Does it surprize you to learn the Sharks would be on pace for a 100 point season?

[do0glas]

yup, no need to change the lines too much. Thornton has like 6 pts in 5. marleau/couture have 3 in 5 each. i think its a good balance offensively. torres might work better on that second line, and i have actually been wanting to see wingels with pavs for a while. i think wingels is the perfect foil for pavs on the forecheck, but thats just my opinion.

so i would line up similar to jux but:

burns-thornton-havlat
marleau-couture-torres
galiardi-pavs-wingels
desi-gomez-sheppard

i like the top line right now. and i think the second line doesnt mesh with how wingels plays. hes not a transitional player (though he has the tools) get it deep with him and let him get the puck behind the net so pavs can setup and i think you will see a great energetic third line.

 

[SJeasy]

Not sure where to post this...

random idea...why not run 4 lines that can score when Kennedy comes off IR (and Demers is healthy)

For example:

Marleau-Thornton-Burns (Marleau-Couture aren’t clicking too well on offense, and I think Jumbo/Havlat are a bit redundant)
Torres-Couture-Havlat (good mix of skill, speed, and grit I guess)
Galiardi-Pavelski-Kennedy
Sheppard-Gomez-Wingels (I remember they clicked well earlier)

Vlasic-Demers (heavy defensive work…they’re good at that stuff)
Stuart-Braun
Irwin-Boyle (lighter minutes will also help keep Boyle rested/healthy for the PP and the playoffs)

Nemo

Thoughts?

The two best F2s on the Sharks are JT and Havlat. Having them on the same line hurts the distribution issue. After those two, I would use Gomez and Pavs. Couture is improving on F2 but he still can hold it long enough and remain free enough to pass it.

I would probably just swap Havlat and Wingels at this point.

The one thing about Marleau/Couture is that if the other team is sloppy, Couture is the best at intercepting in the NZ and Marleau is the best option to receive the benefit of a Couture takeaway. Couture doesn't wait after getting hold of a turnover. When they are playing top competition, the opportunities for takeaways are fewer.

 

[Led Zappa]

Couture doesn't wait after getting hold of a turnover. When they are playing top competition, the opportunities for takeaways are fewer.

He did all right with Zett's in the PO's

One of my favorite plays ever!

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

I think in terms of line combos I would be interested in trying this with Torres in the lineup.

Marleau-Thornton-Burns
Wingels-Couture-Torres
Havlat-Pavelski-Galiardi
Desjardins-Gomez-Shep

Irwin-Boyle
Vlasic-Tennyson (Demers once he returns)
Braun-Stuart

 

[WTFetus]

Couture is improving on F2 but he still can hold it long enough and remain free enough to pass it.

I thought Couture's puck control improved a ton this year. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen a player handcuff pass it to Couture while he had 2 defenders on him, and he was still able to deke out and make a play.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

A lot of people seem to have Torres on the 2nd line. He played on the 4th line in Phoenix .. I think.

 

[Hatrick Marleau]

A lot of people seem to have Torres on the 2nd line. He played on the 4th line in Phoenix .. I think.

He is a good 3rd liner. They want him there because Wingels hasn't been too good the last couple games.

 

[Kitten Mittons]

A lot of people seem to have Torres on the 2nd line. He played on the 4th line in Phoenix .. I think.

If he played on the 4th line and still potted 5 goals, he might be a 20 goal scorer again playing on the 2nd line.

 

[Bizz]

whats more surprising is the difference between their home and away record.

 

[hockeyball]

Again though, can he even play right wing? I thought he was left wing only, you really can't move Marleau off that wing.

 

[Kitten Mittons]

Move Marleau to center, Couture to RW.

 

[OldAsianSharksFan]

Actually it doesn't surprise me one bit. This is a team that should average about 100 points every normal season. I see last year as more of an anomaly than the norm.

whats more surprising is the difference between their home and away record.

This. We used to be so good on the road just 2-3 years ago.

 

[Led Zappa]

Again though, can he even play right wing? I thought he was left wing only, you really can't move Marleau off that wing.

Used to be you couldn't move him off center.

Truth be told, I have no idea if he could move to the other side.

 

[Led Zappa]

whats more surprising is the difference between their home and away record.

I'm really hoping that it's just because we had more of our road games during the stretch we sucked.

 

[Evincar]

It shouldnt surprise anyone that the Sharks are on pace for a 100 point season.

In any case the team is playing well. They have a pretty favorable schedule with 6 of the remaining 12 games vs Phoenix, Calgary and Dallas. Hopefully they keep it up and secure the 4th seed.

 

[WTFetus]

Truth be told, I have no idea if he could move to the other side.

I think he can. I'm pretty sure he played a couple games as a RW when he was a Canuck.

 

[Led Zappa]

I think he can. I'm pretty sure he played a couple games as a RW when he was a Canuck.

Ha ha... I'm so messed up in the head right now I was talking about Marleau moving over. Good to know though

 

[SJeasy]

I thought Couture's puck control improved a ton this year. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen a player handcuff pass it to Couture while he had 2 defenders on him, and he was still able to deke out and make a play.

I agree that he improved a lot, but he is still far short of an ideal F2. Couture is an ideal F3. So are Patty and Pavs. All of them can do F2, but they aren't that good at it and I give Pavs the edge on F2 of the 3 of them based on past performance.