eleven24

How many seasons I sat post-mortem thinking “if only we had a goalie”. Now we have one and I’m thinking “if only we had a legit scoring threat”. 
 

All in all, a weird 2020 ride. The Canadiens were better. The Islanders are better. Hart is the reason we got to game 7 round 2.  Isles are damned impressive. They could win it all. 
 

As for the Flyers, the future is indeed bright, with a few tweaks needed. 
 

At least I didn’t have to lament about the Flyers finally winning the Cup and not being able to be there to see it, or be there for a parade. 
 

THAT would’ve been so typically Philadelphia sports 

I think I'm beginning to see why AV can build a really good team, but hasn't been able to win the Cup.  The challenges are a fluke occurrence, but his personnel decisions are a bit too conservative.  From a player standpoint, his desire for robotic monotony of every line is why the Flyers are struggling to score. Braun, Grant, Thompson... robotic.  Ghost, Frost... dynamic.  

System wise, there were 3 instances last night where the Flyers lost an offensive zone face-off and the center who lost the draw moved forward to pressure the puck carrier and the wingers and d-men retreated to the neutral zone.  If that's not conservative, I don't know what is.  Certainly don't see the Islanders, or Montreal in the previous series, backing off and allowing the Flyers a free exit of the defensive end.  It's not as if the Isles even had possession moving up ice.  It was IMMEDIATELY off the face-off draw.  That's a coach directive, and if it applies on a face-off, it applies to other situations as well - which we painfully see.  Especially when they get a lead.

From what I've seen of this team all year, their best use of speed is pinning opposing teams down in their own end with the forecheck.  Not allowing other teams to get speed up through the NZ.  That is when the Flyers are at their best, and so far in these playoffs I've seen a team conservatively retreating instead of aggressively pressuring.

I think that falls on AV, and it's why if not for Carter Hart, the Flyers would've been bounced in round 1.

40 minutes ago, Podein25 said:

 

 I disagree. I don't think any player can train for endurance so that they can routinely take 90 seconds plus shifts like that. I actually think they have to just ice it. Get the 10 seconds that buys you and win the faceoff. And do it again.

My 18yo son, watching the game with me turned last night and said "why doesn't someone hit the hot dog".  Now, being a hockey player himself he's obviously seen Youngblood, so this was a softball.

Because they can't catch him.

And that's how I've felt for long stretches in these playoffs.  It's been at times a flashback to  watching the slow lumbering Flyers getting torched by the speed of the high flying Sabres again.  

Thing is, this Flyers team is NOT a slow team, but speed can be different between teams.  The Islanders move the puck with speed.  This year the Flyers used their speed to take away time and space from their opponents, especially on the forecheck.  When the Flyers have been successful against NYI and MTL they pushed the forecheck forward.  When they haven't, they've been retreating to the NZ.

That's where I think maybe conditioning, because tired players won't be aggressive.  

I don't know.  Regardless, the Flyers got to game 7 and STILL have not played "their" game for 60 minutes.  That's all due to Carter Hart.

2 minutes ago, Podein25 said:

 

Yeah I assume that if they can get the swelling down (the extra day off will clearly help with that), and he has a more or less normal range of motion and can get the brace on comfortably, he can play. I expect we will see him...

 

My gut tells me he's done for a long time.  Swelling is something that can be managed, especially over 48 hours.  The same guy who played on an MCL tear a few years ago didn't dress last night.  To me that's very telling.

As for giving up goals late in periods and the long change... I'll go back to endurance.  I think the break hurt them in that regard.

12 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

The guy who is flying under the radar Kevin Hayes with 4 goals 9 assists +8 in 15 games.

 

Leads the team in every category except goals which he is second in...imagine how good he will be when he gets in shape...

The Flyers don't have many players who will hold on to the puck and not panic.  Hayes is one of those guys, and it definitely slows the game down a bit to where everyone else can get in position for a pass as he's buying time.

The OT winner, I don't know if there's any other Flyer who would've held it until below the goal line and then tossed it back into the slot like he did.  Most everyone else would've thrown the puck on net from a bad angle and through traffic.  His patience is why the Flyers won that game.

3 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

First game in 265 days and then goes out and plays 17:30 total...inspiration for us all...

 

Lindblom had 17:30 of ice time and Hagg had just 20:14.  At the end of regulation Hagg had only 11.  At that point, and I know I keep beating on this drum, but with the PP so ineffective largely because it's predictable and can't enter the zone... just dress Ghost.

As for Oskar, all I kept thinking was man, this kid is being asked a lot from an endurance perspective to go a full 60 minute playoff elimination game for his first game back after battling cancer.  And then the game goes OT and he was still looking good.

Incredible inspiration.

9 minutes ago, CoachX said:

I dont agree with AV challenging, because he lost. But I understand it, given the way the team has played. The Islanders didnt need much to turn the momentum their way, and after watching his team squander leads,  he had no choice

 

Its amazing that the Flyers seem to control the first periods, then hang on for dear life the rest of the game.

 

But hey, props to them, they bend but dont break, and are finding a way to stay alive

This is where I think conditioning has been an issue.  They look exhausted, but it's kind of catch-22 because you get exhausted running around trying to catch up with the puck.  Giroux looked totally wiped last night. He was stick on knees during play a few times.

Misleading first period if you look at SOG.  Flyers were physical and had what seemed like more than 5 shots.  Islanders had a lot of zone possession time, but liked how the Flyers were, for the most part, keeping them on the perimeter.

Didn't like that little pass back into the zone turnover by Giroux with under a minute left.

1 hour ago, flyercanuck said:

 

Christ I'd put 2 years ago Ghost with anyone. 

After the surgeries Ghost said as recently as 4-6 weeks ago that he finally is starting to feel as mobile as he was a few years ago, even at practice.  It's no wonder Ghost didn't look like Ghost from 2 years ago when he was skating with the mobility of JVR.

4 minutes ago, Podein25 said:

 

I do see a reason: Hagg is way more physical and blocks more shots. I actually think he has played quite well, especially considering he has been paired with an ageing Braun.

I like the physical aspect Hagg brings as well, but Ghost is desperately needed on the PP.  If he's not playing because of defensive zone turnovers, then half the team should be sitting.  At least Ghost brings a dynamic offensive presence that Provorov doesn't to the PP.  I mean, how many times am I going to have to watch Provorov skate to the blue line, turn at the hips about 45 degrees and pass back for the slingshot?  Sure, that's the "system" but when it becomes mind numbingly predictive, you need someone who might actually FAKE that drop pass, pivot and carry it in.

Like Ghost does.

Regular pairings, I'd go Hagg/Provorov, Sanheim/Myers, Ghost/Niskanen

Coming back from a 3-1 deficit is a tall task, but let's also consider that teams attempting to do so had to win games on the other team's home ice.  The Flyers would be facing a game 6 in NY right now, so I'll take the neutral site game as a positive that otherwise wouldn't have been afforded.

24 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

Man if the Flyers could just get the dang power play going it could alieviate a lot of pressure on the whole team.

 

As of now they have the worst power play of any team left. Just not good enough.

 

It maybe time to try drastic measures to try and get it going like putting anyone on the damn thing.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Overall, a very good hockey game by the Flyers.  It was in total control until Hart let that blue line shot in.  7 min into the third the Isles had 16 shots AND 4 power plays.  

A few observations:

• The Flyers dictate play when they're aggressive on the forecheck & forcing opposing teams to turn the puck over.  When they aren't, they can't handle speed through the NZ and end up chasing / reacting to the other team in the DZ
• Giroux was terrific.  The goal was much needed, but he deserved it.  3-4 great scoring chances tonight and was just visible in all areas of the ice.  That's the G we need going forward
• Provorov looks lost at times.  It's unusual to see him NOT make the smart play, but he's really giving the puck up with bad decisions when not really being pressured 
• TK was on his game.  A lot of loose puck retrievals, good vision to find open players, and speed tonight.
• JVR is the broken clock that is right twice a day. 
• Keith Jones is going overboard trying to hide his Flyers bias

41 minutes ago, CoachX said:

Great use of the prevent defense in the third, with a two goal lead

 

This one is on AV

Do you think at AV's direction, or the players being afraid to get caught deep therefore not being as aggressive on the forecheck?  Kind of a catch-22 there because the Flyers are at their best when they have 3 players rotating and swarming on the forecheck.  That's when they are dictating play.  Far too often in these playoffs it's one guy forechecking and the 2nd two forwards hanging at the blue line, or NZ.

Fear or coaches mandate?

First time in the last 2 rounds I've seen the Flyers use the forecheck to dictate play the entire period.  

Need another 40 minutes of it.

Giroux looks great too.

My NHL20 lines tonight would be:

NAK - Giroux - Voracek

Frost - Couturier -  Konecny

Raffl - Hayes - JVR

Farabee - Laughton - Pitlick

Myers - Provorov

Sanheim - Hagg

Niskanen - Ghost

The most frustrating part of all of this is that I know that what we're seeing is not the team we saw for the better part of the regular season.  Not even close.  There was true reason to believe this team was/is something special in the making -- and I still believe that.  

Honestly, deep down I know guys like G and Voracek are a bridge to the future.  Still, I'd like to see G rewarded with a legit run before his time here is done.

Just now, CoachX said:

and that second unit?

Hey, would you look at that... the sun came out.  Oooh, and there's a rainbow.

1 hour ago, CoachX said:

the Flyers have good coaching, and a true number 1 goalie. A good formula imo. I do question what the **** is going on with that joke of a power play, though.

 

The defense is young and solid. This too is a good formula. However, there must be moves up front. Coots, Hayes, TK, Farabee, NAK (i guess), and Pitlick would be the core I'd keep for the future.

 

Giroux might be useful as a third line player. If so, maybe he keeps the C. However, that job might be better off filled by Hayes, Coots, or Provy

The PP is filled with all of our struggling top players.  Perhaps changing personnel up a bit will get it going, even if they're not your most skilled players.  Perhaps swapping out 2 of the 5 on the PP might inject a bit more hunger.

4 hours ago, SCFlyguy said:

 but none of them are game breakers.  

That's it right there.  There isn't one player on the Flyers who when he has the puck is dangerous.  Nobody who when he has the puck you believe he's going to make something happen.  Nobody who you're counting down the shifts until he's back on the ice again.  The last guy I felt like that about was Ghost from a few years ago, but I'd hardly call him a game breaker. 

Patrick had 90 goals in 160 games in the WHL.  Could he have been that game breaker?  Frost was 100 in 190 games in the OHL.  Could he be a game breaker?   

For the first time in awhile though I saw a flash of the old Giroux in game 4.  Hoping we get a bit more of that tonight.

Anyone know if a player with a NMC can be left unprotected in the expansion draft?

Asking for a friend.

I still say this team plays a period and then looks gassed.  Physically, mentally, not sure which, but they just can't keep up.  This is the 9th playoff game & I can't remember a full game effort yet.  Heck, I'll take a 2/3 effort at this point.

They're getting embarrassed, but thanks to Carter Hart these games aren't blowouts.

Ok, I know the reason for the postponing of the games is for a good cause... but hockey speaking, I think this is great for the Flyers.

It's seemed to me for quite awhile now that they look tired at times.  A rest and regroup should serve them well.  Even if after the games resume the schedule will be even tighter.

Decades from now people are going to look back on 2020 and what humanity endured.  I hope they do so while pointing to this moment in time as when the world became a better place.