Too much being made of the third goal by Boston and being placed on Risto’s shoulders. Bad icing. Bad match up. Our fourth line gets scored on by the best line in hockey. Get over it.

Yes, I only saw the 3rd period and highlights of the first 2 periods. I also don't always agree with the definition of a high danger chance, but even in the highlights that 2nd period was not a good defensive period, starting with RR gaffs.
- jd250

Well I don't think all high danger chances are created equal but it sure does paint a picture. Here are some other stats that paint a picture from the game at 5 on 5

Shot attempts. 69-42 Bruins
Shots 38-22 Bruins
Scoring chances 38-18 Bruins

There seems to be this idea floating around that the Flyers had this game plan for the Flyers first line to go out and play defense and defend against the Bruins top line. Other than game planning the matchup, that is surely not the case. The simple fact is that the Flyers top line was really poor last night and got thoroughly outplayed. They've played 3 games and other than the game against an expansion team. The Flyers team play so far is eerily reminiscent to the beginning of 20/21. The type of hockey they played last night is not winning hockey long term.
- MJL

Yet they won !

Yet they won !
- bradster

That doesn’t matter and they won’t improve as they go haha.

Like is said, many things to improve but points at this time of year count the same as in March when we play 15 times in 31 days. You can’t make the playoffs in October but you can miss them with prolonged poor starts.

Yandle is pretty darn good with the puck. Pretty bad without it.
- MJL

So, he's like Ghost...

That doesn’t matter and they won’t improve as they go haha.

Like is said, many things to improve but points at this time of year count the same as in March when we play 15 times in 31 days. You can’t make the playoffs in October but you can miss them with prolonged poor starts.
- Hextall271

There are plenty of positives to take also. For example, with the way the Bruins controlled play, if the Flyers team defense was equal to last year, they would've lost 10-6. They have an improved top defense pairing. Atkinson and Farabee look like they've been playing together for 5 years. Last night one thing the Flyers did really well despite playing a ton in their own end was not take penalties.

So, he's like Ghost...
- leon neon

Yandle is significantly better with the puck now than Gostisbehere was the latter part of his Flyers career.

Sounds like a good game. I missed it. NHL network airs a replay this afternoon so I can record that and watch it later.

How did the Laughton line look? I saw his goal. Defense pairings?
- NC Flyers Fan

Laughton's line struggled... No chemistry, disjointed, etc. But, not totally bad - the effort is definitely there. Laughton is not a neutral goal scorer, yet he buried that opportunity. He had a breakaway, earlier, that he shot and hit the goalie.

It was a good game. back and forth. We built a 2 goal lead, and lost it, then built it again... Then an EN goal. In a scrum around Boston's net, Coot's drew a penalty with 2+minutes to go. This set up the EN.

There are plenty of positives to take also. For example, with the way the Bruins controlled play, if the Flyers team defense was equal to last year, they would've lost 10-6. They have an improved top defense pairing. Atkinson and Farabee look like they've been playing together for 5 years. Last night one thing the Flyers did really well despite playing a ton in their own end was not take penalties.
- MJL

Yes. Unnoticed that as well. Best pk is don’t that the penalty in the first place. Boston pp is deadly.

Atkinson and farabee are incredible so far. Didn’t expect that chemistry on that line.

Yandle is significantly better with the puck now than Gostisbehere was the latter part of his Flyers career.
- MJL

Yandle is better with the puck and without the puck than Ghost. Ghost would get manhandled often, Yandle is slightly bigger, and I haven't seen that happen much. The only skill Ghost had over Yandle was his shot from the point. Actually, better than most defenseman.

There seems to be this idea floating around that the Flyers had this game plan for the Flyers first line to go out and play defense and defend against the Bruins top line. Other than game planning the matchup, that is surely not the case. The simple fact is that the Flyers top line was really poor last night and got thoroughly outplayed. They've played 3 games and other than the game against an expansion team. The Flyers team play so far is eerily reminiscent to the beginning of 20/21. The type of hockey they played last night is not winning hockey long term.
- MJL

It’s funny how it worked out that way. The perfection line is the best line in hockey. That line is really good. Everybody get outplayed by them. Give AV some credit. If they can minimize that too line and beat them elsewhere then they win.

The fourth line struggled some also. But the game was won on transition play from lines 2 and 3.

The fact that the Coots line scored even with the perfection line was great even though they were hemmed in the entire game.

Yes. Unnoticed that as well. Best pk is don’t that the penalty in the first place. Boston pp is deadly.

Atkinson and farabee are incredible so far. Didn’t expect that chemistry on that line.
- Hextall271

Don't under-estimate Brassard's role on that line. His passing the last two games has been excellent. I don't think Hayes can easily substitute what Brassard is doing.

Yandle is better with the puck and without the puck than Ghost. Ghost would get manhandled often, Yandle is slightly bigger, and I haven't seen that happen much. The only skill Ghost had over Yandle was his shot from the point. Actually, better than most defenseman.
- leon neon

I would disagree that Yandle is better defensively. Yandle doesn't offer anything really defensively. He rarely engages physically. Gostisbehere was strong at reading plays and breaking up rushes with an active stick and protecting the blueline. I would also disagree that Gostisbehere had a better point shot at the end. Yandle is more accurate and more cunning in getting the puck to the net.

Laughton's line struggled... No chemistry, disjointed, etc. But, not totally bad - the effort is definitely there. Laughton is not a neutral goal scorer, yet he buried that opportunity. He had a breakaway, earlier, that he shot and hit the goalie.

It was a good game. back and forth. We built a 2 goal lead, and lost it, then built it again... Then an EN goal. In a scrum around Boston's net, Coot's drew a penalty with 2+minutes to go. This set up the EN.
- leon neon

Thanks. Was Risto paired with Sanheim the whole game?

Just from a stat perspective…look at what having a top pairing does for the Flyers against high power offense. Chance to win. Provy-Ellis

Truly remarkable the nitpicking going on here after last night's WIN!!! Flyers earned 6 of 16 possible points vs Bs last year and were embarrassed multiple times, but let's pile on about shot attempts and high danger opportunities.

Look at the 3 goals allowed:
1) failed clear by 4th line + unlucky block attempt straight to shooter
2) terrible line change, bone head play by new Dman in his FIRST game w/ team
3) unnecessary icing leading to unfavorable defensive zone matchup

All 3 can be corrected over an 82 game schedule

Did their first line seem more dangerous vs ours in the first 2 periods, sure. Do they do that to most opposing lines on every night, most of the time. Guess what, our first line outscored them 2-1 and did it when it mattered most. Tied 3-3 going into the 3rd, win the period, win the game and they did!

You may look at a stat line and think this is reminiscent of last year, but what i saw last night was no where close to the debacle we witnessed at the onset of last season.

Don't under-estimate Brassard's role on that line. His passing the last two games has been excellent. I don't think Hayes can easily substitute what Brassard is doing.
- leon neon

Brassard has made a few plays and has played well. However offensively, he is the benefactor of some puck luck and playing with two red hot wingers. I see it as very important that Hayes gets back and up to speed as 2C long term. However if that line keeps scoring , they may do something different once Hayes gets back.

Based on a number of posts that you've made on the game as a whole. You didn't see what actually happened in the game.
- MJL

oh .. yup ... there ya go ... can't just state an opinion, have to argue with others. Man you got issues!

I would disagree that Yandle is better defensively. Yandle doesn't offer anything really defensively. He rarely engages physically. Gostisbehere was strong at reading plays and breaking up rushes with an active stick and protecting the blueline. I would also disagree that Gostisbehere had a better point shot at the end. Yandle is more accurate and more cunning in getting the puck to the net.
- MJL

From what I saw, Yandle wins a lot of battles with his stick, he's smart and positions himself well defensively once set up. At least to me, I am happy with his play overall so far. Is he perfect, of course not, Ellis, Provey, they all make errors in their own end, but what I like is they recover well so far.

Truly remarkable the nitpicking going on here after last night's WIN!!! Flyers earned 6 of 16 possible points vs Bs last year and were embarrassed multiple times, but let's pile on about shot attempts and high danger opportunities.

Look at the 3 goals allowed:
1) failed clear by 4th line + unlucky block attempt straight to shooter
2) terrible line change, bone head play by new Dman in his FIRST game w/ team
3) unnecessary icing leading to unfavorable defensive zone matchup

All 3 can be corrected over an 82 game schedule

Did their first line seem more dangerous vs ours in the first 2 periods, sure. Do they do that to most opposing lines on every night, most of the time. Guess what, our first line outscored them 2-1 and did it when it mattered most. Tied 3-3 going into the 3rd, win the period, win the game and they did!

You may look at a stat line and think this is reminiscent of last year, but what i saw last night was no where close to the debacle we witnessed at the onset of last season.
- bgratch

So I'll ask you after all the moves were made, what is the goal? To just be better than last year? I agree completely that all 3 of those individual mistakes can be cleaned up. You have to look for trends and to this point, not enough of a sample for a trend. However you can't discount that the way they played overall last night is not playoff and Cup winning hockey. It's the same as early last season where they outscored their subpar play. If you have your top line and top defense pairing outplayed like that against top teams, what do you think is going to happen more times than not?

It’s funny how it worked out that way. The perfection line is the best line in hockey. That line is really good. Everybody get outplayed by them. Give AV some credit. If they can minimize that too line and beat them elsewhere then they win.

The fourth line struggled some also. But the game was won on transition play from lines 2 and 3.

The fact that the Coots line scored even with the perfection line was great even though they were hemmed in the entire game.
- peesinwind

Luckily, we only play Boston once at home. We have the benefit of sending out the last change. AV had the opportunity to play Coot's line against them all night. The one face-off after an icing, we had our 4th line out versus their top line... Goal.

Speaking of the fourt line. Did anyone else think the fourth line looked better with Willman over MacEwen? I think Willman is quicker. Having Thompson and MacEwen is redundant. Both these guys are too slow to hit anyone and get in on the forecheck. Sure Seattle and Boston are two completely different teams. But, the fourth line looked much better versus Seattle.

From what I saw, Yandle wins a lot of battles with his stick, he's smart and positions himself well defensively once set up. At least to me, I am happy with his play overall so far. Is he perfect, of course not, Ellis, Provey, they all make errors in their own end, but what I like is they recover well so far.
- jd250

Yandle is completely passive defensively and quite frankly, much of it is scary. I love his play with the puck. He passes the puck on a dime and is savvy in playmaking.

oh .. yup ... there ya go ... can't just state an opinion, have to argue with others. Man you got issues!
- jd250

I don't have issues. I look at the facts and the facts don't jive with your analysis. That simple.

Luckily, we only play Boston once at home. We have the benefit of sending out the last change. AV had the opportunity to play Coot's line against them all night. The one face-off after an icing, we had our 4th line out versus their top line... Goal.

Speaking of the fourt line. Did anyone else think the fourth line looked better with Willman over MacEwen? I think Willman is quicker. Having Thompson and MacEwen is redundant. Both these guys are too slow to hit anyone and get in on the forecheck. Sure Seattle and Boston are two completely different teams. But, the fourth line looked much better versus Seattle.
- leon neon

It is his first game but I was not impressed with MacEwen last night.

So I'll ask you after all the moves were made, what is the goal? To just be better than last year? I agree completely that all 3 of those individual mistakes can be cleaned up. You have to look for trends and to this point, not enough of a sample for a trend. However you can't discount that the way they played overall last night is not playoff and Cup winning hockey. It's the same as early last season where they outscored their subpar play. If you have your top line and top defense pairing outplayed like that against top teams, what do you think is going to happen more times than not?
- MJL

You could almost make a similar argument if you were a Boston fan... They were outscored, questionable goaltending, got in a hole, they try but can't put the puck in the net, they only have one forward line that's any good... True cup winning teams would have won that game versus a lowly Flyers team that sucked last year. Boston isn't a cup winning team, let-alone a playoff team.

You could almost make a similar argument if you were a Boston fan... They were outscored, questionable goaltending, got in a hole, they try but can't put the puck in the net, they only have one forward line that's any good... True cup winning teams would have won that game versus a lowly Flyers team that sucked last year. Boston isn't a cup winning team, let-alone a playoff team.
- leon neon

If I'm a Bruins fan, my take from that game was that they thoroughly outplayed the opposition. The goaltending needs to be better but if they continue to play like that upfront, they'll win a lot of games and will be a factor.