Playing out the string / prepping for the real season

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Jul 13, 2002
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So here we are with a week left in the season.
Division? Clinched.
Conference? Clinched?
President? 2 up with 4 to play.
 
Tues @ Minny
Thurs @ Winnipeg
Sat Buffalo (fan appreciation day)
Sun @ Devils
 
With the Celtics at home next Wed it looks like game 1 will be Thursday. So what's the plan with resting guys and trying to not get rusty?
 
 
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Jul 13, 2002
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No Iggy and no Miller at practice today fwiw. I wonder if Iggy was shaken up a little on that hit by Rinaldo that he fought him after? (Hit about 33 seconds in - his left leg gets a bit under him awkwardly.)
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ0F_WbZcyk&feature=player_detailpage#t=33
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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Saturday would be my dress rehearsal game with the expected game 1 lineup. I'd like to see Johnson get 3/4 starts next week, and each of Bergeron, Krejci, Chara and Boychuk get at least 1 game off each. They have 3 call ups left to use, so we'll see if they bring anyone with them to Minny/Winnipeg.

Other than that, there's not much else to do. I'd like to get a look at Eriksson back with Bergy and Marchand for a game, just in case Smith's struggles continue into the playoff and there needs to be a quick change.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
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Apr 11, 2006
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Both Bergeron and Marchand have emphatically defended Smith in the last week.  I think that Eriksson's chemistry with Soderberg and the boost that gave the 3rd line will be the difference in more than one game.  The first and second line (even with a less-than-ideal Smith) are 2 of the top lines in Hockey, and opposing teams will have to spend their top defensive units on them, leaving the 3rd line to elevate over whatever's left.  One of the redeeming things from the streak was that many of the games had players from all 3 of the top forward lines contribute to goals.  Unless Smith becomes an obvious detriment to that line (He only has a - in 3 games since the beginning of March)
 

MiracleOfO2704

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Jul 12, 2005
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I'm on board with most of that, but wouldn't mind stressing Tuukka a little bit more, giving him an even split of the four games with Johnson. I'd get Trotman or Warsofsky up and give Chara and Boychuk a minimum of one, if not two days off to get them some kind of fresh. Eriksson's definitely earned a shot with Marchand/Bergy, but I'm so leery of breaking up Kelly/Soderberg/Eriksson that I'd almost rather they give Fraser a game riding shotgun with 63 and 37.
 
As far as the schedule, I'm with you that Saturday should see as close to a Game 1 lineup as can be mustered at the time, and Sunday should feature almost no one critical to the Bruins' playoff chances (Chara, Bergeron, Krejci, Lucic, Rask, Boychuk pretty much by default). Hell, if they can make it work with the call-ups, giving Johnson 2 starts, Tuukka the Buffalo game, and Svedberg a chance to play another game with the big boys.
 

cshea

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306, row 14
AMcGhie said:
Both Bergeron and Marchand have emphatically defended Smith in the last week.  I think that Eriksson's chemistry with Soderberg and the boost that gave the 3rd line will be the difference in more than one game.  The first and second line (even with a less-than-ideal Smith) are 2 of the top lines in Hockey, and opposing teams will have to spend their top defensive units on them, leaving the 3rd line to elevate over whatever's left.  One of the redeeming things from the streak was that many of the games had players from all 3 of the top forward lines contribute to goals.  Unless Smith becomes an obvious detriment to that line (He only has a - in 3 games since the beginning of March)
I wouldn't shake them up permanently, I'd just like to get a look-see at how Eriksson would look on that line if needed in the playoffs. That's the obvious lineup change if Smith's struggles continue, so getting Loui some time with Bergy and Marchand may not be the worst of ideas just-on-case. With Iginla out (no reason to play him now), Soderberg and Eriksson are already broken up, so the opportunity has presented itself to get a look at how that line would work together.