Rinaldo's Playoff Blog: Day 1
Flyers rookie Zac Rinaldo will be writing a daily blog on Philly.com throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. Check back on Wednesday for another post.
Rinaldo's Playoff Blog: Day 1
Voorhees, N.J. - Tues. April 10, 12:05 p.m.
I’m jacked up for the playoffs to finally start. Our flight leaves at 2:30 this afternoon and I couldn’t be more excited to get to Pittsburgh.
I think what the team needs to do is just get bonding again. That’s a big thing for the playoffs, for me at least, is just to bond with the guys and get even a little tighter than we normally are. That’s a huge thing.
I didn’t mind the practice schedule this week, playing Saturday and then Game 1 on Wednesday. I think that’s a good thing for our team. It works to our advantage, we can work on our systems and fine tune things.
With all of the emotions facing Pittsburgh, discipline will be huge. It’s always big in the playoffs, in every series. I think it works to our advantage. In the regular season, refs are usually calling the Philadelphia Flyers more than any other team.
It just means I can probably get away with a little bit more.
Tonight, I’ll do whatever I feel like. I’m not superstitious in any way like that. If I feel like going out and about in the city, I will do that. I think my dad, his brother, and my grandfather will be coming down (from Mississauga, Ontario). I might go out for something to eat with them. If I don’t feel like it, I won’t do it. Maybe I’ll take a nap.
I go about my day like any normal person.
We have a schedule to go by in the mornings on a game day. We have to be on the bus by 10 o’clock. I don’t have a regimented time to go to sleep. I’ll sleep when I’m tired. That might be a little tough tonight.
Flyers rookie Zac Rinaldo will be writing a daily blog on Philly.com throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. Check back on Wednesday for another post. Follow him on Twitter at @RinaldoZac.
Comment removed.- I expected more creativity than that, Robynk - wow... it's funny how great it is to talk about somebody else "getting destroyed" until it's somebody on YOUR team. Not so funny anymore, is it?
— diamondback13 - can't wait to see Briere get his block knocked off...— diamondback13
Zach you have to over come biased officiating, can't worry about it. Its the Flyers so the opposition is always going to get more calls, been that way since the 70s. But I can tell you as a fan I am tired of watching our stars counting stars every game after we play Pittsburgh, as their stars stay on their skates all game long. I'd like to see more toughness out of our team in the playoffs and that starts with your line. I don't mean a little shove like Schenn did on Crosby after the whistle, you need to hit him clean but hard enough to make him remember. There's a fine line between a clean hit and a penalty in the NHL, but you need to pick your spots and hit like you mean it this series. Every line must play every shift as if it's your last and I know you guys will leave with a W. You got more heart than that team, but you have to prove it 4 more times this season. I would also like to see some payback on Vitale, the fight last game didn't do anything but bruise his knuckles.- pens will win this series in 5 games. crosby, malkin,staal,letang,orpik, fleury the list goes on and on.the flyers are good,but this is not the year.the peguins should win their 4th stanley cup this year. go pens!!— pittguy59
- Smart, clean, hard. Do not fall for the Pens B.S. They are the best at working refs, diving, getting their money out of their slashes. Work hard, play D, score. F the Pens.— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Go Zac. Play hard. Most of those calls on you were complete bs, especially the 5 min and game misconduct during the final game. Unbelievable! Keep playing and hitting hard. GO FLYERS!!!— Cali7
- Rinaldo is so much more talented and smarter than Car Bomb. Quick skater, solid checker, decent with the puck, and packs more guts than anyone else his size, and more than many larger than him. Rinaldo will stand up to anyone in a battle, and will defend his team-mates. I'm glad Zac is in the line up - he brings a lot of jam to the game.— OrangeFury
- At least CarBomb would score. Guts only gets you so far in the NHL today. I'd rather have someone filling up the net or defending it. Rinaldo is barely a factor in any game, was he the only one available to talk to or something? — kozykoz26
- Carcillo would score? When? Guy had more opps playing with Richards than Nodl and still couldn't find the net with a GPS. Terrible hands, crappy fighter, and if he did make contact with somebody the play was either already made or over by the time he showed up. I don't see Rinaldo missing those same chances whether it be fighting, checking, or scoring. Right on OF! — Student Body
- Dan Carcillo - last season with the Flyers: 4 goals and 2 assists = 6 points in 57 games (5th year in NHL). Zac Rinaldo - 2 goals and 7 assists = 9 points in 66 games (Rookie season). Zac will only improve over the next few years. — OrangeFury
- This kid better play within the fine line of aggressive and smart cause we dont need a duplication of Carcillo and his over the top play!— Fabulous
- Its a real shame that a guy who plays the game hard and mostly clean is abused by the league as bad as he is. Does not deserve many of the penalties, suspensions or fines he gets.— Sidewinder7
- Flimbis--it means more in the playoffs. Knock a guy around or even out of the game, it can deflate a team. It can also pick them up too, but if you keep on them, you can drive them into the ground. Keep in mind, however, that even a perfectly legal check against Crosby, head up or down, will result in a penalty and likely an ejection. Its how the league works anymore. LET'S GO FLYERS!!!— ena1977
- — aNutter1inDgutter - So true. Can't lay a hand on Cindy with his past medical issues and all. Might be better to go after Malkin instead. Probably should have done it in the last game of the regular season though.
— Flimbis - The refs are ready to kick Zac out of the game if Cindy even smells his breath. And Bettman, Cindy's dad, will not hesitate to pull the strings to get the Penguins to the next round.
- Love this.— n62
- give 'em hell, Zac. And if you catch #87 with his head down, have at it!— FlyersKevin
