Hard to argue with back to back shutouts. This is the style they need to play against Montreal I guess.

I can guarantee averaging 1.25 goals a game against Bos/TB/Colorado/LVK will make for a quick exit.

I would assume JVR would be back in the lineup tonight. Have to think Vigneault's message has been made loud and clear.

The concept of paying a player 7 million dollars, and having them sit as a healthy scratch during the most important games is something that makes no sense.
- PLindbergh31

I am assuming this is a passing phase. We have scored lot of goals against good defensive teams this year, including several of the ones you mention.

I'd never ever question someone who decided to choose being close to their family over any amount of money.
- atibus

I agree with your over-arching point, but I don't think the decision for Rask was family or money as it likely would be for folks like us - I think he's getting paid anyway. I do allow for the possibility that I'm wrong there, though.

Hard to argue with back to back shutouts. This is the style they need to play against Montreal I guess.

I can guarantee averaging 1.25 goals a game against Bos/TB/Colorado/LVK will make for a quick exit.

I would assume JVR would be back in the lineup tonight. Have to think Vigneault's message has been made loud and clear.

The concept of paying a player 7 million dollars, and having them sit as a healthy scratch during the most important games is something that makes no sense.
- PLindbergh31

Didnt the Flyers score 4 goals against the Bruins and TB in their last matchup with those 2 teams?

That being said I don't disagree with your theory, they arent going to win the next series most likely not scoring and relying on shutouts.

Sitting that 7 million dollar player makes no sense to you but to the actually qualified and experienced NHL Coaches the Flyers have it did make sense and go figure, they won yesterday.

I never once was homesick in my life until I had a child. I traveled for work extensively and loved seeing new places and meeting new people.

The first time I had to leave my son, he was 3 months old. I was attending a conference for a week, same as I had done each year for five years. On the first night I couldn't sleep. I kept asking my wife to send me pictures. The next day I couldn't concentrate at work and kept thinking about what they were doing, if what I was doing was worth being away, and if I could keep traveling like this. That night, someone attended a party we had for our clients with their own 3 month old and I quite literally stole their child just so I could hold them. It brought tears to my eyes (and does right now thinking about it.) I don't think I had until that point in my life experienced anything like this.

Having children quite literally changes your brain. If it doesn't, then you're a sociopath. Often we make sacrifices to ensure the betterment of our family but I'd never ever question someone who decided to choose being close to their family over any amount of money. I've turned down job offers that would double my salary at the expense of more time away. There is no price that can be paid for the time you would miss.

You can always get more money but you can't ever get more time.
- atibus

I do understand, and in my first paragraph of the original post, I prefaced my comments with the humility of saying it is possible I am ignorant because of lack of personal experience.

But you need to look at the other side of things too. I provided a long list of professions where the love and the pain you mention are quite frankly, part of modern life.

It is even harder for moms. What happens to the working moms who have to leave their new born babies after 5 weeks for the day and not just leave them, but also have to concentrate on extremely demanding professions? Such as doctors, lawyers, and so on?

Only an idiot would read my post and assume that what I was saying diminishes the pain of such separation. My point, rather, was that is this pain something that is that unusual in professional life? And the answer is, it clearly is not.

Didnt the Flyers score 4 goals against the Bruins and TB in their last matchup with those 2 teams?

That being said I don't disagree with your theory, they arent going to win the next series most likely not scoring and relying on shutouts.

Sitting that 7 million dollar player makes no sense to you but to the actually qualified and experienced NHL Coaches the Flyers have it did make sense and go figure, they won yesterday.
- opeth_pa

What other teams are scratching 7 million dollar players in the playoffs?

What other teams are scratching 7 million dollar players in the playoffs?
- PLindbergh31

What other teams have the depth to do that?

That being said, I hope that AV and the staff give exactly 0% thought to what other teams are doing and make the decisions they feel that put the team in the best position to win.

Like they did in sitting JVR yesterday .

Since you keep harping on this, I will try to give you a systematic response based on what I feel. You may see something I don't know, but this is my best take:

First, the pp was not molded to favor Bee. That's silly. Rather, Bee was inserted because TK did not do too well and the new look had a place for him. Clearly they are acutely conscious of changing the predictability. To wit: the two bank passes from Giroux to Voracek to free up Couturier from Weber (almost worked the first time!)

Look at the JVR issue more systematically:

1. Is JVR being singled out? No. Voracek was demoted to the 3rd line early in the season, for the first time in forever iirc. He would get away with things with Hakstol (especially turnovers in neutral ice) he does not with the new staff. Laughton has played 4th and 3rd line for some time before he moved up. Hayes played 3rd line.

2. Are the coaches too obstinate and unwilling to give people a chance? No. Frost has been brought up twice. Ghost has been tried several times. Lines have been changed, even after wins. Most impressively, Flyers have changed their game to adapt to Habs significantly. Whatever you may say about the coaching, being obstinate is not a valid criticism.

3. Has this approach with JVR borne fruit earlier? Yes. They have scratched JVR before, and extracted far better effort from him. He even had an injury trying to block a shot. I never remember him blocking shots before in his career.

4. In this kind of series, JVR is not going to get the luxury to drift to an open space to snap off a shot off someone's feed. There isn't that kind of space for him, nor is he Brett Hull to make that sort of effort worthwhile. As Bill wrote yesterday, his value is rather one dimensional. He does not make his line-mates better. He is a decent passer, but does not read the plays particularly well, unlike say Giroux, Voracek, Couturier, Hayes. He is the easily the worst forward defensively.

So, he has to score goals or at least create chances, and in the team game we play, he has to do his part to get those looks. If he is stuck with worse linemates, he has to show something that says - look I did my part and the play failed because of poor skill on the part of my linemates. Can you point to a single instance where that happened? Me neither.

So, we come to the conclusion that it is not bias or obstinacy but rather a consequence of JVR's play and the team game the coaches prioritize that leads to his departure from the line up. Especially with the Habs, where defensive responsibility and forechecking and finishing hits have clearly been prioritized.

More generally, if JVR ever used his size to create space for himself, he would be a perennial all star. He has great hands. But as Tomahawk said earlier this year, he will always be a big, likeable guy who underachieves relative to his potential.
- PT21

You don't remember when JvR broke his leg blocking a shot???

What other teams are scratching 7 million dollar players in the playoffs?
- PLindbergh31

who cares? you put out the lineup that you feel gives you the best shot to win. whether or not JvR should have been given the 7M is irrevelant to the current situation. When it comes time to be cap compliant, THEN that 7M will be totally relevant.

What other teams have the depth to do that?

That being said, I hope that AV and the staff give exactly 0% thought to what other teams are doing and make the decisions they feel that put the team in the best position to win.

Like they did in sitting JVR yesterday .
- opeth_pa

Cmon. Bunnaman wouldn't be dressing on other top teams. Are you serious?
Well you can't have it both ways, If it's warranted that Vigneault is making JVR a healthy scratch, then Van Riemsdyk is an underachieving dog.

You don't remember when JvR broke his leg blocking a shot???
- jmatchett383

Eh? Read the paragraph above the line you bolded.

And btw, I remember it being a hand, not a leg.

who cares? you put out the lineup that you feel gives you the best shot to win. whether or not JvR should have been given the 7M is irrevelant to the current situation. When it comes time to be cap compliant, THEN that 7M will be totally relevant.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Exactly, his salary is totally irrelevant. We are up 3-1 and complaining about a guy who is scratched that has brought nothing to the table since entering the bubble.

Up 3-1 I see MTL taking Game 5. Im betting on MTL tonight but Id gladly take a PHI win!

I do understand, and in my first paragraph of the original post, I prefaced my comments with the humility of saying it is possible I am ignorant because of lack of personal experience.

But you need to look at the other side of things too. I provided a long list of professions where the love and the pain you mention are quite frankly, part of modern life.

It is even harder for moms. What happens to the working moms who have to leave their new born babies after 5 weeks for the day and not just leave them, but also have to concentrate on extremely demanding professions? Such as doctors, lawyers, and so on?

Only an idiot would read my post and assume that what I was saying diminishes the pain of such separation. My point, rather, was that is this pain something that is that unusual in professional life? And the answer is, it clearly is not.
- PT21

agreed - and I don't judge anyone for how they handle it but I do expect that if you're at work you'll do your job as expected. If you can't do that, fine, make another choice. That's okay, too.

A v answered you number 3 question two days ago or yesterday. How many goals does jvr have over farabee. Who is in better shape right now. Defensive grinding game. Do you play the guy that is a one trick pony or the kid that is far better at defense and keeping up with the play. In response to SSB. First page statements/ questions.

What other teams are scratching 7 million dollar players in the playoffs?
- PLindbergh31

Vegas has kept a 7M goalie on the bench mostly.

Yeah, the five-time Jack Adams Award finalist (who very well may have won it this season for the second time), and has taken teams in both conferences to the Stanley Cup Finals, is a lousy coach because anonymous message board poster guy says so.

The Flyers do not -- and are not -- playing the trap.

The Canadiens were the NHL's No. 2 puck possession team this season (both by Corsi and shot-on-goal measures), and No. 3 in expected goal differential. They are a very good forechecking team. The Flyers have generally limited their high-quality chances in Games 1, 3 and 4, and Hart has taken care of the rest.

The Flyers were 7th in goals-per-game in the NHL this season (also 7th in GAA). They can win different ways. In this series, they've had to win low-scoring games. That's fine. When you give up 1-1-1-1-5-0-0 goals over a seven-game stretch, the five-goal one is the outlier, not the others.

Now go back to your troll hole.
- bmeltzer

BOOM! Like a good old fashioned back handed smack at a fly.

Up 3-1 I see MTL taking Game 5. Im betting on MTL tonight but Id gladly take a PHI win!
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

So you hope the Flyers win, but are betting against them?!!

Up 3-1 I see MTL taking Game 5. Im betting on MTL tonight but Id gladly take a PHI win!
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Probable. Also guessing Elliot gets the start. But now they have three to win vs our one. While I want it closed out I have a feeling this will be a 4-3 game after a 0-0 first period.

Not sure if it just came out today, but Rask left for a medical emergency with his daughter. Hope all those Bruins fans feel like a bigger piece of poop than that already are today.

agreed - and I don't judge anyone for how they handle it but I do expect that if you're at work you'll do your job as expected. If you can't do that, fine, make another choice. That's okay, too.
- Scoob

Yeah. Saying that in many professions you have to work through a certain hardship (if you want to stay in the job) does not mean that hardship is being trivialized. Far from it.

These guys can opt-out AND keep their jobs.

Not sure if it just came out today, but Rask left for a medical emergency with his daughter. Hope all those Bruins fans feel like a bigger piece of poop than that already are today.
- arichardson22

And Mike Milbury...

who cares? you put out the lineup that you feel gives you the best shot to win. whether or not JvR should have been given the 7M is irrevelant to the current situation. When it comes time to be cap compliant, THEN that 7M will be totally relevant.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Agreed. At this point I'm trusting the coach has a good reason. I personally don't care how much JVR makes right now.

Up 3-1 I see MTL taking Game 5. Im betting on MTL tonight but Id gladly take a PHI win!
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Interesting stat. Tatar has no shots on goal the last two games.

What a lame thing to say...


Anyway.... GO HOME TOMORROW HABS!
- obie

There! Fixed.