Game 27: Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers; 12/7/22 @ 7 PM, NBCSP

[Howie58]

Greetings:

 

The Flyers are underdogs (+140).  It looks like Hart versus Kuemper in goal, which makes me wonder if Sandstrom will only see back-to-back action?  Other than our anemic power play, these teams aren't far apart statistically:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/2022/12/07/2022020413

 

Which Flyers team shows?  Is it the energetic one we saw against Colorado, or the mistake-filled, lethargic group we've seen most of the season?

 

 

 

[flyerrod]

7 hours ago, Howie58 said:

Greetings:

 

The Flyers are underdogs (+140).  It looks like Hart versus Kuemper in goal, which makes me wonder if Sandstrom will only see back-to-back action?  Other than our anemic power play, these teams aren't far apart statistically:

https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-phi/2022/12/07/2022020413

 

Which Flyers team shows?  Is it the energetic one we saw against Colorado, or the mistake-filled, lethargic group we've seen most of the season?

 

 

 

@Howie58 I just want to say thank you for taking the time to start a post with the basic info for every Flyers game. I don’t always post but I frequently check in for the broadcast location and your often poignant takes on the game. You are doing a thankless job this season and I am sure I am not the only one who appreciates it. Kudos my friend.

[Howie58]

12 minutes ago, flyerrod said:

@Howie58 I just want to say thank you for taking the time to start a post with the basic info for every Flyers game. I don’t always post but I frequently check in for the broadcast location and your often poignant takes on the game. You are doing a thankless job this season and I am sure I am not the only one who appreciates it. Kudos my friend.

Dear Flyerrod:

 

Thanks. As I've said before, I view folks here as an extended family that bonded after Philly.com's demise. This is a public service. And we can only hope that in a season or two, we show up as the favorite more often.

[Howie58]

On the injury front--it looks like Kuemper is out.  On our side--JVR is in, replacing Tanner L., who is injured.  Charlie Lindgren's GAA is 3.32, and sub-.900 save percentage.  That gives us a possible leg up.  

Edited December 7, 2022 by Howie58

[fan4ever]

1 hour ago, Howie58 said:

On the injury front--it looks like Kuemper is out.  On our side--JVR is in, replacing Tanner L., who is injured.  Charlie Lindgren's GAA is 3.32, and sub-.900 save percentage.  That gives us a possible leg up.  

 

So we should tune in?

 

 

[Howie58]

5 minutes ago, fan4ever said:

 

So we should tune in?

 

 

Dear Fan4ever,

 

That is an excellent question, and your answer may depend on expectations.  If you are a long-time Flyers fan who remembers what it meant to cheer for a perennial top 10 or 12 team, you need to have low expectations or expect to be depressed, which makes for a tough watch.  Newbies may say that Torts and Company are planting the seeds for a respectable (and fun to watch) team in a season or two.  I remember what it was like to see the team humiliated by the Original Six in the early years.  That was painful.  Then came the 5-game playoff series against the Canadiens the year before we took the first Cup.  Yeah, we lost, but the patsy days were over.  Something special was happening and good stuff was in store.  That's a long-winded way for saying you should probably watch.  We may be surprised by season's end to see some rays of hope.  That will make for more interesting (and tolerable) watching.  Meanwhile, be heart-healthy and watch over a glass of red wine.  It doesn't have to be Merlot. 

[GratefulFlyers]

2 hours ago, Howie58 said:

Newbies may say that Torts and Company are planting the seeds for a respectable (and fun to watch) team in a season or two.

Hardly just the “newbies” Howie! And I think the team is respectable right now because their effort (minus a couple games) has been consistent. They’re far from respected but that’s going to take some time…and a real GM. 
 

As a Flyers’ lifer I find this season one of the most interesting. There’s a lot at stake as far as the direction the organization will ultimately choose to go. This is oversimplified but I think, depending on which road they take after this season, the Flyers can either continue what Tortorella’s started, or they can stay Stuck On Stupid, hopelessly mired in the same old Crap-ola. 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2022 by GratefulFlyers

[Samifan]

[SaucyJack]

Great saves by Lindgren about 7 minutes into the 3rd, then a great deflection by Strome.  Instead of 2-1 Flyers, it’s 2-1 Caps with a good chunk of the 3rd period remaining.

 

Will be nice for the Caps to hold on to finish their 6-game road trip on a high note.  Only one home game upon return before going west again for Chicago and Winterpeg.

Edited December 8, 2022 by SaucyJack

[SaucyJack]

And Ovie notches (as the Caps announcers inform us) the 50th empty-netter of his career.  He maybe shouldda had one the other night in Edmonton.  

[SaucyJack]

How about two EN goals for The OveMeistro tonight?

[Howie58]

This was boring and winnable. We dont have the firepower. Sedlak's turnover was costly. Ovie seems to score against us with regularity. 

[SaucyJack]

May well have been a different outcome had those two great chances 7 minutes into the 3rd gone into the net for Philly.

[GrittyForever]

Ovi gets to pad his goal total with empty netters. Just doesn't seem right

 

[mojo1917]

17 hours ago, Howie58 said:

We may be surprised by season's end to see some rays of hope.  That will make for more interesting (and tolerable) watching.  Meanwhile, be heart-healthy and watch over a glass of red wine.  It doesn't have to be Merlot.

 

I am finding this team to be earnest in it's effort.

These guys are skating hard and hitting, they are competing.

Right now, with the roster being mostly detritus, that seems like a positive sign.

Compared to years past when more talent didn't work nearly as hard.

 

We have been enjoying Malbecs and Shirazes in the Mojo house.

Mostly from Lodi/Central California.

 

[Howie58]

39 minutes ago, mojo1917 said:

 

I am finding this team to be earnest in it's effort.

These guys are skating hard and hitting, they are competing.

Right now, with the roster being mostly detritus, that seems like a positive sign.

Compared to years past when more talent didn't work nearly as hard.

 

We have been enjoying Malbecs and Shirazes in the Mojo house.

Mostly from Lodi/Central California.

 

Dear Mojo,

I am glad you are enjoying nature's bounty.  

 

It's funny, Torts never speaks about limited talent.  It is need to score by committee, or similar statement.  Last night, he said something like "we need to go out and buy hands," in the context of the team's inability to finish.  Yeah, there's effort.  But over the last 15 games, we are averaging something like 2.14 goals.  Yeah, we'll win when our goaltenders offers masterclasses.  Maybe we get some better hands next year. 

[SaucyJack]

18 hours ago, GrittyForever said:

Ovi gets to pad his goal total with empty netters. Just doesn't seem right

 

Of course, this is true of any team or player.  Perhaps EN should only be a team stat, with no player’s individual statistics affected.

 

It’s a cousin to World Football ️ where PlayerX does the hard work to earn a penalty inside the box, but star PlayerY takes the penalty kick with credit for the goal.  (Well, 70% of the time, I read somewhere, being the PK success rate.)

 

In neither sport does credit for a goal, undistinguished by the odd circumstance, seem right.

[OccamsRazor]

12 hours ago, Howie58 said:

I am glad you are enjoying nature's bounty.  

 

Ah....you have too...

 

...can't watch em sober.

 

So with York being called up this means Seeler finally comes out the lineup.

 

 

[GrittyForever]

5 hours ago, SaucyJack said:

Of course, this is true of any team or player.  Perhaps EN should only be a team stat, with no player’s individual statistics affected.

 

It’s a cousin to World Football ️ where PlayerX does the hard work to earn a penalty inside the box, but star PlayerY takes the penalty kick with credit for the goal.  (Well, 70% of the time, I read somewhere, being the PK success rate.)

 

In neither sport does credit for a goal, undistinguished by the odd circumstance, seem right.

Oh I know, and the smiley face was to show I don't really care, but it is a factor in terms of comparing players over different eras though. Most goals means less imo in an era where you get 3 on 3 goals, teams pull goalies earlier than ever before, play is more open, and players generally can play longer. So when they say at some point Ovi is the greatest goal scorer ever I'd be like well..............maybe not. 

 

Conor McDavid will likely break every record by everyone in time but is he really better than Gretzky was? I doubt it. 

[SaucyJack]

7 hours ago, GrittyForever said:

So when they say at some point Ovi is the greatest goal scorer ever I'd be like well..............maybe not. 

Yeah, lots of factors and changes involved.  Add in the following: Ovie is only plus 80-something over 17 seasons, most of which have had quality teams.  Several post-season flops (foremost being 2010’s first round loss to Montreal when they won the (ahem) highly coveted President’s Cup) were due to a lack of 2-way play, esp from Ovie.

 

So definitely not the greatest and probably not even all-time top ten.