Pre-Game Talk: Winnipeg Jets @ our Toronto Maple Leafs, March 31st 7pm

[kb]

But why are we splitting Gio-Lilje... Let Dahlstrom - Holl do bottom pairing

My thoughts exactly because:

1) Holl is coming off a head injury early in the 2nd period last game for which he did not return.
2) The entire bottom 4 has never played with the other in game situations, and this is 100% avoidable.

It's the second one that bothers me the most. With forwards, Keefe stresses familiarity and pairs. With D, it's like he puts the LD and RD names each in a hat, and picks them randomly. The D needs to be more familiar with each other than the forwards do or you will have blown coverages, bad reads, and long stretches hemmed in.

 

[MSZ]

The thread title should be renamed to Stanley Cup Final Game 7.

 

[crump]

Blackwell had a great game in Boston. Made that 4th line viable, scored a goal and had some hits (Hockey reference only has one registered, but I saw him lay out a few) I think the only reason he's out is because he is sore or a mild injury. He can totally hold his own in a tough game.

 

[Once]

Happy Holl is okay, was worried he had a Brendan Smith-lite injury.

But you gotta keep Gio - Lil together, they’ve been too good.

 

[kb]

This is the one troubling lineup decision I see.

It should be:

Reilly - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren
Dahlstrom - Holl

I found it somewhat troubling too. That's what I would do. Holl suffered a not inconsequential injury to his head last game.

And none of the bottom 4 have played with each other before.

 

[ACC1224]

Manitoba? I thought winnipeg was in Saskatchewan?

Manitoba is Saskatchewan's ghetto.

 

[ACC1224]

This is the one troubling lineup decision I see.

It should be:

Reilly - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren
Dahlstrom - Holl

That seems to be the unanimous view. Rare for this place.

 

[Morgs]

Poor Lily, Dahlstrom is horriawful.

He'll still find a way to win his minutes tho

 

[zeke]

Blackwell had a great game in Boston. Made that 4th line viable, scored a goal and had some hits (Hockey reference only has one registered, but I saw him lay out a few) I think the only reason he's out is because he is sore or a mild injury. He can totally hold his own in a tough game.

if i'm guessing....keefe wanted the two goons in just because the jets are goons, and then wanted to make sure if he was playing a liability goon line he at least had a great faceoff guy like Spezza to make sure they weren't automatically chasing the puck every shift.

 

[123offtheglass]

Over/Under how many times he hides behind the refs in a scrum, 4.5

Under, he doesn't play very much because the Jets defence are too stacked

He'll be up there in hides per 60 though

 

[zeke]

Staples on the right side:
Brodie
Holl
Lybushkin
Liljegren

agreed

 

[zeke]

My thoughts exactly because:

1) Holl is coming off a head injury early in the 2nd period last game for which he did not return.
2) The entire bottom 4 has never played with the other in game situations, and this is 100% avoidable.

It's the second one that bothers me the most. With forwards, Keefe stresses familiarity and pairs. With D, it's like he puts the LD and RD names each in a hat, and picks them randomly. The D needs to be more familiar with each other than the forwards do or you will have blown coverages, bad reads, and long stretches hemmed in.

Gio-Lilly had no familiarity a week ago. They seemed to do ok.

 

[123offtheglass]

The thread title should be renamed to Stanley Cup Final Game 7.

Logan Stanley Cup Final

 

[Maplebeasts]

Wait Dahlstrom is in when we also called up Kral? And is paired with Liljegren? WTF.

 

[Mess]

I get that they're just in to make sure things don't get too out of hand but taking out Blackwell for Simmonds while still having Clifford in is pure stupidity. I like Keefe as a coach but some of his line-up decisions are just horrendous.

I thought Blackwell looked really good centering the 4th line in a win against Boston.

Removing him seems like an odd choice. IMO

 

[kb]

Gio-Lilly had no familiarity a week ago. They seemed to do ok.

Former Norris winner with a high-level prospect playing the 3rd pair? Absolutely - they did great.

Now they need to have two pairings to do ok, one pairing with an AHL emergency callup, the other pairing having a player coming off a head injury.

I dunno about that.

 

[Optimist]

Anyone know the extent of Bushkins injury?

 

[Nooodles]

I just hope Simmonds is in because we some unfinished business with Pionk

 

[zeke]

There are many things better than beating the Jets....but let's beat them anyways.

 

[egd27]

That’s one way to read it. Another would be that Keefe liked the idea of Liljegren carrying Dahlstrom on the third pairing better than Holl

That would be the correct way to read it IMO

 

[zeke]

Former Norris winner with a high-level prospect playing the 3rd pair? Absolutely - they did great.

Now they need to have two pairings to do ok, one pairing with an AHL emergency callup, the other pairing having a player coming off a head injury.

I dunno about that.

The Holl takes continue to be bizarre around here.

He has literally been on our top matchup pairing for the last 3 years. Now we're worried about him playing with Gio?

 

[Apex Predator]

When healthy is obvious they don’t trust Lily in the top 6. If they’re slow cooking him that’s fine but at this point he’s clearly stepped up and is one of the top 6. I don’t think Keefe sees of that way though.

 

[glue]

3 Jets who I hope get some tough love from the leafs today - Stanley, PLD & Pionk. Their all wimps though, they cheap shot and then turtle or run away

 

[A1LeafNation]

Douglas should be called up.

 

[Martin Skoula]

When healthy is obvious they don’t trust Lily in the top 6. If they’re slow cooking him that’s fine but at this point he’s clearly stepped up and is one of the top 6. I don’t think Keefe sees of that way though.

Even if he wasn't easily one of our top 6 today, his development curve is hard to argue against and would be on track to become a slam dunk top 6 by the end of the month at this pace.

Current Lily is one of our best, but with the way he's been improving week to week I really don't see how April/May Liljegren can be kept on the outside.