GDT: #7 | FLYERS (A) vs. Devils (H) | Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 | 7:00 pm ET | MSG+, NBCSP

[BernieParent]

We've seen this script before, team sucks, probably won't make the playoffs . . . a month later team is hottest team in the NHL, ever since Y returned to the lineup.

The impact of injuries can be direct, the loss of a good player, but also indirect, imbalanced lines/defensive pairs so that other players start to struggle. We're seeing both right now.

The most important thing is not to panic, especially Fletcher.

What if I secretly come here (in part) for the panic?

 

[Striiker]

Alright smart guy lol, I know there are some Flyers fans that would rather see him sit and play, I didnt mean it literally.

Lots of Flyers fans are completely unable to evaluate defensemen.

 

[FlyerFaithful17]

So the 11-12 season with Bryz was better than last year?

Yeah, easily. It literally had one of the most entertaining playoff series in the post-lockout era where we smacked around a rival. Neutral fans even still talk about that one. They had also gone to the Finals recently, so there wasn’t “this team is stuck in mediocrity” fatigue. Last season’s team put together a decent run, but struggled against a team that would not have actually made the playoffs in the 1st round, and couldn’t beat the Islanders once in regulation in the 2nd round. Beyond that, the team came up remarkably small in Game 7.

 

[Mitch Doris]

Lots of Flyers fans are completely unable to evaluate defensemen.

We are in total agreement. I have a family member that swears Provorov is the worst D man in the NHL.

 

[Striiker]

We are in total agreement. I have a family member that swears Provorov is the worst D man in the NHL.

Provorov, Sanheim, and Ghost are all top pair defensemen. I don't think it has to be more complicated than that.

 

[Bigkarl]

We've seen this script before, team sucks, probably won't make the playoffs . . . a month later team is hottest team in the NHL, ever since Y returned to the lineup.

The impact of injuries can be direct, the loss of a good player, but also indirect, imbalanced lines/defensive pairs so that other players start to struggle. We're seeing both right now.

The most important thing is not to panic, especially Fletcher.

Riiiiight, This script is always the same and ends with a fairy tell ending. Oh wait, that's right, it ends in a fiery car crash every year.

Or should we be happy to have made it to the 2nd rd last year to get dominated by the Islanders?

I agree about Fletcher not panicking. He makes bad deals when he's not under pressure, I can't imagine the damage he would do if he was in panic mode.

 

[BritainStix]

Ghost is back baby!!! Time to get back on the wagon.

 

[TheKingPin]

To give you an idea of how much better the Devils are playing than the Flyers, they shut-out the Islanders with Scott f***ing Wedgewood in net last night.

He was a backup in the AHL last season with a sub .900 save percentage.

here comes the pain

 

[deadhead]

This team had one great month last year and expectations got thrown out of whack because it came right before the shutdown and that is all anyone could remember. They were pretty average to above average for most of last season.

Last time I checked, Jan 8 to March 10 is two months: 19-6-1 over that stretch, about 1/3 of a regular season.
Yet even during that stretch they lost to the Habs 4-1 at home, and the Devils 5-0 at home.

 

[deadhead]

Devils bottom two defensemen:
Smith CF 43.26%, xGF 37.73%
Tennyson CF 37.40%, xGF 36.70%

A guy mentioned as a possible pickup
Ryan Murray CF 50.22%, xGF 41.29%
kinda meh, but the real problem is he's 50/50 to be on IR by March 1.

They're getting a good five games out of Kulikov, but another unlikely to get through half a season.

Braun CF 41.82, xGF 40.80
Hagg CF 44.02%, xGF 37.49
Gus 41.56%, xGF 36.14

The real problem is:
Provorov CF 36.07, xGF 39.07, but he has the track record to suggest he'll straighten that out.

The difference between the two team is the Flyers defense should turn around when they get Ghost and Myers back, while the Devils are injuries waiting to happen.

 

[Bigkarl]

Devils bottom two defensemen:
Smith CF 43.26%, xGF 37.73%
Tennyson CF 37.40%, xGF 36.70%

A guy mentioned as a possible pickup
Ryan Murray CF 50.22%, xGF 41.29%
kinda meh, but the real problem is he's 50/50 to be on IR by March 1.

They're getting a good five games out of Kulikov, but another unlikely to get through half a season.

Braun CF 41.82, xGF 40.80
Hagg CF 44.02%, xGF 37.49
Gus 41.56%, xGF 36.14

The real problem is:
Provorov CF 36.07, xGF 39.07, but he has the track record to suggest he'll straighten that out.

The difference between the two team is the Flyers defense should turn around when they get Ghost and Myers back, while the Devils are injuries waiting to happen.

The problem is 2 of Hagg/Braun/Gus are still going to be in the lineup even after Ghost and Myers return.

As to the bolded, I hope the difference between these teams is a lot more than that, since one is supposed to start looking like a contender and the other is a bottom 10 team in the league. Or is the bar so low now that we should be reassured by “We’re only worse than the devils because of injuries”

 

[Rebels57]

Alright smart guy lol, I know there are some Flyers fans that would rather see him sit and play, I didnt mean it literally.

With Hagg, Braun, Gustafsson, and Friedman in the starting 6 right now, any Flyers fan that would rather Ghost sit still needs to be hit over the head with a tack hammer lol

 

[Rebels57]

We are in total agreement. I have a family member that swears Provorov is the worst D man in the NHL.

That person should be hit over the head with a tack hammer repeatedly lol

 

[Curufinwe]

Yeah, easily. It literally had one of the most entertaining playoff series in the post-lockout era where we smacked around a rival. Neutral fans even still talk about that one. They had also gone to the Finals recently, so there wasn’t “this team is stuck in mediocrity” fatigue. Last season’s team put together a decent run, but struggled against a team that would not have actually made the playoffs in the 1st round, and couldn’t beat the Islanders once in regulation in the 2nd round. Beyond that, the team came up remarkably small in Game 7.

Montreal thumped the Pens before playing us, and the Islanders who beat us in 7 would have also missed the playoffs if the regular season had gone on like normal. They were the 25th best team in the league after Christmas, while Philly was 3rd, and yet they dismantled Washington.

NHL Stats

You have to accept the reality that the post-Covid bubble was very different than the regular season which ended four months prior.

 

[deadhead]

The problem is 2 of Hagg/Braun/Gus are still going to be in the lineup even after Ghost and Myers return.

As to the bolded, I hope the difference between these teams is a lot more than that, since one is supposed to start looking like a contender and the other is a bottom 10 team in the league. Or is the bar so low now that we should be reassured by “We’re only worse than the devils because of injuries”

The point is bottom of the roster players are there for an obvious reason, bad teams have more of them (think back a few seasons ago). We're just playing 3 of them instead of 1 due to injuriea.
Braun is not a bad defenseman, he's just not good enough to carry the garbage anymore. Improve the players around him and he'll look better - and that's the difference between a top 4 guy and a capable 3rd pair guy.

So when you get Myers and Ghost back, you're only going to play one of Gus/Hagg/Friedman. And often it's just finding the combo that lets you get decent play out of a mediocre player.

And I think as the defense improves, Provorov will relax and stop trying to be superman.

 

[Deadpool8812]

We are in total agreement. I have a family member that swears Provorov is the worst D man in the NHL.

The true question is: What does he think of Hagg?

 

[Remarkablr]

We are in total agreement. I have a family member that swears Provorov is the worst D man in the NHL.

He might be one of the worst power play Defensemen in the league. Although don't tell AV or the coaching staff.

He is over-rated by most fans and is only a number 2 or 3 on most teams. Just watch him closely for a period and watch the bad passes, giveaways and bad positioning. On the power play he is hopeless.

 

[Mitch Doris]

The true question is: What does he think of Hagg?

Gotta be honest, hes never said anything. Hes such a bandwagon fan it disgusting.

 

[Appleyard]

Looking for this kind of execution tomorrow.

 

[Captain Dave Poulin]

Looking for this kind of execution tomorrow.

If that's bleach, count me in.

 

[FlyerFaithful17]

Montreal thumped the Pens before playing us, and the Islanders who beat us in 7 would have also missed the playoffs if the regular season had gone on like normal. They were the 25th best team in the league after Christmas, while Philly was 3rd, and yet they dismantled Washington.

NHL Stats

You have to accept the reality that the post-Covid bubble was very different than the regular season which ended four months prior.

It’s just my opinion. There’s no proof we succeed in the playoffs regardless of the pause or not. And it’s really not just about last year... it’s cumulative.

 

[BritainStix]

He might be one of the worst power play Defensemen in the league. Although don't tell AV or the coaching staff.

He is over-rated by most fans and is only a number 2 or 3 on most teams. Just watch him closely for a period and watch the bad passes, giveaways and bad positioning. On the power play he is hopeless.

Bad take is bad take.

 

[marcsson68]

I am as positive about Ghost returning into the lineup as many here. The team is in need for something to change because they know that they have been outplayed in more or less all of the games so far. May it be „preseason“ or not. Ghost‘s skillset should be welcome.

BUT: We need the Ghost from a couple of seasons ago to return. The one of the more recent past might not turn things around.

 

[deadhead]

Niskanen left the team a big hole, all you have to do is look at the young D-men on the horizon to know that if he just played this year, they would have had options next year and the assets to make a major move after the ED.

We were going to have to muddle through before the injuries, but with Myers and Ghost out it's been ugly.

Crap happens.

 

[Curufinwe]

He might be one of the worst power play Defensemen in the league. Although don't tell AV or the coaching staff.

He is over-rated by most fans and is only a number 2 or 3 on most teams. Just watch him closely for a period and watch the bad passes, giveaways and bad positioning. On the power play he is hopeless.

Provorov is a 3D at best.