Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Wilting in Sunrise, Rinaldo

The Rinaldo PK experiment is just one piece of reshuffling the deck, and not even the most important part of it.
- bmeltzer

That's not the general consensus among a particular group of regulars on here. I've been led to believe this team would be a strong SC contender if Rinaldo was taken off of the PK.

I like giving Rinaldo a chance on the PK for several reasons. It gives rest to a higher echelon forward, taking him away from the harder minutes. I think Rinaldo has the skating ability and energy required to be a good penalty killer. And he WANTS to do it.

It is his hockey sense on the PK that needs to be proven. As long as he isn't hurting the team, let the experiment continue.

That's not the general consensus among a particular group of regulars on here. I've been led to believe this team would be a strong SC contender if Rinaldo was taken off of the PK.
- jmatchett383

I was only mildly frustrated with last night's game; yes, it would've been really nice to grab that win, but this isn't college basketball, where good teams run off 20 wins in a row like nobody's business.

The Flyers...they're going to struggle from time to time. Quicker teams are always going to give them some measure of trouble, with this set of defensemen in particular and this roster as a whole. It doesn't mean that they can't win or won't win, and it doesn't mean they shouldn't have played better last night. But the reason they struggled against the Islanders and Buffalo, as well as Florida last night, is that those are quicker teams who force the Flyers to make quicker decisions and move faster, which exposes our pedestrian puck skills and hockey sense.

There are still some good things happening with this team, as they currently are, and depending on how much the Flyers would be willing to pay now or in the offseason, there are ways for this team to improve itself in measurable ways. That's all I can really ask.

As for Zac Rinaldo: I've said it before, even if it's going to come back to bite me on the butt. But I agree with Bill: Rinaldo deserves the opportunity to improve as a player. He's young enough to learn how to be a better hockey player, and I think it's good that he's being given the opportunity.

They get out worked in just about every loss. Consistency is a problem for them it seems. Nothing to think the season is over but they need to be more consistent with their effort. Oh btw stop being so cute on the power play. Get pucks through and get the garbage goals.

Rinaldo should be allowed the time to develop into a pker. Especially if the coaching staff feels he has it what it takes. I always felt Rinaldo is a guy every team needs. His reputation cost the team in his early days but he's growing out of that.

Pretty fair report....we needed it more than you guys!

- MBFlyerfan

Anyone who shares my passion for hyborean fiction is not idiotic nor is it possible for them to say such things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty fair report....we needed it more than you guys!
- PanthersGoal

U guys looked like a much better team than i've been led to believe you were. Good luck on the season.

Miscellaneous forward or d-man at 23 years old: "Give him time to develop. Why won't Homer live with the growing pains? Why do the Flyers give up on players too early?"

Opinion on Zac Rinaldo on the PK at age 23: "ZOMG!11!! WHY IS HE ON THE PK? CORSI!! BLUGBGHTHY@dh!!!"

I'm exaggerating, but yeah, I think people make way too much of Rinaldo trying his hand on the PK. Give it time.

I think the bigger concern is this team failing to score on recent PP opportunities when they've had opportunities to ice games.

If people think this team rises and falls because of Zac Rinaldo, they're missing the point. When their best offensive players aren't scoring, they aren't going to win.

Adam Hall > Max Talbot

Anyone who shares my passion for hyborean fiction is not idiotic nor is it possible for them to say such things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- JoeRussomanno

Damn right. The Picts are a bunch of punks. It's all about Vanaheim.

I thought our PP took a huge step backwards last night. The refs weren't calling much at the beginning but when things started going our way we couldn't make much happen besides make Thomas dance... I personally have issues with Hartnell out on the 5 on 3. But that's my problem apparently...
I also felt like we couldn't connect a decent pass - our exits from our own zone looked like we had to fight through pudding...
The panthers definately had more jump in their step and won just about every dump and chase (although they did give us a great many opportuniteis that should have been capitalized - from their own poor passing). Good for them to hand us a giant piece of humility...
My hope is they wake the hell up or the Lightning aren't gonna beat us 3 - 1... Just go ask the Rangers.

Note to self - apparently Simmonds needs to get slashed before he starts really playing. Fine. I'm sure we have some people willing to help him out!


And this was the first game we saw some fire from Mason! Not sure if that was a good thing or not yet...

I'm pretty disappointed by last nights effort. The loss hurts less than the quality of play we put out there. Among all the sloppy play, the standout for me was the miserable performance of Streit. Can any of you more knowledgeable guys say if his game is likely to improve based on past history or has he actually made a career of ticktacking the puck until it slides away from him to an opposing player?

Yo Bill, how about that Adam Hall? Huh?

That wonderful faceoff win with five seconds left on a 5 on 3 was glorious.

Yo Bill, how about that Adam Hall? Huh?

That wonderful faceoff win with five seconds left on a 5 on 3 was glorious.
- KGBflyers10

I have to admit that was pretty friggin sweet. Way to make it happen all by yourself!

I like giving Rinaldo a chance on the PK for several reasons. It gives rest to a higher echelon forward, taking him away from the harder minutes. I think Rinaldo has the skating ability and energy required to be a good penalty killer. And he WANTS to do it.

It is his hockey sense on the PK that needs to be proven. As long as he isn't hurting the team, let the experiment continue.
- MBFlyerfan

And if he can become good at it, for him it is important development that makes him a more valuable piece to a team. He's one of those tweener types who has to be a role player to be successful. And goon is a role he's too small for in the long run. He has speed and quickness. Let's figure out if he can use them for good.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Wilting in Sunrise, Rinaldo
- bmeltzer

i disagree that mason was outplayed, but it doesn't matter, they lost. i think the energy was there, and the biggest issue was they just couldn't move the puck at all. passing was horrendous for the most part and they constantly mishandled it moving up ice nullifying any opportunities before they could be created.

he had a few good stops, but most of the shots against thomas were right into him without making making him move or screening him. others were just bad luck...like that arm save he made on lacavalier in the 2nd period. he never saw it, it just hit him and somehow managed to stick. there was a big hole top corner....but vinny didn't put it where he wanted. 6 inches higher or a few to the right and it's a goal and we're not talking about how great thomas was.

florida skated hard, broke up a lot in the middle of the ice, and got opportunistic scoring.

I guess they were due for a clunker. Figures two players that had zero goals entering the game combined for 3.

Giving up the goal as soon as they squandered the 5-3 was about the most predictable event to ever occur.

It's so awesome having Jay Rosehill as a regular. His contributions have been immense, immeasurable.

Giving up the goal as soon as they squandered the 5-3 was about the most predictable event to ever occur.
- PLindbergh31

I wish I could have placed a wager on that.

i disagree that mason was outplayed, but it doesn't matter, they lost. i think the energy was there, and the biggest issue was they just couldn't move the puck at all. passing was horrendous for the most part and they constantly mishandled it moving up ice nullifying any opportunities before they could be created.

he had a few good stops, but most of the shots against thomas were right into him without making making him move or screening him. others were just bad luck...like that arm save he made on lacavalier in the 2nd period. he never saw it, it just hit him and somehow managed to stick. there was a big hole top corner....but vinny didn't put it where he wanted. 6 inches higher or a few to the right and it's a goal and we're not talking about how great thomas was.

florida skated hard, broke up a lot in the middle of the ice, and got opportunistic scoring.
- hammarby31

Yeah, I don't think Mase was outplayed either. If a Panther "helped" Thomas the way Luke Schenn screened Mason last night, it could've been a closer game. As you say, Thomas wasn't forced to move very much, as he looked more like a standard goalie and not the puck-fighting ninja he resembles when teams are moving laterally in the O zone.

Give Florida credit, the kids played hard tenacious hockey and were the better team. Bjugstad is a load, and Huberdeau and now Barkov too.
I loath TT, and am no fan of Campbell. But like their young guys.
How about that suplex takedown Kulikov put on Giroux, looked like WWF out there.

Not going to win many games when you fail on the 5 on 3.

Yeah, I don't think Mase was outplayed either. If a Panther "helped" Thomas the way Luke Schenn screened Mason last night, it could've been a closer game. As you say, Thomas wasn't forced to move very much, as he looked more like a standard goalie and not the puck-fighting ninja he resembles when teams are moving laterally in the O zone.
- Flyskippy

even the play where simmonds moved through the crease and thomas flopped and was completely out of position, the actual shot would have gone right through the crease. it him in the right shoulder, so it looked like a save. the on ice angle from the near corner showed just how off simmonds' shot was. this is what happens when thomas plays the flyers. every time.

Give Florida credit, the kids played hard tenacious hockey and were the better team. Bjugstad is a load, and Huberdeau and now Barkov too.
I loath TT, and am no fan of Campbell. But like their young guys.
How about that suplex takedown Kulikov put on Giroux, looked like WWF out there.

Not going to win many games when you fail on the 5 on 3.
- Marc D

Not going to win many games scoring one goal either.
17 out of 23 games 2 goals or less.
10 games out of 23 1 goal or less.

I guess they were due for a clunker. Figures two players that had zero goals entering the game combined for 3.

Giving up the goal as soon as they squandered the 5-3 was about the most predictable event to ever occur.

It's so awesome having Jay Rosehill as a regular. His contributions have been immense, immeasurable.
- PLindbergh31

Now that they lost there is a better chance Chief may make a line up change.
Hard to change things on a winning streak.
Although Bill points out correctly their play has gotten sloppy in the last few wins.