Bill Meltzer: Flyers-Toronto Wrapup: Mason Authors 30-Save Shutout

Great win last night for you guys, and helped Toronto on their march for Dylan Strome.

Playing ourselves out of a great pick!!!I must say i like the way del sotto and L schenn are playing. Did I just type that?

Bill,

Thank you for your time and effort. You always give a wealth of information in every blob and I am thankful that your are our Team blobber!

MDZ has been nothing short of awesome. 21 shot attempts generated when he was on the ice last night, their best transition D, and another goal. He and Mase have been pacing this win streak.

Hopefully his minutes won't be cut as 8 and 5 make their way back into the lineup... sure seems like the more minutes he gets, the better he plays. He's been seeing 21-26 mins per night lately.

Edit: he had 5 of the 15 shots they put on net last night

Bill Meltzer: Flyers-Toronto Wrapup: Mason Authors 30-Save Shutout
- bmeltzer

Mason was great last night, the skaters were not so great. They really didn't react well to what the Leafs were doing, getting stymied time and again.

MDZ has been nothing short of awesome. 21 shot attempts generated when he was on the ice last night, their best transition D, and another goal. He and Mase have been pacing this win streak.

Hopefully his minutes won't be cut as 8 and 5 make their way back into the lineup... sure seems like the more minutes he gets, the better he plays. He's been seeing 21-26 mins per night lately.

Edit: he had 5 of the 15 shots they put on net last night
- Tomahawk

Crazy how he was a healthy scratch for so long and now is playing like their best D man. And funny how they are winning without Coburn and Grossmann. I sure hope they can move a couple of these guys at the TDL.

MDZ has been nothing short of awesome. 21 shot attempts generated when he was on the ice last night, their best transition D, and another goal. He and Mase have been pacing this win streak.

Hopefully his minutes won't be cut as 8 and 5 make their way back into the lineup... sure seems like the more minutes he gets, the better he plays. He's been seeing 21-26 mins per night lately.

Edit: he had 5 of the 15 shots they put on net last night
- Tomahawk

L Schenn's been playing some solid hockey as well.

Kessel. He's yet to meet the shot he didn't like.

MDZ has been nothing short of awesome. 21 shot attempts generated when he was on the ice last night, their best transition D, and another goal. He and Mase have been pacing this win streak.

Hopefully his minutes won't be cut as 8 and 5 make their way back into the lineup... sure seems like the more minutes he gets, the better he plays. He's been seeing 21-26 mins per night lately.

Edit: he had 5 of the 15 shots they put on net last night
- Tomahawk

The dude was a first-round pick, you know? There's ability there -- I don't know that benching him for as long as he was was necessary, but unless he kills kittens in the dressing room, I can't think of a single reason why he wouldn't/shouldn't be extended for another two seasons, which is really all the Flyers need, should the prospects develop.

They don't have to sign him for forever, and they don't have to do anything with movement clauses. They don't have to overpay.

Just be smart, get him extended, and see if he becomes even more than he is now -- and what he's been doing for the team now is remarkable

Playing ourselves out of a great pick!!!I must say i like the way del sotto and L schenn are playing. Did I just type that?
- jmdodgeser4

That's what the Flyers do. You're supposed to be thinking playoffs!

That's what the Flyers do. You're supposed to be thinking playoffs!
- wolfhounds

I just don't see the Bruins, Caps, or Rags falling down the standings. It may be too little too late.
I really thought we were going to get a lottery pick

Mason was great last night, the skaters were not so great. They really didn't react well to what the Leafs were doing, getting stymied time and again.
- Jsaquella

I have never seen the Leafs check like that -- they are slightly faster than the Flyers, and that's why Toronto was all over them every single time a pass was off

It really did remind me of playing the Devils, back when Madden and Pandolfo and Elias were in their prime

But the thing about last night: The Flyers found a way to win, which they didn't always do back in the day, because now they have a goaltender

I just don't see the Bruins, Caps, or Rags falling down the standings. It may be too little too late.
I really thought we were going to get a lottery pick
- 3flyerkids

Flyers will probably finish the first team out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conf. get the #11 pick in the draft, and Berube will be back behind the bench next year!

That scenario should really get everyone jacked up!

That's what the Flyers do. You're supposed to be thinking playoffs!
- wolfhounds

Cue Jom Mora: Playoffs? Playoffs!!!???!!!

I am on the fence when it comes to coaching....but they won in spite of Berube ...you have two of the top players in the world under 17 minutes of ice time ? I get the whole 4 line roll over but good coaches get their better players on the bloody ice....it makes no sense. I know Berube loves to preach about how good his so called 4 th line is...probably because that's what he was, but to take ice away from Vorecek and Giroux is just stupid....they were lucky to beat a team that is playing like the worst team in the NHL...what was he saving his best players for ....the 5 day break ?

Bill Meltzer: Flyers-Toronto Wrapup: Mason Authors 30-Save Shutout
- bmeltzer

The Maple Leafs were easily the hungrier team. Not by leaps and bounds because I didn't think either side looked great but the better might have lost last night.

For me, the Maple Leafs biggest issue is the structure of their team. They do not have a bonafied number center, they haven't since squeezing the life out of what was left of Mats Sundin and they're trying to justify Tyler Bozak's contract by being one. He isn't.

I feel sorry for a lot of the players on the Leafs. James van Riemsdyk is unquestionably their second best player and even some of the Flyers fans are still trying rationalize by telling themselves he's not that good. He is. He's tied for 11th in points in the league on a bad team. Phil Kessel is a gamer and his talent has been wasted on Tyler Bozak. Cody Franson is a really good two way defenseman who held Giroux and Voracek in check last night. Dion Phaneuf shouldn't have the weight of being a Captain anywhere. He has his shortcomings but he was a much better player in Calgary when he didn't have to be "the guy". Truth be told, just because a player is on a bad team, doesn't mean the team doesn't have good players.

As for us, we made it easy on them. The Leafs played good enough to at least tie the game but they're just going through a tail spin and Mason is an above average goalie. Last night's game is another example of why I'd fire Berube at the end of the season. We sat back. We have two of the top three point producers in the league and we sat back. They played around 18 minues in a one goal game with the control of home ice advantage. I am within the belief that this team really lacked a killer instinct and that we should have remained agressive. Take it to them, not let them take it to us.

I just don't see the Bruins, Caps, or Rags falling down the standings. It may be too little too late.
I really thought we were going to get a lottery pick
- 3flyerkids

Don't need one, to me. Just need to make some adjustments to the roster around the margins either via FA or trade or buyout, make a move with one or two of the veteran defenders for a second-round pick or third-round pick, and roll with it from there.

I'm not overstating what Ryan White and Petr Straka have done for the team, for their futures as Flyers.

But I am saying this: Just like Jason Akeson last year, when the Flyers commit to putting players with any kind of hockey sense and puck skill in the bottom nine forwards of their lineup, they can compete with most teams.

Petr Straka in three games has done more to help Wayne Simmonds at 5v5 than Zac Rinaldo ever could. Ryan White isn't a third-line center. But in three games has done more at ES than Zac Rinaldo ever could.

Those are the kinds of incremental improvements that this team needs. It doesn't have to be Bobby Ryan. It doesn't have to be a $5 million forward.

They just need to get a legit PKer, make sure Matt Read's game hasn't gone off a cliff. The roster spot for that PKer needs to come at the expense of Rinaldo, and one of Wheels or Zombie needs to be elsewhere next season.

Those things can be done. And this team will look a lot different if they do it

Flyers will probably finish the first team out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conf. get the #11 pick in the draft, and Berube will be back behind the bench next year!

That scenario should really get everyone jacked up!
- PLindbergh31

That is depressing because you are probably right

I am on the fence when it comes to coaching....but they won in spite of Berube ...you have two of the top players in the world under 17 minutes of ice time ? I get the whole 4 line roll over but good coaches get their better players on the bloody ice....it makes no sense. I know Berube loves to preach about how good his so called 4 th line is...probably because that's what he was, but to take ice away from Vorecek and Giroux is just stupid....they were lucky to beat a team that is playing like the worst team in the NHL...what was he saving his best players for ....the 5 day break ?
- landros 2

I think he should break up the fourth line. They're chipping in but they haven't produced the same way as they did when first assembled. Straka has been really good but realistically, why are White and Straka on the fourth line? Because our fourth line is so incredible? Give me a break. Wayne Simmonds hasn't had an opportunity to show how good he can be because he's had a revolving door of line mates, most either inexperienced or not that talented.

Flyers will probably finish the first team out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conf. get the #11 pick in the draft, and Berube will be back behind the bench next year!

That scenario should really get everyone jacked up!
- PLindbergh31

I think they draft 10th -- Edmonton, Arizona and Buffalo are locks for 1-3.

Carolina, New Jersey and Columbus, with Bob out of the mix, should be 4, 5 and 6.

Toronto is free-falling and could surge past any of those teams on the way down, but if they stabilize, are around 7th.

Minnesota might not be as bad as their record, but they play in a brutal conference. Florida looks like they might not be able to sustain what they've done over the entire 82. Figure them 8th and 9th.

Flyers, from what I'm seeing and my personal thoughts, could pick between 8th and 12th, but I see them at 10 or 11.

That is depressing because you are probably right
- 3flyerkids

Nooooo.... mcdavid!!!!Noooooo eichel!!!!....no hannifan!!!!!

Nooooo.... mcdavid!!!!Noooooo eichel!!!!....no hannifan!!!!!
- jmdodgeser4

They're not that bad -- they were never that bad

Don't need one, to me. Just need to make some adjustments to the roster around the margins either via FA or trade or buyout, make a move with one or two of the veteran defenders for a second-round pick or third-round pick, and roll with it from there.

I'm not overstating what Ryan White and Petr Straka have done for the team, for their futures as Flyers.

But I am saying this: Just like Jason Akeson last year, when the Flyers commit to putting players with any kind of hockey sense and puck skill in the bottom nine forwards of their lineup, they can compete with most teams.

Petr Straka in three games has done more to help Wayne Simmonds at 5v5 than Zac Rinaldo ever could. Ryan White isn't a third-line center. But in three games has done more at ES than Zac Rinaldo ever could.

Those are the kinds of incremental improvements that this team needs. It doesn't have to be Bobby Ryan. It doesn't have to be a $5 million forward.

They just need to get a legit PKer, make sure Matt Read's game hasn't gone off a cliff. The roster spot for that PKer needs to come at the expense of Rinaldo, and one of Wheels or Zombie needs to be elsewhere next season.

Those things can be done. And this team will look a lot different if they do it
- AllInForFlyers

White and Straka have brought energy and played well but it's three games. They're injury replacements. It's the same story with Zepp and every new face. They play well, second coming of greatness. I get being down on Rinaldo and that's poor personnel management by Berube but Raffl, Laughton and Schenn have all played by Simmonds too. The issue to me in the lack of consistent linemates for Simmonds and this need to cater to the fourth line.

White and Straka have brought energy and played well but it's three games. They're injury replacements. It's the same story with Zepp and every new face. They play well, second coming of greatness. I get being down on Rinaldo and that's poor personnel management by Berube but Raffl, Laughton and Schenn have all played by Simmonds too. The issue to me in the lack of consistent linemates for Simmonds and this need to cater to the fourth line.
- SuperSchennBros

I didn't say it had to be White and Straka. I said they are examples of what it looks like when the Flyers put either actual NHL talent, hockey sense or players into the bottom 9.

Looking at their schedule over the next month or so if Flyers play well they can get right back in the mix....Some lesser opponents and a couple against the Caps and Rangers I believe.