Howie58

Greetings:

I'm seeing the Flyers as favorites (-133) as the betting line opens:

https://www.sportsline.com/nhl/game-forecast/NHL_20240121_OTT@PHI/

Statistically, Ottawa scores a bunch but surrenders a lot too:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/ott-vs-phi/2024/01/21/2023020718

Their PP is almost as anemic as ours.  

Historically, this has been a "home" series.  However, we are on a three-game losing streak including a 5-2 loss way back in October.

On the one hand, we are facing a back-to-back.  On the other, they want to get the COL loss out of the system.  I tried to find stats on our matinee game history.  My gut says this isn't a good slot for us.  

2 minutes ago, GratefulFlyers said:

I got lucky to catch a Flyers' feed. Naturally they're raving about the "effort" and the "fight," - I am too. But this one highlighted the talent gap. Not as much as it might've though...if that makes sense. The Flyers are not bereft of talent but there's only one Nathan McKinnon and not many of his kind. When Makar has a relatively quiet night and they still get 6 past your goalies, an ENer to boot ...

 

No news to Flyers' fans: to compete with the best they'll eventually need some upgrades.

 

 

Great minds think alike.  Effort goes so far.  And this kind of game raises questions about an "energy line."  And on that score, I think Poehling is being weighed down by his line mates. 

I would probably put this under heading of a semi-clunker.  We competed and weren't embarrassed.  But we need to contain a team with this level of talent and didn't.  Our absence of PP hurts.  

We need to get it out of our system quickly. Ottawa is right around the corner.

From the 30K foot perspective--yeah, we need to think about building a team with distributed scoring.  If Tippett and Frost aren't generating offense, things get iffy.  Compare our 2nd/3rd line to COL.  

My take on first half:

1) Failing to score on the PP isn't only bad for our momentum--it fails to break the opponent's as in this game.

2) Our scoring is concentrated; they have a team of people who can put the puck in the net.  The rebuild needs to continue.

3) Even Carter Hart is human.  

Weird first goal for Colorado. Meanwhile, the tempo is furious.

Greetings:

The January Gauntlet continues with the Avs visiting as favorites (-172) and having taken six of the last ten against us:

https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/colorado-philadelphia-odds-january-20-2024-2018679

We beat them in Colorado with Hart in net (5-2) on December 9th.  This is a big-time offense going up against a tight defense: 

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

We are on a roll.  Does it continue?  

I expected a loss. This team is.working hard. We will have subtraction by March 8. But it may not matter much. They will compete. It's fun to watch. For a long time, it's been deplorable.

Laughton's goal was different. He stumbled and it helped. And they are pressing the attack...not laying back.

Greetings:

Dallas is the favorite (-150) and has gone 8-1-1 against us over the last 10, almost doubling our goal production and holding us to under two goals on average:

https://statsalt.com/games/nhl/1-18-2024/dallas-stars-vs-philadelphia-flyers-prediction-4222/

Both teams are playing good hockey of late.  Dallas is an excellent road team:

Flyers try to keep win streak alive, host the Stars | FOX Sports

We lost our first matchup 5-4 in OT with Sam in goal.  We have improved a lot since then.  This should be a good game against a team that can push us around given their size.  

I don't follow the Eagles closely but their end-of-season collapse is epic by NFL standards. I suspect the coaching staff goes, but someone has to look at the D. 

Heck, we can even score open net. 

How many times do we complain about the officials? Now, one gives Tippett an assist.

15 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

No Coots or Drysdale again. Staal out tonight!

Yep! Cates is in. BTW, someone named Hofer is starting in goal for the Blues.

It's interesting that the O and B are still underdogs in this game.  Granted, the Blues are playing better hockey since Berube's departure.   But you'd reckon that our performance of late would mean otherwise.  Perhaps the bookies still need convincing (and remember, Torts said wait until the end of January before assessment).  I have no problem playing as underdog.  It's the reality that against certain teams, my take says we should be favored. 

FYI, it looks like Hart versus Binnington.  His numbers are quite good in six starts against us--2.32 GAA and a .915 save percentage:

https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/ask/jordan-binnington-record-vs-flyers

Greetings:

The roadshow concludes with the Blues as a mild favorite (-120):

https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/ice-hockey/nhl---matches/philadelphia-flyers-@-st.-louis-blues-32937855

These teams are virtual carbon copies statistically, with a nod to the Flyers on defense:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-stl/2024/01/15/2023020679

I was surprised to see how well we've done against our fellow Western Conference expansion fellow, even on the road:

https://flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/opponent.cgi?St.Louis_Blues

The Blues were under .500 when they dismissed Berube, so things are better under Bannister.  Does our mojo continue?

As Phil Rizzuto said, holy cow.

33 is calm, cool, and collected. A joy to watch.

Cam ends the drought. 'Bout time!

Chess match + goaltending dual so far. These are disciplined squads.

Greetings:

Winnipeg is a fairly heavy favorite (-194) with the league's best record and an eight-game win streak:

https://sportschatplace.com/nhl-picks/winnipeg-jets-vs-philadelphia-flyers-prediction-1-13-24-picks/

As this sports book notes, it's not as if the Flyers are playing bad hockey--but for the last few weeks, WPG is playing lights-out hockey.

It looks like the "big" statistical difference is offense--WPG averages a half-goal higher.  Otherwise, the teams aren't that different, though WPG is even stingier on D than the O and B:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-wpg/2024/01/13/2023020663

Home ice has been a driver for this series:

https://flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/opponent.cgi?Winnipeg_Jets

What's left in the tank after last night's win?  Does Sudden/Steady Sam (presumably) stand on his head?  

I dozed off at 3-1. I woke up at the start of OT. Timing is everything in life. This is the new and improved Flyers.

If you snooze....you might lose. We are anemic. Nic tries to wake the team with a fight. Not sure it mattered.

48 minutes ago, notfondajane said:

I'm not sure on that. I think in 2026 draft the Pens have 9 picks as of now. (Hopefully they will keep them.)they should have started that a few years back.  

I heard that Guentzel is to go to Vancouver for a 1st rounder, a prospect and a NHL ready player. It's a rumor. 

Thanks for the info.  I was under the impression that Pitt's draft cupboard was challenged. 

1 hour ago, notfondajane said:

This maybe true. You are still ahead of a Crosby-Malkin led Penguins team! 

Candidly, I thought this was the year we saw decline in Pitt. The Karlson signing surprised me---Does Dubas really think that core can go on forever?

39 minutes ago, GratefulFlyers said:

Hey Howie can you elaborate a little on this? I’m not sure I follow but I worry that you’re onto something.

 

I’ve been leery about Tortorella’s style all along but he’s won me over this year. Will I still be a fan of his in a year? I wonder. Anyway I’m real curious about the “head fake” you mentioned.

 

Good timing for this thread thanks for thinking of it!

Grateful:

I think Torts is an acknowledged master at extracting a lot from a talent base, particularly in CBJ, though burnout sets in:

https://thehockeywriters.com/flyers-following-path-tortorellas-successful-history/

Coaching aside--and I laud what he's done with this team--do we think the youngins we have on board will stick and grow, or will be see a multi-year churn to grow talent that may take time to nurture.  As I've said before, I think of the 2008 and 2010 runs as flukes rather than the result of a core that could deliver good play for a stretch.  Heck, Homer all but demolished the 2010 squad pretty quickly.  So I am asking if we are seeing the beginning of the New Era of Orange that takes us several levels higher in a year or two, or is this sort of solid move out of the post-AV funk, but not part of a strong and long move forward?