Yep, a continuation of last season so far.

I keep going back to the comments he made about not worrying about being yelled at he just gotta do his thang damn the consequences.

And some of the lack of comments from the coaches about where his game is and how he couldn't be helped.

He doesn't have enough pedigree, or skill, to be acting like he is Ray Bourque and just do what he wants. I sure hope that isn't the case.
- MBFlyerfan

I have concerns about this and the comments Wilson made about him last year (or lack thereof). I'm worried that he feels his creativity is stifled, and he's not willing to fully commit to adjusting his game. He's not playing well so confidence is low and it's spiraling out of control.

For those calling for a pure shooter last night, I think there is something to that. I don’t think think we lose a game worth 52 shots on our side if you have a Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne or a John LeClair our side. Right now we don’t.

Also the response on the Konecny hit was a little weak. Good for Couturier for responses but that’s where you really miss a guy like Simmonds. I can watch highlights of Simmonds getting into scrums all day. I understand the mindset of not wanting a guy who fights and nothing else but at least draft or trade for tougher skilled players.

I think I would sit Ghost and play Morin. Ghost is useless.
- SuperSchennBros

JVR is a 12.6% shooter over the last 6+ seasons (and shot at a career-best 16.2 percent rate last year). That puts him in the upper portion of the league (players in same range are Patrick Kane at 12.8% , Vladimir Tarasenko at 12.7%).


Konecny is 12.4%, Lindblom 10.5%, Giroux 10.1%, Voracek 8.3%.

I have concerns about this and the comments Wilson made about him last year (or lack thereof). I'm worried that he feels his creativity is stifled, and he's not willing to fully commit to adjusting his game. He's not playing well so confidence is low and it's spiraling out of control.
- Hextall271

This worries me as well because perhaps he isn't able to do so. I think sometimes he sees himself as the 4th forward out there and is either unable or unwilling to commit to playing in his own end. Yes I know he isn't the biggest guy and wont be running people through walls. But he can skate and has really good hands so he should be able to use that.

I guess its up to the coaches and the players to find the best way for him to be used. I've said from day one that his best spot when it all shakes out is as a sheltered ES 3rd pair guy who gets lots of PP time.

No excuses but in the end goaltending lost us this game and won for the Oilers. When you outshoot a team by 30 and have 20 more high danger chances, usually you win. I know the result was bad but the process and effort was there. People forget that goaltending is a huge part of the game and yesterday our goalies were not on it. If the skaters play like that every game, 9 times out of 10 the flyers will win

I agree. I believe the travel has gotten to them even though they are pro athletes.


- Hextall271

Have to look at why they lost. It started with a turnover leading to possession by McDavid and a pass to a sniper in Draisaitl. The Flyers although with nothing to show for it carried play for long stretches of the game. A tired team does not do that. The Flyers didn't finish on a large number of quality chances. Edmonton buried their chances when they had them. The Flyers didn't. I don't know how when looking at the details of the game, it points back to travel time as the issue. Doesn't add up.

it looks to me like Ghost has ZERO confidence right now. He has to figure this out and soon.
- Hextall271

I saw some good signs last night. He made some of the plays he is capable of making. Work in progress.

No excuses but in the end goaltending lost us this game and won for the Oilers. When you outshoot a team by 30 and have 20 more high danger chances, usually you win. I know the result was bad but the process and effort was there. People forget that goaltending is a huge part of the game and yesterday our goalies were not on it. If the skaters play like that every game, 9 times out of 10 the flyers will win
- bulet13

i agree for the most part, but the turnovers and failed clearing attempts the last two games have been horrible. definitely remniscent of last year. they're .500 so i'm not acting like it's the end of the world, but hopefully they can fix this so they don't dig themselves in a hole they can't get out of.

Have to look at why they lost. It started with a turnover leading to possession by McDavid and a pass to a sniper in Draisaitl. The Flyers although with nothing to show for it carried play for long stretches of the game. The Flyers didn't finish on a large number of quality chances. Edmonton buried their chances when they had them. The Flyers didn't. I don't know how when looking at the details of the game, it points back to travel time as the issue. Doesn't add up.
- MJL

The issue is one team got good goaltending and the other did not. Sometimes goaltending can win games even when the skaters for one team are much better. It happens. Time to move on to the next game

No excuses but in the end goaltending lost us this game and won for the Oilers. When you outshoot a team by 30 and have 20 more high danger chances, usually you win. I know the result was bad but the process and effort was there. People forget that goaltending is a huge part of the game and yesterday our goalies were not on it. If the skaters play like that every game, 9 times out of 10 the flyers will win
- bulet13

Need to place blame on the skaters. Chances have to be buried. It's not all puck luck. You can't turn the puck over to McDavid anywhere. He transitions a play from his own end to your net in the blink of an eye.

I think Braun has played well but at the same time the few mistakes he has made so far this year all have ended up in our net.

I’m not worried at all. The Flyers carried the play for significant portions of the game last night. Just really bad puck luck and ran into a hot goalie. These games have happened before with this core and I’ve seen them go on to achieve great success after.

Better luck next game!

it looks to me like Ghost has ZERO confidence right now. He has to figure this out and soon.
- Hextall271

That was last year's excuse. Ghost himself blamed Hakstol and the coaching change on his lack of confidence.

Do we really think it’s worse off to send Bunnaman down, call up Frost to play 3rd line Center minutes and slide Laughton back to Center the 4th line? Could it really be worse then what we’re getting out of both Laughton and Zbunnaman?

That was last year's excuse. Ghost himself blamed Hakstol and the coaching change on his lack of confidence.
- corduroy

Don't worry. He's a work in progress, he'll figure it out. And that contract is such a steal.

team needs more speed, more skill, more goals, more puck control zone exits/entries.
team doesnt need more grit,more physicality, more fighting.
recall farabee
recall myers
demote hagg and morin and bunnaman.
practice skating puck out of zone and into zone. over and over.
fast play doesnt mean lofting puck forward immediately after gaining control from any zone

Do we really think it’s worse off to send Bunnaman down, call up Frost to play 3rd line Center minutes and slide Laughton back to Center the 4th line? Could it really be worse then what we’re getting out of both Laughton and Zbunnaman?
- Buzzo

Frost isn't playing with a lot of offensive confidence himself right now. Was pressing much of the game against Hershey, although he nearly won it late it regulation and made a nice individual play in OT to snap off a tough shot (his only SOG of the game). Actually, he was moved down to the 4th line in the third period last game.

His time will come, but that time isn't right now.

I also don't think it's quite time yet to call up Rubtsov; in his case just to get him a little more body of work first. If I were to call up a Phantoms center right now, it'd be Vorobyev for 4C.

For those calling for a pure shooter last night, I think there is something to that. I don’t think think we lose a game worth 52 shots on our side if you have a Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne or a John LeClair our side. Right now we don’t.

Also the response on the Konecny hit was a little weak. Good for Couturier for responses but that’s where you really miss a guy like Simmonds. I can watch highlights of Simmonds getting into scrums all day. I understand the mindset of not wanting a guy who fights and nothing else but at least draft or trade for tougher skilled players.

I think I would sit Ghost and play Morin. Ghost is useless.
- SuperSchennBros

I agree 100%. Ghost needs to sit. His play is unacceptable right now, and he's a turnover machine. He's the defensive version of Voracek. God awful. Plus, they could use Morin's size and physicality in the lineup.

team needs more speed, more skill, more goals, more puck control zone exits/entries.
team doesnt need more grit,more physicality, more fighting.
recall farabee
recall myers
demote hagg and morin and bunnaman.
practice skating puck out of zone and into zone. over and over.
fast play doesnt mean lofting puck forward immediately after gaining control from any zone
- biggbear77

Flyers have played with plenty of pace and puck possession in 3 of the 5 games and for most of the latter portion of another (Vancouver). The only game where they were constantly struggling to exit/enter was the Calgary game, and even there they had a 2-on-1 that wasn't finished by Lindblom and four separate point-blank cracks for JVR (three in a single sequence, another with a potential late tying goal on his stick from the left slot).

Farabee could come up now and hold his own.

Hägg has been fine as the No. 6 through the first five games. He is what he is as a player. Hasn't hurt the team. The D men who really need to step it up and make an impact have been Ghost (struggling in every aspect) and Sanheim (who has been inconsistent -- some very strong shifts, plenty of not-so-strong ones). The Flyers need Travis to take the next step as a tone-setting D, and his play has been very up-and-down so far.

It's a matter of time until Myers comes back up, but he, too, will need more consistency.

Right now I wouldnt mess with the line up too much. Stay pat until NoPa returns. The only move to consider is a 3rd line winger. Either call up Farabee or bring in a 3rd line guy on an expiring contract.

Right now I wouldnt mess with the line up too much. Stay pat until NoPa returns. The only move to consider is a 3rd line winger. Either call up Farabee or bring in a 3rd line guy on an expiring contract.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Flyers still don't have a timetable on Patrick. He's not migraine-free yet. The meds are said to be producing significant improvement but a) he's not ready to be cleared to practice yet let alone play, b) until the situation is sufficiently controlled, it'd be putting him at risk, and c) it's something he'll always have to manage and doctors monitor.

Flyers still don't have a timetable on Patrick. He's not migraine-free yet. The meds are said to be producing significant improvement but a) he's not ready to be cleared to practice yet let alone play, b) until the situation is sufficiently controlled, it'd be putting him at risk, and c) it's something he'll always have to manage and doctors monitor.
- bmeltzer

Could this become career threatening in any way Bill?

Flyers have played with plenty of pace and puck possession in 3 of the 5 games and for most of the latter portion of another (Vancouver). The only game where they were constantly struggling to exit/enter was the Calgary game, and even there they had a 2-on-1 that wasn't finished by Lindblom and four separate point-blank cracks for JVR (three in a single sequence, another with a potential late tying goal on his stick from the left slot).

Farabee could come up now and hold his own.

Hägg has been fine as the No. 6 through the first five games. He is what he is as a player. Hasn't hurt the team. The D men who really need to step it up and make an impact have been Ghost (struggling in every aspect) and Sanheim (who has been inconsistent -- some very strong shifts, plenty of not-so-strong ones). The Flyers need Travis to take the next step as a tone-setting D, and his play has been very up-and-down so far.

It's a matter of time until Myers comes back up, but he, too, will need more consistency.
- bmeltzer

I’m hoping for Farabee. Maybe they will try Provy with Niskanen again. Ghost or Sanheim might do better with Braun. Ghost did better during preseason with Braun. I still wonder if they will look to trade a d-man for a scoring forward.

first game where the goaltending wasn't good. not that any of the goals were stinkers but Hart just didn't come up with that momentum saving stop. I expect he will have a very good game Saturday

Good to see Voracek pot a couple. Hopefully this gets him going.

I try not to have a football mentality to the other 3 sports because obviously 82 games is way different than 16 but I have to say I would have felt so much better about the start of the season had they came home 3-1-1 instead of 2-2-1.

the good so far to me has been the young forwards (TK, Lindblom and even Twarinsky). Last night aside, the goaltending. Provorov has 4 points...nice to see the offense coming along.

the uneven.....the defense. has been good at times and bad at times. that said i am still happier with the current defense than last year.

the bad....the production from the veterans. through 5 games Voracek, Giroux, Couturier, Hayes and JVR have a combined 4 goals and 5 assists and 5 of those 9 points came last night. while not all of those players have played bad, they have to produce for the team to succeed. Ghost. Like WTF has happened to him? ZERO points. He hasn't always played well defensively in the past but coming into this season he has averaged .628 PPG. Yes its early but these players need to pick it up.

Could this become career threatening in any way Bill?
- Buzzo

Of course it can. How is having constant migraines any different than post-concussion syndrome when it relates to playing hockey? Even if it's controlled by medication, is there a guarantee migraines won't be triggered by contact/physical exertion?

JVR is a 12.6% shooter over the last 6+ seasons (and shot at a career-best 16.2 percent rate last year). That puts him in the upper portion of the league (players in same range are Patrick Kane at 12.8% , Vladimir Tarasenko at 12.7%).


Konecny is 12.4%, Lindblom 10.5%, Giroux 10.1%, Voracek 8.3%.
- bmeltzer

To be fair, how often does JvR shoot more than 2 feet from the net? He scores even less farther from the net...it is so rare that it is easy to remember. Faceoff (left side), lined up on the right side, faceoff won right to him and he roofed it glove side. Even his days in Toronto it was extremely rare to see him shoot the puck and score. Yes, he has great hands for deflections and putting pucks up high around the net, but he is a glorified 4th line grinder without the hard work or toughness. He is the farthest from a shooter or even a sniper you can get, Laughton has a better and more accurate shot than JvR.

The best the Flyers have (probably TK and Giroux) are too inconsistent burying their chances when they are wide open and that was the difference last night. Sadly Koskinen wasn't even that good last night to have the excuse they ran into a hot goaltender.