My only concern is that Bill is alluding that Vinny doesn't get to the right place at the right time because he has lost a step and vinny would be Jake's finisher so he needs to "get there".
And I think Vinny MUST play top six. His game has never been the traditional bottom 6 and him playing there puts him in a position to fail.
I remember a blob from Bill earlier this year about bringing someone up, I think Akeson, was a waste if her couldn't play top six because that is what his game is. putting a guy who scores and pays PP his entire career suddenly into a checking line role usually doesn't work well.
- nails

Well he isn't working well in the traditional top 6 role either, at least with the players he's playing with.

Well he isn't working well in the traditional top 6 role either, at least with the players he's playing with.
- eayost

I think it's down to either playing him at C or RW w/ Giroux, or it's time to Teemu him and bring in Laughton and/or Holmstrom to even out the lineup.

Bench Rinaldo and stick Laughton on the 4th line.
- Feanor

But Sac Rjnaldidlo is are leder and true captain, and energy and heart and....





Yes, THIS. Do it now, as soon as Laughton gets off the (frank)ing plane

Well he isn't working well in the traditional top 6 role either, at least with the players he's playing with.
- eayost

nope.

I would like to see vinny with G. G can mold his game around anyone (he does it with Hartnell) so I would have more faith that G can elevate vinny better than Jake could.

19/10/17 could play that style. Same with 12/10/17.

Vinny just doesn't excel at forechecking and puck retrieval anymore. He's a howitzer, not a bulldozer.
- Tomahawk

They already tried Raffl on that line with Simmonds and Schenn. Didn't work at all.
Lecavalier can still forecheck and still get on the puck. He's an offensive player, and a goal scorer. The ideal player to play with Lecavalier would be a puck carrying playmaking LW. The Flyers don't have that player. The best option would be to play Voracek with Lecavalier. But he plays the right side. The problem is that with Simmonds and Schenn at Wing, they need a puck carrying playmaking center to compliment them. That's not Lecavalier's game. And Lecvalier needs a playmaking LW.
In game 3, that line was very effective in generating shots. Have to leave them together and let it role.

Didn't Akeson find some nice chemistry with Giroux at some point in life? Or am I incredibly confused?

Akeson-G-Hartnell
Schenn-Vinny-Jake
Simmer-Coots-Read

As a top 9? I mean, why not, right?
- Giroux_Is_God

Akeson G Jake
Harts Schenn Simmer
Rafll Coots Read
Hall Vinny Rhino

In the beginning of the year Chief put that second line together and it was our best line for a decent period of time.

19/10/17 could play that style. Same with 12/10/17.

Vinny just doesn't excel at forechecking and puck retrieval anymore. He's a howitzer, not a bulldozer.
- Tomahawk

12/28/93
19/10/17
42/14/24
18/40/Laughton

The Flyers can beat this team. I have no doubts about it. And anyone jumping off the Ben Franklin because they're down 2-1 hasn't watched the team close enough to know they thrive under adversity. Plus, Mason should be back between the pipes and- no disrespect to Emery- his puckhandling will be clutch and they frankly play a better game in front of Mase, for whatever reason.


- Giroux_Is_God

I think a big problem with this team, is that they are way too comfortable with playing from behind. Almost to the point it seems as though they prefer it. While you don't want a team to panic and throw in the towel, when behind. And have confidence that they can come back. I want to see more urgency in strong starts and more intensity towards playing from ahead and not always chasing the game.

My only concern is that Bill is alluding that Vinny doesn't get to the right place at the right time because he has lost a step and vinny would be Jake's finisher so he needs to "get there".
And I think Vinny MUST play top six. His game has never been the traditional bottom 6 and him playing there puts him in a position to fail.
I remember a blob from Bill earlier this year about bringing someone up, I think Akeson, was a waste if her couldn't play top six because that is what his game is. putting a guy who scores and pays PP his entire career suddenly into a checking line role usually doesn't work well.
- nails

I agree Vinny must be top 6 ( preferably centre). They gave him the $ and long term contract. He was showing value until injury, and I can't remember if he was playing centre at that time. At this stage in his career he needs talent around him to provide value.

12/28/93
19/10/17
42/14/24
18/40/Laughton
- Just5

I'm willing to try any line combos, but if Akeson is needed on our top line to get them going we're in serious trouble. Not just today but in the future.

Flyers need to get into the game. Giroux has played tenatitive up until he was crushed in game 3. It's like he was afraid of getting hit. Now that he's been crushed maybe he can snap out of it.

Would really be great if Berube could maybe dish out the ice time a little more effectively next game. Timonen needs to be stapled to the bench for as long as possible. The Coburn/Timonen pairing is a train wreck.

The most concerning problem i see is our inability to show up for the start of games. First home playoff game of the year and we played decent for a minute but went down 2-0 rather quickly. Is it that hard to show up at the drop of the puck?

It's been like this for years now and it really is an issue that hasn't been addressed.

So is Laughton available to play? I'm confused. I'm also confused by those that want him in the lineup. Akeson is one thing, but this something else.

Have they tried Vinny on Giroux's wing this year yet? I get that it's not something you want to try in the playoffs when the chips are getting down, but I wonder if it's a place he could slot in and be successful moving forward (mostly meaning into next year). Sometimes I think star (or former star) players don't work well with regular guys because they see the game a bit differently... zig when others zag so to speak. I just wonder if maybe Vinny and Giroux would be thinking zag more often than not, like he and Jagr did
- eayost

Actually not a bad idea when I think about it. Gives Lecavalier a playmaker to play with. And gives Simmonds and Schenn a player that can carry the puck and distribute.

I'm willing to try any line combos, but if Akeson is needed on our top line to get them going we're in serious trouble. Not just today but in the future.

Flyers need to get into the game. Giroux has played tenatitive up until he was crushed in game 3. It's like he was afraid of getting hit. Now that he's been crushed maybe he can snap out of it.

Would really be great if Berube could maybe dish out the ice time a little more effectively next game. Timonen needs to be stapled to the bench for as long as possible. The Coburn/Timonen pairing is a train wreck.
- Flyersgod

Timonen is totally ineffective. Its really a shame. This team is hanging by a thread. They are one and done this year. Its ok. The future looks bright

The most concerning problem i see is our inability to show up for the start of games. First home playoff game of the year and we played decent for a minute but went down 2-0 rather quickly. Is it that hard to show up at the drop of the puck?

It's been like this for years now and it really is an issue that hasn't been addressed.
- Flyersgod

I have to agree. I can't stand their slow starts. Warm-ups aren't there so you can look good on the ice! You are supposed to be ramping up to game pace.

So is Laughton available to play? I'm confused. I'm also confused by those that want him in the lineup. Akeson is one thing, but this something else.
- hammarby31

I think people are thinking can he bring any less than what Rinaldo is bringing right now, with his 4 minutes of ice time?

And I'm in that camp

So is Laughton available to play? I'm confused. I'm also confused by those that want him in the lineup. Akeson is one thing, but this something else.
- hammarby31

Oshawa got eliminated last evening, so Laughton is free to join the Flyers.

As far as being confused by wanting him in the line up, it's simple, I'd rather have him than Rinaldo playing. It'd make the 4th line better and possibly help produce more offense.

ghost wins the norris & calder next year book it.

I don't want to see Couturier playing 20 mins. While its cool he can shut people down you need to score to win and you have a better chance of that with Giroux and Voracek.

Their seems to be a lack of intensity or something from the team right now. 3 games of the Rangers hitting Giroux and no one responds. Rinaldo has been a non-factor. Simmonds seems like a shell of who he was. Some of that is how the Rangers play but some of it seems to be internally caused.

Emery wasn't great..If Mason makes 2 saves on goals they still lose the last game 2-1. Goaltending hasn't put them down 2-1. Their strength, offense, failing has put them behind.

Their doesn't seem to be the nastiness in this series that I thought would be there with these 2. Or I should say the Rangers are hitting that way while one of your 20 goal scorers in Read leads the Flyers in hits and your best player right in Voracek drops the gloves. Something is off with that.

Timonen is totally ineffective. Its really a shame. This team is hanging by a thread. They are one and done this year. Its ok. The future looks bright
- Just5

Not sure why so quick to write them off. This Series is far from over.

Timonen is totally ineffective. Its really a shame. This team is hanging by a thread. They are one and done this year. Its ok. The future looks bright
- Just5

I disagree. I don't believe this tream is hanging by a thread. They are a damn fine team.
And I'll be the very first to admit that Timonen has lost a step and last game was a bad one to illustrate that but he's our smartest defenseman and he's put his body and soul into this team during his tenure here. If these are the last games I see him play for the Flyers I will cherish each one.

I don't want to see Couturier playing 20 mins. While its cool he can shut people down you need to score to win and you have a better chance of that with Giroux and Voracek.


- opeth_pa

There is plenty of icetime to go around to play Couturier 20 minutes, and play Giroux and Voracek more. It happened all Season. Giroux and Voracek's minutes weren't down because of Couturier playing 20 mins.

Timonen is totally ineffective. Its really a shame. This team is hanging by a thread. They are one and done this year. Its ok. The future looks bright
- Just5

It is really sad to see. Really should try getting Coburn out there with someone else. Coburn has the wheels to get the puck out of the zone when the forward decide to go AWOL.

I don't want to see Couturier playing 20 mins. While its cool he can shut people down you need to score to win and you have a better chance of that with Giroux and Voracek.

Their seems to be a lack of intensity or something from the team right now. 3 games of the Rangers hitting Giroux and no one responds. Rinaldo has been a non-factor. Simmonds seems like a shell of who he was. Some of that is how the Rangers play but some of it seems to be internally caused.

Emery wasn't great..If Mason makes 2 saves on goals they still lose the last game 2-1. Goaltending hasn't put them down 2-1. Their strength, offense, failing has put them behind.

Their doesn't seem to be the nastiness in this series that I thought would be there with these 2. Or I should say the Rangers are hitting that way while one of your 20 goal scorers in Read leads the Flyers in hits and your best player right in Voracek drops the gloves. Something is off with that.
- opeth_pa

I think Rinaldo got a stern talking to by the coaching staff about no dumb penalties, and the officiating has been all over the board in the three games. I think that's why Rinaldo has been so restrained on the ice he's not sure which way to jump that won't hurt the team.