After the Flyers scored their third goal, I was thinking to myself how good this team is when they skate with purpose, forecheck, enter the zone with speed, and play smart. All that came to a grinding halt at the 12-minute mark of the third period. When they collapse, they are really good at collapsing. I agree, Bill...Hart deserved a better fate.

Are we missing Coots? Sure. But those bonehead penalties will kill even the best of teams, Selke winner in the lineup or not. I’m 100% in the camp of benching Laughton, and NAK a game or two (imo, Hayes’ penalty late in the game is on the ref...should have never been called). Those two are not solely responsible for the collapse, of course, but they certainly opened the floodgates for what transpired late in the game.
- BroadSTmayhem

Seems there is some bias here. If there was a penalty that should never have been called, its the call on Laughton with 7 seconds left.

It would be silly to scratch Laughton.
- MJL

Was it silly to bench TK?

I am sick to my stomach and I am sick of this team already, and the season is not even 1/4 of the way through. This team has a systemic problem that I don't think can be fixed with the current personnel. The Flyers can't play 60 minutes of hockey, they can't play AV's system consistently and they can't raise their intensity at the end of games to close them out. The veterans on this team let them down again last night with STUPID, LAZY penalties, resulting from just not moving their skates. What is their problem? Are they not in shape or just LAZY, or both? Giroux actually stated: "Its a LITTLE frustrating not winning tonight". A LITTLE? There it is folks right there, to me it starts with that statement! You can't lose that game last night, you can't keep giving your divisional opponents points like they did with the Islanders. ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Someone asked me if the Bruins played 60 minutes last night, and I responded "No, they played 61 minutes!".
- jd250

It is absolutely false that the team issues cannot be fixed with current personnel. This is another statement that you'll be retracting at some point. All of the issues that they have can be fixed with coaching and buy in from players. This team is annoying with the inconsistent player. However I can't be sick of a team that despite not playing anywhere near what they're capable of, sits tied for the Presidents trophy after 11 games.

Him and ghost were horrible
- ClaudeFather

Yes they were. Ghost isn't the answer though they have zero other options at this point. Just seeing the trash on the bottom pair is a disgrace. Just a total waste and no need to waste 3 million on fake Gus.

Both the Laughton and NAK calls were correct, in fact very easy to make.
- Striiker

Thoughts on the Hayes one with exactly 2 mins left?

Was it silly to bench TK?
- Striiker

TK was benched for lackadaisical play. That is not the case overall for Laughton despite his laziness and poor decision on that play.

Agree
- BroadSTmayhem

He wasn’t as smooth as normal

Has anyone noticed it seems like the ice is really bad at Wells Fargo? Pucks have been bouncing everywhere and some simple passes are really getting away from guys.

Has anyone noticed it seems like the ice is really bad at Wells Fargo? Pucks have been bouncing everywhere and some simple passes are really getting away from guys.
- ClaudeFather

Yes, at times.

TK was benched for lackadaisical play. That is not the case overall for Laughton despite his laziness and poor decision on that play.
- MJL

Was it silly? Yes or no?

Laughton has been bad overall with his play so far. So yes it is the case.

Thoughts on the Hayes one with exactly 2 mins left?
- Hextall271

Penalty

Was it silly? Yes or no?

Laughton has been bad overall with his play so far. So yes it is the case.
- Striiker

Stating that Laughton has been bad overall is disqualifying.

Stating that Laughton has been bad overall is disqualifying.
- MJL

Of course it is as you disagree.

So was benching TK sill or not?

Hate to be that guy, but refs have screwed us over this season a few games now. Last night was by far the worst. That Hayes call was a total disgrace and should have never been called.

Of course it is as you disagree.

So was benching TK sill or not?
- Striiker

Settle down. It was a stupid penalty but it would be even dumber to scratch your 3rd line C when you’re already down 2 centers in Frost and Coots

You don’t send a message that way and I’m sure Laughton feels plenty bad. Overall he had a good game (had an assist, was +1). Take your misplaced anger elsewhere (eg. our PK or 1st or 3rd pairing D)

Hate to be that guy, but refs have screwed us over this season a few games now. Last night was by far the worst. That Hayes call was a total disgrace and should have never been called.
- arichardson22

I'm more upset about the Laughton call. With the Hayes call, whenever as a player you stop skating and reach with your arms or a stick to impede a player, however small, you open yourself up to a call. The issue is that they let similar plays go. My issue on the Laughton call is not that it wasn't a penalty in and of itself, but at that time of the game with seconds left, unless it's taking away a clear cut scoring chance, it should be let go. Refs let clear cut penalties go right in front of them all the time in the 3rd period of tight games. You know you're giving them a 4 on 3 OT PP. Let the players decide the game.

Hate to be that guy, but refs have screwed us over this season a few games now. Last night was by far the worst. That Hayes call was a total disgrace and should have never been called.
- arichardson22

I think the Islanders series calls or non-calls were worse, to be honest. The Hayes call was ticky tacky, but you cannot take 2 clear and one borderline penalty with less than 7 mins to play when you have a two goal lead.

Couple that with the Flyers woeful PK and general inability to breakout of the zone and this loss felt plenty self-inflicted/deserved

I'm more upset about the Laughton call. With the Hayes call, whenever as a player you stop skating and reach with your arms or a stick to impede a player, however small, you open yourself up to a call. The issue is that they let similar plays go. My issue on the Laughton call is not that it wasn't a penalty in and of itself, but at that time of the game with seconds left, unless it's taking away a clear cut scoring chance, it should be let go. Refs let clear cut penalties go right in front of them all the time in the 3rd period of tight games. You know you're giving them a 4 on 3 OT PP. Let the players decide the game.
- MJL

Exactly, my issue is they let all of that go all game. Literally 2-4 minutes prior Marchand did much worse against Hayes in the open ice too. Yet nothing. The Laughton one was worse but Hayes directly led to the tie which I don’t think happens if we are at even strength. As you said, let the players decide the game.

It is absolutely false that the team issues cannot be fixed with current personnel. This is another statement that you'll be retracting at some point. All of the issues that they have can be fixed with coaching and buy in from players. This team is annoying with the inconsistent player. However I can't be sick of a team that despite not playing anywhere near what they're capable of, sits tied for the Presidents trophy after 11 games.
- MJL

Again, we'll see won't we. These are not new issues for this team, i.e. poor starts to games, especially at home, can't finish out games, dumb penalties, LAZY play, poor defensive zone coverage and thousands of failed d-zone clearing attempts. This has been a systemic problem for this team for several seasons now under multiple head coaches. There is something not right with the culture of this team and I stand by what I said until I see differently!

I mean come one .. you heard or read what the the "C" said about this game, its a "Little Frustrating" .. the problem can't be more in front of you!

Not blaming him. But anyone else think provie had an off night?
- Peter Richards

Provy regularly looks like the only actual D-man out there when it's him and Ghost. We need a top-pairing d-man to play with him. Doesn't have to be elite, just solid enough not to turn over the puck constantly and get it up ice.

Besides the officiating it was nice to see the team compete and at times outplay the supposed great Boston bruins for two periods. If we could play hockey for 60 minutes we would be an incredible team but unfortunately, that has not happened in years for this squad.

I'm more upset about the Laughton call. With the Hayes call, whenever as a player you stop skating and reach with your arms or a stick to impede a player, however small, you open yourself up to a call. The issue is that they let similar plays go. My issue on the Laughton call is not that it wasn't a penalty in and of itself, but at that time of the game with seconds left, unless it's taking away a clear cut scoring chance, it should be let go. Refs let clear cut penalties go right in front of them all the time in the 3rd period of tight games. You know you're giving them a 4 on 3 OT PP. Let the players decide the game.
- MJL

In the past you are right but not this year, this year refs have been calling *everything*, not matter how harmless. It reminds me of when the NHL came out of the lockout in I think 2004 and wanted to open up the game by getting rid of the clutching and grabbing that won the Devils a few cups. It seems like there is a similar mandate going on right now.

But I feel with all this talk about refs, we are letting the Flyers players off the hook for an absolutely unacceptable break-down. They stopped playing at a time that most teams would turn it up and close it out. This the real problem we should be discussing!

Besides the officiating it was nice to see the team compete and at times outplay the supposed great Boston bruins for two periods. If we could play hockey for 60 minutes we would be an incredible team but unfortunately, that has not happened in years for this squad.
- ClaudeFather

Yes the key in what you stated is "it has not happened in YEARS"! There is a systemic culture problem on this team, and it will infect even our young players unless it is rooted out!

Yes the key in what you stated is "it has not happened in YEARS"! There is a systemic culture problem on this team, and it will infect even our young players unless it is rooted out!
- jd250

I honestly don’t get it though , is it the Flyers uniforms lol. How does a team never be able to start a game?

I honestly don’t get it though , is it the Flyers uniforms lol. How does a team never be able to start a game?
- ClaudeFather

I think AV stated it a couple of games ago, its what being a professional means, that you do the things that are necessary for you to be ready to play the game. Its not on the coaches to give a Herb Brooks speech before every game to get the players ready to play. Players are expected to understand themselves and do the things they need as individuals to get ready. Every player is different. I played with some players who would just show up, put on the pads and dominate the game, and I have played with other good players that show up an hour before the game to isolate themselves. But whatever the reason, this team is just not ready to play. I mean how many good 1st periods has this team played this year? I can't think of any!