MYMS (MY Maybe Meaningless Statistics) I thought I would throw this up to have little fun during the long break, at least we got the Phillies to keep our wives/girlfriends from forcing us to watch a full week of mind numbing reality shows. Another Tuesday night with two hours of The Biggest Loser and I am going to jump off my roof. Without the currently voted 11th and 19th most valuable players, JVR and Blair Betts, the Flyers are 0-1-1 and while they remain a perfect 3-0 with them. Can a 20 year old rookie and a late tryout signee be this critical to the on ice success of our team and if so is there anything that can be done to fix that?

Without JVR, a viable offensive threat to pair with Giroux on the 3rd line Stevens has elected to moved Giroux up a go with a two scoring system that was much debated on the BSH this off-season. While that means more ice time for Claude, with better talent, it also means less scoring depth and more ice time for the Asham and Powes of the world without a puck carrying play making center to help out in the offensive zone.. So far this has NOT worked out evidenced by the 0-1-1 in the last two games and might prove be more problematic with Stevens getting the last change on the road.

Without Betts we are seeing more PK time once again for Carter and Richards is it effecting their play 5 on 5 I am not sure but once again looking at the 0-1-1 record maybe it is? The 4th line of Carcillo-Betts-Lappy looked great in the 1st 3 games and was getting quite a bit of ice time, Betts was averaging 13.03 min/game, providing more rest and energy for the scoring lines. With Betts out Cote is in. If you can call 2.02 min per game in? This has meant even more wasted minutes for Carter and Richards as they were rotating in and out on the 4th line playing on jumbled mismatched lines with "offensively challenged" wingers (I think "offensively challenged" that is more PC than "muckers and grinders"). Also in the Carolina and Devils games I believe Betts was on the ice to help close out both of those games, taking crucial draws and providing a veteran defensive presence on the ice. If Betts was available maybe he gets out to Getzlaf and prevents that keep in and Flyers don't end up losing to the Ducks. 

I know the above arguments are highly speculative and it is has only been two games both that is how the MYMMS system works, if you have problems with the MYMMS system feel free to include in your comments. Let's Go Phils.