The sequence that led to the first goal against was possibly some of the most inept hockey i have seen in ages – possibly back to Vigneault’s days. Rushed passing, no puck support and a complete lack of detail. Just for making us fans put up with that abomination, they deserved the loss.

Also – I am starting to see why Torts was so harsh on York. Guy has skills. But so many times in the game, you see him playing a little too nonchalantly…. I wouldn’t say he’s being lazy or not giving an effort, but he’s not giving max effort. Again, i realize that it’s a long season and you can’t play 100% every shift, every time. But sometimes, you do need to push harder to try to keep the puck in the offensive zone, or to beat the other team to the puck. I dont see him doing it consistently.

As for Hathaway – ehhhh. Yes, he should have shot the puck earlier. But he’s a 4th liner reaching the end of his career. It’s unfair to pin the blame for the loss on him.

All these cheap head shots that the Ducks (causing 2 players out with concussions) and now the Mammoth . why hasn’t there been any suspensions of those players?

This is why I never stay up for these late games, but I did last night like an idiot. Once Hathaway did (or didn’t actually) do his thing I knew it was going OT. I’m not even going to waste my time with Ers. This may be the first game I walked away from PISSED, even with some of the recent blowouts.

GD I love this team and so many players on it, but it is beyond frustrating right now.

Did last night’s game suck? Yep sure did but I am really not surprised. This team flat out isn’t good enough. Not enough talent, too many mistakes, special teams mediocre at best. We said the same things when Torts was behind the bench.

Charlie is Michkov’s ice time under Tocchet better or worse than Torts. My eye are telling me it is.

Charlie, I get the sense that Tocchet plays way too often not to lose rather than win. I think it drives his 3rd period decisions and personnel deployment. I think that is what happened in the 3rd period. Not that I am excusing Hathaway for freezing

The Flyers finished the game at midnight EST: and the Flyers looked like they had very tired skating legs,

Tocchet clearly does not like MM, and is the wrong coach to develop this kid’s potential. Bad hire, as this team needed top five draft picks and nurturing development of the few elite talents on the team, ie., ice time for MM. Should have kept Shaw. Gotta tank into top five, and the FO needs to sit Tocchet down to drive home the point that they need talent acquisition and MM development. T is not on the same page as the front office should be, and better be. Tanking is essential to get those critical pieces, a 1-C, a 1-D, and a 1-G. Giving MM ice time should be a directive from Hilferty if DB and Jones won’t do it. Watching this coach ruin their top organizational talent is nonsense.

First off, you captured this game perfectly, Charlie, maybe the best game observation article all season, well done!! I agree that the “goats” of the game were Hathaway & Juulsen, both for being knuckleheads in their own way. I also am on the side of the xG model where Ersson is concerned, he wilted in the 3rd as did the rest of the team, including the coaching, who tried to play it safe rather than give someone (Michkov) some extra ice time at the end of the game that he deserved. He would not have hesitated and scored that empty netter. The injustice of the night was Hathaway receiving more ice time than Michkov, that is on Tocchet, who is essentially Hathaway in the ice since he put him there, in effect they both failed to deliver.