Post-Game Talk: Preds vs Stars 10/10 7pm: The "We're excited for the new season!" edition or...the "How many games will Saros miss?" edition.

[Flgatorguy87]

A few thoughts on the game:

1. We hit four posts by my count, so between that and the last minute Saros scratch, the hockey gods just weren't with us last night. On other nights, those shots are going in and we win big;
2. Two of the Stars' goals were on pretty bad defensive lapses. It sucks that those happened, but that's also something that can be fixed with coaching and practice;
3. Wedgewood is bad, even as a "backup". He doesn't look comfortable at all out there, so scratching my head how we ended up signing him for the role;
4. In seasons past, I had little to no hope that we could score a 6-on-5 goal in close games. Now we have firepower in abundance and I watched the final 3:00 of the game with a lot more optimism than in the past, and we were almost rewarded with at least a point (refer to item 1 above). We have more scoring potential in this lineup than I've seen in two decades, so as long as our defense isn't completely awful for most of the game and we stay relatively healthy, we should win our fair share of games; and
5. It's great to be playing meaningful hockey again. Between this, playoff baseball and football (both American and otherwise), it's the best time of year to be a sports fan.

It looks like we are going to need 4-5 goals in games that Wedgewood starts. I hope that is a wild overreaction that is completely wrong.

 

[Armourboy]

I don't think Stamkos getting 3 minutes more of ice time a game than Forsberg is going to be a winning formula. He ain't that good anymore.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I don't think Stamkos getting 3 minutes more of ice time a game than Forsberg is going to be a winning formula. He ain't that good anymore.

Frankly, I don't think we have ANY 20-23 minute a night forwards on this team. We do have better depth and balance than we did before. Great. But. These are still older guys, not in their primes. We need to keep those minutes a bit lower. Maybe last game was a bit "special" in terms of chasing-from-behind and last-minute pushes for an equalizer or something. But generally speaking, we shouldn't have those guys playing THAT much. Especially in October??? What's going to be left in the tank later when it really matters?

 

[adsfan]

Yeah I don’t know who the solution is. We just don’t have another heavy forward on the roster at

the moment but the line does work best when it’s on all out forechecking assault and it becomes more than the sum of its parts. Jankowski and Parsinnen are good enough players for the minutes but neither are what I’d call high intensity. L’Hereux would fit that mold better so possibly him later in the season.

Do you seriously want L'Heureux on the 4th line? He should be playing on line 2 or 3 if you want more scoring in Nashville.

If you don't want 3+ GF a game, than put him on the Grind Line and keep scoring 2 or 3 goals max.

 

[triggrman]

Do you seriously want L'Heureux on the 4th line? He should be playing on line 2 or 3 if you want more scoring in Nashville.

If you don't want 3+ GF a game, than put him on the Grind Line and keep scoring 2 or 3 goals max.

He would provide speed and grit to that line. He’s not ready to be anywhere near too 2 lines

 

[Armourboy]

Do you seriously want L'Heureux on the 4th line? He should be playing on line 2 or 3 if you want more scoring in Nashville.

If you don't want 3+ GF a game, than put him on the Grind Line and keep scoring 2 or 3 goals max.

On this team that's where he is going to be if he was called up, maybe Tomasino's spot on the 3rd if he slips. He's definitely not pushing anyone out of the top 6 on this roster, nor Novak or Evangelista on the 3rd.