Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Flyers, Mason Slam Door on Canucks, 2-0

coatsey on vorachek: "this is a guy that's a hockey player.."

Those stats of Mason's are bizarre...
92% at even strength but 75% shorthanded.

I don't get to watch Philly much, but he must have issues with tracking the puck during set plays? Can anyone explain his problem to me?

That's the difference between top 5 in the league and borderline replacement level.

You would think a goal-tending coach could help the guy with some technique and square that up.

Seems to me there's a guy in the building who was a pretty solid tender (and my favorite player for years), who might take off his tie, strap on some skates and spend some time working with Mason.

Anyways, the better team won tonight.

coatsey on vorachek: "this is a guy that's a hockey player.."
- black_francis

How do you guys like Coates as a broadcaster?

I know he puts his foot in his mouth at times, but sometimes guys like that are the most fun to listen to...

I should find a stream and listen some time.

Those stats of Mason's are bizarre...
92% at even strength but 75% shorthanded.

I don't get to watch Philly much, but he must have issues with tracking the puck during set plays? Can anyone explain his problem to me?

That's the difference between top 5 in the league and borderline replacement level.

You would think a goal-tending coach could help the guy with some technique and square that up.

Seems to me there's a guy in the building who was a pretty solid tender (and my favorite player for years), who might take off his tie, strap on some skates and spend some time working with Mason.

Anyways, the better team won tonight.
- Vanoxy

See the bottom section of the blog, after the game recap.

Hexy would not make a good goaltending coach in today's game, BTW.

How do you guys like Coates as a broadcaster?

I know he puts his foot in his mouth at times, but sometimes guys like that are the most fun to listen to...

I should find a stream and listen some time.
- Vanoxy

It brutal listening to him on radio when you're literally relying on his words to the understand what's going on.

The guy has one of the worst stutters in pro sports broadcasting. Every third sentence or so he struggles to complete a thought. That is just frigging brutal to listen to on radio.

That said he's a loveable dope. Like the neighbor on a 70s sitcom.

Coatsey is absolutely a lovable dope. Perfectly put.

Hard to hate how they're playing right now -- yes, they have their flaws, and we all know them, but they're competing and doing lots of little things that good teams do

One thing that I would really like to see that is easier said than done is infusing more speed in maybe three or four slots in the lineup. I'm not bashing any player in particular, at all. Those guys are playing hard

But you can see when they played Dallas and Vancouver last night that while the Flyers aren't slow, they aren't fast, either. Their puck skills are average, the decision-making tends to be average. Both are improved with Ghost in the lineup, which is why I think, even though he hasn't had the greatest overall games of late, that he needs to stay right where he is and work through them, like any other rookie

Not sure they have all the horses to make the playoffs -- there are teams more talented in the mix and/or in front of them. But they could, and all I really ask is that they truly try to balance what's best for the franchise with making the playoffs. I will never believe that you can't do both

So what can we get for Neuvirth at the trade deadline?

So what can we get for Neuvirth at the trade deadline?
- YuenglingJagr

One of Mason or Neuvirth will be traded by next year's deadline.

So what can we get for Neuvirth at the trade deadline?
- YuenglingJagr

Do goalies get moved at the deadline very often? I can't recall that happening all that much, but I could also be completely wrong.

I think what this team truly lacks is that top line that the opposition knows it's a threat to do some damage and score. Yes our lines have been working well as of late and the team is playing well, but when you compare our 1st line to several across the league, it's crazy to think it's Raffl-G-Schenn.

Hard to hate how they're playing right now -- yes, they have their flaws, and we all know them, but they're competing and doing lots of little things that good teams do
- Sweet Cheeks

Credit goes to the new coach, Neuvirth and Ghost, etc.

But some of it is also pure addition by subtraction: Vinny, Amac, Grossmann.

Manning's play and numbers are worse than MacDonald's last season, so subtracting him in favor of Manning hasn't had any positive impact.

Do goalies get moved at the deadline very often? I can't recall that happening all that much, but I could also be completely wrong.
- hereticpride

I only see it happening if a contender's starter goes down and will be out for the playoffs.

Do goalies get moved at the deadline very often? I can't recall that happening all that much, but I could also be completely wrong.
- hereticpride

Last one I can recall that was more than a back up was Ryan Miller to the Blues.

I think what this team truly lacks is that top line that the opposition knows it's a threat to do some damage and score. Yes our lines have been working well as of late and the team is playing well, but when you compare our 1st line to several across the league, it's crazy to think it's Raffl-G-Schenn.
- arichardson22

That was silver lining to them struggling this year. That they would get a high draft pick and almost certainly go offense with the pick. Now that they're winning games that may not be the case.

They should still get a first for Streit in addition to their own and get Konecny up in the next year or two. Between those three assets I'm hoping for them to land a big time offensive contributor.

How do you guys like Coates as a broadcaster?

I know he puts his foot in his mouth at times, but sometimes guys like that are the most fun to listen to...

I should find a stream and listen some time.
- Vanoxy

If you're depending on him to follow the game action closely, it's a train wreck at times. But the interplay between him and Tim Saunders is often hilarious.

Manning's play and numbers are worse than MacDonald's last season, so subtracting him in favor of Manning hasn't had any positive impact.
- Feanor

AMac wasn't really replaced by Manning, tho. His EV minutes went to Gudas and Medvedev. Schultz's ES minutes are down significantly, too, thanks to the above two guys playing well and MDZ absorbing a heavier workload.

Manning essentially replaced Luke Schenn as least-minutes-getter, and Schenn took over Grossmann's minutes.

It's an overall improvement.

Credit goes to the new coach, Neuvirth and Ghost, etc.

But some of it is also pure addition by subtraction: Vinny, Amac, Grossmann.
- Tomahawk

Absolutely. I totally believe in that -- the Russian isn't as good a defender as Grossmann, and he does turn the puck over a little too easily under pressure

But you cannot win consistently in the league without the ability to move the puck from the back end, skate. You have to be able to move out there, and while there are still things that I would like to see happen, the team on the ice last night is a team that is better equipped to compete in today's NHL

That was silver lining to them struggling this year. That they would get a high draft pick and almost certainly go offense with the pick. Now that they're winning games that may not be the case.

They should still get a first for Streit in addition to their own and get Konecny up in the next year or two. Between those three assets I'm hoping for them to land a big time offensive contributor.
- hereticpride

I know we've all discussed Streit being traded even before the season started and at this point I think it's writing on the wall. Our defense has managed to play well even without him and the emergence of Ghost has almost completely replaced him or rather upgraded him. We've been playing very well lately and it's had me thinking that if we make playoffs somehow, I think our team could make some noise with our goalie duo and if our offense keeps going even more

Absolutely. I totally believe in that -- the Russian isn't as good a defender as Grossmann, and he does turn the puck over a little too easily under pressure

But you cannot win consistently in the league without the ability to move the puck from the back end, skate. You have to be able to move out there, and while there are still things that I would like to see happen, the team on the ice last night is a team that is better equipped to compete in today's NHL
- AllInForFlyers

Most definitely.

They are able to be much more competitive between the blue lines this season.

AMac wasn't really replaced by Manning, tho. His EV minutes went to Gudas and Medvedev. Schultz's ES minutes are down significantly, too, thanks to the above two guys playing well and MDZ absorbing a heavier workload.

Manning essentially replaced Luke Schenn as least-minutes-getter, and Schenn took over Grossmann's minutes.

It's an overall improvement.
- Tomahawk

Agreed -- incremental in some ways, but still an improvement

Manning gets caved in a lot, and his skills are limited, but I look at him as a one-year look, at most. I don't think he should be playing all the games, but I can swallow it for now

AMac wasn't really replaced by Manning, tho. His EV minutes went to Gudas and Medvedev. Schultz's ES minutes are down significantly, too, thanks to the above two guys playing well and MDZ absorbing a heavier workload.

Manning essentially replaced Luke Schenn as least-minutes-getter, and Schenn took over Grossmann's minutes.

It's an overall improvement.
- Tomahawk

What do you think is the optimal top 6 when Schenn and Streit are healthy?

I think it would help the offense if the OZ starts Manning has been getting and doing nothing with went to Medvedev or Streit.

Agreed -- incremental in some ways, but still an improvement

Manning gets caved in a lot, and his skills are limited, but I look at him as a one-year look, at most. I don't think he should be playing all the games, but I can swallow it for now
- AllInForFlyers

When Luke Schenn & Streit return, Manning should find himself traveling up the Northeast Extension.

Most definitely.

They are able to be much more competitive between the blue lines this season.
- Tomahawk

Gotta give some props to Gudas. Has been a great physical presence