Its been a season of opportunities forFlyers agitator Zac Rinaldo.
Hes played on checking lines and fourth lines. Lines with Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.
Lines with Max Talbot and Sean Couturier.
And last week, a line with Couturier and Jakub Voracek that went up against Pittsburghs top offensive unit of Chris Kunitz, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal.
Ive been waiting patiently for an opportunity like that, Rinaldo said. And I think I took that opportunity and ran with it.
Gotta keep shutting down those lines. Its a great opportunity for me.
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette has gradually given Rinaldo, his leading fighter14 boutsmore responsibility in this his first full season (he played in the playoffs last spring).
NHL
Rinaldos workload may increase, though it likely wont come Saturday night when the Flyers face the Montreal Canadians at Wells Fargo Center.
Hes has been doing some penalty kill work during practices and the coaching staff is considering using him on the PK during games, as well.
Thats because the staff sees that there is much more to Rinaldo than just a tough guy looking for more minutes. Hes earned their respect and trust with gradual increases in responsibility.
Im really happy with Zack and what he brings to the table for our team, Laviolette said. His role has really expanded.
And we continue to look at him killing penalties in practice and while we have not gone there yet, there might a time when we might. I certainly see that in his future.
As does Rinaldo.
I never wanted to be just one dimension, go out there and hit and fight, he said. I wanted to kinda shut down lines and get the opportunity to score. If I score great, if not, at least I got my chances. I accept all roles with open arms and Im up for anything.
Rinaldo, who was struck in the lower lip with an accidental high-stick from his own teammate, Scott Hartnell, hasnt had a fight in three games. His lip is about three times the size it usually is.
I gotta be careful, he admits. I cant fight but thats the risk I got to take. If I hit someone and have to back it up, I will regardless of this lip or not.
Hitting is what has come to define Rinaldo this season. He has drawn some penalties that were unwarranted if only because his hits were so violent, so jarring, they looked illegal and to an official on the ice at game speed.
This is where reputation tends to peg Rinaldo, although its not the same as when the Flyers had Dan Carcillo, who was out of control 247 and pretty much deserved everything he got in terms of penalties.
He has done an excellent job in discipline, Laviolette said of Rinaldo, adding that the conversations they had in training camp and early season sunk in with him. Some of the penalties he has you look at and say, thats a pretty good hit.
He has a reputation. I think guys do have history even if they are not in the league. They come into the NHL with history. He is a perfect example of a guy who did.
Thats because Rinaldo had outrageous penalty minute figures in the OHL and AHL. Two straight seasons he averaged nearly 200 PIM. Had 331 with the Phantoms last season.
Yet Rinaldo is a different and smarter player here. Theres more to his game. He has good speed and can score goals. Ten or more would not be out of the question as a future goal (he has two now).
When you are in the AHL or OHL, you are fighting to get to the NHLdo anything possible to get to the NHL, Rinaldo said.
Thats how I got noticed. Fighting and hitting against bigger, tougher guys. Now that I am established here as a Flyer I wont fight just to fight. Its not my first priority. I want to play hockey before I fight.
Speaking of, that scripted fight between the Devils and Rangers this past week off the games opening draw? Rinaldo was appalled at it.
I dont like that, he said. Youre not fighting for a purpose.
Truth is, Rinaldos timely hits are what his line and the Flyers, as a team, seem to feed offnot necessarily his fights.
I think the energy which helps create energy is the hits from our team, he said. When I go out there and bang bodies, I think the guys on the bench get a lot more energy than a fight.
That a maturity factor that Carcillo never seemed to have and he was an older, more experienced NHL player, too.
Laviolette sees a brighter future for Rinaldo down the road as he tacks on more duties.
Hes a who can check, he can hit, he can fight, Laviolette said. And then when you add that special team of killing penalties in there, now you got a really valuable player, not that he isnt a valuable player now.
Rinaldo smiles and looks forward to the day that task is assigned to him.
Im not a fourth liner, who wants to hit and be one-dimensional with six minutes ice time, he said.
Loose pucks
The Flyers have recalled Erik Gustafsson from the Phantoms for Saturday's game against Montreal.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net