Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Put one in the bank

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Put one in the bank
- bmeltzer

It seemed that the long layoff impacted the rookies more than the vets, although the whole team was showing signs of not having played for the first 20 minutes or so.

Bryzgalov's play was similar to his play after missing a week or so in the regular season during late February. Lot of good saves and tough stops early in his first game back, then kind of missing focus. That led to his red hot March run.

Excellent point about Simmonds trying to hit five run home runs. I'm happy with the effort levels of a lot of guys, but the execution level need to match it.

JvR had a monster game. It was nice to see him playing with energy and a chip on his shoulder.

JVR will be key in this series.

Danny Boy, nothing else can be said...Mr. Clutch.

Happy Monday everyone

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Put one in the bank
- bmeltzer

Great blob, Bill. Us Flyer fans are lucky to have you here on Hockeybuzz.

Did you guys all see Rob Simpson's blog. Guy just loves to hate on the Devils and Kovalchuk, has a whole shift diary on every Kovalchuk shift and puts a negative spin to everything.

great game!! I knew we would be rusty in the first period. If not for Bryz, it could've easily been 3-0 or 4-0 after one. The only goal I think he should've had was Sykora's goal to tie it with 8 minutes left. He has to have that. But all in all, great game. Keep it up boys.

Did you guys all see Rob Simpson's blog. Guy just loves to hate on the Devils and Kovalchuk, has a whole shift diary on every Kovalchuk shift and puts a negative spin to everything.
- _Zippy_

I thought all Simmer did was repeat everything the broadcasters had to say about Kovalchuck. He did not have a good game.

great game!! I knew we would be rusty in the first period. If not for Bryz, it could've easily been 3-0 or 4-0 after one. The only goal I think he should've had was Sykora's goal to tie it with 8 minutes left. He has to have that. But all in all, great game. Keep it up boys.
- flyersfan51

rope a dope first period...

Did you guys all see Rob Simpson's blog. Guy just loves to hate on the Devils and Kovalchuk, has a whole shift diary on every Kovalchuk shift and puts a negative spin to everything.
- _Zippy_

yeah, I glanced at that. pretty ridiculous.

Did you guys all see Rob Simpson's blog. Guy just loves to hate on the Devils and Kovalchuk, has a whole shift diary on every Kovalchuk shift and puts a negative spin to everything.
- _Zippy_

Simmer doesn't "hate" the Devils or Kovalchuk. He was being brutally honest in his assessment of Kovalchuk (he's hardly the first person to question Kovalchuk's focus over the years) and pointed out right up front that the player is also probably playing injured. A tad harsh, perhaps. But I don't think it was hate motivated.

If the shift diary had been on Parise -- or even Zubrus -- it would have been a lot more positive, I'm sure. Kovalchuk had a poor game yesterday, any way you slice it.

Bill,

Kimmo was shown on the Flyers bench wincing in pain. The broadcast never did show what happened to him. Do you know? Was it a shot block, a hit he took or something else altogether?

Thanks!

Devils really seem to be working behind and side of the net plays on Bryz.

Simmer doesn't "hate" the Devils or Kovalchuk. He was being brutally honest in his assessment of Kovalchuk (he's hardly the first person to question Kovalchuk's focus over the years) and pointed out right up front that the player is also probably playing injured. A tad harsh, perhaps. But I don't think it was hate motivated.

If the shift diary had been on Parise -- or even Zubrus -- it would have been a lot more positive, I'm sure. Kovalchuk had a poor game yesterday, any way you slice it.
- bmeltzer

Is he injured?

What a game, great weather and a great crowd the T shrit was also pretty cool, im going to frame it and put it on my wall lol.


As for the play of bryz, sure he was inconsistent...and he is getting burned online and on tv, but he sure was clutch in the first 15 minutes when we needed him to be.

He needs to play a more consistent game, but we won and he was a big part of that which is what matters.

He will NEED to get better if we play the rangers in the finals because unlike pgh and NJ the blue shirts will slam the door once they get a lead.

I thought all Simmer did was repeat everything the broadcasters had to say about Kovalchuck. He did not have a good game.
- phi1671

He wasn't repeating the broadcasters. He was in the pressbox, charting Kovalchuk's shifts specifically because he knew that I'm doing the main game blog from the Flyers' side and Todd is doing the Devils' perspective.

Is he injured?
- flyersfan51

The loud whisper has been that he has a groin pull and would not be playing if it were the regular season.

I'd be a little surprised if Marty doesn't end up having a conker from that hit to the head. That looked bad.

What a game, great weather and a great crowd the T shrit was also pretty cool, im going to frame it and put it on my wall lol.


As for the play of bryz, sure he was inconsistent...and he is getting burned online and on tv, but he sure was clutch in the first 15 minutes when we needed him to be.

He needs to play a more consistent game, but we won and he was a big part of that which is what matters.

He will NEED to get better if we play the rangers in the finals because unlike pgh and NJ the blue shirts will slam the door once they get a lead.
- flyers4487

I thought Bryz was awesome -- he gave up one bad goal.

The loud whisper has been that he has a groin pull and would not be playing if it were the regular season.
- bmeltzer

I see -- thanks Bill -- they need to keep hitting him.

Bill,

Kimmo was shown on the Flyers bench wincing in pain. The broadcast never did show what happened to him. Do you know? Was it a shot block, a hit he took or something else altogether?

Thanks!
- ggunky

Took a shot off the same foot that has been giving him trouble since Game 5 of the Pittsburgh series. Kimmo has lower back, hip and foot issues and is playing in a lot of pain that would force some other players out of the lineup even in the playoffs.

Danny Briere is also dealing with a back problem.

You wouldn't know it by the way either guy is playing, though.

He wasn't repeating the broadcasters. He was in the pressbox, charting Kovalchuk's shifts specifically because he knew that I'm doing the main game blog from the Flyers' side and Todd is doing the Devils' perspective.
- bmeltzer

Bill in general the NBC guys were stating the Kovalchuk had a bad game. They even broke down a few of his shifts.
Yes, they did not go into specifically shift after shift of Kovalchuks game compared to what he did...
Nonetheless, the NBC and Simmer showed it wasn't Kovies best game thus far...

That's all...

Will you be in attendance on Thursday?

Awesome blog, Bill.
I think that was the worst game the Flyers will play this series. The week off showed but the team team overcame it's normal afternoon/layoff woes to squeeze out a big win.

I thought Bryz was awesome -- he gave up one bad goal.
- flyersfan51

I didn't like the way he played the Zajac goal, either. Coverage was the biggest issue but Bryzgalov was a little too casual in the way he played the second goal. A former NHL goalie who was in the pressbox was livid about it, saying he'd chew Bryz's butt out over it if he were his goalie coach. You can't let your mind drift in a playoff game.

Awesome blog, Bill.
I think that was the worst game the Flyers will play this series. The week off showed but the team team overcame it's normal afternoon/layoff woes to squeeze out a big win.
- JoeRussomanno

That's one thing that hasn't been mentioned...
the last two wins by the Flyers have been afternoon tilts.

Will you be in attendance on Thursday?
- phi1671

Thursday in NJ is still up in the air for me, but I plan to go as of now. Won't be at Game 4 for sure.