I would like to see the lines below. I think the skill and speed of raffl and Laughton would help Couturier. Couturier has offensive skill. He just needs some wingers to also help.


Schenn - Couturier - Voracek
Laughton - Couturier - Raffl
Simmonds - Bellemare - Read
Rinaldo - Vinny - Umberger

That third line could help take some defensive pressure off couturier. Also I think his PK time should be cut a little.
- J35Bacher

Keep Laughton at center. We don't want another B.Schenn situation

No, but scratching Bellamare, a first year player who seems to put out an effort, over VLC or Umberger, who deserve it more, doesn't have quite the same effect on a team.
- MBFlyerfan

I don't agree with every move Berube makes. I didn't agree with scratching Bellemare. But I do agree that Bellemare's game and skating has dropped way off since the beginning of the season. So I don't think he is undeserving of the scratch. The problem is, that a lot of players fall into that category right now. And I also consider that I'm not around the team full time, I'm not at practice. So I don't have all the info that Berube has obviously. If it was me, my lineup tonight would have Bellemare back in, and Umberger on the 4th line. And Lecavalier scratched. But if that's not the lineup, I'm not going to go off on a diatribe and criticize Berube for not doing what I think is best.

I would of rather seen Umberger on that bench list
- Streit2ThePoint

I don't hate Vinny but it's time. He and Umberger should both be scratched.

I would like to see the lines below. I think the skill and speed of raffl and Laughton would help Couturier. Couturier has offensive skill. He just needs some wingers to also help.


Schenn - Couturier - Voracek
Laughton - Couturier - Raffl
Simmonds - Bellemare - Read
Rinaldo - Vinny - Umberger

That third line could help take some defensive pressure off couturier. Also I think his PK time should be cut a little.
- J35Bacher

this lineup after Giroux is scratched?

- Jsaquella

The back-end of that article about AMac admitting he's having trouble living up to his new contract... chilling.

Vinny scratched?

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20141202_Flyers_bench_struggling_Lecavalier_for_game_against_Sharks.html

Finally.
- Jsaquella

the reasoning from Berube hit's it....LACK OF EFFORT....ouch...no worse reason can be given a player...It calls into question everything about a player....Character, leadership ect.

I would like to see the lines below. I think the skill and speed of raffl and Laughton would help Couturier. Couturier has offensive skill. He just needs some wingers to also help.


Schenn - Couturier - Voracek
Laughton - Couturier - Raffl
Simmonds - Bellemare - Read
Rinaldo - Vinny - Umberger

That third line could help take some defensive pressure off couturier. Also I think his PK time should be cut a little.
- J35Bacher

where giroux?

(and AMac possibly scratched again)


- Tomahawk

It's a great move by a brilliant coaching mind. The Defensemen's possession stats in games without MacDonald are fantastic, especially Grossmann's.

Coburn 66-76 0.465
Colaiacovo 71-67 0.514
Del Zotto 203-220 0.480
Gostisbehere 16-28 0.364
Grossmann 117-175 0.401
Manning 10-21 0.323
Schenn, L 114-117 0.494
Schultz 144-170 0.459
Streit 182-194 0.484

the reasoning from Berube hit's it....LACK OF EFFORT....ouch...no worse reason can be given a player...It calls into question everything about a player....Character, leadership ect.
- landros 2

He hasn't given effort for most of the year...why did it take 20+ games to scratch him?

Winger Michael Raffl is expected to move back to the top line . . . Scott Laughton will center the second line with Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds . . . Zac Rinaldo is likely to skate with Sean Couturier and Matt Read, while Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will be reinserted in the lineup alongside R.J. Umberger and Chris VandeVelde
- Feanor

I really don't like Simmonds and Schenn together. Prediction - that lasts all of a period and a half and Schenn / Raffl flip flop.

Has Rinaldo been a healthy scratch this year? Really don't understand scratching PEB last game over Rinaldo and I'll be more befuddled if it happens again.

I am sure Vinny is crying into his 4.5 mill plus the millions from Tampa

Vinny scratched?


- Jsaquella

Can't wait to see what you post when Corpseburger gets scratched!

He hasn't given effort for most of the year...why did it take 20+ games to scratch him?
- Jsaquella

not sure they felt the players ego could handle it...be that fair or not....It may get ugly.

I am sure Vinny is crying into his 4.5 mill plus the millions from Tampa
- vejim

I'm not sure Vinny gives a rats rear end about $.....but what is in question is his commitment to still playing professional hockey.

Looks like McGinn's playing basically the same role he had here. Healthy scratch, spot start on the top line. Still pleasantly surprised Hextall managed to grab a third rounder for him. It'll look even better if the Sharks continue to go in the wrong direction.
- TobyFlenderson

Is this the real Toby Flenderson???

Seriously though, you're right about McGinn, a 3rd was a steal. He managed to score more here too. 3 points or so more but still more!

The back-end of that article about AMac admitting he's having trouble living up to his new contract... chilling.
- Tomahawk

Not chilling at all. It's refreshing. Contrast his comments to Lecavalier's. Lecavalier, who I think it's pretty obvious that he's not working and skating as hard as he can, says that it's not about effort, and is measuring his words. Which I interpret as he's thinking that his play has been fine. While in contrast, MacDonald is looking at the situation and thinking that he knows he has be better.

Just a quick question.

All the players have come out in defense of their coach and Voracek has called him the best coach he has had.

Is it so easy to just fire Berube considering he seems to have really pulled the best out of Voracek?

I understand people assume that he lost the room, but really we have no clue since we aren't there.

Just bringing it up because I don't think he will get fired. I think until he has the horses to run his system and some crap is cut from the roster either at the TDL or in the offseason I think berube will get another year.

not sure they felt the players ego could handle it...be that fair or not....It may get ugly.
- landros 2

(frank) his ego.

not sure they felt the players ego could handle it...be that fair or not....It may get ugly.
- landros 2

Safe to say that Chief isn't getting a card from Vinny this year.

the reasoning from Berube hit's it....LACK OF EFFORT....ouch...no worse reason can be given a player...It calls into question everything about a player....Character, leadership ect.
- landros 2

This is what I'd try for a few games. See if you can get Read and Simmonds going. I'd be ok flipping Laughton and Couturier too, but Laughton is playing like he deserves the shot.

Read - Giroux - Simmonds
Schenn - Laughton - Voracek
Raffl - Couturier - Bellemare
Umberger - VDV - Rinaldo

Has Rinaldo been a healthy scratch this year? Really don't understand scratching PEB last game over Rinaldo and I'll be more befuddled if it happens again.
- NickTheKid87

Nope. Not once. He's immune to the healthy scratch. His 6-8 minutes of undisciplined, lack of skill is irreplaceable.

Has Rinaldo been a healthy scratch this year? Really don't understand scratching PEB last game over Rinaldo and I'll be more befuddled if it happens again.
- NickTheKid87

If there is one player on this team that has come to play every game, and every shift. It's Rinaldo.

Other then Giroux, Mason, Emery, and Voracek.