No First Line

barry33 · Guru

No First Line

AB Habman · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Well we have BJan Buuuulisssssss to thank fo rthe win last night. The hockey Gods (I truly believe they exist) were shining on him last night. The Gods felt guilty over all the goalposts, missed chances, crossbars, blocked shots and blown breakaways Jan had and decided to make it up to him all in one game. Thank you hockey Gods. But what has been bothering me is the disappearance of our one legitimate scoring line lately. Non-existent. When we were hot in the beginning, the line of Koivu, Zednick, and Kovalev were lighting the lamp. Julien and now Gainey have tried different combos up there including Ryder, but that line has ran away and gone to the circus. Elvis has left the building. We have little enough scoring as it is. But without at least one "first line" that can be a legitimate threat we are horrible. At least when that one line was clicking it forced the opposition to key on them and make sur ethey had their checking line on against them. What I have seen the last 6-8 games is that the other coaches are not really concerned about matching up (Hitch pretty much through anyone out there against the big line last night). Why is that an issue you ask? It is an issue because now, the "weaker" lines will spend more time playing against strong defensive forwards which will further diminish their effectiveness. I really doubt that Murray will worry too much about putting his checking line out tonite against our number one line. The news is not all bad however, if we can keep having a different line step up like Bullis did last night. Although, given the talent we have this year, I do not see that happening. Gainey has go to find a legitimate number one line again.

Kovy is the only one on that line doing anything creative with the puck and making space for himself! The other two are losing the puck in traffic or losing the board battles too often!

Time to give Kovy a break with two new players! With Bonk being our #1 centerman right now I would unite the two!

As for Zed and Koivu, I'm lost for words and don't know what would kick start them!

plouf · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

barry33 wrote: Well we have BJan Buuuulisssssss to thank fo rthe win last night. The hockey Gods (I truly believe they exist) were shining on him last night. The Gods felt guilty over all the goalposts, missed chances, crossbars, blocked shots and blown breakaways Jan had and decided to make it up to him all in one game. Thank you hockey Gods. But what has been bothering me is the disappearance of our one legitimate scoring line lately. Non-existent. When we were hot in the beginning, the line of Koivu, Zednick, and Kovalev were lighting the lamp. Julien and now Gainey have tried different combos up there including Ryder, but that line has ran away and gone to the circus. Elvis has left the building. We have little enough scoring as it is. But without at least one "first line" that can be a legitimate threat we are horrible. At least when that one line was clicking it forced the opposition to key on them and make sur ethey had their checking line on against them. What I have seen the last 6-8 games is that the other coaches are not really concerned about matching up (Hitch pretty much through anyone out there against the big line last night). Why is that an issue you ask? It is an issue because now, the "weaker" lines will spend more time playing against strong defensive forwards which will further diminish their effectiveness. I really doubt that Murray will worry too much about putting his checking line out tonite against our number one line. The news is not all bad however, if we can keep having a different line step up like Bullis did last night. Although, given the talent we have this year, I do not see that happening. Gainey has go to find a legitimate number one line again. Kovy is the only one on that line doing anything creative with the puck and making space for himself! The other two are losing the puck in traffic or losing the board battles too often! Time to give Kovy a break with two new players! With Bonk being our #1 centerman right now I would unite the two! As for Zed and Koivu, I'm lost for words and don't know what would kick start them!

Bonk is now our #1 centreman? Talk about jumping to conclusions.

barry33 · Guru

plouf wrote:

AB Habman wrote: barry33 wrote: Well we have BJan Buuuulisssssss to thank fo rthe win last night. The hockey Gods (I truly believe they exist) were shining on him last night. The Gods felt guilty over all the goalposts, missed chances, crossbars, blocked shots and blown breakaways Jan had and decided to make it up to him all in one game. Thank you hockey Gods. But what has been bothering me is the disappearance of our one legitimate scoring line lately. Non-existent. When we were hot in the beginning, the line of Koivu, Zednick, and Kovalev were lighting the lamp. Julien and now Gainey have tried different combos up there including Ryder, but that line has ran away and gone to the circus. Elvis has left the building. We have little enough scoring as it is. But without at least one "first line" that can be a legitimate threat we are horrible. At least when that one line was clicking it forced the opposition to key on them and make sur ethey had their checking line on against them. What I have seen the last 6-8 games is that the other coaches are not really concerned about matching up (Hitch pretty much through anyone out there against the big line last night). Why is that an issue you ask? It is an issue because now, the "weaker" lines will spend more time playing against strong defensive forwards which will further diminish their effectiveness. I really doubt that Murray will worry too much about putting his checking line out tonite against our number one line. The news is not all bad however, if we can keep having a different line step up like Bullis did last night. Although, given the talent we have this year, I do not see that happening. Gainey has go to find a legitimate number one line again. Kovy is the only one on that line doing anything creative with the puck and making space for himself! The other two are losing the puck in traffic or losing the board battles too often! Time to give Kovy a break with two new players! With Bonk being our #1 centerman right now I would unite the two! As for Zed and Koivu, I'm lost for words and don't know what would kick start them! Bonk is now our #1 centreman? Talk about jumping to conclusions.

Surely it has not come to this lol