Obviously, we are short a centerman...The Bonk experiment should be dropped. He's valuable in other facets but he's totally not the right player to center Higgins and Ryder. There is absolutley no chemistry betwwen them. The time has come not be conservative any longer.

I know that Barry is disturbed that Gainey didn't pick up that centerman we desperarely need and believes that it's over. It's never over Barry. That's my opinion...Gainey has to kickstart the offense and I don't think double shifting Kovalev is the answer. He's a marked man out there now. The more you double shift him on 5 on 5, the more he'll get fatigued by the double-coverage he gets. PP and his normal shift is what we need from him in order for his shifts to be more effective. As for Saks' replacement, Pleks is your answer for now.

Zednik / Ribs / Kovy....Ryder / Pleks / Higgins...and place Bulis at center between Perez and Murray. Bonk, Sunny, and Kosty...

6 defenseman only. Dandy and Bouillon are on fire right now. Their transition play is excellent and they're pounding bodies all over the ice.