Broad Street Buzz

How Do We Rate This Flyers Season?

Eugene Markman — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:54:56 +0000

Of course it had to be the Devils to do this to us. Ugh. (Courtesy: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE)

As training camp wound down, and we flipped the calendar to October, what did we expect from this Flyers team? We thought that the team would win a ton of low scoring games. We wondered where the offense wold come from. Experts picked to finish anywhere from 1st to out of the playoffs. There was so much wholesale change, that it was hard to get a consensus on what we had.

Even team management didn’t know what they had. Paul Holmgren even said he wasn’t sure if we were necessarily better, but we were different. It was clear the team didn’t like where they were headed, and wanted to get younger. I didn’t think the moves were good, expected a big step back, and thought we would fight for a playoff spot during the final days.

Instead, things were far different from what any of us expected. The offense was usually on fire. The team defense was terrible. The new goalie was mostly bad, with an amazing stretch in March. Everyone always says it doesn’t matter what your record is, all that matters is how you are playing entering the playoffs. The Flyers were mostly winning down the stretch. A few small deadline moves seemed to cover up our defensive woes.

Once the playoffs began, the only people picking the Flyers were homers. Despite dominating Pittsburgh during the regular season, most thought they would win. A ridiculously high scoring series win later, the Flyers were looked upon in a different light. Despite having a porous defense, they seemed to have an unstoppable offense. Everyone expected us to smoke New Jersey. Instead, the Devils badly outplayed us, a lot of it thanks to great coaching. And the fan base is shocked and disappointed. So what should our grade be?

I label it a huge disappointment. Sure, at the start of the season, we had one set of expectations. But we know thing can change a lot over the course of the season. Once team showed that they can push the play, up the tempo, and attack in waves, it was fair to have lofty goals once the postseason came. After demolishing the Pens, it was more than fair to expect a Finals appearance, even with the Rangers still in the hunt. Instead, we lost to a team that is far inferior on paper. Like everyone else in the league, this team will have plenty to improve upon in the offseason. With Bryz locked up long-term, we need to really look to improve the d. But that’s another discussion for another post. For now, we can just sit around in shock and awe and wonder what could have been if the team had managed to play up to the potential that they showed us they have.

Thanks for reading!

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How Do We Rate This Flyers Season? - Broad Street Buzz - Broad Street Buzz - A Philadelphia Flyers Blog

Let’s Go Kings?

dmvasso — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:27:41 +0000

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

I almost wanted to just write “I hate new jersey” and end this post here, but I couldn’t do that. Not that it’s not true, which it totally is, but because that would just be too trite. I have to say something about this game, and this series, especially since I was actually at the game tonight. Which was exciting, but unfortunately the Flyers just couldn’t get it past Brodeur, and I continued to yell “just retire already” out of frustration. I have to admit that I am pretty impressed with Brodeur, but not so much with my home team.

My last post was really hard to get through, and my frustration probably came out in the words I wrote, which is happening again tonight as I compose this next post. I know I, like many other fans, are completely frustrated and annoyed with how this second round went on. This was not how I envisioned it at all. Two season ago we were able to crush the devils in the first round, so what happened in this series?

Well goaltending has always been an issue with the Flyers, but I definitely think Bryzgalov showed up tonight to play, except for that pass that went into the net, that was really bad, so I’ll give the nay sayers that one. Otherwise, I think he was playing really well, but the defense was just not there tonight. It just seemed that their wasn’t that much defensive action in front of the net to help Bryzgalov out when he needed it. Which is not something you want to do if you want to win the cup. The other thing that I saw wrong on the ice tonight, was that the Flyers were just lagging behind the Devils. They seemed sluggish to get the puck at the net, and once they did get it there they were making fancy passes to get a nice goal when it would have been better if they just got more shots on goal. The Devils ended up out shooting them the whole game, which lead them to the 3-1 victory, so it is clear that the more shots on the net the more chances of actually getting a puck in the netting. Although, I’m sure most fans are aware this, and must understand my frustration with the end of the Flyers playoff run.

Despite my unhappiness that the Flyers are out now, I am glad they were able to make it into the playoffs and outsmart the Penguins. At the same time, I’m not waiting until October to watch more hockey, so I have to make some decisions about what team I’m going to root for now. No way in hell am I rooting for New Jersey, and I don’t really want the Rangers or the Caps to win (depending on who becomes the victor of their series), I could care less about the Coyotes, so I’m rooting West again this year with the La Kings. And why not? We call them the Flyers of the West for a reason, and Richards and Carter are on their team, so I guess I better go re-paint my playoff nails purple and call myself a Kings fan.

You can follow me on Twitter by visiting @DMVasso, and follow Eugene @Broadstreetbuzz, Kevin at @WTPuckingPuck, Scott at@scottdargis, and Laura at @L_Dix.

Let’s Go Kings? - Broad Street Buzz - Broad Street Buzz - A Philadelphia Flyers Blog

Flyers Getting ready For Offseason

Eugene Markman — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:41 +0000

Another former Flyer driving a stake into our hearts. (Courtesy: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE)

It was supposed to be easy. it was supposed to be a joke. It was supposed to be a dominating offensive onslaught. Instead, the Flyers are now down 3-1 to the New Jersey Devils. They have been stifled. They have been outworked. Now, they are about to arrive at the platform, at the end of a surpisignly fun ride, albeit with a disappointing end.

I’m not giving up. I’m not waving a white flag. But I’m also not out there on the ice. All I can do is watch the games and write about whatever I see. And I see the same thing you’re seeing. The Devils are flat out better than us. They have been for pretty much 10 out of 12 periods. We can bitch and moan all we want about what the Flyers are not doing. But let’s no forget what the Devils are doing. They are clogging the middle, standing us up on our own blue line, and punishing us for our many, many mistakes.

Officially, it’s not over. But for all intents and purposes, it is. The Flyers just aren’t getting the time and space they need to be effective. Maybe it will change. Maybe they’ll prove me wrong, and charge back with three straight wins. I’m not banking on it. I’m sure as hell hoping for it though. It just seems that our fatal flaw from the entire season has come back to bite us in the ass.

The team defense is just failing. We can blame Bryz, but it goes way deeper than that. How exactly do we blow a 2-0 lead? We came out, got dominated, and still took a lead. At that point, change some thing and protect the lead. Instead, we allow Zidlicky to slip through and tie the game. The Zubrus goal wasn’t any better. I couldn’t tell from replays who should be covering him, but there is no reason to be that damn open. We were horrible all season long, we were horrible against Pittsburgh, and we’ve continued to be bad this season. Turnovers, unmarked men, and just plain sloppiness are our downfall.