Yeah, team defense is the hole in their proverbial bucket. They can pour in as much blood sweat and tears (and fighting!) as they want, its not gonna matter until they get that fixed.
- Tomahawk

Yep

Me. I've watched every game this season. It's what fans do.
- Scoob

I watch them all too, but man it’s been hard lately. I’ve shut games off after the first which I don’t normally do.

Still can’t believe the meltdowns this month. 9, 8, 6, 6 given up. Dear god.

Carter Hart is a mess. And I think it really started to get bad in Tahoe. That game really messed with his head and they haven't been able to reset him. He is off his lines, playing with no confidence in himself. All that was mentioned on that ESPN article about his issues was plainly evident last night once we all knew what to look for. And if we can see it, you can be sure opposing NHL coaches and players can see it too.
- MBFlyerfan

The league, well division, is well aware of what's going on with the Flyers goalies.

Because of where I live I had to watch on MSG last night. One of the Rangers analysts is Steve Valiquette. Before the game he said he's been watching video of Hart this season because the difference between last season and this season is so stark. He identified weaknesses and said the Rangers would surely also be aware and would try to take advantage. As we know, they did. (FYI, he likes Hart and does think he has what it takes to be very good once he gets this all figured out.)

Me. I've watched every game this season. It's what fans do.
- Scoob

Same here .. its sticking with the team you love when things are bad that makes it actually mean something to a fan when the team finally wins it all!

Yes, I agree, that is why I liked what Morin did last night
- jd250

Pulling hair wasn't cool

The league, well division, is well aware of what's going on with the Flyers goalies.

Because of where I live I had to watch on MSG last night. One of the Rangers analysts is Steve Valiquette. Before the game he said he's been watching video of Hart this season because the difference between last season and this season is so stark. He identified weaknesses and said the Rangers would surely also be aware and would try to take advantage. As we know, they did. (FYI, he likes Hart and does think he has what it takes to be very good once he gets this all figured out.)
- Scoob

I'm curious, what specific weaknesses did Steve identify?

Pulling hair wasn't cool
- Scoob

Same as in Football, if you don't want your hair pulled, cut your hair!

I watch them all too, but man it’s been hard lately. I’ve shut games off after the first which I don’t normally do.

Still can’t believe the meltdowns this month. 9, 8, 6, 6 given up. Dear god.
- Hextall271

Oh, it's been very difficult lately, that is for sure! I don't turn them off though. I always ride it out to the end.

Same as in Football, if you don't want your hair pulled, cut your hair!
- jd250

In football it's not illegal to pull hair. In hockey it is.

The thing about this Flyers team is they seem like a bunch of Nice Guys.

I'm curious, what specific weaknesses did Steve identify?
- jd250

Basically all the stuff we can see from television - playing too deep, bad angles, bad decisions, high glove side weakness. Being a goalie I'm sure he has some other more technical thoughts but he hit the high notes with some video for the pre-game. He did say that Hart isn't going to be like this forever as he believes Hart has what it takes to be very good and the Rangers (and other teams) need to take advantage while they can.

Me. I've watched every game this season. It's what fans do.
- Scoob

Same here .. its sticking with the team you love when things are bad that makes it actually mean something to a fan when the team finally wins it all!
- jd250

Yeah. I suffered through them.

Was pleasantly surprised with morins play last night. Surprised he didn’t get an instigator but did wait to throw until BL dropped his gloves.

Is needed. They had a lot of conversations with hart. Also like the fact that he is a physical defender.

Thought the refs were terrible at times.

Pulling hair wasn't cool
- Scoob

Wonder if the league is looking at that. He not only was holding BL by the hair, it seemed like he was pounding his head into the ice too.

The thing about this Flyers team is they seem like a bunch of Nice Guys.
- countreeman28

Scott Laughtons murder face enters the chat.

The league, well division, is well aware of what's going on with the Flyers goalies.

Because of where I live I had to watch on MSG last night. One of the Rangers analysts is Steve Valiquette. Before the game he said he's been watching video of Hart this season because the difference between last season and this season is so stark. He identified weaknesses and said the Rangers would surely also be aware and would try to take advantage. As we know, they did. (FYI, he likes Hart and does think he has what it takes to be very good once he gets this all figured out.)
- Scoob

I simply don't believe it. Hockey players don't do any analysis of opposing players when taking shots. They freestyle, man.

You know when Fridge and JR used to do their disco ball routine? That was not unwinding. That was pregame strategy!

I'm curious, what specific weaknesses did Steve identify?
- jd250

Wasn't this provided in detail yesterday in the ESPN+ article?

Wonder if the league is looking at that. He not only was holding BL by the hair, it seemed like he was pounding his head into the ice too.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, the Rangers announcers pointed that out, too.

I want to preface what I am about to say with this, I am not in here to troll.

I find this comment interesting because it is the same thing we were all saying at the beginning of the season in the Rangers blog. Trying to figure out if the goaltending woes were forcing the team to abandon the "system" and play completely disjointed, or if the system was to blame. The Rangers looked like this for at least a month when play started. A few bad goals would completely deflate the team, nuking both the goalie's and teams' confidence.

It's hard to tell exactly what is wrong when players that were absolutely lighting it up last season, were completely non existent at first too (Zibanejad, DeAngelo, Shestyorkin etc.).

Many of us wanted to fire the coaching staff and ship Zibanejad off or at least not pay him for his next contract. It's crazy what a little time (and some winning) can do. The Rangers still have a nearly impossible climb out of the hole they dug. The Flyers might flip a switch on Saturday and hand out a beat down of their own.
- JRR1285

You are very kind, but it (beat down) is not going to happen.

Scott Laughtons murder face enters the chat.
- Tomahawk

To me, he's one of those ironic "ugliest dog in the world" contestants. Just an adorable little pug.

The league, well division, is well aware of what's going on with the Flyers goalies.

Because of where I live I had to watch on MSG last night. One of the Rangers analysts is Steve Valiquette. Before the game he said he's been watching video of Hart this season because the difference between last season and this season is so stark. He identified weaknesses and said the Rangers would surely also be aware and would try to take advantage. As we know, they did. (FYI, he likes Hart and does think he has what it takes to be very good once he gets this all figured out.)
- Scoob

Speaking of having the book on an opponent, Rangers seem to have the Flyers figured out completely. They send guys pressuring the point before the passes are even made. They know exactly how to bait defenders and tear open all the seams. Flyers are like an open book to them.

Bill is employed by the team. Say no more. Anyone that thinks this team is not a bottom feeder is a moron
- SMS4016

I honestly don't think they are bottom feeders. I think they are what they have been forever, a team about in the middle, who simply cannot make the hard decisions taken to get out of the rut.

This is much the same team of this time last year. To believe that they suddenly shed all their talent seems miraculous and I don't believe in miracles.

However, the truth lies in the middle. That stretch last year was as anomalous as this stretch now is.

To me, he's one of those ironic "ugliest dog in the world" contestants. Just an adorable little pug.
- countreeman28

Scott Laughtons murder face enters the chat.
- Tomahawk

just so intimidating. The players was petrified.

I agree last night was not on Carter. But some of those goals are saves he would have made easily last year. ON the two on one he was slow to get over and once again he was beaten glove side. One of his strengths as a goalie last season was his ability to go from one side to the other smoothly and with seemingly little effort.

This season that seems to be the book on him. All these issues can be fixed. But like Jonesy and Jackson said last night, sometimes you need your goalie to make a save that saves the team from itself. We arent getting them nearly enough. Mistakes aren't being erased, they are being accentuated.
- MBFlyerfan

no great saves that other goalies are giving their teams but man I have never seen so many tap ins. They don't give up a lot of shots just give up GRADE TRIPLE AAAAAAA chances