Glad to see Anaheim lose last night it's just too bad Dallas won. I really would like to see both of these teams be sellers come trade deadline. I wouldn't mind having Sheldon Souray for the playoffs.
- Mainert

why? he plays little to no defense

Lindback getting the start tonight. I do find it a little interesting that Lindback's last 3 starts have come against the Eastern Conference, could this be a showcase kinda thing? I can't imaging Pekka being tired after having a week off?
- PredsFan8

its because those games are less important

its because those games are less important
- predswilrule

At this point all the games are important, and all are worth 2 points. If games against Eastern teams were not as important as games agains the West, then Lindback would have more starts. Plus, I think when you get a chance to beat one of the top Eastern teams you do it.

its because those games are less important
- predswilrule

Well, they're all important. But essentially I agree that this is probably why Lindback starts versus the other confernence. The eastern conf. games are 2 point games, whereas the western conf. could be a 4 pt. swing in the standings.

would you Nashville folk do Giroux for Sutter webbs and a 1st?
- Philly1980

This seems a little unfair. Shouldn't we throw Rinne in as well!!!

why? he plays little to no defense
- predswilrule

I'll admit that I haven't seen him play much outside of the games against us and during those games I noticed him for the right reasons (big and physical). He's 6'4" and 237 lbs. to start with. He's played in 43 games this season for Dallas and has 5 goals, 13 assist, for 18 points so I wouldn't say he's exactly an offensive defenceman. He's also plus 11 and can eat up 17-20 minutes a game so he must do a pretty decent job of keeping the puck out of his net. Come playoff time, I think Souray could be pretty useful. If I'm Trotz and I'm putting together my line up for the game and I had to pick between Hiller, Bouillon, and Souray to round out our defense, I'd go with Souray.

FYI

Good blurb on Peterson's surgery. Pretty amazing throwing a ball in the OR while the back of your head and brain are exposed. Check out the horrific Vancouver unis and snaggle snoz that the beginning of the video.


- HockeyHop

Can you change the width on this video to 470 so that it looks more like this and doesn't stretch out the comment boxes beyond the ads?

I would take Ryan in a heartbeat
- Domov14

+1

At this point all the games are important, and all are worth 2 points. If games against Eastern teams were not as important as games agains the West, then Lindback would have more starts. Plus, I think when you get a chance to beat one of the top Eastern teams you do it.
- PredsFan8

i disagree. beating an eastern "power" is of no more value than the islanders. its 2 points. beating anyone in the west, w/ the exception of a couple teams means you distance yourself from them.... hence the higher importance. trotz has even alluded to as much.

+1
- pmccann

+100000000

Lindback doesn't just need a solid night, he needs a solid win. He played very well against the NYR, but his confidence needs a boost. Go Preds.

I'll admit that I haven't seen him play much outside of the games against us and during those games I noticed him for the right reasons (big and physical). He's 6'4" and 237 lbs. to start with. He's played in 43 games this season for Dallas and has 5 goals, 13 assist, for 18 points so I wouldn't say he's exactly an offensive defenceman. He's also plus 11 and can eat up 17-20 minutes a game so he must do a pretty decent job of keeping the puck out of his net. Come playoff time, I think Souray could be pretty useful. If I'm Trotz and I'm putting together my line up for the game and I had to pick between Hiller, Bouillon, and Souray to round out our defense, I'd go with Souray.
- Mainert

hes a lifetime -41. he has apparently been better this year in the dallas system, which might bode well if he came here. he is a more big shot oriented dman rather than a SOB type like worked so well for us last year.

They must have done a lot of stretching before the game...
- Lohaus

I can't stand when people write "loose" instead of "lose".

But I hope the Preds are LOOSE tonight, and I hope to see Philly LOSE.

+1
- pmccann

What would it take to get Ryan? What if we offerred Blum, Lindback, Watson, and a 1st? Is that to much? Maybe you take out Watson and offer Blum, Lindback and a 1st. I just think that you may have to overpay a little bit for a guy like Ryan because there are other teams who would be interested. I also think that he is a guy you could overpay for and it be worth it. He is young, he would be around for a couple more years and may be the kind of guy to get Suter and Weber to commit longterm.

What would it take to get Ryan? What if we offerred Blum, Lindback, Watson, and a 1st? Is that to much? Maybe you take out Watson and offer Blum, Lindback and a 1st. I just think that you may have to overpay a little bit for a guy like Ryan because there are other teams who would be interested. I also think that he is a guy you could overpay for and it be worth it. He is young, he would be around for a couple more years and may be the kind of guy to get Suter and Weber to commit longterm.
- PredsFan8

Wilson & Blum

Weber for Ryan, Beauchemin and a 1st

What would it take to get Ryan? What if we offerred Blum, Lindback, Watson, and a 1st? Is that to much? Maybe you take out Watson and offer Blum, Lindback and a 1st. I just think that you may have to overpay a little bit for a guy like Ryan because there are other teams who would be interested. I also think that he is a guy you could overpay for and it be worth it. He is young, he would be around for a couple more years and may be the kind of guy to get Suter and Weber to commit longterm.
- PredsFan8

It would take something more than that.

Blum can't crack the Preds starting lineup (which would definitely be a concern to me if I were a GM considering our d-men outside of the big 2).

So I don't think an AHL dman, a backup goalie, a prospect and a 1st would be enough to nab one of the perennial forwards in the league.

We're probably looking (realistically) at Ellis, Wilson, Watson, possibly Lindy and a first and hope to get maybe a 5th back with Ryan.

It would take something more than that.

Blum can't crack the Preds starting lineup (which would definitely be a concern to me if I were a GM considering our d-men outside of the big 2).

So I don't think an AHL dman, a backup goalie, a prospect and a 1st would be enough to nab one of the perennial forwards in the league.

- Domov14

Blum would be starting for many other teams around the league. Not many teams have the kind of depth that we do on the blueline. Also, don't forget that Blum is from Anaheim, so that would help a little bit.

anyone having trouble veiwing the game tonight

Falling behind on the road against a good team is a recipe for disaster every time. Need to rebound Saturday night when the Blues come to town.

Can't win them all.

Whatever happened to Trotz saying yesterday that he would not split up hustlechuck, smith and yip....yet yip sat this game?!?!? What gives? That line would've kicked ass in a game like tonight's.

I love, love, LOVE smithson--always have, always will. But his game has been SEVERELY lacking this year--he disappears for stretches. (And don't give me "face-offs, PK, blah, blah, blah...because we got others that can do that).

And smithson's untimely penalties--like the one in the middle of our 3rd period comeback tonight--especially hurt.

Blueline: cruch some numbers of our record with smithson in, and with smithson out this year, and I KNOW it'll prove my point.

And if we're showcasing Lindy to the eastern conference--it ain't working.

Simmonds got lucky on the first goal. Smithson takes a stupid penalty with 5 min to go in a 1 goal game. The score makes the game look more lopsided than it really was. A couple of times the puck just trickled by the goal. And Smith hit a dandy of a post which would've tied the game. Oh well. No time for moral victories. Time to take care of business in our division on Saturday.

I know Smithson is a favorite of Trotz.....but, I think it's time to consider moving him. In 45 games this season he has a whopping 5 points. I know he is in there to kill penalties and plays on the 4th line but he has to contribute some offensively. He seems to pick up penalties at the most inopportune times.