I'm not trying to be funny when I say "There was nothing positive about that game". If you really want to scrape the bottom of the barrel, I guess we can be positive about not getting shutout?
Some players played ok, but as a units, no line was a positive.
Othmann may have cemented his AHL start with that performance. I am 100% on the train with the JT Miller comparison now. Definitely the biggest bozo since we had Miller..
If tonight's line-up of our star players brings the same, enjoyable result, this gonna' be bad.
Hopefully not----and I don't suspect it will. It's an AHL/ECHL squad and they all played the night before. It might not be Brodeur again either. They might go with Tyler Brennan this time or do half and half.
At forward--I don't expect Othmann who has played in all 4 preseason games in the lineup and I wouldn't expect Edstrom who's played in the last 3. Whether Panarin's cleared to play he and Trocheck and Lafreniere have only played once--so at least two of those three. I'd guess Chytil comes back in and probably Cuylle and Kakko with him. Rempe and Carrick have only played once so I'm kind of expecting they'll play. That's a tough quotient that the Devils just aren't going to match. The question is whether or not Mika's line and I'd think probably and probably Brodzinksi too.
Mancini's played in 3 so far too and the last two--he might be in again tonight. My guess is Mackey won't. Schneider, Miller and Ruhwedl have only played once. Fox I think will play just to see how other guys fit with him. Probably Jones too and Trouba is a possibility.
Igor I expect will at least get half the game. That team would have no business losing to the Devils team of last night and especially playing a back to back. Strange things have been known to happen though. FWIW a mark of a good team is an ability to move on from really bad games.