Eastern Conference QF Game 3 - Capitals at Flyers - Apr 18 2016 - 7:00 ET

[brelic]

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill-Meltzer/Flyers-Playoff-Gameday-ECQF-Game-3-vs-WSH/45/76408

 

Key team stat comparisons 

 

Regular Season (overall NHL ranking in parenthesis)

Non-shootout goals per game: Flyers 2.57 (22nd), Capitals 3.02 2nd)
Non-shootout goals against per game: Flyers 2.59 (T-13th), Capitals 2.33 (2nd)
5-on-5 Goals For/Against Ratio: Flyers 133/130, Capitals 166/128
Power play efficiency: Flyers 18.9% (T-11th), Capitals 21.9% (5th)
Penalty killing efficiency: Flyers 80.5% (T-20th), Capitals 85.2% (2nd)
Shots per game: Flyers 31.0 (5th), Capitals 30.6 (T-7th)
Shots against per game: Flyers 30.7 (23rd), Capitals 28.4 (6th)
Faceoff percentage: Flyers 51.0% (6th), Capitals 49.6% (19th)

 

Series to date

 

Goals per game: Flyers 0.50 (0,1), Capitals 3.00 (2,4)
Goals against per game: Flyers 3.00, Capitals 0.50
5-on-5 GF/GA ratio: Flyers 1/3, Capitals 3/1
Power play efficiency: Flyers 0.00% (0-for-8), 37.5% (3-for-8)
Penalty kill efficiency: Flyers 62.5% (5-for-8), 100% (8-for-8)
Shots per game: Flyers 30.5 (19,42), Capitals 27.0 (31, 23)
Shots against per game: Flyers 27.0, Capitals 30.5
Faceoff percentage: Flyers 50.4% (60-for-119), Capitals 49.6% (59-for-119)

 

Projected lineups (subject to change, will be updated)

 

Flyers

 

93 Jakub Voracek - 28 Claude Giroux - 17 Wayne Simmonds
12 Michael Raffl - 10 Brayden Schenn - 89 Sam Gagner
21 Scott Laughton - 52 Nick Cousins - 24 Matt Read
76 Chris VandeVelde - 78 Pierre-Édouard Bellemare - 25 Ryan White

 

47 Andrew MacDonald - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
55 Nick Schultz - 32 Mark Streit
23 Brandon Manning - 3 Radko Gudas

 

35 Steve Mason
[30 Michal Neuvirth]

 

Scratches: Evgeny Medvedev (healthy), R.J. Umberger (healthy), Jordan Weal (healthy), Sean Couturier (upper body), Michael Del Zotto (wrist surgery).

 

Capitals

 

8 Alex Ovechkin - 19 Nicklas Bäckström - 77 T.J. Oshie
65 Andre Burakovsky    - 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov - 14 Justin Williams
25 Jason Chimera - 10 Mike Richards - 90 Marcus Johansson
26 Daniel Winnik - 83 Jay Beagle - 43 Tom Wilson

 

27 Karl Alzner - 2 Matt Niskanen
44 Brooks Orpik - 74 John Carlson
9 Dmitri Orlov - 88 Nate Schmidt

 

70 Braden Holtby
[31 Philipp Grubauer]

 

Scratches: Taylor Chorney    (healthy), Stanislav Galiev (healthy), Michael Latta (healthy), Mike Weber (healthy).

[OccamsRazor]

The 1st Black Ace has been called up hold on lil children Colin Mcdonald is here to save the day!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I was hoping Hak would have tweaked the lineup a little like adding Medvedev to see if he could help spark something because i have been very unimpressed with Manning sure he isn't alone but i would have started there. But Hak has proven a little that he is the stubborn type that he is more just willing to go down with the ship than shake things up and try something new.

 

I guess we can just call Medvedev and failed experiment. How they couldn't have let him play a little more and work on his game is beyond me. I mean good lord he is new to north america.

 

If we have to watch half these ass clowns who have been playing in north america for years now make all these mistakes and miscues watching a russian with some actually skill couldn't have been the end all be all for this team. I can't believe this guys wasn't giving a chance to work through some of the problems he was having.

 

I know what will happen Medvedev will sign with one of the Flyers rivals after the season and burn them i just know it.

 

In fact i wouldn't be the least bit surprised he signs with the Caps and he plays on their bottom pair with Dmitri Orlov. Give them the Russian 5!

[Samifan]

Still upset Jake is back on top line, he doesn't deserve it plus Schenn, G and Simmer were really on a roll. I would have Raffl center the 2nd line and leave Jake with him a Gagner.

 

First 10 minutes tonight will tell the tale.

[OccamsRazor]

33 minutes ago, Samifan said:

Still upset Jake is back on top line, he doesn't deserve it plus Schenn, G and Simmer were really on a roll. I would have Raffl center the 2nd line and leave Jake with him a Gagner.

 

First 10 minutes tonight will tell the tale.

 

 

I wouldn't mind putting Raffl and Schenn with G i think those two are playing well creating space.

 

I'm hoping Hak having last line change at home now he can find some match ups he likes.

[Howie58]

We need the first goal.  Sadly, i am beginning to think our 4th line will be heroes.   I have lost faith in our "scoring" lines.

 

Howie

[Digityman]

Caps were supposed to win at home.  Being down 0-2 shouldn't be a shock. 

This was always about getting playoff experience for the kids.   Nothing more. 

Throw everything and the kitchen sink at the Caps and hopefully they get one of the next two.

 

[FD19372]

Bench Read and put McDonald in there. I'm tired of that floater.

As a team, the Flyers have have HAVE to click on at least two of their power plays tonight.  I have total faith that Mason will be fine. The Flyer power play concerns me mightily, however.  I'll say what I said before and you can all roll your eyes, I want Simmonds and White on there wreaking havoc in front of Holtby screening on the power play. Flyers win 4-2 tonight.

[FD19372]

Oh, I almost forgot. The Flyers must score first tonight.

[RJ8812]

scoring first means nothing if that's the only goal they're going to score 

[OccamsRazor]

23 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

Bench Read and put McDonald in there. I'm tired of that floater.

As a team, the Flyers have have HAVE to click on at least two of their power plays tonight.  I have total faith that Mason will be fine. The Flyer power play concerns me mightily, however.  I'll say what I said before and you can all roll your eyes, I want Simmonds and White on there wreaking havoc in front of Holtby screening on the power play. Flyers win 4-2 tonight.

 

 

I think versus the Caps hey are going to have to change their stradegy. Ususally they shoot from all over and get a greasy goal on the rebound.

 

But the Caps are collapsijg and their Dmen are so good at blocking and taking away lanes and then collecting the rebound that the Flyers are going to have to going quicker shorter passes to get better QUALITY chances they focusing on just shooting from everywhere.

 

Make the shots count high percentage shots...if not so much time and energy will be expended/wasted trying to get back in the zone and setting up that it will be just wasteful.

 

 

QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY over quantity!

[OccamsRazor]

Give me 20-25 high percentage shots over 40-45 low percentage bad angle shots every day all day!!!

[FD19372]

5 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

Give me 20-25 high percentage shots over 40-45 low percentage bad angle shots every day all day!!!

That would certainly help but my key is don't allow Holtby to see anything on the power play. The time to start getting into his head is now, don't you think?

[OccamsRazor]

7 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

My key is don't allow Holtby to see anything on the power play. Time to start getting into his head is now, don't you think?

 

 

Yes but it is going to be hard to get into his head without making contact and i want to stay away from that sort of just because the way the games have been called.

 

They will not let the Flyers get away with that...they just won't i know it they will put them in the box.

 

Just like in the 1st game when the Flyers got up with 3 straight PPs and hen wouldn't call it like that the rest of the way and it went in the Caps favor for the calls the rest of the way once they got the lead.

 

No i'd rather just try to focus on the solid 5 on 5 play and just get the PP going 1st. 

 

They do that they can crawl back into the series.

 

Flyers win tonight.....

 

 

....4-2

 

 

 

.....one PP goal and an empty netter from Bellemare!!!

[Samifan]

8 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

That would certainly help but my key is don't allow Holtby to see anything on the power play. The time to start getting into his head is now, don't you think?

 

I say put Ray Emery in the first row behind the goal so he can just stare at Holtby and intimidate him. Hell the WFC staff should also play the video of Emery beating Holtby's ass on the big screen during warm-ups!

[FD19372]

3 minutes ago, Samifan said:

 

I say put Ray Emery in the first row behind the goal so he can just stare at Holtby and intimidate him. Hell the WFC staff should also play the video of Emery beating Holtby's ass on the big screen during warm-ups!

Find a Hakstol clone and stick him in the first row behind Holtby to stare at and intimidate him. That should do it.

[Hose Head]

I personally don't think the Flyers should be focused first on Holtby, but they should be worried about what that Capitals offense is going to do.

[FD19372]

8 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

Yes but it is going to be hard to get into his head without making contact and i want to stay away from that sort of just because the way the games have been called.

 

They will not let the Flyers get away with that...they just won't i know it they will put them in the box.

 

Just like in the 1st game when the Flyers got up with 3 straight PPs and hen wouldn't call it like that the rest of the way and it went in the Caps favor for the calls the rest of the way once they got the lead.

 

No i'd rather just try to focus on the solid 5 on 5 play and just get the PP going 1st. 

 

They do that they can crawl back into the series.

 

Flyers win tonight.....

 

 

....4-2

 

 

 

.....one PP goal and an empty netter from Bellemare!!!

Easy...then don't hit Holtby. Just screen him.  ;  )

[brelic]

Flyers 4-1. 

 

Brayden Schenn with 2 goals (5on5, empty netter), Simmer with a PPG, and Gostisbehere with a PPG.

 

And Gudas destroys someone.

 

 

[OccamsRazor]

1 minute ago, Hose Head said:

I personally don't think the Flyers should be focused first on Holtby, but they should be worried about what that Capitals offense is going to do.

 

 

They need to focus on the PP...the last two games, exact numbers i forget (or am trying too) 0 for 7 is not good.

[Hose Head]

Just now, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

They need to focus on the PP...the last two games, exact numbers i forget (or am trying too) 0 for 7 is not good.

Yeah, The Flyers need to put the puck behind Holtby at least twice on the PP and also it is very important for them to get out in front early on the Capitals.

[FD19372]

15 minutes ago, Samifan said:

 

I say put Ray Emery in the first row behind the goal so he can just stare at Holtby and intimidate him. Hell the WFC staff should also play the video of Emery beating Holtby's ass on the big screen during warm-ups!

I don't want Ray Emery anywhere near the Flyer bench. If they do, God help us, they'll be tempted to actually play him. Hey wait a minute, there you go. Dress him and put him at wing. He'll actually play hard for 60 minutes unlike Read.

[OccamsRazor]

9 minutes ago, Hose Head said:

Yeah, The Flyers need to put the puck behind Holtby at least twice on the PP and also it is very important for them to get out in front early on the Capitals.

 

 

No arguements there. But baby steps....let's get one.....and go from there.

 

I believe if they can get one past him it will give them some confidence and the damn could break....i hope....

[OccamsRazor]

11 minutes ago, FD19372 said:

I don't want Ray Emery anywhere near the Flyer bench. If they do, God help us, they'll be tempted to actually play him. Hey wait a minute, there you go. Dress him and put him at wing. He'll actually play hard for 60 minutes unlike Read.

 

 

He isn't eligible for the playoffs so it isn't even an option.

[FD19372]

Just now, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

He isn't eligible for the playoffs so it isn't even an option.

Well, Read is barely "eligible" as an NHLer and that hasn't stopped him. 

[FD19372]

3 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

He isn't eligible for the playoffs so it isn't even an option.

I wasn't serious except for my last sentence that he would actually play hard for 60 minutes unlike Read.