What's the deal with the fourth line:


Read - Schenn - Simmonds

?????

That could be a 2nd line on many teams. I didn't notice them much last game and am expecting big things tonight. Other people have thoughts on this line? Simmonds seems to really be struggling.
- coffee junkie

those three are all gripping their sticks too tight, but hopefully they get it going tonight

What's the deal with the fourth line:


Read - Schenn - Simmonds

?????

That could be a 2nd line on many teams. I didn't notice them much last game and am expecting big things tonight. Other people have thoughts on this line? Simmonds seems to really be struggling.
- coffee junkie

Well in the last game it looked like Simmonds was just trying too much after a long layoff. I fully expect him to settle down. As long as he can plant himself in front of the net good things will happen for him. That's a ridiculously talented 4th line though.

Bill tweeted the refs awhile ago. Kelly Sutherland(good) and Chris Lee(Terrible)
- Jsaquella

The Conspiracy is out again. The Flyers always get refs that stink. Man does the NHL have it out for them.

What's the deal with the fourth line:


Read - Schenn - Simmonds

?????

That could be a 2nd line on many teams. I didn't notice them much last game and am expecting big things tonight. Other people have thoughts on this line? Simmonds seems to really be struggling.
- coffee junkie

Schenn threw that big hit on Volchenkov I believe...

Why is Lee still reffing in the 2nd round?
I thought these assignments go to the best refs.
- Marc D[/quote]

SUCKS -- but I guess not huh?

What's the deal with the fourth line:


Read - Schenn - Simmonds

?????

That could be a 2nd line on many teams. I didn't notice them much last game and am expecting big things tonight. Other people have thoughts on this line? Simmonds seems to really be struggling.
- coffee junkie

I disagree with Simmonds -- he's been forechecking very well. He'll be fine.

I disagree with Simmonds -- he's been forechecking very well. He'll be fine.
- flyersfan51

they all will be fine, Simmonds missed on a good try on the PP that G later scored on,
but otherwise has been good. I loved how he went up and challenged Clarkson.

they all will be fine, Simmonds missed on a good try on the PP that G later scored on,
but otherwise has been good. I loved how he went up and challenged Clarkson.
- Marc D

Good to hear some other perspectives. I fully expect them to be fine. Read had that terrible turnover and that is all I remember from him. What a fourth line, eh?

On a related note, Wellwood is a nice addition. His speed is so noticeable on the ice. If we were playing a bigger and meaner group I would be calling for a Sesito experiment or Shelley or Rinaldo (yes, even though he sh^^ the bed in game 6 against the PENS) but I like Wellwood in this series. Adds another threat and some decent 2 way play with his speed to get back.

Or like he has a pulled groin.
- bodiva88

I'm not sure why nobody can just flat out say that Kovachuk has an injury...

good lord.

in my game on sunday, we had a ref who has literally not called a single one our games the entire year. it's game 2 of the finals, and this jackhole shows up and says beforehand, "i call a tight game". in the end the other team had 14 minors, we had 13. final two periods were pretty much some version of 3 on 3, 4 on 3, 4 on 4, 5 on 4, and 5 on 3, constantly switching back and forth. it was horrendous. we probably had no more than 5 or 6 minors at most in any one game all year. the guy called people for breathing, i swear to g-d. we won in OT and claimed our 3rd straight title. wasn't a whole lot of fun.
- hammarby31

Congrats.

Some games need to be called very closely once it's determined that it has the potential to deteriorate into a chippy, dangerous game.

But a ref, regardless of the level of play, should never enter with a preconceived notion that the game will need to be over-called. That's just bad refereeing.

I'm not sure why nobody can just flat out say that Kovachuk has an injury...
- roenick97

They don't want opposing players targeting the groin...........

I would love to see the flyers go up 3 goals quickly so that they can play the top lines sparingly and give some extra time to the 4th line in the 3rd. Damn this team is deep!

They don't want opposing players targeting the groin...........
- coffee junkie

No, I talking about the unnecessary sarcasm from our very own mod. It's not a big deal, I'm just thinking out loud.

It's an advantage that one of the Devils offensive threats is hurt. It helps.


Huge Game Tonight!

What's the deal with the fourth line:


Read - Schenn - Simmonds

?????

That could be a 2nd line on many teams. I didn't notice them much last game and am expecting big things tonight. Other people have thoughts on this line? Simmonds seems to really be struggling.
- coffee junkie

I think it's 50% these three are struggling to settle down and 50% Lavy threw it together because the other three lines are legit as balls.

Good to hear some other perspectives. I fully expect them to be fine. Read had that terrible turnover and that is all I remember from him. What a fourth line, eh?

On a related note, Wellwood is a nice addition. His speed is so noticeable on the ice. If we were playing a bigger and meaner group I would be calling for a Sesito experiment or Shelley or Rinaldo (yes, even though he sh^^ the bed in game 6 against the PENS) but I like Wellwood in this series. Adds another threat and some decent 2 way play with his speed to get back.
- coffee junkie

Wellwood has really stood out with his speed.
Kudos to roe97, he saw this in Wellwood before a lot of us.

I think it's 50% these three are struggling to settle down and 50% Lavy threw it together because the other three lines are legit as balls.
- Shephardbd

its Carle's fault

Congrats.

Some games need to be called very closely once it's determined that it has the potential to deteriorate into a chippy, dangerous game.

But a ref, regardless of the level of play, should never enter with a preconceived notion that the game will need to be over-called. That's just bad refereeing.
- 77rams

thanks.

i agree that there are certain times where the refs need to get control of the game, which is exactly what happened in game 1 for us. it started getting nasty, and lots of yapping, and penalties were being called. the refs reigned it in at the right time and calmed everything down before it got out of hand.

but to come in on a mission so to speak, like what happened in game 4 against pittsburgh is awful. i don't see anything like that happening tonight, but cripes, how does this guy continue to get assignments?

Bill Meltzer: Flyers Playoff Gameday: ECSF Game 2 vs. Devils
- bmeltzer

Bill,

Tom Guilitti has been reporting a lower-back injury now, so it might be that. He initially was saying groin pull, but it seems as if it's more significant than that.

I disagree with Simmonds -- he's been forechecking very well. He'll be fine.
- flyersfan51

Forechecking well, yes. But he has not been very good defensively in the playoffs and he's been rushing too much whenever he has puck on his stick. The one beautiful (and timely) line rush goal late in the 2nd pd of Game 3 vs NJ was the exception. Other than that, he's throwing away a lot of pucks where he just won possession and rushing his shots.

He'll be fine -- just needs to find his groove offensively. The chances are there.

I'm not sure why nobody can just flat out say that Kovachuk has an injury...
- roenick97

they have.

I don't give the Devils much credit but I'll say this. Man am I glad they aren't a dirty team. The Pens = Dirty Team.

Bill,

Tom Guilitti has been reporting a lower-back injury now, so it might be that. He initially was saying groin pull, but it seems as if it's more significant than that.
- _Zippy_

Saw that. Could be both --not uncommon for a player to overcompensate for one lower body injury and end up with something else hurting him.

And in case, nobody's already said it...

The supposed plan is that the line-up will look like:

Ponikarovsky-Zajac-Zubrus
Parise-Elias-Clarkson
Sykora-Henrique-Bernier
Carter-Gionta-Harrold

Harrold will take the fourth line RW slot, and the right wingers will move up, and Larsson will insert in Harrold's spot, although there is a solid chance that Harrold and Larsson will split defensive minutes. Sestito's brother, Tim, may play, but I doubt it. He is not even anywhere near the player Tom is and significantly smaller too.

I think it's 50% these three are struggling to settle down and 50% Lavy threw it together because the other three lines are legit as balls.
- Shephardbd

maybe "legit as balls" can be the next t-shirt? now that i think about it, probably not. they've already used "balls" for tonight. oh well.

Saw that. Could be both --not uncommon for a player to overcompensate for one lower body injury and end up with something else hurting him.
- bmeltzer

Whatever the injury was, it was obvious it was getting worse, and fast. He was able to compensate for it, but it seemed like the injury kept getting progressively worse. Hopefully, the Devils come out strong knowing that their biggest offensive weapon is not in the line-up. I wouldn't be shocked if they sat him out game three, especially if we win this one, because then he would have a week break.