travel_dude

One thing I am liking is the fact that Huberdeau and Pelletier have a bod between them. Young potential star and vet star. They seem to have real chemistry on the ice as well. Just a shame that Kadri is the one picked to be their C. I like Kadri, but don't think he matches up with two cerebral players. Kadri is more of a pass to me I shoot or I pass to you and you shoot player. While it would be tough to break up the top line, I would like to see if Kadri with Dube and Toffoli could be a thing. Kadri would certainly get more assists that way. Pelletier-Lindholm-Huberdeau Dube-Kadri-Toffoli Mange-Backs-Coleman Ruzicka-Lewis-Duehr Essentially you are making minor changes to the lineup. Swapping C's between 1st and 2nd lines. Swapping Lucic with Ruzicka. Lucic is only ever effective in one zone, and that's if the other two are hard on the forecheck. Ruzicka adds speed and D zone awareness. He hasn't looked good when Lucic is on his line. His best games were with Lindholm or Backlund (very limited IIRC). But Lucic only ever has a good game every 5-6 games at most.

Dube has the best shooting % on the team. Please pass it to him more and please take more shots.

The next 4 games in advance of the TDL. Anything less than 3 of 4 and there is no point in trying to scrape together a strong finish to the season. While they are not direct competition for a WC spot, failure to win suggests we can't win a series against that level of team.

Considering the low shot volume by the Yotes, I would consider starting Vladdy against the VGK. I don't know. Markstrom is 50/50. 50% chance to steal the win if we score 4. 50% chance to let in 3 and we score 2 or less.

I would say that one goal was a bad play at the blueline (Tanev to Lewis) and Tanev knicks it in. First goal was a PP and Vladar had little chance. He was too deep, but you have to cover the near post. The 3rd goal was not a great one. Tough shot, but he fanned on the save. The games like this are tough on the goalie. 3 shots in the first. Faces a PP early the next period. The other goalie gets a lot of touches early and gets a feel for it. Sort of the problem with dominating but not getting goals. I will take the win, but need to see more from the Hubey line at 5v5.

Maybe. Tonight was all about load management. Kept the ice times similar up and down the lineup. I hope. I won't get too excited about beating a basement team. Tomorrow is the one we need more than anything. And a two game winning streak is something.

The Yoots look good. Sit the vets Except Backs

Ritchie is injured I believe. If only we had another young forward to play on that 4th line with Duehr.

Duehr, the Do er

Pelts wirh a PP goal. Nice

Really missing Gaudreau on entries. We are useless doing it

I was checking the ice times. Most minutes of forwards to lowest minutes, the difference is less than 2 minutes. An example Hiberdeau - 9:57 Lucic - 9:23

Yikes, did they put Markstrom in a Vladar jersey? The reaction on the 3rd goal looked like textbook Markstrom.

On a separate note, how good would Paddy Kane look here. That's the type of game breaker we are missing. Reade the farm for him and play him with Backlund and Coleman. Sarcasm off. Really, if you had Hubey-Lindholm-Kane, you could balance the other lines. Dube-Kadri-Toffoli Mange-Backs-Coleman

I just pay attention to the in game chances and how they appear. I saw a lot of low quality chances. The stat about medium danger chances was an anecdote I read, so just added it. Markstrom is a star at letting those in.

I really think we would be better off trading Hanifin. For all the good things he does, he manages to make 2 dumb things.

We injure more players than we score PP goals. I think we average at least one injired opponent every game.

Getting shots vs high danger chances. We get scored on way too many medium dnager chances.

Like every time a goalie decision is made, we end up having a lot of goals against. Vladar was on a huge run, then sat for games. Hasn't been good since getting starts again. MArkstrom gets a win, gets the next start and loses. Insert Vladar, he loses. Go back to Markstrom he wins one loses one. Back to Vladar.

The on ice product is almost unwatchable. I don;t know if the coach said something or the team gave up on the game plan, but they finally decided to score.

Lind-dog

Spend less time defending him and actually watching the line changes.

I missed the loss at the O zone blueline. Maybe Weegar, but he was in a bad spot there

Smart move putting out the 4th line at the end of the PP. Tanev scores!

Some decent looks by the 2nd unit.