Holy smokes RW is gonna post his happiest blog of the year coming up.... REAVES looks to be healthy scratched tonight against the hurricanes!
- pens4life-66

Mackey also tweeted:
Looks like Ryan Reaves could be a healthy scratch tonight. Last forward on the ice.

OMG IS RUST BACK?!?!
- Victoro311

Yes, Rust is expected back tonight barring any set backs after yesterdays practice. Looks to be on the 3rd line with Jake at C and Kessel at RW. Bumping Sheahan down to 4th line C

Yes, Rust is expected back tonight barring any set backs after yesterdays practice. Looks to be on the 3rd line with Jake at C and Kessel at RW. Bumping Sheahan down to 4th line C
- pens4life-66

Love the way that sounds.

Yes, Rust is expected back tonight barring any set backs after yesterdays practice. Looks to be on the 3rd line with Jake at C and Kessel at RW. Bumping Sheahan down to 4th line C
- pens4life-66

What makes you say this? There were no line rushes at morning skate and I thought I saw somewhere that Dea was playing tonight. If Dea is playing, have to imagine Sheahan is centering the 3rd line.

I hope the coaching staff acknowledges that re: Guentzel at C. Obviously it doesn’t maximize G the individual player, but if Rutherford is going to sit on his hands/nothing comes up in the center trade market, it’s imperative Sullivan roll G at C because it maximizes the team.

If nothing at C comes up, I would, however, like Ruth to go out and get a top 9 LW. Shouldn’t be too hard. But with Hags playing like he has lately, that no longer seems super imperative.
- Victoro311

Agreed for the most part. The top 9 thing would be great of they don’t have to give up a 1st or 2nd.

I still have this feeling B.Pouliot will be the deadline acquisition.

What makes you say this? There were no line rushes at morning skate and I thought I saw somewhere that Dea was playing tonight. If Dea is playing, have to imagine Sheahan is centering the 3rd line.
- PensFan1103

Rust worked on a third line with Riley Sheahan, Jake Guentzel and Phil Kessel, taking turns at right wing, but it’s likely his return will force Sullivan to re-configure his forward lines.

Took it from that practice on Monday... Just adding things up isnt 100% Rust is even back yet but I would suspect its gonna be Sheahan moving down to 4th line and not Jake or Phil. Rust could also end up taking Reaves spot on the 4th line RW and leaving Shea, jake and phil together

Rust worked on a third line with Riley Sheahan, Jake Guentzel and Phil Kessel, taking turns at right wing, but it’s likely his return will force Sullivan to re-configure his forward lines.

Took it from that practice on Monday... Just adding things up isnt 100% Rust is even back yet but I would suspect its gonna be Sheahan moving down to 4th line and not Jake or Phil. Rust could also end up taking Reaves spot on the 4th line RW and leaving Shea, jake and phil together
- pens4life-66

Ok, gotcha.

Yeah I was thinking he's probably going to replace Reaves on the 4th for the first game back. If Dea plays, which I thought I saw on twitter he was going to be playing his first game in Pittsburgh, then I am not sure where he would play if Guentzel is 3C and Sheahan is 4C.

I would prefer Guentzel at 3C and Sheahan at 4C, but I just don't think it is happening tonight is all. Guess we'll see though.

Holy smokes RW is gonna post his happiest blog of the year coming up.... REAVES looks to be healthy scratched tonight against the hurricanes!
- pens4life-66

No way!....no way....

No way!....no way....
- MattStrat

Reaves should be a healthy scratch every now and then...particularly against a speedy opponent like Carolina. Likely won't play in the playoffs, which is also fine.

Forget about what we gave up to get him, and whether or not you can prove the deterrent theory...at the end of the day, the league isn't going to change... and for an 82 game regular season, it's hard to "just play". Reaves provides some push back on getting bullied and pushed around. How much of an effect does it have? Well who knows but Reaves is not much different than Kuhnhackl, Rowney, Dea, McKegg or any other bottom 6er that cant score.

If Reaves is blocking someone like Rust or Sprong from the lineup...huge problem. But let's be real, Sprong should also be playing over Kuhnhackl and the gang so its a moot point.

Just don't compare last years bottom 6 to this years and think its all because of Reaves. If Rust-Cullen-Reaves was our fourth line... we'd be just fine, in terms of the regular season.

Reaves should be a healthy scratch every now and then...particularly against a speedy opponent like Carolina. Likely won't play in the playoffs, which is also fine.

Forget about what we gave up to get him, and whether or not you can prove the deterrent theory...at the end of the day, the league isn't going to change... and for an 82 game regular season, it's hard to "just play". Reaves provides some push back on getting bullied and pushed around. How much of an effect does it have? Well who knows but Reaves is not much different than Kuhnhackl, Rowney, Dea, McKegg or any other bottom 6er that cant score.

If Reaves is blocking someone like Rust or Sprong from the lineup...huge problem. But let's be real, Sprong should also be playing over Kuhnhackl and the gang so its a moot point.

Just don't compare last years bottom 6 to this years and think its all because of Reaves. If Rust-Cullen-Reaves was our fourth line... we'd be just fine, in terms of the regular season.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yeah, I should of used the sarcasm font there or something. What I was hoping before the season was that he would be scratched a lot, at least 50% of the games and Archie (or others) would get the spot, especially against more deep offensive teams.

I really, really hope the 4th line shows something tonight that HCMS and GMJR cant deny.

Yeah, I should of used the sarcasm font there or something. What I was hoping before the season was that he would be scratched a lot, at least 50% of the games and Archie (or others) would get the spot, especially against more deep offensive teams.

I really, really hope the 4th line shows something tonight that HCMS and GMJR cant deny.
- MattStrat

If the 4th line is something like Kuhn - Dea - Simon I wouldnt hold your breath

If the 4th line is something like Kuhn - Dea - Simon I wouldnt hold your breath
- pens4life-66

Honestly Dea should be the one scratched. He’s only played one game and with bad line mates, so maybe that’s unfair, but fair or not, this team is at its best when the bottom two centers are G and Sheahan. AHL caliber centers aren’t gonna cut it, even on the fourth line.