Bill Meltzer: Flyers Suffer Devastating 7-6 Loss in Toronto

Just a terrible performance last night. Poor team defensive play and weak goaltending down the stretch doomed them again. Really hope this is the last we see of Elliot. He has been mostly good since return from injury but he is back to his old form of AT LEAST ONE SOFTY per game. Last nite more then one.

It’s been the story for a few years now....I think they have a talented team. One that was “allowed” to have stretches were they would lose by way of inconsistent play with little accountability to the biggest culprits. This is now Fletchers team. I hope for some substantial moves this off season. The young nucleus needs to be added to and built around.

Just a terrible performance last night. Poor team defensive play and weak goaltending down the stretch doomed them again. Really hope this is the last we see of Elliot. He has been mostly good since return from injury but he is back to his old form of AT LEAST ONE SOFTY per game. Last nite more then one.
- jaws1955

Disappointing outcome. Can’t say I disagree on Elliot. Time to go in another direction.

I do have one little question about the lineup last night.....are the Flyers trying to save on airfare? How do you travel the second of a back to back with only 12 forwards ? In a must win ? Sure you don’t know a guys going to get sick, but for (frank) sakes, why even take a chance ? I would ask Fletcher to explain that one. That shouldn’t happen.

They are gassed. The run they sustained was unexpected. The team has 10 nhl forwards. Players like g and coots are doing very very heavy lifting on special teams.

They should be a major player for panarin. I don’t see why not. It’s sucks they’ll pay top dollar but the cap will keep going up as well. Provorov is making a good push towards his next deal. He’s looked much better.

They could and should have been a playoff team this year. They were a disaster earlier in the year and it went on for too long

It’s been the story for a few years now....I think they have a talented team. One that was “allowed” to have stretches were they would lose by way of inconsistent play with little accountability to the biggest culprits. This is now Fletchers team. I hope for some substantial moves this off season. The young nucleus needs to be added to and built around.
- landros 2

Yep.....Fletch needs to have a productive offseason. Out of the gates slow, flashes of good play and stretches only to finish just in or just out, ensuring a less than desirable drafting spot ( just lucky with Patrick). It's like Groundhog's Day with this team.

A push for coach Q ( nothing against Gordon) , a push for Panarin, and the acquisition of a vet stable Dman via trade. Don't know what it would cost to get a Pieterangelo type he only has a year left if they could trade/sign . I would part with Ghost for a more defensive minded player who you can trust to put on the ice in all situations. A player who Provo, Myers, and Sanheim can learn from.
Goodbye Elliott

Those 2 Muzzin goals were as soft as it gets. You can definitely make the argument that the defenseman should have stepped up, but still.

Regardless a collapse of that proportion can't happen when you're fighting for every point. Total team failure.

maybe we'll get to see what Morin and Talbot can bring to the table now.

We can talk about Elliott all we want but game after game both Elliott and Hart have had to stand on their head and keep the team in games. Goaltending and team defense is symbiotic. All but the elite of goaltenders will break down at some point playing in that situation game after game. It's such a mental load on a player. Reality is also that as good as Sanheim has played this season and as much promise as he has shown, he is not at this point a legitimate top pair defenseman. The team as a whole needs to be better in a number of areas. Defensive coverage, puck management, etc. They made a nice run but you can't keep that up forever when you're not a legitimate top team. I applaud those who kept the faith but the reality is that the playoffs were lost long ago.

Out of gas. Alas, can only hope Chuck really has a great offseason.

We can talk about Elliott all we want but game after game both Elliott and Hart have had to stand on their head and keep the team in games. Goaltending and team defense is symbiotic. All but the elite of goaltenders will break down at some point playing in that situation game after game. It's such a mental load on a player. Reality is also that as good as Sanheim has played this season and as much promise as he has shown, he is not at this point a legitimate top pair defenseman. The team as a whole needs to be better in a number of areas. Defensive coverage, puck management, etc. They made a nice run but you can't keep that up forever when you're not a legitimate top team. I applaud those who kept the faith but the reality is that the playoffs were lost long ago.
- MJL

Excellent summary. One follow up question: you have to make the call right now...Gordon or Q next season (assuming Q is available and interested).

Puck management from vets was really bad after after they went up 3-1 -- way too much blind backhand sauce thru the middle.

Excellent summary. One follow up question: you have to make the call right now...Gordon or Q next season (assuming Q is available and interested).
- Brad Marsh Fan

Quenneville is a no brainer if he wants the job. I'd be happy to have Gordon as an assistant if he wants and it's okay with Quenneville.

We can talk about Elliott all we want but game after game both Elliott and Hart have had to stand on their head and keep the team in games. Goaltending and team defense is symbiotic. All but the elite of goaltenders will break down at some point playing in that situation game after game. It's such a mental load on a player. Reality is also that as good as Sanheim has played this season and as much promise as he has shown, he is not at this point a legitimate top pair defenseman. The team as a whole needs to be better in a number of areas. Defensive coverage, puck management, etc. They made a nice run but you can't keep that up forever when you're not a legitimate top team. I applaud those who kept the faith but the reality is that the playoffs were lost long ago.
- MJL

Sanheim needs to keep getting stronger. Too many times he is in great position to pin a player to the boards only to see them escape with the puck.

Sanheim needs to keep getting stronger. Too many times he is in great position to pin a player to the boards only to see them escape with the puck.
- Just5

Sanheim has blossomed with more ice time and a much larger role under Gordon. As with any young d man he’s going to have some hiccups along the way. As he gets older and stronger, skies the limit.

maybe we'll get to see what Morin and Talbot can bring to the table now.
- backfire

I think if they lose tomorrow night, then you may get your wish.

UFAs- Raffl, Knight, Varone, Talbot, Elliott, Neurvirth, Lehtera, Vecchione, Goulbourne, Bardreau, Froese, Carey, McKenna

NHL Roster: Giroux, Voracek, Van Riemsdyk, Couturier, Laughton, Patrick, Lindblom, Konecny, Hartman, MacDonald, Gostisbehere, Gudas, Hagg, Provorov, Sanheim, Morin, Myers, Hart

Phantoms: Schlemko, Rubtsov, Vorobyov, Laberge, Twarynski, Kase, Bunnaman, Bailey, Aubé-Kubel, Friedman, Willcox, Brennan, Graves (RFA), Lyon

Sliding: Zamula,

Incoming: Frost, Ratcliffe, Sushko, Strome, Sandström


So what do you want to see in the off season? Beyond the NHL roster I am hoping to see Allison and Laczynski signed. Not sure which D prospects are ready but based on the minor pro d prospects I am hoping there is at least one who will be signed. The phantoms will be a very young team next season. Which prospects will be ready for the Flyers (not sure which are no longer waiver exempt outside of Morin).

UFAs- Raffl, Knight, Varone, Talbot, Elliott, Neurvirth, Lehtera, Vecchione, Goulbourne, Bardreau, Froese, Carey, McKenna

NHL Roster: Giroux, Voracek, Van Riemsdyk, Couturier, Laughton, Patrick, Lindblom, Konecny, Hartman, MacDonald, Gostisbehere, Gudas, Hagg, Provorov, Sanheim, Morin, Myers, Hart

Phantoms: Schlemko, Rubtsov, Vorobyov, Laberge, Twarynski, Kase, Bunnaman, Bailey, Aubé-Kubel, Friedman, Willcox, Brennan, Graves (RFA), Lyon

Sliding: Zamula,

Incoming: Frost, Ratcliffe, Sushko, Strome, Sandström


So what do you want to see in the off season? Beyond the NHL roster I am hoping to see Allison and Laczynski signed. Not sure which D prospects are ready but based on the minor pro d prospects I am hoping there is at least one who will be signed. The phantoms will be a very young team next season. Which prospects will be ready for the Flyers (not sure which are no longer waiver exempt outside of Morin).
- nastyflyergirl

All those UFA can go bye bye.

lose out the season get the best draft pick possible

trade ghost in the off season

All those UFA can go bye bye.
- Pelle31Forever

Id be ok if they resign Talbot to backup Hart.

Re-sign Lehtera

A push for coach Q ( nothing against Gordon) , a push for Panarin, and the acquisition of a vet stable Dman via trade. Don't know what it would cost to get a Pieterangelo type he only has a year left if they could trade/sign . I would part with Ghost for a more defensive minded player who you can trust to put on the ice in all situations. A player who Provo, Myers, and Sanheim can learn from.
Goodbye Elliott
- 3flyerkids

Can Panarin play anywhere else then LW? I'm not a fan of putting G back at center and JVR is earning his keep at LW on the 2nd line.

Id be ok if they resign Talbot to backup Hart.
- MBFlyerfan

I can live with that, but I'm thinking there could be other options too.