Davis Drewiske will skate as the fourth-line left winger — as he did once or twice last season — tonight against Detroit. Terry Murray said he didn’t want to take Peter Harrold out of the lineup, liked the versatility of having a seventh defenseman and didn’t see the need for a “heavyweight” against Detroit, so Drewiske will replace Kevin Westgarth in the lineup. Brad Richardson will center the line and John Zeiler will play right wing.
The other lines and pairs are expected to be the same as in the previous game. More notes and quotes from the skate to come…
I hope this 4th line works….Drewiske really he can play an effective forward role?? wow, if this is the case………..
gkg
[Reply]
jayhay Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:00 am
@Harty, the wingers w/ pep in their step will get the ice time on the 4th. i can imagine DD2 gets maybe 2 or 3 shifts there.
[Reply]
Jamer Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
@Harty, OH GOOD GRIEF. What will TM try next? How about the back up goalie! Stupid Stupid and more Stupid!
[Reply]
I think its a good move. Harrold played great the other night. And although I’m not a fan of Zeiler, he is a shot of adrenaline the kings need now. No need for wesgarth tonight, clifford can beat up on someone if needed. Tonight will be a big test.
[Reply]
Brayden Schenn, calling Brayden Schenn….
the 7th D is prolly not a bad idea. and DET is one of the teams were it is absolutely not necessary to dress an enforcer.
[Reply]
MR King Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:58 am
@jayhay,
You do bring up an interesting point. TM would rather juggle D-men to the front line instead of keeping Schenn up? Well, alright. He’s the coach I guess.
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
@MR King,
Keep in mind that Poni is back within the week. That takes a forward spot away.
[Reply]
kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
@MR King,
Some people already forgot it wasn’t TM’s idea to send down Schenn. That was all management’s decision
[Reply]
cjms Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
@jayhay, By decision of management, Schenn can only play center, and he’s not an NHL center right now.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@jayhay,
Forget Schenn, he is not ready “enough” to be worth burning a year of his contract. And what happens to Schenn the Center when “wing we are waiting for” arrives?
[Reply]
OneTimer Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@USHA#17,
Agree 100%. Are we some of the small few on here that actually doesn’t think Schenn is quite ready yet? (given his massive upside that is.) Almost- but not enough to burn a year (again- given his massive longterm potential.)
[Reply]
I don’t see a need for Westgarth at all. That is unless John Scott’s fist needs to get pummeled by Westie’s face again.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:09 am
@Jerry Mitchell, Making fun of whoever Scott beats up is like making fun of any defenseman that is beat by Stamkos or Crosby.
[Reply]
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:28 am
@KC23,
Westgarth just cant fight.
Said it from day 1.
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KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@raitis, Try and tell that to David Koci.
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:46 am
@KC23,
Koci is washed up.
who else has westgarth beaten?
Matt Martin? LOL.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:52 am
@raitis, who else has beaten westgarth?
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:56 am
@KC23,
Kenopka,Neil,Scott,Mitch Fritz,Mirasty,Brandon Sugden… list goes on.
[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@raitis,
Hahah ^^
Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
@raitis,
I agree action.
Winning doesnt have much to do with it. Of-course its nice, but , just the fact of dropping the gloves, brings a spark to all the players. Someone goes out, willing to take some hits, and lose ice time for the team.
Good stuff.
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
@raitis,
Odd, it appears my post defending Westgarth has been deleted. I’d like to know what I wrote that was inappropriate, if for no other reason that I don’t offend again. Whatever it was, it certainly was unintentional.
Belexes Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
@raitis,
This list, as well as your assertions, are innacurate.
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
@Belexes,
which player is wrong that beat him?
Belexes Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
@raitis,
Westgarth beating Fritz
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/86125
Westgarth beating Sugden
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/62848
2 wins by Westy off of your list. No fighter will win them all, so why do you try to focus only on the losses?
Should I post Boogaard (HW Champ) getting KO’d by Godard, or his face busted by DJ King?
They all lose some, that can’t be avoided. Westy can hang with any of them, and in fact has.
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
@Belexes,
I wouldnt say Sugden lost that fight.
and heres another of that
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/87014
Fritz
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/86880
And if you read what he said,
“who else has beaten westgarth?”
i posted who has beaten him.
USHA#17 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
@Jerry Mitchell,
Perhaps you missed several scenes where opposing players have turned away from fights when they see Westgarth is on the ice.
[Reply]
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
@Belexes,
And how is boogaard the HW champ?
[Reply]
Belexes Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
@raitis,
New to the NHL?
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wings are for dinner we are gonna chew em up and leave a pile of bones when we are done!!
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What if this move, somehow makes Drewiski become a 50 goal scorer, and is the missing LW we’ve needed this whole time….
kk, ill put down the bong, sorry guys
[Reply]
nofreight Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:22 am
@lafan13, scoring king scuderi is just waiting to come alive
[Reply]
jamesonafterawin Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:48 am
@lafan13, No, pass it this way. I’m positive about the game tonight. But it is the Red Fings. And they can just flat out play.
I watched must of their game last night.
And the few mistakes the Dorks made, they capitolized on.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
@lafan13,
Then Drewiski will find himself on the “must sign to an extension” page of my playbook after having been removed from the “must trade” page of my playbook.
Got a light?
[Reply]
Can’t wait for Pony and Mitchell to come back! So tired of this constant line experimenting with players off their natural positions; it’s not working!
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So weird! Drewiske at winger is just a weird thought!
Drew can play wing! atleast he used to be a forward!
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:53 am
@Michael_DD8, Would of rather seen JJ go to LW or anywhere else for that matter.
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Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
@KC23,
Yeah im not serious at all , at actually moving DREW to LW. In the end, he is one of the best defensemen in the league. It would be fun to watch jack play LW. It really would. I try to think about a negative in him playing LW, and the only thing is, we need him as a ” puck moving ” defense-man. TECHNICALLY..Drew and him are our only 2. Harrold aint to shabby. Its a huge change, we will never see it.
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JJ 2 LW Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
@KC23, excatly! JJ2LW! it’s gonna happen eventually, just wait and see.
[Reply]
This is good coaching?
Westgarth has begun to PLAY well and now he sits?
I’m baffled.
How about JJ on wing. That actually makes some sense.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@Cristobal,
Read the quote: “Murray said he didn’t want to take Peter Harrold out of the lineup, liked the versatility of having a seventh defenseman…”
It’s about having a seventh defenseman, not about the fourth line (which will not play much at all).
[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:40 am
@Michael J.,
Exactly.
[Reply]
socalkings Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:52 am
@Cristobal, I have never liked or agreed with most, if not all, of your posts on this blog.
With that being stated, I want to thank you for making me think about TM’s line-up change, and the sense behind it.
[Reply]
JJ 2 LW Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
@Cristobal, this is what i’ve been sayin’
JJ 2 LW! He could be the spark the 1st line needs!
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This is a measuring game…..
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Michael J. Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
@neil, Yikes!
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Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
@Michael J.,
YO! TM DONT MEASURE!
haha
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I never understood this type of reasoning. If the opposing team does not dress an enforcer, this should give the Kings an incentive to play westgarth. Westgarth will have free reign out there, he can bother the skilled players, mess with the goalie, etc… How about forcing the wings to dress an enforcer rather than the wings forcing the kings to not dress an enforcer??
Plus, it’s not Drewiski is an effective winger. He can’t skate, score, fight, etc. Taking out westgarth when he’s playing well just doesnt make sense.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:57 am
@theKingsNeedTogettoughanddropthegloves, What, in affect, your suggesting is giving perhaps the best team in the NHL more time on the PP as well as more time against the King’s slowest skater on the roster.
[Reply]
Goring 19 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
@KC23, the way the Wings pass the puck to their open men and open up seams is positively frightening. I wouldn’t want to give them any gifts at all.
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
@theKingsNeedTogettoughanddropthegloves,
Reasons Westy should not play:
1. Westy can’t keep up with the linesmen, forget about the Wings.
2. The Wings provide no dance partners.
3. He might only play 3 shifts if he did dress (all in the first 30 minutes).
4. DD2 gives the Kings more versatility and an extra defenseman for the PK.
5. The Kings are stronger with DD2.
[Reply]
THEROCKNROLL80S Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
@Michael J., Westgarth is a better player than you think. He just doesn’t get the time to show it. That goes for the rest of the fourth line guys on every NHL team!
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S,
I’d trust Westgarth over Ivanans any day of the week.
That being said, I agree with the healthy scratch tonight. Detroit is one of those teams that will run up the score when someone tries to goon it up with them.
Michael J. Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S,
Although I do agree that he seems more effective on the ice than Ivanans, I think he would have real trouble keeping up with the Wings.
kngfan004 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S,
except for the fourth line of the Wings…their 4th line is as good as most 2nd lines in the NHL…
obviously there is no need for a HW versus the wimpiest team in the league for 5+ years. but having drewiskie play forward is just a heads up that the lines arent gonna last more than 10mins tonight.
murray is gonna be spinning his wheel of wonder all night trying to get 3 forwards on the ice at the same time that will score.
off of a win and hoping they win tonight of course but still hollerin’; fire murray!
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
@nickdoh,
Do you honestly believe that 29 other coaches roll 4 identical lines all game long? There’s a reason you never hear calls for Murray’s head outside of these comments you know…..
[Reply]
Nyck Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
@Action, no, but the 29 other coaches seem to understand that when your flip flop flappin all four lines CONSTANTLY, nobody gets a chance to generate any chemistry, or rhythm. Last I checked, our offense has had NONE of that. To attribute it to Murray’s constantly tinkerings, left wing moving to right, defensive d-men moving to wing etc.; isn’t the most bizarre observation. I always supported TM, love his defensive schemes, but he’s been making some poor decisions lately, whether we like it or not.
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@Nyck,
I’m not asking you to agree with everything he does, but I would like to ask you a question: Would you think it would be a sound hockey decision to fire Murray and his staff today and bring someone else in? Do you think that would benefit the Kings this season and in the foreseeable future?
nickdoh Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
@Action,
hockey is the one sport you survive the midseason coaching change.
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
@nickdoh,
Mr Scott Gordon would be inclined to disagree with you
No disrespect, I just think TM gets a lot of undeserved hate around here.
nickdoh Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@Action
its the one sport you CAN survive the change, not always* haha
but yes, i can see how people who dont see murray as problem would see this as harsh. but i lost a lot of confidence in him last year, and seeing the same patterns happen again has me clamoring for the emergency exits.
nickdoh Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
@Action,
it starts here in these comments. but it wont just stay here.
[Reply]
Looking forward to the game. It was interesting to watch a bunch of 35 year olds throw a beat down on the quacks last night. I guess experience does mean something.
It’s also interesting to note this is only the second time this season the Deadwings have played back to back games on their schedule. Doubt if it will make a difference but hopefully they’re all sore from last night.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
@Goring 19, Only thing sore is the finger on the guy pushing the ducks red goal light button.
[Reply]
rontheking Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
@KC23,
LOL. no doubt….
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
@KC23,
Nice.
[Reply]
Ugh.
Moves like this are the reason why West Coast franchises need the AHL to expand nationwide.
[Reply]
THEROCKNROLL80S Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Have the Kings given up on Moeller?
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@THEROCKNROLL80S, Nah, he’s just coming off an injury, but he is doing pretty well.
[Reply]
Marc Nathan Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
@KC23, sorry, your reply isn’t really the answer to the question…
THEROCKNROLL80S Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
@KC23, thank you for updating his status. I wonder if the Kings have given up on him being a valuable member of their team going forward.
kngfan004 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
@Greg,
Trade Moller…he is to far down the depth chart to make this club. Package him for the Left Wing everyone is crying about.
[Reply]
Fourth line will not see much ice time against the Wings and Drewiskie helps if they get into PK trouble as Harold does not have the size to take out those big forwards in front of the net on a PK. I would bet money on Drewiskie being on the second D pair on the kill.
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Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@DavHalt,
Makes sense to me.
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Forbort playing now on NHL network
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Still can’t believe in 3 weeks, a lot of you have gone from “we’re gonna win the cup”, to “FIRE MURRAY!” Again, we are not that bad off. We’ve gone through a hideous patch there but so does every team throughout the season. It will turn out ok once we get our injured guys back and get us a decent LW. Have faith in your team people!
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@Jadedtool,
People don’t understand that there are ebbs and flows in a season. If it was up to most of the visitors around here, Quick would have been exiled dozens of times over the summer….and now his name is brought up in Vezina conversations.
[Reply]
Heck, why not put Bailey the Cat on the fourth line? He’d probably do an admirable job. What a joke this coaching staff (TM) is…
[Reply]
THEROCKNROLL80S Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@Rainman, true.
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Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@Rainman,
Yeah, I mean, listen to all the hockey analysts calling for Murray’s head. None of the other teams in the NHL tinker with lines….. I mean Brent Sutter put 5 D-men out for a powerplay for God’s sake! Guys like you would crap a brick if that ever happened here.
I don’t think it’s the coaching staff that’s the joke sir….it might be some of the keyboarders that think they know more than men who have the respect of his NHL peers.
[Reply]
Rainman Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
@Action,
Putting five defensemen on a PP in the third period of a 7-2 loss hardly qualifies as an adequate comparison:
Coach Brent Sutter used five defensemen on the power play in the third period on Wednesday.
It happened in the last 30 seconds with the man-advantage with the score 5-2 as Sutter used Jay Bouwmeester, Cory Sarich, Brendan Mikkelson, Robyn Regehr and Anton Babchuk. “Well, our power play – we weren’t doing anything on it,” Sutter said. “I didn’t think our forwards were working very hard on it. The first unit went out there . . . they never spent any time in the offensive zone whatsoever, so I thought I’d give the defensemen an opportunity to play on it. That was why I did it. They don’t get that chance very often, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ ” Well, at least they did not give up a shorthanded goal.
Source: Calgary Herald
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
@Rainman,
I’m not trying to say Sutter is an idiot for doing that, because any time you’re watching your team fall apart (that was a one goal game heading into the 3rd) I would imagine you must be frustrated as a coach.
I’m just trying to say that it’s stupid to call the Kings’ coaching staff a joke because you don’t like the line-up changes (of all things, it’s the changing of a line that gets about 7 mins a night that seems to be bothering you most). There are plenty of things going on behind that bench that guys like us aren’t privy to, and I think we need to understand that we probably don’t have all the information to call for someone’s job. At the very least, not in the Kings’ present situation.
Kolvachuk gets a goal!!! Now up to a whooping FIVE GOALS in 26 games. At this pace he may brake 10 goals. See what 100million can buy you.
ps (but is still -2 in the game)
pss Only James Wisniewski of the Islanders has a worse plus/minus in the entire NHL.
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
@KC23,
Poor Wiz. Anyone would have a terrible +/- rating playing 24 mins a night for that roster.
[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
@Action,
Is it bad, that i feel bad? He looks so depressed its ridiculous haha.
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@Michael_DD8,
No, I don’t think it’s bad haha
When I listen to the NHL shows on XM they always play a clip of Wiz saying how happy he is to be on the Island and how they’re heading in the right direction and whatnot, and I can’t help but think that he’s just trying to be a good soldier. It’s tough not to respect that kind of player.
USHA#17 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
@KC23,
Yeah, he has Frolov nipping on his heals.
[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
@USHA#17,
Yeah..In the end, Kovalshmuck is good…really good. His teammates aren’t helping much.
[Reply]
raitis Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
@KC23,
he finished with a -3, ouch.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
@raitis, Wow he is now only another -3 game away from being the worst plus/minus player in the entire NHL.
I keep thinking about his speech about how happy he is to finally be playing for a winner. Too funny.
[Reply]
I like Drewiske, but this is absurd.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
@Marc Nathan,
Just when DD2 was starting to think he was pretty good no less then Harrold steps up to bump him after sitting for weeks.
Some of these guys have to have pretty strong egos to survive in this game.
One thing for sure, TM has come up with some screwy ideas last season that seemed to work out pretty well.
[Reply]
Since Coach Murray is not opposed to bringing D-men up to play wing, I’d like to see Jack Johnson get a chance to play a more offensive roll for a game or 2. It’s understood his value is moving the puck out of the defensive zone but why not see what he can do in the corners and driving to the net?
[Reply]
@socalkings
it’s ok if you don’t like my opinions/posts. If I sound like I’m condemning TM, I don’t mean to. I just don’t like SOME of his tactics. I don’t see, and have rarely seen, a need for 7 defensemen. We’ve drafted defense for 5 years. Don’t we have reliable defensemen yet? I can remember, off hand, only 1 time we actually needed to use a 7th defenseman. I don’t like Haarold on the wing (I do like him on defense), and I don’t see Drewiske on wing as a necessity.
We just sent Schenn back to JR.s and now we’re dressing a dman at wing. It just seems backwards.
TM has made this team a very (usually) solid defensive group. We needed that. But, the NHL also rewards offensive production now. There simply hasn’t been a super-defensive team win the cup since the mid-90′s Devils. TM must realize that, right?
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@Cristobal,
The better defensive teams win the cup year after year.
[Reply]
@action
Sitter and the Calgary hierarchy SHOULD be out of a job/s.
I’ve got no dog in that fight, but it’s quite obvious.
[Reply]
Action Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
@Cristobal,
I would be inclined to agree, but I think the problem is deeper than just Sutter(s). It needs to be blown up.
Oddly enough, I thought Darryl Sutter was a hell of a coach….but I’m not a fan of his as a GM.
[Reply]
Drewiske? I would have expected something like this more likely with Johnson.
[Reply]
Saltcrust Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, 2nd that call… Simple Jack could be a good LW
[Reply]
@usha#17
defensively capable teams, yes. No unbalanced teams win. But look at the list over the past 15 years or so. No Lemaire teams, no Terry Murray teams, no defensive powerhouse that has trouble offensively has done it.
Detroit
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Tampa
Anaheim
New Jersey (very effective offensively)
Colorado
etc…
[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
@Cristobal,
Detroit, puck control team – GREAT DEFENSE
Chicago, Puck control team – GREAT DEFENSE
Pittsburgh, Gill, Scuderi , just some of there 2 major top shutdown defense that were shipped. They had great D. Not to mention Fluery.
All those teams had great defense. Anaheim with Giggy and Neid’s, pronger.
[Reply]
Davis Drewiske on the wing? Ok, the scrambling is getting WAY out of hand.
[Reply]
it shows that coach thinks Harold is better then DD on D or he would have Harold playing forward….and we have alots of quality depth.thats why we now have two players switching between D and O….
[Reply]
I think the real defense discussion is still JJ. mngmt needs to figure it out quick and its a tough one — trade him and he wakes up and becomes a super star. in the meantime, he is horrible out there .. on the ice for the the first 2 goals again on thursday.. and running in circles.. who remembers larry murphy’s time with the kings? booed every other night for being the same kind of defenseman .. rushing the puck and getting caught up-ice and then making bad decisions..they we got rid of him for engblom
[Reply]
How is DD2 going to play offense? I don’t get it
[Reply]
rick Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@OCKingsFan, Poorly.
[Reply]
@Micheal_DD8
WE are not a puck possession team and TM has never been a Possession guy. Yes, a great offense is the best defense, but that is an entirely different strategy than we employ.
If we prioritized Puck possession we would never have let Frolov go.
A great offense is a great defensive tactic, but it’s not building aroud defense. TM, like Lemaire, builds from defense.
I never said any of these teams sucked at defending, just that they are not built upon defending.
That’s why I point out that the last team to win that way was NJ in the mid 90′s.
[Reply]
i think you’ll see the 4th line get a few shifts but as the game gets deeper TM will double shift someone with Zeiler/Richardson and will go with Harrold if they are behind and maybe Drewiske sees some time on D if they are ahead.
no game until next Thursday so some of the forwards can play a little more tonight.
[Reply]