True to his word, San Jose coach Todd McLellan made his players pay for last night’s 5-3 home loss to the Florida Panthers.
“These days aren’t good for anyone,” McLellan said today after a strenuous practice that replaced an originally planned day off. “They’re not good for the players, because of the [hectic] schedule, and we get no satisfaction out of it. But, the goal was to remind them that the work ethic and commitment level has to come first. It comes before anything else – systems, talent, power play, penalty kill.
Murray got injured last night. I would rather see:
2-88
44-60
5-22
I'd prefer Vlasic with Boyle for the simple fact that we need Dan Boyle to get going. Part of the problem with Boyle is that Murray is sucking too. Boyle with someone reliable that will let him focus on his game a little more will be good for him. Burns can handle carrying his own pairing for now and I would pair him Colin White since he is awful too right now. Vandy and Demers is a solid pairing and I don't want Demers having to worry about Colin White doing something stupid since he's starting to turn it around which the team desperately needs.
And I think at some point, they need to run a stretch where they try Justin Braun and Jason Demers on the same pairing. They've gone with White and Murray on the same pairing for the PK. It would be worth a shot to try the two out and give Braun the defensive duties in that scenario for the most part.
@markedwinemmons Mark Emmons Douglas Murray's right hand is heavily bandaged. Said it probably doesn't look good for Tuesday night against the Wild.
Sounds like a break. If so, it explains a lot. Not an excuse for everything of course (Jumbo, for instance, was doing fine even when playing with his encyclopedia of injuries in the playoffs), but at least there's a partial explanation.
Hopefully Boyle being paired with someone else will get his head back on straight--likewise with Murray contemplating his game in the press box--and when Murray's hand gets healed up, they'll not be as full of suck as they are now.
Sounds like a break. If so, it explains a lot. Not an excuse for everything of course (Jumbo, for instance, was doing fine even when playing with his encyclopedia of injuries in the playoffs), but at least there's a partial explanation.
Hopefully Boyle being paired with someone else will get his head back on straight--likewise with Murray contemplating his game in the press box--and when Murray's hand gets healed up, they'll not be as full of suck as they are now.
Honestly, I'd like in some ways to see Boyle paired with White.
Vandermeer - Burns
Vlasic - Demers
White - Boyle
In preseason and in practices Vandermeer and Burns play well together.
Vlasic and Demers have a history with each other as well.
That leaves the odd men out being Boyle and White. I suppose it could be White-Burns and Vandermeer - Boyle as well, I just think Vandermeer and Burns have played well enough to continue in the limited time that I've seem them play with each other.
Both Emmons & Kurz reported that the pairings were Vlasic/Boyle, Vandermeer/Burns and White/Demers.
I can see Boyle/Demers being used on the power play and Vandy/White being used on the PK...but as regular pairings, yes, interesting is definitely a word I'd use.
Both Emmons & Kurz reported that the pairings were Vlasic/Boyle, Vandermeer/Burns and White/Demers.
I can see Boyle/Demers being used on the power play and Vandy/White being used on the PK...but as regular pairings, yes, interesting is definitely a word I'd use.
