Composure is a key factor out there. The Flyers are playing hot potatoe in their own end with the puck. Its like a grenade thats ready to go off any second and nobody has confidence to handle it.
- stveshdy

And this is all Devils. They outnumber the Flyers everywhere. Kudos to them for executing their gameplan to a tee.

Composure is a key factor out there. The Flyers are playing hot potatoe in their own end with the puck. Its like a grenade thats ready to go off any second and nobody has confidence to handle it.
- stveshdy

True, and the reverse is, too...guys get the puck and try to do too much with it. Rather than just clearing it out, they're trying to spring odd man rushes with low percentage passes, and not adjusting to the Devils sealing off areas.

The Flyers were not built for the playoffs. They have had a great season. They are not ready to shoot for all the marbles.

Nobody should suggest this has been anything like an unsatisfactory season. The Flyers will be Cup contenders for many years, they are a very young and a very talented team. It is okay to be disappointed with this series. But, Flyer fans should also be celebrating the incredible rebuild that Holmgren has pulled off over a single season.
- spatso

I agree with the last part of this but not necessarily the first sentence. You have to remember that when Homer put this team together at the start of the season Pronger and Meszaros were playing. If they are playing now I think we are witnessing something different. Staying healthy is a HUGE part of any Cup run.

I still really like the mix we have right now save for maybe 3-4 more off season moves.

I think a lot of people are also overlooking the fact we are missing Pronger and Mezaros. This isn't the roster the Flyers thought they'd have for the playoffs.

No way in hell did they think Lilja and Gustafson were gonna be out there in these situations. Injuries are a big factor in this series too.
- JoeRussomanno

Aren't injuries a big factor for every team in the playoffs?

I think a lot of people are also overlooking the fact we are missing Pronger and Mezaros. This isn't the roster the Flyers thought they'd have for the playoffs.

No way in hell did they think Lilja and Gustafson were gonna be out there in these situations. Injuries are a big factor in this series too.
- JoeRussomanno

Every team has injuries. They are a factor, but they can't be an excuse.

Jesus, Pronger hasn't played since November. His presence or absence needs to be rendered a moot point.

I think a lot of people are also overlooking the fact we are missing Pronger and Mezaros. This isn't the roster the Flyers thought they'd have for the playoffs.

No way in hell did they think Lilja and Gustafson were gonna be out there in these situations. Injuries are a big factor in this series too.
- JoeRussomanno

Those excuses need to go. The Flyers won a playoff series against Pittsburgh. They have been playing without those two guys for awhile now. Does it hurt of course but at some point we have to move past the injuries.

I agree with the last part of this but not necessarily the first sentence. You have to remember that when Homer put this team together at the start of the season Pronger and Meszaros were playing. If they are playing now I think we are witnessing something different. Staying healthy is a HUGE part of any Cup run.

I still really like the mix we have right now save for maybe 3-4 more off season moves.
- rockychocbill

I think the Flyers have far too many breakdowns and a lack of commitment in their own end. The question is, is this a coaching and system issue, or a personnel issue? I guess we will find out soon enough.

Every team has injuries. They are a factor, but they can't be an excuse.

Jesus, Pronger hasn't played since November. His presence or absence needs to be rendered a moot point.
- Jsaquella

I was literally about to post this, word for word. The playoffs are often called a war of attrition, and that road goes both ways. Kovalchuk is more than likely not the only Devil playing through injury.

And this is all Devils. They outnumber the Flyers everywhere. Kudos to them for executing their gameplan to a tee.
- MBFlyerfan

Its been bad but the Flyers have been in both games without generating any offense and turning the puck over constantly. Have to figure out a way to play better. This is three games now and at some point you have to make some kind of adjustment. Back to the drawling board.

Every team has injuries. They are a factor, but they can't be an excuse.

Jesus, Pronger hasn't played since November. His presence or absence needs to be rendered a moot point.
- Jsaquella

I'm looking at what the organization built in the summer. In the offseason you build your team to compete. If there wasn't a Chris Pronger on the roster I think there would have been a much different approach. Although he was lost in November and the offseason is almost a year ago, it still adds up and has a longterm effect. Great as an addition as Grossmann was he doesn't make up for that.

They stopped playing the system because they are gassed. It takes a lot of energy to forcheck all night long.
- Philly1980

The Devils are on top of a Flyer almost the moment they get the puck. That takes energy too. As was mentioned earlier, puck possession is huge. The Flyers turn the puck over too easy/much and then have to expend extra energy to get it back. Plus we can't break out cleanly because of the Devils forecheck. We spend whole shifts in our zone.

I'm not saying Lavi is a bad coach, he is just being out coached. Just as much as the players are being out played. How ever you want to spin it... When an entire team can't respond, it can't be just the players. The Devils team isn't better then the Flyers... If anything they are evenly matched. But the Devils are Mushroom Stamping them into the ground. Too me it's no a matter of effort from the players. They either aren't excuting, or don't have the right game plan to execute. Either way, the coach has to do something to make this happen. Change the game plan so it either works, or is something your team can handle. I'm not saying Lavi suck, or he should be fired, but he is being out coached.
- RooNosHockey

Yes, the Devils are apparently better then the Flyers. How exactly is Laviolette being outcoached. Not in general statements, but specifically. How should Laviolette changing the game plan?

I was literally about to post this, word for word. The playoffs are often called a war of attrition, and that road goes both ways. Kovalchuk is more than likely not the only Devil playing through injury.
- BulliesPhan87

I do understand that the scope of the Flyers injuries is probably larger...we've had hints of injury for as many as eight to ten regulars...but the execution has to improve, and that's not due to injury. I'm sure that JvR isn't 100%, but I doubt his nagging injuries prevented him from doing a better coverage job on the 3rd NJ goal last night.

I'm looking at what the organization built in the summer. In the offseason you build your team to compete. If there wasn't a Chris Pronger on the roster I think there would have been a much different approach. Although he was lost in November and the offseason is almost a year ago, it still adds up and has a longterm effect. Great as an addition as Grossmann was he doesn't make up for that.
- JoeRussomanno

Timonen is about done right now. Too much of a load on him.

They stopped playing the system because they are gassed. It takes a lot of energy to forcheck all night long.
- Philly1980

It's the opposite. Forechecking wears down the other team. Getting heemed into your zone and getting forechecked hard wears you down.

Aren't injuries a big factor for every team in the playoffs?
- PLindbergh31

It depends. Are we talking about a team losing two of it's third and fourth line players or their most valuable defenseman from a year ago and their captain? Not every team is dealing with the severity of the same injuries. Pronger's status will dictate the front office's decisions this offseason, I think we can all agree with that. This team wasn't built to compete without him, the fact that it has is a testament to their fortitude. At the end of the day, when you're missing your anchor can't expect the ship to not drift of course in the harbor.

Its been bad but the Flyers have been in both games without generating any offense and turning the puck over constantly. Have to figure out a way to play better. This is three games now and at some point you have to make some kind of adjustment. Back to the drawling board.
- stveshdy

The adjustment is to simplify. JSaq pointed it out well. Time and again they get possession of the puck and instead of just getting it out and regrouping, they try some ill advised outlet pass that gets picked off, and all of the sudden here we go again.

Then if by some miracle they do get it out, they try the same ill advised pass while trying to enter the Devils zone. And all of the sudden its back the other way. No wonder they are tired. But be sure, they are tired because of their own mistakes.

Salvador pushing Simmonds off the puck in the third period last night like a person would push an ant off a picnic table is a microcosm of this series.

Devils are doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Some of it is on the coach for not making adjustments, but more blame goes to the players for showing zero resistance. Devils have imposed their will on the Flyers in every phase of the game, and the Flyers players for the last 3 games have done nothing about it.

I was literally about to post this, word for word. The playoffs are often called a war of attrition, and that road goes both ways. Kovalchuk is more than likely not the only Devil playing through injury.
- BulliesPhan87

The devils are playing with a banged up Kovalchuk and that's costly. But I don't think it be as paramount if they lost Parise.

I'm looking at what the organization built in the summer. In the offseason you build your team to compete. If there wasn't a Chris Pronger on the roster I think there would have been a much different approach. Although he was lost in November and the offseason is almost a year ago, it still adds up and has a longterm effect. Great as an addition as Grossmann was he doesn't make up for that.
- JoeRussomanno

I'm sure they would have gone a different approach. But I also don't feel that the team is poorly constructed. It is competing. As badly as the Devils have outplayed the Flyers, all but one game has been basically or literally a one goal game. Had Schenn's redirection been 6 inches lower in game two, the series is tied at two games apiece.

Little breakdowns are snowballing and killing the Flyers.

It's the opposite. Forechecking wears down the other team. Getting heemed into your zone and getting forechecked hard wears you down.
- MJL

Exactly.

I do understand that the scope of the Flyers injuries is probably larger...we've had hints of injury for as many as eight to ten regulars...but the execution has to improve, and that's not due to injury. I'm sure that JvR isn't 100%, but I doubt his nagging injuries prevented him from doing a better coverage job on the 3rd NJ goal last night.
- Jsaquella

Preach it. Injuries are a factor, without a doubt, but the lack of execution is the hallmark by which this series will be remembered, and rightfully so.

Yes, the Devils are apparently better then the Flyers. How exactly is Laviolette being outcoached. Not in general statements, but specifically. How should Laviolette changing the game plan?
- MJL

I'm not doing this with you today.

Timonen is about done right now. Too much of a load on him.
- rockychocbill

That's another thing, he is not the same player he was 2-3 years ago. The weight of missing Pronger has most assuredly affected him. Now throw in another top 4 guy in mezaros and that take a toll you have to pay sooner or later.

It depends. Are we talking about a team losing two of it's third and fourth line players or their most valuable defenseman from a year ago and their captain? Not every team is dealing with the severity of the same injuries. Pronger's status will dictate the front office's decisions this offseason, I think we can all agree with that. This team wasn't built to compete without him, the fact that it has is a testament to their fortitude. At the end of the day, when you're missing your anchor can't expect the ship to not drift of course in the harbor.
- JoeRussomanno

Don't know what to tell you. Why do the Flyers seemingly have more injuries than everyone else heading into the playoffs year after year? I don't think there is an answer to that question.