Mike Deej

Last night truly was the full Matvei Michkov experience. Great passing, giveaways, gaining the line w/the puck, getting stripped, setting up the OT winner on a risky pass. The highs & lows of a talented young player. This experience will serve he & the other young Flyers so well

Fun way to end what was a sad tradition

Tradition continues

Coliseum is buzzin

@FlyersAnt Same lol

Get to pack my Flyers jersey for Disneyworld next week

The Flyers look completely out of gas

I’m sure there will be a black helmet or 2 on the ice at some point tonight

@Anth_Chatburn @BeanSobie I’d go the other way. Once you draft a player you hold their rights for 7 years. Otherwise what’s the point of the draft if players can just call their own shot?

@BeanSobie That NCAA players are now getting paid should put everyone on the same page. 2 years to sign a guy or they go back to the draft. Or 4 years for everyone.

The NHL absolutely needs to find a solution to the NCAA loophole. With the NCAA relaxing their rules regarding CHL player eligibility the path of CHL>NCAA>NHL is going to become increasingly common. And it opens the door for more Kevin Hayes, Adam Fox, Cutter Gauither situations.

@Juicetin__ @Bennett_CK @johnnyrockets27 It seemed that way. I think it was ultimately bc PIT pretty much came out of the gate dictating the pace and playing their game. Interested to see what adjustments the Flyers counter with tonight. Should be able to tell pretty early

@mikedeej97 @Bennett_CK @johnnyrockets27 Yeah for sure. Especially game 5, I said to a buddy it looks like they’re protecting the lead in a 0-0 game. It felt odd. Wish they came out with a more cutthroat approach

Idk the first 3 games of this series we played the flyer way (beating the fuck out of the penguins at every stoppage) and it worked spectacularly. We’ve barely touched them in the last 2 games and we’ve looked lethargic and timid. Fighting brings energy.

@Juicetin__ @Bennett_CK @johnnyrockets27 If Flyers clean up the breakouts tonight and flip the ice, they should be able to get back to what they were doing games 1-3

@Juicetin__ @Bennett_CK @johnnyrockets27 I think it wasn’t working bc we were defending too much. We’d flip the puck to the neutral zone and PIT would 3/4 ice regroup and send it back in. When we did dump into their zone, felt like we were changing lines, tired legs from spending too much time defending

@Juicetin__ @Bennett_CK @johnnyrockets27 The dump and chase can be effective when you’re getting in on the forecheck and creating havoc. PIT’s 1st 2 goals last game were a result of that, Sanheim goal was result of that too. It’s an effective strategy when executed properly

@Juicetin__ @Bennett_CK @johnnyrockets27 That’s what necessary from this team to try and win these playoff games right now. They’re still building and accumulating skill, not a finished product yet. Asking these guys to strictly skill their way to playoff wins right now is simply not the way to coach this group

@johnnyrockets27 @Bennett_CK @Juicetin__ Which is a good thing, but this team isn’t bullying anyone. People get hooked on stereotypes and reputations. The current regime is building a team that fits the mold of what modern day success is in the NHL. There’s no “dinosaur” element to any of this

@mikedeej97 @Bennett_CK @Juicetin__ Take Wayne Simmonds off the giroux teams and those are the most unrecognizable flyers teams ever imo. Simmonds carried the whole franchise identity himself. There’s a lot more general toughness and snarl on this squad I think.

@Bennett_CK @Juicetin__ @johnnyrockets27 This may be the most un-stereotypical Flyers team of my lifetime. I truly have no idea what some people are watching when they put a game on. I saw someone yesterday accuse them of being the Broad St Bullies. Wtf lol who on this team even comes close to resembling that?

@Juicetin__ @johnnyrockets27 Michkov shouldn’t be in the b3 (or maybe even b6), but all that said who exactly is the “stereotypical Flyer” on this team? Hathaway? Tippett throwing the body around saw results and he has skill. Risto showed up a bit. Even Michkov tried taking the body more.

@ColbyCohen36 @FlyersAnt …take a load off him minutes wise and then you could move him up at various times during the game if need be. Gives Hathaway a chance to rest too, older guy who has been going all out. Still keep Coots/Glendening in there for PK, faceoffs, energy shifts, etc.

@ColbyCohen36 @FlyersAnt As a bottom of the lineup guy for most of my playing years, I’m with you and I love what this 4th line has done the last month or so. I do think their effect has waned a bit the last 2 games. I think Foerster’s game translates well to that role on a short term basis…

Up 3-2 and this is what we’re talking about…everyone has an agenda. I just want the Flyers to win playoff games. With how Michkov responded to criticism all year, he’ll be okay. Moving on….

@ColbyCohen36 @FlyersAnt I’d lean towards Hathaway out, Foerster down to 4th line, Michkov in top 6. Big spot, coming off a scratch, see what he’s got

I’d probably get him back in next game. I’m not sure who I’d take out yet. Without knowing health status of guys (everyone is hurt this time of year) hard for me to say who’d I’d take out but it wouldn’t be 71. He’s a he’s a big strong kid and he adds speed to your group. He was injured so long I’d keep him in and let him work through it for sure… but I think I’d find a way to get Michkov back in an see if he comes out motivated with fire and more willing to work - if not then you can always take him out again.’

@dwally_215 @FlyersAnt Yeah, that’s what we’re all trying to do. Run an extremely talented player out of town. Good talk 👍🏼

@mikedeej97 @FlyersAnt Love the double standard...hold not others accountable for bad penalties. Also lot of Mich penalties are refs making bad calls this series so theres that. Run the kid out of town go for it, we are Philly its the way we do things.

@dwally_215 @FlyersAnt I’ll listen to the argument that he wasn’t used properly at times this season, but the other issues are self-inflicted. Again, I do believe he will be good long term, it’s just not there yet and that is okay. Primary task right now is winning games

@dwally_215 @FlyersAnt Everyone is going to take penalties sometimes, and you can’t sit 10 different people. The difference with 39 is this has been a season long problem with him. These are things that are his fault and his fault alone

@dwally_215 @FlyersAnt Michkov’s game has been bad, man, it just has been. It’s been worse than Foerster, worse than TK, etc. I really feel like he’s going to be fine long term but his game isn’t where it needs to be yet. The turnovers, losing board battles, bad penalties. These are all real things

@mikedeej97 @FlyersAnt Forester other elements have also been sub par. Its mind blowing people can't see the double standard and that not a single player on the team is held accountable like Matvei is.