Game Night - Ottawa @ Tampa Bay - 7:30 Start

LeKid wrote:Also:
Gonchar, 21min, -3
Philips, 20min, -3
Karlsson, 27min, +1
Methot, 26min, 0

We better get another top4D looks like this season is gonna kill the oldsters

Gonchar and Philly looked crappy and slow.

It didn't help last night that Michalek took a penalty very early in the game.

Bishop looked to panic when he couldn't cover the puck... and next you knew it was in the net. He seemed rattled the rest of the game.

Next 3 games are going to be difficult to win.

Pitts
Wash - they seem to turn around a losing streak when they play the Sens.
Mtl -- Sens can't seem to win against them.

I'm really nervous for these next 3 games... It's gonna be hard to win.

I didn't understand the decision to play bishop against an offensive powerhouse like tb. He could have gone it theoretically obviously because he's a good tender, but it seems odd to have him shake off the rust vs stamkos and co.

If Anderson wasn't a former panther that would have been perfect Bishop vs panthers and Anderson last night. Whatever though, Mac knows best

SpezDispenser wrote:I didn't understand the decision to play bishop against an offensive powerhouse like tb. He could have gone it theoretically obviously because he's a good tender, but it seems odd to have him shake off the rust vs stamkos and co.

If Anderson wasn't a former panther that would have been perfect Bishop vs panthers and Anderson last night. Whatever though, Mac knows best

Tampa had next to no scoring chances, there chances came off routine shots that he fumbled or kicked out to the slot. Any team can do what they did last night against Bishop. Maybe you could have gone with Anderson sure but Bishop needed a game and Tampa made the most sense look at the games coming up.

That said, you know Murray is for sure telling MacLean that Bishop needs to play 7 games so they can keep his RFA status. This situation right now is on Murray because you know by Lehner being in Ottawa for the first week was MacLean's call, he wants Lehner in Ottawa. Murray is trying to get the most he can for him right now and is waiting it out, not sure if that's the best thing for the team... well it isn't because they are putting an inferior goaltender in the nets when Bishop plays vs Lehner.

So what if it's a push in terms of what you get back for Bishop? Is it really that important to get a 2nd and a 5th vs just a 2nd? Hell, is it really that important to get a 2nd vs a 3rd and 4th or a 3rd and 5th? As far as I can see the Bingo D men are doing just fine and if there is really a need for another D man down the line they have some picks they can use that they got for Bishop and they have all their picks next year as well.

Just get Bishop out of Ottawa and Lehner backing up Anderson, this team is on the verge of success and it's a distraction that is not needed and totally avoidable.

NEELY wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:I didn't understand the decision to play bishop against an offensive powerhouse like tb. He could have gone it theoretically obviously because he's a good tender, but it seems odd to have him shake off the rust vs stamkos and co.

If Anderson wasn't a former panther that would have been perfect Bishop vs panthers and Anderson last night. Whatever though, Mac knows best

Tampa had next to no scoring chances, there chances came off routine shots that he fumbled or kicked out to the slot. Any team can do what they did last night against Bishop. Maybe you could have gone with Anderson sure but Bishop needed a game and Tampa made the most sense look at the games coming up.

That said, you know Murray is for sure telling MacLean that Bishop needs to play 7 games so they can keep his RFA status. This situation right now is on Murray because you know by Lehner being in Ottawa for the first week was MacLean's call, he wants Lehner in Ottawa. Murray is trying to get the most he can for him right now and is waiting it out, not sure if that's the best thing for the team... well it isn't because they are putting an inferior goaltender in the nets when Bishop plays vs Lehner.

So what if it's a push in terms of what you get back for Bishop? Is it really that important to get a 2nd and a 5th vs just a 2nd? Hell, is it really that important to get a 2nd vs a 3rd and 4th or a 3rd and 5th? As far as I can see the Bingo D men are doing just fine and if there is really a need for another D man down the line they have some picks they can use that they got for Bishop and they have all their picks next year as well.

Just get Bishop out of Ottawa and Lehner backing up Anderson, this team is on the verge of success and it's a distraction that is not needed and totally avoidable.

I agree, except I'd still have rather Bishop play vs the Panthers than the Lightning.

Guys bishop had one bad game and it's probably a result of nerves and rust as well as sloppy defence. Let's take it easy on the 'ship bishop out for anything.' its not like he's a cancer in the room. I'm all in favor of letting him get his seven games and then shipping him out still trade deadline day.or even the off season for as high a pick as possible or trade him part of a bigger deal. Teams will get desperate after injuries and it's no use having him on the bench. I hope they play him against the caps or habs.

Borocop's solid and i'd expect benoit to be benched for the next game. What I'm curious to seenis if latendresse is healthy enough, who do you sit out? Cuz kdaug was brilliant

If you bench Benoit, who plays on the right side, Borowiecki or Wiercioch?

LeKid wrote:If you bench Benoit, who plays on the right side, Borowiecki or Wiercioch?

Not Benoit, so...

LeKid wrote:If you bench Benoit, who plays on the right side, Borowiecki or Wiercioch?

Whoever's more comfortable? It's a short term solution so I'm sure one of them can manage. We'll see...

On another note, is gryba a leftie or righty?

SpezDispenser wrote:

LeKid wrote:If you bench Benoit, who plays on the right side, Borowiecki or Wiercioch?

Not Benoit, so...

Exactly. Although truthfully I'd rather bench philips but that ain't happening. Wouldn't be surprised if Boro is benched again but it wouldn't be right

The fact we have one RH defenseman in the roster is already hardcore, putting 2 rookies together with one of them playing a position they are not comfortable with would put even more minutes to Philips and Gonchar which will lead to more disaster.
I say just keep rotating Wiercioch and Borowiecki. I'm not sure where's the panic, all 3 of them have been fine with 12-13 minutes a night. Just because we lost a ONE goal game back to back with shaky goaltending doesn't mean we should modify the roster.
This kind of discussion always happen after a loss though

LeKid wrote:The fact we have one RH defenseman in the roster is already hardcore, putting 2 rookies together with one of them playing a position they are not comfortable with would put even more minutes to Philips and Gonchar which will lead to more disaster.
I say just keep rotating Wiercioch and Borowiecki. I'm not sure where's the panic, all 3 of them have been fine with 12-13 minutes a night. Just because we lost a ONE goal game back to back with shaky goaltending doesn't mean we should modify the roster.
This kind of discussion always happen after a loss though

Uh...right. I guess you completely missed my point about the constant complaining of bishop.

I don't think they should play together I think the the pairings need to be shuffled, which is to say phillips should be on 3rd pairing. Benoit wasn't impressive but I'd rather have Boro in the game. It's a tough call, I wouldn't be surprised if they reverted back to weircioch subbing in for boro

I agree with you on Bishop, my point is there's no need to shuffle pairings or anything.
Aside from fatigue (back to back games in Florida, penalties in 1st period), I didn't see anything bad from last night's game aside from shaky goaltending that would make me go: I need to shuffle the D ASAP

Fair enough. Too much change could be a bad thing too. Glad I'm not the coach

Michallica wrote:

LeKid wrote:If you bench Benoit, who plays on the right side, Borowiecki or Wiercioch?

Whoever's more comfortable? It's a short term solution so I'm sure one of them can manage. We'll see...

On another note, is gryba a leftie or righty?

Righty.

sandysensfan wrote:It didn't help last night that Michalek took a penalty very early in the game.

Bishop looked to panic when he couldn't cover the puck... and next you knew it was in the net. He seemed rattled the rest of the game.

Next 3 games are going to be difficult to win.

Pitts
Wash - they seem to turn around a losing streak when they play the Sens.
Mtl -- Sens can't seem to win against them.

I'm really nervous for these next 3 games... It's gonna be hard to win.

Michalek didn't really take a penalty -- it was given to him.

They'll be fine against those three.

Agreed, we'll be ready.

I can't wait to see Karlsson against Malkin. Hopefully some Boro against Crosby too.