Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Anthony Stewart
Jussi Jokinen - Jeff Skinner - Chad LaRose
Pat Dwyer - Brandon Sutter - Andreas Nodl
Derek Joslin - Tim Brent - Jerome Samson
Tim Gleason - Bryan Allen
Jay Harrison - Justin Faulk
Jaroslav Spacek - Jamie McBain
1st Powerplay Unit
Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Jeff Skinner
Tim Brent - Justin Faulk
2nd Powerplay Unit
Jussi Jokinen - Brandon Sutter - Anthony Stewart
Jaroslav Spacek - Jamie McBain
Alex Ovechkin - Brooks Laich - Marcus Johansson
Jason Chimera - Mathieu Perreault - Alexander Semin
Matt Hendricks - Jay Beagle - Troy Brouwer
Mike Knuble - Jeff Halpern - Joel Ward
Karl Alzner - John Carlson
Jeff Schultz - Mike Green
Dmitri Orlov - Dennis Wideman
1st Powerplay Unit
Mathieu Perreault - Marcus Johansson - Troy Brouwer
Alex Ovechkin - Mike Green
2nd Powerplay Unit
Jason Chimera - Brooks Laich - Alexander Semin
Mike Knuble - Dennis Wideman
Michal Neuvirth
Tomas Vokoun
Scratched
Nicklas Backstrom
Tom Poti
Hot
Cold
Coach
Last edited by tarheelhockey: 03-06-2012 at 09:55 AM.
Tim Peel is saluting with the wrong arm, which would be a very Tim Peel thing to do.
And can I be the only one who has found Skinner's play to be... well, nauseating lately? Maybe not so much his play, but his pouting and the amount of time that he spends prone on the ice?
Edit: Per @MSmithCanes:
Quote:
After being outscored 11-5 in their first three meetings, the Canes have stymied the Caps 8-0 in their last two.
Now I officially have a bad feeling (an authentic one!) about tonight's game.
To be fair, I don't think that the Canes have given up a PP goal while Skinner has been on the ice. (extremely small sample size I know) So if he can improve his defensive play during a lost season why the heck not.
Skinner has been anywhere ranging from invisible to detrimental since he returned from his concussion. That game against the Oilers was the last one where he really dominated play every time he stepped on the ice.
Skinner has been anywhere ranging from invisible to detrimental since he returned from his concussion. That game against the Oilers was the last one where he really dominated play every time he stepped on the ice.
Agree. A buddy and I were discussing that.
Is it concussion related? Sophomore slump? Affected by not having a skilled or fast physical presence on his line (a la Ruutu or Cole)?
Just go back and watch the Edmonton game. He could have easily had 6 or 7 points. Probably the most dominant game of his career. Until his face tried to dominate Sutton's shoulder.
Yeah I'm thinking the same thing. Any time I can say "what the **** is Harvey Dent doing?" is a bad thing.
It's the first questionable decision I've seen out of him. Even with his decision to use Brent and LaRose on the powerplay, the reasoning behind it was sound, he had a history of running a great powerplay, and the fact that it's actually worked out helps as well.
But Skinner on the PK? Eh....not feeling it so much,.
It's the first questionable decision I've seen out of him. Even with his decision to use Brent and LaRose on the powerplay, the reasoning behind it was sound, he had a history of running a great powerplay, and the fact that it's actually worked out helps as well.
But Skinner on the PK? Eh....not feeling it so much,.
Yep, I haven't had many head scratchers out of Muller yet, but Skinner on the PK might be the big one. If that's his way of trying to teach him defensive responsibility in a lost season that's about the only way I can buy it.
I also don't understand it very well. I thought the same thing when I saw him on the PK when we last played Anaheim and I think the potential logic, based on what happened in that game, is that you use Skinner to send a long pass out of the defensive zone to the guy coming out of the box and voila, instant breakaway with Skinner in trail, but in theory if that's the case why would you use him in any situation but the dying minutes of that PK? Then again I'm not a huge fan of Skinner at center either.
Muller's done a lot of things similar to ones we complained about (or would have) with Maurice, but since he is having better results, he rightfully gets a longer leash.
The only rationale I can come up with is trying to give Skinner more responsibility and to improve his confidence in his defensive game. This season is pretty much lost and even though the coach won't admit it, now is the time to try stuff like this. If it helps him round out his game more in the long run, then I say go for it. At this point, it's more about next year and the year after that than it is about wins this year.
One thing nobody can deny about Skinner, is that he's driven and has shown he's willing to put in the time and effort to improve his game. This may be another step towards improving his overall game.
Yep, I haven't had many head scratchers out of Muller yet, but Skinner on the PK might be the big one. If that's his way of trying to teach him defensive responsibility in a lost season that's about the only way I can buy it.
That's what I'm thinking. Not much point in it otherwise.
The "defensive improvement on a lost season" rationale makes sense, but I'm not sure I like it. For one, adding a new facet to a player's game while he's still trying to find his original game after his concussion seems like an effort in futility. But that's just me.
There's also been some poor results with other players when trying to "round out" their game. Look no further than the opponents in this game. The Capitals were a dominant team when they were on the explosive offense, zero defense gameplan. They switched up their game, trying to round it out, and it's backfired on them and their mainstar especially. OV's nowhere near the threat he once was. Part of that's probably the league adjusting to him, but I wouldn't rule out the new system playing a part as well.
The "defensive improvement on a lost season" rationale makes sense, but I'm not sure I like it. For one, adding a new facet to a player's game while he's still trying to find his original game after his concussion seems like an effort in futility. But that's just me.
There's also been some poor results with other players when trying to "round out" their game. Look no further than the opponents in this game. The Capitals were a dominant team when they were on the explosive offense, zero defense gameplan. They switched up their game, trying to round it out, and it's backfired on them and their mainstar especially. OV's nowhere near the threat he once was. Part of that's probably the league adjusting to him, but I wouldn't rule out the new system playing a part as well.
For every poor result, there are also good results. For example, Steve Yzerman. He was a scoring machine that cared little about his 2 way game until Scotty Bowman took over. Yzerman originally wasn't too keen about that but eventually became one of the games best 2 way forwards and the Wings were much better for it.
My view is that guys like Ov didn't buy into playing a more 2 way style and therefore didn't work at it. With how the NHL is changing with more obstruction, scoring down, etc..., that run and gun style won't really work any longer.
I don't think you'll see that with Skinner. The kid is dedicated to success and if becoming a better 2 way player means more success, he'll do it. I have absolutely zero concerns about the coaches trying to make Skinner become a better defensive player. All offensive players will struggle from time to time so you want to be able to count on them not being a liability out there when they aren't scoring.
I think rounding out Skinner's game is the best theory for his presence on the PK and makes sense. Skinner has always been a goal scorer, so perhaps the idea is that he has to focus on his D on the PK. Maybe it's also giving him less to concentrate on on the PK to help break him out of his funk. Putting Skinner on the PK is a way to simplify the game by limiting it to one end of the ice.
That said, Canes forwards have had a penchant for jumping out of the zone for shorthanded chances. Is Skinner going to learn defensive responsibility in such a PK?
I think it'll depend on what position Skinner eventually ends up at. If he wants to be an NHL center, then absolutely, his defensive game should be improved upon and that should be worked at. If he feels winger is more his career path, I don't see defensive responsibility to be that much of a concern. Ray Whitney turned out to be a great winger without a defensive bone in his body.
Skinner needs to have an explosive game again. Just to see if NHL.com will take notes from the NBA and start a "Skinsanity" movement.
I think it'll depend on what position Skinner eventually ends up at. If he wants to be an NHL center, then absolutely, his defensive game should be improved upon and that should be worked at. If he feels winger is more his career path, I don't see defensive responsibility to be that much of a concern. Ray Whitney turned out to be a great winger without a defensive bone in his body.
Are you really trying to say that if he's a winger, he doesnt' need to work on rounding out his game? I realize Staal's a center, but for all the *****ing we do on this board about Staal's lack of defense, we're now saying it's OK for Skinner to be bad defensively because he's a winger? Defense is a team game which means all 5 players need to play their role and do it effectively. Many times, the winger is the first guy back and has to assume the role of the center in the zone. Winger's have to adapt to the flow of the game and know when to cover the point, when to drop down and help, when to take the guy in middle, where to play to stop the cross ice pass, etc...
We'll just agree to disagree. I can't tell if you are serious or if you are just arguing for the sake of arguing.
EDIT: and for the record, while no selke candidate, Whitney is a much better defensive player than Skinner currently is. I'm not saying Skinner needs to be Brind'Amour 2.0, but he needs to improve.
Are you really trying to say that if he's a winger, he doesnt' need to work on rounding out his game? I realize Staal's a center, but for all the *****ing we do on this board about Staal's lack of defense, we're now saying it's OK for Skinner to be bad defensively because he's a winger? Defense is a team game which means all 5 players need to play their role and do it effectively. Many times, the winger is the first guy back and has to assume the role of the center in the zone. Winger's have to adapt to the flow of the game and know when to cover the point, when to drop down and help, when to take the guy in middle, where to play to stop the cross ice pass, etc...
We'll just agree to disagree. I can't tell if you are serious or if you are just arguing for the sake of arguing.
No need to be so hostile. I'm saying if he plans on becoming a center, his defensive game needs great improvement. Something that needs to be worked on with him and the coaches immediately. If he plans on staying a winger, it's not as much of a concern to me. I'd rather him play the explosive style of hockey he's played in the past and let the defensive game come around with age and experience. I'd rather have him play like he's been playing in the past year and a half than try to instill a defensive game and have him lose that explosive style of play.
Now I have no doubt he can be responsible defensively and still play his style. He wasn't nearly this poor defensively last year, so it can be done. But if he remains a winger, I'd rather have the coach work with him on improving other aspects of his game before putting focus on the defensive side of it.
And yeah, I do. Y'all are hilarious.
