Game Day - Senators @ Oilers, 9:30PM, Thursday, November 17, 2011

shabbs wrote:Yeah, strange tail end to this trip. Lots of days in between Van and Pitt. But that will be good coming back from the Western travel.

NEELY wrote:

shabbs wrote:Yeah, strange tail end to this trip. Lots of days in between Van and Pitt. But that will be good coming back from the Western travel.

You can almost gaurantee Auld starts on Sunday. Can't leave him out too long. Also, it's his former team.

shabbs wrote:

NEELY wrote:

shabbs wrote:Yeah, strange tail end to this trip. Lots of days in between Van and Pitt. But that will be good coming back from the Western travel.

You can almost gaurantee Auld starts on Sunday. Can't leave him out too long. Also, it's his former team.

Good point... or maybe save him for Carolina... but that is a ways away...

NEELY wrote:Really impressed and liking Brian Lee right now as well. In all honesty, at this point I think it might be pretty dumb to trade him. He's a legit NHLer at this point and blueline depth is what every team kills for. Ottawa has that depth. There were a few plays last night he made and you were forced to say "that's how a pro does it". Couple break out passes, could plays along the boards, just a solid, solid game. Simple and solid.

I think Carkner is in tough to get back into that lineup, hell, I think Rundblad is in tough now as well. As much as I think the AHL is a step backwards for Rundblad he will actually have to play at some point.

Anyways, good problem to have. Look at Vancouver last year, they were carrying 8 D men for a lot of the season. Injuries happen, bodies get banged up, so on. Just really hope they don't trade Lee because after Gonchar is gone they don't really have anyone to play the right side who plays a shutdown role. (yes Gonhcar actually plays that role a lot of nights).

Dash wrote:

NEELY wrote:Really impressed and liking Brian Lee right now as well. In all honesty, at this point I think it might be pretty dumb to trade him. He's a legit NHLer at this point and blueline depth is what every team kills for. Ottawa has that depth. There were a few plays last night he made and you were forced to say "that's how a pro does it". Couple break out passes, could plays along the boards, just a solid, solid game. Simple and solid.

I think Carkner is in tough to get back into that lineup, hell, I think Rundblad is in tough now as well. As much as I think the AHL is a step backwards for Rundblad he will actually have to play at some point.

Anyways, good problem to have. Look at Vancouver last year, they were carrying 8 D men for a lot of the season. Injuries happen, bodies get banged up, so on. Just really hope they don't trade Lee because after Gonchar is gone they don't really have anyone to play the right side who plays a shutdown role. (yes Gonhcar actually plays that role a lot of nights).

that's what I have been saying and you said he was worthless and nobody would want him. At least you changed your mind when presented with evidence.

tim1_2 wrote:

shabbs wrote:

NEELY wrote:

shabbs wrote:Yeah, strange tail end to this trip. Lots of days in between Van and Pitt. But that will be good coming back from the Western travel.

You can almost gaurantee Auld starts on Sunday. Can't leave him out too long. Also, it's his former team.

Good point... or maybe save him for Carolina... but that is a ways away...

I would kinda doubt we see Auld on Sunday. Anderson's been playing pretty well and the team's been winning. MacStache has shown he doesn't really like to mess with success (see: Rundblad, David). Plus we'll need all the goaltending we can get against the Sedin sisters.

NEELY wrote:
You can't have your backup on the bench for a month straight. There is less pressure on the road, they have a huge break after this, and Anderson has played a ton in the last month. This would give Anderson over a weeks rest. For a guy on pace to play over 70 games, getting 7 days of off time could be huge come MArch and April when they are pushing for that spot.

Sunday, away, after going 3-1 on the road is the perfect time to start Auld.

tim1_2 wrote:

NEELY wrote:
You can't have your backup on the bench for a month straight. There is less pressure on the road, they have a huge break after this, and Anderson has played a ton in the last month. This would give Anderson over a weeks rest. For a guy on pace to play over 70 games, getting 7 days of off time could be huge come MArch and April when they are pushing for that spot.

Sunday, away, after going 3-1 on the road is the perfect time to start Auld.

You can have your backup on the bench for as long as you want. He's a backup. When a goalie is playing well, coaches tend to keep them playing. These games aren't back-to-back either. I would expect to see Anderson in net on Sunday, as he gives us the best chance of winning. Especially since they have another few days before they play Pittsburgh.

Dash wrote:Does it have anything to do with Vancouver being Auld's former team?

tim1_2 wrote:Auld's a pro and knows how to handle the backup role. He can sit on the bench Sunday. Why would you use your backup against the toughest Western Canada team when you just played the two weaker ones, especially when you get a bunch of days off afterwards, so it's not like Anderson won't be getting rested anyways.

Let's place money on this.