hodgson on waivers

no Cam, RR or Tippett tomorrow

Haven't been impressed with Tippet at all so far.
- rayc16

Agree. See how it plays out.

hodgson on waivers
- wcorvette

Can't keep players the coach doesn't like or he wont play.

If Tippet and Cam out will need another forward up with J Cates.

That's not true. The Devils racked up 36 scoring chances to the Flyers 14. 11 high danger scoring chances to the Flyers 4. They more than doubled the Flyers in both categories. I think it's fair to say the Devils didn't execute well enough offensively, their goaltender sucked and the Flyers goalie was better. The true value of the numbers is predictive. How will the Flyers fare if that continues. Not well. Games like this happen in the NHL.
- MJL

I do not believe those numbers -- I know the goods when I see it - and you are not producing the goods

Can't keep players the coach doesn't like or he wont play.

If Tippet and Cam out will need another forward up with J Cates.
- furio16

Even with J Cates the flyers only have 11 forwards ready for tomorrow

I do not believe those numbers -- I know the goods when I see it - and you are not producing the goods
- corduroy

You forgot that you're a fact -based person

You forgot that you're a fact -based person
- MJL

in fact I am fact based goods person

My preferred seating is first row, 200-level, between the blue lines. Glad you enjoyed your seats.
- Scoob

Oh I didn't realize you prefer something higher up. AT least I remmebered you prefer center ice over behind the goal seats.

Yeah, the way they sit back in the dzone isn't gonna work against most teams. They're gonna get picked apart. Granted it's a work in progress and all that.

Still, the effort level was there.
- Tomahawk

Totally agree. Even with a new/better coach, they are still got dominated in the closing minutes of a game where the opponent needs tying goal or goals - and they end up possessing the puck for most of the 3rd period. I hope Torts saw this and has a remedy for it. Until it is solved, I don't know how they're going to avoid losing leads against playoff bound teams in the closing minutes of games.

Totally agree. Even with a new/better coach, they are still got dominated in the closing minutes of a game where the opponent needs tying goal or goals - and they end up possessing the puck for most of the 3rd period. I hope Torts saw this and has a remedy for it. Until it is solved, I don't know how they're going to avoid losing leads against playoff bound teams in the closing minutes of games.
- BluehorseShoe64

If they can't control play during other parts of the game. How are they expected to control it when the opposition starts pinching in an aggressive all out posture while the Flyers sit back? Can a team who defends for the majority of the game actually sit back? There is only one way to solve it. Better players.

Some random (personal) observations to the best of my memory:

1. There was a remarkable difference in body language of the Flyers, especially the younger forwards, on the ice and on the bench. They seemed much more gung ho.

2. The Flyers blocked a bloody lot of shots.

3. Hayes seemed the most disengaged on the bench that I could see. But maybe thats just his persona. I have not gone to many games since he came here.

4. When the Devs had the puck in their zone, Flyers sent 1 guy and then a delayed 2nd deep, but mostly, they prevented play from going up the middle of the ice. Frequently, there were 3 guys, staggered but on almost the same line near center ice steering play towards the boards. They were remarkably successful in that and you didn't see guys waltzing through our middle the way I have seen the past couple of years.

4. If the Devs gained entry, Flyers seemed to play almost like a PK. There was a box of 4, and a 5th rotating towards the puck. Angles were sharply covered and when Devs got one of their many shots of high danger areas, there wasn't that much time to shoot before someone was on them or the shot was contested. Iotw, the degree of breakdown seemed less than last 2 seasons. As such, the HDCA do not tell the whole story. They weren't their forwards with all-day-to-shoot-and-pick-a-spot kinda jawns.

5. Devils had plenty of time and space from the outside but played a poor, impatient game. Trying the extra pass, not crashing the net enough, defensive miscues. They repeatedly tried to dance around the Flyers in our zone and ended up getting stifled or hurried shots leading to breakaways the other way.

6. Blackwood looked shaky all night.

7. Flyers seemed to play to a structure (even if not perfectly to a structure there was at least a plan) and seemed very engaged.

8. Stadium was 95% level full by my guess.

9. they played this game with a new system, and with 2 of their top 5 guys out. Yeah, they played a young, impatient team. But for those of us who feel there is a desperate need to tank this season, this game was truly disheartening. They will win a lot more games they need to lose if they played the way they did last night.

10. Further, there were way too many people (I have already mentioned on many an occasion recently that the median fan is not taking surveys on the Athletic or posting on HB), which reduces the financial incentives for Flyers to do anything differently and incur the costs of tanking.

EDIT: One more thing. That box of defenders absolutely swarmed a forward if they came near goal. Sometimes it really seemed all our defenders were collapsing near the net. They had no problem with the puck being kicked back out to the point and for Devils to regroup. Such a system will likely lead to distorted possession #s against us.

4. When the Devs had the puck in their zone, Flyers sent 1 guy and then a delayed 2nd deep, but mostly, they prevented play from going up the middle of the ice. Frequently, there were 3 guys, staggered but on almost the same line near center ice steering play towards the boards. They were remarkably successful in that and you didn't see guys waltzing through our middle the way I have seen the past couple of years.


- PT21

The goal of every forecheck is take away the boards and to force the puck to the middle of the ice. That's where turnovers and high danger counter- attack plays happen.

9. they played this game with a new system, and with 2 of their top 5 guys out. Yeah, they played a young, impatient team. But for those of us who feel there is a desperate need to tank this season, this game was truly disheartening. They will win a lot more games they need to lose if they played the way they did last night.

- PT21

If tanking is your goal. Last night's game shouldn't be disheartening. Teams are not sharp yet. Not at the top of their games offensively. They will be a bottom feeder if they play regularly the way they did last night. Those long range goals they scored will dry up and teams will get better offensively. The Flyers will be lambs to the slaughter if that continues.

EDIT: One more thing. That box of defenders absolutely swarmed a forward if they came near goal. Sometimes it really seemed all our defenders were collapsing near the net. They had no problem with the puck being kicked back out to the point and for Devils to regroup. Such a system will likely lead to distorted possession #s against us.
- PT21

It is called a low zone collapse and is typical of Tortorella coached teams. That isn't employed until the opposition has the puck established in the offensive zone. There is still opportunity with neutral zone forecheck and blueline defense to prevent entries. What is going to lead to distorted possession numbers is the Flyers lack of talent and attack ability. You only collapse around the net when you don't have the puck.

By the time Ray Ellis returns, the D prospects will have been ready. Hope they don't give a spot away to him vs. one of the young players, would be tragic.

By the time Ray Ellis returns, the D prospects will have been ready. Hope they don't give a spot away to him vs. one of the young players, would be tragic.
- BluehorseShoe64

I don’t think he’s ever playing again. Two entire seasons and he’s not any step closer to being healthy

While I think you are a bit off base in your disdain for Giroux I don't think you are entirely off base. The Flyers played a very soft game while he and Voracek were the faces of the franchise. If they somehow play much tougher this season I will be even more skeptical of Giroux. They have had a country club atmosphere for years under several different coaches. Giroux only wanted to go to Florida when he was traded. Then he takes the money and runs to play in his hometown of Ottawa. If he REALLY wanted to win a Cup why would he sign in Ottawa? They are a young and improving team, but they ain't winning a Cup before he retires. Hmmmmmm.......
- Phillywhiteout

You mean when we had such players like Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Radko Gudas, Nick Grossmann, Luke Schenn and Ray Emery? I guess “the shift” against Sidney Crosby has slipped your mind. Taking the physical style out of Philly was a management approach, not a player’s approach. Management traded our physical players away.

thinking the same, the FL trip will show us how they will hold up vs upper end talent
- wcorvette

Judging how they perform against those teams early is just stupid. Let’s see how they hold up in February. . Right now anything should be taken with a grain of salt

It is called a low zone collapse and is typical of Tortorella coached teams. That isn't employed until the opposition has the puck established in the offensive zone. There is still opportunity with neutral zone forecheck and blueline defense to prevent entries. What is going to lead to distorted possession numbers is the Flyers lack of talent and attack ability. You only collapse around the net when you don't have the puck.
- MJL

How you haven’t been contacted by a nhl team to lead to the promise land is beyond me. You have all the answers. Please call the flyers and take over.

Judging how they perform against those teams early is just stupid. Let’s see how they hold up in February. . Right now anything should be taken with a grain of salt
- Keyser soze

They'll be in dead last by February. Maybe hanging with the Devils.

How you haven’t been contacted by a nhl team to lead to the promise land is beyond me. You have all the answers. Please call the flyers and take over.
- Keyser soze

Those who can't do? Dominate message boards.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


YOURE (frank)ING COOKED, MEAT

MVP MVP MVP MVP

MVP MVP MVP MVP
- THE BLACK HAND

This is fun.

This is fun.
- MJL

Nola cant let up or change his approach

Nola cant let up or change his approach
- THE BLACK HAND

Rhys off the hook now?