VOORHEES, N.J. -- Maybe the Flyers are cutting Zac Rinaldo a break because he’s a former teammate who was popular in the dressing room.
Maybe they're saving their anger for Jan. 13 when the Boston Bruins visit the Wells Fargo Center.
Whatever it is, the Flyers don’t seem upset either with Rinaldo or the NHL’s decision on Thursday not to suspend the Bruins’ winger for his head hunting on Sean Couturier.
Couturier, who may or may not be concussed, took some practice with the Flyers as an extra player Friday, but is not expected to play Saturday night against the Rangers, general manager Ron Hextall said.
“No comment, there’s absolutely no reason why I should make a comment,” Jakub Voracek said. “It’s a game we played. We got to focus tomorrow, we got the Rangers.”
Players said that neither Hextall nor coach Dave Hakstol ordered them not to comment. Instead, it’s just the way the Flyers feel right now. They’ve moved on.
“Umm, I didn’t see the play so I really can’t comment on it,” Wayne Simmonds said.
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That’s unusual. Two days later and he hasn’t seen the play on video?
“I didn’t watch it,” Simmonds said.
The lack of concern or anger seems rooted in Rinaldo being an ex-Flyer.
“We got bigger fish to fry here,” Simmonds said. “We got a game against the New York Rangers. We’re not dwelling on what happened in Boston. We won the game, we got two points. We’re looking ahead.”
That sums up the reaction from other players in the locker room, as well. Only R.J. Umberger seemed willing to talk.
“He’s not part of this team anymore,” Umberger said. “I don’t feel it does any good to comment too much about it.”
Is Rinaldo a dirty player?
“He plays hard and because he hits so hard and he’s so strong, sometimes maybe bad things happen,” Umberger said. “He’s a good guy and has good intent. But I can’t speak for him.”
Head hunting continues to be the No. 1 issue for player safety in today’s NHL. Raffi Torres was given a historic 41-game suspension in preseason for his hit on Anaheim’s Jakob Silfverberg.
“The league is trying to crack down on that — look what they did to Torres,” Umberger said. “And he is a guy who definitely hits hard, but always targets the head. A statement was made. I think they would do the same to Zac if they felt it was merited.”
Hakstol was angry over the hit after the overtime win in Boston, but seemed calmer Friday.
“I don’t think there’s a comment I can make of real use,” Hakstol said. “Those decisions are the league’s decisions. It’s not within my realm or my control. We’ve moved on from it.”