Well, if sitting at the end of the bench is rough, it will continue...Mathieu Garon is getting the start for the BJs.
Well damn... there goes that theory. Mason is far better than he's shown this year, but I'm not sorry the BJ's aren't giving him a chance to break out against the Flyers. Errr, except if Garon is considered the backup.
Modin was put on the IR retroactive to last week some time. He is eligible to come off the IR today. Picard was waived, but hadn't cleared yet. Modin was put on the IR to free up a roster spot for Methot who played because Tyutin has some injury. I think once Picard clears, Modin's spot opens up again.
So, with all that being said... Modin could be in, if he's in, my guess is that Murray sits. Now where Modin plays in the line-up is anyone's guess at this point. In general, the lines are actually starting to gel. So if Modin is back, I don't know if he just plays on the 4th line, or whether everything gets screwed up again.
The second line last night was the most productive. Brassard had his best game of the season.
We don't know what is going on with Tyutin, he did participate in the pre-game skate but didn't play. Jurcina was a scratch last night. There could be some shuffling of the defense for tonight.
Columbus Dispatch had Mason as the starter tonight.
As far as Tollefsen hitting Nash, IIRC, Tollie was the one who ran Nash into the boards during practice that caused Nash's high ankle sprain a few seasons ago.
Modin was put on the IR retroactive to last week some time. He is eligible to come off the IR today. Picard was waived, but hadn't cleared yet. Modin was put on the IR to free up a roster spot for Methot who played because Tyutin has some injury. I think once Picard clears, Modin's spot opens up again.
So, with all that being said... Modin could be in, if he's in, my guess is that Murray sits. Now where Modin plays in the line-up is anyone's guess at this point. In general, the lines are actually starting to gel. So if Modin is back, I don't know if he just plays on the 4th line, or whether everything gets screwed up again.
The second line last night was the most productive. Brassard had his best game of the season.
We don't know what is going on with Tyutin, he did participate in the pre-game skate but didn't play. Jurcina was a scratch last night. There could be some shuffling of the defense for tonight.
Columbus Dispatch had Mason as the starter tonight.
As far as Tollefsen hitting Nash, IIRC, Tollie was the one who ran Nash into the boards during practice that caused Nash's high ankle sprain a few seasons ago.
Why is Huselius on the 3rd line? He is one of Columus' better scorers!!!!!
I am concerned because I own him in a SALARY cap keeper league and a dip in production means he is gone. He is too expensive anyway, but I have nothing better on the LW.
Why is Huselius on the 3rd line? He is one of Columus' better scorers!!!!!
I am concerned because I own him in a SALARY cap keeper league and a dip in production means he is gone. He is too expensive anyway, but I have nothing better on the LW.
Do you want the short answer or the long one?
For awhile the CBJ were using a Huselius / Vermette / Nash combo. That combo is soft, soft, soft. So (IIRC) that turned into a Huselius / Umberger / Nash combo. Which has subsequently turned into a Umberger / Vermette / Nash combo. RJ is better as a wing than a center.
But (to include the long story part of this) basically it boils down to how well Brassard has (or hasn't) been playing. Brass was recently elevated to the 2nd line from the 4th. With Brass playing well, RJ can go back to wing. RJ is capable of winning board battles and is capable of parking in the crease - Juice is not.
Another part of the story is that the first line went stone cold as far as scoring for an extended period of time. No goals for Nash between 12/23 and 1/14 (11 games), no goals for Juice between 12/3 and 12/31 (14 games). Both of them have been too streaky.
As bizarre as it sounds, moving Juice down has balanced things quite a bit.
For awhile the CBJ were using a Huselius / Vermette / Nash combo. That combo is soft, soft, soft. So (IIRC) that turned into a Huselius / Umberger / Nash combo. Which has subsequently turned into a Umberger / Vermette / Nash combo. RJ is better as a wing than a center.
But (to include the long story part of this) basically it boils down to how well Brassard has (or hasn't) been playing. Brass was recently elevated to the 2nd line from the 4th. With Brass playing well, RJ can go back to wing. RJ is capable of winning board battles and is capable of parking in the crease - Juice is not.
Another part of the story is that the first line went stone cold as far as scoring for an extended period of time. No goals for Nash between 12/23 and 1/14 (11 games), no goals for Juice between 12/3 and 12/31 (14 games). Both of them have been too streaky.
As bizarre as it sounds, moving Juice down has balanced things quite a bit.
As a Flyers fan, I know all about Umberger's abilities and flaws, haha.
I have been happy with Huselius' production to this point, but his salary is killer when we can only spend so much money on players. Next season I am in quite a tough spot. We play by yearly salary, not cap hit, so I have Toews getting an almost 6 mill raise, Kessel goes from 4.5 to 6, Zajac goes up, Kesler is due a huge raise, Wolski is due a raise AND I am in cap hell. I really feel for a guy like Holmgrem when playing this salary cap league. There are guys like Brian Campbell who are mid-season injury replacements with ZERO value due to his salary.
Not to mention, my Goalies are Kipper, Thomas and Vokoun (7, 6, 6.3) next season. At least I have Niemi!
This is a must win because CBJ played last night. Watch out for them in the 3rd, I just heard on the radio that the Laffs squandered a 3 goal lead to them last night, only to have Kessel win it for them.
Pretty much every game is a must win from here on out.
This is a must win because CBJ played last night. Watch out for them in the 3rd, I just heard on the radio that the Laffs squandered a 3 goal lead to them last night, only to have Kessel win it for them.
???
Jackets played the Blues in Columbus last night and won 4-2
Don't worry too much if the Jackets are ahead...
win % leading after 1 = 43.8% (worst in the league)
win % leading after 2 = 66.7% (tied for worst in the league)
This season the Jackets tend to play one of two types of games:
"Hitchcock hockey" - sortof, where they are defensively sound but can't score (and still mostly lose)
or
wide-open - where they play offense, but the defense is nowhere to be found (and still mostly lose)
There hasn't been much balance at all this season.
Since I've still got NHL.com open in another window...
looking at stats, I'm expecting a boring 1st period:
goals by period, then goals against per period
CBJ 39,54,37 - 53,54,53
PHI 43,53,43 - 32,51,51
I really enjoy watching Nash play usually, tonight I'd enjoy it if he sucked. One of my favourites though.
I'll watch this one tomorrow because I've got work in the morning and I don't feel like staying up too late.
For the Flyers I really hope the defence plays a little better, there were too many turnovers last game resulting in chances and the Laich breakaway goal was a joke after Carle dropped him the puck.
The offence needs to do a better job of keeping the puck in the zone, the Washington game it was one shot and out again. I'd be happy to see them get in Garon's face a bit more during this game.
This is a must win because CBJ played last night. Watch out for them in the 3rd, I just heard on the radio that the Laffs squandered a 3 goal lead to them last night, only to have Kessel win it for them.
... it was Nashville that played Toronto yesterday.
Man, CBJ's 1st jerseys were terrible. Anyway, I always enjoy watching the Flyers play teams that they don't see too often. Umberger will definitely be pumped for this game. I'm sure OKT will be flying around hitting recklessly. I want to see some solid hits on Nash to try and throw him off his game.
3-2 Flyers win
Lets Go Flyers
Lets Go Flyers
If you want Nash off his game, leave him alone. Bored Nash = off his game Nash. Interested, pissed off Nash = dominant Nash.
Of course, it's hard to say what will piss him off. Sometimes it's a totally correct penalty call against him that pisses him off. Sometimes it's a hit, but man, when he gets angry, he's hard to stop.
