Dan Ellis is definitely the probable starter as the Predators have a team rule where if a goalie gets a shutout in his last game, he automatically starts the next game. This has already been the case several times this season and with Trotz's comments yesterday about hesitating to change the lineup, I can guarantee that Ellis will be in nets.
Why would he not start Legwand and Suter, if they are healthy?
OK, after reading that article, I understand where Trotzy is coming from here as I'm sure he challenged the players to perform at Sunday's practice and probably again Monday, however, by sticking with the same lineup, then he is also risking another principle here too...that you don't lose your spot due to injury. A slippery slope for sure if Legwand and Suter are 100%, but gives you a little wiggle room if they are not. We know that Bonk is definitely bothered by his foot, so you might see Legwand in there if he is healthier than Radek, but right now I'm happy with the defense and really don't see an opening for Suter today.
According to the Edmonton boards, Dan Tencer is reporting that Sheldon Souray is out for tonight's game due to his chronic shoulder issues. I was watching their game last night in St. Louis and didn't notice anything as he was out there right up to the next to last shift of overtime.
Yeah, Souray and Hemsky are both out for tonight, as well as Greene and Torres who have both been out for a while now.
The great thing about playing the Oilers is that even if we beat you, you're guaranteed to get at least one point. The Oilers have only 6 regulation wins so far this season, the rest have either come in overtime (last night was the first) or a shootout.
re-read the very last paragraph in the above article:
Quote:
Sent back: Forward Josh Langfeld, who was called up on Sunday but didn't play in Monday's game at Dallas, was sent back to Milwaukee.
Unless it was changed with the last CBA, a player on the IR is eligible to return after 7 days of being placed on the IR so Weber was eligible to return anytime after 12/29/2007. Please correct me if I am mistaken...
Slightly OT, but important nonetheless regarding our players on the IR:
Quote:
A club may place a player on the Injured Reserve List if such player is injured, disabled or ill and unable to perform his duties as a hockey player after having passed the Club's initial physical examination in that season.
A player who has an injury that renders him physically unable to play for a minimum of seven days after that date of the injury can be placed on the Club's Injured Reserve List. Once a player is placed on the list, the Club may replace said player on its NHL roster with another player. All determinations that a player has suffered an injury warranting injured reserve status must be made by the Club's medical staff and in accordance with the Club's medical standards. A player placed on Injured Reserve is ineligible to compete in NHL games for a period of not less than seven days.
Players on Injured Reserve may attend Club meetings and meals, travel with the Club and participate in practice sessions.
Slightly OT, but important nonetheless regarding our players on the IR:
Get well soon, Suter, Weber, and Legwand!
Legwand was never placed on IR, Suter was retrodated and is off of IR, and Weber remains on IR until they decide to activate him. We have one open roster spot right now until Weber comes off. Langfeld was sent back to Milwaukee yesterday.
And Trotz found a way to criticize Radulov after the game. He was asked about Radulov after the game obviously after his performance tonight. He mentioned that being a good player in this league means that a player has to be good on both ends of the ice (and off the ice). It didn't sound like he meant it in a, he has become this way, way.
Maybe I'm looking into it too much.
Radulov's goals came a huge times tonight, effectively killing Edmonton's momentum.
And Trotz found a way to criticize Radulov after the game. He was asked about Radulov after the game obviously after his performance tonight. He mentioned that being a good player in this league means that a player has to be good on both ends of the ice (and off the ice). It didn't sound like he meant it in a, he has become this way, way.
Maybe I'm looking into it too much.
Radulov's goals came a huge times tonight, effectively killing Edmonton's momentum.
Trotz always does this. He finds ways to degrade his youngsters.
maybe it is to keep his head from getting swelled or just for him to work on all phases such as D and PKs.
"Rads has a lot of ability," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "He is a talent, but he has a long way to go to be a good player in the NHL. A good player plays both ends of the ice consistently. He has a long way to go."
Radulov's linemates J.P. Dumont, and Jason Arnott, as well as Jerred Smithson, also scored for the Predators.
Trotz thinks the veteran influence of his linemates is rubbing off on Radulov.
"I like Radulov on the line with Dumont and Arnott when he scores," Trotz said. "As with any young player he has to work on some details of his game.
I missed this game, but I must say...the results with Ellis in net of late cannot be ignored. I love Mason, but he isn't getting the results.........for whatever reason (and yes I realize the last two games have been against much easier competition).
hockey is a mighty simple game, when you get good goaltending, and get great special team play. of course, the skeptic might argue that edmonton is simply that bad of a hockey team, and it'd be hard to argue against that, rarely have i seen an edmonton team look that weak defensively. but that doesn't change the fact one iota that we went out and played a mighty solid all around game, in a game we really needed to win. a few brief notes, from a guy that is mighty sick with the flu;
...radulov. the kid is heating up. you know he's an awfully streaky type player, and can carry the team when he's hot. he's hot right now, we need him to stay that way for about two months.
...arnott. great steal from grebeshkov on the 2nd rads goal. if that had been our defenseman that got caught with his head down we'd be crucifying him this morning instead of saying arnott made a grreat play.
...who were those guys in our sweaters on our powerplays? whoever they were, let's don't tell anyone. we got as many shots as edmonton did on our pp as when they were on their pp (7 each). and we did it in only 3:33 of pp time, while they had 13:16. our pp basically dominated the game, despite us only having 3 attempts.
...defensively, we played a pretty solid game. the two goals allowed were sort of flukish to be honest. the 2nd one a result of our pk getting a little cute (suter) trying to poke the puck out to legwand instead of hammering it out.
...ellis with another solid game. the stortini goal he got caught trying to reach and pokecheck the puck away, where he was in good position before. that's what happens when a goalie tries a pokecheck and misses, he's always caught down low in the net after a miss and is an easy target.
...on the penalty shot, ellis with a very different type of stop than you normally see. as brodziak skates in and dekes forehand to backhand and go around ellis, ellis puts the paddle down square at his feet and basically trips brodziak away from the puck which rolls ahead off his stick cause he cann't keep skating forward.. a heady, if very unusual stop.
...trotz seemed in a sour mood in postgame. basically i think he was attempting to keep players from getting big headed, after what was generally a very solid effort on our part. legwand with tootoo and gelinas isn't going to produce many great offensive chances honestly. suter had the little giveaway on the pp goal allowed, thought this was primarily what trotz was reffering to.
...erat with "back spasms". what that was from i don't know, i assume from the time he feel on his back over garon into the net. we cann't afford to not have erat for any length of time. he simply has become so proficient at controlling the puck down deep in that behind the net set.. we have to have someone in the slot with him out there that can finish.
..funny hearing hordy say he planned on having 20 fights. did ok against stortini. the old jump in and get in a few punches before he can react strategy paid off. also funny to hear him say he had to get trotz to give him the head nod to go.
...koistinen again with a good game on the pp point. don't have any idea who you sit when weber comes back, but i don't see how it can be koistinen right now. for what it's worth zanon with 4 giveaways last night.
...hamhuis with one great shift, a diving breakup of a 2 on 1, followed immediately by a big hipcheck along the boards.
....zidlicky with that one great play where he walks around a defender and walks straight in on garon, and you're yelling "shoot, shooot!!! you have to take that shot!!" and then he proceeds to make an impossible pass over to arnott for the tap in.. and you say... well, heh heh, great play zids and sit back down shaking your head..
great fun at the old arena last night. lots of good people to watch the game with, really enjoyed it all despite being sick as a dog.
Don't understand that jab at L.A., but I understand kicking a team when they're down. But when we add Stamkos at the draft, we can have our GDT's say, "At least we aren't Nashville".
WRLT Feed
CHED Feed
