I'd really like to see Bailey just come out and play with some passion. Im not looking for him to score the game winner, but I really wanna see him skating out there, finishing checks, blocking shots. If all the passengers on this team someone decide to be a part of it, watch out.
- kindlyrick

ive given up on this notion. Bailey has Rick Nash's Passion which is none.
Id be happy with Bailey just shooting more and scoring. He has a great shot.

ive given up on this notion. Bailey has Rick Nash's Passion which is none.
Id be happy with Bailey just shooting more and scoring. He has a great shot.
- Spartiarti

Really? Didnt even know he had a shot. Truth is, he doesnt fire quick enough. He's all about his wind up. He also will crattle a pass before shooting instead of one timing. He's the prototypical "wanna make the highlight reel" player. He needs to dirty up his game a bit, and stop trying to make a pretty pass. Id like to see him play the body a little more. He's not gonna be scoring any big goals......he's a pass first guy. He's not a small guy, so take the size and wear down opponents with relentless hitting. If he gets hurt....its a win win.

Not sure if anybody would need 1 ticket, but I have 1 extra ticket for sale on Sunday. If anybody is interested, message me. It's in section 122.

Interesting that Cappy decided to go with Fransy on the first line. Has he ever played with JT on a line consistently (meaning on a regular basis)?
- kindlyrick

probably the best coaching decision hes made in his entire career. honestly.

fransy with JT works perfectly; i would argue that frans is the most (consistently) talented player to play with JT who can pass/finish AND hes a defensive minded player so in theory that means that JTs entire shift isnt spent in the defensive zone.

how anyone questions that decision proves that god exists.

probably the best coaching decision hes made in his entire career. honestly.

fransy with JT works perfectly; i would argue that frans is the most (consistently) talented player to play with JT who can pass/finish AND hes a defensive minded player so in theory that means that JTs entire shift isnt spent in the defensive zone.

how anyone questions that decision proves that god exists.
- LetsGoIsles

I only brought it up, because I dont recall ever seeing those two play on a line together (excluding PP time). They've been on the team together for what 7-8 years now, and all of a sudden without ever playing together, they're starting the playoffs together? Im not against it, its just very unconventional to be trying something new right before the post season.

Not sure if anybody would need 1 ticket, but I have 1 extra ticket for sale on Sunday. If anybody is interested, message me. It's in section 122.
- NYI44

i (kinda) hate to piggyback your post but i got tickets to both games; in sets of 2 or 4. message me if youre interested; lets avoid any (rapejob) stubhub fees.

I only brought it up, because I dont recall ever seeing those two play on a line together (excluding PP time). They've been on the team together for what 7-8 years now, and all of a sudden without ever playing together, they're starting the playoffs together? Im not against it, its just very unconventional to be trying something new right before the post season.
- kindlyrick

i wasnt referring to you disagreeing with it.

its definitely out of the box, but its SIGNIFICANTLY more effective this way then JT and whatever losers he had on his line previously.

i wasnt referring to you disagreeing with it.

its definitely out of the box, but its SIGNIFICANTLY more effective this way then JT and whatever losers he had on his line previously.
- LetsGoIsles

No doubt but then whats the excuse for the last 7 years?

I think come playoffs you gotta shorten the bench. Im not sure how many minutes Martin is gonna be getting. But, I agree he's got more size, but all you really need to do is get position on the dman and with Casey's hands, he can tip.
- kindlyrick

And I think, if the Isles are going to have any chance against the Panthers, they will have to roll 4 lines and outwork their opponent.

And I think, if the Isles are going to have any chance against the Panthers, they will have to roll 4 lines and outwork their opponent.
- JohnScammo

Im talking about the end of games......you gotta play who's working. You cant just roll 4 lines for the sake of rolling 4 lines. 10 min to go in a game, you gotta double shift the guys who want it. If Bailey is dogging it, or Strome takes an offensive zone penalty, they shouldnt be playing in game 2.

No doubt but then whats the excuse for the last 7 years?
- kindlyrick

oh god. such are a democrat.

I DONT KNOW. ive wanted cappy gone longer than most here so im certainly not sticking up for the guy but, did you think of it? i didnt.

i know, its not your job to figure this out...blah blah blah...but again, no one here has ever said to put frans with JT, therefore i have a had time blaming cappy for the past 7 years.

really you don't like Nielsen on top line. this line has been best first line assembled all year.

As for Bailey, I think get start b/c he was good last year. My sense is he stinks it up in game 1, he will be scratched for game 2.

Why are Prince and Quine competing for spot. Quine actually is better than Bernier.
- Spartiarti

I hate to say it but there is no way Bailey is getting scratched unless he's injured. He's a statistical darling of Snow and Cappy and they will use stats to justify his inclusion in this lineup.

oh god. such are a democrat.

I DONT KNOW. ive wanted cappy gone longer than most here so im certainly not sticking up for the guy but, did you think of it? i didnt.

i know, its not your job to figure this out...blah blah blah...but again, no one here has ever said to put frans with JT, therefore i have a had time blaming cappy for the past 7 years.
- LetsGoIsles

No i was too busy saying they should be putting Clutterbuck and his team leading game winning goals with the franchise player (who's he's played juniors with).

Look just cause it sounds good on paper doesnt mean its going to work. My only reason for bringing any of this up, is to me its a panic move. Nothing has worked thus far this season, and so now its sort of a hail mary.

No i was too busy saying they should be putting Clutterbuck and his team leading game winning goals with the franchise player (who's he's played juniors with).

Look just cause it sounds good on paper doesnt mean its going to work. My only reason for bringing any of this up, is to me its a panic move. Nothing has worked thus far this season, and so now its sort of a hail mary.
- kindlyrick

ya, a lot of people were saying him or martin on the top line. ok. did you say anything about frans? cause of what they have tried, that has worked best so far by a landslide.

it IS working. they have done it for a few games and JT has never looked stronger. what are the other options at this point??

nothing has worked?? look how far we've come, just a few seasons ago we would have died for a 100 point season. now, its nothing. huh??

probably the best coaching decision hes made in his entire career. honestly.

fransy with JT works perfectly; i would argue that frans is the most (consistently) talented player to play with JT who can pass/finish AND hes a defensive minded player so in theory that means that JTs entire shift isnt spent in the defensive zone.

how anyone questions that decision proves that god exists.
- LetsGoIsles

Wow, I was not aware that you were God's gift to Hockey Line up calls. Here let me try and Explain... I am not as concerned with the top line as I am with the second and 3rd line. As you so eloquently pointed out Franz is a pretty good defensive forward... while most of us would argue the point some has him Selke ish. That 3rd line of Prince-Strome-Bernier is fken horrifying on the defensive end. I would switch Franz for Strome in a hearbeat.. If you remember last year in the playoffs Strome and JT played pretty well together.. no?

How's That?

Im talking about the end of games......you gotta play who's working. You cant just roll 4 lines for the sake of rolling 4 lines. 10 min to go in a game, you gotta double shift the guys who want it. If Bailey is dogging it, or Strome takes an offensive zone penalty, they shouldnt be playing in game 2.
- kindlyrick

Huh? I thought we were talking about who could stand in front of the crease to screen Luongo.

Oh well, at least we agree that Cappy needs to bench guys who aren't working hard.

And I think, if the Isles are going to have any chance against the Panthers, they will have to roll 4 lines and outwork their opponent.
- JohnScammo

100% agree.. and that 3rd line is scary.

Wow, I was not aware that you were God's gift to Hockey Line up calls. Here let me try and Explain... I am not as concerned with the top line as I am with the second and 3rd line. As you so eloquently pointed out Franz is a pretty good defensive forward... while most of us would argue the point some has him Selke ish. That 3rd line of Prince-Strome-Bernier is fken horrifying on the defensive end. I would switch Franz for Strome in a hearbeat.. If you remember last year in the playoffs Strome and JT played pretty well together.. no?

How's That?
- niteislander

Yeah, but this year's version of Strome is not as good as last year's version. Strome has not clicked with JT all regular season, so I would not expect that to change in the playoffs. He does seem more effective in the center role, however, so he could find his game centering the 3rd line.

ya, a lot of people were saying him or martin on the top line. ok. did you say anything about frans? cause of what they have tried, that has worked best so far by a landslide.

it IS working. they have done it for a few games and JT has never looked stronger. what are the other options at this point??

nothing has worked?? look how far we've come, just a few seasons ago we would have died for a 100 point season. now, its nothing. huh??
- LetsGoIsles

Lets pull back a bit and realize that im not saying its a bad idea at all. Im just curious why its taken this long to happen...

Wow, I was not aware that you were God's gift to Hockey Line up calls. Here let me try and Explain... I am not as concerned with the top line as I am with the second and 3rd line. As you so eloquently pointed out Franz is a pretty good defensive forward... while most of us would argue the point some has him Selke ish. That 3rd line of Prince-Strome-Bernier is fken horrifying on the defensive end. I would switch Franz for Strome in a hearbeat.. If you remember last year in the playoffs Strome and JT played pretty well together.. no?

How's That?
- niteislander

no need to apologize; lets just try to avoid it going forward.

thank you.

no need to apologize; lets just try to avoid it going forward.

thank you.
- LetsGoIsles

Yeah, but this year's version of Strome is not as good as last year's version. Strome has not clicked with JT all regular season, so I would not expect that to change in the playoffs. He does seem more effective in the center role, however, so he could find his game centering the 3rd line.
- JohnScammo

If only Lee was healthy we could have put the kid line back together and felt good about 3 of the lines.

no need to apologize; lets just try to avoid it going forward.

thank you.
- LetsGoIsles

Well played.

Barkov and Ekblad, maybe? Trocheck who's been on fire?
- eichiefs9

I said playoff experience. There's no substitute for that, no matter how good you are.

I read dcb's post to indicate that outside of Luongo and Jagr, the Panthers had little playoff experience.........not that they lacked talent outside of those two.
- JohnScammo

Exactly- teams without talent generally no longer make the playoffs in this league- but until you've skated your ass off and had the sh*t beat out of you every other night for a couple of months, you have no idea, whatsoever.