Bill Meltzer: Game 3 Preview: Flyers @ Oilers

It’s a shame they start out with consecutive 10pm games. Tough on the fans. The sky is falling in Edmonton let’s keep it that way with a win!

It’s a shame they start out with consecutive 10pm games. Tough on the fans. The sky is falling in Edmonton let’s keep it that way with a win!
- mikeyo27

Yeah, tell me about it! The 10 p.m. start means I get done with Postgame 5 for the Flyers site sometime around 1:30 a.m. and the HockeyBuzz version (which I always make a bit different than Postgame 5) around 2:15.

Tomorrow after I wake up, I'll watch the third period of Stars-Sharks game (the 8 PM EDT start time will enable me to catch the first two periods) and get up a Stars blog.

This past Saturday, I alternated between Phantoms-Hartford and Stars-Islanders streams then switched to Flyers-Flames at 10. So I did Flyers-Canucks Postgame 5 and HB wrapup, Flyers-Flames preview, Flyers PG5/HB, Phantoms HB wrap, Stars wrap and preview vs. Seattle in just over 24 hours.

Ate by the computer, took a shower and a cat nap and was otherwise writing or watching game streams/TV from Friday night (Flyers-Canucks) to Sunday night (end of Stars 2-0 win over Seattle).

Won't lie: We're a week into the season and I'm already exhausted. 10 PM games are the pits. Thankfully the Flyers don't have any more of those until the California trip right after Christmas.

It makes zero sense to have Andrae out on the trip and just sit.

Yeah, tell me about it! The 10 p.m. start means I get done with Postgame 5 for the Flyers site sometime around 1:30 a.m. and the HockeyBuzz version (which I always make a bit different than Postgame 5) around 2:15.

Tomorrow after I wake up, I'll watch the third period of Stars-Sharks game (the 8 PM EDT start time will enable me to catch the first two periods) and get up a Stars blog.

This past Saturday, I alternated between Phantoms-Hartford and Stars-Islanders streams then switched to Flyers-Flames at 10. So I did Flyers-Canucks Postgame 5 and HB wrapup, Flyers-Flames preview, Flyers PG5/HB, Phantoms HB wrap, Stars wrap and preview vs. Seattle in just over 24 hours.

Ate by the computer, took a shower and a cat nap and was otherwise writing or watching game streams/TV from Friday night (Flyers-Canucks) to Sunday night (end of Stars 2-0 win over Seattle).

Won't lie: We're a week into the season and I'm already exhausted. 10 PM games are the pits. Thankfully the Flyers don't have any more of those until the California trip right after Christmas.
- bmeltzer

That's a crazy schedule, it's a good thing you like to watch hockey.

It makes zero sense to have Andrae out on the trip and just sit.
- bird_dog_pa

Think about all the culture he’s learning about though

It makes zero sense to have Andrae out on the trip and just sit.
- bird_dog_pa

It’s ridiculous. That Drysdale/Johnson pair is bad.

It makes zero sense to have Andrae out on the trip and just sit.
- bird_dog_pa

The Flyers handling of Seeler's injury has been borderline malpractice since the beginning and there are very few situations where it would make sense to play EJ over a young healthy player. IMO, this isn't one of them.

The Wharton School of Culture.

It’s a shame they start out with consecutive 10pm games. Tough on the fans. The sky is falling in Edmonton let’s keep it that way with a win!
- mikeyo27

I hope so but I think they'll be hungry for a win and we'll get smoked. Really like to get out of the west coast trip at 2-2 but that's going to be hard. Need a good effort in Seattle.

Think about all the culture he’s learning about though
- funmaster18

He gets to be in the room with The Room.

He gets to be in the room with The Room.
- MBFlyerfan

Just by breathing the same air as The Room his cultural aura has grown immensely since he was called up

The Flyers handling of Seeler's injury has been borderline malpractice since the beginning and there are very few situations where it would make sense to play EJ over a young healthy player. IMO, this isn't one of them.
- Flyers_01

What it comes down to is Turdtorella must not like Andrae. If he liked his game he would find a way to get him in. I think MM would be ok if Zamula wasnt in the lineup for a game. Feds is backing up Ersson im sure he can translate if needed.

I like this lineup against Edmonton, who I am sure is going to come out gangbusters tonight. The only tweak I would make is swapping Foerster and Tippet, because I think Foerster has the potential to be a better finisher and that is what I think works best with two play makers like Frost and Michkov on that line.

What it comes down to is Turdtorella must not like Andrae. If he liked his game he would find a way to get him in. I think MM would be ok if Zamula wasnt in the lineup for a game. Feds is backing up Ersson im sure he can translate if needed.
- bird_dog_pa

Andrae gets in against Seattle. Against a team as talented as Edmonton, you need your most experienced defenders in there.

It makes zero sense to have Andrae out on the trip and just sit.
- bird_dog_pa

He had no choice but to sit against Calgary given his arrival time. It makes ZERO sense to play him against a team like Edmonton, on the road. He will play against Seattle is my guess. Andrae is a big boy, he can handle it.

Andrae gets in against Seattle. Against a team as talented as Edmonton, you need your most experienced defenders in there.
- jd250

A team in the Flyers position, does not need the most experienced defenders in there. Especially ones that are not good such as Johnson. The Flyers need to be developing players.

The Flyers handling of Seeler's injury has been borderline malpractice since the beginning and there are very few situations where it would make sense to play EJ over a young healthy player. IMO, this isn't one of them.

Seeler hasn't played since he got hurt, which is the most important thing. I do agree it was bad to not bring Andrae on the trip from the start and to not let him play yet. Two RHD on one pairing is asking for trouble, especially when one of them is old Erik Johnson.

Andrae gets in against Seattle. Against a team as talented as Edmonton, you need your most experienced defenders in there.
- jd250

So experience vs youth/talent? Shouldn't Poehling be in the lineup (or god forbid ND with his wealth of experience) vs Luchanko then?

Is the goal of this team to build a better young talent base or is the focus solely on trying to make the playoffs? You can't have experience if you don't get experience.

If the Flyers scratch Luchanko for the next back to back game in Washington on the 23rd, his 9th game would be October 31st at home to the Blues. So the 10th game that would start his ELC would be November 2nd at home to the Bruins.

A team in the Flyers position, does not need the most experienced defenders in there. Especially ones that are not good such as Johnson. The Flyers need to be developing players.
- MJL

One could argue that not throwing them into a game over their head might be a good development plan.

A team in the Flyers position, does not need the most experienced defenders in there. Especially ones that are not good such as Johnson. The Flyers need to be developing players.
- MJL

Part of developing players is putting them in the best position to succeed. Johnson is a servicable defender that is good on the PK and has size. Developing players should not come at the expense of losing games. The Flyers need to ice the best lineup to win the game, and against Edmonton IMO, this is the best lineup for them. When you start putting development over winning, all you teach players to do is lose.

One could argue that not throwing them into a game over their head might be a good development plan.
- MBFlyerfan

Andrae is 22 years old.

If they're worried about throwing guys in a game over their heads, then they would have sent Jett down already.

Part of developing players is putting them in the best position to succeed. Johnson is a servicable defender that is good on the PK and has size. Developing players should not come at the expense of losing games. The Flyers need to ice the best lineup to win the game, and against Edmonton IMO, this is the best lineup for them. When you start putting development over winning, all you teach players to do is lose.
- jd250

Erik Johnson is a like a Hot Pocket that spent 10 minutes on high in the microwave. Totally cooked.

Part of developing players is putting them in the best position to succeed. Johnson is a servicable defender that is good on the PK and has size. Developing players should not come at the expense of losing games. The Flyers need to ice the best lineup to win the game, and against Edmonton IMO, this is the best lineup for them. When you start putting development over winning, all you teach players to do is lose.
- jd250

Everything you posted here is complete nonsense. When a team is rebuilding, developing players always comes before winning. Johnson is not serviceable. He's trending quickly towards being ready to retire. He has not been good. The Flyers would have a blend of vets and young players. There is zero reason to play Johnson over Andrae.