Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Grind Out 5th Straight Win, Beat Sabres, 2-1

What is this winning?

What is this winning?
- flyer_nutter

called "the process"

That damn "if you are not doing things our way, you are not getting time here sign" is still there. One they put up I think in Hartnell's last year

called "the process"

- Buzzo

Wentz remind you a little of Buck Pierce?

Would the most Flyers thing to do ever be to lose ten games in a row and then proceed to win the next 10 straight afterwards ?

Also nice game from Patrick tonight, looking a lot better than the past couple of games

Wentz remind you a little of Buck Pierce?
- flyer_nutter

Don't bring back painful memories

But I did switch my insurance to save a Buck

Amac's turnovers recently have been covered by Elliot with timed saves. But my lord has he been a turnover machine in his own end with many of them unforced.

Agree with above comment on Nolan Patrick. Real solid game from him and his line tonight.

Provorov is just amazing. Such a joy to watch.

Amac's turnovers recently have been covered by Elliot with timed saves. But my lord has he been a turnover machine in his own end with many of them unforced.
- Buzzo

Steady vet presence > on-ice liability

Agree with above comment on Nolan Patrick. Real solid game from him and his line tonight.

Provorov is just amazing. Such a joy to watch.
- Marc D

I like him and Weal as a pair out there. Despite Weise they did a good job tonight. I'll give Hak some credit where its due, have never been the biggest fan of his but the lineup changes and spreading the depth out has worked so far. The Raffl and Voracek duo is really clicking , nice to see

Obviously the team is playing better during the winning streak.

Two biggest keys for me are, first, having Amac and Gudas both back. They were really young on D without them. Even though both have their oh no moments I think the D is more solid with them back.

Second is Elliot is now coming up with the key saves. He was fine even during the losing streak but now he is getting those timely saves where before a few got through.

Also the lines look better. Guys seem comfortable, but winning does that.

Amac's turnovers recently have been covered by Elliot with timed saves. But my lord has he been a turnover machine in his own end with many of them unforced.
- Buzzo

More often than not Elliot has been the Flyers best player these last 15 games or so. Good to see him getting into a groove.

Obviously the team is playing better during the winning streak.

Two biggest keys for me are, first, having Amac and Gudas both back. They were really young on D without them. Even though both have their oh no moments I think the D is more solid with them back.

Second is Elliot is now coming up with the key saves. He was fine even during the losing streak but now he is getting those timely saves where before a few got through.

Also the lines look better. Guys seem comfortable, but winning does that.
- Marc D

Even though Gudas can be a bit of a loose cannon at times with the running around looking for the big hits, he is really a stabilizer back there. The last two games he's played have been reminiscent of last seasons Gudas and he was arguably playing his best hockey as a Flyer last season. Here's hoping he keeps it up. And I feel like Gudas can be a factor for the Flyers in the oppositions mind. I know if I was a forward and going into the corners to grind for the puck and there was a chance of Gudas coming at me in any way I would definitely be having second thoughts. Not sure if it plays the biggest factor but I'm sure he makes some players think twice when they have the puck on their sticks.

More often than not Elliot has been the Flyers best player these last 15 games or so. Good to see him getting into a groove.
- FreshFlyer

Problem tho is we can't continue like that with Amac and his turnovers. Sooner or later they are going to start finding the back of the net. It is the simple plays he just has brain farts on consistently. One big one , puck comes to him on his stick to the right circle of Elliot on the PK, nobody around him, instead of hammering the puck around the boards or turning and firing it down the ice, he decides to skate behind the net with the puck and bang turns over the puck which led to a Sabre scoring chance.

Hakstol's tinkering with the lines is almost complete. Top two lines are set and looking awesome. Now he's just gotta move Weise down and Weal up and we'll have:

Giroux - Couturier - Simmonds
Raffl - Filppula - Voracek
Weal - Patrick - Konecny
Leier - Laughton - Weise

That 3rd line could be sick and could get all three of them going. And this setup buries Weise's offensive liability on the 4th line. He did have an assist last night, but look at Sanheim's goal again. Weise had all day, clear possession, and an easy target, and he damn near put the puck into Sanheim's right skate and unshootable. That's gotta be on the tape every time. Weise is not a good fit on any top 3 line combo, but I think he could actually make a good 4th line player. I'd like to see him try

Wasn't pretty, but I thought it was fine.

I didn't think they were all bad during the winless streak, tbh. It's why I haven't posted lately. I honestly haven't been really frustrated because I think the young players are getting better overall -- it's never linear -- and I like the way they have been playing

Giroux at LW might add another couple of years of 65-plus points to his career, and I think it's gonna be really interesting if/when they make a move to add a piece in the future

Last night was one of those games where you just have to find a way to win and they did. You can clearly see how much more confidently they are playing with a lead right now compared to the way they were a week or two ago.

Guys who really stood out last night:

Provorov- best player on the ice by far

Elliott- minus a couple early gaffes, he was fantastic

Laughton & Raffl- both were hustling all night and created some great O zone pressure

Gudas- this is the Gudas this team needs to be successful

I found the game to be all kinds of boring last night. But they won. As pointed out above, you just have to win, no matter who you play or how ugly the game is.

They caught a bit of a break in playing Toronto when the Flyers were well rested and the Leafs were playing their 3rd game in 4 nights.

Caught a break last night in playing a weak Sabres team.

Might catch a break on Saturday playing a Stars team that will be on 3 games in 4 days and on the end of a back-to-back (stars are in jersey tonight).

Observations:

- Great to Sanheim get the goal even while having a rough start to the game. Hopefully this now gets his offensive side going a little and brings him some confidence.

- Enjoying the 4th line right now. I hope to see Konecny move up the lineup eventually but that line creates some havoc.

- Elliott has been great. Bad turnover but he has been a claming influence back there for a young team

- Flyers won even while not at their best. And don't look now but only 2 points back from the wildcard.

- Solid game from Gudas

- Have to give credit to Hakstol. The line tinkering and the adjustment to a 1-2-2 forecheck has worked.

Broke the Black Plan's losing streak. Woo!