.

- While Lehtara has played ok I don't like having him in over Laughton. I think your too slow in the middle when you have him and Filppula centering your 3rd and 4th lines. I would get laughton back in with Raffl and Read next game.
- J35Bacher

Agree with all of this except I think you were very generous calling Gudas meh, I would have gone with awful.

Good thing Boston lost last night. They ar tied with Tampa and they will be bringing it in their 2 games against Florida
- Just5

Flyers are going to need all the help they can get just to get in the playoffs at this point. Guess this is what happens when you shi*t the bed against bottom feeders. Even if they make the playoffs they'll wind up playing Boston or Tampa only to get the crap kicked out of them!

I agree. Although I think Hextall could hold onto him next year if he doesn't like the offers he gets this summer.

That said, if Simmonds is off PP1 next year I don't see how his value goes up at all next year.
- hereticpride

There is almost no way that Simmonds value goes up next year, especially when you factor in the expiring contract. There will be teams that make good offers for him due to his past success, his low cap hit and the fact that even in an off year, he still scored 20+ goals.

Flyers are going to need all the help they can get just to get in the playoffs at this point. Guess this is what happens when you shi*t the bed against bottom feeders. Even if they make the playoffs they'll wind up playing Boston or Tampa only to get the crap kicked out of them!
- aantny88

Not really. Win two games and they are in. They control their own fate.

oh joy and they lost 10 games earlier this season
- 2Real

Lemme FTFY..

Flyers drafted Provorov over Barzal ..lol what an idiotic dumb pick blah blah Pavelski 4life!

Not really. Win two games and they are in. They control their own fate.
- J35Bacher

And last night's performance gives you the confidence that is going to happen?

Flyers are going to need all the help they can get just to get in the playoffs at this point. Guess this is what happens when you shi*t the bed against bottom feeders. Even if they make the playoffs they'll wind up playing Boston or Tampa only to get the crap kicked out of them!
- aantny88

The extra 1-2 points from that early Nashville game sure would be nice right now.

Not really. Win two games and they are in. They control their own fate.
- J35Bacher

Yup, actually one win and an OT/SO loss would also still get them in.