Laughton penalty - dumb
NAK - takes way too many penalties

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!
- jd250

We will see. When you apply the standard of can't be fixed with the current personnel, you look and see if the team is actually capable. We clearly see that this team is capable of skating and matching the intensity and playing with top teams. So we know this team as currently constituted is capable. If you think making a change or two will magically fix the issue, that's delusional.

We also know that Claude Giroux is not a player who calls his team out publicly. He prefers to deal with that behind closed doors.

In the other thread, you said this team stinks. That's ridiculous.

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.
- dramado

Gostisbehere got beat on the first shift, but otherwise has been fine since his return and has improved the team. I agree on the need whether it's on that pairing on another, but Gostisbehere has played well in my opinion.

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

This question wasn't directed at me but I will answer it... That hayes call with exactly 2 minutes left was compete garbage. The refs wanted to help boston out and they did just that.
That laughton penality... My God.. what an idiot penalty to to take. The game is almost over and you should never take a dumb penalty like that with seconds remaining, especially against Boston and their power play

In a wonderful world scott laughton sits for a game but in this shortened, condensed season he should play next game but he needs to not commit a penalty like that again. It cost us a point

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!
- jd250

The refs let a number of penalties go last night. It's been the same all year. I don't think the Flyers stopped playing so much as they went into a preventive shell and played more cautious hockey. I agree closing out games has been an issue.

Please dear God do not let today be a long series of posts trying to convince Mjl that the dumb things he posts are wrong.

Laughton penalty - dumb
NAK - takes way too many penalties
- Scoob

NAK does take some bad penalties, but he seems to bring it every shift with high energy. I wish TK would take some of NAK'S energy ( like he used to )

Gostisbehere got beat on the first shift, but otherwise has been fine since his return and has improved the team. I agree on the need whether it's on that pairing on another, but Gostisbehere has played well in my opinion.
- MJL

Ghost was bad last night, he got beat on the first shift, had a few really bad reads/passes, and I think he turned one over directly in the slot again. Him and Provy did not have it last night

Ghost was bad last night, he got beat on the first shift, had a few really bad reads/passes, and I think he turned one over directly in the slot again. Him and Provy did not have it last night
- ClaudeFather

I think for periods of the game, a lot of players were bad. He was certainly bad on the first shift but defenseman will get beat one on one on occasion. In the first period last night, the defenseman were under siege from the Bruins forecheck. There were tons of turnovers. The Flyers didn't come ready to play and I put some of this on the coaching staff. They needed adjust their breakout scheme. The Bruins were sealing off the boards. The Flyers need to adjust, have the center come back deeper and use the middle of the ice more. It's high risk but that's how you have to beat NHL forechecks. Just putting the puck into 50/50 battles all period is not an effective strategy. There's also a reason why Vigneault's keeps mentioning the forwards role in this. There was one play, I think it was in the 2nd period where Gostisbehere back in his own end had the puck with 2 Bruins right on him and had no where to go.

Bill Meltzer: Wrap:Flyers Fail to Close Out Boston, Lose 4-3 in OT
- bmeltzer

This team is horrendous in their own end

Would like to see Ivan removed from the PP.

Your best players need to play more minutes. Giroux at less than 17 shouldn't happen.

NAK does take some bad penalties, but he seems to bring it every shift with high energy. I wish TK would take some of NAK'S energy ( like he used to )
- 3flyerkids

He does bring energy but a dumb penalty every game is unacceptable.

TK seems to be playing a bit better since his benching, imho. He'll come back around.

I think for periods of the game, a lot of players were bad. He was certainly bad on the first shift but defenseman will get beat one on one on occasion. In the first period last night, the defenseman were under siege from the Bruins forecheck. There were tons of turnovers. The Flyers didn't come ready to play and I put some of this on the coaching staff. They needed adjust their breakout scheme. The Bruins were sealing off the boards. The Flyers need to adjust, have the center come back deeper and use the middle of the ice more. It's high risk but that's how you have to beat NHL forechecks. Just putting the puck into 50/50 battles all period is not an effective strategy. There's also a reason why Vigneault's keeps mentioning the forwards role in this. There was one play, I think it was in the 2nd period where Gostisbehere back in his own end had the puck with 2 Bruins right on him and had no where to go.
- MJL

Agreed, we never use the center on the breakout it seems. Feels like AV made some scheme adjustments he’s sticking with for now, maybe we will get going but right now it has not been great results.

I am sure this is blasphemy, but I think we need Moose to be the primary goalie. While Hart makes some amazing saves...he does not steady the ship as Moose does when he is in the net. Same team in front of each of them and Moose has played FAR better IMO. With all the other problems this team has, Moose should be the starter until Hart works out his issues...as much as the dumb penalties hurt us last night, your best player on the PK has to be your goalie, and Hart has not been that for us this year.

I am sure this is blasphemy, but I think we need Moose to be the primary goalie. While Hart makes some amazing saves...he does not steady the ship as Moose does when he is in the net. Same team in front of each of them and Moose has played FAR better IMO. With all the other problems this team has, Moose should be the starter until Hart works out his issues...as much as the dumb penalties hurt us last night, your best player on the PK has to be your goalie, and Hart has not been that for us this year.
- JW98FlyerFan

While Moose has been great, There’s been 1 maybe 2 games Hart didn’t look great. Most of the losses the defense made his life hell. Last night wasn’t on Hart either. He deserved a far better result

While Moose has been great, There’s been 1 maybe 2 games Hart didn’t look great. Most of the losses the defense made his life hell. Last night wasn’t on Hart either. He deserved a far better result
- arichardson22

I don't disagree with last night, but overall, I just don't feel like Hart is going to steal games for us. I just don't see the same goalie I saw last year.

I’d say my overall complain comes from the approach to these games, heading in. They never look prepared and regardless of the outcome, they look like the weaker team. Boston would use two guys to smother one of our guys off the puck legally. So out of the gate, physicality is an issue but it’s boys against men when we face Boston or Washington.

I think what hurt us was scratching Konency against the Islanders. We had great balanced lines prior and than in game 2, Vigneault doesn’t come back with the same set up. Do you all think Lindblom needs more ice time, on a scoring line, while JvR is hot?

Would like to see Ivan removed from the PP.

Your best players need to play more minutes. Giroux at less than 17 shouldn't happen.
- Striiker

G is the one who should be benched..... Dude is trash

This question wasn't directed at me but I will answer it... That hayes call with exactly 2 minutes left was compete garbage. The refs wanted to help boston out and they did just that.
That laughton penality... My God.. what an idiot penalty to to take. The game is almost over and you should never take a dumb penalty like that with seconds remaining, especially against Boston and their power play

In a wonderful world scott laughton sits for a game but in this shortened, condensed season he should play next game but he needs to not commit a penalty like that again. It cost us a point
- Bob Habib

Agreed and it was an open question to all. The Hayes call was t he one that made me go crazy.

It also makes no sense that they let so much go until the end of the game then call everything and one way.

It's pretty bad when guys you depend on are taking some of the DUMBEST penalties at inopportune times. The Ed Snider Country Club mentality lives on.

Exactly who are they replacing Laughton with?

I feel the anger about the Hayes call is more about the timing of the call than the call itself. If the exact same sequence happened early in the 1st are you guys complaining about it as much? Probably not.

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

The officiating last night was very inconsistent. Sure some ''dumb'' penalties were taken by Philly, but the referees have to make those same calls against Boston which didn't happen. IMO this cost us the game.

Let the players decide the game.

G is the one who should be benched..... Dude is trash
- Flyers_1488

lol, what?

Positives-Hart was really good. The 5 on 5 play was really good against a really good team. JVR is playing really well. Myers-Sanheim pairing was really good last night.

I am not going to say the penalty calls were not penalties. NAK's they will call a high percentage of the time. I thought the one on Hayes is a penalty but it is not called consistently. Laughton's was a penalty. Interference is not called as much as it should be across the league. Whether you agree with the calls or not, the Flyers have to kill at least one of them off.

Notes for next game. Cover 88. Don't take penalties. Keep improving the 5 on 5 play. Maybe be ready to play from the opening faceoff.

I am sure this is blasphemy, but I think we need Moose to be the primary goalie. While Hart makes some amazing saves...he does not steady the ship as Moose does when he is in the net. Same team in front of each of them and Moose has played FAR better IMO. With all the other problems this team has, Moose should be the starter until Hart works out his issues...as much as the dumb penalties hurt us last night, your best player on the PK has to be your goalie, and Hart has not been that for us this year.
- JW98FlyerFan

I said to my dad last night that I think the team plays much better in front of Elliott than they do for Hart. Nothing about last night was about Hart. No own goals on Elliott. No spectacularly horrendous play in front of Elliott.