Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/26/13 @ Islanders

Brian Strait not Brian Nelson
Good blog though

Any chance of a Mezaros sighting tonight?
I think he likes playing against the Isles.

@MJL from previous blog:

I would prefer him to drive the net for sure, but he has also been snake bitten a bit with all these posts... The most frustrating part has been overpassing. I want to see Giroux drive the net and shoot.. One he starts scoring again, and the tenders start respecting that, then it will open up some passes for tap ins. That 3-1 vs the Rangers was stupid with too many passes. If you only have the shot, take it don't force a pass. See Matt Read's shorty.

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 10/26/13 @ Islanders
- bmeltzer

Good blog as always Bill, thanks!
I'd be interested in your assessment of Timonen's play so far. It looks to me that he's obviously lost a step and it may be causing him to press and make some uncharacteristically bad decisions with the puck.

I know there hasn't been much for you guys to be upbeat about this season.. but I wanted to see what you thought of Mark Streit so far, all you hoped for, or lacking?

XxNYIxX

@MJL from previous blog:

I would prefer him to drive the net for sure, but he has also been snake bitten a bit with all these posts... The most frustrating part has been overpassing. I want to see Giroux drive the net and shoot.. One he starts scoring again, and the tenders start respecting that, then it will open up some passes for tap ins. That 3-1 vs the Rangers was stupid with too many passes. If you only have the shot, take it don't force a pass. See Matt Read's shorty.
- Hextall271

I agree. I would also hope Voracek would take the same advice.

Honestly, everyone needs to be selfish and just drive the net and shoot. I'd rather see a shot then a pass everyone needs to play hungry which they haven't really done. Let's pray it changes tonight.

Good blog as always Bill, thanks!
I'd be interested in your assessment of Timonen's play so far. It looks to me that he's obviously lost a step and it may be causing him to press and make some uncharacteristically bad decisions with the puck.
- BiggE

To me, he looks hurt. I know he's slowed a lot over the last while but it's like he can't even accelerate at all. If it's not due to some sort of hip/groin injury that he is working through and it's just age, it's time to retire I think. My biggest worry is how will Homer or Hexy replace him on D?

Honestly, everyone needs to be selfish and just drive the net and shoot. I'd rather see a shot then a pass everyone needs to play hungry which they haven't really done. Let's pray it changes tonight.
- steveromanowski

Totally agree. If we start shooting and driving the net instead of looking for the pretty tap in, we will start scoring. That goes for everyone.

I know there hasn't been much for you guys to be upbeat about this season.. but I wanted to see what you thought of Mark Streit so far, all you hoped for, or lacking?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Streit's been fine, pretty much what I expected. Hes recently been moved to the 1st pp unit and once Giroux and Voracek start to come around, he should start picking up some points. At even strength, hes on the 3rd pairing and while he struggles at times, for the most part he's been adequate.

I know there hasn't been much for you guys to be upbeat about this season.. but I wanted to see what you thought of Mark Streit so far, all you hoped for, or lacking?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I responded to another Isles fan on this in the old blog, but essentially, I have been fine with him... He's probably overpaid, but we needed a puck mover. He's actually wore the A last game and QB'ed the 1st PP unit..

3 wins in 10 games, dare we set such lofty goals, dare we dream it?

Yes, yes we should.

2 goals for Giroux tonight.

To me, he looks hurt. I know he's slowed a lot over the last while but it's like he can't even accelerate at all. If it's not due to some sort of hip/groin injury that he is working through and it's just age, it's time to retire I think. My biggest worry is how will Homer or Hexy replace him on D?
- Hextall271

If he is hurt, they need to get him out of the lineup whether he likes it or not; he's just not effective right now. Replacing him going forward won't be easy, and should be the club's top priority in the offseason.

Streit's been fine, pretty much what I expected. Hes recently been moved to the 1st pp unit and once Giroux and Voracek start to come around, he should start picking up some points. At even strength, hes on the 3rd pairing and while he struggles at times, for the most part he's been adequate.
- BiggE

To me, it's starting to look like the plan will be to let Timo walk off into retirement, and Streit will be the PP QB guy going forward, who will be on the 3rd D pairing the rest of the time.. The trick will be trying to find a top pairing Dman to replace Timonen. We will have the money to do so, but they don't grow on trees.

I responded to another Isles fan on this in the old blog, but essentially, I have been fine with him... He's probably overpaid, but we needed a puck mover. He's actually wore the A last game and QB'ed the 1st PP unit..
- Hextall271

I thought he'd been wearing the A the whole season...

Edit: NM, rotating around.

Brian Strait not Brian Nelson
Good blog though
- NYI44

Typo fixed. Thanks!

3 wins in 10 games, dare we set such lofty goals, dare we dream it?

Yes, yes we should.

2 goals for Giroux tonight.
- wolfhounds

I am praying that we run out the month with 3 wins here.. End October at 4-7 and go from there. Not that I think they will, but I really hope so as I don't want to go the entire long winter watching a team that is out of it in January.. with the division we are in, we should be able to stay in range....should..

Streit's been fine, pretty much what I expected. Hes recently been moved to the 1st pp unit and once Giroux and Voracek start to come around, he should start picking up some points. At even strength, hes on the 3rd pairing and while he struggles at times, for the most part he's been adequate.
- BiggE

The one thing that used to drive me crazy about him...and I saw him do it when you guys played the Rangers...is when he carries the puck up ice, all the way behind the other team's net, and then either makes a blind pass behind him or just loses the puck, springing the other team on a rush while he's trapped about as far from his own end as he can get.

Other than that, I never had a major issue with him...his play in the D-zone was just never as good since he came back from the shoulder injury. But his vision in the offensive zone is really good...he'll find the open forwards and come up with creative ways to get them the puck. You just take the good with the bad.

I thought he'd been wearing the A the whole season...

Edit: NM, rotating around.
- wolfhounds

Is that what they are doing? I thought he had it due to Hartnell being out.

Good blog as always Bill, thanks!
I'd be interested in your assessment of Timonen's play so far. It looks to me that he's obviously lost a step and it may be causing him to press and make some uncharacteristically bad decisions with the puck.
- BiggE

I think he's off to a similar slow start to the one he had right after the lockout. He came around and went to have a solid season despite injuries and all the other problems on the club.

No doubt he's lost a step, but I think he looked pretty much the same in January to mid-February of the lockout season. Lots of minor penalties, lots of flubs of the puck. He came around.

If we are still having these discussions about Timonen when the season hits the 20-game mark or so, I'll start to be more concerned than I am right now.

The one thing that used to drive me crazy about him...and I saw him do it when you guys played the Rangers...is when he carries the puck up ice, all the way behind the other team's net, and then either makes a blind pass behind him or just loses the puck, springing the other team on a rush while he's trapped about as far from his own end as he can get.

Other than that, I never had a major issue with him...his play in the D-zone was just never as good since he came back from the shoulder injury. But his vision in the offensive zone is really good...he'll find the open forwards and come up with creative ways to get them the puck. You just take the good with the bad.
- UIF

I know it sounds silly with what he makes, but if we can find a top pairing dman to replace Timonen.. a two way guy, then slot Streit into a 5/6 role and allow him to QB the PP... it's not that bad of an arrangement. Theoretically, his contributions on the PP will outweigh his defensive shortcomings with 5/6 minutes.

Any chance of a Mezaros sighting tonight?
I think he likes playing against the Isles.
- Marc D

Nope. Still skating with Gill as his partner at practices, which means he's a healthy scratch.

I think he's off to a similar slow start to the one he had right after the lockout. He came around and went to have a solid season despite injuries and all the other problems on the club.

No doubt he's lost a step, but I think he looked pretty much the same in January to mid-February of the lockout season. Lots of minor penalties, lots of flubs of the puck. He came around.

If we are still having these discussions about Timonen when the season hits the 20-game mark or so, I'll start to be more concerned than I am right now.
- bmeltzer

So you don't think he's hurt then? Just working the rust off? I hope you're right Bill.

Streit's been fine, pretty much what I expected. Hes recently been moved to the 1st pp unit and once Giroux and Voracek start to come around, he should start picking up some points. At even strength, hes on the 3rd pairing and while he struggles at times, for the most part he's been adequate.
- BiggE

Thank You, I knew it was time for him to move off the Island but he was always a good team player & the other guys in the room really liked him.
I thought our PP would take a major hit with him gone, but so far it has been just as strong.
If you guys get your game clicking the way I think everyone knows they can, they are gonna be a dangerous team, I just hope the turn around does not start tonight!

XxNYIxX