https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/stanley-cup-odds-update-heading-into-the-first-round/

So like I said at the end of round robin play the Flyers were the favorite to reach the SCF
- PLindbergh31

And what are they now? Odds change all the time. Montreal was perceived as not as much as a threat as a CBJ/CAR, but guess what? They are a pretty solid team.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/stanley-cup-odds-update-heading-into-the-first-round/

So like I said at the end of round robin play the Flyers were the favorite to reach the SCF
- PLindbergh31

And the Lightning were by far the best team in the league last year and were swept in the first round.

And what are they now? Odds change all the time. Montreal was perceived as not as much as a threat as a CBJ/CAR, but guess what? They are a pretty solid team.
- ClaudeFather

Why wouldn't Montreal be perceived as a threat? They just beat the mighty Penguins when these odds were posted.
Carolina and CBJ are infinitely better than Montreal. Of course odds change every minute depending on what money is being wagered.

Why wouldn't Montreal be perceived as a threat? They just beat the mighty Penguins when these odds were posted.
Carolina and CBJ are infinitely better than Montreal. Of course odds change every minute depending on what money is being wagered.
- PLindbergh31

Infinitely, ok, I’m done with this.

And you don’t know hockey, what else is new.
- ClaudeFather

Why are you so angry? Show us on the doll where your Dad touched you when you were little...

So NHL just released a video of our morning skate. Guys tapping sticks for Oskar. I believe TK was present, he was smacking his stick dramatically.

Why are you so angry? Show us on the doll where your Dad touched you when you were little...
- SuperSchennBros

You obsessed with me or what? That guy is literally a known troll on here. You gonna have a cow if JVR is on the fourth line still?

So NHL just released a video of our morning skate. Guys tapping sticks for Oskar. I believe TK was present, he was smacking his stick dramatically.
- arichardson22

He was. Couldn't see raffl. Maybe we will win it for oskar like they brought it for julien

And what are they now? Odds change all the time. Montreal was perceived as not as much as a threat as a CBJ/CAR, but guess what? They are a pretty solid team.
- ClaudeFather

Yes. I was very afraid of cbj and wa happy we drew the habs because I thought we could beat them in 6. Right now I’m praying that we get it together this game and don’t lose in 5. No easy paths in the playoffs.

Yes. I was very afraid of cbj and wa happy we drew the habs because I thought we could beat them in 6. Right now I’m praying that we get it together this game and don’t lose in 5. No easy paths in the playoffs.
- Hextall271

Don’t think we will lose in 5 but I am with you, was happy draw Montreal. Still confident in our team, set the tone today.

You obsessed with me or what? That guy is literally a known troll on here. You gonna have a cow if JVR is on the fourth line still?
- ClaudeFather

I only want to help you. Why won’t you let me help you?

Some people are never happy until no one else is.

Let's go, Flyers!

So Oskar Lindblom has to be trotted out to get the team properly motivated? Why stop there? Why not get the Kate Smith song on blast?

Not buying that this team, especially it’s leaders, need some kind of outside factor to motivate themselves. If they do, it’s a serious (frank)ing problem.

LOVED the dig at Millbury there Bill lol

LOVED the dig at Millbury there Bill lol
- Karine Hains

It’s a joke listening to him call games, long over due to get someone else in there. He was complaining in game 1 about whistles because he wanted the game to end sooner. You’d think they would want someone in there that is actually interested in the game.

It’s a joke listening to him call games, long over due to get someone else in there. He was complaining in game 1 about whistles because he wanted the game to end sooner. You’d think they would want someone in there that is actually interested in the game.
- ClaudeFather

Yeah you would think so... maybe if he makes enough stupid calls they’ll yank him...Although you’d think that threshold has already been reached tbh...

Imagine talking about it being a short series in favor of the 24th seed in this playoff? I mean really? If they lose this series in game 7 2-1 in 50 overtimes they are going to get shredded. You can't lose to inferior team with these expectations.

At the end of round robin play, the Flyers were the favorite in the Eastern Conf. to reach the SCF. They played a terrible game 2, it happens. I see no reason to jump off the roof based on one game. The LVK (an expansion team) are the favorites in the Western Conf, they are blowing the Hawks out of the water. Who are the Kane and Toews on Montreal?
- PLindbergh31

So Oskar Lindblom has to be trotted out to get the team properly motivated? Why stop there? Why not get the Kate Smith song on blast?

Not buying that this team, especially it’s leaders, need some kind of outside factor to motivate themselves. If they do, it’s a serious (frank)ing problem.
- StepfordSam

Agreed. The truth is they just got out worked.

Honestly I think a few of our vets just aren’t good enough anymore. I sure hope they prove me wrong tho.

Big game. Hope Hagg is back in, with all the positives Ghost can potentially bring the whole team looks lost since Hagg came out. Raffl back would be huge too.

Bill, Great post; I enjoy reading it. It is the best one I have read about the game; it covered both teams. I am a Habs fan but I also like to read opinions about the game from the other side. Castor said it best that, "the Habs are unpredictable, capable of the best and the worst. This is why we were not about to make the series this year. Now that the playoffs have started, everything is possible and…………………..”. I expect to see the Flyers play much better tonight; game 8pm…

Thank you for the detailed blog Bill. Some additional comments for everyone to argue about:

1. I would like to add about Danault: he has been especially good in the PK. On numerous occasions he has anticipated and broken up cross-ice passes. Habs coaches get credit for scouting that pp well.

2. Speaking of coaches, I will fault our own for being cocky. During our run, we have a stable 6 D-men who were working for us. The ostensible rationale for playing Ghost was getting him experience. Then he had a good game, and suddenly, they decided to gamble for his upside. The point is not just Ghost replacing Hagg. Its also the fact that Hagg and Braun had played for a long time together and Hagg and Ghost have almost exactly opposite strengths and weaknesses. Do you think it is a coincidence that we suddenly see bad reads by Braun? It comes from having no instinct about what your partner is going to do, which takes time to develop. Now we will (hopefully!) have Hagg and Braun reunited when Habs get last change. Hopefully they will remember that instinct.

3. Throughout our success, we had a controlled breakout: Two D and a forward low to receive the first pass. Forward hitting neutral ice with speed.

In the last game, time and again, we saw long passes going to a forward in the neutral zone. For a quick team like Montreal, that means the forward getting the pass is likely covered. Its either at best a redirect, where you are again contending with a speedy D or Price who is very good with the puck for a quick out. Or a turnover prone play where a covered forward fumbles with the puck and gives it up to a speeding forward (Goal 4).


4. Numerous times, we saw bad line changes. For example, on the last pp goal, Montreal has possession near their blue line when Flyers head off? Why do they do that? Because they have underestimated Montreal speed. That is a quick, quick team. You do not have time to go off the ice if they are anywhere near center ice.

In summary, I blame the coaches for 2-4. They simply have not geared their play to address the specific opponent.

5. You mentioned that Myers had a relatively decent game. On the first goal, after Suzuki (Who I am tremendously impressed by) makes a nice pass to Gallagher, Myers makes a terrible read and is tentative. He thinks Gallagher will go back with the puck. Instead, Gallagher doubles back near the boards, beats Myers clean and heads to the net with the puck on his forehand. I know Giroux loses his man there, but that dangerous situation does not develop if Myers plays the body and has tighter coverage. Our D-men need to play the body and uses their bigger reach and be more conservative. Giving those forwards so much space and then trying to anticipate is not our strength there.


Edit: I re-read Bills blog and he does mention the role of Myers-Sanheim for the first goal. But to be more specific then...

2. Speaking of coaches, I will fault our own for being cocky. During our run, we have a stable 6 D-men who were working for us. The ostensible rationale for playing Ghost was getting him experience. Then he had a good game, and suddenly, they decided to gamble for his upside. The point is not just Ghost replacing Hagg. Its also the fact that Hagg and Braun had played for a long time together and Hagg and Ghost have almost exactly opposite strengths and weaknesses. Do you think it is a coincidence that we suddenly see bad reads by Braun? It comes from having no instinct about what your partner is going to do, which takes time to develop. Now we will (hopefully!) have Hagg and Braun reunited when Habs get last change. Hopefully they will remember that instinct.


- PT21

This is not accurate. Both Braun and Gostisbehere are veterans in this league. It has nothing to do with not having instincts about your partner. The rationale for playing Gostisbehere was not to get him experience. What are you talking about? LOL. He's been in the league for how long. The reason for playing Gostisbehere is that he finally appeared to be healthier and the Flyers could use his skill. I contend that with better forward support and not being under an avalanche of pressure from the opposition forecheck, both players will be better. My hope is that Gostisbehere remains in the lineup. While Haag may bring more of a phsycal presence, I don't see him being an asset to quicker and better puck movement on breakouts. I see a lot of chips off of glass, etc.

The coaches being cocky comment is asinine.

3. Throughout our success, we had a controlled breakout: Two D and a forward low to receive the first pass. Forward hitting neutral ice with speed.

In the last game, time and again, we saw long passes going to a forward in the neutral zone. For a quick team like Montreal, that means the forward getting the pass is likely covered. Its either at best a redirect, where you are again contending with a speedy D or Price who is very good with the puck for a quick out. Or a turnover prone play where a covered forward fumbles with the puck and gives it up to a speeding forward (Goal 4).


- PT21

Do you actually know what a controlled breakout is? A controlled breakout is when the opposition dumps the puck in such as on a line change and the team retrieving the puck sets up a controlled breakout. It's a breakout against a 3/4 ice 1-2-2 where the other team is not forechecking hard. It is situational. It is completely different from a teams breakout system against an aggressive forecheck.

Neutral zone regroups are a pivotal part of any teams breakout.

I would recommend some research on the fundamentals of hockey systems. Before being able to credibly criticize the coaching staff, it would help to actually understand what you're looking at and understanding the difference between coaching errors and player execution.

4. Numerous times, we saw bad line changes. For example, on the last pp goal, Montreal has possession near their blue line when Flyers head off? Why do they do that? Because they have underestimated Montreal speed. That is a quick, quick team. You do not have time to go off the ice if they are anywhere near center ice.

In summary, I blame the coaches for 2-4. They simply have not geared their play to address the specific opponent.


- PT21

You are wrong on why there was a line change there. A few players changed because Laughton, did not have a stick, and Niskanen lost his stick and was playing with a teammates stick. Unfortunately, all Laughton could do was kick the puck out to the neutral zone. Montreal was able to quickly regroup and catch the Flyers.

Nothing to do with underestimating Montreal's speed and nothing to do with the coaches. You continually miss the details of the game.

5. You mentioned that Myers had a relatively decent game. On the first goal, after Suzuki (Who I am tremendously impressed by) makes a nice pass to Gallagher, Myers makes a terrible read and is tentative. He thinks Gallagher will go back with the puck. Instead, Gallagher doubles back near the boards, beats Myers clean and heads to the net with the puck on his forehand. I know Giroux loses his man there, but that dangerous situation does not develop if Myers plays the body and has tighter coverage. Our D-men need to play the body and uses their bigger reach and be more conservative. Giving those forwards so much space and then trying to anticipate is not our strength there.
- PT21

Defenseman are occasionally going to get beat. It happens to every defenseman. The entire reason for playing Vigneault's overload zone system is for coverage and puck support. It wasn't there on that play and it really wasn't there the entire game. The Flyers defense was under siege all game with little help from the forwards. They don't need to be more conservative. They need to continue to be aggressive. Conservative play does not win in the NHL.

BIG JOE PAVELSKI GREAT LEADER AND SCORER SUPER JOE 4 TH GOAL G HAS A FAT ZERO
- 2Real

😍🥳

With the blowout last game. And now Oscar at practice. I would like to think we come out tonight. Hope tk and raff are in. We will see which way the scales tip.

Will there be a roster announcement at all or you find up in warm ups or puck drop?