Yeah I mean if Downie comes back and is ok to play, what would we be looking at?

Hartsy-G-Jake
_______ -Schenn-Simmer
Downie-Coots-Read
Raffl-Vinny-Rinaldo

??

I really think Akeson could play well on that second line. I think it could be worth a shot. The other thing I see them doing besides moving Vinny back to the 2nd line is bumping Raff up to play with Schenn and Simmer, and having the 4th line we see now of Hall-Vinny-Rinaldo.

Lots of options here. Hopefully something works. If this team finds the right mix of players that lines can be rolled to the tune of the 4th line seeing 8+ minutes a game....look out.
- Giroux_Is_God

They could always bump Raff up to that 1st line and get Hartsy grinding on that tough 2nd line

They could always bump Raff up to that 1st line and get Hartsy grinding on that tough 2nd line
- JAKEw1234

That 2nd line is already terrible

That 2nd line is already terrible
- Flyersgod

Hartsy-Schenn-Simmer was a really dangerous line while Vinny was out, if I remember right

good work by Rinaldo today.

good work by Vinny as well.

The key for me in this 3rd has been puck movement.

The Flyers have been continuously trying to move it through the Boston players. Boston is passing well and being more creative.
- flyer_nutter

I guess that would explain why the Flyers had 17 shots in the 3rd period to the Bruins 6.

Voracek has been the best Flyers forward today
- PT21

I'd go with Lecavalier and his 2 goals and 9 shots on net.

Hartsy-Schenn-Simmer was a really dangerous line while Vinny was out, if I remember right
- JAKEw1234

Yeah but have to Keep Hartsy up on the 1st line.....my playoff lines would have Raffl on the 2nd and Downie on the 3rd with Vinny centering the 4th. If the Flyers are down, have Vinny take shifts on the 2nd line.

Looks like he has zero confidence right now -- doing nothing
- AllInForFlyers

b schenn also hasn't been hitting... is he possibly nursing something

They certainly can beat everyone.

They elevate their game against the best in the league, no doubt about it.
- Giroux_Is_God

i agree and i dig it

Sam Carchidi ‏@BroadStBull 29m
THe 52 shots were the most by the #Flyers in a loss since they had 53 in a 7-4 defeat to Toronto in 1988, per stats guru Brian Smith.

so play like that every night

I say give him 4th line minutes, and put him on both PPs in his office at the right circle.

Sub him in for Jake on the first unit, and have Jake be the disher of the 2nd unit, with Vinny also playing on it.

Problem there though is that 1st unit is dynamite

Rolling a guy like Vinny out there against other 4th lines means he's the best (most skilled) forward on the ice, and he can drive the possession game. That's how he was so successful in TB. Now 7-10 years ago, he was a possession driver against other team's TOP lines...but that's still how he plays the game. Here, with him on the 4th line, it's almost like catering to his needs. When he can control the flow of the game...that's when he's at his best and most dangerous. He simply can't do that anymore playing against other teams' top 2 lines.

On the 4th line though...different story. That'd be HUGE in the playoffs.
- Giroux_Is_God

I don't agree that Lecavalier can't play against other teams top 2 lines. He can do exactly what he's doing now, against other teams top 2 lines. He's an offensive player. He's not finished. He was simply trying to overcome an injury, and playing out of position.

And what puzzles me even more is suggesting Akeson for the 2nd line, who's never been an NHL regular player in his entire career. And then stating that Lecavalier, who has been a top NHL play his entire career, can't play against other teams 2nd lines.

good work by Rinaldo today.


- FlyerGuy

Wow first time I saw that. Rinaldo has been lights out for awhile now. He brings a lot to this team. Glad to see Vinny contributing. This team looks playoff ready.

good work by Rinaldo today.


- FlyerGuy

He just freight-trained Iginla, then fed him two rights that would've left some guys in traction

Hartsy-Schenn-Simmer was a really dangerous line while Vinny was out, if I remember right
- JAKEw1234

Could have been, don't remember back that far

b schenn also hasn't been hitting... is he possibly nursing something
- -davies-

He hasn't been doing anything IMO

b schenn also hasn't been hitting... is he possibly nursing something
- -davies-

Huh...You know what? Maybe so -- has he done much since Tom Wilson nearly killed him, what, a month ago?

You are right: When he's hitting, he's like a different player -- gets him into the game

Good showing by the Flyers today, shame they couldn't get that second point.

When Rinaldo plays like this, I don't know what in the hell other teams can even pretend they're going to do

He's going to hit you, and if you aren't careful, he straight-up buries you

Then, if you don't like it, he'll give you some of what B.J. Crombeen and Jarome Iginla got

He's not like those guys who hit and run, won't drop the gloves -- in reality, you really, really, really want Rinaldo to keep those gloves on

He can certainly be undisciplined at times, but I have to admit, if I was playing against him, I don't know what in the hell I'd do if he was running around

Huh...You know what? Maybe so -- has he done much since Tom Wilson nearly killed him, what, a month ago?

You are right: When he's hitting, he's like a different player -- gets him into the game
- AllInForFlyers

He didn't have a lot of hits today or against the Leafs. But he had 4 hits against the Rangers, and 6 hits against the Kings. He's just inconsistent, and has been all year. Still a good young player that just has to take the next step.

I don't agree that Lecavalier can't play against other teams top 2 lines. He can do exactly what he's doing now, against other teams top 2 lines. He's an offensive player. He's not finished. He was simply trying to overcome an injury, and playing out of position.

And what puzzles me even more is suggesting Akeson for the 2nd line, who's never been an NHL regular player in his entire career. And then stating that Lecavalier, who has been a top NHL play his entire career, can't play against other teams 2nd lines.
- MJL

I'm not advocating Akeson or screaming that he should be called up or anything like that. I'm just saying he can be an option- I said it I believe 2 nights ago...it's intriguing. Putting him, a hands guy, with a hard board battler and possession player in Simmer and a more well rounded offensive player in Schenn might be a good mix.

It's just an option. Everyone says he's the type of player that could only be successful playing in the top 6 on an NHL time. I agree with that, and right now, it looks like there could be an opening.

It's a tough situation because (the general) you could sit here and say, "it's worth a shot" but the problem being if it doesn't work for a few games...well there's not really MUCH margin for error at this point in the season, standings-wise.

The only reason I bring up Akeson is BECAUSE of my lobbying to keep Vinny on the 4th line. He's been a legitimate weapon playing on that line for the last 2 games AS A CENTER. I honestly think he's a bigger asset to the team playing 4th line minutes as center and on the PP than he is playing winger and more or less being exposed as a winger on the 2nd line.

Maybe he is injured, but it's tough to point your finger to that as the reason he wasn't producing on the 2nd line as a winger, saying "well now he's healthy" RIGHT when he gets bumped down to the 4th line CENTER. I think the fact that he may be 5x more effective as a center than a winger is definitely a plausible notion here.

Good showing by the Flyers today, shame they couldn't get that second point.
- BulliesPhan87

Flyers would beat a lot of teams with that effort today. I hate to say it because I love Mason. But the Bruins won because Rask was the better Goalie.

Huh...You know what? Maybe so -- has he done much since Tom Wilson nearly killed him, what, a month ago?

You are right: When he's hitting, he's like a different player -- gets him into the game
- AllInForFlyers

Good point...

Flyers would beat a lot of teams with that effort today. I hate to say it because I love Mason. But the Bruins won because Rask was the better Goalie.
- MJL

Agree on both fronts here. Certainly not a dig on Mase. He played well today- can't ever really blame a goalie in the SO, and although did give up that soft goal off Bergeron, he made some real huge saves towards the middle of the 3rd to keep the Flyers within one

Amazing amount of speed, skill on display in Detroit vs. Tampa game