Bill Meltzer: Flyers Gameday: 2/8/15 vs. WSH

Working the graveyard shift huh, Bill?

Hopefully G and Jake get it going again. Been 2 of the quietest super stars in the league recently. This shouldn't be the time of year where Mason has to "steal" points. You want your stars to play big down the stretch.

Working the graveyard shift huh, Bill?

Hopefully G and Jake get it going again. Been 2 of the quietest super stars in the league recently. This shouldn't be the time of year where Mason has to "steal" points. You want your stars to play big down the stretch.
- MatveiDmitrii

The book is in on the 2014-2015 Flyers.

Shut down the top line and stay out of the box and you'll more than likely be walking away with points.

This book is getting old.

The book is in on the 2014-2015 Flyers.

Shut down the top line and stay out of the box and you'll more than likely be walking away with points.

This book is getting old.
- hereticpride

old books are the best

The book is in on the 2014-2015 Flyers.

Shut down the top line and stay out of the box and you'll more than likely be walking away with points.

This book is getting old.
- hereticpride

Basically. Berube should probably consider splitting the big line up, but he probably won't.

ayep

http://bleacherreport.com...preciated-by-philadelphia

The book is in on the 2014-2015 Flyers.

Shut down the top line and stay out of the box and you'll more than likely be walking away with points.

This book is getting old.
- hereticpride

What concerns me to an extent is how Jake Voracek looked without Giroux the two games Giroux had to sit with a sliced heel. Very below average play. When I look at players such as Toews and Kanes, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, Crosby and Malkin. These guys are great both together and apart. At the beginning of the season, I would have been all for splitting them but now, I think Voracek might be lost without Giroux, or at least not the league's leading point producer without him. Even the underwhelming Phil Kessel on a bad team can produce on an island alone.

What concerns me to an extent is how Jake Voracek looked without Giroux the two games Giroux had to sit with a sliced heel. Very below average play. When I look at players such as Toews and Kanes, Datsyuk and Zetterberg, Crosby and Malkin. These guys are great both together and apart. At the beginning of the season, I would have been all for splitting them but now, I think Voracek might be lost without Giroux, or at least not the league's leading point producer without him. Even the underwhelming Phil Kessel on a bad team can produce on an island alone.
- SuperSchennBros

Yeah, 2 games with one assist is certainly enough evidence to come to that conclusion.

Yeah, 2 games with one assist is certainly enough evidence to come to that conclusion.
- MBFlyerfan

He's also now only tied for the points lead; Seguin and Kane caught him while the Flyers were off.

Scrub.

Bill-
52 pts.in 52 games. If 94-ish is the Magic number then 21 - 9 the rest of the way gets it done. (Not counting OTL points). Does this team have it in them to win 2 out of 3 the rest of the way and do you think the remaining schedule makes it possible? And do we even want to try? TDL is coming and we could finally move an albatross or two which puts us in infinately better shape for next year.

Bill-
52 pts.in 52 games. If 94-ish is the Magic number then 21 - 9 the rest of the way gets it done. (Not counting OTL points). Does this team have it in them to win 2 out of 3 the rest of the way and do you think the remaining schedule makes it possible? And do we even want to try? TDL is coming and we could finally move an albatross or two which puts us in infinately better shape for next year.
- section32

Since the introduction of the loser point, only 5 teams have made the playoffs when they were 4 pts or more out of the playoffs on November 1st. The Flyers are 11 points out and it's february.

Since the introduction of the loser point, only 5 teams have made the playoffs when they were 4 pts or more out of the playoffs on November 1st. The Flyers are 11 points out and it's february.
- psuhockey

What was the worst of those 5, any idea?

What was the worst of those 5, any idea?
- section32

I don't know. Last years Flyers were one of the last ones who did it. It is very hard to make up ground with the loser point. The schedule is brutal in March anyway: only 4 games out of 13 against teams not in the playoffs.

The book is in on the 2014-2015 Flyers.

Shut down the top line and stay out of the box and you'll more than likely be walking away with points.

This book is getting old.
- hereticpride

Homer used Cliffsnotes

I don't know. Last years Flyers were one of the last ones who did it. It is very hard to make up ground with the loser point. The schedule is brutal in March anyway: only 4 games out of 13 against teams not in the playoffs.
- psuhockey

But Feb looks pretty easy. We need some of the "playoff teams" to fade. Caps or B's for one.

But Feb looks pretty easy. We need some of the "playoff teams" to fade. Caps or B's for one.
- section32

That's the big issue. The Flyers can go on a great run, but even if they win at a fantastic clip, it means little unless another team or two suddenly goes into a tailspin.

Yeah, 2 games with one assist is certainly enough evidence to come to that conclusion.
- MBFlyerfan

Nope he's right, time to trade Voracek now, before the NHL realizes he needs Giroux.

The one game Giroux missed-against NJ- after his ankle got cut, Voracek has an assist. The entire team was pretty bad, especially Ray Emery.

That's the big issue. The Flyers can go on a great run, but even if they win at a fantastic clip, it means little unless another team or two suddenly goes into a tailspin.
- Jsaquella

Look on the bright side. If the flyers go 25-3-2 or better, they are in!

Look on the bright side. If the flyers go 25-3-2 or better, they are in!
- funmaster18

So just win 80% the rest of the way? They're a shoo in!

I don't know. Last years Flyers were one of the last ones who did it. It is very hard to make up ground with the loser point. The schedule is brutal in March anyway: only 4 games out of 13 against teams not in the playoffs.
- psuhockey

Sometimes the best time to catch the playoff teams is March or April. Last year, people were petrified of the stretch drive -- especially a run of games where the Flyers had a home-and-home with the Penguins (Flyers swept it), a game against Chicago (win), Dallas (win), St. Louis (win), LA (narrow loss; game was tied 2-2 in the 3rd period).

With that said, I don't foresee that happening this year.

So just win 80% the rest of the way? They're a shoo in!
- Jsaquella

I think Luke Schenn has a better shot at the Norris this year. It really does come down to a couple of teams just completely falling apart. All I keep telling myself is just be patient... We have some good prospects on the way. Just really frustrating when you have guys like g, Voracek and Mason playing their balls off and in their prime.

Sometimes the best time to catch the playoff teams is March or April. Last year, people were petrified of the stretch drive -- especially a run of games where the Flyers had a home-and-home with the Penguins (Flyers swept it), a game against Chicago (win), Dallas (win), St. Louis (win), LA (narrow loss; game was tied 2-2 in the 3rd period).

With that said, I don't foresee that happening this year.
- bmeltzer

Do you see this team taking any big steps forward next year? I think it's possible, but they have a lot of work to do this offseason.

I think Luke Schenn has a better shot at the Norris this year. It really does come down to a couple of teams just completely falling apart. All I keep telling myself is just be patient... We have some good prospects on the way. Just really frustrating when you have guys like g, Voracek and Mason playing their balls off and in their prime.
- funmaster18

Agree, I can take this for a year especially since the draft is loaded. This would be hard to take next year. I know it may happen but let's hope they are at least much closer to playoff contention

Do you see this team taking any big steps forward next year? I think it's possible, but they have a lot of work to do this offseason.
- funmaster18

The Flyers will probably remain a bubble team for awhile, IMO.

To me, they are a bonafide top-pairing defenseman and a stabilizing second-line center away from being a much better club than a lot of people seem to think. Unfortunately, those things are not all that easy to obtain.

They need to do some reshaping around the cap, but that is also easier said than done.

The Flyers will probably remain a bubble team for awhile, IMO.

To me, they are a bonafide top-pairing defenseman and a stabilizing second-line center away from being a much better club than a lot of people seem to think. Unfortunately, those things are not all that easy to obtain.

They need to do some reshaping around the cap, but that is also easier said than done.
- bmeltzer

I honestly believe that Couturier can be that center. I think they absolutely need to add a catalyst for the 2nd line to play with Simmonds. A good puck carrying, playmaking LW, along with Couturier and Simmonds, could form that 2nd option for them. Getting a bona fide top pairing defenseman is the biggest challenge that faces this team. The cap issues can be dealt with.