Because you can only tell this in person

- Flyers_1488

Actually, and I cant believe I have to explain this, you see a lot more of the ice in person than on TV. But then again you must know this and are just being a contrarian wienerhead because someone has to be.

I guess I’ll eat a little crow. My expectations are very very low for this team. Baby steps. It is very nice to see that the team seems to have a pulse again. Really nice to see some pushback and a little life in their game. Now let’s see it for a good stretch of games to actually believe and maybe adjust expectations a little

I guess I’ll eat a little crow. My expectations are very very low for this team. Baby steps. It is very nice to see that the team seems to have a pulse again. Really nice to see some pushback and a little life in their game. Now let’s see it for a good stretch of games to actually believe and maybe adjust expectations a little
- Stayin alive

so laughable.

amazing that people are complaining about the win last night.

amazing that people are complaining about the win last night.
- Peter Richards

Welcome to Hockeybuzz. First time here, eh?

Do you expect them to continue to score 5 goals a game? When the scoring lessens or even goes into a slump, which it inevitably will, is that when their overall team game will factor in? Will they be better able to compete and win games if they play a better possession game overall and have the opposition have the puck less?
- MJL

Everything Farabee/Brass/Cam are directing on net is going in right now. Same is true of TK as well. Gonna be fun while it lasts.

#1 sh% team in the league by a considerable margin.

Welcome to Hockeybuzz. First time here, eh?
- atibus

No. But it was the bruins. Has possible the best line in hockey. Our top line did their job. Hemmed in at times sure. But they were chasing the game for most of it. Two players on the ice for their first game.

We didn’t collapse. They weathered the storm and doubled their score.

We can complain about the refs in preseason form blocking passes. But I saw a team last night that didn’t go into the fetal position. Was nice for a change.

People are prob upset that brassard and Atkinson did well.

My two cents

The breakout was pretty bad last night. Too many turn overs. Granted many of the icings I saw and general desperation zone clears to neutral ice were against the perfection line. But they have to be better in that regard.

Jones was solid. Team energy was again great.

Let’s see what happens to the club when they face a hot goalie. That will be a true test. So far in 3 games goal tending has been the most obvious difference.

No. But it was the bruins. Has possible the best line in hockey. Our top line did their job. Hemmed in at times sure. But they were chasing the game for most of it. Two players on the ice for their first game.

We didn’t collapse. They weathered the storm and doubled their score.

We can complain about the refs in preseason form blocking passes. But I saw a team last night that didn’t go into the fetal position. Was nice for a change.

People are prob upset that brassard and Atkinson did well.
- Peter Richards

What is the job of the top line?

What is the job of the top line?
- MJL

How many goals did our top line score? How many goals did theirs?

How many goals did our top line score? How many goals did theirs?
- Peter Richards

Answer my question first and then I'll answer yours.

What is the job of the top line?
- MJL

Depends on what the coach is telling them on a game by game basis.

Answer my question first and then I'll answer yours.
- MJL

oh here we go. Like clockwork

Answer my question first and then I'll answer yours.
- MJL

Never mind. I know the answer as do you.

Saturday night will be another nice test. FLA is playing lights out so far. Hart better be ready.

Saturday night will be another nice test. FLA is playing lights out so far. Hart better be ready.
- cdearth23

Yup. And get Zack acclimated to the system more…..prob will be good for Risto to get the practice time adjusting to his partner / system as well.

Actually, and I cant believe I have to explain this, you see a lot more of the ice in person than on TV. But then again you must know this and are just being a contrarian wienerhead because someone has to be.
- MBFlyerfan

Depends on your seats. There are places in the stadium I would never want to sit in again

I would not play the Brassard line against the Bruins top line. Brassard can't handle that in my opinion. That's just asking for trouble and it takes away the offensive advantage that line currently has.
- MJL

To defend a top line like the perfection line, you must have puck possession, its the only way. As I also stated, that perfection line needs very little room to operate to hurt you. I understand your point that Atkinson and Farabee right now are our main offensive weapons, but I also think they have the best chance to accomplish what is needed to hold down the Bruins top line. What that will do then is open it up to the Coots line to be more offensive and score goals instead. At least, this is way I would play it.

What is the job of the top line?
- MJL

It depends on match ups. Last night it was clear that AV wanted Coots against that top line along with Ellis and Provey. The one time Ellis and Provey were not on the ice, the Bruins' top line scored. By doing this, this enabled the Farabee line to generate offense, even though the Coots line did not play well against the Bruins last night.

One thing about possession metrics, its all about what zone you start in. Look at last night's game for example here: https://www.hockey-refere...xscores/202110200PHI.html

What you will notice is astonishingly, the Bruins started in the Flyers zone 65% of the time, in fact the lowest individual o-zone start was 50% on the Bruins. As a result, as you can see, all the Bruins players were high in possession metrics. On the flip side, the Flyers started in the Bruins zone only 35% of the time, and only those Flyers who had more o-zone starts had positive possession metrics. Risto and Sanheim started twice as many times in their own zone and thus had similar CF%, around 39%. This is something the Flyers can take away and work on more, they need to get pucks deep and force faceoffs in the opposing teams' zone. I know the strategy for the Bruins last night was to get pucks below the goal line, where they feel the Flyers are weakest and these o-zone starts for the Bruins reflect that. Most of the time with these metrics, any team would lose the game. The key for the Flyers last night is when they got an opportunity to score, they took advantage of it, in no small part because Swayman had a bad night.

Depends on your seats. There are places in the stadium I would never want to sit in again
- Peter Richards

Very true. I was at suite level on the blue line opposite the Flyers bench.

One thing about possession metrics, its all about what zone you start in. Look at last night's game for example here: https://www.hockey-refere...xscores/202110200PHI.html

What you will notice is astonishingly, the Bruins started in the Flyers zone 65% of the time, in fact the lowest individual o-zone start was 50% on the Bruins. As a result, as you can see, all the Bruins players were high in possession metrics. On the flip side, the Flyers started in the Bruins zone only 35% of the time, and only those Flyers who had more o-zone starts had positive possession metrics. Risto and Sanheim started twice as many times in their own zone and thus had similar CF%, around 39%. This is something the Flyers can take away and work on more, they need to get pucks deep and force faceoffs in the opposing teams' zone. I know the strategy for the Bruins last night was to get pucks below the goal line, where they feel the Flyers are weakest and these o-zone starts for the Bruins reflect that. Most of the time with these metrics, any team would lose the game. The key for the Flyers last night is when they got an opportunity to score, they took advantage of it, in no small part because Swayman had a bad night.
- jd250

Happens as well when you are chasing the game, which they were most of the night. not saying they aren't great at possessing the puck.

Very true. I was at suite level on the blue line opposite the Flyers bench.
- MBFlyerfan

the suites are great and almost anywhere on the second level. first level gets tricky though...with the glass, angles and the nets. just didn't like it in certain areas. club boxes and suites are prime. all preference too i'm sure.

To defend a top line like the perfection line, you must have puck possession, its the only way. As I also stated, that perfection line needs very little room to operate to hurt you. I understand your point that Atkinson and Farabee right now are our main offensive weapons, but I also think they have the best chance to accomplish what is needed to hold down the Bruins top line. What that will do then is open it up to the Coots line to be more offensive and score goals instead. At least, this is way I would play it.
- jd250

In my opinion, the 2nd line would not fare well against the Bruins top line and their offense would be diminished. Couturier is the player who throughout his entire career has been able to play against top lines while winning or holding his own in the possession battle. It would be a huge mistake to use the Brassard line in that manner. Couturier and his linemates simply had one bad game.

It depends on match ups. Last night it was clear that AV wanted Coots against that top line along with Ellis and Provey. The one time Ellis and Provey were not on the ice, the Bruins' top line scored. By doing this, this enabled the Farabee line to generate offense, even though the Coots line did not play well against the Bruins last night.
- jd250

I don't see how that describes what the job of a top line is. That just says what we all know which is what matchup the coach wanted.