Howie58

Points in eight straight games is not something I expected from this season.  I should have greater appreciation for a goaltending clinic.  

Kudos to Risto for what looked like a very good game.  He was knocking into people (cutting Fabbri), using his stick to break up plays--good effort.  

This is marginally watchable. Husso is amazing, Erssson is great. Neither team masters consistent O. Risto is playing well. But it's boring.

The PP is truly inept. The PK masks it. But it still hurts.

I saw Torts' pre-game presser.  Sam is back in.  When a reporter asked who's back-up, the reply was "you," followed by "I don't know."  I'm not sure if that means Carter Hart is still sick, Sandstrom is still back up, or if someone else has been called up.  I thought it was a legitimate question that Torts brushed off with contempt that was uncalled for.  

The consensus I've read and listened to says it was in part Berube, and in part Armstrong.  Berube apparently "lost the locker room" by extracting a lot of the players, but that strategy can only last so long.  The other component is trying to keep a nucleus going too long, which we're seeing in Pitt and Washington.  That falls on Armstrong.  

I wouldn't shed tiers.  He'll be hired somewhere soon.  

Greetings:

The O and B are mild favorites (-128).  The teams have nearly identical records, but the Flyers have been a much better team over the last 10.  We have done well versus Detroit at WFC:

https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/detroit-philadelphia-odds-december-16-2023-2017699

Neither team is stellar on faceoffs.  The Wings are better offensively; we're better defensively:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-phi/2023/12/16/2023020465

Let's go Flyers.  

This game had two acts.  The first two periods and the first 10 of the third were semi-snooze with competent goaltending.  Then things opened up.  If we can win in the OT or SO, it really is a "New Era of Orange."  

Our youngsters may be gaining confidence.  They certainly know how to compete. 

The PK is only good for so many chances. Meanwhile, our PP doesn't equalize!

So far, this is a snoozer. We're almost done with the first with 7 total shots. The Flyers are out of synch.

3 hours ago, MaineFlyFan said:

WOW! So the league has finally "figured him out"?.....

 

(Damn guy scores the EXACT same PP goal 30+ times a year....and every defensive matching knows where he is going to be, and what shot he is going to take..... and they STILL could never stop him.)

 

But that is a shocking stat.

I saw a good piece on YouTube with Pierre LeBrun earlier today about Berube's firing.  In essence, Doug Armstrong had to admit that part of the problem was keeping a core together too long.  I suspect this may be a problem in Washington as it is in Pittsburgh.   Ovie will keep them "decent" for some time.  But the window may be closing faster than their fans and GM realize.  

3 hours ago, SaucyJack said:

Who knows?  Are the Flyers playing the Good Capitals that recently defeated the Kings in LA and drubbed the Rangers in DC?  Or the Mediocre Caps that just lost to Dallas at home in OT, and sustained narrow wins in Anaheim and Chicago?  Or the Bad Caps who lost in San Jose then totally got thumped in Las Vegas and Phoenix?

 

Making a wager here is little different than betting on roulette. 

Well, that description may apply to the Flyers if they aren't solid defensively or their goalies aren't at the top of their games.  The Caps are better than my expectations.  I thought Ovechkin + Other would show signs of aging and sink to .500.  They're better than "average" but a team past its prime--from my take. 

Welcome to the thread and forum.  

Greetings:

The O and B are mild favorites (-132) which has been the exception this season:

https://www.lines.com/nhl/predictions/capitals-vs-flyers-money-line-dec-14-2023

We've taken both meetings this season.  Statistically, these teams are very similar:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wsh/2023/12/14/2023020448

I hope the Flyers put the tough loss against Nashville behind them with a convincing win.  

In prior years, the team might have folded after being down 2-0.  They showed resolve and got back on their feet.  I commented elsewhere that the winning goal had a Leighton-like feel, but that will happen to the Patrick Roys of the world as well.  

My gut says another 30-goal type will make a difference.  If Cam and Owen are in neutral, we don't have another person to fill in.  As for the PP...that one looks like slow decision-making that allows defenders to keep their defensive box.  That's one dude's take.

I'll be curious to see how they rebound against the Caps tomorrow.

Well, we fought back for a point. That was a strange winning score. All in, a good road trip. A PP goal would have helped.

The pace and hitting are intense. It is exhausting to watch. The refs need eye exams. They are talented.

We are game but the Preds are turning the puck over and facing a great goalie. OMG, Luke Schenn has an assist on the 2nd goal. 

This is a tight game. Ersson is playing well. I suspect we need some greasy goals. Meanwhile, the fans are loud. I guess they think it's music.

Greetings:

The O&B are underdogs (+144), despite a better record and hot streak:

https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/philadelphia-nashville-odds-december-12-2023-2017564

The teams are similar statistically.  They are even "hotter" than the Flyers:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nsh-vs-phi/2023/12/12/2023020435

Historically, this is a very competitive series, home and away:

https://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/opponent.cgi?Nashville_Predators

This is a good matchup.

Best,

Howie

On a sober note, it looks like Cam Atkinson can skate, but I wonder about scoring? Coots seems to have shaken off the year away. I'm not sure about Cam. 

We shall see. 

It was fun to watch. This bunch feels it can compete with any team. Good.

A penalty shot and score. Then am amazing play by Sanheim followed by Brink's pass to Farabee. They are taking the war to the Avs. Not what I expected.

We are game. Skating toe-to-toe with a skilled group. 1-! Halfway through is a surprise. 

1 minute ago, flyer4ever said:

"if Arizona does bomb"

Please define bomb. That franchise has been festering manure from day 1, ever since the bett turd put it there.

How about if I say:  Somewhere near the league average in attendance, break-even in finances by Forbes' assessment, and an occasional playoff birth.  My gut says this franchise might not check any of those boxes.  BTW, my backyard FL Panthers are doing well on the ice, but their attendance and finances aren't so hot.  

Howdy:

Here is a piece on "The Process" which supports Mojo's view:

https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/The-Philadelphia-76ers-Trust-the-Process

I think it would be interesting to see if the Flyers' problem has been that our first rounders (in particular) have not been as good as expected--or if they have simply not made it to the 100 game benchmark that I've seen for "making it" to the NHL?  I don't have a good answer.  Or even a not-so-good answer.  Stated differently--Maybe Morin wasn't first-pair, but if he was at least a Seeler-type, how would the franchise been hurt or helped?  Maybe Patrick or Rubstov would have been Laughtonesque.  Fine...better than zilch.  

Having protected top-10 picks is important.  But I suspect it is one of many factors.  

Greetings:

We are heavy underdogs (+190) and 2-6 in our last eight against them:

https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/philadelphia-colorado-odds-december-9-2023-2017484

Save for offense, these teams are statistical carbon copies:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/col-vs-phi/2023/12/09/2023020417

So, how well do the "New-and-Improved" Flyers compete against a very skilled squad at high altitude?