Pre-Game Talk: Toronto @ Dallas - Wednesday 7:30 - SN

[SprDaVE]

Sitting out Dewar or Holmberg for Reaves is so dumb.

Also, Kampf seems like is back? I guess we'll see how he feels after practice.

 

[SprDaVE]

Is someone coming back or just getting him playing time? I can only think of hakanpaa. Think kampf is a bit away from returning.

Kampf is practicing as the fourth line center, so it sounds like he's returning, or at least very close.

 

[OVO16]

Why is Dewar not playing.

This obsession with David Kampf needs to stop. Bro gets in the lineup because he's "big". Dewar is actually far more physical and gritty than Kampf too

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Dewar and Holmberg tied the game for us vs Jersey in the 3rd last week. What has Reaves done to stay in the lineup?

 

[Suntouchable13]

Domi is a placeholder for a ROR or Brock Nelson. Then Robertson goes.

Domi - someone like ROR or Brock Nelson - McMann
that's a good playoff 3rd line.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Sitting out Dewar or Holmberg for Reaves is so dumb.

Also, Kampf seems like is back? I guess we'll see how he feels after practice.

I like how instead of splitting the Big Three onto separate lines like a lot of people have opined Berube instead sticks them all together on the first line. Guess the WAM line is going to be a thing from now on.

 

[Dr Pepper]

The leafs seem to always do well in Dallas. They should win this one.

Not just in Dallas but against Dallas in general.

Think they've won something like 16 of the last 20 games, including the past six. Dallas's last win over the Leafs was pre-COVID.

......It's really annoying.

 

[Evilhomer]

Not just in Dallas but against Dallas in general.

Think they've won something like 16 of the last 20 games, including the past six. Dallas's last win over the Leafs was pre-COVID.

......It's really annoying.

Yeah, it's a weird thing. They seem to also have Oettinger's number. Doesn't really make much sense given how good Dallas has been the last few years, but no sense looking a gift horse in the mouth. I imagine this will be a low-scoring, grind it out kind of game.

 

[ACC1224]

I like how instead of splitting the Big Three onto separate lines like a lot of people have opined Berube instead sticks them all together on the first line. Guess the WAM line is going to be a thing from now on.

No harm in trying different looks. Probably hoping Marner can drag the other two into the fight.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I like how instead of splitting the Big Three onto separate lines like a lot of people have opined Berube instead sticks them all together on the first line. Guess the WAM line is going to be a thing from now on.

f***ing Berube man. Oh well, it's December so f*** around all you want I guess. But if he's going to try them all on one line, hopefully he'll get to trying them all on separate lines at some point. I dunno though, it's almost like M&M insist on being together no matter what and those rich kids always get what they want.

No harm in trying different looks. Probably hoping Marner can drag the other two into the fight.

LOL. Good one.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Sitting out Dewar or Holmberg for Reaves is so dumb.

Also, Kampf seems like is back? I guess we'll see how he feels after practice.

Not a fan of stacking the top line, especially when Pacioretty was playing so well with Tavares and Nylander.

Hopefully the experiment will be short lived. Berube needs to spread out the talent.

 

[SprDaVE]

Not a fan of stacking the top line, especially when Pacioretty was playing so well with Tavares and Nylander.

Hopefully the experiment will be short lived. Berube needs to spread out the talent.

He did it last game and it worked well so I guess he wants to see how it looks longer term.

They should do it more often. All the top talent together, and they feed off each other. And you get to play them a lot more.

 

[SkateSave]

It's not only about "stacking" the first line, but about Berube feeling really good about Tavares and the size of the 2 others on that line, and trying to establish an independently decent 3rd line.

 

[Sypher04]

Sitting out Dewar or Holmberg for Reaves is so dumb.

Also, Kampf seems like is back? I guess we'll see how he feels after practice.

Yeah not seeing the logic here with the moves:

- Were compressing our talent into even less lines which is moving in the wrong direction imo
- we are isolating JT with 2 other guys who aren’t overly fast either
- we take our PKers to add in a guy who really offers us nothing at all

He did it last game and it worked well so I guess he wants to see how it looks longer term.

They should do it more often. All the top talent together, and they feed off each other. And you get to play them a lot more.

At times in a game where needed makes a ton of sense, but I don’t think it should be the starting configuration of our lineup for a game

It's not only about "stacking" the first line, but about Berube feeling really good about Tavares and the size of the 2 others on that line, and trying to establish an independently decent 3rd line.

But the 3rd line isn’t improved in this scenario? He weakened to the 2nd line to help the top line and the 3rd stayed roughly or maybe exactly the same

 

[weems]

I could actually see the OEL-Timmins pairing eventually be what we see as the third pairing.
I'm not sold OEL can effectively play on his offside consistently and it's hindering some of his biggest strengths.
Once you decide on the McCabe-Tanev pairing, you're then either playing him on his offside with Rielly which isn't optimal or most likely on a third pairing with a RHD.

 

[SkateSave]

Yeah not seeing the logic here with the moves:

- Were compressing our talent into even less lines which is moving in the wrong direction imo
- we are isolating JT with 2 other guys who aren’t overly fast either
- we take our PKers to add in a guy who really offers us nothing at all



At times in a game where needed makes a ton of sense, but I don’t think it should be the starting configuration of our lineup for a game



But the 3rd line isn’t improved in this scenario? He weakened to the 2nd line to help the top line and the 3rd stayed roughly or maybe exactly the same

I don't think it'll necessarily work, but just that there's more to it than "first line strong". What I mean by the 3rd as independently decent, is independent of the core 4 stars. I think the issues our coaches have had with spreading the stars over 3 lines is providing sufficient ice time for each. So, the 3rd line being OK without them would help a lot.

I don't mind the 2nd line being slow; like, Tavares and Pacioretty work because they have the same pace. Knies provides a good forecheck, and if they get the puck low, they can exploit their size. However, they may get exposed on the rush.

 

[arso40]

Why? He's been great for the most part.

He’s had an injury riddled young career thus far his play isn’t a worry for me just his availability

 

[Fogelhund]

They were mentioning during Sunday's game about Kampf being back on Friday -- maybe he's actually going to be back tomorrow.

It's looking that way now. He's in the practice lineup today.

 

[ToneDog]

Is Oettinger starting for Dallas or is he afraid to face our potent offence?

 

[Clark4Ever]

He did it last game and it worked well so I guess he wants to see how it looks longer term.

They should do it more often. All the top talent together, and they feed off each other. And you get to play them a lot more.

I think it would be more effective in certain situations but not in the starting lineup.

 

[Fogelhund]

Yeah not seeing the logic here with the moves:

- Were compressing our talent into even less lines which is moving in the wrong direction imo
- we are isolating JT with 2 other guys who aren’t overly fast either
- we take our PKers to add in a guy who really offers us nothing at all



At times in a game where needed makes a ton of sense, but I don’t think it should be the starting configuration of our lineup for a game



But the 3rd line isn’t improved in this scenario? He weakened to the 2nd line to help the top line and the 3rd stayed roughly or maybe exactly the same

I'd say, let's experiment and see what works. Maybe these lines work, maybe they don't.

The second line... that's a bit of a physical handful those guys... they'll be able to cycle and pound you pretty good... They have reasonable skill too. I'm interested to see them do their thing physically.

The first line... well that's a lot of skill. It has the potential to be a problem with over concentration, if one line gets shut down, but it also has the potential to be incredibly dominant.

The third line... well, it's had one good game, so they get another game. Was it a fluke? Who knows, with Minten being sent down, it kind of says they don't think he's ready yet... Will he get another chance this year? I don't know... but for Robertson to get a game over him...... Robertson has to be on a short leash here... otherwise we are going to have to make a move, if this combo doesn't work on an ongoing basis.

But I say, don't get worked up about line combinations in practice, or the game sheet.... they can be changed in the game, and for next game.. So, be patient, I'm happy Berube is willing to experiment, and find the best set of combinations for the team.

 

[Racer88]

I spent the weekend Dallas and wished they were playing then.

Were you making a movie…….nineteen67 does Dallas?