USA makes it 5-0 in the 3rd against Finland.

And Salmela nails Goligoski into the boards. Frustration.
- tangent_man

GO KAZAKHSTAN!!!

I think that Laviolette's system is more than catching lightning in a bottle, my concern is the adjustments when they run into a Rangers or Devils style team that forechecks the Hell out of opposing defensemen and swarms on defense and blocks a ton of shots and keeps the Flyers from getting to the net for second chances and rebounds.

More importantly doesn't generally allow for the high wire passing act that the Flyers use, where guys like Giroux and Timonen hold the puck and wait for something to open up. Teams like the Rangers and Devils don't give them time to do that sort of thing.
- Jsaquella

Very good point...I like the high wire act

the TRAP cup! all teams in final 4 are not u r run and gun...kinda boring...

LA Kings...low scoring..same with New Jersey...Coyotes...& Rangers....

good luck too the final 4,anyhow

x2
- Crimsoninja

÷1

I think the one thing we are all , or most of us, are missing here...The Flyers were never healthy this season. Shenn was barely in uniform when he got hurt the first time. Pronger, JvR (who was off to a great start when he got hurt), Briere...all missed significant time. That has a physical effect on everyone else. That makes it that much more difficult to stay "in character" as it were, within the system.

The Flyers really, really missed Pronger. They need to replace him on the back end....which is hard to do...who knows though, get Suter as a UFA and the Flyers will be scary for a long time.

The one thing that was apparent from watching good defensive teams play the Flyers was that there was no fear on any Flyers shooters from the point. The one thing that made the Capitals successful against the Rangers was their defenseman and their ability to get shots thru occasionally. With the collapsing style of defense played, point men have more time to shoot. Nobody on the Flyers blueline has a consistent hard accurate shot from the point. Too many go high and wide (Mezz and Coburn) or have little power (Timmo or Carle). I know shot blocking is an epidemic but make the blockers pay. I know this sounds rotten, but shoot hard enough and it is only a matter of time before you break a bone in their foot or hand. If you were to knock out Callahan from the series, where would the Rangers be? The Flyers definitely need to upgrade the shooters on the blue line.

You are entirely correct.

Time for a little honesty. What would you have said if someone had suggested during the preseason that Giroux would have a break out season and establish himself as a super star, maybe the most exciting young talent in the league. And, that Couturier would have a remarkable rookie campaign along with superb years from Reid, Schenn, Voracek and Simmons. Would you have been certain they were a 100 point team or they had the depth and talent to destroy the Pens in the playoffs?

I think Flyer management and coaching have been wonderful. This is a very young team. Flyer fans should discuss strengths and weaknesses but they should not stop celebrating a great year and the even greater potential it is offering.
- spatso

Great post, thanks spatso.

I think Lavi's style had a chance to work if the team was healthy. A lot of their speed players (with the exception of maybe Wellwood) seemed slow against NJ, part due to the Devils and partly from injury. Without that speed it's tough to have an effective forecheck. NJ had an easy time chipping it past the 2 Flyers forecheckers and out of the zone.

That's where the 50 contract limit hurts them. Does Schultz immediately step in to the NHL with the Flyers? Maybe, but he had a much better shot at immediate NHL work with the Ducks.

Also, it's not realistic to expect a kid straight from the NCAA to step in and be the dynamic player the Flyers seem to be targeting on defense.
- Jsaquella

All signs point to him going UFA so the Flyers should be under the contract limit when he's available to them on July 1.

The guy reminds me of Mike Green from a couple of years ago -- dominant from the blueline offensively. Great speed, silky mitts, deadly wrister, big slapper, can dish the puck at a very high level and has a head for the game. Downsides are that he's not the strongest guy (although he has room to fill out) and he needs to refine his play on the defensive side of the puck. You can't argue with the raw skills though. He's definitely no Matt Gilroy -- this guy is going to be a top-pairing d-man for somebody sooner than later.

At most I'd advocate for minor tweaks and adjustments. They did lose to the Devils in 5, but that series was a few inches from being 2-1 Flyers after game three, and the Devils were basically winning one or two goal games.

The valid question could be does Laviolette's system run a team down over a long season, especially key parts like Kimmo Timonen, who are older players.
- Jsaquella

It's a taxing system, but I wouldn't say the Devils' system requires any less energy to play and they were fresh off a 7-game series and the Flyers had a week of rest.

I'm sure no matter how they choose to play, having a few key guys at 35+ is always going to be detrimental the longer the season progresses, especially when you're talking about your top two blueliners.

Chris Pronger

enough said.
- Rimland

...most likely has played his last game as a Flyer, unfortunately. We'll need to approach the offseason and beyond with that mindset.

Great work, Bill. I have to think Lava will look at film of this series closely in order to come up with ways to counter the tight-checking system of the Devils. The NHL is a copycat league & there will probably be more teams playing akin to the Rangers & Devils in the East next season.

As for personnel, I would like to see Paul Gaustad in Philly this Fall.
- Flyskippy

Great post, thanks spatso.

I think Lavi's style had a chance to work if the team was healthy. A lot of their speed players (with the exception of maybe Wellwood) seemed slow against NJ, part due to the Devils and partly from injury. Without that speed it's tough to have an effective forecheck. NJ had an easy time chipping it past the 2 Flyers forecheckers and out of the zone.
- Marc D

I don't think they should have sat Rinaldo in the NJ series. Without him the lost balance... Not enough checking.

Chris Pronger

enough said.
- Rimland

never heard of him

You are entirely correct.

Time for a little honesty. What would you have said if someone had suggested during the preseason that Giroux would have a break out season and establish himself as a super star, maybe the most exciting young talent in the league. And, that Couturier would have a remarkable rookie campaign along with superb years from Reid, Schenn, Voracek and Simmons. Would you have been certain they were a 100 point team or they had the depth and talent to destroy the Pens in the playoffs?

I think Flyer management and coaching have been wonderful. This is a very young team. Flyer fans should discuss strengths and weaknesses but they should not stop celebrating a great year and the even greater potential it is offering.
- spatso

you are my new favorite poster come again

you are my new favorite poster come again
- Don'tForgetTocchet

Seconded.

the TRAP cup! all teams in final 4 are not u r run and gun...kinda boring...

LA Kings...low scoring..same with New Jersey...Coyotes...& Rangers....

good luck too the final 4,anyhow
- Canuckfan2006

Go, Yotes, go!

Were Shane Doan on an Eastern Conference team, he'd be talked up by NBC the way Andreychuk was in 2004. Hope Doan gets his Cup this year.

I don't think they should have sat Rinaldo in the NJ series. Without him the lost balance... Not enough checking.
- leon neon

looking back at the series it was pretty obvious that they were lacking speed/emotion against the Devils. Rinaldo would have brought that, for sure.

It would have been interesting if the Flyers won game 5 to see if Rinaldo played game 6. I'm thinking he would have, which indicates he probably should have been in the series at least by game 3.

As far as the system goes, it seemed to work pretty well in March. I think the focus has to be on getting a couple of defensively-responsible forwards. Let's face it, JvR and Briere are horrific in their own zone.

looking back at the series it was pretty obvious that they were lacking speed/emotion against the Devils. Rinaldo would have brought that, for sure.

It would have been interesting if the Flyers won game 5 to see if Rinaldo played game 6. I'm thinking he would have, which indicates he probably should have been in the series at least by game 3.

As far as the system goes, it seemed to work pretty well in March. I think the focus has to be on getting a couple of defensively-responsible forwards. Let's face it, JvR and Briere are horrific in their own zone.
- FlyerGuy

Jvr should get better at defense, he is tall, has a long reach and can skate, a little work will help

with Briere, well I love his goal celebrations

never heard of him
- Don'tForgetTocchet

I don't think they should have sat Rinaldo in the NJ series. Without him the lost balance... Not enough checking.
- leon neon

I think so too, he is their best open ice checker
the other team starts to rush the play and make mistakes when they hear him coming

Go, Yotes, go!

Were Shane Doan on an Eastern Conference team, he'd be talked up by NBC the way Andreychuk was in 2004. Hope Doan gets his Cup this year.
- Flyskippy

yup i'll be rooting for my hometown this round, i hope they make it i like doan too

I think so too, he is their best open ice checker
the other team starts to rush the play and make mistakes when they hear him coming
- Marc D

- Don'tForgetTocchet

is the thumbs up for Gaustad?

he might be expensive this year
for a fourth line center

of course, I thought they paid too much for Talbot last summer, so what the f do I know

is the thumbs up for Gaustad?

he might be expensive this year
for a fourth line center

of course, I thought they paid too much for Talbot last summer, so what the f do I know

- Marc D

gaustad would be perfect for this team