Howie58

I am seeing a virtual dead heat odds-wise, with (-110) on the moneyline: https://news.sportsinteraction.com/nhl/matchup/flyers-vs-capitals-odds-030124-177319 There isn't much to distinguish between the squads on numbers: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/2024/03/01/2023020954 They're a tad better offensively, but the Cap PP is almost as anemic as ours, which is strange given their personnel. We're on a three-game win streak and beat them back in December, 4-3. They are missing Oshie, we're missing TK. From my vantage--the O and B are on the way up, the Caps and Ovie may be heading south. Let's hope our youngins play like they did against TB.

Well, as I've said before, over 82 games you'll lose some you expect to win, and vice versa. I thought this was a sure loss. The law of averages begins to take hold. We were due. Occ raises a good point on goaltending. I'm happy Sam is panning out. That said, I wonder about any of our Russian prospects ever showing on North American soil. The PHLY gang did a short piece on this yesterday. I concurred with their assessment. If we're rebuilding, you don't squander draft picks or prospects on fixing a short-term need. BTW, they went over the UFAs in goal this summer. It is oldie and not-so-goodie. I think the question becomes whether they use a buyout on Petersen? On to Washington for the proverbial four-pointer. I'll be curious to see how the bookies call that one.

Wow, they've slain a big dragon. My.Center Ice feed was on and off. But it looks like the team was sharp. After a lousy weekend, this is good. Walker is increasing his trade value.

I just started the thread for #60 and TB. Our Captain has not had a good stretch of late: https://www.crossingbroad.com/2024/02/has-the-flyers-unexpected-success-come-at-the-expense-of-sean-couturiers-game.html The team is depleted on the D front. Laughton and Foerster may be coming to life, but our PP is debilitating. And we don't appear to have a competent backup goalie. I hope we keep our heads above water. But I'm fearful this is a squad that's played very well with few degrees of freedom (injuries, offensive talent) that's fraying at the edges. These last three losses aren't embarrassments. That said, they expose lack of depth across-the-board.

Greetings: TB is favored (-122); they have taken 13 of the last 15 from us--the last 8 at Wells Fargo: https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/tampa-bay-philadelphia-odds-february-27-2024-2019594 Our last win against them was October 2022. The tale of the tape presents a matchup of the league's best and worst power plays: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-tbl/2024/02/27/2023020930 That reminds me of the "Gladiator" scene where Maximus and his fellow slaves take on the Romans--lots of wastage with survivors and not necessarily victors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov1ua_9VrWg History says this will be a tough matchup for the O and B, and it comes after some disappointing losses with a depleted lineup. TB is heating up at the right time. The game may be pivotal. I'm fearful the wind is leaving our sails as we approach March 8th. LGF

Was I watching Leighton? What rhe hell? Thus game is reminding .e we have a long way to go on our rebuild. Our PP is suffocating us. While neither goalie is competent....Mr. Petersen looks like a buyout.

The Flyers need to tighten things up. The deflection was tough to stop. And we need to put pressure on Jarry.

Greetings: Pitt is favored (-165): https://www.kfyrtv.com/sports/betting/2024/02/25/penguins-flyers-nhl-odds-total-moneyline/ With the exception of faceoffs, we aren't that different statistically: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-pit/2024/02/25/2023020917 We've taken two of the first three this season. I hope the Rangers game doesn't leave us depleted. This is an important game for playoffs and psyche.

Rad: I wonder how long lit lasts? Will it lead to exhaustion before the playoffs? I expected Pitt and Washington to decline this year. Not the Devils. But we're even ahead of them in the standings. Hey, it is what it is.

Greetings: The Rangers are favored (-145), which is not as heavy as expected given their current run. The Rags took the Black Friday game 3-1 and have beaten us five in a row: https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/new-york-philadelphia-odds-february-24-2024-2019484 The tale of the tape is interesting and may say a lot about the O and B playing better than expectations: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-phi/2024/02/24/2023020905 In so many words, we win with a poor faceoff percentage, relatively poor offense, and terrible power play. Intangibles matter. It should be interesting and a benchmark. I guess this game is a hybrid broadcast for the old-style linear TV types and the newfangled streamers. That's too much for an old fart to comprehend!

Well, they have two tough opponents this weekend. If they won 1, I'll be happy. This game was a snoozer.

Hathaway took advantage of bad rebound control. He works hard. But this game is hard to watch.

This TNT analyst group stinks.

These teams look like they are drunk. Not much offense. Lots of defensive lapses.

Runor has it that Peacock and this thing will merge. Nobody is competing with Netflix.

Dear Maine FF: I am assuming this has something to do with the merger with Warner Brothers-Discovery. This is not the Cinemax we grew up with. Somehow, they got sports content.

Greetings: We are favorites (-185), which has been a rarity this season. We are 7-2 against Chicago over our last nine meetings: https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/philadelphia-chicago-odds-february-21-2024-2019399 This is a matchup of two anemic power plays (the league's cellar dwellers) and faceoff wins. Our goals-against is, however, much better: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-phi/2024/02/21/2023020885 On paper, we should win. I hope we aren't distracted or overconfident. I wonder if we see Petersen get a start to keep him active, or if Torts goes with Ersson to give him confidence? We have back-to-backs this Saturday and Sunday (Rangers, Pens), so Petersen is due.

Dear Occ, Yeah, the last 15 years hasn't been too kind to Flyers fans when it comes to first-rounders. We may be turning an important corner. But our current status reflects some serious flub-ups on the draft scene. Reflecting on Morin and Patrick makes me sad--their cases seem tragic.

It's funny, Torts' post-gamer sounded like a guy who was upset with execution and penalties. He even made it clear that the thinking should be on the coming game with Chicago. Tactically, that makes sense--you put a loss behind you and move on. But if I am Danny Briere, this game said a lot about my squad and its talent. Torts has done a great job with the clay he can mold. But we need help. I was also thinking about fate and the consequences of past choices. Think back to June, 2017. The Devils take Hischier. And we take Nolan Patrick: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_NHL_Entry_Draft Sorry for opening up old wounds, But seeing Hischier on post-game interviews made me reflect on our talent shortfall.

Great minds think alike. I was about to post the same thing. If we don't have great goaltending and tight checking/forecheckjng, it's rough sledding. We could use a Hischier. But we also need a bottom six with credible scoring. This was an important loss that reminded us of how far we need to go.

Oh, I guess the bookies recognized the Devils expected goals is a lot higher than the O and B.

The Devils got scoring from depth players. That doesn't happen too often from our bottom 6.Our shot total is misleading. Daws didn't see many toughies!

It's funny how they see New Jersey through a North Jersey prism. Coming from Vineland, I say this isn't NJ south of Trenton. I grew up with chicken farming and Dahlias, along with vegetable processing for Progresso soup. And the big city was Philly. The New York metroplex was a million miles away from our vantage.

Errson is not looking sharp. Defensive lapses don't help. I am glad Tippett is on. His teammates don't look sharp. Sad.

Torts must have sent some clear signals between periods.