I have a feeling matty carle is going to have a great game.... gut feeling
I hope you're right. Team defense has to be solid tonight. that's the way we won all season long. When the team was hitting, blocking shots, and anticipating the play.
My feeling is that Claude Giroux comes out flying and will be the top performer. The Sabres will be so focused on shutting down Briere that Giroux will take over. That's something we saw tons of in the beginning of the season. Teams would focus on stopping the hottest player/line on our team and then someone else would light them up, That is our strength, I expect it to show again tonight.
Agreed not a fan of this. Although, if the team needs a spark later in the series, I guess Zherdev will be able to provide it. Would rather they just keep him with Giroux though. Carcillo's been pretty bad all season.
That's a joke, although our record without Z in lineup is better than when he is in. Which is an absolute coincidence.
I just don't get why Zherdev's been practicing with the top 9 all week. Why announce this today and not Monday? Probably not helping his confidence much.
Yeah I'm not understanding not playing Z either. He can provide offense and going against a healthy Ryan Miller you'd think Lavi would put a premium on that.
Yeah I'm not understanding not playing Z either. He can provide offense and going against a healthy Ryan Miller you'd think Lavi would put a premium on that.
Defense first in the playoffs. Having said that, Carcillo hasn't done much on either end of the ice this year, but he does have intensity on his side.
Defense first in the playoffs. Having said that, Carcillo hasn't done much on either end of the ice this year, but he does have intensity on his side.
I love Carcillo.
When he's on his game, he can draw the opposition into taking stupid penalties, provide a spark for the team, and score the occasional odd goal.
The question I have with Lavi not playing Z has more to do with going against an elite goalie where offense may be at a premium. Even more so if the power play isn't working.
We need all the offense we can get. Also, Z's defense hasn't been atrocious since he got back into the lineup recently. He's never going to be great or even consistently good but it's manageable and with the potential you get with him offensively as a threat to the opposition, I'd be willing to take my chances.
Defense first in the playoffs. Having said that, Carcillo hasn't done much on either end of the ice this year, but he does have intensity on his side.
Carcillo is a balance to Kaleta, plus Nodl is the more responsible choice. This team need to get the focus back on playing a more well-rounded defensive game and concentrate on the forecheck and left wing lock.
They have been playing too much of an open style of game lately, Laviolette just putting the focus where it needs to be, this team should not have a problem with offense.
I wanna see Nodl-Betts-Powe as the fourth. A real, pure shutdown/energy line. Let Carbomb take a Holmström role in front of the net in the O-zone instead...
I kind of want to see Nodl with Richards and Versteeg to create a very good defensive line that can also be good on the counterattack, plus JVR-Giroux-Carter has had excellent chemistry in the past.
Plus I want Carcillo nowhere near the top 9 so that helps.
I kind of want to see Nodl with Richards and Versteeg to create a very good defensive line that can also be good on the counterattack, plus JVR-Giroux-Carter has had excellent chemistry in the past.
Plus I want Carcillo nowhere near the top 9 so that helps.
This is exactly what I think the line up will be !
