series is far from over. you guys win game 3 and the momentum starts to swing.
- FlyerGuy

I do agree with this. Until game 3 is lost it is still a series. Case in point, the 2009 Cup Finals, and might I add that Detroit team was better than either of the Flyers or Penguins this year.

Letang was awful.
- canadianpenfan

i dont know what it is. he is skilled but my god he is a cocky and lazy richard right now. hey tough guy, why dont you put an f'n shot on the net and not 8 feet wide. nah its cool ill settle for an extremely ambitious pass and top it off by not getting back on defense.

I don't believe it's a better team. I think it's a better coached team. Mike Therrien wouldn't allow this D to pinch without a care. He would demand they clear up the boards instead of up the middle. He's also demand that they keep the 3rd forward high. Bylsma system has been exposed.
- madmike71

The biggest problem Mike T would have is deciding which dman to stick on the 4th line left wing

They have only one mantra: play in the other team's end. All well and good. The problem is is that When you're leading it's ok to play in the neutral zone too and muck it up. They simply don't do it. It's not in their DNA.

It is, frankly, the same approach basically that yielded spectacularly entertaining seasons in Washington but spectacular disappointment in the post season. Lots of offense. Little defense. Early tee times.
- akane13

Exactly correct. Not to mention, guys like martin and Z are poop. Just not capable of defending against a team attacking them with speed.

Ouch Those two have to hurt.

I do agree with this. Until game 3 is lost it is still a series. Case in point, the 2009 Cup Finals, and might I add that Detroit team was better than either of the Flyers or Penguins this year.
- Gunner Staal

That penguins team was better. They had a defensive conscience.

I do agree with this. Until game 3 is lost it is still a series. Case in point, the 2009 Cup Finals, and might I add that Detroit team was better than either of the Flyers or Penguins this year.
- Gunner Staal

I said this same thing earlier today, however I fully expected a win tonight.

Exactly correct. Not to mention, guys like martin and Z are poop. Just not capable of defending against a team attacking them with speed.
- madmike71

Lovejoy seemed to have the clownshoes on tonight also. He seems like hes not up to the challenge right now. And you have to put some blame on Marc Andre Rebound also.

i dont know what it is. he is skilled but my god he is a cocky and lazy richard right now. hey tough guy, why dont you put an f'n shot on the net and not 8 feet wide. nah its cool ill settle for an extremely ambitious pass and top it off by not getting back on defense.
- stayinthefnnet

Lazy and non chalant with the puck all franking game.

Yes, really. When you guys have no Pronger and no Meszaros there should be a goodly difference in talent. Bylsma has been outcoached thus far. Getting multiple goal leads in the play-offs, he should be able to implement something to shut the other team down. These same leads have been getting blown for a while now...
- ikyan

there's not really a big difference in talent. The Pens might be arguably better at the top end with Crosby and Malkin, but the Flyers have a wealth of talent spread throughout the lineup.

I do agree with this. Until game 3 is lost it is still a series. Case in point, the 2009 Cup Finals, and might I add that Detroit team was better than either of the Flyers or Penguins this year.
- Gunner Staal

i do appreciate some calming reason, however this is just pathetic. yet again, they crap the bed mentally. id rather watch the team that lost last years first round. at least they were noble and gave it all and scrapped to a loss. this team is beyond words right now, whatever it is. whatever is to blame for things like lovejoys attempted pass that coots knocked down. if thats DB doing something to make his players think that things like that are okay, or if the players just feel they can take this upon themselves.

Penguins have no answer defensively for the Flyers. Their puck control, stay on the offense in their zone mantra simply does not work when the other team is this offensively talented. Our Dmen have been attrocious (Z and Lovejoy especially) but they are not getting much help from the forwards. Crosby and Asham are the two worst defensive forwards on this team (at least lately) and have made numerous bad plays in their zone, but no forward is being defensively responsible.

They simply must adjust their style of play. Bylsma would rather give Couturier a big sloppy, gummy kiss than change his system in any way. He has been out-coached in these games by a WIDE margin. His system can work against 99% of teams because of the Pens firepower, but with Malkin and Neal providing next to nothing offensively, coupled with the Flyers depth and skill, it is simply a recipe for disaster and it has shown in every game between these two teams.

I'm not calling out Fleury here either, but he has not been making the BIG saves that this team simply has to get. He hasn't been totally terrible, but goaltending has definitely not been a strength and Bryzgalov has outplayed him so far (first period 3 spots not withstanding). There are many factors, but he has given up 11 goals in 2 games. Not all his fault, but he has to be better.

I don't think this series is over, but if some things don't change very quickly, it will be.

Lovejoy seemed to have the clownshoes on tonight also. He seems like hes not up to the challenge right now.
- mvp0207

Hopefully Niskanen is in for the next one

Exactly correct. Not to mention, guys like martin and Z are poop. Just not capable of defending against a team attacking them with speed.
- madmike71

Martin and Z have struggled but overall team D is terrible. The forwards have to be in better defensive position to help slow others down when they come with speed but here all trying to "get to our game" and deep in the offensive zone to do that. They aren't playing defense as a 5 man unit but rather they are playing it individually.

Lovejoy seemed to have the clownshoes on tonight also. He seems like hes not up to the challenge right now. And you have to put some blame on Marc Andre Rebound also.
- mvp0207

Both of those were brutal goals. I have no idea what either of them were doing on those plays. Playing scared, don't really know how else to explain it. Maybe getting on the road will help. Probably not. There are glaring holes all over the place and I have my doubts they'll be fixed in time.

Lovejoy seemed to have the clownshoes on tonight also. He seems like hes not up to the challenge right now. And you have to put some blame on Marc Andre Rebound also.
- mvp0207

lovejoy got his ass ripped apart. he got handled on the jagr goal, but it was that pass into a flyers chest that coots scored on that was the unforgivable sin. however, he is what he is. a barely above ahl talent. letang, who is one of the top 5 most talented at his position, is the one who truly should be ashamed of himself.

there's not really a big difference in talent. The Pens might be arguably better at the top end with Crosby and Malkin, but the Flyers have a wealth of talent spread throughout the lineup.
- FlyerGuy

Schenn and Courturier(sp?) have been outstanding

I said this same thing earlier today, however I fully expected a win tonight.
- Doogs

I was hoping, but when the coaching staff said no changes things are fine I felt less optimistic. I have been a huge fan since 1987 but you can see there are some problems with the team right now and no change is a gong show of an answer, IMO.

Penguins have no answer defensively for the Flyers. Their puck control, stay on the offense in their zone mantra simply does not work when the other team is this offensively talented. Our Dmen have been attrocious (Z and Lovejoy especially) but they are not getting much help from the forwards. Crosby and Asham are the two worst defensive forwards on this team (at least lately) and have made numerous bad plays in their zone, but no forward is being defensively responsible.

They simply must adjust their style of play. Bylsma would rather give Couturier a big sloppy, gummy kiss than change his system in any way. He has been out-coached in these games by a WIDE margin. His system can work against 99% of teams because of the Pens firepower, but with Malkin and Neal providing next to nothing offensively, coupled with the Flyers depth and skill, it is simply a recipe for disaster and it has shown in every game between these two teams.

I'm not calling out Fleury here either, but he has not been making the BIG saves that this team simply has to get. He hasn't been totally terrible, but goaltending has definitely not been a strength and Bryzgalov has outplayed him so far (first period 3 spots not withstanding). There are many factors, but he has given up 11 goals in 2 games. Not all his fault, but he has to be better.

I don't think this series is over, but if some things don't change very quickly, it will be.
- disturbtheworld

Great post. I don't know how any can doubt the Flyers skill level. They just went harlem gloetrotters on our ass for about the 7th straight time.

Schenn and Courturier(sp?) have been outstanding
- akane13

they have been. The Flyers got really lucky in getting those 2 while getting rid of Richards and Carter.

I was hoping, but when the coaching staff said no changes things are fine I felt less optimistic. I have been a huge fan since 1987 but you can see there are some problems with the team right now and no change is a gong show of an answer, IMO.
- powerhouse

how small of a price to pay would a second rounder for someone like grossman look now

Maybe the system of having your 3 best players not on the same line is a bad idea...No way we win 2 games in Philly. Our D will look a lot different next season. My guess is Martin and Michalek are traded for late picks cuz thats all their worth, resign Nisk, get rid of Lovejoy, get better forwards. Madden said today that Martin+Michalek=9mil and Gill+Scuderi=5.5mil who would you rather have? The D was horrendous, Flyers got shots off broken plays that turned into scoring chances, Fleury had no chance.

I was hoping, but when the coaching staff said no changes things are fine I felt less optimistic. I have been a huge fan since 1987 but you can see there are some problems with the team right now and no change is a gong show of an answer, IMO.
- powerhouse

When they won the cup there was just enough Discipline left over from Mike T to carry them through.

how small of a price to pay would a second rounder for someone like grossman look now
- stayinthefnnet

Just pisses me off to no end. Give up the 7-5 goal and they show the bench and he's quiet as a mouse. Tear these underachievers a new one for crying out loud.

That penguins team was better. They had a defensive conscience.
- akane13

Exactly. MT's influence was still all over that team. It seems like this team has a hint of Bruce Boudreau...