Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Earn 3-1 Win in Chicago; Phantoms Comeback Spurs 3-2 OT Win

Full Speed Ahead

TDL here we come!
Playoffs here we come!

Aww isn’t that cute lappy going 11/7 also.

ND got a tad over 7 quality minutes. It is in reality a 10/7, that is very taxing on Torts favorites on the ice.

Just5
Yesterday @ 11:50 PM ET
Aww isn’t that cute lappy going 11/7 also.


😂

After the first period I thought the Flyers played a very controlled game. Hawks had some chances and Ersson made a few big saves. That game was a must have two points and the Flyers got two points. Good work. Going to be a tough back to back weekend.

After the first period I thought the Flyers played a very controlled game. Hawks had some chances and Ersson made a few big saves. That game was a must have two points and the Flyers got two points. Good work. Going to be a tough back to back weekend.
- mickel25

Anything less than 3 points this weekend is a setback to making the playoffs and should officially turn on the open for business signs

Anything less than 3 points this weekend is a setback to making the playoffs and should officially turn on the open for business signs
- Bayareaflyer

The benchmark should be two fold. Is this team currently a legit cup contender? Do they currently have in the system a potential #1 center and defenseman? If the answer to both is yes, don't sell. If the answer to both is no, sell. Regardless of where they are currently in the playoff picture.

ND got a tad over 7 quality minutes. It is in reality a 10/7, that is very taxing on Torts favorites on the ice.
- THE EVIL WITHIN

ND is redundant to Hathaway. Hathaway provides everything that ND provides physically and then some. He hits anything that moves and he makes it count when he hits someone. Oh, and he has 6 goals on the season to ND's ZERO. ND has to go bye bye...I guess another buyout?

I thought the Flyers played too conservative in the third period. They REALLY sat back. A better team would have made them pay for that. I liked the second period last night, but that was about it. The first period was way too loosy goosy and then the 3rd was too tight. As in, they stopped skating and just sat back and I hate that!! It's like prevent defense in football. It usually prevents you from winning.

The benchmark should be two fold. Is this team currently a legit cup contender? Do they currently have in the system a potential #1 center and defenseman? If the answer to both is yes, don't sell. If the answer to both is no, sell. Regardless of where they are currently in the playoff picture.
- MJL

You're probably right, but I can't think this way. I'm impatient and want to see some GD playoff hockey again! I think Torts will get them to scare the hell out of someone in the first round and it will get the kids some valuable playoff experience. I can't come this far into a surprise season and just throw in the towel.

so funny seeing cement head follow the other innovator using 11/7.

train keeps rolling. Hope TK gets 40 + goals and drives up the price tag to re-sign him.

The benchmark should be two fold. Is this team currently a legit cup contender? Do they currently have in the system a potential #1 center and defenseman? If the answer to both is yes, don't sell. If the answer to both is no, sell. Regardless of where they are currently in the playoff picture.
- MJL

what if the answer is a yes and a no?

so funny seeing cement head follow the other innovator using 11/7.

train keeps rolling. Hope TK gets 40 + goals and drives up the price tag to re-sign him.
- hello it's me 2050

You're such a ray of sunshine every morning.

Anything less than 3 points this weekend is a setback to making the playoffs and should officially turn on the open for business signs
- Bayareaflyer

Like the wings last year, the open for business sign should be fully on regardless. Seeler Laughton and Walker should all go. As always, if there’s an overpay for someone then pull the trigger. It’s been a fun year to watch but they aren’t a contender.

Like the wings last year, the open for business sign should be fully on regardless. Seeler Laughton and Walker should all go. As always, if there’s an overpay for someone then pull the trigger. It’s been a fun year to watch but they aren’t a contender.
- Hextall271

What has become apparent to me is that this team seriously lacks depth. I mean, one injury at the forward position (Foerster) and they are thrown into a tizzy. If they trade those guys they will go into freefall quickly. Coots looks cooked already and it seems Torts sees this as he only played 16 minutes last night. Their top end forwards are gonna run out of gas. Atkinson has been cooked for awhile. It sucks that there seems to be no one down on the farm that can replace anyone. Yikes!

What has become apparent to me is that this team seriously lacks depth. I mean, one injury at the forward position (Foerster) and they are thrown into a tizzy. If they trade those guys they will go into freefall quickly. Coots looks cooked already and it seems Torts sees this as he only played 16 minutes last night. Their top end forwards are gonna run out of gas. Atkinson has been cooked for awhile. It sucks that there seems to be no one down on the farm that can replace anyone. Yikes!
- Phillywhiteout

All good points. So that means we need more talent and more depth. Let’s get say 3 more picks or prospects to start re stocking the cupboards. A couple of years doing that and we might be in business as some of the players start to move into the ahl or nhl. We’re just not there. If we make it, Well run into a NY BOS, CAR FLA and be exposed for lack of depth. We try hard but that only gets you so far.

What has become apparent to me is that this team seriously lacks depth. I mean, one injury at the forward position (Foerster) and they are thrown into a tizzy. If they trade those guys they will go into freefall quickly. Coots looks cooked already and it seems Torts sees this as he only played 16 minutes last night. Their top-end forwards are gonna run out of gas. Atkinson has been cooked for a while. It sucks that there seems to be no one down on the farm that can replace anyone. Yikes!
- Phillywhiteout

I am willing to give a Coots until next year as I am sure he is still physically not where he was 1 1/2 ago, but he does not stand out at all. Not sure what his faceoff percentage is, but it can't be what it once was. He has 2 goals in his last 20...not good for #1 C.
Atkinson is definitely cooked. I would rather see Brink play than Atkinson. This team looks like it could be shut down easily by a good team in tight-checking playoff games.

All good points. So that means we need more talent and more depth. Let’s get say 3 more picks or prospects to start re stocking the cupboards. A couple of years doing that and we might be in business as some of the players start to move into the ahl or nhl. We’re just not there. If we make it, Well run into a NY BOS, CAR FLA and be exposed for lack of depth. We try hard but that only gets you so far.
- Hextall271

This weekend will probably be telling. If they lose both games I think that may set things in motion. If they beat the Pens that may put them out to pasture, so I'd love to see that. Torn emotions here and I hate it. I want to see them rewarded for busting their asses up to this point of the season, but I realize that the prudent move is to continue with the rebuild and acquire more assets.

You're probably right, but I can't think this way. I'm impatient and want to see some GD playoff hockey again! I think Torts will get them to scare the hell out of someone in the first round and it will get the kids some valuable playoff experience. I can't come this far into a surprise season and just throw in the towel.
- Phillywhiteout

Destined to only get that then. My sights are set on a much higher goal than just scaring the hell out of someone in the first round.

What has become apparent to me is that this team seriously lacks depth. I mean, one injury at the forward position (Foerster) and they are thrown into a tizzy. If they trade those guys they will go into freefall quickly. Coots looks cooked already and it seems Torts sees this as he only played 16 minutes last night. Their top end forwards are gonna run out of gas. Atkinson has been cooked for awhile. It sucks that there seems to be no one down on the farm that can replace anyone. Yikes!
- Phillywhiteout

It's the opposite. This team has depth. What it lacks is the elite players at the top. Couturier is not cooked. Not even close. Why would you play Couturier more than that against an awful team where despite not having anywhere close to the team's A game, you have the game well in hand? Chicago is awful. No reason to play a player like Couturier more than that in a long season.

All good points. So that means we need more talent and more depth. Let’s get say 3 more picks or prospects to start re stocking the cupboards. A couple of years doing that and we might be in business as some of the players start to move into the ahl or nhl. We’re just not there. If we make it, Well run into a NY BOS, CAR FLA and be exposed for lack of depth. We try hard but that only gets you so far.
- Hextall271

Right now we would be facing Carolina....I don't really see that changing. I can see both wild cards coming from the Atlantic...
Boston
Florida
Toronto
Tampa
Detroit....I think they make it this year, and Yzerman might be looking to add some depth this year.

I think if we are to make the playoffs, it will have to be one of the top 3 spots in the Metro.

NYR
Carolina
Philly/ NJD

I don't think Philly fares well against Carolina...I don't need to point out their strengths. Even if it is NYR..I still don't like Philly's chances with that. If we get a WC spot, Philly would still be playing either NYR or Carolina....

Just saying.

You're probably right, but I can't think this way. I'm impatient and want to see some GD playoff hockey again! I think Torts will get them to scare the hell out of someone in the first round and it will get the kids some valuable playoff experience. I can't come this far into a surprise season and just throw in the towel.
- Phillywhiteout

From a fan standpoint who isn’t office, the logical and simple explanation is to sell, sell, sell. From a business standpoint, it’s foolish to miss the playoffs when the team is in the hunt. Selling off assets and giving your team less of an opportunity to make the playoffs is throwing away money. I doubt the Flyers throw away an opportunity to sell more tickets in April.

It's the opposite. This team has depth. What it lacks is the elite players at the top. Couturier is not cooked. Not even close. Why would you play Couturier more than that against an awful team where despite not having anywhere close to the team's A game, you have the game well in hand? Chicago is awful. No reason to play a player like Couturier more than that in a long season.
- MJL

Well, I guess you and I look at depth completely differently. This team is playing 11 forwards cause they don't even have enough NHL level forwards to dress 12 and this includes ND (who shouldn't even be in the NHL anymore). Not sure how you see this team as having depth and I firmly disagree. Coots has not been playing well for awhile now and he looked VERY sluggish to me last night. When he was on the ice with ND last night I couldn't tell which one was more sluggish. Oh, and he has 3 points in his last 12 games (2 goals in his last 20). That ain't getting it done, so I'll disagree with your sentiment on that as well. Although he did throw a great check on York to prevent him from getting back into play on the lone Hawks goal.

Right now we would be facing Carolina....I don't really see that changing. I can see both wild cards coming from the Atlantic...
Boston
Florida
Toronto
Tampa
Detroit....I think they make it this year, and Yzerman might be looking to add some depth this year.

I think if we are to make the playoffs, it will have to be one of the top 3 spots in the Metro.

NYR
Carolina
Philly/ NJD

I don't think Philly fares well against Carolina...I don't need to point out their strengths. Even if it is NYR..I still don't like Philly's chances with that. If we get a WC spot, Philly would still be playing either NYR or Carolina....

Just saying.
- TheFreak

We’d have a better shot against car than NYR but would lose to either handily.