Howie58

Greetings:

This is no great surprise.  However, it may mean the start of the herd being thinned.  

https://sports.yahoo.com/m/39657447-620c-3a86-8e0e-528d2acd9ae0/flyers-put-mark-friedman-on.html

If he is not a possible 7th D-man or a winger...a career AHLer or out?

Howie

FYI, I just looked online.  Ekholm is a possible trade, not probable.  They are 8 points out of a playoff. If that goes on, they will be sellers.  But he is considered cost-effective at 3.75.  

H

I remember saying to the gang that we had two outcomes for the year--one was that we looked like the 9 and 1 + Round Robin, or the so-so squad against MTL and NYI.  Right now, we are at the cusp, with a record that is quite good but some real problems.  I'd also say our wins have been against some of the lesser-ranked teams.  I will give it another 10-15 games before making a coin toss.  This is a "strange" season but the strangeness impacts all teams.  Granted, last night we fielded a glorified A Squad but still, there are some issues with D and Goal that are troubling.  We are a little like the Jap Navy at Midway--we can get blown away in 4-5 minute stretches while competing the other 55.  We had similar problems last year, even with Niskanen.  

Folks, I agree some D help would benefit us enormously, but right now, I am concerned about goal.  Mr. Hart wasn't doing so well before the COVID roster "blow-up."  Something isn't right.  

I doubt Mr. Fletcher gives up a young blue chipper to for a rental. He knows the score.  The one thing to consider, however, is cap space during in a flat future. He might need to sacrifice someone now to keep two warm bodies down the road. That said, I think Gus and others will be vacated and there will be room for York and maybe an important D add-on.

By the way, whether it's D or forward, at least Friedman shows effort.  I thought he was one of the few bright spots last night.  

Best,

Howie

This Bruins squad manhandled us with a "normal" squad. As others have said, we have been lucky to win given underlying numbers. Tonight we were outplayed and Hart let in some soft goals that were deflating. I wonder if there is a physical problem? 

I think Carter is either having a sophomore or junior slump. His numbers are too different from Elliott's. 

Carter needs to wake up and make a tough stop tonight. I'll allow that visuals aren't the best but the second left me angered. 

Dear FC:

I guess Blitz Hockey is working for now, but you're right, as playoffs approach, D and special teams will matter. 

Apparently the bad ice impacts the play even more than the sun. The time change is a plus for me... better for a libation.

I agree with one read that the game is a test for Carter Hart. He is not off to a great start, and the Bruins have his number.

We have a good record despite lousy metrics and being wildly outshot. Fans and AV/CF have to wonder when the luck runs out.

Greetings:

The Flyers come into the game as heavy underdogs.

https://causewaycrowd.com/2021/02/20/boston-bruins-lake-tahoe-preview-center-2021-22/

The Bruins will be without David Krejci.  We are without our Captain and others.  

I think Bill Meltzer's take is on point.  Hart can't let in softies and our special teams have to step it up.  The youngsters have to play their A game.  

https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/practice-report-16-back-on-the-ice/c-321467216

LGF.  

Hello:

I agree with Occ and others that watching this year has not been the relief from the COVID I'd thought it be.  Another observation, the MSG feed announcers were intelligent and not homers.   I wish the Comcast crew had the same candor.

Hart looked "small" in the SO and didn't challenge enough.  That is one outsider's opinion.  As for our shooters...well, our PP and SO may say a lot about the nature of our squad.  We don't have a Panarin.  

This Sunday's game might be tough if we are still missing first liners.  

I wish Hart would have stopped one of the shootout attempts.  We were lucky to get a point. Our offense looked inept. The PP was abysmal. I guess this was a glorified A squad, so I shouldn't have been surprised. 

10 minutes ago, flyercanuck said:

How do you pronounce that?"

Hopefully, it isn't "sucks."  That would be a real pisser for fans and announcers alike.

Howie

8 minutes ago, flyercanuck said:

WTF is a "sushko" ?

Well, not too many, only 167...mostly Northeast....lots of Russian athletes:

https://www.names.org/n/sushko/about

Good Morning:

These were the lines at practice:

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/perfect-time-flyers-get-carter-hart-perfected-juggling-act

The fourth line is "interesting."  One guy who's in his first NHL game, and another who's only played 15 over the last three seasons.  Hopefully, they gel and do themselves proud in the little time they're on the ice.  If nothing else, Morin gets a chance to test his new position.  

Greetings:

Hopefully, there's a game tonight.  The O and B are installed as favorites:

https://www.docsports.com/free-picks/nhl-hockey/2021/new-york-rangers-vs-philadelphia-flyers-prediction-2-18-2021-nhl-pick-tips-and-odds.html

The Rangers aren't that good on paper, but Igor Shesterkin's numbers are very respectable, and it appears he will be up against Hart.  We will be playing a patch quilt lineup, so the odds may not matter.  Meanwhile, I hope the gang focuses on the Rangers rather than the Lake Tahoe spectacle on Sunday. 

Well, the mess continues:

https://sports.yahoo.com/flyers-oskar-lindblom-scott-laughton-224551836.html

Granted, these guys are in their prime and in good shape but Lindlom's situation scares me.  The kid hasn't gone five years since being cancer-free.  

Meanwhile, I am reading about a 48 game schedule.  Given what's happened the last two weeks, that may be reasonable or maybe even doable. 

Greetings:

This was just put online:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/claude-giroux-justin-braun-placed-on-covid-protocol-list/ar-BB1dxJCA

2 hours ago, mojo1917 said:

I would think it wise to shut down the league for two weeks, hard quarantine for those who wish to continue to play, pick up where the league left off with vaccinated players.

I understand setting the bar at 65+ and the vulnerable for vaccinations, but at this juncture, any willing arm would add to the fight. I'd go in a heartbeat if it were available. Unfortunately, it has been rationed and as a 63 year old, I wonder about mid-year.  I haven't seen my family since February '20, but a long drive and/or a flight seems risky, and the quarantine provisions make it tricky.  Seeing the behavior in Tampa after the game was pretty upsetting.

The idea of vaccinating athletes makes sense given the entertainment/morale factor. But--I guess they queue up with the rest of the youngins.  

As for the NHL, I wonder about playoffs without a bubble.  How the heck will they operate without it?

Greetings:

Yes, looks like it:

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/source-flyers-capitals-game-headed-postponement-because-covid-protocols

It will be interesting to see how this mess plays out in coming weeks.  Do they try a "make-up" schedule prior to playoffs?  Do they write these games off?  They probably want some equality of games played among teams prior to the playoffs.  

The league is apparently losing billions this year.  Maybe Bettmann and the NHLPA really don't care about missed games at this juncture.  They just want to get in a chunk, expecting this would happen without a bubble.  It's a mess.  We need mass vaccinations and smart behavior, otherwise we'll be facing this crap through August.  

Greetings:

We are favorites (-125) in this matchup, and have played well against the Caps over the last few seasons:

https://pickdawgz.com/nhl-picks/2021-02-09/philadelphia-flyers-at-washington-capitals-2-9-21-nhl-picks-and-prediction

Moose is in goal.  With Sanheim in COVID protocol, there should be some interesting D-juggling.  

With two games cancelled, each remaining one is more important.  I hope we take advantage of a banged-up squad.

Greetings:

We are mild underdogs against the Caps on some sites, mild favorites on others.  Both teams are coming off losses.  

Statistically, there isn't a lot of difference between the clubs; Caps PP is quite strong:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/2021/02/07/2020020188

It will be interesting to see what kind of performance we get after two losses in which we had leads until late in the game.  I have not seen any lineups.  Gus may be a "sleeper" PP pick over Ghost.  He seems to be better at keeping the puck in the attack zone.  We'll see.

LGF!

You can't say they outplayed us badly but we couldn't take the war to them and a laser got by Elliott.  JVR can't carry the team.

I knew it was to good to be true.  Two goals in 27 seconds.