Totally agree with you on this! Thank you for not gloating about the loss and fairly pointing out why they have been struggling. After a quick back read, I heard Torts said they will be going with 11/7. I have seen most of his pressers but not all. Has anyone called him out on the short bench and how it will wear the team down? Not a Torts hater but don't agree with him on this.
- Don Nachbaur

Totally agree about the 11/7 thing, but if they don't consider Brink and ND to be NHLers does this team have 12 NHL forwards with Tippett out? It's asinine to give Cates and Poehling only 8 minutes of ice time. The all-star break can't get here fast enough although the Hart news is very disturbing.

Totally agree about the 11/7 thing, but if they don't consider Brink and ND to be NHLers does this team have 12 NHL forwards with Tippett out? It's asinine to give Cates and Poehling only 8 minutes of ice time. The all-star break can't get here fast enough although the Hart news is very disturbing.
- Phillywhiteout

Not having 12 here doesn't matter. If you're behind, playing 3 lines in a 3rd period is very common. They have the players to do that.

Great game from what I saw (last two periods) by Frost…up on his skates , lots of skillful plays. Drysdale was good, Farabee continues to have a breakout year. Disappointed in the Harts news…never a dull moment in Flyers land.
- landros 2

Yes, I caught 90% of the game and liked what I saw out of Frosty, Drysdale, and Farabee. Frosty's assist on Cam's goal was a beaut and he even threw a big hit. You can't make this up...Flyers were playing well then Tippett gets hurt and Hart is out. Unreal. I know we don't have a chance at the Cup, but I was still enjoying their play and prospect of making the playoffs.

This game is the same as the Avalanche game. Flyers getting beat by high level elite players. It can't call it a mess when the Flyers are battling and competing. To the last second. They've won a lot of tight games this year and the Flyers margin of error is very small. Just not going to continue with that pace with such a short bench.
- MJL

Ottawa isn’t nearly the contender Colorado or Tampa Bay are but as you stated, we got beat by elite talent basically all 3 games. You're also right that the margin for error on the side of the Flyers has to be very small. This is the point I'm trying to make with the defense. We're a shot blocking team. I think the defense has been lucky to be as healthy as it's been all season, especially the top two pairs. I don't know how anyone on here can say that Nick Seeler who leads the league in shot blocking doesn't make or break this defense. I don't know how anyone can say it's time to ship out bodies while trying to contend for the playoffs. Does anyone else remember losing multiple defensemen in 2004? Does anyone else remember rolling 2 pairs, through 2 rounds in 2010? The difference is, we don't have a Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen or Eric Desjardins. I'm not saying my logic is right, I'm saying the decisions on who to move aren't that simple. Depth on defense becomes even more important in the playoffs. Again, my stance remains the same. If we're in the playoff conversations I'm not sure it's the best move to move anyone. What's playoff experience without a proper team? If we're out of the playoffs by the deadline, everyone over the age of 25 should be fair game.

Anyone is free to disagree. I’ve just seen the Flyers enter the playoffs without depth too many times.

Totally agree about the 11/7 thing, but if they don't consider Brink and ND to be NHLers does this team have 12 NHL forwards with Tippett out? It's asinine to give Cates and Poehling only 8 minutes of ice time. The all-star break can't get here fast enough although the Hart news is very disturbing.
- Phillywhiteout

Yea, the 11/7 won't work long term. I'm hoping Brink gets in some good ice-time/games with Phantoms and is back up soon. Keep him and Ollie in the lineup and roll 12. ND in only for last minute injuries or if we are playing a team with a few scrappers. 11/7 or a short bench is ok occasionally but not the way Torts is doing it. We definitely can use the break and I agree...the Hart news is quite disturbing.

Yea, the 11/7 won't work long term. I'm hoping Brink gets in some good ice-time/games with Phantoms and is back up soon. Keep him and Ollie in the lineup and roll 12. ND in only for last minute injuries or if we are playing a team with a few scrappers. 11/7 or a short bench is ok occasionally but not the way Torts is doing it. We definitely can use the break and I agree...the Hart news is quite disturbing.
- Don Nachbaur

Well, to end on a positive note, it looks like everyone else lost tonight with the obvious exception of Tampon bay.

I just now heard about it myself. I don't know why but it made me feel all warm and tingly inside whwn I watched it 🤷
- Bob Habib

That's what $16 million annually gets you when they are in their mid 30's....lol

The cream is definitely to rise as teams push for the playoffs. Torts has to find a way to more evenly distribute the minutes for the forwards.

I hope the Hart situation is not what we are all thinking it is.