I’m sure the Islanders have new dads and families that they miss, just as the Flyers and other teams have.
- Weeber@12

Is that the exuse for Flyers being hemd in their own zone for most of the playoffs?

My excuse for the flyers is that the isles are just better.

G -Hayes - Konecny
Laughton - Couturier - Aube-Kubel
JVR - Grant - Vorachek
Raffl - Thompson - Pitlick

There is an elephant in the room here, and it might be too early to point it out because we are only down by 1 game.

During the Hextall years, we ranged from mediocre to sucky, and generally drafted well. I personally thought we should have sucked more and guys like Filippula and JVR should not have been signed but whatever. I understand lot of the Flyers base is dead set against tanking.

When Hextall was fired, there was a school of thought that the plug was pulled too early, and the team was not ready to compete yet. The largely magical regular season completely changed that, and we thought that the team was actually a lot closer than what we thought.

Playoff are a completely different beast from regular season and the first is all that matters, really. What if it has nothing to do with being dads and being rusty and what if Hextall was correct and the plug was pulled too early?

A pair like Braun-Hagg are always going to lose the Corsi battle.

Do you know which two players lead the Flyers in +/- this series, and also happen to be one of 3 players who are + in that regard?

Braun and Hagg.

EDIT: 2 of 3 players
- PT21

Plus/minus, the most flawed stat in hockey.

The Flyers have the same problem 90% of the teams in the league do in that they have too much money tied up in their aging veterans who are being paid for past performance. If they can shed some salary this off season and add a top 6 forward they will be a serious contender next year. Johnny Hockey come home at 6.75 mil.

My excuse for the flyers is that the isles are just better.
- bird_dog_pa

The 6th place team in the Metro is better than the 2nd place team?
How do you figure? You taking the 13 game bubble sample, over the 65-70 game regular season sample?

There is an elephant in the room here, and it might be too early to point it out because we are only down by 1 game.

During the Hextall years, we ranged from mediocre to sucky, and generally drafted well. I personally thought we should have sucked more and guys like Filippula and JVR should not have been signed but whatever. I understand lot of the Flyers base is dead set against tanking.

When Hextall was fired, there was a school of thought that the plug was pulled too early, and the team was not ready to compete yet. The largely magical regular season completely changed that, and we thought that the team was actually a lot closer than what we thought.

Playoff are a completely different beast from regular season and the first is all that matters, really. What if it has nothing to do with being dads and being rusty and what if Hextall was correct and the plug was pulled too early?
- PT21

Right now it looks like the semitank from Hex, gave us mediocre players at best. Hart could be the exception. Frost look like a giant Turkey from HeX, same with JVR

The 6th place team in the Metro is better than the 2nd place team?
How do you figure? You taking the 13 game bubble sample, over the 65-70 game regular season sample?
- PLindbergh31

Yaaaa

Plus/minus, the most flawed stat in hockey.
- BiggE

I do understand the validity of the criticism and what you are saying, but the game of Hagg and Braun is not based on quick exits from their own zone. Its preventing players from getting into high danger scoring areas, keeping them outside and then getting the puck out probably later than average. I don't know what the stats are for that but my guess is it would be better than the Myers-Sanheim pairing.

I was terribly disappointed though that Lee gets a shot off on that pp though with Braun all over him in the paint.

Coots and tk just look frustrated. As far as g. I knew this would happen but expected it another year or two down the road. He has played at a high level for years. Was never the fastest or the biggest. And after a few wrist procedures and what not. He is regressing. Similar to the smaller power forward type. He can still play but Now my expectations for him will change. Easier said I’m sure. Coots is not playing to his potential coupled with tk....our two offensive drivers aren’t there. The teams character that was present during the regular season isn’t there right now.

The Flyers have the same problem 90% of the teams in the league do in that they have too much money tied up in their aging veterans who are being paid for past performance. If they can shed some salary this off season and add a top 6 forward they will be a serious contender next year. Johnny Hockey come home at 6.75 mil.
- Balboa

Yeah, what’s been going on with him? From the sounds of it Calgary fans can’t wait to trade him.

The 6th place team in the Metro is better than the 2nd place team?
How do you figure? You taking the 13 game bubble sample, over the 65-70 game regular season sample?
- PLindbergh31

Do you feel the Flyers are a true "1 seed" then?

Do you feel the Flyers are a true "1 seed" then?
- Pelle31Forever

not at all tampa and boston are another tier above us

I do understand the validity of the criticism and what you are saying, but the game of Hagg and Braun is not based on quick exits from their own zone. Its preventing players from getting into high danger scoring areas, keeping them outside and then getting the puck out probably later than average. I don't know what the stats are for that but my guess is it would be better than the Myers-Sanheim pairing.

I was terribly disappointed though that Lee gets a shot off on that pp though with Braun all over him in the paint.
- PT21

Hagg and Braun aren’t doing anything well. Also quick and accurate transitioning and break outs is the name of the game. Every advanced metric plus the eye test confirms how poorly that pair is playing. One of them badly needs to sit.

Yeah, what’s been going on with him? From the sounds of it Calgary fans can’t wait to trade him.
- hereticpride

They have lost in the 1st round 2 years in a row so the daggers come out when that happens. Gaudreau is a steal waiting to happen for some team.

not at all tampa and boston are another tier above us
- 2Real

That means a tough series vs Tampon. Broons looked 2 tiers below TamP

Right now it looks like the semitank from Hex, gave us mediocre players at best. Hart could be the exception. Frost look like a giant Turkey from HeX, same with JVR
- Landsbergfan

Eh you think? I disagree.

Hart is the jewel in the crown, not Provorov imo. No other diamonds, but lots of gold.

Early yet for most of them. I judge the lapses of Myers Sanheim completely differently than I do the lapses of Giroux-Couts.

Do you feel the Flyers are a true "1 seed" then?
- Pelle31Forever

At the start of the playoffs I thought the Flyers were the third best team in the Conference behind TB and Boston.

At the start of the playoffs I thought the Flyers were the third best team in the Conference behind TB and Boston.
- PLindbergh31

what do you think now

what do you think now
- 2Real

TB

not at all tampa and boston are another tier above us
- 2Real

I agree.

Am I correct in saying the Islanders are one of the oldest teams in the NHL ? I just think the flyers are being out played and out coached. See what happens tonight
- Weeber@12

they are being outplayed. but youre missing my point. i dont care if you have cal clutterbuck or andy greene dragging down the average of ages.

look at barzal. beauviller. pulock. et al.

hell even nelson is only 28 and lee is barely 30. and those are the elder statesmen of the front line guys.

yeah the flyers have TK and the pens have guentzel who are both accomplished young guys, but its not blasphemy to realize the arrow is pointing down for giroux/voracek/crosby/malkin and pointing up for a guy like barzal.

Hagg and Braun aren’t doing anything well. Also quick and accurate transitioning and break outs is the name of the game. Every advanced metric plus the eye test confirms how poorly that pair is playing. One of them badly needs to sit.
- BiggE

You probably have a better hockey IQ than me, so I will not debate the eye test. Plus, its subjective.

What advanced stats do you mean? Don't point out raw stats. Point out relative to rest of team, and relative to Braun-Ghost in this series.

They have lost in the 1st round 2 years in a row so the daggers come out when that happens. Gaudreau is a steal waiting to happen for some team.
- Balboa

I would certainly be open to adding Gaudreau if we can dump some money in another move. I wonder what Calgary’s asking price would be.