Schenn centers 3rd line; Shelley happy to be eligible
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Schenn centers 3rd line; Shelley happy to be eligible
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE: Here are the lines for the Flyers on Thursday:Claude Giroux centering Jaromir Jagr and JVR; Danny Briere centering Matt Read and Wayne Simmonds; Brayden Schenn centering Scott Hartnell and Jakub Voracek; and Sean Couturier centering Max Talbot and Andreas Nodl.
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After serving a 10-game, NHL-imposed suspension — including the first five contests in the regular season — Flyers left winger/enforcer Jody Shelley is eager to return to the lineup.
“I’m excited. My time is served,” Shelley said.
Coach Peter Laviolette, however, will probably use Andreas Nodl over Shelley in Thursday’s game against visiting Washington (5-0).
Still, Shelley is just glad he is now eligible to play.
“It’s a lonely thing when you’re here but you know you’re not playing,” Shelley said. “It’s a definite and you’re just kind of trying to stay in shape and stay sharp.”
Added Shelley: “Like any punishment, even when I was five years old, you remember from it, you learn and you come back better.”
Feisty winger Zac Rinaldo, who was sent back to the Phantoms on Wednesday, did an admirable job as Shelley’s replacement. But Rinaldo, at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, can’t challenge the heavyweights. Shelley (6-3, 230 pounds) can.
“He’s great. He’s a great skater,” Shelley said of Rinaldo. “He stayed disciplined. He did his job perfect. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
Shelley, 35, said enforcers have a fine line to walk.
“The game has changed three times since I started and you have to adapt,” he said.
Shelley, one of the most respected players in the Flyers’ locker room, conceded he never feels as if his position is secure.
“I always have to prove myself,” he said. “That’s how my career has been. Fourth-line left winger, there’s always someone coming after to get your job and you have to prove yourself. The situation is how it is and today is today. That’s all you worry about.”
Breakaways. Look for defenseman Andreas Lilja to return to the lineup in place of penalty-prone Matt Walker. ... Shelley was suspended for his boarding hit on Toronto’s Darryl Boyce in a preseason game.
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Time for Shelly to go now that his suspension is over...can't skate, can't score, therfore no purpose being here...too many young guys looking for work— pcc503- It would be criminal to put Schenn on a fourth line. Lavy, please don't do that. It will simply waste his great talent.— matty177
Get rid of Matt Walker. Waive Shelley.- Get rid of Matt Walker. Waive Shelley.
- Thanks for the time Jody but you can't fight, can't skate and can't stay out of the box. Why do you exist on this roster? Being a great guy is one thing but what do you really add?— hockeyfan00
- Added Shelley: “Like any punishment, even when I was five-years-old, you remember from it, you learn and you come back better.”Said the repeat offender... (HTML deleted)— hockeyfan00
- Added Shelley: “Like any punishment, even when I was five-years-old, you remember from it, you learn and you come back better.”
Said the repeat offender...— hockeyfan00 - no room for Shelly and his high salary. Not sure why they ever agreed to pay an enforcer that kind of dough anyway. Bring on Schenn and the talent— connorjr
- pcc503, you left one thing off.....can't fight either. And he's unnecessary on this team that has great chemistry, looks out for one another, and most of whom can stand up for themselves. If they keep him I hope it's just as an extra skater, only seeing game-time when they expect problems during a game. Other than that he's a dinosaur on the team and in the league for that matter.— djlen
- A few things here.... Why would you send Rinaldo down, scratch Walker because he's 'penalty prone', and dress Nodl?? That leaves you with nobody that can drop the gloves other than Simmonds?? I sound like a broken record here but why is Nodl on this team??? He, in plain words, sucks!!!!! And why would you go into a game this important in mid October without somebody who can fight?? This game is going to be a battle! As much as Shelly sucks as a fighter, and if your not keeping Rinaldo up, he needs to be in there tonight!— kevin44
- djlen...your right I forgot that he can't fight either— pcc503
- Shelley in? REALLY?
— Nitroglycerin - for all you Matt Walker haters he did play pretty good when he wasn't in the box. I would waive Shelly and keep Walker as the 6\7 D-man because we all know there are going to be times were we have injuries or need to give a day off!Walker needs to play a little bit to see if the rust goes away I would say like 5 games if the if he continues to go to the box then you play Andreas Lilja.— srcdaddy1216
- Good, now go away please— mike4912000
- Agree with srcdaddy— Clarkeisgod
- Kevin44 - my opinion to your question would be that it because its the Caps - I don't think we need too many heavy weights - we need speed and defense more. If it were the Bruins that is a different story. And srcdaddy16 I completely agree about Walker. He is stable and he hits.— gob1234
- I'd take Harry Z or Rinaldo over Nodl. Nodl is a nice AHL player, not much more than that. Shelley or Walker on the roster, not both. No need for two heavy weights. Shelley is no better than what the Senators got from Neil the other night - Someone who runs around aimlessly taking penalties. Can't score, can't back-check and not the best fighter either.— mikegdj
- I'd trade Shelley for a used puck bag. The puck bag has a more complete game, and plays cleaner.— P2will
- Bye. thanks for that one goal last year and all those penalties.— girouxforpresident
- Get rid of Matt Walker and Shelley? Who is going to protect Giroux and Briere, 180 lb. Wayne Simmonds? You need one of them to keep the other team honest and from cheap-shotting the Flyers.— rockinrob
Matt Walker did good in my opinion. He certainly can fight. He made some Ok plays too. As for penalty prone, wtf - it was a fight.
I like the guy. Shelley I like too but side by side, at this stage of their careers, I'd take Walker.
— Poppys- Nodl has to step up his game. !!!!— dogman5
- Schenn, Courter, Simmonds, Read = MORE POINTS AND MORE ABILITY TO PRODUCE WINS THAN HAVING SHELLY AND RINALDO ANYWHERE NEAR THE ICE!!!! PERIOD!!!!!— girouxforpresident
- Have to keep Schenn and Couturier up...this team is so good with them. Lines:
JVR Giroux Jagr
Simmonds Briere Voracek
Hartnell Schenn Read
Nodl Talbot Couturier— dsh129
