Bill Meltzer: Flyers-Tampa Wrapup: Philly Strikes Lightning Seven Times

Happy for Zepp

Nice to see a goal explosion tonight finally, just wish they could have kept their foot on the gas though in the third, even though the game was way out of reach they started chasing and getting away from their game plan.

The Lightning were bad.

The Flyers played well. But the Bolts really exacerbated the onslaught in the 2nd period with Flyersesque penalty killing and poor 5v5 play. They were so soft on the boards and let the Flyers find open spots on the ice way too easily.

That's another thing. The Flyers aren't going ANYWHERE unless they fix their PK. Not that I think they're going places this season, but we seem to...kind of make their PK a punchline.

In the big picture, that's a huge, huge (frank)ing problem. They better iron that out if they want to compete for at least a bubble position next season.

Amac had a terrible game. He was awful.

Already posted this in the last thread, but I'll drop it in here anyway.

The Lightning were bad.

The Flyers played well. But the Bolts really exacerbated the onslaught in the 2nd period with Flyersesque penalty killing and poor 5v5 play. They were so soft on the boards and let the Flyers find open spots on the ice way too easily.

That's another thing. The Flyers aren't going ANYWHERE unless they fix their PK. Not that I think they're going places this season, but we seem to...kind of make their PK a punchline.

In the big picture, that's a huge, huge (frank)ing problem. They better iron that out if they want to compete for at least a bubble position next season.

Amac had a terrible game. He was awful.
- Giroux_Is_God

But he got truculized

That's another thing. The Flyers aren't going ANYWHERE unless they fix their PK. Not that I think they're going places this season, but we seem to...kind of make their PK a punchline.
- Giroux_Is_God

In fairness, the PK has been fine in recent years until being a disaster this year. Five-on-five play has been Philly's main bugaboo the last few years.

The Lightning were bad.

The Flyers played well. But the Bolts really exacerbated the onslaught in the 2nd period with Flyersesque penalty killing and poor 5v5 play. They were so soft on the boards and let the Flyers find open spots on the ice way too easily.

That's another thing. The Flyers aren't going ANYWHERE unless they fix their PK. Not that I think they're going places this season, but we seem to...kind of make their PK a punchline.

In the big picture, that's a huge, huge (frank)ing problem. They better iron that out if they want to compete for at least a bubble position next season.

Amac had a terrible game. He was awful.
- Giroux_Is_God

Do we think Lappy gets taken off the PK next year? He's had a lot of injuries to juggle...

Do we think Lappy gets taken off the PK next year? He's had a lot of injuries to juggle...
- hereticpride

He was coaching the team on PK last season and they ranked near the top of the NHL. It's not a question of coaching, IMO.

In fairness, the PK has been fine in recent years until being a disaster this year. Five-on-five play has been Philly's main bugaboo the last few years.
- bmeltzer

Oh absolutely. It's no secret that this team lived and died with special teams for the last few seasons. Both the PP and the PK. It's usually their strength. In fact, it was to the point where it was almost a given.

The lack of Kimmo on the kill has been crippling. Not saying it's the only reason for their struggles, but I'll hang my hat on saying it's the biggest reason.

The Lightning were bad.

The Flyers played well. But the Bolts really exacerbated the onslaught in the 2nd period with Flyersesque penalty killing and poor 5v5 play. They were so soft on the boards and let the Flyers find open spots on the ice way too easily.

That's another thing. The Flyers aren't going ANYWHERE unless they fix their PK. Not that I think they're going places this season, but we seem to...kind of make their PK a punchline.

In the big picture, that's a huge, huge (frank)ing problem. They better iron that out if they want to compete for at least a bubble position next season.

Amac had a terrible game. He was awful.
- Giroux_Is_God

They miss Timonen from the PK. Not only was he an exceptional player, he also provided stability and Coburn seemed to really benefit from his presence by being comfortable in his partner and being better able to stay within his own abilities.

It's not surprise that the PK has suffered considering that two of the key guys on the main unit are having bad seasons. The aforementioned Coburn and Matt Read. Even when Read has been streaky in terms of production in the past, his PK and defensive work has always been top rate. It hasn't been this season.

I'm not sure about coaching on the PK. It does seem there are more open gaps this season than in the past, but whether that philosophy, coaching or just poor positional awareness of the players, I don't know.

I agree, MacDonald was one of the worst Flyers skaters.

I wonder if Zepp's play opens the door for a trade of Emery after Mason gets healthy.
I'd certainly explore it, not just because I think the Flyers are not going to be a playoff team, but because they need to add picks, even if they are later round ones.

Emery started the season fine, but in his 5th start, he got lit up by the Bolts and since then he's had only two starts where he allowed less than 3 goals and only 3 starts where his save % was over .900.

I like Emery, but I think it's time to move on, if not now, then at the end of the year. I'd see if a team had interest in him as a back up or even as a third option in case of injury.

That team looked past us tonight as they have Boston on the docket tomorrow. Turned the tables on them when we used to be a good team only to play the crappy Florida teams and lose on the road.

OSU just completely dominated the Ducks...

As i Canes fan i absolutely hate the OSU but wow that was impressive.

3rd string QB and you beat Bama and the Ducks? Meyer can flat out coach the college game.

That team looked past us tonight as they have Boston on the docket tomorrow. Turned the tables on them when we used to be a good team only to play the crappy Florida teams and lose on the road.
- Just5

Might have been some of that. The Lightning certainly didn't look like the team they have been over the past couple weeks. Very sloppy and not executing well, and the wheels fell off in the 2nd

OSU just completely dominated the Ducks...

As i Canes fan i absolutely hate the OSU but wow that was impressive.

3rd string QB and you beat Bama and the Ducks? Meyer can flat out coach the college game.
- Yosimar89

No one who hates ohio st. refers to them this way

Eskin tweeted Coburn out a month, broken right foot

Jake Voracek four points ahead of the next two guys in the points race, one of which being Claude Giroux.

I wonder if Zepp's play opens the door for a trade of Emery after Mason gets healthy.
I'd certainly explore it, not just because I think the Flyers are not going to be a playoff team, but because they need to add picks, even if they are later round ones.

Emery started the season fine, but in his 5th start, he got lit up by the Bolts and since then he's had only two starts where he allowed less than 3 goals and only 3 starts where his save % was over .900.

I like Emery, but I think it's time to move on, if not now, then at the end of the year. I'd see if a team had interest in him as a back up or even as a third option in case of injury.
- Jsaquella

Yeah, I think teams would look at Emery as a 3rd option at this point only. I think we're looking no more than a 5th rounder for him. A good defense will make him look better but the lateral movement is just not up to par anymore.

Eskin tweeted Coburn out a month, broken right foot
- Jsaquella

No one who hates ohio st. refers to them this way
- PhillySportsGuy

Wow can't believe i missed that. I feel shame.

Eskin tweeted Coburn out a month, broken right foot
- Jsaquella

There goes his trade value

There goes his trade value
- Yosimar89

Seriously, this makes winning the game a complete wash for me. Happy for the guys and fans at the WFC but my first thought after the game was start selling already. This is bad news. To put it into perspective, I would rather be the Sabres right now. They have two goalies to trade and potentially some vets, sit comfortably in the top 5 of the draft and have a healthy amount of picks and prospects in the shadows. That is what you get when you come to grips with a lost season (2 for them) and look to the future. No we won't be as well off as BUF but the sooner we start down that path the better. It has to be about next season starting today.

The goal of the game for me was Schenn snapping that pp goal up over Bishops glove hand. Schenner really roofed that one in a hurry. What can you say about 93-28-32 on the pp, love it when these guys get me those 3 pointers, lol

The Coburn injury sucks, but otherwise, a great night to be a Flyers fan.

It's nice when Braydon Schenn scores every once in awhile.

No one who hates ohio st. refers to them this way
- PhillySportsGuy

Concur.

The only people who prepend the word "the" in front of "Ohio State University" are midwesterners who are trying to make themselves feel better about living in Ohio.

Ohio makes Meth loving Western PA seem cosmopolitan.