Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Flyers Defeat Rangers, 4-3

Good win for the boys!

I only saw the 3rd period and from the way they played it, I wondered how they scratched out a win on this one.

PS: Bill, Hayes goal was in the 2nd period.

tying Hockey Hall of Fame left winger for second on the franchise's all-time games played list. Bill I assume you meant to reference Bill Barber.

Good game, G was a beast but hard to get excited the Rangers really allow a teams O opportunity. Fair matchup with who was missing on both sides. Rangers are probably where the Flyers were a couple years ago, you, some talent but need to grow.

I like Patrick’s game with G and Hayes. I don’t think you break up Farabee and JVR, Do you leave them with COOTS when the others return? Do you try form a 3rd line out of the returning players? Probably can’t since the only C is Laughton and he is better on wing or 4c.

Jake, TK, lindblom and Laughton. I could see Laughton in between Farabee and JVR. leaving coots with lindblom and Jake but where does that leave Tk. Do you do tk, Jake and coots. Let linblom go on a line with nak and Bunnaman. The big challenge in this is keeping Patrick on the wing. It was only one game and it is the Rangers but You finally saw Patrick make a difference

What are your lines?

What’s up with all the days off, you’d think the games would really start to ramp up soon, every other day. Also, this site has become brutal with the ads and redirects

Good game, G was a beast but hard to get excited the Rangers really allow a teams O opportunity. Fair matchup with who was missing on both sides. Rangers are probably where the Flyers were a couple years ago, you, some talent but need to grow.

I like Patrick’s game with G and Hayes. I don’t think you break up Farabee and JVR, Do you leave them with COOTS when the others return? Do you try form a 3rd line out of the returning players? Probably can’t since the only C is Laughton and he is better on wing or 4c.

Jake, TK, lindblom and Laughton. I could see Laughton in between Farabee and JVR. leaving coots with lindblom and Jake but where does that leave Tk. Do you do tk, Jake and coots. Let linblom go on a line with nak and Bunnaman. The big challenge in this is keeping Patrick on the wing. It was only one game and it is the Rangers but You finally saw Patrick make a difference

What are your lines?
- wcorvette

I personally didn't think Patrick had a great game. I saw too many instances where he looked shy with the puck. He doesn't seem to want it on his stick. I did like what I saw from Ghost. He had 6 shots on goal (Patrick had none) and scored on that play that it first looked like Patrick scored. Ghost seems to be confident and it shows in how he's playing. I see a lack of confidence in Patrick, and I can't put my finger on the reason for his inconsistent offensive play. He is clearly a very talented player, and has great hands and vision. He plays well on the boards and can hold onto the puck when he has it, but he's been playing a very conservative game. His slow offensive development reminds me of Coots early career. The big difference is that Coots was regularly playing the other teams top lines. I really like Patrick and hope he gets the confidence he needs soon. With his talent, he should be able to chip in some solid points. Right now Patrick only has 5-points and is -4 in plus-minus. I hope as the season progresses, he gains some belief in himself, and that this all comes down to him being out all of last season. I know he was inconsistent in his early career, but that's not out of the norm for young talent acclimating themselves to the NHL.

What’s up with all the days off, you’d think the games would really start to ramp up soon, every other day. Also, this site has become brutal with the ads and redirects
- ClaudeFather

I think we have something like 17 games in March.

Its good to get a win, but my goodness you can see why the Flyers need a defenseman like Ekholm. All 3 of Krieder's goals came from a few feet away from Elliott and no one was covering him. The Flyers D coverage around the slot area has been atrocious the entire season, and even when they are there, they are easily bullied off the puck or space. Myers, Sanheim and Haag have size, but they don't have strength and its killing the Flyers right now.

Good news is Giroux with 8 shots, Hayes and JVR with 6 shots each. That is what we need from these guys every night. And great pass by Farabee on that 3rd goal, the Rangers D over played the strong side allowing JVR to be wide open, and Farabee found him.

I think we have something like 17 games in March.
- Hextall271

Geeez

I personally didn't think Patrick had a great game. I saw too many instances where he looked shy with the puck. He doesn't seem to want it on his stick. I did like what I saw from Ghost. He had 6 shots on goal (Patrick had none) and scored on that play that it first looked like Patrick scored. Ghost seems to be confident and it shows in how he's playing. I see a lack of confidence in Patrick, and I can't put my finger on the reason for his inconsistent offensive play. He is clearly a very talented player, and has great hands and vision. He plays well on the boards and can hold onto the puck when he has it, but he's been playing a very conservative game. His slow offensive development reminds me of Coots early career. The big difference is that Coots was regularly playing the other teams top lines. I really like Patrick and hope he gets the confidence he needs soon. With his talent, he should be able to chip in some solid points. Right now Patrick only has 5-points and is -4 in plus-minus. I hope as the season progresses, he gains some belief in himself, and that this all comes down to him being out all of last season. I know he was inconsistent in his early career, but that's not out of the norm for young talent acclimating themselves to the NHL.
- dramado

Patrick had a solid game last night. If he keeps playing like that, the points will come.

Its good to get a win, but my goodness you can see why the Flyers need a defenseman like Ekholm. All 3 of Krieder's goals came from a few feet away from Elliott and no one was covering him. The Flyers D coverage around the slot area has been atrocious the entire season, and even when they are there, they are easily bullied off the puck or space. Myers, Sanheim and Haag have size, but they don't have strength and its killing the Flyers right now.

Good news is Giroux with 8 shots, Hayes and JVR with 6 shots each. That is what we need from these guys every night. And great pass by Farabee on that 3rd goal, the Rangers D over played the strong side allowing JVR to be wide open, and Farabee found him.
- jd250

2 of the 3 Krieder goals had nothing to do with being bullied off the puck or space. Their rotation in the D zone and on the PK is off. That is something that the coaching staff can correct. The other goal, Myers was weak around the net.

Still on the fence on Farabee or have you seen enough yet?

2 of the 3 Krieder goals had nothing to do with being bullied off the puck or space. Their rotation in the D zone and on the PK is off. That is something that the coaching staff can correct. The other goal, Myers was weak around the net.

Still on the fence on Farabee or have you seen enough yet?
- MJL

We are 16 games into the season and the D zone rotation has been off the entire season. How many games and practices do these professional hockey players need before the coaching staff can fix this?

2 of the 3 Krieder goals had nothing to do with being bullied off the puck or space. Their rotation in the D zone and on the PK is off. That is something that the coaching staff can correct. The other goal, Myers was weak around the net.

Still on the fence on Farabee or have you seen enough yet?
- MJL

When Farabee finishes a season with either 30+ goals or is close to a point a game player, I will be happy to report that I was right about him all along!

We are 16 games into the season and the D zone rotation has been off the entire season. How many games and practices do these professional hockey players need before the coaching staff can fix this?
- jd250

It would be nice to get some practices in for sure. No preseason games and limited practice time surely didn't help. But yes, now we are well in to the season and this crap needs to be cleaned up.

I was yelling at the screen last night during one PP when Krieder was literally standing in front of Elliot alone with no Flyer within 15 feet of him. That cant happen, every guy on the ice was puck watching.

Patrick had a solid game last night. If he keeps playing like that, the points will come.
- MJL

Patrick had 0 shots on goal in 16+ minutes of ice time. That is not a recipe for collecting points.

It would be nice to get some practices in for sure. No preseason games and limited practice time surely didn't help. But yes, now we are well in to the season and this crap needs to be cleaned up.

I was yelling at the screen last night during one PP when Krieder was literally standing in front of Elliot alone with no Flyer within 15 feet of him. That cant happen, every guy on the ice was puck watching.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes on that first goal, off the faceoff Myers moved up WAY too far following the puck to the far point. He should have just moved over to cover the right slot area and let the forward deal with the point. That goal was squarely on poor positioning of Myers from what I saw.

We are 16 games into the season and the D zone rotation has been off the entire season. How many games and practices do these professional hockey players need before the coaching staff can fix this?
- jd250

As always, players have to execute. There has also been a lack of practice time

Good game, G was a beast but hard to get excited the Rangers really allow a teams O opportunity. Fair matchup with who was missing on both sides. Rangers are probably where the Flyers were a couple years ago, you, some talent but need to grow.

I like Patrick’s game with G and Hayes. I don’t think you break up Farabee and JVR, Do you leave them with COOTS when the others return? Do you try form a 3rd line out of the returning players? Probably can’t since the only C is Laughton and he is better on wing or 4c.

Jake, TK, lindblom and Laughton. I could see Laughton in between Farabee and JVR. leaving coots with lindblom and Jake but where does that leave Tk. Do you do tk, Jake and coots. Let linblom go on a line with nak and Bunnaman. The big challenge in this is keeping Patrick on the wing. It was only one game and it is the Rangers but You finally saw Patrick make a difference

What are your lines?
- wcorvette

Giroux - Couturier - Patrick
JVR - Hayes - Farabee
TK - Laughton - Lindblom
NAK - Bunnaman - Raffl

Give Patrick 10 games on the top line and if he doesn't show anything swap him with TK.

Patrick had 0 shots on goal in 16+ minutes of ice time. That is not a recipe for collecting points.
- jd250

But he also had numerous shot attempts and was around the net often, as well as up on his skates and winning board battles. He was noticeable and was imposing himself on the game more than I have seen him recently.

Patrick had 0 shots on goal in 16+ minutes of ice time. That is not a recipe for collecting points.
- jd250

I would suggest watching the game again. What you look for in a player who has been struggling offensively is some improvement. Changing habits and play to move forward. Shouldn't expect a player to just flip a switch. What I saw from Patrick was that he was engaged around the net rather than being on the perimeter. If you're around the net more, you'll inevitably be around the puck more and eventually get opportunities. He was stronger on the forecheck. In my opinion if he continues to do those things, he will improve offensively

But he also had numerous shot attempts and was around the net often, as well as up on his skates and winning board battles. He was noticeable and was imposing himself on the game more than I have seen him recently.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly. Now jd250 claims he knows the game very well but perhaps he just missed it.

But he also had numerous shot attempts and was around the net often, as well as up on his skates and winning board battles. He was noticeable and was imposing himself on the game more than I have seen him recently.
- MBFlyerfan

I hope you are right, which is why I want to give him first line minutes with Coots and Giroux. If he can't score with them, not sure what else to do with him.

When playing against team that don't forecheck all that much Ghost looks very good. Hopefully Braun is back next game to get Hagg out of the lineup. The 4th line not NHL caliber. Clode with a good game.

Exactly. Now jd250 claims he knows the game very well but perhaps he just missed it.
- MJL

The bottom line is Patrick had 0 shots on goal in 16+ minutes. I can trip over players in this league that can win board battles or shoot the puck wide of the net, or get a shot blocked. Read my other post, I want to give Patrick first line minutes with two of our best forwards. He either steps up or its over!