GDT: Game #31: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks~ "This hockey thing is getting old." 7PM.

[Trojan35]

Only negative of this game was that the Marleau-Couture-Wingels line was really bad outside a couple of chances. The biggest problem is that that line doesn't have an F2, which is ironic considering pretty much every other forward on the team is an F2. But yeah, they got slaughtered against RPG, and couldn't maintain much zone-time because they didn't have a playmaker. Good in transition, but otherwise not good.

And you wanted to trade him.

Thornton's line always gets owned by RPG, so the fact that Marleau's line struggled isn't a surprise. Simply, the RPG has owned whatever Sharks line it's faced since it has been put together.

Splitting up JT/PM at least forces them to only own one of our two best players :p

 

[pappaf2]

Marleau has the size and speed to match up against pretty much any center in the league if he's properly motivated.

Cattle prod?

 

[Juxtaposer]

Galiardi-Thornton-Burns
Wingels-Couture-Havlat
Marleau-Pavelski-Sheppard

I'm thinking this might be the best way to do it. Gives each line a suitable F1 (Burns, Wingels, Marleau), spreads out the scoring, and allows Marleau and Pavelski to play shutdown.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

They're gonna play Clowe on the top line so he can score a goal finally and his value goes up a bit.

We'll see Wednesday. If Clowe isn't ready and this team puts on the same show, they have to trade him. If Clowe comes in and the team sags again, they have to trade him. But if he comes in and they still roll, it will make it tough to call.

This is the best the team has looked in quite some time. It will be difficult to break that up even with Clowe being ready.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Cattle prod?

Whoever suggested shock-collar earlier on in the thread is spot on. Just give RW the reigns. Marleau will win the Rocket and the Selke.

 

[WantonAbandon]

I get nervous on the ice when Demers, Braun, or Irwin has the puck in the defensive zone.

All three of them don't seem to move the puck well under pressure. Irwin and Demers just seem to casual with the puck at times. Demers tried, once or twice today, to do a fancy little move with the puck behind his own net with a forechecker incoming; the attacker just pushed him off the puck.

Neither does Burns... as even Ratto has been able to observe

 

[drunksage]

Sheppard on postgame radio interview: Outplaying a team like the Ducks is good for the Sharks. Gomez told Sheppard just to shoot the puck from now on. Galiardi is fast and Pavs is great. Guys knew they had to keep working. Getting comfortable at home is huge for the Sharks.

(long delay b/c I was distracted w/ TV postgame and other stuff)

 

[Negatively Positive]

Galiardi-Thornton-Burns
Wingels-Couture-Havlat
Marleau-Pavelski-Sheppard

I'm thinking this might be the best way to do it. Gives each line a suitable F1 (Burns, Wingels, Marleau), spreads out the scoring, and allows Marleau and Pavelski to play shutdown.

If Clowe and Handzus wasn't out, Gali would be in the pressbox. I don't think T-Mac has allowed Gali above 3rd line this year so 1st line is asking alot.

 

[OldAsianSharksFan]

Cattle prod?

Clowe can hold the prod on the bench. He's good at using sticks/prods from the bench

 

[Alwalys]

Why is Thornton the #1 star?

because thornton.

Couture can't carry a line defensively.

well, duh, but you wouldn't ask him to.

 

[OldAsianSharksFan]

Galiardi-Thornton-Burns
Wingels-Couture-Havlat
Marleau-Pavelski-Sheppard

I'm thinking this might be the best way to do it. Gives each line a suitable F1 (Burns, Wingels, Marleau), spreads out the scoring, and allows Marleau and Pavelski to play shutdown.

I rather switch Shep with Galiardi. He seems to be better offensively. Galiardi kinda sucks.

 

[Juxtaposer]

If Clowe and Handzus wasn't out, Gali would be in the pressbox. I don't think T-Mac has allowed Gali above 3rd line this year so 1st line is asking alot.

I know... but I can dream, right?

BTW I honestly can't find where to put Clowe in that lineup. I'd like him to get as much playing time as possible in the top-6 with Couture just so he can pot a few goals and raise his trade value, then ship him out for Khokhlachev or whatever.

well, duh, but you wouldn't ask him to.

True. But I'm looking at the four top two-way guys we have (Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, and Couture) and the only combos that I can come up with that might have a chance against the real toughs are Thornton-Marleau and Pavelski-Marleau, with preference to Pavelski-Marleau. I try to build from there, while keeping both Thornton and Couture at center and also putting an F1 on every line. Not easy.

 

[DrFeelgood]

Pretty good game tonight, good to see the big names on the score sheet. Some interesting officiating, but that's par for the course for this league. Overall a pretty good effort, and it's not often I can say that this season.

 

[Mafoofoo]

Why is Thornton the #1 star?

Because he's the number one star in our hearts.

 

[Kitten Mittons]

Yeah Clowe just does not fit into the line-up with the lack of speed. He can't keep up with the run and gun style with crisp passing like we've seen at times tonight.

 

[WantonAbandon]

Yeah Clowe just does not fit into the line-up with the lack of speed. He can't keep up with the run and gun style with crisp passing like we've seen at times tonight.

He sort of can and has done an admirable job of trying. His bread and butter has been to hold onto the puck for as long as possible and get off the pass. The league changed and has taken that away from him and he has been trying to figure that out ever since.

 

[Alwalys]

OH! Since I missed the GDT I thought I would rewind a little and say, there was altogether much too much too much talk about, and quoting of, "It touched my shaft!"

 

[ChompChomp]

I hope he gets healthy and we can move him. In another thread, I think it was said Clowe could fetch a 1st round pick. I think I'd take a lower pick if we could add a speedy forward who can finish...

 

[WantonAbandon]

Its hard for Clowe to break a slump when he can't fall back to what made him successful

 

[Barrie22]

Its hard for Clowe to break a slump when he can't fall back to what made him successful

what truely made him successful in this league was when he was more of a power forward who crashed the net. not thornton extreme light.

 

[SactoShark]

Yeah Clowe just does not fit into the line-up with the lack of speed. He can't keep up with the run and gun style with crisp passing like we've seen at times tonight.

This game was a Koala's worst nightmare. He would have rather lost 2-1 with a good effort than get into a shootout with the top division team.

 

[SactoShark]

what truely made him successful in this league was when he was more of a power forward who crashed the net. not thornton extreme light.

In 2007? Seems like he had much better years when he moved to Thorton-lite.

Well, not seemingly. He did. Like by a lot.

 

[Broiler19]

This game was a Koala's worst nightmare. He would have rather lost 2-1 with a good effort than get into a shootout with the top division team.

he has zero faith that the team can actually score goals and be productive in a different system.

 

[WantonAbandon]

what truely made him successful in this league was when he was more of a power forward who crashed the net. not thornton extreme light.

Thats a myth. Clowe has only scored 20 goals twice in his career. He also has never scored more goals than assist and the only time the two numbers were close was during what would officially be his rookie year where he scored a total of 34 points. No his greatest asset is his ability to hold onto the puck especially along the boards. This asset isn't quite as big of an asset anymore.

 

[zombie kopitar]

The breakout, was like , there tonight. sup wit dat?

I guess switching Murray for Demers will do things like that.