Given the circumstances, what would you do?

Ando · Guru

Given the circumstances, what would you do?

Cleghorn · Veteran Member

Not that I want to agree with Neale but since he's actually agreeing with me - it's alright. I previously posted using Boullion to replace Begin's impact up front.

I would then dress Simpson on D because by gawd these Canes need to feel some pain after every goal mouth skirmish - and since the refs treat around the net skirmishes the same as high sticks to Habs' faces - Todd shouldn't get penalized too much.

For the record And-o - I know you no more wished injury on Saks than I would have wished it on Beezer 2 seasons ago - nor would any of us wish it on any player on any team - regardless of how we may have an intense dislike for them within the game.

beakermania · Senior Member

And-o i thought about this alot and even changed my mind a few times in another topic about the lines. But i'm settled on what i want to see happen, but i know it won't.

First off if Begin is healthy, its easy Plekanec to the first line, Begin in his place. However I don't think he will be ready for friday, so i came up with another plan...

Plekanec moves into koivu's line. He previously centred Higgins earlier in the year, and for two years in hamilton the chemistry is already there. Plus he also worked with ryder in Hamilton the year the dogs went to the calder cup.

Bulis takes Plekanec's spot on his line. Has played some centre this year. The line has been working due to its great speed, that is not compromised here. Also has the defensive awareness necessary for the role.

Bulis' spot beside Kovalev and Ribeiro is taken by the incoming Andrei Kostitsyn. Its time to see this kid and its time to see him in primetime. He is offense and creativity, something we need with Saku out of the lineup. Good defensively too, and i'd like to see him click with Kovalev. This kid is the future of our offence. I say now is as good a time as any to see if he is up to the challenge. I know its a bit of a risk, but it could pay off big time in my opinion.

Leave the Bonk line as is, they will be needed for the shutdown role and are playing great.

So after my moves we look like this

Kosty - Ribeiro - Kovalev

Higgins - Pleks - Ryder

Zednick - Bulis - Perez

Sunny - Bonk - Murray

-- Edited by beakermania at 15:47, 2006-04-27

plouf · Guru

I like your plan beakermania. Kostitsyn is fast, and could be the ace up our sleeve. But will he be able to handle the off-the-puck role he will have to provide? Bulis was chipping in on offense, but his main role is to get back, and also create space for Kovalev and Ribeiro. Does Kostitsyn know how to play without the puck?

beakermania · Senior Member

Kostitsyn without the puck is not nearly as good as bulis, thats a given, but he is better than Perezhogin has been to this point. His defence was awful at the start of last season, but two full years in the AHL have improved it greatly. Kostitsyn will also provide some grit, as he has shown a willingness to dig on the boards and hit players too. He is not all skill, no grit. In many ways he plays similar to the way Kovalev does in the playoffs. Obviously not as good, but with time he may be, the style is definetely similar.

He is fast enough to get the job done in my opinion. I think its time to see if he has what it takes at the NHL level. He showed flashes earlier in the year.

plouf · Guru

Perezhogin has show surprising grit and strength on his skates lately, but I take your point. Good to hear about Kostitsyn. I've only seen him in patches, and I just remember him being skilled, fast with the puck, and a bit of a hog.

beakermania · Senior Member

Also has a hell of a quick release on that wrist shot, very heavy wrist shot too.

Key Lime · Guru

I wouldn't put Bonk anywhere close to Higs and Ryder. This IS Bonk we are speaking of? He has been solid for us in other facets of the game but not as a playmaker.

The only way those two wingers (Higs and Ryder) can be affective is to team them up with a playmaker; therefore, Pleks fits the bill.

It's all about suiting up 7 D for the period until Begin is back! I don't want any unproven player to join us at this point.

How about this:

Zednik / Ribeiro / Kovalev

Ryder / Pleks / Higgins

Perezhogin / Bulis / Murray

Bonk / Sundstrom

It's not popular but it makes sense...once Begin is back, it can change many things.

barry33 · Guru

Ando wrote:

And-o has given this one some serious thought…let him know if you agree!!! First, And-o would move Plekanecs full-time into Koivu’s spot, since they are basically both “playmaking” centres (in fact, they are virtually identical ~ except in terms of experience)…and, since Bonk has been used exclusively as a “defensive” centre all season, this might be the best way to go!? However, on the PP, why not add a big body (aka Murray or Bonk) into Saku’s hole??? Next, dress 7 defensemen regularly until Begin returns, which is another way of saying double shift “hot” wingers like Kovy, Zeddy or Bulis and “make do” with what we have! (Also, although Harry Neale is a major league boob, did anyone else pick-up-on his comment regarding playing ‘Franky Bou’ as a forward??? Three shifts!?!?!?! Why not??? Don’t forget that both Rivet and Dandy have been solid forwards before!) …And-o has called in a favor from “THE BIG GUY” for Saku’s full recovery!

I would simply put Pleks in Koivu's place, give the Kovalev line more ice time (believe it or not Ribs has earned it..ughhhh did I just say that out loud?!???) and I would put Chipchera in Pleks' place. I think he would fit nice on that line.

beakermania · Senior Member

barry33 wrote:

Ando wrote: And-o has given this one some serious thought…let him know if you agree!!! First, And-o would move Plekanecs full-time into Koivu’s spot, since they are basically both “playmaking” centres (in fact, they are virtually identical ~ except in terms of experience)…and, since Bonk has been used exclusively as a “defensive” centre all season, this might be the best way to go!? However, on the PP, why not add a big body (aka Murray or Bonk) into Saku’s hole??? Next, dress 7 defensemen regularly until Begin returns, which is another way of saying double shift “hot” wingers like Kovy, Zeddy or Bulis and “make do” with what we have! (Also, although Harry Neale is a major league boob, did anyone else pick-up-on his comment regarding playing ‘Franky Bou’ as a forward??? Three shifts!?!?!?! Why not??? Don’t forget that both Rivet and Dandy have been solid forwards before!) …And-o has called in a favor from “THE BIG GUY” for Saku’s full recovery! I would simply put Pleks in Koivu's place, give the Kovalev line more ice time (believe it or not Ribs has earned it..ughhhh did I just say that out loud?!???) and I would put Chipchera in Pleks' place. I think he would fit nice on that line.

Chipchura is not up with the Habs at this point. The four callups at the end of the bulldogs season were Danis, Cote, Ferland and Kostitsyn. Add that to the earlier callup of Lapierre when Begin initially went down.

I think Chip has been home for the past almost 2 weeks now. He should be up in Montreal, even if he only is getting to practice and see the crazyness that is the city during the playoffs.

Not sure if he is ready to handle a role in the NHL yet. If you want to bring in a centre i think it needs to be Lapierre at this point.

rwp2le · Guru

barry33 wrote:

I would simply put Pleks in Koivu's place, give the Kovalev line more ice time (believe it or not Ribs has earned it..ughhhh did I just say that out loud?!???) and I would put Chipchera in Pleks' place. I think he would fit nice on that line.

I just wonder how many times Kovalev needs to give Ribs a gift before he can put one in. Did you see the pass he gave him in OT? I think Bonk would have at least got a shot off. Man do we need another center next year.

NEWFIEHABSFAN · Senior Member

did anyone ever think of double-shifting kovy, not every shift, but every third or fourth shift?

barry33 · Guru

I think Gainey has missed the boat here! Both Latendresse and Chipcgura should be in Montreal, at least practicing and getting a feel for the team and the atmosphere. OIttawa for example has 4 Junior players in their camp now.

rwp2le · Guru

NEWFIEHABSFAN wrote:

did anyone ever think of double-shifting kovy, not every shift, but every third or fourth shift?

They did it a few times during the season, I think he plays his best when he is over 20 mins a game. The guy doesn't ever seem to get tired. I totally agree. If the Habs are gonna win this series, they need to jump on Alexei's back, and ride him through the next few games.

MC Girl · Guru

Someone (in a post today) said that Kovy was at the hospital re: his knee not movin' so well..... any one else know anything on this topic?

davidb · Guru

I think dressing 7 D is a very good idea. I like it incase someone goes down. I hope BG does that. We need this game because we cannot go back to Canes country tied at 2.

Habtastic · Guru

I have thought we should play 7D ever since we got Dandy. The guy is a natural forward and should be beside Bonk and Begin on a checking line. Versatility is his greatest strength, so let's use it.
Looks like Bonk is centering the Higgins/Ryder line, or at least he was in practice.

Habtastic

adam13 · Member

Our 6 D have played superbly well why mess with that and throw a 7th in?

Here's how I think it should play out

Kostitsyn - Ribeiro - Kovalev

Ryder-Bulis- Higgins

Zednik-Plekanec-Perezhogin

Murray-Bonk-Sundstrom