The decision to put out the fourth line right after tying it up 4-4.

Inexcusable.

Manning and Gudas playing 20min while Sanheim and Mac basically at 15. If that PK was mediocre I could understand it.
- flyer_nutter

That’s it in a nutshell. Problem is, that’s his go to move. I’d be curious to see what percentage of the time he puts the fourth line out after a goal. Again, it was the Provy pinch, but when you got a team on the ropes, why put your worst line out there to slow momentum?

I am just being jocular. Him and his irreplaceable intangibles are part of the leadership group
- YuenglingJagr

If it makes you feel any better, I always consider you a dumb jock.

What I'd like to see the roster look like next season:

G-Coots-TK
Lindblom-Patrick-Jake
?1-?2-Weal
Raffl-Laughton-NAK
spares: Lehtera & Leier
bought out/waived or shot: Weise

Provorov-Ghost/Hagg
Sanheim-AMac/Hagg
Morin-Ghost/AMac/Hagg
spare: ?3

Elliott
?4

?1-could be someone acquired in a Simmonds trade or could be Weal if a RW is acquired in a Simmonds trade or if a guy like NAK looks like he can flourish on the 3rd line.

?2-Could be Vecchione or Vorobyev, or it could be a trade acquisition or a UFA

?3- could be Manning if the price is right, or an inexpensive 6/7 older veteran type

?4- Sadly, due to his being pretty much untradeable, it could be Neuvirth, at least to start the season. Could also be one of Lyon/Stolarz or a veteran free agent.
- BiggE

?3 will be Gudas and some combination of Gudas/Morin/Sanheim/Hagg will probably be scratched. Unless Gudas or MacDonald are traded it will take an injury to see Myers.

?4 is Neuvirth/Lyon/Stolarz...I doubt Neuvirth goes anywhere, and I guess there is a chance Lyon or Stolarz signs somewhere. It will be interesting because I doubt Hextall is too pleased with going into the season with Elliott/Neuvirth/Stolarz/Hart

How many times has this team played down to an inferior opponent this season? Ups and downs of a regular season are expected but it's crunch time. The overall effort especially in the 2nd period was nauseating. Nobody stepped up in that period to turn the tide.
- MJL

When they made it 4-2 I posted on twitter this is when they come back but end up losing by 1 goal. we've seen it over and over and over. its maddening.

Let's be real tho, they are a 2 line team. Obviously that doesn't excuse AT ALL coming out flat against non playoff teams. Line 3 has been bad for the most part and line 4 rarely chips in. I liked when the 4th line was Leier-Laughton-Raffl. Read helps on the PK and is a better player than Leier so I would be fine with him in Leier's place of course. the 3rd line is just bad. Simmonds is having a down year and is in a bad stretch. I look forward to moving on from Filppula and Weal has been a disappointment outside of a game here and there where he plays well.

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

Or scratch Raffl. Just because he was healthy again doesn’t mean he has to play. If the team is playing pretty well and you like Lehtera in there enough to scratch Laughton, why not just leave it the way it is, especially if it’s only for “one” game. Raffl is decent, but not immune to be a healthy scratch.

That’s it in a nutshell. Problem is, that’s his go to move. I’d be curious to see what percentage of the time he puts the fourth line out after a goal. Again, it was the Provy pinch, but when you got a team on the ropes, why put your worst line out there to slow momentum?
- Flyers1218

When you think about it. The goal comes after the PP goal. on the PP you have Patrick, Voracek, Giroux, Couturier. So you probably weren't putting out the top 2 lines.

So it was probably between Lehtara line and Fillpula line. I could have seen the same thing happening with the Filppula line out there too.

Not absolving the coaching but just pointing out what was probably the thought process.

If it makes you feel any better, I always consider you a dumb jock.
- jmatchett383

that does make me feel better

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

Well trust me. Boston is going to be fired up against Florida to ensure they’ll get the flyers in the first round

?3 will be Gudas and some combination of Gudas/Morin/Sanheim/Hagg will probably be scratched. Unless Gudas or MacDonald are traded it will take an injury to see Myers.

?4 is Neuvirth/Lyon/Stolarz...I doubt Neuvirth goes anywhere, and I guess there is a chance Lyon or Stolarz signs somewhere. It will be interesting because I doubt Hextall is too pleased with going into the season with Elliott/Neuvirth/Stolarz/Hart
- YuenglingJagr

Re ?3: I'm really hoping Gudas is traded this off season too.

Or scratch Raffl. Just because he was healthy again doesn’t mean he has to play. If the team is playing pretty well and you like Lehtera in there enough to scratch Laughton, why not just leave it the way it is, especially if it’s only for “one” game. Raffl is decent, but not immune to be a healthy scratch.
- Flyers1218

Because Raffl isn't Hagg.

If Hagg truly is healthy and Hak doesn't put him in next game, there is no excuse.

I've always found it interesting that NHL coaches like to ice their 4th line after a goal. I guess it made sense 15 years ago, but now its rather dumb especially on the road.

Hak isn't the only coach that does this, but it would be nice to have someone behind the bench that didn't follow this other archaic trend.

When you think about it. The goal comes after the PP goal. on the PP you have Patrick, Voracek, Giroux, Couturier. So you probably weren't putting out the top 2 lines.

So it was probably between Lehtara line and Fillpula line. I could have seen the same thing happening with the Filppula line out there too.

Not absolving the coaching but just pointing out what was probably the thought process.
- J35Bacher

Patrick is only 19, he probably wasn't that tired. I would have put him out for a shift with Lindblom and Read. Hell, if they need an extra minute have Mrazek skate to bench and say something is wrong with his mask, that'll buy ya that extra minute. There was no reason to put that line out at that time.

Re ?3: I'm really hoping Gudas is traded this off season too.
- BiggE

Agree.

I think Hagg can fill in there and provide a little more.

Yup, and the Flyers also could have drafted Patrik Berglund (higher on many teams' lists, and the next player down on Philly's) instead of Claude Giroux. And the Avalanche could have drafted Simon Gagne instead of bypassing him three times in the first round (including for Martin Skoula and Scott Parker). And every team in the NHL could have drafted Jamie Benn before the 129th pick in 2007.

Shall we discuss every player that every team ever looked bad missing out on it a hindsight drafting?
- bmeltzer

Why do people always point out the negative but don't point out how everyone passed on Ghost multiple times. Getting Lindblom so late in the draft, etc etc. all teams have good and bad when drafting 18 year olds.

I enjoyed the Islander’s announcer mispronouncing the Flyers names all game.
My favorite was “Coach Haskell”.

Kept thinking Eddie Haskell was our coach

I never found Hartnell to be lazy. Last night, Simmonds was just plain lazy, which is why he was removed from the PP.
- MJL

A game like that after he nearly blew the last game singlehandedly.

It was nice to see hak pull him off the pp

as Bill stated, Its down to the two games. I guess we'll see if they can play three periods of "urgent" type hockey. I still think they are in a good spot, but would feel more confident if it was Elliot and not Mzarek in net. Last nights 2nd period was atrocious, kind of surprising as it seemed as though they just sat back and stopped skating.....As for the usual whipping boys, they are what they are. No point in stating the obvious, we all watch the same games. The Flyers top guys have to carry their sorry ass's, but that's just the way it is. (it's been like that all (frank)ing year...why change things now)

Patrick is only 19, he probably wasn't that tired. I would have put him out for a shift with Lindblom and Read. Hell, if they need an extra minute have Mrazek skate to bench and say something is wrong with his mask, that'll buy ya that extra minute. There was no reason to put that line out at that time.
- BiggE

Just pointing out another idea of why he decided to put that line out.

Not everything is as black and white as everyone likes it to be.

I've always found it interesting that NHL coaches like to ice their 4th line after a goal. I guess it made sense 15 years ago, but now its rather dumb especially on the road.

Hak isn't the only coach that does this, but it would be nice to have someone behind the bench that didn't follow this other archaic trend.
- JFlyers00

Time for Nrgy

we’re gonna need a SO win in game 82 vs NY again, aren’t we.
- hammarby31

if it means a trip to the finals I am all in seriously tho with Boston losing to Tampa last night I gotta think they come out firing against Florida those two games. that will help. but that said, there is NO excuse not to beat Carolina and New York and get it done without help

Time for Nrgy
- Just5

I don't think it has anything to do with NRGY. Read has been playing well and Lehtara has been solid too. He put out a line that he thought would be defensively responsible after the Flyers goal.

Then just stop being a fan.
- jmatchett383

Right after most of you step into reality with me. There is plenty of space and I'll save you a spot.

Not even going to bother with the first seven pages.

How's it bubbling today?

Well trust me. Boston is going to be fired up against Florida to ensure they’ll get the flyers in the first round
- Just5

I'm fine with the Bruins in the first round. Id rather them then Tbay or Toronto. .. We may not beat the Bruins but I think they make the Flyers play their best hockey because they just don't stop skating.

Yeah I hear you. But there were a few that could have been called against the Flyers that weren’t. I didn’t find the officiating to be a factor.......... in this game.

The Nashville game on the other hand. I don’t know. Replay is an issue. In every sport. I get the need to get it right, but replay has not been what it was intended to be in ANY sport. Replay has made us question what is a catch and it is turning goalie interference into something just as convoluted.

Simple fact, if the goalie isn’t sure where the puck is and the whistle hasn’t blown then what’s the issue? The puck was loose, got free from a stick digging it out and got banged in. Call on the ice was goal. That needs to stand. That call affected six teams- Nashville, Florida, Flyers, New Jersey, Columbus, and Winnipeg. There’s too much on the line for the league to intervene on something ticky tacky like that.
- Flyers1218

that absolutely was a goal and I swear when I see poop like that it just makes me think Bettman wants Florida in because they have so little support