33 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Yeah FA looks to be a bust. Not sure how they improve both without giving up players they'll need.

Yeah free agency doesn’t have what their needs truly are. I think it’s going to have to be trades. I could see that leafs first being valuable to another team. Michkov still has value to a team in a rebuild thinking he can develop as he gets older (Flyers probably think this but really they might need him to be accelerated and not sure tocchet is the right coach for that). I’m guessing they could dangle those two things in an attempt to get the center or defenseman.

26 minutes ago, Khani1 said:

The number 1 thing they need more than either of the other two things you mentioned (which are the two hardest positions to fill in hockey, #1 center and #1 d-man) is a defensemen who can QB the power play that has a hard shot. You probably get that attribute with a #1 d-man but if you can't acquire one soon, you need to find a guy that can unload a shot from the point. Whoever is filling that role now (committee at the moment) doesn't have a hard enough shot. Those shots right now are either getting easily blocked or deflected well before the net and have no chance. You can't make a Stanley Cup run with a putrid power play. That will be the main reason we get mopped by Carolina.

I kind of associate the no. 1 defenseman with the PP and Qb of the Pp too. Most no. 1 defensemen (top tier guys) are that Qb on the power play for their teams. Biggest issues this past series were Pp stunk and the Flyers defense couldn’t move the puck out of the zone consistently which was evident more last night in 3rd period and Most of overtime

20 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I kind of associate the no. 1 defenseman with the PP and Qb of the Pp too. Most no. 1 defensemen (top tier guys) are that Qb on the power play for their teams. Biggest issues this past series were Pp stunk and the Flyers defense couldn’t move the puck out of the zone consistently which was evident more last night in 3rd period and Most of overtime

Biggest issue I had with the PP was it was pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, bad pass, pass, cleared. Take a damn shot like we saw on the game winner. Stop trying to be cute. Get shots on net and good things can happen.

22 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I kind of associate the no. 1 defenseman with the PP and Qb of the Pp too. Most no. 1 defensemen (top tier guys) are that Qb on the power play for their teams. Biggest issues this past series were Pp stunk and the Flyers defense couldn’t move the puck out of the zone consistently which was evident more last night in 3rd period and Most of overtime

Their legs were dead. They actually have been really good with getting the pucks out of the defensive zone and the outlet passes, specifically Drysdale (for the last couple months and first 3 playoff games at least). The "neutral zone trap" Toch has implemented is taxing. I am hoping our next series doesn't start until Monday because they need fresh legs, especially against a fast team who also implements the trap.

6 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Biggest issue I had with the PP was it was pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, bad pass, pass, cleared. Take a damn shot like we saw on the game winner. Stop trying to be cute. Get shots on net and good things can happen.

The shots from the point are weak. That's why they try to pass it from side to side to get the goalie moving for a better angle or deflection/screen. Porter is the only guy willing to let it rip all the time. Foerster has the best shot on the team and will help the power play in the future but he is 100% playing with some type of injury. He isn't the greatest skater but he is much faster than he is moving right now.

3 minutes ago, Khani1 said:

Their legs were dead. They actually have been really good with getting the pucks out of the defensive zone and the outlet passes, specifically Drysdale (for the last couple months and first 3 playoff games at least). The "neutral zone trap" Toch has implemented is taxing. I am hoping our next series doesn't start until Monday because they need fresh legs, especially against a fast team who also implements the trap.

That's another issue. How can their legs be so dead at their age. 

Just now, Khani1 said:

The shots from the point are weak. That's why they try to pass it from side to side to get the goalie moving for a better angle or deflection/screen. Porter is the only guy willing to let it rip all the time. Foerster has the best shot on the team and will help the power play in the future but he is 100% playing with some type of injury. He isn't the greatest skater but he is much faster than he is moving right now.

I know why they move it but after a point you need to put shots on net and take a chance vs the last PP where I'm not even sure they got a shot. There is a balance. 

11 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

That's another issue. How can their legs be so dead at their age. 

They have been playing "playoff hockey" for 6-8 weeks now so they are gassed. If they get 4-5 days off, you will see their speed again. Young'ings recover quickly.

28 minutes ago, Khani1 said:

Their legs were dead. They actually have been really good with getting the pucks out of the defensive zone and the outlet passes, specifically Drysdale (for the last couple months and first 3 playoff games at least). The "neutral zone trap" Toch has implemented is taxing. I am hoping our next series doesn't start until Monday because they need fresh legs, especially against a fast team who also implements the trap.

I think some of it is tired legs. I also think some of it is their defense has always had similar issues when consistently facing playoff teams. Even back to 2020 they had this issue when they began facing better teams. That islanders series in 2020 was an issue. I also think tired legs is there this time of year for a lot of teams. I think hockey season and playoffs is a grind. So it’s going to be something that’s always lingering. If we see Carolina continuously do the same that the pens do late in that series i think it’s cause Carolina is dramatically better than penguins and flyers beginning to wear down

8 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

I think some of it is tired legs. I also think some of it is their defense has always had similar issues when consistently facing playoff teams. Even back to 2020 they had this issue when they began facing better teams. That islanders series in 2020 was an issue. I also think tired legs is there this time of year for a lot of teams. I think hockey season and playoffs is a grind. So it’s going to be something that’s always lingering. If we see Carolina continuously do the same that the pens do late in that series i think it’s cause Carolina is dramatically better than penguins and flyers beginning to wear down

Every time we played Carolina this year, it was a 1 goal game. Yes they are the better team and they have a lot more experience but if the Flyers power play was just above average, with the way Vladar is playing, I bet they could beat them in a game 7. The power play will be what eliminates them in the playoffs.

Carolina has been off for 3 days already so by the time we start, they will have had at least a week off. Their legs will be fresh but they might be rusty game 1. Game 1 is the game to steal if the Flyers are going to win this series (I think we lose in 5 or 6 to be honest).

1 minute ago, Khani1 said:

Every time we played Carolina this year, it was a 1 goal game. Yes they are the better team and they have a lot more experience but if the Flyers power play was just above average, with the way Vladar is playing, I bet they could beat them in a game 7. The power play will be what eliminates them in the playoffs.

Carolina has been off for 3 days already so by the time we start, they will have had at least a week off. Their legs will be fresh but they might be rusty game 1. Game 1 is the game to steal if the Flyers are going to win this series (I think we lose in 5 or 6 to be honest).

Believe every game went to OT or a shootout. 3 of the 4 were in October and December. We weren’t exactly the same team then as now. last one just before the playoffs I’m not sure I’d take a bunch from as they had a bunch of guys out and we were desperate but also went to a shootout.

It’s amazing how bad our PP. like we need help but there’s legit last place and bad NHL teams that still managed to be better than us and it’s a consistently last or bottom 3 for the last 5 years.

I tend to agree it probably goes 5 or 6. Flyers are better on the road then home so i think if they can steal game 1 they’ll have a chance to at least get it to a game 6. I thought Ottawa played Carolina well. Wasn’t a game they were out of it. Another key is the Flyers not taking penalties. Carolina’s PP is better than penguins. Top 5 on the season so playing with more fire if they take bad penalties

18 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Believe every game went to OT or a shootout. 3 of the 4 were in October and December. We weren’t exactly the same team then as now. last one just before the playoffs I’m not sure I’d take a bunch from as they had a bunch of guys out and we were desperate but also went to a shootout.

It’s amazing how bad our PP. like we need help but there’s legit last place and bad NHL teams that still managed to be better than us and it’s a consistently last or bottom 3 for the last 5 years.

I tend to agree it probably goes 5 or 6. Flyers are better on the road then home so i think if they can steal game 1 they’ll have a chance to at least get it to a game 6. I thought Ottawa played Carolina well. Wasn’t a game they were out of it. Another key is the Flyers not taking penalties. Carolina’s PP is better than penguins. Top 5 on the season so playing with more fire if they take bad penalties

Not sure there is enough time or trust to do it, but I wouldn't be shocked if they try to dress Oliver Bonk for a couple games. He has a cannon from the point but stinks otherwise. He is young and raw but it might be worth a look if our PP continues to struggle.