You also have more chances of winning Face-offs (not always true but..)
I think the home-ice center has to put his stick on the ice first or something?
Plus you can match-up the lines since the away team send their lines on the ice first.
Anyone with half a brain knows the only way we win the series is by making the Bruins play our game not by having us trying to play the Bruins way.
Agreed, but Laraque - to me - is part of that strategy.
Look at the season series. In the games he played, the big boys in Boston were meek as kittens. In the games he didn't, they took liberties.
Also, even George seems to have gotten over himself a bit. Example, Toronto when he beat Harrison. Also, if he plays like he did against the Penguins... He's the best option for that line.
Laraque ruins this line, need someone more defensive minded. Kostopoulos would be perfect if he wasn't already playing on the 3rd. Stewart would be ok (contradictory with my defensive comment, though), maybe even Pacioretty at an extent.
You get to play in your rink, in your city, in front of your fans.
Things just go right.
Last change being one of the really big things too. And in this series last change with Chara on the Kovalev line is big.
If Laraque plays how he did on Saturday I think he will be effective down low and along the boards for getting the puck out and possibly drawing penalties as well.
Gainey obviously saw something from BGL on Saturday and is giving him a chance, something Carbo wouldn't and didn't.
Agreed, but Laraque - to me - is part of that strategy.
Look at the season series. In the games he played, the big boys in Boston were meek as kittens. In the games he didn't, they took liberties.
Also, even George seems to have gotten over himself a bit. Example, Toronto when he beat Harrison. Also, if he plays like he did against the Penguins... He's the best option for that line.
BGL was dressed when Lucic wrecked Komi's shoulder.
George Laraque is a useless punk who's afraid to hit someone without asking him first... What's he's here for anyway ?!
Thornton, Fedoruk, Fristz, Gratton, Peters, May, Godard, Shelly and Rechliz all say hello! not to mention Harrison who got a world class beating + Neil, Lucic and Brashear who all refused to fight him....
Laraque is going to be useless on the road, Julien is going to be able to take advantage of his poor foot speed.
At home, I have no problem dressing Laraque. Gainey can use him when he wants and match him up where he wants, but I just don't like dressing Laraque on the road..
Unless Gainey is just going to use him 2-3 minutes, and double-shift all the wingers with Higgins & Metro.. but that's a horrible way to get the club tired in the first game of a potential 24-game Stanley Cup push.
Hopefully Sergei gets a chance, he was great in the playoffs last year.
What a difference a year makes. Sergei has been a mutt this season.
Thornton, Fedoruk, Fristz, Gratton, Peters, May, Godard, Shelly and Rechliz all say hello! not to mention Harrison who got a world class beating + Neil, Lucic and Brashear who all refused to fight him....
My concern (well, it's not really a concern, just a note really) is that Laraque will be in the line-up, the Bruins won't try to intimidate the Habs and "fans" will start mistakenly thinking that he's not needed when in reality, the reason for the Bruins' quietness will be Laraque himself.
Why? Fritz is 6'8 and Laraque sent him to the hospital, sure it didn't go so well at first, but what's your point, now he's not effective because he didn't win all of his fights?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Asterix
My concern (well, it's not really a concern, just a note really) is that Laraque will be in the line-up, the Bruins won't try to intimidate the Habs and "fans" will start mistakenly thinking that he's not needed when in reality, the reason for the Bruins' quietness will be Laraque himself.
BGL was dressed when Lucic wrecked Komi's shoulder.
I think you're wrong. Lucic wrecked Komi's shoulder in the fight they had. Laraque came back the next game between Boston & Montreal. That's when Lucic skated around protesting that mama Clude didn't want him fighting with the bigger boys.
I think you're wrong. Lucic wrecked Komi's shoulder in the fight they had. Laraque came back the next game between Boston & Montreal. That's when Lucic skated around protesting that mama Clude didn't want him fighting with the bigger boys.
A few facts from that game back in November as I recall:
Laraque was dressed for that game
Komisarek and Lucic had a history together
Komisarek CHOSE to drop the gloves against Lucic
Unfortunately, Komo injured his shoulder during that fight and couldn't throw punches and for that reason, got his ass kicked
Lucic acted like an imbecile and Laraque took notes, as we all did
the next game, Laraque shadowed Lucic who showed his true colors, crapping his pants all night instead of facing the music
Julien, seeing the bad press his young player was taking, did what any coach would do in covering for his cowardness in saying that he told him not to fight
I wouldn't expect Laraque to take a regular shift, or even dress in all games - it's all going to depend on the situation, how close a given game is, etc. Gainey can double shift someone like Higgins in Laraque's place from time to time - to make the line more defensive. He can also put Dandenault there and roll 4 D (with Weber having limited ice time) late in games. I really see this series as an opportunity for Gainey to shine as a strategist - here's hoping he can pull it off.
Again, Laraque can't play even 10 minutes and be competitive. Also, the Habs need to have more PPs than the Bruins to win this series and if Laraque is involved in anything he's never going to get the benefit of the doubt. He'll always go off with someone, or worse, alone.
