The bank pass was from a forward who was being forechecked on. Then he broke from behind the net to initiate a breakout play. This means the middle of the ice now has either a breaking forward or a center there, along with Hagg, who should have cycled down to the other side of a the trapezoid. He did not do that in time. Bad read.

What about when Gudas got the puck off a faceoff, backtracked, looked for his D to D partner who was out of position, not available for an outlet. Under duress, choices were to turn it over at the boards, turn it over in the offensive zone, or turn it over in the middle of the ice. He did the last one. Why? Bad reads away from the puck by his D partner and by the wingers who were most likely stagnant, since this team loves to be stagnant (granted, didn't see a camera angle of what Gudas saw).

Want to talk about Sanheim? Ok, he was pretty bad today. For the first time in weeks *shrugs* Still pushed the pace and joined rushes, trying to make some things happen. He did try to make too much happen once when he didn't really have a step on a forechecking forward but tried to skate out of the defensive zone anyway. Turnover. I'm willing to forgive the 22 year old with a near season-long track record of success though.

Truth is we have guys coming soon who have great hockey sense and quick feet. And that's important. Hart is only going to get better. Salvation is coming. Hopefully
- Giroux_Is_God

Which forward again?



"I'm willing to forgive the 22 year old with a near season-long track record of success though."

Let's not discuss his play since being paired with Provorov, some of his ducks he has tossed his way that have lead to goals...probably all Provy's fault though since he has had a bad year.

Yeah the 10 year veteran Hagg...oops I mean 23 year old with ONLY 22 more games than Sanheim. Same stage less forgiveness, gotcha. Not bias at all.

Speaking of turnovers...whew.

That’s the way boys, stay on target!!

Which forward again?



"I'm willing to forgive the 22 year old with a near season-long track record of success though."

Let's not discuss his play since being paired with Provorov, some of this ducks he has tossed his way that have lead to goals...probably all Provy's fault though since he has had a bad year.

Yeah the 10 year veteran Hagg...oops I mean 23 year old with ONLY 22 more games than Sanheim. Same stage less forgiveness, gotcha. Not bias at all.

Speaking of turnovers...whew.


- Glak18

Ok, I misremembered that play for sure you're right.

Definitely not misremembering the other play I mentioned though

As far as this Sanheim/Hagg nonsense, Sanheim is a better player than Hagg and has been since the start of the year. He has the tools to be dynamic and it's not just flashing those skills anymore. And he's only going to get better.

He's a better player on his natural left side though. He's struggled more recently adjusting to playing RD beside Provorov, that's for certain.

I cant remember a time where deep down inside in the pit of my stomach I was almost hoping they would lose. Lose and seperate ourselves so change is made. Lose so we may finally win a draft lottery. I wasn't cheering for it.. but I felt it.
- Tfaehner

I honestly felt that before and during the game against the Stars this week. I was (to be honest) disappointed the Flyers won that game, for the reason you stated.

You're watching crippling turnovers caused directly by a player who can't make a high school level read on a play.

Folin gets the puck near the trapezoid. Hagg covering....Carter Hart? No one in front. The Flyers have the puck at this point. Center, who just won a puck battle behind the net to get it to Folin, is now cycling out front to get a breakout going. The play is D to D behind the net. Hagg doesn't move. Stays in front, covering Carter Hart. Gives Folin no outlet. Both wings are marked, as is the center who is now just triggering the breakout. Nowhere to go. Turnover. Goal.

Low hockey IQ kills everyone on the ice. Reads away from the play are just as important as reads with the puck on your stick. Myers and Frost will be here. High hockey IQ. Can't wait for them among others.

Game in and game out turnovers are caused by bad reads away from the play. Guys watching the play, out of position, not giving the initial puck mover a "check down" option, which forces him to push the play through a clogged NZ or force a pass to a covered player.

That's a systems problem. Coaches do systems. It's also a hockey IQ problem. Players do hockey IQ. Fix them both.


- Giroux_is God

None of what you're describing is a systems issue. That's incorrect. It's poor player execution. On the Severson goal, Gostisbehere loses D zone awareness and is caught staring at the puck. On the Devils 3rd goal, Couturier loses defensive awareness and lets his check skate by him to the net.

Ok, I misremembered that play for sure you're right.

Definitely not misremembering the other play I mentioned though

As far as this Sanheim/Hagg nonsense, Sanheim is a better player than Hagg and has been since the start of the year. He has the tools to be dynamic and it's not just flashing those skills anymore. And he's only going to get better.

He's a better player on his natural left side though. He's struggled more recently adjusting to playing RD beside Provorov, that's for certain.
- Giroux_Is_God

I have no arguments, Sanheim has a much better toolset than Hagg without question. Sanheim's skating is truly what sets him apart, but what he needs to work on is his positional play and decisions when he has the puck. Now his skating has been able to cover up some of this, but his shot selections have been terrible as well as his outlet passes. Which makes it that much more funny how I have seen you bash Hagg as all he does is chip the puck out, that's been a big part of Sanheim's game this WHOLE year.

I can't wait to watch Sanheim become a better player, but bashing Hagg for the same exact things that Sanheim does isn't going to make Sanheim better. When Sanheim was paired with Gudas, who carried the puck, who took the shots in the offensive zone? That line looked really good, but let's be honest who did the majority of the workload now. When Hagg was paired with Provorov, who was the only plus defenseman, who was the one not coughing up pucks? When Ghost was struggling and settled down for a small stretch, who was he paired with?

Just because Hagg isn't as flashy as Sanheim doesn't make him bad, he fills another role that Sanheim is unable to fill. He is 23 years old being moved around all the pairs to balance out the others while not being a turnover machine.

Guys, I am so sorry. I may have caused this piss poor season. I forgot to change my work screen saver from baseball to Flyers back in October. All fixed. Flyers should start to improve immediately.

I feel bad for Hart. Growing pains.
- cdearth23

Please switch it back. Any kind of winning streak now is just as harmful

I have no arguments, Sanheim has a much better toolset than Hagg without question. Sanheim's skating is truly what sets him apart, but what he needs to work on is his positional play and decisions when he has the puck. Now his skating has been able to cover up some of this, but his shot selections have been terrible as well as his outlet passes. Which makes it that much more funny how I have seen you bash Hagg as all he does is chip the puck out, that's been a big part of Sanheim's game this WHOLE year.

I can't wait to watch Sanheim become a better player, but bashing Hagg for the same exact things that Sanheim does isn't going to make Sanheim better. When Sanheim was paired with Gudas, who carried the puck, who took the shots in the offensive zone? That line looked really good, but let's be honest who did the majority of the workload now. When Hagg was paired with Provorov, who was the only plus defenseman, who was the one not coughing up pucks? When Ghost was struggling and settled down for a small stretch, who was he paired with?

Just because Hagg isn't as flashy as Sanheim doesn't make him bad, he fills another role that Sanheim is unable to fill. He is 23 years old being moved around all the pairs to balance out the others while not being a turnover machine.
- Glak18

Totally agree as Hagg can be a very good player but I really wonder about new Coach.
Whats the point of playing Raffl for 7 minutes.
He is a UFA .Either play him plenty or if you don't like his play scratch him.
With Lindblom we did exactly the same thing a one ago

That was an important 4 point loss at this point in the standings. Well done boys!

Totally agree as Hagg can be a very good player but I really wonder about new Coach.
Whats the point of playing Raffl for 7 minutes.
He is a UFA .Either play him plenty or if you don't like his play scratch him.
With Lindblom we did exactly the same thing a one ago
- goenzoy

Raffl played 7 minutes because he was on the 4th line. He wasnt going to play ahead of Lindblom, JVR and Giroux.

Totally agree as Hagg can be a very good player but I really wonder about new Coach.
Whats the point of playing Raffl for 7 minutes.
He is a UFA .Either play him plenty or if you don't like his play scratch him.
With Lindblom we did exactly the same thing a one ago
- goenzoy

Would you rather have Lehtera in?

You can’t be excited for Myers he has accomplished nothing and isn’t a hall of famer

Raffl played 7 minutes because he was on the 4th line. He wasnt going to play ahead of Lindblom, JVR and Giroux.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Yes I do understand that it is a 4th line role but still 7 minutes for a 5 year veteran with 30+ games left makes no sense. The minute managing schedule is so outrageous.Understood it with Hakstol because he was desperate but Gordon is a new Coach

I have no arguments, Sanheim has a much better toolset than Hagg without question. Sanheim's skating is truly what sets him apart, but what he needs to work on is his positional play and decisions when he has the puck. Now his skating has been able to cover up some of this, but his shot selections have been terrible as well as his outlet passes. Which makes it that much more funny how I have seen you bash Hagg as all he does is chip the puck out, that's been a big part of Sanheim's game this WHOLE year.

I can't wait to watch Sanheim become a better player, but bashing Hagg for the same exact things that Sanheim does isn't going to make Sanheim better. When Sanheim was paired with Gudas, who carried the puck, who took the shots in the offensive zone? That line looked really good, but let's be honest who did the majority of the workload now. When Hagg was paired with Provorov, who was the only plus defenseman, who was the one not coughing up pucks? When Ghost was struggling and settled down for a small stretch, who was he paired with?

Just because Hagg isn't as flashy as Sanheim doesn't make him bad, he fills another role that Sanheim is unable to fill. He is 23 years old being moved around all the pairs to balance out the others while not being a turnover machine.
- Glak18

I think Hagg should have went closer to the trapezoid to be a better passing option since Folin was being pressured.

Totally agree with the rest of your comment. Hagg is not getting enough minutes and is very underrated. He needs to develop and has earned the right to do so.

Would you rather have Lehtera in?
- easY

Not really but clearly Lehtera/Raffl as combo played better.
And if Gordon doesn't like his play scratch Raffl

Anyone else notice how the defensive pairs looked like they were pulled out of a hat on each change? Not criticizing but it was interesting how random each pair was. At one point they had ghost and Sanheim out there.

Yes I do understand that it is a 4th line role but still 7 minutes for a 5 year veteran with 30+ games left makes no sense. The minute managing schedule is so outrageous.Understood it with Hakstol because he was desperate but Gordon is a new Coach
- goenzoy

The circumstances of the game dictate ice time. The Flyers played most of the game behind. That is going to limit the ice time of the 4th line. The factors you mention are irrelevant. The coaches job is to try and win the game and distribute ice time in the best way he thinks to accomplish that. I don't think you do understand it.

Yes I do understand that it is a 4th line role but still 7 minutes for a 5 year veteran with 30+ games left makes no sense. The minute managing schedule is so outrageous.Understood it with Hakstol because he was desperate but Gordon is a new Coach
- goenzoy

It makes fine sense. He wanted to play others ahead of him so the 4th line is where he landed and that line didnt play much. When you are trailing in a game, the 4th line isnt going to see much time

I think Hagg should have went closer to the trapezoid to be a better passing option since Folin was being pressured.

Totally agree with the rest of your comment. Hagg is not getting enough minutes and is very underrated. He needs to develop and has earned the right to do so.
- easY

Haag is averaging almost 18 minutes a game. Pretty similar to most of the defense other than Gostisbehere and Provorov.

Anyone else notice how the defensive pairs looked like they were pulled out of a hat on each change? Not criticizing but it was interesting how random each pair was. At one point they had ghost and Sanheim out there.
- easY

NHL coaches don't do anything randomly.

That was an important 4 point loss at this point in the standings. Well done boys!
- Just5

Hope 👑 win 🥳💪

Is it bad that I flipped between college hoops games instead of watching the 2nd and 3rd periods?
- Scoob

The only time I see the Flyers live is when they’re on national tv or the NHL Network. They happened to be on NHL Network today, but I only tuned in for the last 5 minutes. I can say that I honestly don’t get too upset when they lose this year. They’ll get back to competing quicker if they continue to gather lottery picks....sad, but true.

The circumstances of the game dictate ice time. The Flyers played most of the game behind. That is going to limit the ice time of the 4th line. The factors you mention are irrelevant. The coaches job is to try and win the game and distribute ice time in the best way he thinks to accomplish that. I don't think you do understand it.
- MJL

Well understand your point and on a one game basis I even agree with you.
But the reason ( not the only one ) why they are not winning is wrong minute management.Down year for Provorov and Cots was completely predictable because they overplayed them.With Lindblom and Raffl they do the opposite

Anyone else notice how the defensive pairs looked like they were pulled out of a hat on each change? Not criticizing but it was interesting how random each pair was. At one point they had ghost and Sanheim out there.
- easY

At this point it doesn't hurt to try anything imo.

Well understand your point and on a one game basis I even agree with you.
But the reason ( not the only one ) why they are not winning is wrong minute management.Down year for Provorov and Cots was completely predictable because they overplayed them.With Lindblom and Raffl they do the opposite
- goenzoy

I completely disagree with you and I don't see any basis for that whatsoever.