Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: 2/20/12

Excellent insight as always Bill! I love Giroux, definitely my favorite player on the team, but his defensive play has been awful lately. Not only with covering the open man but making careless plays in the offensive zone that send the other team on an odd man rush that always seems to end up in the back of the net because the goalies couldn't stop a beach ball right now! I'd rather see the forwards make the safe play than gamble. Like they say you play with matches you get burned!

The Pitts game was all sorts of ugly. It was as if the puck was a hot potato on their sticks. What a mess.

Not worried about the standings yet. Ebbs and flows, but the Flyers need to start reversing the loss trend starting tomorrow night.

Go Flyers.

The team wakes up this morning in third place in the Atlantic Division.
- bmeltzer

These guys had better wake up on the ice, too. Far too many 'off' games, from the goalies on out.

I don't care who the first-round opponent is: the Flyers have the guns and depth to score enough goals to win a seven-game series. But unless they clean up things in their own end of the ice, it may not matter.
- bmeltzer

Hear, hear! The team that has been causing Flyers losses the most has been... (dun dun DUN!) the Flyers.

Excellent insight as always Bill! I love Giroux, definitely my favorite player on the team, but his defensive play has been awful lately. Not only with covering the open man but making careless plays in the offensive zone that send the other team on an odd man rush that always seems to end up in the back of the net because the goalies couldn't stop a beach ball right now! I'd rather see the forwards make the safe play than gamble. Like they say you play with matches you get burned!
- aantny88

I thought goal tending was horrendous on Saturday. Bryz allowed three goals that should have been pretty routine.. the break away was at worst a tough "make-able" save. Bob on the other hand seemed more unlucky than anything. He wasnt any better though. I knew from the beginning that Bryz looked shaky, fighting pucks and slow to react and what not.. HOWEVER!!!

The team in front of them really frustrates the hell out of me. Both SHG's were directly off of terrible turnovers. G with the no luck behind the back assist on Staals goal and Timonen (YET AGAIN ) failing to keep a puck in on a pretty simple pass, both directly led to goals. Regardless of whether or not the saves should have been made, you cannot afford to keep giving up chances like that, because odds are no matter who is in goal it will eventually end up proving costly.

Hear, hear! The team that has been causing Flyers losses the most has been... (dun dun DUN!) the Flyers.
- Flyskippy

Its truly maddening!

These guys had better wake up on the ice, too. Far too many 'off' games, from the goalies on out.
- tangent_man

Another month until they flip the switch.

Nash and Mason for Bryz, JVR, and Schenn.

Nash and Mason for Bryz, JVR, and Schenn.
- Jimmygrazz

For God sakes stop!

Nash and Mason for Bryz, JVR, and Schenn.
- Jimmygrazz

OTF had a thing about Flyers and CBJ in talks about Nash.. I dont know how it is possible to be honest...

Another month until they flip the switch.
- bradleyc4

I'm ready.

OTF had a thing about Flyers and CBJ in talks about Nash.. I dont know how it is possible to be honest...
- jak521

Wagging the dog

For God sakes stop!
- MBFlyerfan

Idk.. its sounds more and more like there are serious talks going on..

Wagging the dog
- Flyskippy

I get it, but typically they have good insiders.

For God sakes stop!
- MBFlyerfan

It's difficult, but he managed to find the one goalie that's worse than Bryz.

It's difficult, but he managed to find the one goalie that's worse than Bryz.
- bradleyc4

OTF had a thing about Flyers and CBJ in talks about Nash.. I dont know how it is possible to be honest...
- jak521

I can understand the Flyers talking to Columbus but Nash isnt a priority for this team. Makes no sense for the Flyers to make a trade with Columbus unless they can unload salary. The Flyers would have to move Bryzgalov in any deal and getting him to waive his NMC is another hurdle. I just dont see the Flyers being a team that is really interested. They may have "talks" with Columbus but I dont see it going anywhere.

For God sakes stop!
- MBFlyerfan

Just my opinion here. If that deal happens...

We don't lose as much on the Bryz experiment getting a top 10 forward and a serviceable goalie.

We take on a little bit more salary, but I would rather pay a proven star than a goalie who doesn't want to be here

CBJ gets 2 potential stud Forwards and Bryz may shine there. Maybe he just can't handle the pressure here. Not as much pressure there.

I can understand the Flyers talking to Columbus but Nash isnt a priority for this team. Makes no sense for the Flyers to make a trade with Columbus unless they can unload salary. The Flyers would have to move Bryzgalov in any deal and getting him to waive his NMC is another hurdle. I just dont see the Flyers being a team that is really interested. They may have "talks" with Columbus but I dont see it going anywhere.
- stveshdy

'Twas speculated that the Flyers were talking with Columbus purely to drive up the asking price for anything the Rangers might want. I could see that, but Nash isn't coming to Philly. Not needed and too much cap management would have to happen.

Just my opinion here. If that deal happens...

We don't lose as much on the Bryz experiment getting a top 10 forward and a serviceable goalie.

We take on a little bit more salary, but I would rather pay a proven star than a goalie who doesn't want to be here

CBJ gets 2 potential stud Forwards and Bryz may shine there. Maybe he just can't handle the pressure here. Not as much pressure there.
- Jimmygrazz

You do understand that Bryzgalov has a NMC and isn't likely to waive it to go to Columbus, right?

Just my opinion here. If that deal happens...

We don't lose as much on the Bryz experiment getting a top 10 forward and a serviceable goalie.

We take on a little bit more salary, but I would rather pay a proven star than a goalie who doesn't want to be here

CBJ gets 2 potential stud Forwards and Bryz may shine there. Maybe he just can't handle the pressure here. Not as much pressure there.
- Jimmygrazz

So now Bryzgalov doesn't want to be here? You got that much from an out of context quote?

Bill,

The thing I agree most with is your point about the goaltending. I was at the game Sat and sat 10 rows behind the Flyers goal (for 2 periods) and got an up close view of bad goaltending. To me, it doesn't matter who they acquire; if you can't get basic, decent goaltending on most nights, you are not going to beat many good teams (bad teams either for that matter). At this point I think I would just go with Bob for a while. Based on Bryz's comments after the Pens game, it sounds like his head is a mess right now and he should probably just sit for awhile. I don't think that will help him, but you have to play someone in the net and I would rather see Bob at this point. I guess I have Bryz fatigue right now.

Nash and Mason for Bryz, JVR, and Schenn.
- Jimmygrazz

I'll pass thank you.

You do understand that Bryzgalov has a NMC and isn't likely to waive it to go to Columbus, right?
- Jsaquella

Why bog yourself down with petty details?