Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Not Pretty, But Much Needed

Excellent blog, Bill.


Barring any health issues from Emery or Mason, it looks like goaltending won't be an issue this year.

The Flyers still look like they want to be a pretty, perimeter passing team.


They havent quite kicked the habit of having late period letdowns.

I feel like Mason stole that game, and if the team doesnt play better this weekend, they could have a couple long nights against Phoenix and Detroit.

I could see the foundation of what Berube wants to do in last nights game, but they have a ways to go.

One thing I was highly impressed by: at the the very end of the game, when the Panthers needed possession badly, the Flyers managed to win the all the battles for the puck along the boards and in the corners.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Not Pretty, But Much Needed
- bmeltzer

no playoffs this season.

Mason 9 starts with Flyers. Save % .939

Small sample size yes, but very nice to see.

no playoffs this season.
- watsonnostaw

its an 82 game season, go troll the Thrashers foru... oh, wait. nevermind.

the panther's goal was set up by grossman who had the puck in the neutral zone with under 40 secs left and decided to rip it into the bench! what are these guys thinking about? almost anything else right there and time ticks down, and Heaven forbid they actually form some kind of offensive rush against the other team to finish the period. it seems no body has any confidence with the puck and just ships it off as soon as they touch it.

its an 82 game season, go troll the Thrashers foru... oh, wait. nevermind.
- Doc_Sarcasm

he could but he'd be trolling himself

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Not Pretty, But Much Needed
- bmeltzer

Luck just happens. Sometimes in your favor, sometimes not.

Hartnell-G-Simmonds seems like a really dangerous combination, but not in a good way. Putting two guys who have trouble skating and puckhandling with Giroux isn't going to work.

I have been very happy with the play of Brayden Schenn.. He was easily the most dangerous forward on the ice last night IMO. He had 4 or 5 high quality chances to go with his goal, and was a pest around the net all night. Hopefully he can continue to build on that.

Rinaldo has two hits already this year that are of the "I think that dude just poop his pants" variety. What a beauty of a hit on Shore.

Hartnell-G-Simmonds seems like a really dangerous combination, but not in a good way. Putting two guys who have trouble skating and puckhandling with Giroux isn't going to work.
- Feanor

Schenn-G-Voracek
Hartnell- VL- Read
Simmonds-Couts-Talbot
Rinaldo-Hall-Newbury

I have been very happy with the play of Brayden Schenn.. He was easily the most dangerous forward on the ice last night IMO. He had 4 or 5 high quality chances to go with his goal, and was a pest around the net all night. Hopefully he can continue to build on that.

Rinaldo has two hits already this year that are of the "I think that dude just poop his pants" variety. What a beauty of a hit on Shore.
- jak521

Right now, B. Schenn seems to be the one guy always willing to skate through the middle of the ice and challenge the opposition in front of the net. I wish we would see a little more of that from the rest of the team.

I really wish Rinaldo had a little more offensive upside. I love his attitude and energy and he seems to be picking his spots fairly well so far this season.

Fantastic blog. Felt much better coming home after a win from last night.
It was a step in the right direction, but I thought about something last night.

In the 2009 offseason, the Flyers made a series of acquisitions. The big one was Chris Pronger. The other key ones were Ian Laperriere, Blair Betts, and Ray Emery.

These were all the kind of guys who filled very specific roles, and played a very specific way. Aside from Pronger, they weren't the flashy big-name superstars, but they were key role players who had a well-defined spot on the team.

The past few years, it seems like the Flyers have reverted to throwing big money at big names (Lecavalier, Streit) and/or by putting players in the wrong position (Foster, JvR, Coburn), or scraping the bottom of the barrel for their needs (Newbury, Foster, Gervais). I remember being very excited about the 2009 acquisitions, as those were all character guys. The past few offseasons, it seems more like we're putting the square peg in the round hole.

Hartnell-G-Simmonds seems like a really dangerous combination, but not in a good way. Putting two guys who have trouble skating and puckhandling with Giroux isn't going to work.
- Feanor

Hartnell Down was in full effect last night... there was one shift I recall where he flopped to the ice at least three times on body contact. He really bought that Gudbranson penalty, too. Offensively, it looks like Hartnell-G magic is all used up, especially that pass into the high slot on the PP.

Simmonds, I wouldn't mind see stay w/ Giroux for awhile. He has the legs, balance and puck control to do the job there.


Rosehill....

Detroit this Saturday could be UGLY.

Right now, B. Schenn seems to be the one guy always willing to skate through the middle of the ice and challenge the opposition in front of the net. I wish we would see a little more of that from the rest of the team.

I really wish Rinaldo had a little more offensive upside. I love his attitude and energy and he seems to be picking his spots fairly well so far this season.
- Doc_Sarcasm

Schenn was the best forward out the last night, no doubt. Had a few great forced turnovers, and a few nice looks (the goal aside). Definitely would like to see that consistently.

Rinaldo was hitting people like they owed him money. Had a nice takeaway, but man, if he had even Carcillo-level offensive skill I'd take it.

Luck just happens. Sometimes in your favor, sometimes not.
- bradleyc4

Exactly -- you can't control luck, manufacture it, summon it or produce it. There's no Mystical Luck Ritual that a team can perform. Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr weren't more lucky than Stephen Weiss and Nathan Horton.

They were better players, with more speed, strength, hockey IQ, coordination/athletic ability. Teams with better players tend to find themselves in better positions on the ice, with more options available to them, some of the quality options that their increased skill and talent is able to capitalize on.

Right now, B. Schenn seems to be the one guy always willing to skate through the middle of the ice and challenge the opposition in front of the net. I wish we would see a little more of that from the rest of the team.

I really wish Rinaldo had a little more offensive upside. I love his attitude and energy and he seems to be picking his spots fairly well so far this season.
- Doc_Sarcasm

I think Rinaldo has more offensive upside then we have seen, and just needs some time to develop some chemisty with linemates that can get him the puck and can take a pass. I could see him being a 15-20 goal scorer given the icetime.

Detroit this Saturday could be UGLY.
- johndewar

Wait til Rosehill gets his hands on Probert.

Mason was incredible. Definitely the best Flyers player on the ice.

Ugh...they seriously struggled to get out of their own zone, and they couldn't maintain any pressure on offense. It was rough to watch. Without 2 fluky goals allowed by a salty old goalie who took last year off, this game could have been quite different...

They just aren't playing very well. But hopefully this win starts the rebuilding process, and they can beat up on Phoenix on Friday to move things even further along.

I think Rinaldo has more offensive upside then we have seen, and just needs some time to develop some chemisty with linemates that can get him the puck and can take a pass. I could see him being a 15-20 goal scorer given the icetime.
- youarewrong

..

Exactly -- you can't control luck, manufacture it, summon it or produce it. There's no Mystical Luck Ritual that a team can perform. Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr weren't more lucky than Stephen Weiss and Nathan Horton.

They were better players, with more speed, strength, hockey IQ, coordination/athletic ability. Teams with better players tend to find themselves in better positions on the ice, with more options available to them, some of the quality options that their increased skill and talent is able to capitalize on.
- AllInForFlyers

Granted, their best offensive leaders right now aren't playing up to their historical abilities -- G and Kimmo are stuck in a rut.

They really need that additional winger that can score 20-25 goals, push Talbot down to the 4th-line, and push Rosehill to the AHL.

I think Rinaldo has more offensive upside then we have seen, and just needs some time to develop some chemisty with linemates that can get him the puck and can take a pass. I could see him being a 15-20 goal scorer given the icetime.
- youarewrong

Yup. I could see him putting in 10+ given a steady diet of 3rd line minutes.