Jeremy Laura: Wings beat Montreal 5-4 in shootout, but Caps win ends playoff hopes

Huge kuddos to you guys. Despite obviously rooting against you, your team just would not die. Good things ahead with that young group.

Another thrilling come back!!! Too bad they could not have this much effort and enthusiasm back in March!!!!!!
Better than what all expected of them this year, and they will be even better next year!

Rigged Philadelphia pulls goalie with no chance as Detroit had already eliminated them with the tie.

Huge kuddos to you guys. Despite obviously rooting against you, your team just would not die. Good things ahead with that young group.
- SuperHenderson13

You're awesome, Super. A true fan has rivalries, but lives the game more than loves the hate. Thanks!!

As a Flyers fan, I can only assume Torts didn't know what was happening in your game. But that is a thin excuse because we as fans knew. I said as he did it, Washington owes Torts a debt of gratitude for handing them the playoffs.

The game was going to OT because we cant score. Washington may have won either way, but I don't feel good about just handing them the game. Its a bad look.

This doesn't suck, but it does sting. Good season; ups n downs of course. Well played game. Gonna take some time to digest this one, for sure.....

Well done, lads. Not disappointed.....

As a Flyers fan, I can only assume Torts didn't know what was happening in your game. But that is a thin excuse because we as fans knew. I said as he did it, Washington owes Torts a debt of gratitude for handing them the playoffs.

The game was going to OT because we cant score. Washington may have won either way, but I don't feel good about just handing them the game. Its a bad look.
- MBFlyerfan

yeah there was no way he could have known, I was watching both at same time, Torts couldnt have known

The game was going to OT because we cant score. Washington may have won either way, but I don't feel good about just handing them the game. Its a bad look.

I can understand the Red Wings' fans frustration on this, but I don't really have any sympathy. Everyone knew going in that the Flyers had to win the game in regulation to have a chance to make the playoffs. And that means if the game was tied late, we'd have to pull the goalie, because a regulation tie = loss in this case. If Detroit really didn't want the Flyers to risk having an empty-netter end their season, then maybe try being up on Montreal by 5 or 6 goals in the 3rd period. Or better yet, 1 more point out of your other 81 games to avoid the risk entirely.

yeah there was no way he could have known, I was watching both at same time, Torts couldnt have known
- jimbro83

He had to have known in this day of instant betting on each play. To say he didn’t know is totally crap as everyone knew. Your telling me with all the people watching everything for the team they didn’t know is false

He had to have known in this day of instant betting on each play. To say he didn’t know is totally crap as everyone knew. Your telling me with all the people watching everything for the team they didn’t know is false
- saintdog19

You think he was checking his phone on the bench? He's not going to pull his own goalie to spite the Red Wings. There is no reason to pull the goalie unless he thought he had a chance of getting into the playoffs.

Jeremy Laura: Wings beat Montreal 5-4 in shootout, but Caps win ends playoff hopes
- Jeremy Laura

Fought till the end. Lesson to be learned every minute of every game matters and bank points early.

Looking forward:
Sign Rob Brind Amour
RD Pesce
LW/RW Teravainen
Kane
Fisher
Need a tough guy!!!

Full time next year
Edvinsson
Johansson
Matta or Petry 7th dman

Room for one or two of the following
Danielson
Berggren
Mazur
Kasper

Shai Buium signed his ELC, heading to GR. Interesting. I remember there was a lot of excitement about the player at draft time, but hadn’t heard much since

Shai Buium signed his ELC, heading to GR. Interesting. I remember there was a lot of excitement about the player at draft time, but hadn’t heard much since
- Jeremy Laura

From what I've heard, he had a pretty solid season. Played with his brother who seems to be garnering attention.....Saw Shai play a couple of games, looked good. Be interesting to watch his growth....

Fought till the end. Lesson to be learned every minute of every game matters and bank points early.

Looking forward:
Sign Rob Brind Amour
RD Pesce
LW/RW Teravainen
Kane
Fisher
Need a tough guy!!!

Full time next year
Edvinsson
Johansson
Matta or Petry 7th dman

Room for one or two of the following
Danielson
Berggren
Mazur
Kasper
- Goalie Dad

I think as players are let go, we'll have a fair idea what the thought is on bringing kids up, or filling via UFA/trade. Would LOVE to see Teravainen in red next year. Coach Rob would be epic, but I'm a 'Canes fan (#2 or lower on my list, mind you....) and know that the consensus in Raleigh is "Rod or revolt", they LOVE him there...like more popular than most actors n famous folk. He's got a cult following.

I think the 'Canes are going to look vastly different next year, but just like us - a lot remains to be seen. Would like to see how Kasper does in camp, but his grit and style of play is something we need...he could be the dude that gives Larkin room to breathe..... Kane, to me, seems like he's moving on. From the 'Hawks game on-ward, he just seems like he's ready. He's proven he can still bring it and I don't know if we're going to have the cash or ability to make a deep SCPO run next year, and it seems like that's what he wants - another drink from the Cup. 'Course, I HOPE I'm wrong because he's an incredible player and brought a great amount of stability this season...

Overall, I think there was progress this year. We know we don't yet have game stealing goalies. We know there's still a lot of young players coming up through the system, including goalies. Most of them are still a few years out. I think they learned some things this year. Winning really important games this time of year is a good learning experience for the young players. They have a little baggage to get rid of, hopefully plug some holes, but I think the expectation for this team is they will be a playoff team next year. If they don't make it, it means they've taken a step back.

The player that impressed me most this year was Raymond. Seider became that shut-down defenseman and is their best d-man, but Raymond really grew this year and there were times he carried the team. He's still very young and I can see him being a perennial 80-90 point producer. If Kane doesn't re-sign, we need someone like him, whose job it is to feed DeBrincat. I know he's hot and cold, but when he's missing, it's usually by centimeters. We need someone that can feed him 10-12 times a game, while Larkin is feeding Raymond. Their D is getting improved just by having Edvisson all year. Let's get ASP to GR this year to get his teed up for next, Cossa should be ready in a year while Augustine is being groomed, and in 4-5 years, they should be competing for round two and beyond.

I can understand the Red Wings' fans frustration on this, but I don't really have any sympathy. Everyone knew going in that the Flyers had to win the game in regulation to have a chance to make the playoffs. And that means if the game was tied late, we'd have to pull the goalie, because a regulation tie = loss in this case. If Detroit really didn't want the Flyers to risk having an empty-netter end their season, then maybe try being up on Montreal by 5 or 6 goals in the 3rd period. Or better yet, 1 more point out of your other 81 games to avoid the risk entirely.
- copelal

In this day and age Torts knew they were out when Detroit tied the game and he pulled his goalie anyways. And you are saying that if next year the flyers need the wings to win a game to make the playoffs and the wings know they are out and pull the goalie anyways with 4 minutes to go in a tie game and we lose I am sure you would call that something not right.

You think he was checking his phone on the bench? He's not going to pull his own goalie to spite the Red Wings. There is no reason to pull the goalie unless he thought he had a chance of getting into the playoffs.
- Chunk

If you don’t believe with all the technology and assistants in today’s game he didn’t know the score then the flyer have the worst hockey operations in the nhl by a long shot. Now we know the story will be he didn’t know but we all know that is crap

An exciting finish, but I think the Red Wings would have been eliminated sooner if Kane wasn't in the lineup.

Czarnik on waivers for assignment to GR

Hold hands and sing kumbaja.

Dont they post all game scores at the stadium live?

Dont they post all game scores at the stadium live?
- LFS

They do. Osgood and Murphy talked about players on the bench watching the out of town scoreboard back in their day. Joe Louis had sort of a “light bright meets Nintendo” display. All blocks. Many of the new Jumbotrons (not sure if that’s the name) have the scores running on the bottom.

I’ve kind of kept out of this part of it because it goes to a very dark place if you let it. But, out of town scoreboards are pretty standard fare as far as I’ve seen. That doesn’t mean that the coach would have checked it, but if guys who retired a decade or more ago were following without too much of an issue it’d be a hard sell that it’s not easier to do now.

Whelp... at least we can still watch the GR Griffins who certainly have the talent for a deep run in the AHL playoffs. Best team talent collectively they've had in over a decade for sure. May as well send Edvinsson back down to get some playoff experience. That will only help him next season when he's in Detroit. Hopefully ASP will be in GR next season... he needs to play defense in North America to keep his development going. AHL Live has a streaming playoff subscription I'm going to sign up for. Still plan on catching some games live here in GR.

Johanssen has been a very sold defenseman this year. Better than last season and plays more physical now. Just more effective overall. I think he's pretty much ready for Detroit. Cossa has really improved from last season. He just seems much more athletic... better lateral movement. Better positioning and tracks the puck much better with traffic in front of him. I was skeptical last season... I'm not anymore. He's doing pretty good. Berggren has been a stud this season and I expect that to continue in the playoffs. He should be a lock for Detroit next season.

They do. Osgood and Murphy talked about players on the bench watching the out of town scoreboard back in their day. Joe Louis had sort of a “light bright meets Nintendo” display. All blocks. Many of the new Jumbotrons (not sure if that’s the name) have the scores running on the bottom.

I’ve kind of kept out of this part of it because it goes to a very dark place if you let it. But, out of town scoreboards are pretty standard fare as far as I’ve seen. That doesn’t mean that the coach would have checked it, but if guys who retired a decade or more ago were following without too much of an issue it’d be a hard sell that it’s not easier to do now.
- Jeremy Laura

Obviously it's a heartbreaking way to lose a playoff spot but to be honest I don't really think it makes sense for Tortorella or the Flyers to waste brain power compulsively checking the score of the other game down to the exact second, when any chance they have at a successful outcome requires 100% focus on the things they have control over.

Certainly if Detroit was already up by a couple of goals late in the third, or even if there was still 4-5 minutes left in the Flyers-Caps game when Detroit tied it up, that would be different and Torts probably doesn't pull his goalie. At that point, when you already know you're out, you're playing for pride and just trying to maximize your chance of winning that one game.

But, like, it's not crucially important for the Flyers to switch strategies the instant Detroit ties up the game. Torts has no reason to care whether Washington or Detroit gets in. He barely has much reason to care whether his team is tied or losing at the end of regulation. In that position, if you get down to the last few minutes and the last you knew Detroit was losing, you just gotta block out the noise and go for it. If it turns out Detroit tied the game and he doesn't know about it for another minute, oh well.