#guda: small. leave me alone.

[43sol]

Probably die first in a horror movie

[mako-neexu]

drives me insane. i feel so sick i love it sm. guda still manages to be sane as soon as they saw da vinci (mama) and small vinci (sister) already dead. even though their mental state was shaken to its foundations, they still kept telling themself: "i can still do something. call the police. th eambulance. i can still do something. i cans till move. i can still check whether they are alive-"

and when they went to the telephone, seeing mash was their fucking breaking point. god. its not even mash.

mash is safe and sound in the border, but this girl wearing mash's face. kyrie. who is much like mash yet different all the same. seeing a bloody dead body of mash unearthed their deepest trauma of losing her to goetia's noble phantasm. mash is what literally keeps guda, one of the most important people in their life, going. bc everyone who's ever there from the start of part 1 had already died or sacrificed themself so mash is one of the few people left and letting her die when everyone guda's ever cherished died from them/for them would be extremely detrimental for their health. mash kyrielight is what holds fujimaru ritsuka together-

and even if it werent the da vincis themself or mash, them bearing their faces alone is enough to nearly shatter guda into almost a lifeless husk who cant be reasoned with but fight and fight and fight.

theyre ignoring- being silent in conversations (evidenced by dialogue choices), fighting battles without a care for themself and merely giving orders, saying that the enemy mobs are "in the way"....... they're also not trying for a peaceful talk anymore.....the grief, and the anger that clouds their heart.........

its like leaving a bloody trail behind, their resolve unwavering and still holding that desire to move forward, this time, their trail- their despair is lit by flames of anger like an avenger seeking vengeance drowning from the grief of losing the people they love. all over again

[fgodestinyawakenings]

Your good ass ramble got me thinking, and I think Mash is a good example of a codependent relationship. Narratively she doesn't actually care about who the Gudas are; their backstory, their FAMILY BACK HOME, their personal desire for the future OUTSIDE of Chaldea... none of it. Mash wants her ideal image of a human to be with her in Chaldea and not leave her because Guda being anything other than that means she's alone again.

Basically her main big problem since Fuyuki Prologue

It sounds innocent at first because Gudas is the only unique normal human while most are Gudas. But as the story goes on especially current Arc 2, there was barely any talk to a small bitter yet heartwarming nostalgic trip about Gudas themselves

A lot of them of their own personality, likes and dislikes are found out by other Servants in their interlude. Where Mash aren't involved, she just only cares as you said, her ideal image is there

And Gudas are written to care and ensure they uphold that way. Or as Oberon said, they are very bothered at the fear when Mash no longer needs them or wants them

It's extremely selfish of her to the point of a cruelty she doesn't realize. She doesn't understand or even try to see or get along with people who aren't her ideal image. Probably why I'm also angry when she reject Ophelia's invitation to join for tea, because she's not an ideal human? If only Mash can be burn to Rare prism for this

[rexcoatlarchive]

First valentine's day in chaldea

Short story about Rex's first valentine's day in chaldea

Me: *sitting alone in my room with my dog Chikkis*

*the Gudas enter my room*

Rikko: hey there uh... how's it going

Me: *sitting on my bed* is aight

Rikka: is there a reason you're just laying in your bed on valentine's day?

Me: what's it matter if it's valentine's day, never been a good day for me before won't be a good day this year.

Rikko: that's a bit pessimistic

Rikka: you don't know that. What if one of your servants give you some chocolate

Me: unrealistic

Rikka: fine then, sit in your and wallow in sadness

Me: I still have my dog tho

Chikkis: *eating some meat*

*the gudas eventually leave*

*a few hours pass*

Me: ...man, I probably shouldn't sit here for the whole day. Might as well walk chikkis in the simulator

Chikkis: already excited to go

*we leave the room with Chikkis on her leash*

Me: now what place can we simulate for ya chikkis? Maybe a botanical garden, or a beach, or even...

*before I can finish that thought I run into Quetz*

Quetz: master! I've finally found you!

Me: *shocked* y-y-you were looking for m-m-me?!

Quetz: of course! It's valentine's day is it not? And as such I made this for you!

*Quetz hands me the Xocolatl she made*

Me: You made this for me!?

Quetz: of course master

Me: *thinking* oh no! Someone actually made something. And it was fucking Quetz too! And I have nothing to offer her in return!

Me: *now frantic* hey Quetz I actually have to do something real quick, can you walk Chikkis in the simulator while I'm gone

Quetz: oh! OK? I guess I can

Me: thanks for that and for the drink! I'll be back soon *leave quickly but tries not to spill the drink*

Quetz: hmmm? Wonder what that was about

*at the kitchen, Boudica is making the cake CE*

Me: Boudica!

Boudica: ah! Master are you ok?

Me: not really, I got a valentine's gift from Quetz, but I have nothing to offer in return

Boudica: you want me to make something to give her?

Me: no, I have to make it myself

Boudica: Let me atleast help you, a bit. Did you have an idea in mind?

Me: I got a few ideas.

Boudica: well then let's get started

*after an amount of time the chocolate was finished*

Me: well there it is

*on a table was a sun shaped chocolate wrapped in gold foil*

Me: you think she'll like it?

Boudica: I'm sure she'll love it

Me: *picking it up* well, I'll go find her to give it to her

Boudica: good luck master!

Me: thanks! I'm going to need it

*after a while trying to find her, both chocolates in hand, I run into Quetz who still has Chikkis with her*

Quetz: master! There you are!

Me: h-h-hey Quetz!

Quetz: you didn't drink Xocolatl, did you not want it?

Me: it's not that, it's just I wanted to drink with you but I had to do something first.

Quetz: what did you have to do?

Me: I hade to make this

Quetz: hmm?

Me: *showing the chocolate I made with Boudica* Will you be my valentine!

Quetz: oh master! You made a chocolate for me!?

Me: yeah, that's why I ran off in such a hurry earlier. It's just that I was so surprised that anyone would make something for me. This has never happened to me before.

Quetz: never?! Not even family?

Me: it's not really a familial thing back home, only a romantic thing.

Quetz: oh!

Me: yeah, so I made a little caramel filled sun for you.

Quetz: *taking the chocolate* well thank you so much master. Why don't we go back to my room and eat our chocolates together

Me: I'd like that

And this was a small story of Rex's first valentine's in chaldea. Hope you guys like it

Tagging @panyum since this was inspired by their little DanAyo valentine comic

[queenofnohr]

Aeaean Spring Breeze - Ch. 2: Once Upon a Time

Dreamwidth version here.

---

[We open with a “storybook” segment.]

Once upon a time... On a certain island, there lived a very powerful witch.

Witch: I can do anything. Healing people, transforming people, making poison, giving advice, dispensing prophecy— there is nothing that is beyond my power.

And it was true. Living all alone on an island didn’t hinder her at all. But, even if it wasn’t a hindrance, it was lonely. In truth, when she walked along the sandy beach, or looked up at all the stars strewn about the night sky, or when she ate her meals, or when she would lie down at night to sleep— she was always faintly longing for another to stay with her.

—However. She was a witch. And as a witch, loneliness shouldn’t exist for her. Those who knew the witch thought as much, and she, herself, thought so as well. It was a small thing, really, but it was enough to bring about a fatal discrepancy.

—Some time passed. A boat came ashore on the witch’s island. The warriors on the ship were finally on their way back home after a long, long war.

Witch: —That man looks like he’s made of iron.

One look, and the witch took a liking to the ship’s captain. So she thought she would do to him what she did to any other warrior.

[Storybook segment over]

Mash: The Great Hero Odysseus! You mean he’s the same Odysseus who’s not only celebrated for his feats in the Trojan War, but also the origin for the very word that encapsulates “adventure”!? Ah, but that would also mean he’s Circe’s— ……Oh, pardon me. Circe: I don’t mind if you say it, Mash. Go ahead and say whatever you were going to!

> So he’s your ex……

Circe: HE’S TOTALLY NOT!! Or, no, would he be considered one? …...No, no, it’s totally different. He’s definitely not my ex. Orion: ……Here’s my interpretation. This smell…… Yes, it’s the stink of a 24 karat, undistilled, 100% romcom. Or something like girls gossiping about the guys they like at a slumber party…… Mash: Girl talk!

> Romcom!!

Circe: Kuwah! (She made a totally weird noise) Orion: Be honest, you! Circe: Well, let’s see…… …… …… ……No, it’s like…… or is it? I give up, I don’t really understand myself. Even though I’m a Great Witch. Orion: In any case, we should return to the others. If you’ve got lingering feelings, bring ‘em up. If you don’t, leave it be. Even separation is important when it comes to romance. Circe: Being lectured on love by a stuffed bear is so humiliating……!! Orion: Kokokokoko. (He’s laughing.) I may look cute, but on the inside I’m a romance veteran!

> It’s because Artemis is far a—

Orion: YOU’RE MISTAKEN!!

> Only because a certain goddess isn’t here……

Orion: Hyohyohyohyo (He’s laughing) Circe: (One of these days, this guy is gonna get slapped for going along with this)

Circe: Well, wait a sec before we head back. I’m gonna give myself a little something so I don’t act out.

> A little something?

Circe: ...... ...... There we go. Orion: What did you do? Circe: I put a little limiter on my emotions. This way, no matter what happens, it’ll be like I’ve reached enlightenment. ……Well, I don’t really know if “reaching enlightenment” is the correct turn of phrase, it’s just the feeling I get!

[back at the beach]

Arjuna: Oh, you’ve returned. What happened? Circe: Well…… this and that. Anyway, about that guy— Arjuna: Speaking of that Servant, I have some deeply disappointing news. Circe: ? ???: It seems I’ve lost my memory. Circe: Your memory......? Georgios: I thoroughly interrogated him, and it doesn’t seem like he’s lying. Orion: Oh, don’t worry, we know his True Name. Arjuna: How? Orion: Circe knew it. His name is Odysseus. It goes without saying he’s a hero from the Trojan War. Arjuna: —I see. Odysseus, huh? If that’s the case, I want to gauge his skill. Circe: Oi, oi, are you really picking a fight? Arjuna: I’m a warrior. Even a small glimpse of his conduct in battle, and I’ll have a good grasp of his skill level. Odysseus: ……So, I’m Odysseus. Georgios: Did hearing your name bring back some memories……? Odysseus: Unfortunately not. It’s like being caught in a maze. Odysseus…… Even if you tell me it’s my name, even if I know it’s my name, I can’t quite comprehend it. Georgios: This is quite the pickle. Circe, do you have any potions that can restore memory? Circe: If I can think I can make it, then I can make it…… ...... ......Ugh. L- Let me troubleshoot a little. I don’t know what’s interfering. Odysseus: Please do. Circe: ...... ...... Circe: There’s residual magic on him. This can’t be treated with a potion. This means— Someone robbed him of his memory. Everyone else: !! Georgios: Then what should we do? I believe that perhaps he has a deeper connection to this Singularity than anticipated. Odysseus: I think you should account for the possibility that I’m the culprit. Jason: In that case, maybe we should tie him up and leave him be.

> Are you able to come with us?

Odysseus: Certainly. By learning that my True Name is Odysseus, the only thing I remembered was how to use my Noble Phantasm. ……It seems that as a Servant, there is some inherent knowledge and records I possess. If it isn’t a problem, I should be able to use that, at least. Arjuna: That’s promising. Then we’ll search for the solution to this Singularity together with Odysseus. Circe: ...... ...... Mash: Circe, are you okay with that? Circe: ……I guess I’m fine with it. Odysseus: Oh, so you’re Circe? Circe: Right on the money, Odysseus. …...Well, I suppose I’ll work with you until your memory comes back. Odysseus: I look forward to working with you. Circe: *being unsociable* Odysseus: ...... ...... Orion: Circe, you’re a little, uh- maybe smile a bit……? Circe: What are you talking about? I’m always like this. Well, let’s go, Master!

> What’s with this strength……!?

Circe: Don’t be rude to a Great Witch!

> Circe?

Circe: It’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s go!

Odysseus: ...... ...... What a close Master-Servant pair. That’s nice to see. Orion: (……She’s totally gonna break Guda’s wrist……)

[we’re in the jungle]

Circe: For now, let’s follow the residual magic left on him. Though it’s hard to track with all these Phantasmal Beasts hanging around…… Well, just leave that part to me. Odysseus: I’m counting on you. Circe: Oh, uh, right. Well, let’s give this a go……

> Seems like you're having a hard time……

Circe: Of course I am!!

> Is Odysseus weighing on your mind?

Circe: Can you stop with that tepid look, Piglet!? I think you totally have the wrong idea!

Odysseus: What’s wrong, Circe? Circe: It’s nothing so don’t you dare come over here! Odysseus: ......Okay. Arjuna: ……I have a problem with the way you’re acting right now. Georgios: Even if you’re only joking, aren’t you being a little impolite to someone who was an old acquaintance? Circe: What is this, a combo attack from the righteousness police!? Jason: No, from a third party’s perspective your behavior is totally that of an evil woman persecuting someone who’s already demoralized by having his memories lost. Circe: Yeah right. That guy is iron. He’s a man whose bones, flesh, and nerves are all made of steel. Odysseus: I see. So that’s how you see me…… Certainly, it’s as you say— I’m not hurt. Because I understand you have a reason for acting this way. Jason: He has total faith in you, O Great Witch. Circe: ……How about I toss some cursed pancakes on you for blessing us with your horrid laugh? Jason: I’ll stop. Circe: Hm. Sorry, but can someone take care of the Phantasmal Beasts ahead of us? We could go around them, but it’ll make it even more difficult to track the residual magic. Jason: Hm. Then looks like you’re up, Odysseus. Odysseus: Me? Jason: Show us the hero who could compare to  Achilles and Hektor in the Trojan War. Oh, the greatest hero in Greece is Heracles, of course. I won’t concede that fact, but you can compete for second place. Odysseus: Understood. It’s certainly true that I can verify my existence with my behavior in combat. Georgios: If you’re apprehensive, I will follow you into battle. Odysseus: Please do. It’ll be welcome in the unlikely event that I’m defeated. Jason: Isn’t the usual response, “I’ll do it alone”? Odysseus: With how I am right now, even if I had said that, it wouldn’t be from my pride as a Heroic Spirit…… it would simply be arrogance. I don’t intend to solely rely on another, but I won’t refuse help. Now then, Guda. Your orders!

[battle]

Odysseus: ……Right, how was that? Arjuna: There’s a solidness to the way you fight. It’s beyond reproach. Rather than a warrior, the way you fight is like that of a strategist. Odysseus: That seems to be in-line with how I lived. Circe, can you continue tracking now? Circe: ...... ...... Odysseus: Circe? Circe: Oh, er, yeah. That was just the first time I’ve seen you fight. Odysseus: Really? Since we knew each other in the past, I assumed we fought alongside each other. Circe: No, Aeaea Island was peaceful. Jason: Because you turned everyone into beasts? Circe: That’s right! Because I’m a Great Witch! Orion: I feel like that isn’t something to brag about. Circe: By the way, I turned your subordinates into beasts. What do you think about that? Awful, right? Odysseus: No, not really. I don’t think it’s acceptable to make snap judgements about a situation. If I’m going to blame someone, I’d want to have all the facts straight first…… To begin with, I’m just a vestige of who I was when I was alive. I have no intention of continuing to hold the grudges I had when alive, especially over strange circumstances. Circe: ...... ......Hmph!!

[she storms off]

Odysseus: ?

[Odysseus follows; they're separate from the rest of the group]

Mash: Circe?

[with them]

Circe: Sorry, it’s nothing. No, let’s see. I’m blaming you for things you didn’t do. But it really is nothing. Odysseus: ……Because I don’t remember, I wanted to avoid answering. Circe: —Fufu. As expected of the Achaeans’ #1 strategist! Alright! The trail is clear again with those Phantasmal Beasts gone. With this it’s a straight shot! Odysseus: Yes, let’s go!

[they walk away, and a picture is snapped]

Jason: Do those two get along or not…… Arjuna: Are we being underhanded and rocking the boat by butting into their business? By the way, Georgios, what did you take a picture of just now? Georgios: Oh, those two looked quite good on camera so I snapped one unintentionally. Jason: So you’re a battlefield photographer…… Mash: About Circe, do you think that she’s still, you know, toward Odysseus……? Er, I mean, do you think she still loves him? Orion: No idea. You’d probably have to ask her yourself. My guess is she finds it amusing and wants to mess with him. Jason: I agree with Orion. That witch wants to take advantage of his weakness. And wants to use him as a shield in a pinch. Arjuna: Ah, I see. So this is what Lady Medea had to deal with as a wife…… Jason: That’s in the past! Circe is Circe, and I’m me! I won’t comment on anything ‘cause I’d like to continue living, thanks!

[switch to Circe's PoV]

—Even lacking his memories, there’s no change in his personality or the way he acts. It’s infinitely frustrating, but also relieving. Because that means he didn’t change how he acted just for me back then. ……It’s reassuring. Even though it’s me, he treats everyone the same. ……It’s also just a bit frustrating. How complicated a maiden’s heart is.

Odysseus: ……I see something. Circe: That’s…… Odysseus: This is your island. Any idea what it is? Circe: ......Not at all. No, to be specific I know what this building is, but…… Why it’s here…… I haven’t the faintest idea. Odysseus: Hm. ......It seems like this is a matter of great interest. Circe: Piglet, can you come here for a sec—?

> What is it?

Circe: Take a look at this. Jason: The stairs lead underground...... It’s bad, that place is giving me a bad feeling! Arjuna: Circe, what do you think of it? Circe: Well, an underground staircase never existed on Aeaea Island! Georgios: If that’s the case, then this place is a clear discrepancy with the original. Odysseus: In other words, we should go down there. Now then, Guda, what do you want to do?

> We have no choice but to go.

Odysseus: Roger that.

> Any objections to going?

Jason: Yes! I say we abandon this Singularity and go home! Georgios: Ha. Ha. Ha. That’s not a valid answer. Denied. Jason: Tsk. ……Isn't this just an open invitation to an underground labyrinth? This is like saying you need a tiger cub— no one needs a tiger cub, not even a little.

Orion: ......Well, I second that bad feeling. Arjuna: Then I’ll be the scout. Georgios: I’ll join you. Master, Circe, and Odysseus will be in the middle. Jason and Orion will bring up the rear. Jason: Oho, that sounds good. …… …… Orion: Jason, if you desert, you’ll become a wandering ghost. Jason: Don’t read my mind! Odysseus: Then, shall we go? Guda, your orders.

> All units, forward!

Arjuna: Roger that. Go, go, go! ……Why did I do that. Jason: Aren’t you the one who did it!?

> Let’s go—!

Orion: Right!

[he goes, then comes back]

Orion: Are you coming or not!? Everyone Else: Sorry.

---

Ch. 1 ← → Ch. 3

[morsking]

Hi, yes, I would like to talk about Melt.

This isn’t a major scene but I feel it still bears a quite a bit of mention, precisely because it illustrates a huge change in Melt’s character from the events of CCC. 

I’ll preface this further by saying I haven’t read CCC and am only basing this on what I’ve read of Melt’s character material in her FGO character page and the Type Moon Wiki, so if something’s inaccurate please do feel free to correct me.

When interacting with Guda Melt makes it very clear what kind of person she is. She’s an arrogant performer who finds pleasure in literally poisoning humans with that same sensation to the extent where they physically disintegrate from intoxication. She’s selfish, she’s cruel, she hates compromise and absolutely demands you do things her way and ask nothing of her in return. Things between you are purely business, and she’s only cooperating with you because your interests align and those interests involve taking the capricious murderous BB down a notch. 

All that is true except she’s also head over fucking heels for you, and those are some damn high heels she’s got there. 

Meltryllis finds that causing so much pleasure it becomes excruciating pain is the only thing that brings her stimulus since her sense of touch is practically non-existent. She claims she doesn’t feel the need to show affection nor does she ever have to take the feelings of others into consideration, and while that has to do with her own lofty primadonna personality, it’s also because she has no idea what it feels like to actually form a connection with someone else since she cannot express love in physical level, which mind you people is extremely essential both in platonic and romantic situations. 

Melt has to keep making excuses for her to not get too close to a person she cares about because she herself cannot truly understand that intimacy. She says not to worry about what she says or what she does or about anything that happens. She wishes for praise as a performer and as a literal work of art but keeps any actual emotional attention at arm’s length. She’d rather not have her true feelings noticed because the end result of being truthful would cause a person to acknowledge her flaws not as the eccentricity of a superior being but as actual existential flaws that pose a gap between her and another person. It’s clear that aloof attitude towards other people’s feelings is at one point her own immaturity and at another point an act.

She doesn’t want to make herself an inconvenience to anyone nor does she want to expose people to things that are ugly and uncomfortable. She might be naturally disdainful of ugly things as a being obsessed with aesthetic and inner beauty alike, but she also has learned to be more receptive of how others would feel when exposed to those ugly and uncomfortable things, and this could not be more evident in this scene from the CCC event.

The mess Guda finds is the place where the Seraphix therapist was murdered by the other staff and her corpse dissolved into data, right beside where the player can unlock the log of her last months of life encrypted with anti-Servant code. The player is forced to read through the account of the already-stressed Seraphix employees slowly descending into depravity. The staff becomes paranoid, violent, and build a stratified micro-society which quickly collapses once class and nationality become major excuses for discrimination and execution (I see Nasu reminding us he’s likely read Marx). The last few entries in the therapist’s log are records of being brutally disfigured by a mob, grieving that despite being ordinary more than anything she wanted to make some sort of difference by being a source of reprieve in a stressful environment, and that despite those intentions all she had to show for her efforts was the complete destruction of all ordinary life and morality within Seraphix. Ultimately, she is killed begging for help.

Melt hides this from you. She tells you knowing well what happened that it was an insignificant accident, quickly making up that EMIYA Alter in his clumsiness must’ve knocked something over. She calls it a mess, and in a fit of dark humor, she is right it is a mess, just not as little as she claims it is. She knew you’d find out what really happened, but decides to spare you in that moment so you can rest easy until it’s time to move again. 

We are next treated to Melt’s internal dialogue. While she actively tried to shield you from the tragedy that unfolded, she still expresses gratitude from the fact that even without having absolutely any idea of what went down, you still noticed the fact something existed there even if you didn’t know it was actually someone, and with that action alone the death of that therapist was not in vain, because someone could remember her now and acknowledge she existed and that she did all she could. 

The reason why Melt expresses this amount of care and affection the only way she knows how is because she values that kindness and compassion she cannot fully express. Guda chooses to contract with Melt not just for the need to survive, but because they accept her just the way she is and refuse to leave her behind out of sheer appreciation for her and her help.

Another thing worth noting is Melt tells you she is helping you out of the goodness of her heart only after she’s made herself comfortable enough around you. She tells you she really wants you to escape and return to Chaldea unharmed, because she makes the effort of responding to your kindness and honesty with her own. Meltryllis has proven that the Alter Ego of Pleasure who knew no reciprocation can now demonstrate it even with just words and small gestures. 

Tristan makes a rather disdainful and condescending point that Alter Egos are beings without souls, but in fact Melt exhibits a human capacity for growth and change she otherwise should not have. CCC, being a story centered around characters based on Sakura Matou, explores exactly what could make love and sexuality toxic, and how to overcome that toxicity and turn love, devotion, and desire into something much more healthy and wholesome, and this is how it happens for Meltryllis: she works around her physical shortcomings so her feelings and yours can properly intertwine and strengthen so nothing is ever insufficiently expressed and nothing is ever left out.

[flauntpage]

“…what the Hell is Going on” – A Take After Islanders 6, Flyers 1

Four games.

That’s all the Flyers have at this moment to get their team, locker room, and hockey-playing style fixed.

Things are pretty stressful in the Flyers organization right now. They were before the game Saturday and it’s no different now that they got their doors blown off on home ice by the New York Islanders by a score of 6-1.

This is the same New York Islanders team whose leading goal scorer coming into the game against the Flyers was Val Filppula.

Yeah, that’s how bad it’s gotten for the Flyers.

Ron Hextall doesn’t usually have very many visitors to his general manager’s box.

On Monday night it was former GM Bob Clarke, who made a visit. He watched the game with Hextall, and then had a serious chat with him afterwards, before saying goodbye and telling Hextall he’d see him in a couple weeks.

Then today, before the games against the Isles, Hextall was visited by Dave Scott, CEO of Comcast Spectacor, the parent company of the Flyers.

He’s been pretty quiet for a long time, giving Hextall a lot of latitude in running the hockey organization.

But by dropping into the GM’s box, and being certain to be seen by the media, it could be a hint that the slack he’s been cutting is suddenly going to shorten up.

Maybe it’s the slow drip of dwindling patrons that bothers Scott. Although most Flyers tickets are sold, there are an inordinate number of empty seats on game days. That means either people have tickets and are opting not to use them, or they were purchased by brokers and the inventory can’t be moved.

Either way, it’s an indication that the public is starting to become a bit apathetic about the hockey team.

And why not? They are 4-7-0. They have have yet to win consecutive games this season. A lot of the same problems that have plagued them in the previous three seasons of the Hextall/Dave Hakstol tenure continue to rear their ugly heads.

But perhaps most damning is the fact that they are not good in their own building. They have been outscored 26-15 in six games so far at Wells Fargo Center and are 2-4-0 at home. And they tried to give away one of their two wins, but were able to pull out a shootout win over Florida after coughing up a three-goal lead.

Not even Gritty can provide enough equity for the organization to quell the mix of apathy and anger that exists within the Flyers fan base.

The “Fire Hakstol” chants at the Wells Fargo Center are now as frequent as the E-A-G-L-E-S ones emanating from the mezzanine level.

Fans, who used to bring signs to the game to put on the glass for warmups telling the players how much they love them have resorted to this:

Spotted

pic.twitter.com/YIXyv7v0EX

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 27, 2018

Scott had to take notice. Had to.

Something has to be done. Has to.

Because if this goes on much further without course correcting, this season will be over before Midterm Election results come in.

“I don’t think anybody is happy,” said Ivan Provorov, who actually looked like his old self against the Islanders, which is one of only a couple small positives to take from this game. “We have to play better and we have to figure out soon what the hell is going on.”

What the hell is going on is a team is playing hockey without much confidence in themselves individually, in each other and in the structure of their system.

Every player is basically admitting it at this point.

“I’m not sure what to say, but we can’t give up, said Scott Laughton. “On the bench you gotta stay positive, keep encouraging guys and it’s only these guys in here that’s gonna get us out of it. No one’s gonna feel sorry for us and we’re under 500 whatever, but it’s the group in here that’s gonna get us out of us, everyone’s gotta take a deep breath, look in the mirror and see what you got to do better and go to work and that’s what we’re going to have to do here to get out of this.”

The captain was pretty candid too. Here’s my exchange with him after the game:

Me: I know it’s frustrating that the same things kind of hurt you guys game after game after game, how do you stop the snowball from rolling downhill?

G: Start doing the little things right, start playing as a team, instead of one guy doing everything or trying to make an extra play. We need 5 guys to be on the same page here.

Me: What do you think is the reason why you guys don’t start out on the same page? You say that so obviously that’s happening, but why?

G: I think when you want too much sometimes, you press a little harder, get away from what you’re supposed to be doing, you’re just pressing. I really feel like we’re pressing right now we’re just tired of losing so we’re trying to do everything we can to make something happen, but sometimes it’s not always the right thing.

Me: Does going away on this trip, kind of come at the right time considering that? You think back last year you guys went through a tough time and then you went on that trip out west you were able to right the ship because you were able to get away from home. Do you think that that’s…..?

G: I think when you go on the road for a long time with your teammates you get a little closer and that’s what we need right now. We need to get closer as a team, we need to go out there and play for each other and this road trip is going to be very important for our season.

I rambled forever on that last question, as those of you who actually watched the post game show could probably see because NBCSports Philly had a camera in our faces during that exchange, but Giroux said a lot. Lots unpack it:

1. “…  start playing as a team, instead of one guy doing everything or trying to make an extra play. We need five guys to be on the same page here.”

That means there is a lock of cohesiveness on this team. Everyone is out there playing as individuals in a team game. That’ll never work in hockey. I doubt that’s they system, so that mentality is not on the coaches, but the players themselves. They need to keep their eyes on the big picture and not try to play the part of superhero. Sometimes the simple play is the easiest play. I’ll show you a couple examples:

The Philadelphia Flyers in their own zone are a high school JV team. It's just disgusting to watch. Shit play by Sanheim. Shit awareness by Gudas. Puck ends up in the back of the net just a few seconds later. pic.twitter.com/vKvJsNsQ7n

— Jordie

(@BarstoolJordie) October 27, 2018

The first video does show Christian Folin doing nothing. That’s not as egregious as what he did later (hang tight, that’s coming). But the second video shows a real awful play by Travis Sanheim. He has an easy out up the wall and chooses to inexplicably reverse the puck to Radko Gudas, who isn’t expecting it. The Islanders then get control of the puck and…

And once again, the Flyers find themselves down 1-0. pic.twitter.com/5HF0F0nMWi

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 27, 2018

That would make 10 times in 11 games they got behind 1-0. That’s unconscionable. But, it’s Sanheim’s mistake – and it’s something that still haunts him, no matter what his analytics say.

I know, I’m too hard on the kid, right?

Let’s see what a former NHL defenseman has to say about it:

1-0 Isles. Poor clear by @NHLFlyers d. The play to make was forward not a reverse to partner! Turnovers KILL in any sport

— Chris Therien (@ctherien6) October 27, 2018

And that’s a team employee folks.

Then of course, there’s this:

Get Christian Folin off the ice. Fire Hakstol. Enough is enough. https://t.co/pSjLHaMwBL

— Marc Procopio (@Brocopio26) October 27, 2018

That’s Folin darting across the ice, abandoning his position to make a lame check, allowing the Islanders to come out on a 2-on-1 and ultimately score the goal.

When Provorov says “what the hell is going on,” I’m betting he’s talking about this play.

Or this:

5-1. So how is everyone's Saturday? pic.twitter.com/DSxpKiroMY

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 27, 2018

There are times to slide and times not to slide. This was definitely not the right choice – and not just because it resulted in a goal. Sanheim isn’t alone on defense. He’s not sliding to take away the pass on an odd man rush. He’s… sliding for no reason.

Andrew MacDonald has done this at times too (At times he’s criticized, even if it was the right play). You can’t take yourself out of a play and leave the opponent with the puck a clear path toward the shooter.

These kinds of mistakes are examples of what Giroux is saying about not everyone being on the same page.

2.  “I really feel like we’re pressing right now we’re just tired of losing so we’re trying to do everything we can to make something happen, but sometimes it’s not always the right thing.”

The three videos above could qualify for here too, but I want to use this to talk about the special teams, because that’s really where they’re pressing.

The Flyers power play has fallen to 24th in the NHL and is clicking at just 15%. That’s been buoyed by a recent stretch in which they have gone 1-for-20.

And that one was scored by Travis Konecny on the second power play unit.

To find the last one scored by the top unit, you have to go back to Claude Giroux scoring in Ottawa. That means the Flyers’ top power play unit, long the lifeblood of their offense, has now gone seven straight games without a goal.

That’s pressing.

They seem a little stale too… trying the same plays over and over again. They need a new look. Something else. Change it up.

As for the penalty kill, well…

6-1. pic.twitter.com/CRmR3OgdC2

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) October 27, 2018

Jori Lehtera is on the ice somewhere supposedly killing this penalty too. But my goodness are they all out of position. Provorov got caught on the wall. Laughton and Lehtera (wherever he is) are way too high, and Gudas goes down to block a potential shot way too soon.

The PK is now at 67.5%, 30th in the NHL.

It’s embarrassing. It really is.

3. “This road trip is going to be very important for our season.”

Yes G, yes it is.

Because if it’s not fixed, something is going to happen.

There are some grumblings within the organization that these four games are all the Flyers have left in the patience tank.

If these issues aren’t corrected, Dave Hakstol’s job could be on the line. (His odds of being the first coach fired in the NHL this season according to Bovada are 15/2 and falling – that’s the sixth-most likely at this point).

And don’t think the coach doesn’t notice this. He’s been more forthcoming with issues on the team of late.

He even targeted Mikhail Vorobyev, who got back into the lineup Saturday and didn’t show he belonged:

“Well, we’re down in a game and looking for guys who are gonna go out and try help us get back into it and I wasn’t confident that he was going to be able to do that. That’s nothing against, he’s a young guy, he’s been out of the lineup, it can be hard to come in and be really sharp and make some of the plays that we need to have made. You can always bring energy, you can always bring intensity, and you can always bring effort and that’s what’s expected.”

I expect Vorobyev to be returned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms post haste. Even with Corban Knight having an upper body injury that’s going to keep him out a while, I expect Hextall to call on not one, but two forward reinforcements from the minors. (Nick Aube-Kubel anyone? Maybe Taylor Leier?)

If these issues aren’t corrected, a major trade could happen – and you want to know who’s the prime choice there? Jake Voracek. It would send a message, the Flyers would get some return and also be able to remove a big salary from their Cap. Not that they are in danger with the cap, but more flexibility is never a bad thing.

And could Hextall himself be in trouble? Yes, yes he could.

After all, the visitors to your GM’s box weren’t coming in to bring you flowers.

  The post “…what the Hell is Going on” – A Take After Islanders 6, Flyers 1 appeared first on Crossing Broad.

“…what the Hell is Going on” – A Take After Islanders 6, Flyers 1 published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/

[yaotomejr]

Arthur Pendragon [Prototype] Trial Quest (Part 1)

Event Quest : “------Someday, to the day of saving the planet”

~Part 1~

"...... ......"

Damn it------ This was a happening right after I, with bad luck, had separated from the Servants who would become the main force for the singularity exploration. I thought we'd be able to meet again immediately. If I contact Chaldea...... I'll be able to pin down the coordinates of my current location, and I'll be able to detect the prana of the scattered Servants quickly. But. The bad luck thickens. There's no response even if I call out to Chaldea. "Senpai." Instead of Mashu's voice that should’ve sounded------

[A monster appears before you.]

"...... ......"

............To liken it to colors, it would be red and black. Filled with murderous intent and an appetite, a beast's roar sounds. This is, really bad. Which Mystic Code did I equip, I wonder. At least if I can use my Gandr, for the time being, one shot. And then, run with all my strength regardless of the result! ......But,  My sweat drops. My lips tremble to the lower jaw. Let's think. I want to think. As for whether the enemy will give me that time, it will be a gamble. Would this be an advantage or a disadvantage...

???: "----You there, are you alright. You should step back a little."

Choice 1: (Look back)

[You see a hooded swordsman. He faces the monster.]

Knight: "Haa------------!"

Choice 2: (Step back)

???: "Good kid. That will do."

[A hooded swordsman steps forward.]

Knight: "Fh------------!"

[He slays the monster, and it vanishes.]

Choice 1: (Breathe out)

Knight: "Such courage. Just now, you watched my attack without closing your eyes. You must have knowledge of the sword. Or rather, you must have survived quite a few bloodbaths...... No, this is no time to talk for long. I'm sorry."

Choice 2: "............Thank you, you saved me"

Knight: "You’re welcome. Do you have any injuries, brave young one. (1) To oppose, and glare back at the monsters of this land without fainting is no small feat. I’d like to hear more in detail, but...... Ahh, there’s no time."

Knight: "The flock of monsters, and the king leading it are drawing near. It would be difficult to act amicably."

[He pauses, and then smiles.]

Knight: "If you wish, shall we fight together? It appears you are a human who possesses fighting power. Perhaps you are a magician. Whatever the answer may be, it is not possible for you to be a novice at magic fights. The prana wrapped around your body, are Command Seals. Are you a Master? If so, do you have the experience of crossing swords with mysteries that surpass the knowledge of a magician------"

[More monsters come in.]

Knight: "......It is my time to shine. I apologize but there is no time. May I receive an answer."

Choice 1: Let's fight together Choice 2: It'd help on my end if that's the case!

Knight: "Thank you. Then, together------ let us put down the savage group of beasts!"

[Battle.]

Knight: "Alright, we cut our way through for the time being."

[He takes off his hood.]

Knight: "As I had analyzed, you seem to be a capable magician. I may not be very knowledgeable about the magic world, but at least, you possess the power to fight. I also mean this in the technical way, but...... In your heart. You possess a sword."

Choice: ........................

[You briefly remember a certain silhouetted Saber. When you return to reality, the knight looks at you with a worried face.]

Knight: "------You. What is the matter? Your eyesight just wandered; perhaps you consumed too much prana?"

Choice 1: Um...... Choice 2: I feel like you remind me of someone

[The knight smiles.]

Knight: "I believe this is the first time you and I have met, but I wonder. Judging by your clothing, you must be a human originally from the 20th century, or the early 21st century. You may have had a chance to meet me, but...... No, I don’t remember.

Oh, yes. More than that. You didn’t visit this land alone, did you? Then, you must have separated with your companions. Is that right?"

Choice 1: Yes

Knight: "I see. ......Yes, I understand."

Choice 2: Exactly!

Knight: "Haha. Good response."

Knight: "Right. Until you’re able to reunite with your companions, I’ll accompany you. It’s alright. You’ll find them soon."

[Fade to black. Back to Chaldea.]

Mordred:

"L I S T E N  H E R E !

Why’d you get lost without permission and wander around! It's not okay even if you come back in one piece. Next time, don't get lost and not tell me anything!"

Choice 1: Sorry!

Mordred: "......Geez."

Choice 2: I couldn't connect to Chaldea all of a sudden......

Mordred: "Oh yeah, Mashu did say something like that."

Mordred: "Uhhh...... Doesn't poor communication happen from time to time? Jumping across time and space, being able to communicate between Chaldea and the singularity in real time is, well, frankly amazing, but at the same time it's weak to things like abnormal magic and boundary fields, huh.

Hunting the leftovers of the singularity, I thought we could just leave that alone and it'd vanish. Is it surprisingly ‘that’? The anomalies get serious when they get to that level."

Mashu: "Yes, that's it. It looked like it was about to become a small singularity itself, so...... The swordsman Senpai encountered, may have been caught up in that abnormal situation."

Mordred: "Ah, the guy who saved Master. We didn't get to see his face...... He parted ways with Master right next to the meeting place, right?"

[Mordred pauses to think.]

Mordred: "But man, walking around alone in a place like that, it's a surprise he’s still alive. What was he?"

Mashu: "His name was, if I'm not mistaken......"

Choice 1: Come to think of it Choice 2: I might've not asked him?

Mordred: "So he ran off without giving his name? Hah! What a cocky guy...... That kind of pisses me off."

Mashu: "Uh, uhm------ Whether he’s a human or a stray Servant, he had amazing combat efficiency. To be able to exchange blows with a giant hostile creature like that. If I remember correctly...... It was a man in the form of a knight wearing a hood. Right, Senpai?"

Mordred: "Whaaa? A knight wearing a hood? Then, at the very least he's not a human from that time period."

Choice 1: Rather than a knight or a swordsman Choice 2: I have a feeling he looked like a prince

Mordred: "What's that mean."

Mashu: "I said this before, but the atmosphere of his equipment felt like everyone from the Round Table?"

Mordred: "The heck, so it’s us. ......Nah, I don't remember anyone wearing a hood. If you say 'wearing something', then Gareth wore a helmet. I don't think that Percival really had anything...... Did he wear a helmet when he got serious? Ah wait, no, was that Palamedes? ......No no, that was a helmet. No hood. Nope. Nothing like that in the Round Table. I mean, we did wear those while it was raining during expeditions."

Mashu: "I see..."

Mordred: "Master. That guy, what was his weapon?"

Choice 1: A sword of gold and silver Choice 2: If I recall, I couldn't see what he was holding at first...

[Mordred pauses.]

Mordred: "........................ No, that can't be."

Mashu: "??"

[Jekyll comes in.]

Jekyll: "Excuse me for a minute. Master. I confirmed the calculations concerning the position of the reyshift coordinates, and we’ve discovered a few concerning points. Ah, the one who actually discovered them was Mister Babbage. And he was looking for Miss Da Vinci. Um, she's......"

Mashu: "Ah, Mr Jekyll. Miss Da Vinci is supposed to be at the 2nd Research Lab."

Mordred: "We're having an important talk, don't come in and interfere, bean sprout! We didn’t call for you and Da Vinci isn't here either!" (2)

Jekyll: "Sorry, looks like you were in the middle of a discussion...... Wh, ow, ow!"

[Mordred hit Jekyll. Lighthearted music plays.]

Mordred: "Don't 'ow' me, I just nudged you a little bit. Geez, that's why you're a bean sprout."

Jekyll: "No, that one was rather...... O-Oh no, it's nothing. It was nothing. Hahaha."

[Fade to black. Now, at the corridors of Chaldea with Arash.]

Arash: "Oh, Guda. Good, good. You came back perfectly safe and sound, I see. Apparently you reyshifted to destroy a miniature singularity, or something like that. Yeah, I heard. Sorry I couldn't help out. Ah, well, promise me you'll take me next time, okay? If I'm here you'll never get lost again. I have good eyes, after all."

Choice 1: I mean, I did get lost but Choice 2: It was an accident!

Arash: "Haha, okay. Er, it's not like I was gonna yell at you, but...... Okay, since we're here, tell me about it. Hearing Master's tales of your travels isn't a bad thing once in a while. If I can, I'd like to hear from you directly. Who that person you met was."

[Fade to black.]

Arash: "------------."

[He pauses, frowning for one moment.]

Arash: "......Just as I thought. You met that guy, huh. I see now. I wonder what we call this kind of thing, fate, or something else. I thought he wouldn't be in the Throne of Heroes, but. Wait, no. He isn't. How about it?"

Choice 1: Huh, huh? Choice 2: Arash, what are you talking about?

Arash: "Sorry, it was difficult to understand, wasn't it. I apologize Master. How do I even say this. Hmm...... ...... ...... Eh, things like that can happen. Yeah, yeah. Thanks to that, I think I can drink good wine tonight! Hahahaha. That guy, he's still out there fighting somewhere!"

Choice 1: That doesn't! Choice 2: Explain anything!

Arash: "Haha! Come on, don't say that! Oh man, but, heh~. That guy, huh......"

Choice 1: Arash! Choice 2: (Stare at him in silence)

Arash: "......O, Oh. Nah. Well, it's that! You can meet him if there's a reason, it's like that!"

[Guda pokes him a few times.]

Arash: "No. Wait. Stop poking me in the back without a word. It doesn't hurt, but, for some reason, I feel like I did something bad."

[Proto Cu Chulainn shows up.]

Cu Chulainn: "’Ey, what's up, Arash. (3) Did you start a drinking party in the middle of the corridor? Wait, Master's here too. What's wrong?"

Arash: "Oh, the Child of Light! 'What's wrong', you say. Haha, it's something that might kind of relate to you! The Pharaoh and the Valkyrie and the alchemist, well, it's better if you keep it a secret from them!"

Cu Chulainn: "------------------Hah?"

[Fade to black. Transition to a grassy field at night, where the hooded knight is standing alone.]

Knight: "............ I thought this time would be the sign of a bad omen, but...... There is neither L's miasma, nor R's lingering scent. This is progressing rather badly. It cannot be helped. I will search, one by one. ...... ...... Aah, it is alright, Merlin. I will accomplish my goal one day, and return to my rightful place. Eventually, without fail."

---

[Part 2]

---

(1) Arthur calls Gudao “brave young man” (勇気ある少年) and Gudako “brave young lady” (勇気あるお嬢さん). I just go for gender neutral terms to make things easier for me.

(2) I stared at this a thousand times and I still don't accurately know what Mordred's trying to say here. Is she saying "even if you keep calling for Da Vinci she won't show up, she isn't here" or is she saying "you're not invited in this super important talk, and Da Vinci isn't here anyway"?

(3) Proto Cu calls Arash "アーラシュの旦那" (Arash no danna), which is frankly impossible to convey in English for me (emphasis on me, maybe in the hands of someone else this can work), so I just ignored it in English.

[medproish]

Sean Couturier was the Philadelphia Flyers’ best player in Games 5 and 6 of their first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the former, he was a beast on the penalty kill and scored the game-winning goal with a minute to play in regulation. In the latter, he had a hat trick and five total points (factoring in to every single one of the Flyers’ goals) in their 8-5 defeat. He did everything he could have possibly done to try and force a Game 7 in the series.

He did all of that while playing on a torn MCL.

Had this been the regular season that sort of injury probably would have sidelined him for at least four weeks.

[NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub]

Couturier revealed the nature of his injury following the loss on Sunday. He was injured in practice before Game 4 of the series when he was involved in a collision with teammate Radko Gudas. It kept him out of the lineup in what would be a 5-0 loss for the Flyers. He returned for Game 5, and even though he was obviously limited he still played an incredible game.

He was even better on Sunday.

This was a breakthrough season for Couturier as he doubled all of his previous career highs offensively, scoring 31 goals and recording 76 total points.

He is also a finalist for the Selke Trophy which is awarded to the NHL’s top defensive forward. It is the first time he is a finalist for the award.

Related: Guentzel scores 4 goals as Penguins, eliminate Flyers in Game 6

————

Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.

No doubt about it, Flyers fans have a beef about the goal that really set the stage for the Penguins to put Game 6 – and the series – out of reach on Sunday.

Perhaps Sean Couturier would have received an embellishment infraction during the exchange, but either way, it sure seemed like Kris Letang took another penalty on Couturier just moments after leaving the penalty box for a different infraction. No call was made, and just moments later, Jake Guentzel scored to push the score to 6-4.

[embedded content]

Things got weird after that as the Penguins eliminated the Flyers via an 8-5 score in Game 6, but plenty of Philly fans probably wonder “What if?” on that goal. Flyers players seem to agree that Letang deserved a penalty.

Both Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds told me that trip that led to the 6th goal absolutely should’ve been called a penalty.

— Jamie Apody (@JamieApody) April 22, 2018

You can debate that call and different breaking points until you’re blue in the face, but the real “What if?” question might revolve around special teams. To be specific, the Flyers’ power play really let them down in that just-expired series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

[NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub]

The Flyers were held without a power-play goal in five of the six games during this series. The lone exception was Game 2, when the Flyers went 2-for-3 in a 5-1 win.

Philly went 2-for-21 overall during the series, generating a pitiful power-play percentage of 9.5. Only the Kings and Golden Knights were less productive with the man advantage, and that was during a skin-tight four-game sweep where goals were incredibly hard to come by (that series featured 10 goals total, three fewer than the Flyers and Penguins scored in Game 6 alone).

It’s especially remarkable that the Flyers also went 0-for-13 on the power play at home during this series. With their season on the line, that unit only managed two power-play shots on goal in three opportunities in Game 6, looking especially indecisive despite also receiving a 4-on-3 opportunity.

Now, heading into this series, the Penguins were expected to hold an advantage on special teams because of what could be a historically potent PP unit of their own. Still, it’s troubling that the Flyers rarely exploited what was a far from spectacular Penguins penalty kill. Pittsburgh’s PK unit was in the bottom third of the NHL percentage-wise since February, setting the stage for two strong power plays to trade blows. That didn’t happen as much as expected, with the Flyers’ failures ending up being fatal.

A question of personnel?

If you want to point to one factor, ponder Wayne Simmonds‘ lack of involvement.

The fantastic front-of-the-net presence implied that he might be undergoing surgery soon, which probably explains both his limited usage and limited production. Simmonds failed to score a single goal during this series, finishing with two assists in six games.

(Strangely, that matches his production from his last playoff appearance in 2015-16: zero goals, two assists in six games.)

Blame it on struggles or a lack of health, but either way, the Flyers were turning to different players when a man up.

It’s no surprise to see big PP TOI numbers for Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier, and Shayne Gostisbehere. The notable swap is Nolan Patrick, who joins those Flyers in the four minutes per game range, while Simmonds was only logging about two minutes per night.

Patrick has come a long way as his rookie season goes along, yet Simmonds is one of the NHL’s true wizards in the dirty areas right in front of the net. Simmonds has generated at least 11 power-play goals for five straight seasons with the Flyers for a reason.

Would things have been different if Simmonds was truly healthy? It’s a fair question, but you also wonder if the Flyers didn’t make enough adjustments to get their once-potent power play back on track.

***

In looking back at this series, the Flyers will certainly want to solidify their goalie situation, a seemingly eternal conundrum for this franchise.

Sometimes it comes down to getting the right players and goalies in place, something that GM Ron Hextall must wrestle with during the summer. Still, there are also questions about putting the right players in the right situations, and in many cases that comes down to coaching.

Ultimately, a lukewarm power play hurt the Flyers’ chances of trading haymakers with the prolific Penguins. Maybe it’s a mere matter of small sample sizes, yet Philly’s failings in that area should at least prompt some soul-searching over the summer.

—

James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.

It took until the sixth game but the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers finally had their series turn into complete chaos.

The Penguins were able to close out the series on Sunday afternoon with an 8-5 win what was clearly the most physical, chippy, and just downright crazy game of the series.

What made it all so wild? Well let’s go through this piece by piece if we can.

First, the Penguins were trailing by a pair of goals with less than 10 minutes to play in the second period only to rally and tie the game before the intermission, with Jake Guentzel‘s third goal of the playoffs in the final minute being the equalizer.

From there, Guentzel took over, scoring three consecutive goals to open the third period to help the Penguins take a 7-4 lead.

The third goal, the one that completed the hat trick, came moments after the Penguins had to kill off a Kris Letang penalty after he attempted to cross-check Flyers forward Sean Couturier through the Penguins’ net. In any context it would have been a bad, selfish penalty, but given that the Penguins were only leading by one mid-way through the third period of a potential knockout game it was … bad. After coming out of the box Letang appeared to get away with a trip on Sean Couturier, allowing the Penguins to keep possession of the puck and Guentzel to score his third goal of the game.

Just 10 seconds later Guentzel scored again, capping off a 16-minute stretch of hockey where he scored four consecutive goals.

[embedded content]

After leading the league in postseason goal scoring a season ago he is now tied for the league lead as of Sunday with his teammate, Sidney Crosby.

Crosby also scored his sixth goal of the playoffs on Sunday.

[NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub]

Including the playoffs, the Penguins played five games in Philadelphia this season and not only won all of them, but scored at least five goals in all of them.

They scored at least five goals in eight of their 10 games against the Flyers this season, losing the only two games they did not top the five-goal mark.

They did it on Sunday without the services of Evgeni Malkin who missed the game after being injured early in Game 5.

Along with Malkin’s absence, the Penguins also lost Carl Hagelin on Sunday after he exited the game due to a devastating hit from Flyers forward Claude Giroux.

[embedded content]

That was just part of the physicality from this game, most of which went uncalled on both sides.

When it came to the actual game, the Penguins needed another offensive outburst in Philadelphia because Sean Couturier did everything in his power to try and single-handedly will his team to a win.

After returning from injury on Friday and scoring the game-winning goal, he recorded five points on Sunday — factoring in all five Flyers goals — and recorded his second career postseason hat trick.

It was not enough because, well, the Flyers just simply did not have an answer for the Penguins’ offense.

Defenseman Radko Gudas had a particularly brutal game and was guilty of costly plays on the two Penguins’ second period goals to tie the game.

They also had more issues in net.

Michal Neuvirth replaced Brian Elliott in Game 5 and played well enough to get the win, making a highlight last minute save on Crosby. He was not anywhere near as good on Sunday giving up seven goals on the 27 shots he faced (the Penguins’ eighth goal was an empty net goal).

The Flyers used three goalies in this series — Elliott, Neuvirth, and Petr Mrazek — while none of them finished with a save percentage higher than .857.

All three of them gave up at least two goals to Crosby.

With that, the Penguins have now won nine consecutive playoff series. They will play the winner of the Washington Capitals-Columbus Blue Jackets series in the second round. They have played the Capitals in the second round in each of the past two seasons. The Capitals lead the series 3-2 entering Game 6 in Columbus on Monday night.

————

Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have another opportunity to try and win their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon. If they do it they are going to have to do so without one of their top players, Evgeni Malkin.

Malkin did not take the pre-game warmups and will not be in the lineup after suffering an injury in their Game 5 loss on Friday night.

Here is a a look at the play where he became tangled up with Flyers forward Jori Lehtera in the first period.

[embedded content]

Malkin left the game for the remainder of the period only to return for the second. He played the remainder of the game but did not get his regular workload and seemed to be struggling. After the game Penguins coach Mike Sullivan would only say that Malkin was fine.

Obviously he is not fine or he would be in the lineup on Sunday.

Malkin has three goals and two assists in five games this postseason.

[NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub]

Riley Sheahan took pre-game line rushes between Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin in place of Malkin, allowing the Penguins to keep the Derick Brassard, Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary line together as it has played very well in this series.

While the Malkin injury is bad news for the Penguins they will be getting winger Patric Hornqvist back in the lineup after he missed the past two games due to an upper body injury.

Hornqvist is a difference-maker on the Penguins’ power play, a unit that struggled mightily in their Game 5 loss on Friday night, going 0-for-5 while also giving up a shorthanded goal. He will skate on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel.

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Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.

Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders, Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks, and Clayton Keller of the Arizona Coyotes have been named as the three finalists for the 2018 Calder Trophy. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and given “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.”

This year’s rookie class was dynamic and while Barzal, Boeser and Keller get to go to Las Vegas, you could easily make cases for Yanni Gourde (25 goals, 64 points), Kyle Connor (rookie best 31 goals) and Charlie McAvoy (32 points, 22:09 TOI), among others, to be included.

The winner will be announced during the NHL Awards show on June 20.

[NBC’s Stanley Cup Playoff Hub]

The Case for Mathew Barzal: The Islanders forward went the first five games of the season without a point, but once he got going, he was an offensive force. Barzal led all rookies with 85 points and 27 power play points, and finished sixth in goals with 22. He was also the only rookie to average over a point per game (1.04). One of the highlights of Barzal’s rookie resume is that he recorded three 5-point games, making him the second rookie in league history to achieve the feat. The last to do it? Joe Malone in the NHL’s first season of 1917-18.

The Case for Brock Boeser: Injury cut short Boeser’s season, allowing him only to play 62 games, but it was still an impressive rookie campaign for the owner of the one of the league’s top flows. Boeser finished second in goals with 29 and fifth in points with 55. He led all rookies in power play goals (10) and was tied for second in power play points (23). In January, Boeser joined Mario Lemieux as the only rookies to take home MVP honors at the NHL All-Star Game one night after taking home the Accuracy Shooting title during the NHL Skills Competition in Tampa.

The Case for Clayton Keller: The Coyotes forward finished tops in average ice time among rookie forwards (18:05) and shots (212), second in points (65) and assists (42), third in power play points (20) and fifth in goals (23). He also led Arizona in goals, assists and points and recorded a 10-game point streak, which tied him for the third-longest in franchise history.

Take Our Poll

2018 NHL Award finalists King Clancy (Monday) Bill Masterton Trophy Lady Byng Trophy Norris Trophy Selke Trophy Vezina Trophy

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Sean Leahy is a writer forPro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line atphtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.

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[mako-neexu]

my favorite general headcanon in fgo is guda’s Servants being worried for their Master’s education (assuming that they haven’t finished high school and got transported to Chaldea around the time when normal teens are supposed to go to college) so not only did they throw in the basic curriculum for guda’s age but also added self-defense classes that most of the Servants fought each over on who gets to teach their Master how to fight/defend themselves using their own martial art/techniques. Of course a certain pseudo-servant caster was the one who arranged guda’s schedule so as her farming and singularity/lostbelt journey doesnt go interrupted so that means he gets to teach them a few spells that would help them outside of their mystic code’s abilities

[flauntpage]

The Kill is Alive: Thoughts after Flyers 2, Predators 1

The phrase being tossed around this week is that the Flyers “are fun again.”

Two home wins following the firing of a coach who was publicly maligned for more than two years by the fans and starting the heir apparent, a 20-year-old rookie goalie, who the same fans have been screaming for will bring about that feeling.

And to be fair to the Flyers, they have played two solid games, most notably on the defensive side. Yes, Carter Hart has done a fine job in goal, but more so because he’s been able to make more routine saves that many other goalies the Flyers have trotted out this season.

No, instead of focusing on Hart, the real change has been the Flyers playing more soundly in their own end. They’ve improved their breakout. They haven’t alarmingly turned the puck over in the past two games like they did so often in the previous 30 games.

Winning both games helps, too, because it also energizes the fan base into thinking they were right all along and that the problem was the coach and the fact that Hart wasn’t on the team.

If you want to believe that, fine. Go nuts. It’s not accurate, even if it has played out that way for two games.

There are other factors, like Detroit, the team they beat Tuesday, being pretty terrible. And Nashville, the team the Flyers upset Thursday, playing without a couple key players.

But that’s the nature of the sport. Good teams take advantage of those breaks in their schedule and while it’s likely too soon to call the Flyers a good team, they certainly did take advantage of those breaks.

But there’s something else that is vastly improved about this hockey team, and it’s something that began well before Hart’s arrival and well before Dave Hakstol was fired, and it’s the No. 1 reason they were able to stave off the Predators on Thursday.

Find out what it is after the jump:

A suddenly stingy penalty kill

There was a time this season when the Flyers were on pace to be historically bad at killing penalties. Through the first 21 games, the Flyers penalty kill was only successful 68.5 percent of the time. It was a pace that, if maintained over the course of an entire season, would have resulted in the worst penalty kill percentage since the NHL started tracking that statistic in 1979-80.

Yeah, it was that bad.

But since then, which coincided with Thanksgiving, the Flyers have done a complete 180.

Yes, it’s a small sample size, but in the 12 games since, the Flyers penalty kill has allowed just five goals on 38 chances, killing off penalties at an 86.8 percent clip.

Consider that three of those goals allowed came in a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Winnipeg, that means the Flyers have allowed a total of only three power play goals against in the other 11 games.

Assistant coach Ian Laperriere has been a target of the fans’ ire for much of the past two seasons because of the ineptitude of the penalty kill. It’s hard to say those outcries by the fans weren’t justified.

But just as he’s deservedly been the scapegoat for the penalty kill’s failings, he also needs to be recognized in a positive manner for finding a fix to this long-standing problem with the team – even if it’s only been a temporary one.

The Flyers killed off all six of Nashville’s power play chances Thursday. And while not having P.K. Subban manning the point or three of their top five goal scorers (Filip Forsberg, Colton Sissions, Viktor Arvidsson) in the lineup likely crippled Nashville some, the way the Flyers competed on the kill was still impressive.

“Our PK hasn’t been the best during the season, but I think during the last 10 games it has been a lot better,” said Robert Hagg. “I don’t know how many PKs we had, but every single guy that was on the ice did a hell of a good job.

“It’s all about the small details and I think we play with more pressure now than we did 10 games ago. We’re trying not to let them set up inside the zone, and I think that’s the biggest thing. … But you need to block shots, that’s what everybody in this room is saying, we need to keep doing that to be successful.”

As a whole, the Flyers blocked 23 in the game against the Predators. Hagg and Travis Sanheim led the way with five each, although 13 of the Flyers’ 18 skaters were credited with at least one block.

But never were they more important than on a two-minute, two-man shorthanded situation.

Late in the second period, the Flyers took three successive penalties. Wayne Simmonds wiped out the end of a power play with a chintzy hooking call. Radko Gudas was then whistled for delay of game which was immediately followed up by a high-sticking call on Andrew MacDonald that never made it above the top of the Predators logo on Kevin Fiala’s chest. However, Fiala sold it well, and the Flyers faced a daunting task.

With Ivan Provorov already off the ice with a misconduct (more on that in a bit) and Gudas and McDonald in the box, Coach Scott Gordon had little left in the way of options to kill off the two-minute penalty other than Sanheim and Hagg. Yeah, Shayne Gostisbehere was available, but he’s not reliable enough defensively to kill a penalty at 5-on-4, let alone 5-on-3, so it was the two second-year defenseman and Sean Couturier who coach Scott Gordon turned to and, well, they delivered:

(video courtesy of Charlie O’Connor at The Athletic)

Sanheim (21:58) and Hagg (20:59) were the top two minutes guys among the Flyers defensemen and they combined for more than 10 minutes of ice time while shorthanded.

Couturier also shows why he is an elite defensive forward on this kill. And it energized the building, as any good penalty kill in a one-goal game can – but when you are doing it two-men down for two minutes… that’s something else entirely.

Speaking of Sanheim

He’s arguably the Flyers best defenseman right now. Again, I know there are fans who have been screaming this for two years – that he should play more, that Hakstol stunted his growth, yada, yada, yada. But the fact is, he needed to be put on this path. He needed to develop with a little more nurturing. He needed to build confidence a little more slowly than some other players. That’s all O.K.

And if you think it was Hakstol who was stunting him, you’re fooling yourself. I asked Scott Gordon about Sanheim’s development, and this is what he had to say:

“In Travis’ first three months in Lehigh (in 2016-17) he was keeping both teams in it, that was his biggest adjustment. By December he was a little more responsible defensively and picking his spots better to jump up into the play.

“He plays that first year and no matter how much you learn and get better in the American League, there’s always going to be another adjustment in the NHL. Players are bigger, stronger, faster and decisions have to be made quicker. You can’t replicate that in the American League.

“So, he had some growing pains last year. But this year, you started to see him score a couple goals. He’s getting up into the play more. That’s a strength of his. Somewhere along the way on this most recent road trip (Assistant Coach Rick Wilson) started mixing up the D pairs and wanted to try some different things. When I got here, his recommendation was to play Sanheim with Provy.

“Obviously if you play with Provy you are going to get more ice time, and when you are a big body like that you’re going get some ice time on the penalty kill. And your minutes are going to go up, and, now he’s getting time against the other team’s top lines.

“With all that being said, he’s got to do the right things to deserve that opportunity and he has. Some of it is simplification. There was one play in the third period on the far side where he didn’t have anything and he threw it off the glass and he lives to play another day. He lives to play another shift. You know what I mean?

“Sometimes, when you are a young player you always think you can make a play and that was just one instance of his maturity as a player, recognizing the situation and identifying the fact that ‘I don’t have anything,’ get it out in the neutral zone, let a forecheck happen. Get in my gap and defend. That’s something the best defensemen do – they don’t beat themselves.”

There’s a lot to unpack here.

I love the way Gordon gives you a detailed, thoughtful answer. This is bountiful with information and really gives you honest perspective.

Speaking of which, I love the quip that Sanheim’s problem was he would “keep both teams in the game.” In other words, he was superior offensively but he often made bad decisions that would cost his team, and he needed to learn not to do that.

He identified that getting going offensively is what Sanheim needed this year to really spike his confidence.

That working with Rick Wilson is already paying dividends for Sanheim.

That Gordon, ever the teacher, identified an innocuous clearing play in the third period as a seminal moment for Sanheim’s development. Never mind that the guy, who rarely plays on the penalty kill, helped author a textbook kill of a two-minute, two-man disadvantage, the clearing play off the glass rather than risking a turnover is what was most impressive.

Overall, that Sanheim is earning his promotion to the top pairing and his bigger minutes.

And yet, that this is a shining example of a good, patient process for a young player playing out before our eyes.

I also had an opportunity to talk to Sanheim one-on-one after the game. Here’s how that went:

Q: You haven’t been asked to play a lot of PK this season, and then tonight, you were called into duty. Can you talk about jumping into that role and then being out there for the entire 5-on-3?

“Last year when I was sent down to the American League (Gordon) would leave me out on the penalty kill for the entire two minutes. So, I’m familiar with the situation and being able to kill penalties. It was something different for me this season, yes, but it wasn’t just me out there. Hagg and Coots deserve full credit, too.”

Q: You had to know with three defensemen in the box and with Ghost not playing on the kill that you guys were probably going to have to play the full two minutes, right?

“It’s not something that I was really thinking about to tell the truth. It was just that ‘next man up’ mentality, really. I just wanted to step up to the challenge. Hagg did, too. He had three or four blocks on that one kill alone. Credit to him for doing that. It made it easy for me.”

Q: Good that you were able to get a breather in there when Scott called the timeout too?

“He came down the bench to talk to us and see how we were feeling. He asked us if we thought he should take the timeout. I said that if he was willing to use it there that it would be a good time. It was nice to get the rest there for 30 seconds and then be able to go right back out there.”

Q: It’s no secret that confidence is a big thing for you and that you’ve been playing with a lot of it lately. Does being able to help the team win in this way – through defensive posture more so than your offensive ability – just add to that growing confidence?

“Yeah, I think so. Anytime you get to play in all situations you feel like you are contributing more to the team. That said, it doesn’t matter how many minutes I’m playing, I’m there to help the team win hockey games, but in the end, I’m going to do everything I can for however many minutes I play to do just that.”

Now, while the penalty kill was the key thing to focus on in this win, and I spent an inordinate number of words writing about it, there are some other things that I have to touch on before getting out of here, so:

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

Provorov is damn lucky:

Why Provorov got a 10-minute misconduct. pic.twitter.com/5pF8QBypIP

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) December 21, 2018

This kind of action usually results in a match penalty and a game misconduct. In that instance, there is an automatic 10-game suspension. No hearing. No negotiation. 10 games. Out. But, by getting only a 10-minute misconduct, he will likely avoid that significant suspension. I expect a fine of some sort… but that’s it. Big break for Provy and the Flyers.

The non-call on Sean Couturier

I took abuse from Twitter for saying I agree with the referee in not calling this a penalty. I will say that I wouldn’t have been shocked if it was called a penalty, but this is far closer to a borderline call/non-call than it is a blatant and egregious boarding:

It looks worse at full speed and from the wide angle than it really is. The angle to pay attention to is the one from behind the net. The referee isn’t wrong that Couturier turned away from the check and that he does reach out to brace himself on the hit. Usually, those two things prevent a boarding call unless the skater takes several strides to hit a player from behind with force, which Ryan Johansson does not do in this instance.

I talked to Coots privately after the game, and while I won’t quote him specifically because I didn’t have my recorder on at the time, here are some things that he said:

He’s fine. He doesn’t have a concussion. However, he was mad that he had to go to the quiet room to get checked for a concussion on a play that there was no penalty. If an off ice official was concerned for his health on a hit, then maybe the hit wasn’t good.

He admitted he turned into the boards, but said he did so to protect the puck.

He didn’t feel it was a major penalty, but thought it should have been a minor for two reasons. The first being that Johansson was not right on him, but took a stride before making contact. The second being they had just called a penalty on the Flyers for a high hit (Scott Laughton) and an earlier high stick on Andrew MacDonald (which wasn’t a high stick) was the result of Kevin Fiala throwing his head back. His thought process was if those were penalties than this should have been too.

I get the argument. And like I said, I wouldn’t have been screaming about an injustice for Nashville if the penalty was called. But, by the book – and not that the book is always right – this was a 50/50 judgment call and the ref went with the judgment that it wasn’t a penalty. I can’t disagree with that rationale.

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