Playoffs coming, and the board's national passtime is making line combinations. So I hereby kick off the official lets make our line proposals for the Bruins thread.
There are going to be some tough decisions and this assumes Bouillon and Sergei are ready to go.
If Bouillon is not, Dandenault should go in his place. If Sergei is not, I'd dress Laraque on the 4th line and maybe swap Andrei and Higgins. Then play the 4th line for all of three-four minutes.
I think Weber is necessary until Markov returns and I'd rather see him as a defenseman. I also think Sergei should check back in if he can, just because of the spunk he showed last season. If he floats at all, put him in and throw Laraque or Dandenault into the lineup.
tanguay koivu kovalev
kostitsyn plekanec kostitsyn
higgins lapierre latendresse (wont happen though)
kostopoulos metropolit laraque (laraque can be effective if he plays like he did vs penguins by controlling the puck down low)
no more brisebois or obyrne ever please!, insert bouillon if needed and when ready!
replace sergei with dago if sergei aint ready, but even if sergei is ready, i think gainey will go with dago first and alternate between the 2 within the series
I wouldn't mind Sergei instead of D'Agostini if he's ready to play.
If Brisebois sucks, I'd move Dandenault back to D and insert Laraque, but I'd double shift Kovy/Tanguay to make sure Laraque doesn't play when it's not needed.
Is SKost healthy enough to play? He was effective against the Bruins last year in the playoffs
Is Laraque in? Do we need Laraque to control the Bruins physical game?
Is Markov healthy enough to come back sometime during the series?
With Markov out, pick 2: Brisebois, Weber, Dandenault, O'Byrne.
Weber in my mind is a given because of his powerplay assets, or O'Byrne for his "physical presence", Brisebois for the powerplay and veteran experience, or Dandenault for his reliable defense and heart.
What is Higgins' role? An offensive forward playing on the 2nd line, or a shutdown 4th liner and PK specialist.
When Bouillon is ready, he's in for Weber. When Markov is ready, he's in for Dandenault who then moves to the fourth line while Higgins takes D'Agostini's spot on the second line.
Why does Lats - Laps - Higs won't happen? I thought that was Gainey's original plan??
Because Lats/Laps/Kosto has been a good line...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asterix
When Bouillon is ready, he's in for Weber. When Markov is ready, he's in for Dandenault who then moves to the fourth line while Higgins takes D'Agostini's spot on the second line.
I like your defense, but I do think we have to keep Weber in until Markov is healed. Perhaps the same ones you pitched, but when Bouillon is hurt, he's in for Laraque (and Weber plays 4th line).
I like your defense, but I do think we have to keep Weber in until Markov is healed. Perhaps the same ones you pitched, but when Bouillon is hurt, he's in for Laraque (and Weber plays 4th line).
Laraque stays in MY line-up the entire series against Boston. They won't take liberties if I do the line-up.
I perfer experience at the back end so I'd rather keep Dandenault there, even if it means trying it on the second PP unit.
First line
Andre - Pleks - Sergei
Higgins - Lapierre - Latendresse
Stewart - Metroplit - Laraque
Double shift Kovalev and Andrei/Tanguay
Kostopolous is expendable in this series, I think Stewart has better hands and definitely is a better fighter/lays better hits. Unfortunately I know that he won't get scratched though.
When Metropolit plays with Laraque and Stewart you can tell that he plays bigger, and Laraque played a hell of a game against Pittsburgh...he really wanted that goal. Didn't look like a liability at all.
First line
Andre - Pleks - Sergei
Higgins - Lapierre - Latendresse
Stewart - Metroplit - Laraque
Double shift Kovalev and Andrei/Tanguay
Kostopolous is expendable in this series, I think Stewart has better hands and definitely is a better fighter/lays better hits. Unfortunately I know that he won't get scratched though.
When Metropolit plays with Laraque and Stewart you can tell that he plays bigger, and Laraque played a hell of a game against Pittsburgh...he really wanted that goal. Didn't look like a liability at all.
Kostopoulos was one of our best players last year in the playoffs, he's definitely not expendable.
I can't believe people want Laraque in the lineup on the road.. his lack of foot speed will severly hurt the club. At home? Fine. On the road? No thanks!
