GDT: Canes @ Islanders: You Know Who Is Playing Tonight

Face offs were atrocious tonight. Could certainly use a RH face off specialist for the 4th line at the deadline.

That said, the cycle game this team can now generate with Rantanen and with Hall in addition to the Staal line is something to behold. They can maintain possession for a long time.

I wonder if we might see Hall get moved all the way up to the top line, but that Hall-Kotkaniemi-Svech line was impressive with their board game. I think they should stick together a while.
 
Hall looked great. He showed more speed than I realized - I thought he’d been slowing down much more with age.

Rantanen line was dangerous. They looked a couple of adjustments away from pure domination. There’s a world where that was a 6-2 win instead of a loss, if the finishing could’ve come through there. I like Blake with them, because 3v3 OT notwithstanding I like the Hall-KK-Svech line quite a bit and thought it brought out some energy in Svech.
 
I’d do a crazy thing and test Hall with Aho& Rantanen to try to get him going

He’s badly wanted to win a Cup and was stuck on a basement team, now with back to playing games that mean something they could get more out of him than the Hawks
Hall actually did get one shift with Aho and Rantanen.

I had to do a double take since I didn't expect that, but that wasn't a bad idea to see how he might be on the top line.
 
I’d do a crazy thing and test Hall with Aho& Rantanen to try to get him going

He’s badly wanted to win a Cup and was stuck on a basement team, now with back to playing games that mean something they could get more out of him than the Hawks
I don’t think it’s crazy at all, if he can pick up the defensive responsibility in the Canes system. I love Blake, but it’s a hell of a responsibility to ask him to play his off side on that line as a rookie. I suspect he won’t be there long, but Rod didn’t want to demote him after the way he bounced back against Columbus. There are a lot of options though.
 
The new guys did ok. Hall got better as he settled in and moved up a line. Rantanen has so much talent and it showed. The one down was in OT. Without the speed of Necas our lack of dominance controlling the puck on open ice was evident I’m in the let’s wait and see what happens crowd but still optimistic
 
The new guys did ok. Hall got better as he settled in and moved up a line. Rantanen has so much talent and it showed. The one down was in OT. Without the speed of Necas our lack of dominance controlling the puck on open ice was evident I’m in the let’s wait and see what happens crowd but still optimistic
It occurs to me with the addition of Rantanen and Hall and the loss of Necas: does it make sense to play OT more conservatively and play for the shootout?

I’d need to see what Rantanen and Hall have for shootout numbers but they can’t be worse, right?

RIGHT??
 
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I’d do a crazy thing and test Hall with Aho& Rantanen to try to get him going

He’s badly wanted to win a Cup and was stuck on a basement team, now with back to playing games that mean something they could get more out of him than the Hawks
why did the bruins trade him a few years ago? he was really good there wasn't he?
 
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I wish shootout stats were easier to find. I think it’d be cool to see goalie stats for the shootout too, like not just percentage but where they let in most goals, what order they are most likely to stop/let in, etc
stupid thing is they used to be easy to find on the NHL site, but the NHL went and made things more mobile friendly and that made it increasingly difficult to find stuff like shootout stats.
 
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It occurs to me with the addition of Rantanen and Hall and the loss of Necas: does it make sense to play OT more conservatively and play for the shootout?

I’d need to see what Rantanen and Hall have for shootout numbers but they can’t be worse, right?

RIGHT??
I was hoping for a shoot out last night just to see if Rantanen and Hall would take part. A win would of been ok too 😎
 
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