Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 1/20/13 @ Sabres

First and great to see that hockey's back... Looking at other scores around the league I'm surprised the outcom was 3-1 I thought it would have been more like 6-4...good job bryz.

Take the Sabres out tomorrow. We get them on Monday, so lay the body, will ya?

Its gonna be a good game!

I posted something similar to this in the last thread:

That Penguins game was so...odd....it had the intensity and pace (at least in the first 40 minutes) of a playoff game. But it wasn't a playoff game, so I was a little less stressed watching it. In the 2nd period and on, I just relaxed and watched the Flyers really dominate the Pens, and I was thinking to myself, "Self, they're playing one hell of a game. This team is gonna be fun to watch!" almost forgetting that they NEEDED TO TIE THE FRICKIN GAME!!

There were so many positives to take away from yesterday's game that you'd think it was a 4-0 shutout win

So weird. They really did play a good game, all things considered with short preparation, etc. Coming out this afternoon and beating Buffalo would really show me this team could go places.

Bill, I'm curious as to what your take on Mr. Scott Laughton is. He played a sweet game last night- smart positioning, gritty, good board battles, nose for the puck....do you think he gets the 5 games then it's adios? I know it's a small sample, but if the kid keeps playing like this the Flyers' brass is gonna have a tough decision on their hands....

Important things I noticed from the game.

1. Bryz looked good. He made a lot of key stops and looked solid. Maybe the second goal he might want to have another shot at but all in all. He was the Netminder we want to see in net.

2. Scott Laughton looked good. I watched him buzzing around the opposing net and hitting & pressuring guys.

3. Kurtis Foster has a Cannon of a point shot. Maybe it's just been awhile since a Flyers D had a shot like that but I want him to use it more.

Philly is a young team. I think nerves might be a bigger issue than being pumped. Certainly now they'll be pumped to get that first win.

As an aside....last respects are to be paid to Stan The Man Musial.

He died at around 6 pm est on the 19th of natural causes. As Harry Kalas would say, "He was 92 years young."

Really liked Schenn with Giroux. That will get a lot better. Hartnell fits like a glove with the other two.

But, got impression without better attack support from the D the Flyers will struggle to score goals, especially on the power play. The game this afternoon is a huge test because all the games come on so quickly after last night.

3. Kurtis Foster has a Cannon of a point shot. Maybe it's just been awhile since a Flyers D had a shot like that but I want him to use it more.
- flyler

Not that long ago, but it feels that way.

Top o' the morning.

I know it is to be expected, but I wasnt real happy with the fumbling if yhe puck/sloppy puck hanfling at times. I know they will get over it and other than that I liked to over all game yesterday

Today will tell a lot about what this team can do. They didn't play a bad game yesterday, they just got off to a bad start. They had their chances. Here is to hoping they bury all their chances today! Go Flyers!

Good game even though we lost yesterday.

I was really hoping this playing from behind trend stops today. This was an issue last year if I remember.

What's going on?

hopefully the flyers shook off the rust and will play a good game today

Top o' the morning.
- JoeRussomanno

good morning, Joe, how ya doin?

Take the Sabres out tomorrow. We get them on Monday, so lay the body, will ya?
- PrinceLH

we just root for them. i have registered 0 hits in my nhl career

we just root for them. i have registered 0 hits in my nhl career
- flyerscup2011

How did Luke Schenn look yesterday?

I know it is to be expected, but I wasnt real happy with the fumbling if yhe puck/sloppy puck hanfling at times. I know they will get over it and other than that I liked to over all game yesterday
- nails

And their puck handling was still better than your spellcheck!

How did Luke Schenn look yesterday?
- Atomic Wedgie

A hybrid of Chris Pronger, Paul Coffey, and Bobby Orr. It was amazing

How did Luke Schenn look yesterday?
- Atomic Wedgie

Early on, you could really see the rust and the nerves. He settled in as game went along. Incredibly, I thought Andrej Meszaros (who had back surgery last March and Achilles tendon repair surgery in August) was the Flyers' best shift-in and shift-out defenseman in the opener.

Top o' the morning.
- JoeRussomanno

Hey there, Joe! Appreciated the FB message the other day.

How did Luke Schenn look yesterday?
- Atomic Wedgie

Average imo... dunno what his potential is.. but its not a 1-2 right now...

With that said.. i'd rather him over JVR

Enjoyed the game yesterday, thought they looked pretty good. Clearly both teams slowed in the third. Personally I would have rolled the 4th line for more of the third period. I thought Rinaldo had a very solid game.

Yesterday proved that playing from behind isn't a good thing since the team doesn't really have it's legs yet. Not that playing from behind is ever a good idea.

Overall decent game despite the outcome. I was really impressed with Bryz. I'm hoping his recent play in the K, new demeanor and a quick start carryover.

I was also impressed with Laughton. But I don't think he gets carried for the full year. First of all, unless they play Danny on the wing Laughton would be your 4th line center. If you did play Briere on the wing and use the centers they had yesterday, I worry a bit about the offense. I think Coots will still struggle to find his offensive game a little bit this year, and Laughton won't bring a lot of O at this point, most likely.

I don't think you burn a year either way.