GAME DAY: Ottawa Senators @ Washington Capitals - 7:00pm EST - Mon. Oct. 11th, 2010

rooneypoo wrote:
Yep, it's setting them both up to fail. With Kuba out, tho', I'm not sure what alternatives we have. You need a big body who can play good D with Karlsson, to insulate him, and we don't have anyone after Phillips right now who can do that.

Playing our 5/6 pairing in the 3/4 spot, too, is not a good sign. OTT may need to go out and get a big body just to survive this month.

Look for Phillips and Gonchar to play 25+ minutes each tonight.

rooneypoo wrote:

sens4win wrote:One thing I hope happens is Michalek gets demoted to the 2nd line.

The play of the guys who are supposed to be our top 6 wingers -- especially Michalek and Kovalev -- has been appalling. I expect way more out of Michalek in particular. He hasn't been the same since that hit to the head late last fall; he's much more timid, playing safer and smaller and slower.

wprager wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:
Yep, it's setting them both up to fail. With Kuba out, tho', I'm not sure what alternatives we have. You need a big body who can play good D with Karlsson, to insulate him, and we don't have anyone after Phillips right now who can do that.

Playing our 5/6 pairing in the 3/4 spot, too, is not a good sign. OTT may need to go out and get a big body just to survive this month.

Look for Phillips and Gonchar to play 25+ minutes each tonight.

Gonchar played close to 29, didn't he? Expect more of the same.

There is always the option of bringing Gryba up to insulate Karlsson. Or even Cowen. Might be do-able with 3rd pairing minutes.

wprager wrote:Gonchar played close to 29, didn't he? Expect more of the same.

There is always the option of bringing Gryba up to insulate Karlsson. Or even Cowen. Might be do-able with 3rd pairing minutes.

wprager wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

sens4win wrote:One thing I hope happens is Michalek gets demoted to the 2nd line.

The play of the guys who are supposed to be our top 6 wingers -- especially Michalek and Kovalev -- has been appalling. I expect way more out of Michalek in particular. He hasn't been the same since that hit to the head late last fall; he's much more timid, playing safer and smaller and slower.

Is it a coincidence that both of them are coming off serious knee surgeries, though?

wprager wrote:Gryba is a rightie but Clouston has already crossed that line with KarLee (oh god, I can't believe I used that again; deep, deep shame).

wprager wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

sens4win wrote:One thing I hope happens is Michalek gets demoted to the 2nd line.

The play of the guys who are supposed to be our top 6 wingers -- especially Michalek and Kovalev -- has been appalling. I expect way more out of Michalek in particular. He hasn't been the same since that hit to the head late last fall; he's much more timid, playing safer and smaller and slower.

Is it a coincidence that both of them are coming off serious knee surgeries, though?

wprager wrote:Guys, it's been two games. Two bad games, true, but *two* games.

rooneypoo wrote:

wprager wrote:Gryba is a rightie but Clouston has already crossed that line with KarLee (oh god, I can't believe I used that again; deep, deep shame).

Well, I just don't see how replacing a bad idea with a bad idea is a solution you really need to act on, especially considering how tight cap space is right now.

Karlsson needs to play with a big, defensively-aware, left-handed D. He needs Kuba back, badly.

sens4win wrote:

wprager wrote:Guys, it's been two games. Two bad games, true, but *two* games.

I was talking more about the fact that and this has bothered me for a bit but are team is very old, and it kinda sucks.

sens4win wrote:

wprager wrote:Guys, it's been two games. Two bad games, true, but *two* games.

I was talking more about the fact that and this has bothered me for a bit but are team is very old, and it kinda sucks.

wprager wrote:

sens4win wrote:

wprager wrote:Guys, it's been two games. Two bad games, true, but *two* games.

I was talking more about the fact that and this has bothered me for a bit but are team is very old, and it kinda sucks.

OK, first stop saying "are team". Second, Phoenix, Anaheim, New Jersey, Calgary and Detroit are all older. True, we're in the top 20% of the oldest teams, but Detroit is the oldest (even after shedding Chelios) and it's working out pretty well for them.

sens4win wrote:our....happy? good thought so.

wprager wrote:

sens4win wrote:our....happy? good thought so.