This team has faults, but they are not a 7-16-5 team that we saw from November-January. If I remember correctly most of the time the goaltending didn't play terrible, they just didn't make the spectacular saves that was needed for this team to win. Outside of a few games lately, the Flyers have been playing well in front of the goalies and in the system.

This season was a team loss, not a goaltender loss. And you know what... If they continued to play terrible all season because this team just isn't talented enough, I'm fine with that.... but this team is obviously talented.
- youarewrong

Yesterday we were a stronger team in the trenches, we wanted it more in front of both nets. The Islanders may have controlled more play but we were the tougher team in front, that's what I like to see. You don't have to be the biggest team or have the most fights to be a tough team, if we play like that we will continue to win. That is what we missed earlier this year, as well as some key players struggling and the goalie carousel

That Bolded part is not true. I remember things as:

Season started with Pickard as starter and Pickard was awful.

Elliot came back and had a respectable 0.911sv% before getting injured. He was then out until just recently

Pickard came back in and still sucked, Neuvirth returned and was on and off getting reinjured frequently

Eventually we had Lyon start and he did not do well in his first start

Stolarz finally got his chance to shine and played well. Won us some games but ultimately got hurt again as well

Then Hart got called up and we started to win games, he had a bad game and Neuvirth stepped in until he got hurt again

That takes us to the start of the streak and the return of elliott
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Goaltending is not and has not been the only issue but it is the catalyst for both the early season struggles and the resurgence in play.

That Bolded part is not true. I remember things as:

Season started with Pickard as starter and Pickard was awful.

Elliot came back and had a respectable 0.911sv% before getting injured. He was then out until just recently

Pickard came back in and still sucked, Neuvirth returned and was on and off getting reinjured frequently

Eventually we had Lyon start and he did not do well in his first start

Stolarz finally got his chance to shine and played well. Won us some games but ultimately got hurt again as well

Then Hart got called up and we started to win games, he had a bad game and Neuvirth stepped in until he got hurt again

That takes us to the start of the streak and the return of elliott
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Pickard only started 8 games and won 4 of them. One was a shutout. I can't put the season on his shoulders. Elliot played well in the beginning of the season also.

That Bolded part is not true. I remember things as:

Season started with Pickard as starter and Pickard was awful.

Elliot came back and had a respectable 0.911sv% before getting injured. He was then out until just recently

Pickard came back in and still sucked, Neuvirth returned and was on and off getting reinjured frequently

Eventually we had Lyon start and he did not do well in his first start

Stolarz finally got his chance to shine and played well. Won us some games but ultimately got hurt again as well

Then Hart got called up and we started to win games, he had a bad game and Neuvirth stepped in until he got hurt again

That takes us to the start of the streak and the return of elliott
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Your memory is terrible. Yes, Pickard was taken off waivers early in October, but he was far from the starter. Elliott played the first 3 games and 9 games in the month of October. Then Elliott played 5 games in November before getting injured which he was easily at the same level then he is now.

Serious question, do you work for FOX News?

Goaltending is not and has not been the only issue but it is the catalyst for both the early season struggles and the resurgence in play.
- MJL

Watching this team play I am glad they are winning and I believe they can make the playoffs but I rarely see games where I feel they deserved to win. There are too many games like the NJ game where we bury a few chances, get some lucky goals but get dominated for most of the game and that was by AHL talent. Fact is they have been lucky to get a lot of the wins they were getting. Back to back with Detroit, NJ and Stadium series are prime examples. They are hot and will continue winning but they are not playing good at all. It isnt just about mistakes, its about the quality of chances they give up. They give up way too many grade A chances that just havent gone in for the other team. It is like people say we are likely a 1 round team if we make it because we are a bubble team.

Watching this team play I am glad they are winning and I believe they can make the playoffs but I rarely see games where I feel they deserved to win. There are too many games like the NJ game where we bury a few chances, get some lucky goals but get dominated for most of the game and that was by AHL talent. Fact is they have been lucky to get a lot of the wins they were getting. Back to back with Detroit, NJ and Stadium series are prime examples. They are hot and will continue winning but they are not playing good at all. It isnt just about mistakes, its about the quality of chances they give up. They give up way too many grade A chances that just havent gone in for the other team. It is like people say we are likely a 1 round team if we make it because we are a bubble team.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

I don't have any advance stats to back this up, but my eye test tells me this team may make the occasional goof that leads to prime scoring chances, but for the most part the shots that do come in are perimeter or low quality scoring chances. That is why the team is winning.

The reason we are a bubble team is because we would be a low WC spot. Not very likely we beat Tampa. However, if we somehow manage to make the playoffs and somehow face another Metro team, the only team I say we most likely lose to before the series starts is Pitt. The rest of the teams I would give it 50/50.

yeah you think of them with TK, Patrick, Sanheim, Lindbolm, Provy, Myers etc...

Skill and speed...
- wcorvette

ratcliffe, allison, and rubstov too. i truly believe this team has an extremely bright future.

I don't have any advance stats to back this up, but my eye test tells me this team may make the occasional goof that leads to prime scoring chances, but for the most part the shots that do come in are perimeter or low quality scoring chances. That is why the team is winning.

The reason we are a bubble team is because we would be a low WC spot. Not very likely we beat Tampa. However, if we somehow manage to make the playoffs and somehow face another Metro team, the only team I say we most likely lose to before the series starts is Pitt. The rest of the teams I would give it 50/50.
- youarewrong

I completely agree with the first part. People seem to forget very easily that the Flyers in the first half of the season were giving up breakaways and odd man rushes like they were going out of style. That has been cut down by A LOT, which is one reason goaltenders have been better.

So I agree that goaltending was not the only problem that caused the team to lose so much at the beginning of the season. Neither is goaltending the only reason they are winning now. Teams are hardly ever perfect. The teams that do well play to their strengths and compete as a team.

Too much emphasis is placed on goaltending in the Flyer world. Can great goaltending cover defensive mistakes? Yes. Can poor goaltending cost a game? Yes, if that weakness is left exposed by the team.

And no, they won’t ever make everyone happy at once. Some people just aren’t happy when things are great.
- NC Flyers Fan

they weren't getting much scoring either. i think in about 20% of their games they've scored 1 goal or fewer. not gonna' win much when you have that little margin for error.

The Athletic's recap of yesterday's game reminded me of another genius development move from Hakstol - healthy scratching Oskar Lindblom in favor of Jori Lehtera in his final game as NHL coach.

https://www.nhl.com/gamec...tate=final,game_tab=stats

Since then, Lindblom has 15 points in 35 games for the Flyers, while the "reliable" and "heavy"veteran Lehtera played just three more NHL games before becoming a frequent healthy scratch in the AHL.
- Feanor

It was for Lindbloms own good. If that hadn’t happened. Who knows where his game would be now? Another stroke of genius

Your memory is terrible. Yes, Pickard was taken off waivers early in October, but he was far from the starter. Elliott played the first 3 games and 9 games in the month of October. Then Elliott played 5 games in November before getting injured which he was easily at the same level then he is now.

Serious question, do you work for FOX News?
- Glak18

Irony since you compare my possible bad memory to a news station that makes stuff to fit your own narrative

they weren't getting much scoring either. i think in about 20% of their games they've scored 1 goal or fewer. not gonna' win much when you have that little margin for error.
- hammarby31

Exactly, scoring was another issue. There were so many layers of issues with this team and to say the only difference is Hart is mindboggling. It's not even like special teams improved so much that started to carry the team.

The Flyers are back to where they were from last year when they finished 3rd in the division. Tons of question marks still, just not as many.

I don't have any advance stats to back this up, but my eye test tells me this team may make the occasional goof that leads to prime scoring chances, but for the most part the shots that do come in are perimeter or low quality scoring chances. That is why the team is winning.

The reason we are a bubble team is because we would be a low WC spot. Not very likely we beat Tampa. However, if we somehow manage to make the playoffs and somehow face another Metro team, the only team I say we most likely lose to before the series starts is Pitt. The rest of the teams I would give it 50/50.
- youarewrong

I mean I would also say the Flyers will be worn out as well given the fact they have been playing playoff hockey ever since making the playoffs was a possibility again

ratcliffe, allison, and rubstov too. i truly believe this team has an extremely bright future.
- hammarby31

We forgot Coots, hard to believe he is still so young.

Another thing on Coots, his hands magically have gotten better. I have seen him take the puck in full stride and get a good, quick shot off. Coots puck control has also been really good. A good reminder that it takes time before we see a fully developed player, Coots heading into his prime with the kids should be fun

I don't have any advance stats to back this up, but my eye test tells me this team may make the occasional goof that leads to prime scoring chances, but for the most part the shots that do come in are perimeter or low quality scoring chances. That is why the team is winning.

The reason we are a bubble team is because we would be a low WC spot. Not very likely we beat Tampa. However, if we somehow manage to make the playoffs and somehow face another Metro team, the only team I say we most likely lose to before the series starts is Pitt. The rest of the teams I would give it 50/50.
- youarewrong

The Flyers give up a pretty high amount of quality scoring chances against.

We forgot Coots, hard to believe he is still so young.

Another thing on Coots, his hands magically have gotten better. I have seen him take the puck in full stride and get a good, quick shot off. Coots puck control has also been really good. A good reminder that it takes time before we see a fully developed player, Coots heading into his prime with the kids should be fun
- wcorvette

Im going to keep saying it so later on people wont call BS.....laczynski will be on this team.

Exactly, scoring was another issue. There were so many layers of issues with this team and to say the only difference is Hart is mindboggling. It's not even like special teams improved so much that started to carry the team.

The Flyers are back to where they were from last year when they finished 3rd in the division. Tons of question marks still, just not as many.
- Glak18

Scoring was an issue buy why was it an issue. That's the real question and how everything needs to be looked at. In the first half of the season this team was struggling with major confidence issues and I believe it was all mental and in their heads to use a cliché. The coach and the team leadership was not able to pull them out of it. Not the only cause but in my opinion it all comes back to goaltending as the biggest issue both positive and negative.

It's funny how up in arms some folks get when others have differing opinions.

Irony since you compare my possible bad memory to a news station that makes stuff to fit your own narrative
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Possible bad memory?

That Bolded part is not true. I remember things as:

Season started with Pickard as starter and Pickard was awful.

Elliot came back and had a respectable 0.911sv% before getting injured. He was then out until just recently
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

10/04/18 @ Vegas
Elliott Started

10/06/18 @ Colorado
Elliott Started

10/09/18 Vs San Jose
Elliott Started

10/10/18 @ Ottawa
Pickard Started

10/13/18 Vs Vegas
Elliott Started

10/16/18 Vs Florida
Elliott Started
Pickard Came in

10/18/18 @ Columbus
Pickard Started

10/20/18 Vs New Jersey
Elliott Started

10/22/18 Vs Colorado
Elliott Started

10/25/18 @ Boston
Elliott Started

10/27/18 Vs NY Islanders
Neuvirth Started

10/20/18 @ Anaheim
Elliott Started

Elliott started 9 out of 12 games in October. Who was the starter?

Do you know what irony means? The fact I asked about FOX News is because they do make up poop to create a narrative...like what you just did. THAT'S IRONY!

It's funny how up in arms some folks get when others have differing opinions.
- Scoob

Can we please just focus on how awful of a coach Hakstol was? You didn't link any stats.

Do you know what irony means? The fact I asked about FOX News is because they do make up poop to create a narrative...like what you just did. THAT'S IRONY!
- Glak18

How ironic. You're creating a narrative!

It's funny how up in arms some folks get when others have differing opinions.
- Scoob

Giroux is 18th in scoring on the Flyers...

Is that opinion?

It's funny how up in arms some folks get when others have differing opinions.
- Scoob

Shut up I'm right.

Possible bad memory?



10/04/18 @ Vegas
Elliott Started

10/06/18 @ Colorado
Elliott Started

10/09/18 Vs San Jose
Elliott Started

10/10/18 @ Ottawa
Pickard Started

10/13/18 Vs Vegas
Elliott Started

10/16/18 Vs Florida
Elliott Started
Pickard Came in

10/18/18 @ Columbus
Pickard Started

10/20/18 Vs New Jersey
Elliott Started

10/22/18 Vs Colorado
Elliott Started

10/25/18 @ Boston
Elliott Started

10/27/18 Vs NY Islanders
Neuvirth Started

10/20/18 @ Anaheim
Elliott Started

Elliott started 9 out of 12 games in October. Who was the starter?

Do you know what irony means? The fact I asked about FOX News is because they do make up poop to create a narrative...like what you just did. THAT'S IRONY!
- Glak18

Are you an idiot? I am asking seriously? I remembered something wrong, how is that making something up to fit a narrative? We are talking about something that happened 5 months ago. It is not uncommon for someone to remember things wrong. The fact that you are comparing that to someone who intentionally makes things up to fit the narrative is exactly what you are doing now.

Can we please just focus on how awful of a coach Hakstol was? You didn't link any stats.
- MJL

lol sorry