Does this mean Hinkie is going to be sitting in between Barkley & Shaq on Inside the NBA?
- PLindbergh31

You don't just sit a key player. Yes, he's struggling. But he is still their best setup man after Giroux. The whole team was varying degrees of lousy the last two games except for the goaltender. Last Saturday, he looked close to being back to himself. All you can do is hope he makes some plays in these last few games.

Gagner and Laughton are downgrades on Voracek even at 70% or whatever he's playing at right now.
- bmeltzer

I don't disagree with this but that turnover was brutal. It put the team down 2 goals and really put the game out of reach.

He needs to be a difference maker, not a player who people think is playing comparable to a Laughton or a Read or a Cousins.

I don't disagree with this but that turnover was brutal. It put the team down 2 goals and really put the game out of reach.

He needs to be a difference maker, not a player who people think is playing comparable to a Laughton or a Read or a Cousins.
- ggunky

He's had a down year. He's come back from injury and hasn't played well. He probably wasn't ready to return, but he's doing all he can to help the team. Unless he's physically unable to play, I don't think you can sit him. Like Bill said Voracek at 75% is better than any other option.

Absolutely incorrect. Leafs had nothing to play for in January and beat us in a critical home game. Boy, those two points would come in handy today.
- Hextall271

I'm just setting you guys up for total misery if you lose

I'm just setting you guys up for total misery if you lose
- rangerdanger94

Enjoy the Pens.

He's had a down year. He's come back from injury and hasn't played well. He probably wasn't ready to return, but he's doing all he can to help the team. Unless he's physically unable to play, I don't think you can sit him. Like Bill said Voracek at 75% is better than any other option.
- PLindbergh31

I guess that 8m/year left a sour taste in his mouth. Poor guy.

Gotta keep Voracek in good or bad play. In all honesty I'm just hoping he can get back to his play similar to last season for next season. Especially with his 8M kicking in. I know it's been a down year and he's been injured so I'm not too worried, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a worry deep in the back of my mind.

tonights game is going to be a snooze fest

Gotta keep Voracek in good or bad play. In all honesty I'm just hoping he can get back to his play similar to last season for next season. Especially with his 8M kicking in. I know it's been a down year and he's been injured so I'm not too worried, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a worry deep in the back of my mind.
- arichardson22

I am in pain watching V play

I don't watch a lot of philly games but after watching last night I was wondering if Couturier always just shoots from everywhere on the pp. Watching the leafs every night I see the entire team do this all the time but Couturier seemed to just be wasting the puck every time he had it on the pp last night. Non-stop trying to force shots when and open man was on the other side.

That Leafs lineup is the worst NHL lineup I've ever seen.
- PLindbergh31

Yah, they shipped out a few players at TDL and they have a few injuries:

S. Robidas, D Oct 5, 2015 IR Knee
J. van Riemsdyk, LW Jan 10, 2016 IR Broken foot
J. Lupul, LW Feb 7, 2016 IR Sports hernia surgery
M. Hunwick, D Mar 7, 2016 day-to-day Sports hernia surgery
L. Komarov, C Mar 15, 2016 day-to-day Lower-body injury
P. Holland, C Mar 17, 2016 day-to-day Concussion
M. Michalek, LW Mar 31, 2016 day-to-day Knee
N. Kadri, C Apr 4, 2016 4 Game Suspension

Been the Marlies pretty much playing after the All Star break

Most of us really have no conception of what any of these guys go through. You and I both know that by this point in the season, many of the players are playing through injuries that would have sidelined them earlier in the season. You also cannot underestimate the mental fatigue that is accumulated when every game you play is basically a must win.
- BiggE

You mean there are other possible reasons for looking bad besides not 'showing up' or 'wanting it' enough?!

Yah, they shipped out a few players at TDL and they have a few injuries:

S. Robidas, D Oct 5, 2015 IR Knee
J. van Riemsdyk, LW Jan 10, 2016 IR Broken foot
J. Lupul, LW Feb 7, 2016 IR Sports hernia surgery
M. Hunwick, D Mar 7, 2016 day-to-day Sports hernia surgery
L. Komarov, C Mar 15, 2016 day-to-day Lower-body injury
P. Holland, C Mar 17, 2016 day-to-day Concussion
M. Michalek, LW Mar 31, 2016 day-to-day Knee
N. Kadri, C Apr 4, 2016 4 Game Suspension

Been the Marlies pretty much playing after the All Star break
- ShayneCorsi

Agreed. They have some talent, most of it is either injured or suspended.
Obviously JVR, Lupul, Kadri, Komarov are all very good players. Like you said, they are icing the equivalent of a minor league hockey club.

I am in pain watching V play
- vejim

Me too man. Especially with how dominant he was last season and how great he played years prior for us. I think we'll find out conclusion of season he was injured to start the season or dealt with something all year aside from his foot injury recently

Essentially a 5-2, and didn't come close to scoring.
- PLindbergh31

well a crossbar is pretty damn close to scoring if you ask me but yeah

well a crossbar is pretty damn close to scoring if you ask me but yeah
- nastyflyergirl

That's right, Voracek did hit the crossbar. But how many times did they miss the net?

Saw that as well. Almost looked like Ghost threw the puck away in effort to draw a penalty. Which was an odd reaction.
- Baxter27

I thought he tried to throw it around the boards but the pressure/hook caused him to throw it to the side of the net.

Yah, they shipped out a few players at TDL and they have a few injuries:

S. Robidas, D Oct 5, 2015 IR Knee
J. van Riemsdyk, LW Jan 10, 2016 IR Broken foot
J. Lupul, LW Feb 7, 2016 IR Sports hernia surgery
M. Hunwick, D Mar 7, 2016 day-to-day Sports hernia surgery
L. Komarov, C Mar 15, 2016 day-to-day Lower-body injury
P. Holland, C Mar 17, 2016 day-to-day Concussion
M. Michalek, LW Mar 31, 2016 day-to-day Knee
N. Kadri, C Apr 4, 2016 4 Game Suspension

Been the Marlies pretty much playing after the All Star break
- ShayneCorsi

Has anyone even seen Robidas and Lupul since they got injured?

Lou's pretty good at making problems disappear.

Yah, they shipped out a few players at TDL and they have a few injuries:

S. Robidas, D Oct 5, 2015 IR Knee
J. van Riemsdyk, LW Jan 10, 2016 IR Broken foot
J. Lupul, LW Feb 7, 2016 IR Sports hernia surgery
M. Hunwick, D Mar 7, 2016 day-to-day Sports hernia surgery
L. Komarov, C Mar 15, 2016 day-to-day Lower-body injury
P. Holland, C Mar 17, 2016 day-to-day Concussion
M. Michalek, LW Mar 31, 2016 day-to-day Knee
N. Kadri, C Apr 4, 2016 4 Game Suspension

Been the Marlies pretty much playing after the All Star break
- ShayneCorsi

holy guacamole

Here's something I never really got as far as positions and being tired. I played some hockey as a kid, goalie for a bit, but stopped in high school, so guys who have played all their lives might be able to chime in.

The goalie pretty much stands there all game, unless the puck is in their end the entire night, but let's say for the sake of argument the average the time of possession is split between both teams. The players are out there skating and checking and shooting for 18-22 minutes per game, hopefully skating hard and giving it all they got for each shift, so why does a goalie who has played so many games in a row get a pass for being tired but the rest of the team doesn't? There's no back up for Giroux, I'm sure he's played more games in a row than Mason has. Never really made sense to me. Is it because the players are expected to be better conditioned than the goalie?
- Tomfan365

9 games in 14 nights playing a physical sport plus practice time but hey, the players are robots so they shouldn't be tired. seeing the schedule was why I was leery about the whole "odds" being high in making the playoffs. the schedule is ridiculous.

Passing out of the defensive zone has been an issue the last two games. Howard made some good saves throughout the game, kind of thought he got lucky on a few, but Detroit did enough to win the game.

Getting a better first pass out of the defensive zone and the team will look much better. The blueline is essentially stacked with 5 third pairing dmen at this point. I'm not be overly critical, just realistic considering the age and ability of these guys.

That's right, Voracek did hit the crossbar. But how many times did they miss the net?
- PLindbergh31

you mean VoraCHOKE

That's right, Voracek did hit the crossbar. But how many times did they miss the net?
- PLindbergh31

too freaking many times. trust me, not defending not scoring, just saying Jake did come close. he also fired 2 completely wide

you mean VoraCHOKE
- Not_Yan

Agreed

you mean VoraCHOKE
- Not_Yan