Howie58

Mojo and Gang:

Maybe I was too strong in my language. But I really think the team has some structural problems. We can win with a superb goaltending effort and team D. If we don't get either, it's a bad night. I hope we stabilize quickly. 

BTW, I don't blame AV. He commands respect and holds folks accountable.  I have a feeling his troops can't wear the big boys pants against speedy opponents. They get skated through.  And it is hard to watch.

I hope our latest first rounders show some promise.  We need a talented first line.  Right now we have a two second lines.  The D may or may not round out.  Gus may not have been a wise acquisition but he will gone after the year. The current cast may not be all that we hoped.  Hart can only do so much.  

Hello:

The Flyers are a surprisingly heavy favorite:

https://www.broadstreethockey.com/2021/1/24/22246500/nhl-philadelphia-six-stats-from-the-flyers-pair-of-losses-to-the-boston-bruins-carter-hart-analysis

This is a matchup of our offense versus their defense.  Our PP is better than NJ, but their penalty kill tops ours.  It looks like Moose versus Wedgewood. Ghost may be available; Coots isn't. 

Let's hope they shake off the Boston debacle.  

58 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

I don’t see how we would think anything would change this season  from  how we played in last years playoffs, especially when we didn’t address the key issues. For the most part it’s the same exact team, with the same exact problems.  Sure we got back Lindblom and Patrick and eventually it will help the offense. Even when we had Niskanen, we still needed another good defenseman , so now we really need two defenseman. we still don’t have enough skilled wingers with size , we still don’t have a sniper,  we lack toughness, mental and physical,  and our  supposed top two players Giroux and Voracek are not really top players . We do not have what it takes to go through four rounds of playoffs , on top  the regular season with of all the tough divisional games and barely any rest. It’s gonna  be as tough as the playoffs especially in the last 15-20 games of the season. We are barely ten games in and already have huge injury problems.

I agree!  The 9-1 end to the regular season coupled with 3-0 in the round robin led to delusional thinking.  Our defense is suspect and I don't see a first line that competes with others in the league, which probably explains our inability to control play.  The other factor is our first rounders over the last decade.  I can't say what Farabee, O'Brien, and Frost will amount to.  Meanwhile, we seem to have a superb two-way center, a great D-man, a bottom-six fixture....and then it blurs. I suspect the last half of this season may reveal what we have on our hands with folks like NAK but I am not holding my breath.  Myers and Sanheim--we'll see about them too.  

This is a pretty somber assessment of the O and B.:

https://www.broadstreethockey.com/2021/1/24/22246500/nhl-philadelphia-six-stats-from-the-flyers-pair-of-losses-to-the-boston-bruins-carter-hart-analysis

Niskanen's departure is only a part of the problem.  This team is dysfunctional 5x5 and our ability to drive play is lousy.  

Hopefully, our walking wounded get back on track.  That said, there will be questions about our team's ability to handle the opponent's top line, and whether our first line is really on par with others?  I hate to say it, but we saw shades of these problems against Montreal and the Islanders.  Without major personnel changes, I'm not surprised we are dealing with the SOS at the start of this season.

Hart's performance is a bit scary. I had the NESN feed.  They said he smashed his stick at game's end.  These last two games must have shocked him.  I hope he doesn't lose his cool.  HIs GAA should be over 4.  The team's 5 x 5 play has been weak since game 1.  

Let's hope the wounded come back sooner than later.   Equally important, I wonder if Fletcher is quietly worried about the D.  

Boy, this is a tough watch.  I don't think this simply the absence of Coots.  Our offense isn't threatening.  And Hart has looked very, very human.  Open fly hole, not covering the rebounds; I hope this isn't a delayed sophomore jinx.  

Going into the season, I feared this squad would be exploited by opponents with team speed that get into high percentage areas with little challenge.  That's what we saw in the playoffs last year, and it may be continuing.  Tonight, the Bruins make us look flatfooted. It's not a function of "compete level."  They just don't look very skilled.  

2 hours ago, Zzeke said:

SAMUEL MORIN

D, PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Samuel Morin has been loaned to Philadelphia's taxi squad. 
Morin was a healthy scratch on Thursday against Boston. He hasn't played yet this season. 

 

SOURCE: Philadelphia Flyers on Twitter
Jan 22, 2021, 4:02 PM ET
 

This must mean someone is back to the 23-player roster. Perhaps Ghost.

 

Also, defenceman Friedman is okay and will play in Game 6 Saturday night.

They need to get the pairings settled in a few weeks.  The season is too short for shuffling.  

I didn't realize that USA has a much bigger viewer base than the sports channel.  So, Comcast lowers costs and gains revenue.  Another piece says the NHL might also be on Peacock.  Fox coverage of the Panthers has never impressed me, but neither has the team as a chronic underperformer. 

It appears national NHL broadcasts are going elsewhere by next year:

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-nbc-to-shut-down-cable-channel-nbcsn-by-end-of-2021-200634303.html

Comcast and the Flyers are Philly-based.  If the NHL insists on a second network provider, I have to think we'll see fewer games on a national broadcast.  I liked the fact that Keith Jones and others were closely affiliated with the O&B on NBC.  The pandemic has decimated sports coverage.  I guess Comcast and the NHL are adjusting to the new normal.  

We are the underdog, yet this bookie likes us as anyhow:

https://sportschatplace.com/nhl-picks/2021/01/23/boston-bruins-vs-philadelphia-flyers-nhl-picks-odds-predictions

The Ghost is nearly through the COVID protocol.  Meanwhile, we are giving up huge shot totals, which is a reversal from last year.  The D is a work in progress:

https://sports.yahoo.com/shayne-gostisbehere-nears-return-flyers-182652565.html

This should be interesting.  Hopefully, the team doesn't allow so many high percentage shots and returns to its usual competence at faceoffs.

LGF

9 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Put Morin out there on defense he can't be worse than anyone on the blue line not named Ivan.

Agreed.  Some size might clog the crease.  A minute+ cost the game with two goals.  Laughton's penalty showed unusual lack of discipline.  Saturday should be darn good. 

Entertaining but disappointing.  You don't like to blow a 2 goal lead.  Carter is human and our D didn't help.  Rask was amazing.  He is a Flyer Killer.  

JVR is awake.  Even the Captain seems engaged.  I worry that we can't shut down opponents or limit high percentage shots.  Hart was amazing to start with--wonder if he was tuckered out later in the game?

Glad we got a point.  But the team may need an infirmary at this rate.

Greetings:

There are too many Zoom and Teams meetings for me to think straight. This is going to be an interesting matchup of two banged-up teams. Maybe our depth means something.

Maybe Morin becomes our utility infielder; he can play D and forward.  We are beyond figuring out the love of Hagg.  I guess predictability means more than we know.  

Greetings:

The bookies are having a tough time with this one:

https://pickdawgz.com/nhl-picks/2021-01-21/philadelphia-flyers-at-boston-bruins-1-21-21-nhl-picks-and-prediction

The Bruins are favored.  But they have not scored an even-strength goal in three games.  We've done well against them of late, even at TD.  That said, they have excellent defense and goal.  This will be our young guns and Hart versus the veteran Bruins and Halak.

LGF! 

I want to give the boys a few more games before making any "big" assessments. That said, the D looks shaky.  As for carrying the play, our fourth line seems to be the most effective in puck possession.  We won't be getting 40 shot shutouts every game.  

Pitt and Boston may be the "Old Guard" in the conference. Teams like the Isles, Carolina, and even Buffalo may be our new benchmarks. We'll see.

I only caught the last period post-work. It looked like they were engaged and didn't let Buffalo get all over them.  Moose had the juice.  A shutout will give them backbone.  I hope the MRI's don't reveal much damage to Myers and Frost.

Greetings:

1)  Toronto will put the kibosh to another Ontario team, even if it is viable.

2) Hamilton might hurt Buffalo.

3)  I suspect league-wide, another Ontario team won't help much on revenue

4) The weakness of the Canadian dollar hurts because salaries are paid in greenbacks.  Along with conference parity in teams, it was a main reason for Quebec not getting a team while LV did.  

I think it will be a long time before any franchise is added. KC and Quebec have beautiful facilities, but I wonder if the league would try to reconstitute already failed cities.  

Maybe Monterey, Mexico and Berlin....let's go international!!!! (Semi-Kidding).

While we are mild favorites, this post suggests a Buffalo victory:

https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/buffalo-philadelphia-odds-january-19-2021-1366106

Hopefully, last night was a wakeup call.  Our D was letting Buffalo in the crease and giving high percentage shouts out like Halloween candy.  This was a reminder of our playoff performance against the Islanders.  Then it was Barzal and his line.  Last night it was Reinhart and his.  AV was right to say last night was an embarrassment. Mike Yeo better get the gang on track.

LGF!

This was a bad team game, but I hope we aren't getting some early signs that our D-Corp isn't functioning.  Gus looked bad.  Even Myers was soft.  We can't expect Carter Hart to steal each game.  

This is hard to watch and disappointing. It is also an important warning. There is a lot of talent on the squad.  On any given day.... 

I agree with the announcer that AV can't be happy with the first period.  Buffalo carried the play and our offense was throttled. Lazar's shot was terrific.  I hope we see a more energized team for Period 2.  

Hi Zzeke!

It speaks to our depth that we can put this kid in the lineup.  It should be good to watch. 

Greetings:

The Flyers may not have Coots, but that doesn't phase the the bookies.  We are heavy favorities:

https://pickdawgz.com/nhl-picks/2021-01-18/buffalo-sabres-at-philadelphia-flyers-1-18-21-nhl-picks-and-prediction

We are terrific at home, while Buffalo is a poor road team.  Two games aren't a big n, but Buffalo doesn't look new and improved as some have touted.  Hopefully, this isn't a trap game for the O & B.  Meanwhile, I wonder if Moose gets a start with one of these games?  Morgan Frost gets an opportunity to strut his stuff.  

LGF!

Howie

19 minutes ago, Howie58 said:

Yep, that's what I think he said.  

Maybe it was shinny hockey.  I will allow my hearing some slack.