Going by what Terry Murray has done before, he'll most likely put Richardson in as the 3rd line LW, utilize Schenn to anchor the 4th line pivot w/ Clifford on the LW 4th, and rotate Lewis/Westgarth on the RW 4th. Though I could also see him using Lewis as the center, keeping Westgarth on the RW most games, and rotating Schenn and Clifford on the LW.
Muzzin will most likely get recalled, but I can see Harrold getting the nod at least for the Dallas game. The simplest thing is keep Johnson & Scuderi paired, and just bump Greene up alongside Doughty, though as mentioned both being the only righties do you split them up ? I don't know that you do that if it means a.) splitting up JJ & Scuds, or b.) having either DD44, Harrold or Muzzin playing huge minutes as the top pairing alongside Doughty ?
I also have a hunch that TM wont play Clifford-Schenn-Lewis/Westgarth as the fourth line. I see
If Harrold takes up the 6th dman, he's also a right shot and having played with Drewiske before, Greene and Doughty makes sense. If Muzzin gets called up and Harrold stays in the press box, Muzz should play with Drewiske as they have before.
As an aside, I gotta stop reading this board when I'm tired. The 1AM version of me saw this and were like "JOHN MITCHELL AND ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY ARE INJURED?!? THE LEAFS HAVEN'T PLAYED IN DAYS THOUGH".
Then I realized it wasn't a year ago.
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Sucks, but this is the adversity everyone speaks of.....looking forward to seeing how they deal with it.
Me too. I think this team has all the right pieces to compete. Yes I would like more offense but overall I'm pretty darn happy so far this season.
That said, being in the spot we're in, I'm looking forward to seeing how the team deals with it instead of worrying about it. It's a different approach...good point there Slang. I think they're about as ready as they're ever going to be to move forward so now it's their turn to shoulder this one.
Hard to say what will happen with the lineup now because we don't know about Schenn and Clifford yet, that meeting will happen very shortly here.
If I had to guess I'd say Richardson up to first line, Parse down to third line, Lewis-Westgarth and one of the two remaining rookies on the fourth line.
D pairings I think Muzzin returns to play with Drewiskie. Doughty with Greener, though it could be JJ/Greener and Doughty/Scuderi since that would not be a huge adjustment.
On the forward side of things, probably Cliche or Elkins. Cliche's positioning makes him a poor man's Ponikarovsky, while Elkins' shot does likewise. LoL, if we could just combine the two, we'd be in business.
The first thing I thought was that Mitchell had another concussion. It's terrible that he has another injury, but thankfully it's completely unrelated to his head.
Hard to say what will happen with the lineup now because we don't know about Schenn and Clifford yet, that meeting will happen very shortly here.
If I had to guess I'd say Richardson up to first line, Parse down to third line, Lewis-Westgarth and one of the two remaining rookies on the fourth line.
D pairings I think Muzzin returns to play with Drewiskie. Doughty with Greener, though it could be JJ/Greener and Doughty/Scuderi since that would not be a huge adjustment.
i'd recall Loktionov and put HIM back on Kopitar's line again... and shift everyone else down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pucknut50
Were going to miss Mitchell but not Poni.
really? that's a whole lotta PKing with those two.
I disagree, and I think we'll see exactly how much Ponikarovsky does for the team. His physical play will definitely be missed, especially because it's not easily replaced from within.
On the forward side of things, probably Cliche or Elkins. Cliche's positioning makes him a poor man's Ponikarovsky, while Elkins' shot does likewise. LoL, if we could just combine the two, we'd be in business.
No one has been recalled yet. I also don't think we'll see a forward called up until/unless Schenn or Clifford goes back to juniors.
Hockey has a long season and teams playing through injuries to key players (overcoming adversity) is what championship teams and contenders do. That said, these two injuries occuroing at the same time is a real test for the boys, and the remaining guys need to step up BIG.
Kopitar needs to reasssert himself, as he did against Nashville. Greener can step it up as well, and I think the Kings D is solid enough that we can hold the fort until Mitchell returns. This Gives Muzzin the oportunity to develop more and maybe prove he should remain here.
The effect of the injury to Poni is more difficult to gauge, but the depth of the team should help, and both Schenn and the Big Dog hopefully each get the chance to show they belong as well.
If we truly are as good as we've been, if we are the team we think we are, if we are really contenders and possibly a Championship team, it starts here, with not just keeping up the level of play, but taking it up to whole 'nother level.
