The Flyers are the Softest Team in the NHL!

[The Quigster]

Bryzo needs a little help keeping the campers out of the crease.I guess the Lavster wants him to clear his own net,none of the Flyers will! On the other end Rinne saw every shot, where were the Flyers screening him? Hello Lavi, anybody home?

[Vincent05]

@

I agree with you that they need to clear the porch more but it's not on Lavy, it's the players that must do it. The coaches can only teach so much but the players must execute. I only see 3 guys right now that can do that, Coburn, Mez and Bourdon. I wish Coburn plays with a nastier streak but he doesn't do it consistently or you see it once in a long while when he's piss. That's why I want Weber here, he's the total package. To me Weber is Pronger and Suter is Timonen. Suter is a good no.1 but he's another Timonen which I don't think is good, unless we go out and somehow get another 1 or 2 mean and nasty dman that can get the job done right.

[aziz]

On the other end Rinne saw every shot, where were the Flyers screening him?

did you really not see the messes that rinne had to fight through? thing is, some goalies know how to make saves anyway.

[Dynamo 47]

@

I agree with you that they need to clear the porch more but it's not on Lavy, it's the players that must do it. The coaches can only teach so much but the players must execute. I only see 3 guys right now that can do that, Coburn, Mez and Bourdon. I wish Coburn plays with a nastier streak but he doesn't do it consistently or you see it once in a long while when he's piss. That's why I want Weber here, he's the total package. To me Weber is Pronger and Suter is Timonen. Suter is a good no.1 but he's another Timonen which I don't think is good, unless we go out and somehow get another 1 or 2 mean and nasty dman that can get the job done right.

Good post and I agree. We need someone who can clear the porch and provide some sort of intimidating presence back on defense. Not only from open ice hits or along the wall but someone who is a major SOB to go against in front of the net.

I think Bourdon has that potential but we need more of that. Even prior to Pronger's injury, he was the only physical dman we had. We need another one like with did when we had Smith and Hatcher. They were both nasty to play against in front and we simply don't have that now.

That was why I was hoping the Flyers went after Brooks Orpik a couple of seasons ago. That is what they need.

I totally agree with your comparison with Weber and Suter and Pronger and Kimo. Personally I would rather have the more well rounded and physical Weber but so would every other team in the league. I am OK with a JVR for Schenn deal as he plays with a physical edge. I still wish the team would have gone after Scott when he was with the Wild and becoming a free agent. He would have been the perfect 6/7 guy and could also serve as the heavyweight the team needs. Not to mention guys would be a little more hesitant to crash the net knowing he is back there.

So in the unlikely event that we acquire Weber, I would be fine with Schenn from the Leafs'>Laffs and hope that The Big O, Oliver Lauridsen of the Phantoms continues to develop as he is turning into a pretty big and nasty SOB, not so much with fighting but with hitting.

[Flyguys03]

This defense is definitely soft. That Sens goal in the Sunday game where 2 sens pounded the puck in while 3 flyers watched, was a microcosm of that.

[The Quigster]

Not to beat this thing to death,but the fowards could help,the defense more,maybe Lavi could mention that to the guys.

[JackStraw]

did you really not see the messes that rinne had to fight through? thing is, some goalies know how to make saves anyway.

And I think Bob is one of them. I've noticed that Bryz doesn't seem to be able to find the puck if there's traffic in front of him. Bob seems to be much more active in trying to look through traffic to at least find the puck. Bryz just seems to freeze.

[aziz]

Bob seems to be much more active in trying to look through traffic to at least find the puck. Bryz just seems to freeze.

yeah, but the thing that really gets me down on bryzgalov shaking this whole funk off is how many of those shots hit the area he is covering...but go in anyway. meaning, the screens aren't picking corners, the are getting through the 5 hole, between his arm and body. it's basic goaltending, if you can't see the shot, build a wall that covers as much net as possible and then seal it off. if a guy can thread the needle into a corner, fine, but nothing should get through you. no leaking. bryzgalov is leaky mcleakenov.

[doom88]

And I think Bob is one of them. I've noticed that Bryz doesn't seem to be able to find the puck if there's traffic in front of him. Bob seems to be much more active in trying to look through traffic to at least find the puck. Bryz just seems to freeze.

Bob has really worked on improving in his weak areas from last season - finding the puck in traffic, and puck handling. I like his professional approach to his job.

[JackStraw]

Bob has really worked on improving in his weak areas from last season - finding the puck in traffic, and puck handling. I like his professional approach to his job.

There's no question that Bob has a great attitude and an excellent work ethic. All the signs point to him being a very good NHL goalie. Hopefully it will be for the Flyers.

[Spinorama]

There's no question that Bob has a great attitude and an excellent work ethic. All the signs point to him being a very good NHL goalie. Hopefully it will be for the Flyers.

indeed. and yes please!

[Digityman]

@ article on silly.com about opponents not fearing to play in philly

THURSDAY WAS giveaway night at the Wells Fargo Center, but the only thing fans received was a Hefty bag full of doubt. An offseason of retooling, of trading two of the team's leaders, adding a slew of prolific rookies and spending lavishly for an established goalie have not changed this team's personality one iota. The Flyers are once again a fastbreaking basketball team on ice, so in a rush to pepper the other net with the puck that they tend to forget to bring it with them.

They have won 11 of their 19 home games, a pace that will mirror the modest regular-season marks of the previous two seasons.

"I really don't know why our home record is not as good as we would expect," Danny Briere said after last night's mistake-riddled, 4-1 loss to the Islanders. "I remember when I was in Phoenix or in Buffalo, Philadelphia was always one of those tough buildings and one of those games when you dreaded coming because it was always so tough. I'm sure it's changed for opponents. They're feeling much more comfortable. I wish I had an explanation for that but I don't."

Here's one: Foes are fairly certain they will wake up the next day in about the same shape as they were the morning before. Only one other team in the Eastern Conference has scored more than the Flyers this season. The difference is that Boston has allowed 44 fewer goals. The difference is that Boston has a goalie it plays responsibly in front of and a humongous defenseman who, whether he is on the ice, about to come on it, or just left it, creates a tentativeness among opposing forwards that is not conducive to scoring goals.

Zdeno Chara was banged up two springs ago when the Flyers completed their incredible comeback against the Bruins. Chris Pronger was not. Last year, Chris Pronger was hurt and, well, Chara was not.

Last year, the Flyers scored 259 regular-season goals and allowed 223, and did not record a shutout all season. From their coach down to their role players, they scoffed at the importance of this, contending that the style by which they won games was irrelevant, as long as they won them. And then they were swept in the playoffs by a team that deemed such a statistic extremely important.

The thinking is as flawed as Andy Reid believing he can win a Super Bowl by making his offensive line backpedal all game or Ruben Amaro Jr.'s immediate postseason contention that his bench had been a bright spot last season. To his credit, Amaro reversed that position over the winter, adding boppers to the roster, creating at least the hope that the Phillies will be more postseason-friendly.

To his credit, Reid used Shady McCoy more effectively this season.

There is no such hope right now with the Flyers. Excitement over the surprising play of such rookies as Matt Read and Sean Couturier is muted by the not-so-sneaky suspicion that they are, with Max Talbot, the most defensively responsible forwards on the team. Last night, playing against the last-place Islanders, the Flyers surrendered five breakaways, three while on the power play. And that was in two periods.

Afterward, coach Peter Laviolette's themes were the usual ones that follow losses. Puck support was bad. The space between players was too great, especially in those first two periods. That New York scored only three goals until an empty-netter had something to do with the play of Sergei Bobrovsky, their 23-year-old gymnastic backup who has built up some gaudy statistics playing against mostly second-rung teams. But it also had something to do with the lack of scoring punch among the visitors, who entered the game with 43 fewer goals scored than the Flyers.

This game easily could have been 7-1.

The Flyers have recorded one shutout this season. It came in the second game. This time around, too much of the blame has been on the play of costly offseason acquisition Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryz wasn't out there last night. And against a team the Flyers have absolutely owned, the breakdowns ended in their own net, they weren't not started there.

So what's the solution? With Pronger clearly done for the season - his wife, Lauren, said he has not had 2 good days in a row since being sidelined with a concussion - attention has now focused on acquiring an additional defenseman. The more physical, the better. Of the names mentioned most often, Luke Schenn probably fits that description best, but, at 6-2, 230, he's no physical monster. Then again, the reason the Flyers signed Pronger to a 7-year deal at age 35 is those guys are not easy to find.

Even if Bryzgalov finds the groove that made him such a coveted offseason grab, even if they continue to win more than they lose with this prison-break style, the Flyers can't go far in May this way. Even Martin Brodeur can't win a Cup on his own, as his post-Scott Stevens career suggests.

It has to be a change in approach and attitude. Kimmo Timonen said as much a few weeks ago, after they blew that two-goal lead to the Rangers here for all the world to see. Rally around the goalie, make the simple pass and the simple play. It's not as fun or exciting, but it might make teams hate coming in here again.

[OH1FlyersFan]

"I really don't know why our home record is not as good as we would expect," Danny Briere said after last night's mistake-riddled, 4-1 loss

.....because, Danny, you're not scoring.

[radoran]

.....because, Danny, you're not scoring.

Briere has scored 9 of his 13 goals in the 19 games at home (and 4 in 23 on the road) and he's on a Point Per Game pace (19 for 19) at home. 11 in 23 on the road.

That's the best home production he's had since his injury in 08-09.

[Digityman]

@radoran damn you and your stats.

[radoran]

@radoran damn you and your stats.

"using facts you can prove anything that's even remotely true!"

- Homer J. Simpson

[OH1FlyersFan]

Briere has scored 9 of his 13 goals in the 19 games at home (and 4 in 23 on the road) and he's on a Point Per Game pace (19 for 19) at home. 11 in 23 on the road.

That's the best home production he's had since his injury in 08-09.

Yeah, but what have you done for me lately?? Briere has 3 goals in the last 12 games. I guess 1 goal every 4 games isn't bad -- not everyone can be Steven Stamkos with his 31 goals in 45 games --18 of which were scored at home. And Danny's 3 goals came in just one game, granted it was a home game, meaning he's been scoreless in 11 of the last 12 games, 5 of which were at home, so not quite half. Going back a little further, he has 4 goals in the last 16 games. That ain't so great. I still say -- because, Danny, you're not scoring.

[The Quigster]

Barring an injury what might be another reason he is not scoring? It seems to be spreading to other members of the team as we speak!

[doom88]

The team still needs to gel on ice. Hiccups will happen. Plus, the Flyers do have a ton of rookies playing. It's probably also time for the annual winter slump, if not a little later than usual.

[radoran]

Yeah, but what have you done for me lately?? Briere has 3 goals in the last 12 games. I guess 1 goal every 4 games isn't bad -- not everyone can be Steven Stamkos with his 31 goals in 45 games --18 of which were scored at home. And Danny's 3 goals came in just one game, granted it was a home game, meaning he's been scoreless in 11 of the last 12 games, 5 of which were at home, so not quite half. Going back a little further, he has 4 goals in the last 16 games. That ain't so great. I still say -- because, Danny, you're not scoring.

yeah, the devil is in the details! Nice work! :-)

[Pegulaville26]

You guys want to see soft? Take in tonights Sabres game in St. Louis and count all the players that get knocked off the puck or avoid a hit. I'd love to have some of Philly's size and grit.

[flyercanuck]

@Pegulaville26

Ya, apparently Quigly has never seen them play. Or half the other teams in the NHL.

[OH1FlyersFan]

Thanks, Rad!

And @ Doom - thank God for those rookies. Without them we'd really be hurting. Great goal by Read this afternoon. And Bryz is actually looking pretty good too. If I didn't just jinx him. I'd love to see Shelley and Rinaldo pick up the physical game in the third period.

[JackStraw]

Ya, apparently Quigly has never seen them play. Or half the other teams in the NHL.

Only half?