GDT: MDSF, Game 3: Capitals at Flyers, Monday, April 18, 7:00 pm ET

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Among the images for Ed Snider tonight will be his initials EMS on the ice.

 

[Teezax]

Manning has been absolutely atrocious through the first 2 games. Like disgustingly bad.

100% this. 2 penalties that led to goals that changed the momentum of both games.
And if that wasn't enough, we always seem to be tied in our own end when he is on. Giving the Caps sustained pressure and building more momentum. Medvedev needs to play, period.
Better outlets, more defensive awareness, and some offense to boot. This should be a no brainer.

 

[SuchySays]

Manning still in.

 

[Curufinwe]

Hakstol must have a golf date on Friday he doesn't want to miss.

 

[boxcar65]

Manning still in.

Thank you, coach Hakstol. Honestly, though, I would not have been surprised to see him in for either Manning or AMac. I hope the team is not too overly emotional tonight to the point where it affects their play. The crowd needs to be into it like never before the next two games.

 

[BrimFullofAsham45]

Thank you, coach Hakstol. Honestly, though, I would not have been surprised to see him in for either Manning or AMac. I hope the team is not too overly emotional tonight to the point where it affects their play. The crowd needs to be into it like never before the next two games.

Can you please explain your creepy Brandon Manning infatuation?

 

[Rebels57]

100% this. 2 penalties that led to goals that changed the momentum of both games.
And if that wasn't enough, we always seem to be tied in our own end when he is on. Giving the Caps sustained pressure and building more momentum. Medvedev needs to play, period.
Better outlets, more defensive awareness, and some offense to boot. This should be a no brainer.

Yet, he had more ice time than Gudas last game.

 

[Branko]

100% this. 2 penalties that led to goals that changed the momentum of both games.
And if that wasn't enough, we always seem to be tied in our own end when he is on. Giving the Caps sustained pressure and building more momentum. Medvedev needs to play, period.
Better outlets, more defensive awareness, and some offense to boot. This should be a no brainer.

This certainly exposes the Flyers greatest weakness in their defensive depth. Is Medvedev that much better? Agreed that I'd rather have him in their for Mandog but I can easily see Meds trapped in his own zone with the puck. He would be an easy target for a costly turnover with the physical nature of this series.

Looking forward to MDZ and Provorov back on the blueline next year. We simply just don't have enough depth on D for a long postseason run.

 

[BringBackHakstol]

Zero chance Manning comes out. Hak has watched him flounder badly in the first 2 games and still gave him the most ice time of any player on the team in Game 2. Any hopes of a swap are wishful thinking.

I guess we are learning this season that Hak while a good coach, might need to have to be baby sat by Hextall and have his choking hazard toys taken away from him by force.

 

[BringBackHakstol]

This certainly exposes the Flyers greatest weakness in their defensive depth. Is Medvedev that much better? Agreed that I'd rather have him in their for Mandog but I can easily see Meds trapped in his own zone with the puck. He would be an easy target for a costly turnover with the physical nature of this series.

Looking forward to MDZ and Provorov back on the blueline next year. We simply just don't have enough depth on D for a long postseason run.

Medvedev has the ability to make the quick and slick passes that you need to make in an uptempo playoff game with heavy forechecking and little time and space.

Manning is awful at making quick solid plays with the puck to move the team up ice.

Where Medvedev will struggle is his play without the puck and making the right reads defensively and at the offensive blueline. Still, it should be a no-brainer. It's a calculated risk with little downside and a pretty big upside.

 

[BrimFullofAsham45]

Manning should be getting Krajicek/Parent levels of icetime. I had to double check last game's boxscore to see the icetime breakdown, I'm glad that one single player (Ghost) saw the ice more than Mandog.

It's painful to witness this and its truly maddening. This could be as much of a Gord Murphy problem as a Hakstol problem, however.

Has Manning finally succeeded in taking a shot from the point that hasn't been blocked yet? At least Medvedev is pretty good at getting pucks through, and aside from other things, handling the puck at an NHL level.

 

[boxcar65]

Can you please explain your creepy Brandon Manning infatuation?

Nothing creepy about it, Aaron. I just appreciate the fact that an undrafted, hard working, team first guy who toiled for four years in the AHL finally realized his dream to make it and play in the NHL. It also helps that he is so roundly made the scapegoat and whipping boy for several folks on this board.

He is what he is...a #6 Dman who is average in several areas but doesn't stand out in one particular facet of the game. I know it ticks everyone off that he has played a good number of minutes the first two games, but the coach must know something we don't.

If you compare Manning to other #6/#7 Dmen around the league, I don't think you will find too much difference. He could fill the same role for just about anyone.

 

[blinds]

Any comment about Manning taking a penalty that led to a PPG against in each game so far? No other player has been that detrimental.

They were both the opening goals too, weren't they? Scoring first is that much more important against a team like the Caps that can just shut everything around Holtby down once they get the lead. Thanks, Brandon Manning. Real team-first guy.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

Nothing creepy about it, Aaron. I just appreciate the fact that an undrafted, hard working, team first guy who toiled for four years in the AHL finally realized his dream to make it and play in the NHL. It also helps that he is so roundly made the scapegoat and whipping boy for several folks on this board.

He is what he is...a #6 Dman who is average in several areas but doesn't stand out in one particular facet of the game. I know it ticks everyone off that he has played a good number of minutes the first two games, but the coach must know something we don't.

If you compare Manning to other #6/#7 Dmen around the league, I don't think you will find too much difference. He could fill the same role for just about anyone.

He stands out in many facets of the game. Not the good kind.

 

[BrimFullofAsham45]

Nothing creepy about it, Aaron. I just appreciate the fact that an undrafted, hard working, team first guy who toiled for four years in the AHL finally realized his dream to make it and play in the NHL. It also helps that he is so roundly made the scapegoat and whipping boy for several folks on this board.

He is what he is...a #6 Dman who is average in several areas but doesn't stand out in one particular facet of the game. I know it ticks everyone off that he has played a good number of minutes the first two games, but the coach must know something we don't.

If you compare Manning to other #6/#7 Dmen around the league, I don't think you will find too much difference. He could fill the same role for just about anyone.

It is a tad creepy that 247 of your 251 posts (rough estimate) regard Brandon Manning.

I don't think anyone is particularly scapegoating Manning (though he has directly lead to opposition goals in the last two games). However, substituting Manning with Medvedev is a simple adjustment that makes the Flyers a better team. Manning has played "better" down the stretch, but is clearly in way over his head in this playoff series. He's a major liability out there.

 

[hatcher]

https://twitter.com/davegisaac Sign him up and play him tonight to help our top 6 out.

 

[bennysflyers16]

I hope and imagine CBC will show all the tribute tonight.

 

[blinds]

https://twitter.com/davegisaac Sign him up and play him tonight to help our top 6 out.

Would be awesome if we could sign him. There was an article last week about us being front runners for him along with Chicago, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa. Would guess it either ends up us or Chicago.

 

[hatcher]

Would be awesome if we could sign him. There was an article last week about us being front runners for him along with Chicago, Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa. Would guess it either ends up us or Chicago.

We could add him now.Don't let him leave.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

He can't play in the NHL Playoffs.

 

[backburner]

Mason still in.

 

[hatcher]

He can't play in the NHL Playoffs.

That's ok just get him on the team for next year.

 

[Flyerfan4life]

Manning still in.

offical ???

 

[BringBackHakstol]

I know it ticks everyone off that he has played a good number of minutes the first two games, but the coach must know something we don't.

We are all watching the same games aren't we? So what is it the coach knows that could possibly make up for the difference of poor results shown on the ice?

 

[GKJ]

People thought Manning was getting benched?