Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Tough Road Trip, Shero Honored, Lindbergh Remembered

The advantage of living in Hawaii - get to be first when everyone else is sleeping

Bill - are you starting to get an actual sense of 'team' from this team or is it more a motley crew of moving parts? If they lose but do so with an identity, that's one thing. But I still can't put my finger on the pulse of this group. It's like they're just sailing adrift. I suppose Downie might be a step in the direction of fixing that, but he's just one guy.

In other news, I have an nhl.com subscription this season for my iPad but I've been in a blackout area the past 4 Flyers games. And I live in Honolulu. WTF

Lets go Giroux, time to man up and get the (frank) going! I traded for him in my keeper league!

That travel schedule this week is just plain stupid. Fly from PA to Canada to PA to Canada.

It should go Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Winnipeg.

Then again, the schedule so far has been brutally EASY.

Sometimes a nice road trip can be just what the doctor ordered. They're a young group with several new key faces. Team travel, hotels, etc - a nice chance to really solidify bonds and to reinforce them perhaps?

The advantage of living in Hawaii - get to be first when everyone else is sleeping

Bill - are you starting to get an actual sense of 'team' from this team or is it more a motley crew of moving parts? If they lose but do so with an identity, that's one thing. But I still can't put my finger on the pulse of this group. It's like they're just sailing adrift. I suppose Downie might be a step in the direction of fixing that, but he's just one guy.

In other news, I have an nhl.com subscription this season for my iPad but I've been in a blackout area the past 4 Flyers games. And I live in Honolulu. WTF
- FlyguyHI

I think they're still figuring out who exactly they are right now. A bit late out of the gate for my taste but at least with Giroux's goal on Saturday we've seen a bit of comradery from them.

Flyers are 2-1-1 in their last 4 since that 7-0 drubbing by the Capitals.

Flyers are 2-1-1 in their last 4 since Emery and company went ballistic against Washington.
- Pixote Andolini

ftfy

Flyers are 2-1-1 in their last 4 since that 7-0 drubbing by the Capitals.
- Pixote Andolini

They are, but the Edmonton game is the first time they really put together a good, sixty minute effort and didn't let adversity cause them to stumble. It was a good sign, but it wasn't against a dangerous opponent.

They are, but the Edmonton game is the first time they really put together a good, sixty minute effort and didn't let adversity cause them to stumble. It was a good sign, but it wasn't against a dangerous opponent.
- Jsaquella

Yeah and I don't think we've seen the same intensity and fierce forecheck since the 1st period of that Anaheim game.

ftfy
- jmatchett383

Ha

I would be more confident in them getting things together on the road if they hadn't collapsed so terribly in Carolina.

Yeah and I don't think we've seen the same intensity and fierce forecheck since the 1st period of that Anaheim game.
- Pixote Andolini

It was a step in the right direction regardless of opponent. Good to leave for a road trip on an up note.

Also, I keep reading your username as "Pixie Antidote."

Yeah and I don't think we've seen the same intensity and fierce forecheck since the 1st period of that Anaheim game.
- Pixote Andolini

Not at all.

The win over New Jersey was a workmanlike effort, they didn't play a great game, but worked hard and got rewarded with a solid performance from Emery and played good defensively-but a better, more skilled opponent likely takes that game.

They didn't play well against the Hurricanes, and still should have won, but late mistakes and blown coverages wasted a great effort by Mason.

The loss against the Devils was the opposite of the win. They got outworked and outplayed.

They might have begun to turn the corner, but to say it's a completed arc...not sold, myself.

I would be more confident in them getting things together on the road if they hadn't collapsed so terribly in Carolina.
- Feanor

Yeah I really don't know what that Carolina game was about. What an abortion.

Not at all.

The win over New Jersey was a workmanlike effort, they didn't play a great game, but worked hard and got rewarded with a solid performance from Emery and played good defensively-but a better, more skilled opponent likely takes that game.

They didn't play well against the Hurricanes, and still should have won, but late mistakes and blown coverages wasted a great effort by Mason.

The loss against the Devils was the opposite of the win. They got outworked and outplayed.

They might have begun to turn the corner, but to say it's a completed arc...not sold, myself.
- Jsaquella

Yeah it's on layaway for me at this point.

It was a step in the right direction regardless of opponent. Good to leave for a road trip on an up note.

Also, I keep reading your username as "Pixie Antidote."
- jmatchett383

Pixote - classic old italian/portuguese name.
Not pronounced anything like pixie, heh.

Pixote - classic old italian/portuguese name.
Not pronounced anything like pixie, heh.
- Pixote Andolini

I know, that's just what registered at a glance.

Yeah it's on layaway for me at this point.
- Pixote Andolini

I hope they build off the Oilers game. All three of these upcoming games worry me, to some extent. The Senators have great goaltending, the Pens have a ton of firepower, and the Jets at home are a tough nut to crack.

They're going to need to bottle that effort from Saturday and repeat it three times.

I know, that's just what registered at a glance.
- jmatchett383

Nice - your username makes my brain try and say hatchet.

Nice - your username makes my brain try and say hatchet.
- Pixote Andolini

I'm okay with that. I often get hatchet and machete when people call. I've also been told since grade school to "Never play with Matchett's."

I hope they build off the Oilers game. All three of these upcoming games worry me, to some extent. The Senators have great goaltending, the Pens have a ton of firepower, and the Jets at home are a tough nut to crack.

They're going to need to bottle that effort from Saturday and repeat it three times.
- Jsaquella

Yeah no kidding. I watched the OT and SO come-from-behind win by the Jets over the Sharks last night.

Yeah no kidding. I watched the OT and SO come-from-behind win by the Jets over the Sharks last night.
- Pixote Andolini

I still wonder if a trade comes this week. Still a few desperate teams to do business with.

Quick poll to throw out here:

Everyone always point to the 2006 draft as a reason why you never take a defenseman first overall. The big dilemma was deciding between Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal as the first overall. Although picks 3-5 were probably all better (Toews, Backstrom, Kessel) and there were some good picks further down (Giroux, Grabner, Nodl), who would you take right now between those 2? Johnson's been considered a bust as a #1 which is fair, but I've been a fan and would actually take him, right now, over J Staal. How about you guys?

Yeah no kidding. I watched the OT and SO come-from-behind win by the Jets over the Sharks last night.
- Pixote Andolini

We need to trade for Byfuglien and his 1 goal in the last 23 games.