So put in Shelley who MAY see... MAYBE... 2 minutes of ice time? I dont get the rationale. Rinaldo was part of and still rotates with the checking line that has done a hell of a job shutting down Malkin. I dont want Shelley anywhere near the ice when Malkin is out there.
- jak521

You could make and argument he makes the link against Malkin worse, thus why Read was subbing for him.

So put in Shelley who MAY see... MAYBE... 2 minutes of ice time? I dont get the rationale. Rinaldo was part of and still rotates with the checking line that has done a hell of a job shutting down Malkin. I dont want Shelley anywhere near the ice when Malkin is out there.
- jak521

I think were in agreement here. I said im not lobbying for the lineup change but I understand it IF it was to happen.

this is the first thing i thought of...but would it really be that off base or seen as the flyers being the aggressors?

it's been the pens, NOT the flyers that have made the aggressive moves so far. they still are dressing a dude who can really throw them (Engellend) and are now probably going to call up a big nasty guy in place of Neil, pending suspension, that will be looking to stick it to the flyers and make a name for himself with the Pens fans.

i agree that Rinaldo is far more unpredictable than Shelley is at this point, and i bet the refs and the pens would see that the flyers are making that change for that specific reason, while still taking precautions to protect their players on the ice.
- eshake

Stay the course. that's really it. Focus on the task at hand and get the first goal. Get the first 4 goals, i don't care. suport Bryz on the back end and play your most complete game of the series to close it out.

One thing that needs to happen is stopping the soft goals by Bryz. Let MAF have them.

Flyers are up 3-0 to the Penguins, and people have beefs over whose better Rinaldo or Shelly. Who cares, they both will be sitting when JVR gets healthy.
- Scottie Upshall

Absolutely. Thats IF JvR doesnt get hurt putting his skates on.

I didn't say anywhere that Shelley would play more then Rinaldo has been. The rationale is simple. Due to how little Rinaldo has been playing, not being used in 3rd periods. Having a lesser player then Rinaldo in for one game isn't going to make much of a difference. Other then the reasons I referred to in previous posts in this thread.
- MJL

Prior to game 3 he played 11 minutes and took 2 penalties. One was a reckless penalty (game one). He was removed from game three by the officials because the game was over, and they had already lost control.

I dont think he has been a negative at all. I respect your opinion, but disagree. If I were Lava I would keep him in the lineup (which I suspect he will do).

So put in Shelley who MAY see... MAYBE... 2 minutes of ice time? I dont get the rationale. Rinaldo was part of and still rotates with the checking line that has done a hell of a job shutting down Malkin. I dont want Shelley anywhere near the ice when Malkin is out there.
- jak521

He'd likely see a little more. But honestly, who cares if he sits on the bench and sees zero time. He is the better choice for protection. That if anything like game 3 starts, he is more experienced in that role. Less likely to go crazy, and hurt his team. Rinaldo is seeing 2-3 shifts a period. How many shifts a period is Malkin playing. And Shelley is reliable defensively, and is always in good position. this isn't about who is the better Hockey player.

Prior to game 3 he played 11 minutes and took 2 penalties. One was a reckless penalty (game one). He was removed from game three by the officials because the game was over, and they had already lost control.

I dont think he has been a negative at all. I respect your opinion, but disagree. If I were Lava I would keep him in the lineup (which I suspect he will do).
- jak521

Other then the fact that Rinaldo get's zero benefit of doubt from the officials, Rinaldo hasn't been a negative. That's not what it's about.

You could make and argument he makes the link against Malkin worse, thus why Read was subbing for him.
- Scottie Upshall

Read is absolutely an improvement for Rinaldo.. but in different styles. Read is a faster player.. a better puck mover.. and more defensively sufficient, but he doesnt bring the same physical tools. There is a reason Rinaldo is playing.. its because of his physical forecheck.

Other then the fact that Rinaldo get's zero benefit of doubt from the officials, Rinaldo hasn't been a negative. That's not what it's about.
- MJL

Im gonna stop now because it is pointless. I will be surprised if Shelley dresses tonight. This isnt me having it out for Shelley, but just seeing how pointless a move it would be.

Suppose a guy or two go down.. and you need to rely on the 12 forward.. I personally would rather that be Rinaldo.

this is the first thing i thought of...but would it really be that off base or seen as the flyers being the aggressors?

it's been the pens, NOT the flyers that have made the aggressive moves so far. they still are dressing a dude who can really throw them (Engellend) and are now probably going to call up a big nasty guy in place of Neil, pending suspension, that will be looking to stick it to the flyers and make a name for himself with the Pens fans.

i agree that Rinaldo is far more unpredictable than Shelley is at this point, and i bet the refs and the pens would see that the flyers are making that change for that specific reason, while still taking precautions to protect their players on the ice.
- eshake

Shelley is prone to doing stupid stuff. Rinaldo has played well, the few penalties against him were weak. He is being picked on by the refs, and Shelley would have the same target.

We need to have the same game plan... No changes. My guess is that the Pens are not going to play this one rough, and are going to come out buzzing and very focused. We need to shake their confidence early by pressuring the puck and the Pens. Keep the hits up and get under their skin, but back down from the fights. Although, I'd love to see the Flyers kick some a$$ in a few fights... That's not the goal - we need to put this away and recoup for the next round. Besides our main targets Adams, Asham and Neal, should be sitting in the stands. If we find ourselves down by a lot in the 3rd period... only then send them a message.

This was posted in the Vancouver blog. Is there any truth to this? I didn't see it.


After all of Burrows crap in the past you think he would have matured but in game 1 of this series there he is taunting Richards and Carter by pretending to chop up lines of coke and snorting rails with his stick. Game 1 and they are on that crap already

This was posted in the Vancouver blog. Is there any truth to this? I didn't see it.


After all of Burrows crap in the past you think he would have matured but in game 1 of this series there he is taunting Richards and Carter by pretending to chop up lines of coke and snorting rails with his stick. Game 1 and they are on that crap already
- stveshdy

Yes, Burrows was taunting Richards by mimicking doing lines and wiping his nose.

Im gonna stop now because it is pointless. I will be surprised if Shelley dresses tonight. This isnt me having it out for Shelley, but just seeing how pointless a move it would be.

Suppose a guy or two go down.. and you need to rely on the 12 forward.. I personally would rather that be Rinaldo.
- jak521

Not sure anyone is dressing tonight

Im gonna stop now because it is pointless. I will be surprised if Shelley dresses tonight. This isnt me having it out for Shelley, but just seeing how pointless a move it would be.

Suppose a guy or two go down.. and you need to rely on the 12 forward.. I personally would rather that be Rinaldo.
- jak521

When you consider the situation, it's not pointless at all. There are solid reasons for inserting Shelley into the lineup. There are reasons not to such as some of the ones you've mentioned.

Yes, Burrows was taunting Richards by mimicking doing lines and wiping his nose.
- Jsaquella

Thats a disgrace if you ask me. I have no respect for Burrows. Im trying to find the video of it.

Thats a disgrace if you ask me. I have no respect for Burrows. Im trying to find the video of it.
- stveshdy

Meh...it's a punkass move. Doing it to Kevin Stevens or Grant Fuhr would be worse. Doing it to Dan Kordic, whose brother died of an overdose, would be disgraceful.

But Neal is a repeat offender under current NHL policy, with a suspension in 2009-10 (boarding) and a fine earlier this season (high sticking). The league really couldn't dish out only two more fines, especially because Neal was involved in multiple incidents in the same game. As such, I think he will get a fine for his charge at Couturier and a one-game suspension for the Giroux hit.
- bmeltzer

I view that the other way around. I thought Neal's hit on Couturier was WAY more dangerous than what he did to Giroux, who had the puck and sort of spun away and ducked down at the last second.

I think Neal gets a fine for the hit on Giroux and a one game suspension for the hit on Couturier.

Shelley is prone to doing stupid stuff. Rinaldo has played well, the few penalties against him were weak. He is being picked on by the refs, and Shelley would have the same target.

We need to have the same game plan... No changes. My guess is that the Pens are not going to play this one rough, and are going to come out buzzing and very focused. We need to shake their confidence early by pressuring the puck and the Pens. Keep the hits up and get under their skin, but back down from the fights. Although, I'd love to see the Flyers kick some a$$ in a few fights... That's not the goal - we need to put this away and recoup for the next round. Besides our main targets Adams, Asham and Neal, should be sitting in the stands. If we find ourselves down by a lot in the 3rd period... only then send them a message.
- leon neon

Shelley isn't prone to doing stupid stuff. And Shelley also would have the same target on his back by the refs. And making that change wouldn't change the game plan of how the Flyers want to play. Your not putting Shelley in there for exact revenge on anyone. Nor to send any messages. The only message the Flyers need to send to the Pens is the one being given to them when they're in line to shake hands with the Pens, and they're eliminated. You've misunderstood the reasoning for putting Shelley in the lineup.

Thats a disgrace if you ask me. I have no respect for Burrows. Im trying to find the video of it.
- stveshdy

Everyone knows it. No harm, no foul.

If I'm the Flyers, Shelley is in the lineup on Wednesday in place of Rinaldo.
- MJL

Not what I want. Though I don't want Rinaldo taking liberties either. I want the Flyers to just skate away from anything the Pens try and do. Let them hang themselves. Dressing Shelly is just tell the Ref's the Flyers have every intention to get "revenge", even if that is not the true intention.

Meh...it's a punkass move. Doing it to Kevin Stevens or Grant Fuhr would be worse. Doing it to Dan Kordic, whose brother died of an overdose, would be disgraceful.
- Jsaquella

What the hell is going on during these playoffs? There is no respect towards players. I'm all for "bloodbath" and rivalry throughout a series but the class that is being shown is ridiculous.

Personally, I find the idea that Neal's hit on Couturier warrants only a fine to be ridiculous. In a game filled with gutless intents to injure, this was the worst.

As to the Shelley comments, uh no thanks.
When you have a chance to close out a series on home ice, you grasp it. You cannot afford to dress a one-dimensional goon. If there is an injury, or a player gets tossed, you need your role players to be able to play. Shelley can't play.
The only way I would even consider it, was if the league did not suspend Neal. But even then, I wouldn't do it. I'd rather see the team focused on the win.

Not what I want. Though I don't want Rinaldo taking liberties either. I want the Flyers to just skate away from anything the Pens try and do. Let them hang themselves. Dressing Shelly is just tell the Ref's the Flyers have every intention to get "revenge", even if that is not the true intention.
- RooNosHockey

Dressing Shelley doesn't tell the refs that. You can't skate away from cheap shots. Shelley would not be instigating or initiating anything.

What the hell is going on during these playoffs? There is no respect towards players. I'm all for "bloodbath" and rivalry throughout a series but the class that is being shown is ridiculous.
- stveshdy

If you see the players who are on Twitter, most of them are loving every bit of it. They don't care, why should I?

Personally, I find the idea that Neal's hit on Couturier warrants only a fine to be ridiculous. In a game filled with gutless intents to injure, this was the worst.

As to the Shelley comments, uh no thanks.
When you have a chance to close out a series on home ice, you grasp it. You cannot afford to dress a one-dimensional goon. If there is an injury, or a player gets tossed, you need your role players to be able to play. Shelley can't play.
The only way I would even consider it, was if the league did not suspend Neal. But even then, I wouldn't do it. I'd rather see the team focused on the win.
- hobo

Shelley absolutely can play a 4th line role for 3-5 minutes a game. It is one game. The Flyers have plenty of players that can be double shifted. Look at the icetimes. There are plenty of players that could use a few more minutes. It is for one game. Putting Shelley in the lineup doesn't mean the team won't be focused on winning.