Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Earn Painstaking 2-0 Win in Boston

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Earn Painstaking 2-0 Win in Boston
- bmeltzer

Happy any time we beat Boston and especially on the road.

The way they played last night will lead to more losses than wins.

And that’s ok, this team badly needs elite talent and drafting in the top 10 or hopefully the top 5 is how you get it.

That was a gut check game, Boston is big and physical, playing at home, Flyers face it, are slightly below average size without enough speed to compensate but "they won't back down" and hung with the Bruins.

Ersson had his first starting goalie game, made the plays he had to make to win the game.

Sanheim - Risto were a legitimate first pair, and Risto and Seeler were outstanding on the PK.
Andrae is smooth but undersized, he'll need better anticipation to survive in the NHL.
Drysdale is scary, not sure he'll develop the instincts to avoid turnovers.

Brink earned himself some PT off this game, this is why Torts was pushing him, if he plays like this against a team as physical as the Bruins, he can do this on a regular basis. The offense is the easy part, but he played in traffic and didn't get run over.

Michkov's worst game as a Flyer, while TK and Couts continue to play well, Michkov was fumbling the puck on a regular basis, though almost scored on a "Michigan" and Torts didn't even raise an eyebrow. Torts had Panarin, he knows budding superstars have different rules.

Tippett is actually a pretty good passer, but Frost is deep into a funk. Frost seems to struggle against tight checking teams.

Farabee was much better tonight, maybe he's coming around.

Replace EJ with York (when healthy) and this is the Flyers best possible lineup. I just can't believe it took injuries and massive embarrassing failure on the coach's part to get to this point.

Jett getting shoved down everyone's throats early.
Andrae unable to get a shot with the club.
Feds, the playoff desperation acquisition last year being forced to play.
Coots on the 4th wing for his 800th game/home opener (and only for that game).

This still a bad team but I think, other than still having to sort which backup goalie goes where, players are closer to where they belong.

Maybe put Torts back up in the press box to keep the lineup changes to a minimum and they might have something watchable.

That was a gut check game, Boston is big and physical, playing at home, Flyers face it, are slightly below average size without enough speed to compensate but "they won't back down" and hung with the Bruins.

Ersson had his first starting goalie game, made the plays he had to make to win the game.

Sanheim - Risto were a legitimate first pair, and Risto and Seeler were outstanding on the PK.
Andrae is smooth but undersized, he'll need better anticipation to survive in the NHL.
Drysdale is scary, not sure he'll develop the instincts to avoid turnovers.

Brink earned himself some PT off this game, this is why Torts was pushing him, if he plays like this against a team as physical as the Bruins, he can do this on a regular basis. The offense is the easy part, but he played in traffic and didn't get run over.

Michkov's worst game as a Flyer, while TK and Couts continue to play well, Michkov was fumbling the puck on a regular basis, though almost scored on a "Michigan" and Torts didn't even raise an eyebrow. Torts had Panarin, he knows budding superstars have different rules.

Tippett is actually a pretty good passer, but Frost is deep into a funk. Frost seems to struggle against tight checking teams.

Farabee was much better tonight, maybe he's coming around.
- Striiker

I would say that Ersson really played well in game 1 too. What I'd like to see is the team support the tenders more frequently. It should not take a goalie winning by shutout to categorize it as him playing like a starter and only for that game. Very tough standard to meet and hockey is a team game. The team did what it needed to do IOT support the tender. I didn't see many odd many rushes or breakaways which we saw a lot of in previous games.

Replace EJ with York (when healthy) and this is the Flyers best possible lineup. I just can't believe it took injuries and massive embarrassing failure on the coach's part to get to this point.

Jett getting shoved down everyone's throats early.
Andrae unable to get a shot with the club.
Feds, the playoff desperation acquisition last year being forced to play.
Coots on the 4th wing for his 800th game/home opener (and only for that game).

This still a bad team but I think, other than still having to sort which backup goalie goes where, players are closer to where they belong.

Maybe put Torts back up in the press box to keep the lineup changes to a minimum and they might have something watchable.
- Flyers_01

Andrae should be playing consistently. I like what I've seen so far. Need to decide what we're going to do with Zamula. He needs to play, but he's struggled so much. Maybe send him down for a conditioning stint.

That was a gut check game, Boston is big and physical, playing at home, Flyers face it, are slightly below average size without enough speed to compensate but "they won't back down" and hung with the Bruins.

Ersson had his first starting goalie game, made the plays he had to make to win the game.

Sanheim - Risto were a legitimate first pair, and Risto and Seeler were outstanding on the PK.
Andrae is smooth but undersized, he'll need better anticipation to survive in the NHL.
Drysdale is scary, not sure he'll develop the instincts to avoid turnovers.

Brink earned himself some PT off this game, this is why Torts was pushing him, if he plays like this against a team as physical as the Bruins, he can do this on a regular basis. The offense is the easy part, but he played in traffic and didn't get run over.

Michkov's worst game as a Flyer, while TK and Couts continue to play well, Michkov was fumbling the puck on a regular basis, though almost scored on a "Michigan" and Torts didn't even raise an eyebrow. Torts had Panarin, he knows budding superstars have different rules.

Tippett is actually a pretty good passer, but Frost is deep into a funk. Frost seems to struggle against tight checking teams.

Farabee was much better tonight, maybe he's coming around.
- Striiker

Frost is fighting it. But he's also team assist leader over the club's last 55 games dating back to early January and tied for team assist lead so far this season with TK, Michkov and Tippett. Does need a goal (shootout winner in opener doesn't count) in the worst way. It's in his head.

Would be nice if some garbage found its way to a couple doorsteps today

Andrae should be playing consistently. I like what I've seen so far. Need to decide what we're going to do with Zamula. He needs to play, but he's struggled so much. Maybe send him down for a conditioning stint.
- Hextall271

I bet Andrae goes down when York is healthy but who knows when that will be.

On Zamula : https://sports.yahoo.com/j...or-zamulas-223224925.html

Egor Zamula, the young Russian defenseman, was scratched for the game, with Tortorella candidly expressing that it was due to "...not just physical speed, but mental [speed] as far as reading plays, getting up the ice quicker."

He also noted that, "We have stopped using him as an interpreter [for fellow Russian player Matvei Michkov, who is still learning English]. I think we went a little bit too far there. It's time that we talked to [Michkov]...It's just too much and that's affected [him] a little bit."

I think a conditioning stint would do him good, allow him to clear his head. The Flyers overloaded him. The kid wasn't ready to be an NHL regular and a professional interpreter. I'm pretty sure one of the Flyers skating coaches speaks Russian. Have him there on game days.

Still laughable they don't have an interpreter they can call when needed.

Andrae should be playing consistently. I like what I've seen so far. Need to decide what we're going to do with Zamula. He needs to play, but he's struggled so much. Maybe send him down for a conditioning stint.
- Hextall271

Amen. Kid has looked good.

I bet Andrae goes down when York is healthy but who knows when that will be.

On Zamula : https://sports.yahoo.com/j...or-zamulas-223224925.html

Egor Zamula, the young Russian defenseman, was scratched for the game, with Tortorella candidly expressing that it was due to "...not just physical speed, but mental
- Flyers_01[speed] as far as reading plays, getting up the ice quicker."

He also noted that, "We have stopped using him as an interpreter [for fellow Russian player Matvei Michkov, who is still learning English]. I think we went a little bit too far there. It's time that we talked to [Michkov]...It's just too much and that's affected [him] a little bit."

I think a conditioning stint would do him good, allow him to clear his head. The Flyers overloaded him. The kid wasn't ready to be an NHL regular and a professional interpreter. I'm pretty sure one of the Flyers skating coaches speaks Russian. Have him there on game days.

Still laughable they don't have an interpreter they can call, when needed.

If he keeps up his play the Flyers can't send him down - I know it's the Flyers and Torts so... He is right now a legit NHL dman and looks better than Zamula and Drysdale. Not suggesting sitting Drysdale but Andre deserves a spot at this point.

If he keeps up his play the Flyers can't send him down - I know it's the Flyers and Torts so... He is right now a legit NHL dman and looks better than Zamula and Drysdale. Not suggesting sitting Drysdale but Andre deserves a spot at this point.
- Flyfly

I agree but the Flyers are going to Flyer, imo. Both Torts and DB have expressed that they think York, Drysdale, and Andrae in the same lineup is to small.

If it came down to it, Andrae's a better hockey player than Drysdale. Both the same age with Andrae having much less NHL experience.

Caveat of course is that Andrae's game has extremely small sample size.

If he keeps up his play the Flyers can't send him down - I know it's the Flyers and Torts so... He is right now a legit NHL dman and looks better than Zamula and Drysdale. Not suggesting sitting Drysdale but Andre deserves a spot at this point.
- Flyfly

If Andrae keeps plying like this and they send him down it will infuriate me. As you said, he's playing better than those two. Let him grow at this level.

I agree but the Flyers are going to Flyer, imo. Both Torts and DB have expressed that they think York, Drysdale, and Andrae in the same lineup is to small.

If it came down to it, Andrae's a better hockey player than Drysdale. Both the same age with Andrae having much less NHL experience.

Caveat of course is that Andrae's game has extremely small sample size.
- Flyers_01

- Flyfly

It’s ridiculous. Many smaller d thrive in today’s nhl. Use their speed and passing ability to clear the zone. This isn’t the 90s

Would be nice if some garbage found its way to a couple doorsteps today
- flyer_nutter

Republicans our door knocking today?

Frost is fighting it. But he's also team assist leader over the club's last 55 games dating back to early January and tied for team assist lead so far this season with TK, Michkov and Tippett. Does need a goal (shootout winner in opener doesn't count) in the worst way. It's in his head.
- bmeltzer

Needs some pucks to go in and start to gain some confidence. This team is desperate for his skill set. A big piece if the Flyers have any shot at a successful year.

It’s ridiculous. Many smaller d thrive in today’s nhl. Use their speed and passing ability to clear the zone. This isn’t the 90s
- Hextall271

It would be ridiculous. My only hope is he continues to play well and he forces them into keeping him. Otherwise, it would look foolish to have the kid playing well and then send him back.

It would be ridiculous. My only hope is he continues to play well and he forces them into keeping him. Otherwise, it would look foolish to have the kid playing well and then send him back.
- Flyfly

Don't worry. York is going to be out two weeks. That is 2 months in Flyers injury time.

Obviously, they need to bring the moms more.

No coincidence the team is getting better results with the improved play of Couts. He's still the best top 6 center on the team. Whether he can maintain this level of play, TBD. His positioning in all zones is back to tremendous. He has always made up for lack of skating speed by his hockey mind. Hopefully Torts understands the difference between playing fast as opposed to skating fast.

Don't worry. York is going to be out two weeks. That is 2 months in Flyers injury time.
- mickel25

Replace EJ with York (when healthy) and this is the Flyers best possible lineup. I just can't believe it took injuries and massive embarrassing failure on the coach's part to get to this point.

Jett getting shoved down everyone's throats early.
Andrae unable to get a shot with the club.
Feds, the playoff desperation acquisition last year being forced to play.
Coots on the 4th wing for his 800th game/home opener (and only for that game).

This still a bad team but I think, other than still having to sort which backup goalie goes where, players are closer to where they belong.

Maybe put Torts back up in the press box to keep the lineup changes to a minimum and they might have something watchable.
- Flyers_01

They can replace EJ right now with Zamula. He should get back into the lineup and see if he has his head back on straight.

I suspect EJ will stay in though

If Andrae keeps plying like this and they send him down it will infuriate me. As you said, he's playing better than those two. Let him grow at this level.
- Hextall271

Why i thought u want to lose to have best pick available