Game 56: Devils at Flyers; 5/10/21 @ 7, NBCSP

[Howie58]

Greetings:

 

The O and B are favored, though the sportsbook notes that NJ plays well on the road:

 

https://sportschatplace.com/nhl-picks/2021/05/10/philadelphia-flyers-vs-new-jersey-devils-nhl-picks-odds-predictions

 

It will be Brian Elliott's start, perhaps the last in Philly or his career.  You have to believe it will be the last time in a Flyers uniform for others.  And you won't have to put up with me starting the thread again 'till next season.  

 

LGF

 

 

[Digityman]

8 hours ago, Howie58 said:

with me starting the thread again 'till next season

 

Thanks for doing it all year @Howie58

[OccamsRazor]

11 hours ago, Howie58 said:

And you won't have to put up with me starting the thread again 'till next season.  

 

Thank you too i had done it a couple times this year but i had gotten away so thanks for carry the torch and giving a thread to express our sorrows on.

 

We all are ready to get this over with. I wonder what the last lineup will look like.

 

The Flyers still have 2 last callups left for the end of the year and i would love to see them call of two more kids and say just sit Giroux and Jake.

 

No need to risk these assets in one last meaningless game. I hope the can move one or two of the underperforming super star has beens.

 

 

[OccamsRazor]

Great what we all didn't want. To be the benchmark for mediocrity. But here we are.

 

 

.500 what a goal.

 

The last lineup of the year.

 

Projected lineups (will be updated)

FLYERS (Saturday lineup)

28 Claude Giroux -14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
86 Joel Farabee - 13 Kevin Hayes - 93 Jakub Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk - 21 Scott Laughton - 62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
23 Oskar Lindblom - 19 Nolan Patrick - 57 Wade Allison

9 Ivan Provorov - 6 Travis Sanheim
45 Cam York - 61 Justin Braun
53 Shayne Gostisbehere - 5 Phil Myers


37 Brian Elliott
[34 Alex Lyon]

PP1: Giroux, Couturier, Allison, Voracek, York

 

PP2: Hayes, Farabee, JVR, Konecny, Provorov

Scratches: 8 Robert Hägg (healthy), 59 Jackson Cates (healthy), 79 Carter Hart (MCL sprain, out for the remainder of the season).

NHL suspension: Shayne Gostisbehere (suspension completed, lineup spot TBD).

Injured reserve: 48 Morgan Frost (shoulder surgery), 58 Tanner Laczynski (hip surgery).

COVID-19 protocol: None.


DEVILS

59 Janne Kuokkanen - 86 Jack Hughes - 17 Yegor Sharangovich
37 Pavel Zacha - 13 Nico Hischier -- 63 Jesper Bratt
44 Miles Wood (if available) - 20 Michael McLeod - 14 Nathan Bastian
25 Nolan Foote - 90 Jesper Boqvist - 11 Andreas Johnsson

22 Ryan Murray - 28 Damon Severson
8 Will Butcher - 71 Jonas Siegenthaler
88 Kevin Bahl - 7 Matt Tennyson

29 Mackenzie Blackwood
[41 Scott Wedgewood]

PP1: Hischier, Zacha, Hughes, Bratt, Butcher
PP2: Kuokkanen, Sharangovich, Wood (?), Johnsson, Severson

Injuries:5 Connor Carrick (healthy), 12 Tyce Thompson (healthy), 23 Mikhail Maltsev (lower-body injury), 24 Ty Smith (upper body), 39 Nick Merkley (healthy), 47 Aaron Dell (healthy).

COVID-19 protocol: 76 P.K. Subban

[OccamsRazor]

So i would really love to package this upcoming 1st round pick for a player/roster upgrade.

 

Montreal is one point ahead of the Flyers with a game in hand (i.e., two games remaining). Even if the Flyers win tonight, a win by Montreal in either of their two remaining games would prevent the Flyers from moving up in the overall NHL standings (i.e., dropping a spot in the lottery odds order).

A Chicago regulation win in its final game plus a Flyers regulation loss would tie the teams with 56 points and 16 regulation wins. But the Blackhawks have one more OT win than the Flyers, so the aforementioned combo would slide the Flyers up to 12th in lottery odds (de facto 11th because Arizona has to forfeit its first round pick and they come up as a lottery winner, the NHL will redraw). The NHL is keeping Arizona, or rather its selection odds, in the draft lottery.

[OccamsRazor]

Per Bill Meltzer:

 

Yes, I think it's Elliott's final game as a Flyer.

As for retirement, I think he's seriously considering it regardless. It gets harder and harder to get physically ready during the offseason for the next training camp. Even if there is some NHL interest in him, it would probably be similar to Craig Anderson's situation with Washington this year; although the Taxi Squads will presumably go away so it'd compel a team to either carry 3 goalies on its NHL roster or for the veteran to play in the AHL and stand by in case he's needed. I can't see that being appealing at all to Elliott at this stage of his career.

The tone of Elliott's press conference after his 500th game, with his wife and kids in the stands that night and him saying that he made sure to soak it all in and enjoy it regardless of the outcome of the game, suggests that he is at least seriously contemplating retirement.

[OccamsRazor]

Bill.

I know you don’t like to speculate.

Do you plan on doing a blog about who you would select for the expansion draft? Once the lists come out. Just interested in hearing your thoughts.
- Peter Richards

Yes. Will tell you now that I think the Flyers will lose JVR. While Seattle (who has to get to the cap floor) will try to entice the Flyers to sweeten the pot under the premise of "we're not just going to help you with your cap", their own team-building needs will ultimately come first. Here's why:

1) JVR is coming off a solid season although the goals dried up after a torrid start (he still collected a healthy number of assists). Played a pretty good two-way game this year, unlike a lot of Flyers forwards. At 32, he's not in his prime years anymore but he isn't ancient, either. I have no idea why he spent a significant chunk of this year on PP2 except that Therrien/Vigneault were frequently looking for a RH shot netfront.

2) JVR's contract has only two seasons left to run. The real-dollar cost in the final year ($4 million base, $1 million signing bonus installment on July 1, 2022) is two million dollars less than his cap hit, which is appealing when spending to at least the require cap floor.

3) He's a rock solid citizen; a team spokesman, devoted family man, not an enemy in the world. He'd fit in with any locker room.

 

 

I would prefer Jake but i would be ok with this for real.

 

However i would not be excited to have to send some type of compensation for them to take him....but depending on what that compensation is though i would be mad or i could be happy.

[flyer4ever]

I hope its the last time for most of this roster. Quitters are not part of my Flyers.

[Samifan]

15 hours ago, Howie58 said:

Greetings:

 

The O and B are favored, though the sportsbook notes that NJ plays well on the road:

 

https://sportschatplace.com/nhl-picks/2021/05/10/philadelphia-flyers-vs-new-jersey-devils-nhl-picks-odds-predictions

 

It will be Brian Elliott's start, perhaps the last in Philly or his career.  You have to believe it will be the last time in a Flyers uniform for others.  And you won't have to put up with me starting the thread again 'till next season.  

 

LGF

 

 

Appreciate all your efforts @Howie58

Enjoy the off-season 

[Howie58]

Howdy:

 

I will open a Post-Mortem Thread after the game tonight.  Meanwhile, I was ribbing about putting up with me about starting the game threads. For some reason, I feel it's kind of a family obligation.  Seriously!

 

Well, let's hope the year ends with something positive. It would be great for Elliott to go out on a high note. 

 

Peace,

 

Howie

Edited May 10, 2021 by Howie58

[Howie58]

I think the team's idea of celebrating Elliott's 500th is making sure he's bombarded. Sick.

[Samifan]

Just saw the ceremony for Elliott’s 500th game. I think he will retire after the game or maybe after the first period since these f**ks decided not to show up for their last day of work.

 

#IHATEJAKE 

[Howie58]

Well, I am glad they showed more grit than usual and ended the season on a high note, even if it against the lowly Devils.  Farabee is the type of player we've needed in years. York is a good add based on a small n.  

 

It should be an interesting off-season!

 

 

[OccamsRazor]

8 hours ago, Howie58 said:

Farabee is the type of player we've needed in years.

 

His sophomore season has been the highlight of the year. Fitting that he lead the team with 20 goals.

 

One thing is certain this team will not come back whole to take the ice next season.

 

Not sure what to think of TK and his career so far i thought he was going to be a building block going forward but he game has fell off a cliff and not so sure about him anymore.

 

Time to blow this thing up what a disappointing season. The defense needs an overhaul.

 

I can't remember the last (if ever) the Flyer had no goalies finish with a save percentage over 900.

 

Hart 877%

Elliott 889%

Lyon 893%

 

Lyon end with the best percentage....typing that made me nauseous. 

 

Most disappointing defenseman has to be Phil Myers 1 goal and -10. Not sure how they get this kid on the right track.

 

I know Travis Sanheim is hoping they only notice Phil after his bad season to only 3 goal and disgusting -22 for the season are you kidding me.

 

And holy sh it batman Nolan Patrick you suck -30!!!!!!!!!!! Are you fcukning kidding me??

 

I need a drink and it's only 8:50 in the morning. Can't see what Chuckles has in store for this dumpster fire.

 

Oh Chuck you try that Erik Gusafsson sh it one more time and you're outta here!!!!

[Howie58]

53 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

And holy sh it batman Nolan Patrick you suck -30!!!!!!!!!!! Are you fcukning kidding me??

Occ:

 

As posted in the post-mortem thread, the kid is a reminder that '21 is when we reaped the harvest of our underperforming or non-game-changing first rounders.  Nolan Patrick is a symptom.  Sad. Rubstov...zilch.  Sam Morin...maybe third pairing.  Provorov....high quality but maybe not as good as hoped. Scott Laughton...character dude and valuable Swiss Knife....but probably third-liner.  Farabee may be the first game changer we've drafted in ages.  

Edited May 11, 2021 by Howie58

[OccamsRazor]

1 hour ago, Howie58 said:

Occ:

 

As posted in the post-mortem thread, the kid is a reminder that '21 is when we reaped the harvest of our underperforming or non-game-changing first rounders.  Nolan Patrick is a symptom.  Sad. Rubstov...zilch.  Sam Morin...maybe third pairing.  Provorov....high quality but maybe not as good as hoped. Scott Laughton...character dude and valuable Swiss Knife....but probably third-liner.  Farabee may be the first game changer we've drafted in ages.  

 

 

Yes. Ivan and Joel are part of my core going forward.

 

Laughton well is a bottom 6 guy who can bump up in a pinch.

 

Nolan Patrick is just a huge box of questions.

 

I will leave that to Chuckles.

 

And Hart is a valuable assets that needs to be recovered.