If they are going to play Zeus on the top line as a wing and have Loktionov center the 2nd, it would make sense to give Loktionov some skill to work with like Smyth and Williams. Then have Stoll play with Clifford and brown on the shutdown line. Oh well.. who really gives a **** at this point? Terry Murray is gonna keep shaking the magic 8 ball and hope for some magic to happen. Lets pray it does!
Kopitar is much better when he's trying to be a goal scorer as opposed to a player maker. That line combination forces him to be the scorer.
And say what you want about Handzus, but he's very good at getting the most out of his linemates; he's smart. He probably has the best hockey sense of any player on the team, and has clearly been one of our best forwards over the past month.
Also, Loktionov is better at center than wing. Adding his skill to a line with a couple of bangers could provides a good mix of skill and grit.
Kopitar is much better when he's trying to be a goal scorer as opposed to a player maker. That line combination forces him to be the scorer.
And say what you want about Handzus, but he's very good at getting the most out of his linemates; he's smart. He probably has the best hockey sense of any player on the team, and has clearly been one of our best forwards over the past month.
Also, Loktionov is better at center than wing. Adding his skill to a line with a couple of bangers could provides a good mix of skill and grit.
I agree about Lokti. Last night in OT I believe he was the centerman and actually had some great chances. He looks a lot more comfy out there as a center.
I believe your above line order is right, or I hope so. Putting Kopi with the checking line sure sends a message, doesn't it? I don't think it's meant to be the 1st line.
I agree about Lokti. Last night in OT I believe he was the centerman and actually had some great chances. He looks a lot more comfy out there as a center.
I believe your above line order is right, or I hope so. Putting Kopi with the checking line sure sends a message, doesn't it? I don't think it's meant to be the 1st line.
Yup I remember Lokti was out there with Williams in OT and he took over the shift.
I got an idea TM, how about you just scratch Westgarth and go back to what the lines were when they were winning? I know, I know, shocking isn't it to go back to what was working.
Seem about right? Switch Simmonds and Brown and the 3rd line would become the firs
That being said, I liked Poni when he was on the ice with Kopi. We don't have enough skill to take attention away from Kopi but we migh be able to do it with size and energy. Something like Poni - Kopitar -Lokti/Clifford. Not a traditional first but we saw Lokti play great with the extra space and Poni does create some space.
Probably a bit too experimental for this point in the season.
Smyth-Stoll-Williams is clearly the top line and i assume the reasoning for putting Zeus with Kopi is to free Kopi up a bit, he doesnt always need to be the high forward if Zeus is on the ice
I disagree with the "demotion" regardless if Kopitar was playing poorly or not. Dumb stunt to pull when every point matters. Murray needs to find the optimum lines and stick with them. We need chemistry and cohesion if we expect to have a chance against the western conference. I know we are desperate and everything but this is not a solution and risks priceless points.
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"It has not been a good day. I lost my glasses early this morning and I had to go buy a pair of 79 dollar reading glasses today. 79 bucks. You can literally get them at Costco, three-for-20." - Darryl Sutter's response to going up 2-0 in the series.
