travel_dude
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Everything posted by travel_dude
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No point in arguing about it. Was just saying that we played a good game with some issues. Regardless of the reason for the shots, the number is concerning. You give a team like Toronto that many and you will be fighting for your life. They lost Arviidson for the 1st period, and he's one of their best players. Smith was good to great. No doubt there. I just don't want to have him to work that much in one game.
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The Flames never shut down offence. The 5v3 call started in the O-zone. I watch the game more than the stats. Score effects only occur when you shut down offence. If 43 shots is a great defensive game, then I hate to see a bad one. That's not to say they didn't play well in their zone. Not a perfect game, but I will take it. The PK and PP stood out. That is as important as Smith stopping 43. Gotta score to win.
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Let's not read too much into a win. 43 shots is not a great defensive game. 29 chances to 15 is not a decisive victory. Props to Smith. Score a goal and he shuts the door. Get a 2nd goal and he keeps them from getting one back. The 3rd one was too hard to come back from without a quick goal coming back. We saw that so much last year. On the wrong side of the ice.
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I have rarely seen McDavid play 8 minutes in a game where he wasn't the best player on his team. It happens, but not often. He's played with Lucic and makes Lucic look like an anchor.
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A somewhat broken Monahan still put up 31 goals last year. He scores because he has a sneaky good shot and a nose for loose pucks. Having a Gaudreau spot you in the clear is the result of being in the clear. Much like Lindholm was. All Bennett has to do is follow those examples. Have we seen that kind of game yet from Bennett? Can't say for sure. Seeing as Dube has decent vision, Bennett needs to get open. He needs to be near enough to the net to dig pucks free. He needs to be setting up Neal for heavy shots and head to the net. Just saying what I think he needs to do. I have no idea if his performance to date is related to lack of vision or bad luck or trying to play the same level as his linemates.
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I have no issue with moving Tkachuk to another line, as long as he's still getting 15+ minutes per game, including PP. Play him with Neal and Dube. In theory, Tkachuk will help that pair control more of the play. We could move Bennett to play with Backlund and Czarnik, as long as we reduce the ice time to about 15 minutes max. Everybody wins, except Janko. With Frolik-Janko-Ryan, we potentially have a decent defensive line. First things first. He need to continue his stong play in whatever minutes he gets tonight. The Dube-Ryan-Neal line had real trouble last game. He needs to help them control more of the play. And he needs to be able to feed Neal and finish from Dube. Do it for one game, and he will earn his ice time.
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I remember one like that. Some of the others were 5-hole and glove side high. 2 for sure were overplaying one side, which resulted in a tap in. Not being super critical. He needs to get his mojo back. 3rd period Smith seemed fine. Hope that is the norm and not the aberation.
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There is still some question about him being tired out from the China trip. Maybe so, but he's only faced 42 shots in two games. He's seen every one of them. Based on last season, they both played against Nashville. Smith got the first win in Nashville with a good SA% and GAA, but lost at home with a decent SA% and GAA. Rittich won in Nashville after Smith was injured, albeit 3 GAA and a .907 SA%. I'm more inclined to play Rittich now, because if Smith didn't win tonight there would be bigger pressure for Rittich against STL. As well, the team needs to tighten up on defense and I have seen Smith play loosey-goosey with the puck, which is messing up some of the breakouts. What good is a 100 foot pass from the goalie if it results in an icing or immediate loss of possession.
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His rookie year.... Having some trouble remembering that. Was it the year he played wing to Granlund, then played center? In 15/16 he only took 347 faceoffs. Granlund was traded in February. Also, did he play with Backlund and Frolik that same year or did that happen the previous playoffs only? Back to this year. Him getting time with Dube and Neal does show some trust in him, given his play in the first two games. He absolutely needs to show that he belongs there. It may not happen in one game, but you need to see some signs. Scoring chances, shots, etc. We've seen the defensive game.
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I tend towards the same thoughts. If Rittich wins, you have Smith's performance on Thursday to determine the Saturday starter. It has to be Rittich early and often if we are going to play Smith only 50 games. And I really need to see 3rd period Smith play, as opposed to the other 5 periods Smith to have more confidence in him. The state of goaltending so far this fall hasn't inspired a lot of confidence. Smith letting in 8. Rittich only looked good to end pre-season. Gillies and Parson really struggled in the opening games. The only solace I can find is that defensive play league wide has been shaky. Perhaps it's goaltending? BOS getting lit up. Helle, MAF and Andersen giving up a bunch of goals.
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Those ex TSN guys can only focus on one player per team. It's all their little stats brains can handle. Randorf should go back to Olympics, where his droning voice would fill the void. Cross Country Skiing commentary. Or curling.
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Not complaining about getting the backup, just about the coach not really having much say other than both will play this week. Do you have an opinion about who should play either game? I would lean towards playing Rittich against Nashville. Have a fresh team. Give Smith the extra rest. Winner gets the COL game. I suppose the other theory is that Smith is just figuring it out, so get him playing fresh. No wonder Sigalet keeps flip flopping on the starter.
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By the sounds of BP, he doesn;t know who is going to start when. He's waiting for Sigalet to tell him.
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Maybe you can just set your TV to ignore the ignoramous Randorf. So hard to listen to that crap. You would think the only player on the ice was Pettersen. Okay, he was the only player for VAN, but some on dude, Wonder if we get Ball/DeBrusk or one of the old TSN guys.
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In two game we have score 9 goals. Sure it was against Vancouver, but when was the last time we were able to say that?
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Steinberg does it that way for some reason. Wills said it was Frolik-Ryan-Hathaway, which makes more sense. I see no need to dress Peluso unless we are playing Anaheim or some other dirty team. Even then, I would only play him 5 minutes. In other words, it makes little sense.
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And those are fair decisions. Though Janko was okay, but his faceoff record wasn't. Bennett has outplayed Ryan in at least one game. This could work. Let's see how long they give it a try.
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I don't think BP will look at past performances. If he did, it would be Rittich for both. STL has been firing a lot of pucks. NSH not as many. At this point, it's hard to tell who is the best choice. Smith may the best choice since he started ti figure it out on Saturday. On the other hand, he needs to get used to playing only 2/3 games.
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I agree and think that we've actually controlled both games. I rag on Prout for being the choice in a 5-3, but it really didn;t matter. A goal was bound to be scored with a goalie playing iffy. Playing flat-footed will make your defense look worse than it it is. The Pettersen goal caught Prout looking. I will say this. Having a rookie in two games and Stone playing as a 3/4 and Prout as a 6, we still did well to control the play. Valimaki is already looking like he will stay the year. Seeing as we gave up Kulak, there is probably no choice right now short of a trade/waiver pickup. Andersson should get the start this week. That should help stabilize the D against a bunch of good teams. Would prefer they pair him with Hanifin to spread out the rookies.
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I choose to express an opinion when I see fit, regardless of the poster. Agree or disagree. It really doesn't matter. We're all adults here. The sample size is what it is. 243 NHL games. If he's been better than Dube or Tkachuk or Neal or Czarnik, then he absolutely should be played with better players.
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I don;t think their decisions about Bennett have anything to do with believing or not believing in him. The sample size is large and he should be the best player on his line regardless of who he plays with. That is assuming he is that player. Play Gaudreau on any line and he is the best player. Bennett needs to show that bring it every shift. He's not a rookie. He knows what to do. He simply has to play better than Dube to move up.
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In 2 games Smith has given up 8 goals on 42 shots. Last year, he gave up 8 in 160 shots over 4 games. 21 shots per game versus 40 shots per game average? Sounds like better defense.
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I'm waiting for him to get scoring chances. You know, I think they might do well to swap Dube and Bennett. Not because Dube is playing bad, just that we should have another C on that line besides Dube. See if there is any chemistry between Bennett, Ryan and Neal. Dube and Janko with Frolik? Why not.
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It wasn't a shot against AL. I'm just saying that I don't think he is going to pass Moanahn or Backlund for that matter.
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I don't think he will ever become more than that. Okay, maybe the points, since he has passed that every year. I just don't see the skills oozing out, ready to break out. Hard work, yes. But what do I know.
