Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Churn Out a Clunker in 4-1 Loss to Bruins

What I saw tonight waa a top 10 pick team but I need to see a top 5 pick team

Spot on Bill. I was at the game last night, and the Flers were embarassingly outplayed. They chased the puck the entire night, especially in the 1st and 3rd periods. To have only 13 shots on a bad goaltender is not acceptable. Also, I thought it was a mistake to pair MacDonald and Bonk together to start the game, they were pinned in their own end for every shift in the first period.

The one thing that stood out to me last night, and it also stood out to me last year, is the Flyers are horrible at special team faceoffs. These to me are the most crucial faceoffs in the game, since puck possession is key whether you are on the PP or killing a penalty. The Flyers were aweful the entire night. Frost especially on the PP. I want Frost on the PP, but he needs to be a lot better on faceoffs. Couts wasn't much better.

Finally, last night sealed it for me that Luchanko needs to be sent back to Geulph once this camp and pre-season wraps up. He is going to be good, but right now the pro game is too much for him.

Spot on Bill. I was at the game last night, and the Flers were embarassingly outplayed. They chased the puck the entire night, especially in the 1st and 3rd periods. To have only 13 shots on a bad goaltender is not acceptable. Also, I thought it was a mistake to pair MacDonald and Bonk together to start the game, they were pinned in their own end for every shift in the first period.

The one thing that stood out to me last night, and it also stood out to me last year, is the Flyers are horrible at special team faceoffs. These to me are the most crucial faceoffs in the game, since puck possession is key whether you are on the PP or killing a penalty. The Flyers were aweful the entire night. Frost especially on the PP. I want Frost on the PP, but he needs to be a lot better on faceoffs. Couts wasn't much better.

Finally, last night sealed it for me that Luchanko needs to be sent back to Geulph once this camp and pre-season wraps up. He is going to be good, but right now the pro game is too much for him.
- jd250

Glad I couldn't watch and very sorry you were in attendance to watch it haha

Yes. Luchanko should be sent back and that's been my thought all along. I am encouraged though. He seems to be a better prospect than a lot of people thought when he was drafted. There's no need to rush him.

Agree on Luchanko. Now that he was playing against NHL regulars who are obviously ramping up to regular season form, he was overwhelmed.

He will be back and better. Send him to Guelph.

Here are my observations....
- They are not skilled enough to cannot carry the puck so they resort to the dump and chase, but they are not fast enough to do the chasing part
- On the few occasions Boston decided to dump it in, the Flyers defense could not get to the puck first - or is that the way they are being coached
- Passing was abysmal
- Announcers referenced the fatigue factor - it only took 6 exhibition games for this to be brought up

Spot on Bill. I was at the game last night, and the Flers were embarassingly outplayed. They chased the puck the entire night, especially in the 1st and 3rd periods. To have only 13 shots on a bad goaltender is not acceptable. Also, I thought it was a mistake to pair MacDonald and Bonk together to start the game, they were pinned in their own end for every shift in the first period.

The one thing that stood out to me last night, and it also stood out to me last year, is the Flyers are horrible at special team faceoffs. These to me are the most crucial faceoffs in the game, since puck possession is key whether you are on the PP or killing a penalty. The Flyers were aweful the entire night. Frost especially on the PP. I want Frost on the PP, but he needs to be a lot better on faceoffs. Couts wasn't much better.

Finally, last night sealed it for me that Luchanko needs to be sent back to Geulph once this camp and pre-season wraps up. He is going to be good, but right now the pro game is too much for him.
- jd250

Frost was 53% on faceoffs last night in the game. Luchanko should be sent back today. I believe his junior season starts very soon.

Frost was 53% on faceoffs last night in the game. Luchanko should be sent back today. I believe his junior season starts very soon.
- MJL

And there he is! The moment anyone presents his little brother in negative light you are there to protect him. I was REALLY hoping Jett would bust down the door and be this team's true second line center, but that obviously ain't gonna happen. He is prolly already better than Frosty at faceoffs.

Frost was 53% on faceoffs last night in the game. Luchanko should be sent back today. I believe his junior season starts very soon.
- MJL

Yes he was, but not all faceoffs are created equal, and he needs to be better.

And there he is! The moment anyone presents his little brother in negative light you are there to protect him. I was REALLY hoping Jett would bust down the door and be this team's true second line center, but that obviously ain't gonna happen. He is prolly already better than Frosty at faceoffs.

- Phillywhiteout

There you are, making yourself look stupid again. It's just a simple fact relevant to the conversation. How is it protecting him?


The moment anyone mentions anything about Frost that is not negative. There you are to inject some fantasy.

Agree on Luchanko. Now that he was playing against NHL regulars who are obviously ramping up to regular season form, he was overwhelmed.

He will be back and better. Send him to Guelph.
- MBFlyerfan

Exactly. He's had a good taste of the league, let him go back and do well, play for the WJC U20 team and come back strong next year. Very promising player though.

Here are my observations....
- They are not skilled enough to cannot carry the puck so they resort to the dump and chase, but they are not fast enough to do the chasing part
- On the few occasions Boston decided to dump it in, the Flyers defense could not get to the puck first - or is that the way they are being coached
- Passing was abysmal
- Announcers referenced the fatigue factor - it only took 6 exhibition games for this to be brought up
- mr4tno

It's clear that the roster doesn't have enough skill MM really helps, but you're right about carrying it in vs dumping it. The better teams may dump it in on occasion, but they can retain possession while gaining the zone on the PP for instance. Dumping it in and hoping to win a 50/50 puck battle with limited speed to get there on time doesn't work. Kudos to Ers on his play, but more skill and speed needed here.

Frost was 53% on faceoffs last night in the game. Luchanko should be sent back today. I believe his junior season starts very soon.
- MJL

Special team faceoffs!

Bill Meltzer: Wrap: Flyers Churn Out a Clunker in 4-1 Loss to Bruins
- bmeltzer

Who needs consistent play when the room is extremely tight! Best room torts has ever seen.

Don't even get me started on culture

And there he is! The moment anyone presents his little brother in negative light you are there to protect him. I was REALLY hoping Jett would bust down the door and be this team's true second line center, but that obviously ain't gonna happen. He is prolly already better than Frosty at faceoffs.

- Phillywhiteout

I didn't mean it to be a knock on Frost. As I said I want him on the PP, but if he is going to be on the PP he needs to win the faceoffs, otherwise the team is going to lose 30 seconds at the start of every PP which is what happened last night. Watch the Bruins on special teams, they are lights out on faceoffs and that is one reason they are a contending team.

Spot on Bill. I was at the game last night, and the Flers were embarassingly outplayed. They chased the puck the entire night, especially in the 1st and 3rd periods. To have only 13 shots on a bad goaltender is not acceptable. Also, I thought it was a mistake to pair MacDonald and Bonk together to start the game, they were pinned in their own end for every shift in the first period.

The one thing that stood out to me last night, and it also stood out to me last year, is the Flyers are horrible at special team faceoffs. These to me are the most crucial faceoffs in the game, since puck possession is key whether you are on the PP or killing a penalty. The Flyers were aweful the entire night. Frost especially on the PP. I want Frost on the PP, but he needs to be a lot better on faceoffs. Couts wasn't much better.

Finally, last night sealed it for me that Luchanko needs to be sent back to Geulph once this camp and pre-season wraps up. He is going to be good, but right now the pro game is too much for him.
- jd250

I honestly thought the whole team was dragging, idk how to see any positive in anyone game besides our goaltender.

Like I expect all the kids get sent back, I would like to see 1 or 2 regular season games, not sure if it was what Boston was doing or the Flyers are tired, and I feel next preseason game is pointless to judge anything because the Devils actual team will be in Prague

There you are, making yourself look stupid again. It's just a simple fact relevant to the conversation. How is it protecting him?


The moment anyone mentions anything about Frost that is not negative. There you are to inject some fantasy.
- MJL

The scary part is that he may be this team's #1 center pending Coot's health. That's why I have this team finishing bottom 10 if not even bottom 5. Frost would be a NICE (nothing special) 3rd line center on a contending team.

Oh, and one other concern I had last night was the play of Drysdale. Its going to be tough on any player when your coach states bluntly that you were rushed to the NHL, never coached properly and don't have a clue what you are doing out there. Last night Drysdale looked lost a lot of times. It's concerning to me since Torts went from we want Drysdale to be a floater out there last year to Drysdale doesn't know what he is doing defensively this year. This is something we need to watch this season.

Here are my observations....
- They are not skilled enough to cannot carry the puck so they resort to the dump and chase, but they are not fast enough to do the chasing part
- On the few occasions Boston decided to dump it in, the Flyers defense could not get to the puck first - or is that the way they are being coached
- Passing was abysmal
- Announcers referenced the fatigue factor - it only took 6 exhibition games for this to be brought up
- mr4tno

I don't really get the fatigue excuse. They were completely off on Sunday and many of the players that played last night didn't play Monday night. Makes no sense to me. If this team looks like last night come the regular season Torts will do something to get fired by Christmas.

The scary part is that he may be this team's #1 center pending Coot's health. That's why I have this team finishing bottom 10 if not even bottom 5. Frost would be a NICE (nothing special) 3rd line center on a contending team.
- Phillywhiteout

Oh please, not more of this. Can we keep it to special team faceoffs by any chance?

Special team faceoffs!
- jd250

He won one and lost two on the PP.

You're acting like he went 0 for 10 or something.

Overall he had a decent night at the dot.

I’m not sure why anyone expected anything different. This is the same effort and outcome every time they play Boston. It’s been this way for years now.

I honestly thought the whole team was dragging, idk how to see any positive in anyone game besides our goaltender.

Like I expect all the kids get sent back, I would like to see 1 or 2 regular season games, not sure if it was what Boston was doing or the Flyers are tired, and I feel next preseason game is pointless to judge anything because the Devils actual team will be in Prague
- SlNlSTER

The Bruins last night had pretty much their regular season lineup. Ersson was a positive for sure. The other for me was Michkov. Not just because of the nice play he made to set up the only Flyers goal, but also his 200 foot play, and his willingness to battle for the puck and get to the dirty areas of the ice and fight for position against bigger and stronger Bruins defenseman. There was a sequence in the 2nd period where the Flyers almost scored a 2nd goal and Michkov was in the crease fighting for position and jamming away at it.

I know you all are going to think I am crazy, my friends certainly did last night when I mentioned it to them during the game, but Michkov in a lot of ways reminds me of Crosby.

He won one and lost two on the PP.

You're acting like he went 0 for 10 or something.

Overall he had a decent night at the dot.
- Tomahawk

What were the Flyers faceoff numbers like on special teams last night? Let's get off of Frost and talk about the team as a whole. The Flyers' special team faceoff % last night was aweful, I don't even have to check it.

Oh please, not more of this. Can we keep it to special team faceoffs by any chance?
- jd250

Sorry, just very frustrated at the lack of centers on this team. This is where I get my Irish up! All teams know that you build from the middle of the ice. That means stud goalie, stud defenseman or two and strong down the middle! This team is built bass ackwards! I only target Frost cause he is apparently the best of a bad group and I wanna see more!