5 was outstanding last night, easily top 1-2 player on the ice last night. 4 had that rough of a game to get called out huh? Might have to rematch the condensed game.
I liked the lines more when Parks moved to Schmaltz's line. Typically I don't like to put all your eggs in one basket at 5x5 but with the 3rd and 4th lines playing so well why not. Even after the switch I noticed the Poolman-LJ-Pattyn line a ton more. I agree I really liked the Simo line....even Chyzk looked like his old self. 11 was definitely rusty at the beginning of the game but I truly believe these are the types of game he needs. I just needs time. He's young and hasn't played forever. At least Simo was skating when he wasn't playing. That mono crap can linger forever. Either way I was very impressed with the hustle of that 4th line and would like to keep 11 on that line given his size. Now if he doesn't pick it up tonight or early next week I would think about getting St. Clair back in there. Olsen was a good player in the USHL.
Western with a goal. Still blown away how undisciplined Western is. I haven't watched much of the game but Miami seems to be on a PP every time I have tuned in.
I actually think these types of kids would benefit more from college hockey to play against bigger, more mature kids. Auston matthews is a decent sized kid with great athleticicm...there is no reason he needs to go play against kids his own age or younger. All he's going to do is put up video game numbers.
Agreed. however this should be great time to get Simo and Olson in the lineup. They need to dust off the cobwebs against a weaker CC team. These two should be good 3rd/4th liners.
Actually I believe Matthews is a higher ranked prospect than when toews came in. Matthews is the heavy favorite to go 1, toews wasn't a lock to go three, that was a big deal when it happened.
Now will Matthews be as good a pro....probably not.
This isn't going to make too many people happy but I would break up that gaarder line for a game against CC to see what happens. I never noticed our first line this weekend, totally non existent. If poolman is going to play forward it has to be a bottom six role (hustle line).
Parks cags pog
OD NS LJ
Poolman gaarder pattyn
Olson simo st Clair chyz
OD has a real nice shot and has been hustling a lot lately he or chyz would work on that second line. That third would be pretty tough to play against.
Talk about dysfunction. 2 shorties? This team will go no where in the playoffs if they don't start getting consistent contributions from their top line and if they don't figure out their PP.
I get this is only one game and they have been winning for a while but I've been worried about their PP. If Zane doesn't stand on his head it seems as though we struggle.