It is a bit worrisome that he is a -161 for his career. That play he made on the Bruins second goal was brutal. You just can't make those kind of blunders at this level cause it will end up in your net every time. At least he was positioned right on the Marchand goal, but gotta have his stick there instead of just standing around watching. Not a good first game by him, but not gonna crucify the guy either. Just one game and Marchand is a sneaky little rat around the net.
- Phillywhiteout

With the critiquing risto, he needs credit for the hit he layed on Coyle, then coyle got up frustrated and quickly took a penalty, which we then scored on right before the intermission. Those expecting RR to be a 1st line guy, he is not that. He will make a bunch of mistakes in the season, but which D doesnt. Pietroangleo had a big giveaway last night, it happens to the best of them. Take the good with the bad

what's the difference between fine and mediocre?
- bradster

If your wife is saying it then fine is way worse than mediocre.

tough job to accomplish, that line is just that good and it really is Marchand that drives it
- wcorvette

exactly...probably a top 3 first line in the entire NHL and what do people here expect? Playing them to a "tie" is a worthy accomplishment but we can never be happy with a win.

First line did their job, kept the Bs too line off the board
- ClaudeFather

What are they a checking line now? If that was the Flyers 3rd or 4th line that was matched up, then I think you can say that. However it wasn't. It was the first line and they didn't play well. They played losing hockey. More times than not getting crushed and hemmed in all game as a top line will end up with bad results. They can play much, much better.

People are mentioning it looked like last year but I think it’s night and day, the Dzone last year was abysmal. Take some of those fluky goals back in the Vancouver game and we aren’t giving up many.
- ClaudeFather

Take away that second period against Vancouver and a bad line change by Ristolainen last night and they’ve likely won their first 3 games comfortably.

exactly...probably a top 3 first line in the entire NHL and what do people here expect? Playing them to a "tie" is a worthy accomplishment but we can never be happy with a win.
- juiced

I personally expect the top line to be able to attack and take some play to the opposition. Couturier is notorious as a player for being able to do that. What do you expect from this team? We certainly can be happy with a win but we also have to look at the entire picture.

What are they a checking line now? If that was the Flyers 3rd or 4th line that was matched up, then I think you can say that. However it wasn't. It was the first line and they didn't play well. They played losing hockey. More times than not getting crushed and hemmed in all game as a top line will end up with bad results. They can play much, much better.
- MJL

No but their role past night was to shut down that 1st line. Bad icing by Sanheim with less than a minute in period and 4th line on ice. Bruins send out top line. Marchand beats a tired Risto for the puck and ties the game.

If B's got 1st line matched up against any other line, it might be a different result.

What are they a checking line now? If that was the Flyers 3rd or 4th line that was matched up, then I think you can say that. However it wasn't. It was the first line and they didn't play well. They played losing hockey. More times than not getting crushed and hemmed in all game as a top line will end up with bad results. They can play much, much better.
- MJL

You’re not going to be great every night, if you go up against the best line in hockey and they don’t score on you, you did your job. Obviously would have liked them to push back more.

What are they a checking line now? If that was the Flyers 3rd or 4th line that was matched up, then I think you can say that. However it wasn't. It was the first line and they didn't play well. They played losing hockey. More times than not getting crushed and hemmed in all game as a top line will end up with bad results. They can play much, much better.
- MJL

It's rare, but I totally agree with this! The first line seemed like they were hemmed in on almost every shift. It was actually pretty brutal although I will say that at least they were pretty well positioned defensively and didn't give up too many grade A scoring chances.

What I liked most about last night's game is how the Flyers played in the 3rd period, especially in the final 10 minutes. Last season, it looked like they played scared and almost waited for the shoe to drop. Last night, the Flyers controlled the puck, didn't play passive and did a great job breaking up plays in the neutral zone, thus not allowing the Bruins to pick up speed on their rush into the Flyer's zone. There was a short period of about 5 minutes between 13 and 8 minutes in the 3rd period where I thought the Flyers were passive and allowed the Bruins too much space to operate. I think what makes the Bruins top line so good is they do not need much space to hurt you.

No but their role past night was to shut down that 1st line. Bad icing by Sanheim with less than a minute in period and 4th line on ice. Bruins send out top line. Marchand beats a tired Risto for the puck and ties the game.

If B's got 1st line matched up against any other line, it might be a different result.
- cdearth23

I don't agree that was their role. They're a first line. No coach wants a first line to go out and play like a checking line. Teams use a lower line to play against a top line to gain an advantage elsewhere. No coach is looking for just keeping another teams top line off the scoreboard from his own top line. If they play that away against the Bruins, they'll lose 8 out of 10 times if not 9 out of 10.

First game back from injury and is he 100%? I don't know. Initial impression is that I'll repeat a post I made last night. All the tools a defenseman needs from the neck down.
- MJL

Stopped by and was gona ask how Risto was doing.

This is what Sabres fans hated about the guy.

hes a best and a physical freak.

The mind is not 100% there at times.

Hell make you say good play and then WTF was that about 50 times a game?

You’re not going to be great every night, if you go up against the best line in hockey and they don’t score on you, you did your job. Obviously would have liked them to push back more.
- ClaudeFather

Not asking them to be great every night. Just asking them not to suck and play well. They didn't.

Apologies to AV for whining about the Jones start. Last years team crumbles in that game, nice to see them just play through it. Shots were obviously lopsided but I thought we didn’t give up the back door slam dunks of 20-21. Jones didn’t have any 10 bell saves but he was solid and made the ones he needed to, great start for him.
- ClaudeFather

Jones played solid last night, made the saves he was supposed to make, and got some help from his posts. I can't fault him on any of the goals he let up, they would have been spectacular saves if he was able to get the puck to hit him on any of those goals. For example on the first Bruins goal, Jones was there but the puck sneaked through the small gap under this right arm and body.

I need a Nolan Patrick update
- ClaudeFather

3 games, 14 minutes per game, 5 shots, no points.

I don't agree that was their role. They're a first line. No coach wants a first line to go out and play like a checking line. Teams use a lower line to play against a top line to gain an advantage elsewhere. No coach is looking for just keeping another teams top line off the scoreboard from his own top line. If they play that away against the Bruins, they'll lose 8 out of 10 times if not 9 out of 10.
- MJL

My point was/is that we don't have another line to shut down the Bruins' top line. They are one of the best lines in the NHL. They seemed to control play even with our top line against them. Imagine what they would do against our 3rd or 4th line. We had last change so we were able to avoid except for that late icing by Sanheim. They scored within seconds of winning the face off.

Some nights you have to go top line versus top line. We were able to hold them in check and we won the game.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Boston has last change against us. Fortunately that only happens once this season.

Thoughts on Ristos play?

4th line on the ice every game for goals against so far. Not a good pattern.
- hello it's me 2050

Bad decision to execute a line change after his keep in, should have seen the Bruin intercept that keep in and stayed on the ice. On the 3rd goal, would have liked him to be more aware of Marchand sneaking in on the weak side and tying him up so he can't tap that puck in.

No but their role past night was to shut down that 1st line. Bad icing by Sanheim with less than a minute in period and 4th line on ice. Bruins send out top line. Marchand beats a tired Risto for the puck and ties the game.

If B's got 1st line matched up against any other line, it might be a different result.
- cdearth23

Wonder if AV gave any thought to a timeout?

You’re not going to be great every night, if you go up against the best line in hockey and they don’t score on you, you did your job. Obviously would have liked them to push back more.
- ClaudeFather

add in the B's have owned the Flyers, the confidence needed some help. I agree with MJL we need more from our 1st line but last night was the first step, next game we should expect more push back.

Wonder if AV gave any thought to a timeout?
- hello it's me 2050

can't on icing.

I don't agree that was their role. They're a first line. No coach wants a first line to go out and play like a checking line. Teams use a lower line to play against a top line to gain an advantage elsewhere. No coach is looking for just keeping another teams top line off the scoreboard from his own top line. If they play that away against the Bruins, they'll lose 8 out of 10 times if not 9 out of 10.
- MJL

Correct.

can't on icing.
- wcorvette

Since when? I don't recall that being the case before.

My point was/is that we don't have another line to shut down the Bruins' top line. They are one of the best lines in the NHL. They seemed to control play even with our top line against them. Imagine what they would do against our 3rd or 4th line. We had last change so we were able to avoid except for that late icing by Sanheim. They scored within seconds of winning the face off.

Some nights you have to go top line versus top line. We were able to hold them in check and we won the game.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Boston has last change against us. Fortunately that only happens once this season.
- cdearth23

I agree that they don't have another line to matchup against them and I made that point during the game last night. Maybe the Laughton line. However that doesn't mean we can sugar coat the play of the first line last night. Is not unreasonable to expect them to push back.

Since when? I don't recall that being the case before.
- hello it's me 2050

That’s been a rule for years.

add in the B's have owned the Flyers, the confidence needed some help. I agree with MJL we need more from our 1st line but last night was the first step, next game we should expect more push back.
- wcorvette

There were a number of positives to take from the game besides just winning. The play of Jones. Not taking penalties. Winning the 3rd period. Stuff you can build on. Farabee and Atkinson aren't likely to light it up the entire season.