Bill Meltzer: Wrap and Quick Hits: Flyers Salvage 6-5 SOW, Flyers Alumni

These slow starts are getting tiresome.

These slow starts are getting tiresome.
- 2Real

These slow endings are getting worse!

We concerned about Lindblom yet?

We concerned about Lindblom yet?
- Hatchet

i'm always concerned about everything

We concerned about Lindblom yet?
- Hatchet

Considering that he is winning puck battles, backchecking and in the middle of a couple scoring chances per game, no.

Wealsy has a solid game. Play Pickard some games to see what he has; Elliott just isn’t that good. Tired of excuses for him.

Will “Misha” be a healthy scratch next game?

Jamie Benn vs Miles Wood, good scrap.

https://youtu.be/OfIARzZEsuQ

Is it just me or does there seem to be an unusual amount of odd-man rushes when Provy is on the ice?

I think expectations just might be a little too high for a team that’s still lacking in a lot of areas.

It’s really early in the season, Patrick is hurt, JVR is hurt, Couturier is probably playing at 70%, goaltending’s been an issue for a decade and the backend still needs work. But we’re getting there as Hextall builds this thing.

I think expectations just might be too high for a team that’s still lacking in a lot of areas.

It’s really early in the season, Patrick is hurt, Couturier is probably playing at 70%, goaltending’s been an issue for a decade and the backend still needs work.

But we’re getting there as Hextall builds this thing.
- DraftandDestroy

Yes, but we now have a designated shootout goalie

Yes, but we now have a designated shootout goalie
- DaveofYork

Baby steps

And just to add to my comments above, Lindblom has 29 games of NHL experience, Vorobyov 6, Hagg 77, Samheim 55, things are a work in progress when you’re dealing with injuries and building.

Jamie Benn vs Miles Wood, good scrap.

https://youtu.be/OfIARzZEsuQ
- DraftandDestroy

I can't stand Miles Wood, but would take him on the Flyers in a cocaine heartbeat.

Baby steps
- DraftandDestroy

I'll take it

My game observations:

- Something is missing. i know they have some injuries right now but something is just off that I can't put my finger on.

- I think you need to break up the provorov/gostisbehere pairing. I think more to get Provorov going. Just not sure who he would be paired with.

- First two goals were just soft. I know Elliott played well against Vegas but those first 2 need to be stops in my opinion.

- Weal played a pretty good game.

- Gostisbehere was solid again. Really playing well.

- Love what I am seeing in Hagg's game. he is getting involved offensively and love the edge he plays with on defense.

Was at the game and boy was it an anxious game.

Giroux played great; really thought he was gonna finish the Hatty. He had a ton of chances.

Provy is struggling, but I’m not super worried.

Finally Weal did something.

Hägg played physical but he was terrible in his own end in the 1st and some of the 2nd.

Still don’t know how FLA’s 1st goal went in.

Was at the game and boy was it an anxious game.

Giroux played great; really thought he was gonna finish the Hatty. He had a ton of chances.

Provy is struggling, but I’m not super worried.

Finally Weal did something.

Hägg played physical but he was terrible in his own end in the 1st and some of the 2nd.

Still don’t know how FLA’s 1st goal went in.
- arichardson22

Elliott was screened and couldn't see the puck but it still leaked in short side low. It's a save that has to be made.

My game observations:

- Something is missing. i know they have some injuries right now but something is just off that I can't put my finger on.

- I think you need to break up the provorov/gostisbehere pairing. I think more to get Provorov going. Just not sure who he would be paired with.

- First two goals were just soft. I know Elliott played well against Vegas but those first 2 need to be stops in my opinion.

- Weal played a pretty good game.

- Gostisbehere was solid again. Really playing well.

- Love what I am seeing in Hagg's game. he is getting involved offensively and love the edge he plays with on defense.
- J35Bacher

First one I didn't love but it came through a screen. He should have had his arm tighter to his body.

Second goal was awful. I don't know how you allow that to happen. If Hak was going to pull him he should have done it then

Well, it is a perfect learning opportunity, look back at the tape game, without the negative sting since they squeaked out the 2 points.

I hate to say it, but Provorov doesn’t look like himself, not just in this game, but it is early. I hoped to see improvement by now. Is he hurt? Having an identity crisis?

Regarding the pairings, ideally it would be better for the Flyers to have Provy and Ghost each command their own pairings, but I completely agreed with putting them together to start the season for a couple of reasons. First, I was hoping Provy would get his game in line and Ghost could help him until he does. Also, no one else seemed ready to play top pairing.

What I hope would happen by the end of the season is that Hägg will continue to improve and be paired with Provy. And Ghost could have the best of more stay home type. No idea if that is AMac, Gudas, Morin or Folin. Play would dictate.

On a positive note, G looks great. How many chances did he have last night? 7-8? He looks faster and stronger on the puck so far this season.

Well, it is a perfect learning opportunity, look back at the tape game, without the negative sting since they squeaked out the 2 points.

I hate to say it, but Provorov doesn’t look like himself, not just in this game, but it is early. I hoped to see improvement by now. Is he hurt? Having an identity crisis?

Regarding the pairings, ideally it would be better for the Flyers to have Provy and Ghost each command their own pairings, but I completely agreed with putting them together to start the season for a couple of reasons. First, I was hoping Provy would get his game in line and Ghost could help him until he does. Also, no one else seemed ready to play top pairing.

What I hope would happen by the end of the season is that Hägg will continue to improve and be paired with Provy. And Ghost could have the best of more stay home type. No idea if that is AMac, Gudas, Morin or Folin. Play would dictate.
- NC Flyers Fan

I actually thought gostisbehere and hagg played well together. Thing is finding a partner for Provorov. MacDonald has worked there but with him looking like he is still not 100% i am not sure who else would work there. Sanheim has looked better. Just not sure what the right pairing is.

Elliott was screened and couldn't see the puck but it still leaked in short side low. It's a save that has to be made.
- MJL

I know what happened lol it was just a small window / hard angle. Was just surprising it got to Elliott imo. Absolutely has to be made. Elliott was not good last night.

On a positive note, G looks great. How many chances did he have last night? 7-8? He looks faster and stronger on the puck so far this season.
- mkabbeko

Love it! G clearing the bar.

I think that Ghost and Provy should remain together. They were one of the best pairs of Dmen in the league last year. Let’s not let 5 games trump the quarter or so of season where they were absolutely dominating.

Some general observations on last night and the season so far:

Don't know what's going on with Provorov, but I really doubt that he simply forgot how to play quality hockey. My best guess is that his struggles are due to some lingering issues with his shouldered coupled, and more likely IMO, with a young kid who is putting too much pressure on himself and trying to do too much on the ice. Like I said before, I think he just needs to stop pressing and start letting the game to come to him. Sometimes we forget that Provorov is only 21 and just starting his 3rd NHL season. I think he'll be fine.

Can't believe it took this long for both AMac and the Flyers to realize that he was not playing at anywhere near 100% and clearly struggling. Please keep him out of the lineup until he is fully recovered, thanks!

Folin actually had a decent game. If he can continue to play like this when called upon, it will be a great help to this team.

It was good to see the leaders of this team, Giroux and Simmonds, come out and have strong games. It was also nice to see Weal have a good game as well.

Still waiting to see this team put together 3 consecutive quality periods of hockey and I think we may be waiting for a while. Right now, with Patrick out, they are just woefully thin at center and other teams, especially on the road, are going to be able to exploit that. I'm glad to see Hak moved Laughton back to center last night. While I still think long term his future is as a winger, it's obvious that Vorobyev is struggling and the move had to be made. Once Patrick returns, I'd consider sending Vorobyev down and rolling with:

G-Coots-TK
Lindblom-Patrick-Jake
Weal-Laughton-Simmonds
Raffl-Lehtera-Weise

Lindblom also had a pretty so-so game last night, and after factoring the hit he took the prior game, you have to wonder if he's 100% as well. This definitely needs to be monitored.

Thought Sanheim was solid and Ghost was Ghost. I also thought Gudas was pretty solid overall. Gudas has actually been a present surprise. While he makes mistakes at times, his overall play has been much closer to what we saw in 16-17 than it is to what we saw last season.

I hope Hak isn't going to get into that routine where he overplays his goalie. Elliott is not Steve Mason, you can't start him 85-90% of games, it's a recipe for failure. Last night probably would have been a good night to get Pickard his 2nd start. Starting Elliott in 65% or more of games will probably not end well. You really want to keep him in that 47-52 start range by the end of the season.

Staying with the goalies, please waive Neuvirth once he's healthy and just release him. You'll have to eat the cap dollars and still pay him but so what? They have a ton of cap room and I'm pretty sure Comcast can afford the bill. There is no point in bringing him back, he's simply too unreliable.

Finally, kudos to Hak for calling that timeout last night. It was absolutely the right call and kudos to the Flyers for figuring out how to win a friggin shootout!

edit: all in all they are 3-3 which isn't bad when you factor in inconsistent goaltending, growing pains and the injuries to JVR and Patrick. They will be fine.