2019-20 Quest for the cup(The Carter Hart era begins)

[purdue81]

Either play Hart, or send him to the Phantoms. Sitting on the bench is not a way to get confidence back.

 

[lasgop8]

Now they have to win the next 3 to get to my 4 out of next 5 prediction.

If other teams employ the same defensive scheme as the Islanders did last night, we are in for a rough ride. I don't know if Trotz is really good at scouting and implementing tweaks in his system to thwart opponents or we just matched up poorly against his skaters. I lost count of the number of whiffs at the puck our guys had last night. Ghost definitely led the way. My eyes are not fast enough to know if it was getting their sticks lifted, or just frustration and taking eye off of the puck, but there was something going on last night that seemed quite a bit off.

I work with a real dick of a Pens fan (probably doesn't narrow down the number of Pens fans very much), but it is necessary to beat Crysby and company tomorrow.

Lets do this!

 

[lasgop8]

Either play Hart, or send him to the Phantoms. Sitting on the bench is not a way to get confidence back.

I will agree with this 100%

 

[awaz]

I'd like to see Hart go again, but can he take another beating right now lol.

Gotta have some faith in him I think. Plus, I don't see AV making the same mistake that Hak made with Elliot. He's not a guy you can play 4 games in 6 days without a serious risk of injury, which is what tomorrow would be since Hart didn't finish last night.

 

[Chris p Bacon]

I thought they played fine/well in the Columbus game, goaltending just let them down. Then they took it up another notch in the 3rd to get Elliot the win.

Didn't have it in them to do that two nights in a row I guess.

Goaltending let them down? What about our dmen getting beat constantly in the corners lol.

 

[lasgop8]

I thought they played fine/well in the Columbus game, goaltending just let them down. Then they took it up another notch in the 3rd to get Elliot the win.

Didn't have it in them to do that two nights in a row I guess.

I hope being down by 2 or 3 in the third doesn't become the norm because that is a recipe for disaster.

 

[lasgop8]

Goaltending let them down? What about our dmen getting beat constantly in the corners lol.

Getting beat in front also.

 

[purdue81]

Pssst, our defense is soft, Other teams know and exploit this.

IDK, maybe the advanced stat weenies can explain this, but I thought it was more how they shut down our offense, which led to their advantage in their offensive zone.

 

[awaz]

Goaltending let them down? What about our dmen getting beat constantly in the corners lol.

In the Columbus game? The Flyers outshot Columbus 45-26 and had 65% of the shot attempts in the game. 60% of the xG and 65% of the scoring chances. The Flyers annihilated the Jackets that game in every aspect, including the scoreboard by the time the game was over. The only reason Columbus had a remote chance is because Elliot was mediocre.

I'm willing to listen to their flaws in the Isles game. They played poorly. But the Columbus game they did not (except for Elliot).

 

[Chris p Bacon]

IDK, maybe the advanced stat weenies can explain this, but I thought it was more how they shut down our offense, which led to their advantage in their offensive zone.

Boone Jenner would disagree with that statement.

 

[awaz]

We have been waiting for years for this team to play a full 60 minutes. Hopefully by Christmas they can get that going.

They have played "60 minute" games this year. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Columbus game they dominated play. They also dominated the Hawks (67% of scoring chances) and Devils (73% of the scoring chances) to start the season. One of their most dominant game was actually the Oilers game (67% of the scoring chances, 69% of the attempted shots), but they got extremely unlucky.

I would say in at least those 4 games they "played 60 minutes". Adding in games where they got in front and stayed there, they also dominated the Golden Knights game and the 2nd Hawks game.

So IMO, they've played 60 minutes in 6 of the 10 games so far. Not perfect, obviously, but to insinuate they haven't played a full 60 minutes this season is just being dramatic.

 

[awaz]

What I like most about the team this year is they are getting to the front of the net on offense, and for the most part defending the front of the net well on defense. The only game the Flyers haven't had more high danger changes (mostly net front/slot) was the Isles game last night. They've had over 60% of those chances in 6 of those games and over 70% in 4 of them.

 

[Sparhawk]

IDK, maybe the advanced stat weenies can explain this, but I thought it was more how they shut down our offense, which led to their advantage in their offensive zone.

In the Columbus game? The Flyers outshot Columbus 45-26 and had 65% of the shot attempts in the game. 60% of the xG and 65% of the scoring chances. The Flyers annihilated the Jackets that game in every aspect, including the scoreboard by the time the game was over. The only reason Columbus had a remote chance is because Elliot was mediocre.

I'm willing to listen to their flaws in the Isles game. They played poorly. But the Columbus game they did not (except for Elliot).

How much can be attributed to the second game of a back to back?

They had a clunker. It happens.
Still happy with how the season is unfolding and expect this team to get better, not worse, as the season goes on.
Especially with Patrick/Frost waiting in the wings.

Not sure what to do with Hart, but while I would start Elliott against PIT, I wouldn't be upset if they started Hart as a show of confidence.

 

[lasgop8]

In the Columbus game? The Flyers outshot Columbus 45-26 and had 65% of the shot attempts in the game. 60% of the xG and 65% of the scoring chances. The Flyers annihilated the Jackets that game in every aspect, including the scoreboard by the time the game was over. The only reason Columbus had a remote chance is because Elliot was mediocre.

I'm willing to listen to their flaws in the Isles game. They played poorly. But the Columbus game they did not (except for Elliot).

Flaws or not we were still down by 2 in the third and against Columbus at home that shouldn't be the case.We should be beating teams like Columbus handily at home.

 

[awaz]

How much can be attributed to the second game of a back to back?

They had a clunker. It happens.

Still happy with how the season is unfolding and expect this team to get better, not worse, as the season goes on. Especially with Patrick/Frost waiting in the wings.

Not sure what to do with Hart, but while I would start Elliott against PIT, I wouldn't be upset if they started Hart as a show of confidence.

I agree. The results aren't good enough yet, they're 9th in points percentage in the east. But, to me, this team looks much better night in and night out than it did 90% of last year. That gives me optimism.

They were 4-6 after 10 last season (8 points), compared to 5-4-1 this season (11 points). Not dramatic improvement, but some. At this point last season they had played 7 eventual playoff teams to this season's 5 playoff teams from last year, but considering the travel, I think schedule is probably a wash.

 

[awaz]

Flaws or not we were still down by 2 in the third and against Columbus at home that shouldn't be the case.We should be beating teams like Columbus handily at home.

I agree. And they did.

 

[lasgop8]

They have played "60 minute" games this year. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Columbus game they dominated play. They also dominated the Hawks (67% of scoring chances) and Devils (73% of the scoring chances) to start the season. One of their most dominant game was actually the Oilers game (67% of the scoring chances, 69% of the attempted shots), but they got extremely unlucky.

I would say in at least those 4 games they "played 60 minutes". Adding in games where they got in front and stayed there, they also dominated the Golden Knights game and the 2nd Hawks game.

So IMO, they've played 60 minutes in 6 of the 10 games so far. Not perfect, obviously, but to insinuate they haven't played a full 60 minutes this season is just being dramatic.

The only game all year we have played 60 minutes was the 2nd Hawks game. In those other games you are referring to we took at least a period off either offensively or defensively or both in each one.

 

[lasgop8]

I agree. And they did.

Trailing 4-2 with 10 minutes to go is not beating a team handily. Leading 4-2 with 10 minutes to go and adding on to that lead in the last 10 minutes is beating a team handily.

 

[awaz]

The only game all year we have played 60 minutes was the 2nd Hawks game. In those other games you are referring to we took at least a period off either offensively or defensively or both in each one.

Heh. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Relative to human nature's ability to bring 100% effort on a consistent basis, I'll give them at least 6 games that were up to expectations.

 

[awaz]

Trailing 4-2 with 10 minutes to go is not beating a team handily. Leading 4-2 with 10 minutes to go and adding on to that lead in the last 10 minutes is beating a team handily.

They won 7-4. You quote the score back to me all the time when I bring other stats to the conversation. Winning 7-4 is winning handily. You can cherry pick stats that fit your narrative all you want (just like I do ), after the full 60 minutes were played, the Flyers won by 3 goals.

Plus, as I've said, 17 of the 18 players in the Columbus game played well enough to win that game 7-1 or 7-2; Elliot was not good enough and the scoreboard reflected that.