That may be true. If Downie is out long term, thats something I would experiment with. If Downie is coming back soon, I don't really see the point.
- PhillySportsGuy

This may be late, but if Downie is out for the playoffs I would try the following lines

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Rinaldo
Hall-VL-Akeson

This gives them a 4th a line that would be legit threat. When leading in the 3rd and looking to shut down and go with mainly 3 lines then I go to:

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Hall-Couturier-Read (this line gets most, if not all, D zone faceoffs)
VL and Rinaldo to be spotted in.

And when trailing late, I may shake things up and try the following 3 lines:

Hartnell-VL-G
Akeson-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Raffl gets spotted in here and there.

Thoughts?

Maybe you should let him sniff your ass first.
- tangent_man

This may be late, but if Downie is out for the playoffs I would try the following lines

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Rinaldo
Hall-VL-Akeson

This gives them a 4th a line that would be legit threat. When leading in the 3rd and looking to shut down and go with mainly 3 lines then I go to:

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Hall-Couturier-Read (this line gets most, if not all, D zone faceoffs)
VL and Rinaldo to be spotted in.

And when trailing late, I may shake things up and try the following 3 lines:

Hartnell-G-VL
Akeson-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Raffl gets spotted in here and there.

Thoughts?
- BiggE

Not a fan of Akeson on the 4th line. If he can't play on one of the top 2 lines, then he shouldn't be in the lineup in my opinion.

This may be late, but if Downie is out for the playoffs I would try the following lines

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Rinaldo
Hall-VL-Akeson

This gives them a 4th a line that would be legit threat. When leading in the 3rd and looking to shut down and go with mainly 3 lines then I go to:

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Hall-Couturier-Read (this line gets most, if not all, D zone faceoffs)
VL and Rinaldo to be spotted in.

And when trailing late, I may shake things up and try the following 3 lines:

Hartnell-G-VL
Akeson-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Raffl gets spotted in here and there.

Thoughts?
- BiggE

I don't really want Rinaldo on our shutdown line. I don't trust him out against the top forwards in hockey game in and game out.

If Akeson gets called up, he'll play wing on Schenn's line. They already shelter that line in matchups and zone starts. It would be the ideal situation for him.

That being said, I would much rather have Downie in the top 9 than McGinn or Akeson.

I don't really want Rinaldo on our shutdown line. I don't trust him out against the top forwards in hockey game in and game out.

If Akeson gets called up, he'll play wing on Schenn's line. They already shelter that line in matchups and zone starts. It would be the ideal situation for him.

That being said, I would much rather have Downie in the top 9 than McGinn or Akeson.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree, leave Rinaldo where he is. Need 4th line players to be able to play physically and with grit. Akeson doesn't fit that bill.

I have small dogs. They won't ever hurt anybody.
- PhillySportsGuy

Statistically speaking, small dogs bite more than big dogs.

Small dog syndrome

I don't really want Rinaldo on our shutdown line. I don't trust him out against the top forwards in hockey game in and game out.

If Akeson gets called up, he'll play wing on Schenn's line. They already shelter that line in matchups and zone starts. It would be the ideal situation for him.

That being said, I would much rather have Downie in the top 9 than McGinn or Akeson.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed

I don't think the terms 2nd, 3rd and 4th line really are that important. In terms of Ice time, Couturiers line is clearly the "2nd" line. I just think putting Akeson on a line with VL in the middle gives them another line that is threat to score.

I too, am a little nervous with Rinaldo on the shutdown line, he would need to play consistently the way he did last night and thats taking a legit risk. My biggest fear of putting Akeson with Schenn and Simmonds is how they would do defensively. At least having Raffl on that line gives them one forward who responsibly backchecks, much like Hall would do with VL and Akeson.

I agree, leave Rinaldo where he is. Need 4th line players to be able to play physically and with grit. Akeson doesn't fit that bill.
- MJL

Not every guy on the 4th line needs to be physical. In 85-86, which was Pelle Eklund's rookie season, Keenan used him on the 4th line at even strength between Carson and Brown. I'm pretty sure they weren't counting on Eklund to be the mucker and grinder on that line!

Vinny played 13:32 and Brayden Schenn played 10:52.

I missed chunks of this game. Was BSchenn hurt or is he now being hidden?

The 10:52 is WELL below his season avg of about 15 minutes.

Vinny played 13:32 and Brayden Schenn played 10:52.

I missed chunks of this game. Was BSchenn hurt or is he now being hidden?

The 10:52 is WELL below his season avg of about 15 minutes.
- johndewar

I only saw the 3rd period, but from what others have said, B Schenn did not have a good game last night.

Vinny played 13:32 and Brayden Schenn played 10:52.

I missed chunks of this game. Was BSchenn hurt or is he now being hidden?

The 10:52 is WELL below his season avg of about 15 minutes.
- johndewar

Don't think Schenn got PP time, but neither did Rinaldo and he wound up with more minutes than Schenn.

I think Berube realized the Schenn line was a dud last night and VL's line was playing pretty good.

Not every guy on the 4th line needs to be physical. In 85-86, which was Pelle Eklund's rookie season, Keenan used him on the 4th line at even strength between Carson and Brown. I'm pretty sure they weren't counting on Eklund to be the mucker and grinder on that line!
- BiggE

Rumor has it that Eklund spent a lot of time spreadind secrets and rumors in the locker room...

Can you confirm this to be true?

Don't think Schenn got PP time, but neither did Rinaldo and he wound up with more minutes than Schenn.

I think Berube realized the Schenn line was a dud last night and VL's line was playing pretty good.
- Flyersgod

Agreed. Schenn was the one who got in on Phaneuf and forced him to rush and turn the puck over to Simmonds though.

I only saw the 3rd period, but from what others have said, B Schenn did not have a good game last night.
- BiggE

Ouch.

Didn't give the Schenn parents much to see. I believe the Schenns were at the WFC last night.

Best parts of G's goal were the fact that he wasn't hurt after getting crunched by Gunnarsson and that the pigeon turned it over - didn't hear any Schenn comparisons at that point
- wilsonecho91

what is the definition of pigeon in hockey terms?

what is the definition of pigeon in hockey terms?
- aightwebang17

id also like to know this

what is the definition of pigeon in hockey terms?
- aightwebang17

I always thought it was a guy who chirps all the time but runs away at the first sign of trouble.

This may be late, but if Downie is out for the playoffs I would try the following lines

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Raffl-Schenn-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Rinaldo
Hall-VL-Akeson
- BiggE

I would rather do this.

Hartnell-G-Voracek
Read-Couturier-Raffl
Akeson-BSchenn-Simmonds
Hall-Vinny-Rinaldo

whats with all the akeson combos today? he get called up or something?

Freudian slip here Bill? lol
- BringBack25

i enjoyed it

id also like to know this



- Crimsoninja

Unconfirmed, but I believe it means a player who scores garbage goals.

Unconfirmed, but I believe it means a player who scores garbage goals.
- PhillySportsGuy

that's what i read too

whats with all the akeson combos today? he get called up or something?
- Crimsoninja

excellent question

he can't crack the lineup in the reg season but he's going to be on the top two lines for the playoffs

whats with all the akeson combos today? he get called up or something?
- Crimsoninja

Wondering if he would be a better fit for the second line than McGinn.

After last night's game, my projection of G's year-end point totals has bumped up to 92.5