Leino sick + Full playoff preview
Ville Leino did not accompany the Flyers to Newark for their first round playoff series against the Devils.
Leino sick + Full playoff preview
NEWARK, N.J. – It turns out that Ville Leino isn’t so healthy after all.
Leino, who was a healthy scratch in the Flyers’ final two regular season games, raised some red flags when he didn’t participate in Monday’s practice.
Leino did not accompany the Flyers to Newark yesterday and, in turn, did not take part in today’s festive pre-game skate at the Prudential Center.
He has been battling the flu.
Leino hung back to skate at the Skate Zone in Voorhees with Phantoms players Kevin Marshall, Danny Syvret, David Laliberte, Andreas Nodl and Jon Kalinski.
Depending on how he is feeling, Leino will head up to Newark to watch tonight but will not be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.
PLAYOFF PREVIEW: For those of you who don’t live in the Philadelphia area or cannot pick up a copy of today’s paper, here is a complete list of links to our playoff preview online:
- Predictions of the Flyers’ series through the eyes of our scribes.
- Story about Jeff Carter’s injury and how it might impact the series.
- Story about Flyers needing secondary scoring from the likes of Giroux and Van Riemsdyk.
- Rich Hofmann's column about the Flyers' need for discipline against New Jersey.
- Position by position breakdown of both teams (also includes 3 keys to the series).
- Recap of Flyers-Devils 2009-10 season series.
- Flyers’ playoff history against New Jersey.
Here were my predictions of the other first round series around the NHL that weren’t included in the online package:
Washington in 5
Buffalo in 6
Pittsburgh in 5
San Jose in 4
Chicago in 7
Los Angeles in 6
Phoenix in 7
You’ll have to pick up today’s Daily News to see who our other writers think will win.
Follow the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).
Leino is probably sick, sick of being benched and that penalty nightmare Hartnell is still in the lineup.— jacdjc1- Fail!— Big Bog
Red flags? I figured he was injured/sick, only thing that made any sense.— potus- absolutely insane that leino has been a healthy scratch with his skills and abilities when the lumbering clown hartnell is still playing, doing nothing and taking horrible penalties.— Dan3586
- Dan3586, you're right especially against a skilled team like the Devils who had the fewest penalties in the NHL this season. Time for Bozo to be scratched for the playoffs and his contract bought out after the season.— BobbyD
- i also wanted to add....laviolette is a great coach but the fact that he cant see this glaring deficiency makes me question him a bit. I mean hartnell has done literally NOTHING over the last few months, and every time leino has played he has helped. it is just amazingly obvious. not just trying to hartnell bash, but cmon.— Dan3586
- Dan3586, the Flyers pay Hartnell big bucks compared to Leino. It may be that management is telling Lavy to play Hartnell. I don't know why else Lavy wouldn't start him.— Gus L.
- maybe Hartnell has a no-scratch clause to go with his no-trade clause.— potus
Comment removed.- Leino should be playing. Sit HARTNELL, we may not have to kill as many penalties— Crosbysucks
- Did i not get the memo here? Since when has Leino become such a crown jewel? People talk of him like they once did Sbisa (who is languishing in the minors and doing no better than average). Leino has 6 goals in 55 games people and is a -8 for the season! I've watched him play...he is decent and has "flashes" of brilliance. But he is not going to carry this team. Hartnell, while clearly having a disappointing season, has nevertheless managed to average a little more than a point every two games (Leino is averaging 1 point every 5 games by comparison). I would not give up on Hartnell just quite yet-- he is young, had 30 goals last year, and tied his career best mark for assists in a season this year. In light of the foregoing, and despite Hartnell's untimely penalties, i wouldn't consider playing Hartnell over Leino a "glaring deficiency." Not even close.
- I'm glad to see snipesmorris seems to have a head on his shoulders capable of making rationalized thoughts. Hartnell is having one of the worst scoring seasons of his career, I'm sure he would be the first to admit that. That said, by no means should he be benched in favor of essentially a role player that hasn't had enough time to show you anything solid enough to give you a reason to put him in the lineup instead of a guy who, while I know is paid to score, is clearly going through a rough patch and trying to add in whatever way he can. Please don't interpret this as me defending his penalties, I've loved the guy since he was playing for the Preds (just always seemed to me to fit the "Flyer" mold,) but I can't completely excuse the sheer volume of infractions he racks up. I wouldn't be surprised if his days here are numbered, but I don't have to agree with it. This town just loves to turn on athletes as soon as they don't perform exactly as they had in the past. Maybe Hartnell and Hamels can go grab a beer and commiserate...— AndrewB55
- Leino is a good alternative to Hartnell at this time because Hartnell's been very cold and taking a lot of stupid penalties. I do agree that when Hartnell is on and playing disciplined, there's no comparison. Maybe sitting Hartnell a game will snap him out of this!— Gus L.
- Never mind Hartnell. Why is Leino constantly scratched while the skills-challenged Daniel Carcillo is dressed every game that he's not suspended!?!?— Anti-Stepford Fan
- Greatly appreciate all the links in one place for the out of town folks! Thanks from Brooklyn!— neeners119
