Bill Meltzer: Marshy's Memories: Flyers Make One Goal Stand Up Against Devils

Bill Meltzer: Marshy's Memories: Flyers Make One Goal Stand Up Against Devils
- bmeltzer

Pretty decent game played by the Flyers. They managed to do what Jersey usually does to them. It was a stinker of a game but 2 points are 2 points regardless of how the game is played.

That game really inspired no confidence in me personally. The devils just failed to score which in turn, never really tested the flyers issue of completely folding when the slightest thing goes wrong.

FWIW Some observations from last night:

First the positives
Defensive zone coverage was very good, the Devils were kept to the outside all night, and the front of the net was cleared consistently.

The penalty killing was outstanding, Coburn and Couturier especially stood out.

Emery made the saves he needed to make and controlled rebounds very well

There was an obvious commitment to team defense last night by all 5 skaters on the ice, it was nice to see!

They played with composure in the 3rd, and made a one goal lead stand up

Now, the negatives
The powerplay just looks atrocious, especially Giroux who is making one bad decision with puck after another.

Continuing on a theme, Giroux's refusal to go into the dirty areas of the ice is really getting frustrating to watch. If he's injured, get him off the ice. If not, maybe its time, especially if VL is ready to return, to get him off the top pp unit. He needs to play better for the Flyers to succeed, its as simple as that.

While Simmonds generated some offense and got off some shots, his puck handling and decision making are still awful.

For the most part, no one on this team goes to the net on a consistent basis. Gary Dornhoeffer always used to say, if you want to score goals, go the net. It's not rocket science.

While its always great to win a game lets face it, they beat a mediocre team that was significantly undermanned. There is still a lot of work to do if this team is going to have any chance of making the playoffs.

The lack of speed on D jumps out at you. Coburn looks like Bobby Orr out there compared to the rest of the crew.

This team just looks so lifeless.

Not sure what was worse...7-0 beating or 1-0 snooze-test. I'm glad they won but I really miss the run and gun days of a few years ago. I want some goals!

Hey Bill what's going on with Downie? Two days in the hospital? Is that standard procedure for a concussion. I don't remember guys needing to spend time in the hospital for just a concussion. Something broken? Brain aneurysm? He must have been showing symptoms of something alarming.

Vinny too. He missed a game because of facial soreness? Facial soreness? On a team coached by Lappy?

edit: His face must be sore...it's killing me!

A win is a win..
Regardless of the team they play after they give up 7 goals at home the previous night shutting out a different team on the road can only be viewed as a good thing.

What they need to do is string together some wins now..
Giroux needs that 1 goal..That 1 play where the floodgates open..
I am not worried about him , yet, and I believe his output will be what he pretty much has put up recently which is a point per game.
I thought Bschenn had a good game.
Couturier had a good game and I actually saw him make a few nice offensive moves.
I am not sure who is slower at this point Gill or Timmo.

Not sure what was worse...7-0 beating or 1-0 snooze-test. I'm glad they won but I really miss the run and gun days of a few years ago. I want some goals!

Hey Bill what's going on with Downie? Two days in the hospital? Is that standard procedure for a concussion. I don't remember guys needing to spend time in the hospital for just a concussion. Something broken? Brain aneurysm? He must have been showing symptoms of something alarming.

Vinny too. He missed a game because of facial soreness? Facial soreness? On a team coached by Lappy?
- Dkos

Orbital bone surgery?

Bill Meltzer: Marshy's Memories: Flyers Make One Goal Stand Up Against Devils
- bmeltzer

You are dead on regarding Fred Shero. At 48, I am old enough to remember the Bullies and they often get a bad rap as just a bunch of goons. Not only were they the hardest working team in the league and backed by the best goalie in the business, but they were also blessed with quite a bit of quality talent. Clarke was hands down the hardest working player in the league. He was a phenomenal captain, highly skilled, and seemed to play nearly half the game. Bill Barber was as good a 2-way winger as their was in the NHL and Rick Macleish was as skilled as anyone in the league. Reggie Leach terrorized opposing goalies with his shot and Ross Lonsberry and Gary Dornhoefer were both above average NHL wingers.

They were amazing deep at forward as Orest Kindrachuk would have been a #2 center on many teams. Their D was devoid of stars, but was solid. Ed Van Impe was one of the top shutdown guys in the league, the Watson brothers were both solid top 4 guys and Bladon brought some offensive to the group. Ashbee may have been the one guy who worked as hard as Clarke and Moose Dupont was the heart of the group.

Shero's ability to get the best out of every player on his roster cannot be overstated enough. His idea to constantly dump the puck in Orr's corner to wear him down during the 74 finals(Orr was playing nearly 40 minutes a game at that point) was brilliant as Orr pretty much had nothing left by game 6. Shero going into the Hall of Fame is LONG overdue!

You are dead on regarding Fred Shero. At 48, I am old enough to remember the Bullies and they often get a bad rap as just a bunch of goons. Not only were they the hardest working team in the league and backed by the best goalie in the business, but they were also blessed with quite a bit of quality talent. Clarke was hands down the hardest working player in the league. He was a phenomenal captain, highly skilled, and seemed to play nearly half the game. Bill Barber was as good a 2-way winger as their was in the NHL and Rick Macleish was as skilled as anyone in the league. Reggie Leach terrorized opposing goalies with his shot and Ross Lonsberry and Gary Dornhoefer were both above average NHL wingers.

They were amazing deep at forward as Orest Kindrachuk would have been a #2 center on many teams. Their D was devoid of stars, but was solid. Ed Van Impe was one of the top shutdown guys in the league, the Watson brothers were both solid top 4 guys and Bladon brought some offensive to the group. Ashbee may have been the one guy who worked as hard as Clarke and Moose Dupont was the heart of the group.

Shero's ability to get the best out of every player on his roster cannot be overstated enough. His idea to constantly dump the puck in Orr's corner to wear him down during the 74 finals(Orr was playing nearly 40 minutes a game at that point) was brilliant as Orr pretty much had nothing left by game 6. Shero going into the Hall of Fame is LONG overdue!
- BiggE

Even their "goons" were good players. Schultz, Kelly,Moose...even Salestki, were good players. No lack of confidence on that team.

Flyers need to fire Homer and Bring Fred's son back to philly where he belongs to GM

Pretty decent game played by the Flyers. They managed to do what Jersey usually does to them. It was a stinker of a game but 2 points are 2 points regardless of how the game is played.
- blizzzard

Sadly, after the way the Flyers played the night before, I was more than happy with such a boring game that resulted in a W.

I know the boys won and two points is two points, but i just didn't get excited about it. Waiting for the wheels to fall of when they play teams with any sort of offense...

I know it's sad to say but I was hoping they would get blow out so they could actually restart the rebuild. It sucks watching the team you love be on life support...the worst thing is feel as though some of the players are thinking the same way I am. There is no excitement or drive to any of their games. They are just going through the motions till snider presses the blow up button. I'd rather it be sooner rather than later. I'd rather watch young kids get blown out night in and night out

Sadly, after the way the Flyers played the night before, I was more than happy with such a boring game that resulted in a W.
- five4fighting10

I would be too. like I said 2 points are 2 pts a 7-0 win doesn't get you any more points then a 1-0 one so you take the 2 points and run

Bill Meltzer: Marshy's Memories: Flyers Make One Goal Stand Up Against Devils
- bmeltzer

Given the fact that the Flyers have scored just 21 goals in 13 games (1.615 per game), it is rather remarkable that they have entered the third period leading, tied or trailing by just one goal in 12 of the 13 games this season.

seriously how is this even possible?

Sadly, after the way the Flyers played the night before, I was more than happy with such a boring game that resulted in a W.
- five4fighting10

agreed

i thought grossmann was really good

"Continuing on a theme, Giroux's refusal to go into the dirty areas of the ice is really getting frustrating to watch. If he's injured, get him off the ice."

I agree 100%

If his wrists and hands are screwed from the multiple surgeries over the last few seasons, playing him has been a foolish and counterproductive by the coach , medical staff and GM. If he has to heal let him heal, it couldnt be any worse than this start. Might have been better if you can fantasize that.

If hes long term screwed with nerve damage then you have an 8 mill+ long term albatross contract & the player needs to consider retirement since his contract cannot be rewritten to the level of play to which he may be limited. If you try to trade him you are going to have to retain huge salary if his skills are compromised.

Can this team afford to wait a year or two to see if his hands come back healthy? The waters around G are so muddied since that last things that will heal are hands that are getting hacked game after game and have suffered multiple surgeries. If they LTIR they could have brought someone else in, not of his caliber or let young ones play and started the rebuild.

You are dead on regarding Fred Shero. At 48, I am old enough to remember the Bullies and they often get a bad rap as just a bunch of goons. Not only were they the hardest working team in the league and backed by the best goalie in the business, but they were also blessed with quite a bit of quality talent. Clarke was hands down the hardest working player in the league. He was a phenomenal captain, highly skilled, and seemed to play nearly half the game. Bill Barber was as good a 2-way winger as their was in the NHL and Rick Macleish was as skilled as anyone in the league. Reggie Leach terrorized opposing goalies with his shot and Ross Lonsberry and Gary Dornhoefer were both above average NHL wingers.

They were amazing deep at forward as Orest Kindrachuk would have been a #2 center on many teams. Their D was devoid of stars, but was solid. Ed Van Impe was one of the top shutdown guys in the league, the Watson brothers were both solid top 4 guys and Bladon brought some offensive to the group. Ashbee may have been the one guy who worked as hard as Clarke and Moose Dupont was the heart of the group.

Shero's ability to get the best out of every player on his roster cannot be overstated enough. His idea to constantly dump the puck in Orr's corner to wear him down during the 74 finals(Orr was playing nearly 40 minutes a game at that point) was brilliant as Orr pretty much had nothing left by game 6. Shero going into the Hall of Fame is LONG overdue!
- BiggE

Exactly right on every point. Shero also understood that he had a savvy but not very mobile defense corps and knew how to work with it. Something else he did better than any coach -- possibly ever -- was to make his role players feel they were as valuable and appreciated as the stars.

Say he only gave Kelly about 7 or 8 minutes of ice time. After the game, he'd mention Kelly first to the newspaper guys and say how crucial those minutes were to the win. The famous quote, "If Bob Kelly scores 20 goals, that means I'm not using him right" pretty much sums up Shero's philosophy and also the way he could get guys who didn't score more or get used in those situations to buy into what their role was.

All you have to do is look at all the championship (and finalist) teams that Shero coached in his minor league and NHL career to see how good he was at getting his players to be a cohesive team.

It seems to me that the flyers won 2 cups because of the fighting and bullying. Since the nhl changed the rules, how many cups have they won.

i thought grossmann was really good
- -davies-

He was. Good chemistry between him and Streit last night -- much, much better than the Schenn-Streit pairing of previous games.

He was. Good chemistry between him and Streit last night -- much, much better than the Schenn-Streit pairing of previous games.
- bmeltzer

yes i liked them as a pair, streit looked comfortable with grossmann.

now just put schenn with mesz and i'd be happy!

Even their "goons" were good players. Schultz, Kelly,Moose...even Salestki, were good players. No lack of confidence on that team.
- Dkos

Though most didn't forget Schultz had a 20 goal year once for us, they do forget Saleski had three 20+ goal years (21, 22, 27), Kelly had a 22 and a 19 goal year (and a much forgotten 26g, 36a, 62 pt year with the Caps), and that the Moose averaged 10 goals between '74-77.

Not just pretty faces.

Exactly right on every point. Shero also understood that he had a savvy but not very mobile defense corps and knew how to work with it. Something else he did better than any coach -- possibly ever -- was to make his role players feel they were as valuable and appreciated as the stars.

Say he only gave Kelly about 7 or 8 minutes of ice time. After the game, he'd mention Kelly first to the newspaper guys and say how crucial those minutes were to the win. The famous quote, "If Bob Kelly scores 20 goals, that means I'm not using him right" pretty much sums up Shero's philosophy and also the way he could get guys who didn't score more or get used in those situations to buy into what their role was.

All you have to do is look at all the championship (and finalist) teams that Shero coached in his minor league and NHL career to see how good he was at getting his players to be a cohesive team.
- bmeltzer

It is a whole different world then. Players are pampered and make so much money they don't have to love the game as much as they did back then. Back then players listened to coaches and elders and respected what they had to say but today these guys make so much money that they don't need to listen to the coach and often times can play a major part in the decision of the coach being fired. The players won't change the way they play like they did back then when the coaches said they needed to do something differently now they sulk. Just an all around softer league now then it was back then with no respect. It has to be a lot harder to coach now then it was 20-30 years ago because back then they understood that you do what the coach asks of you and it doesn't matter if you could beat him up or thought you where smarter then him you just did what they where told. Coaches now tell players to change and its like talking to a wall with 90% of the players in this league today.

Bill, why do you think Luke has regressed so much from last year?