Having a defense that is competent at defense is going to take some getting used to.
Loved the Murphy old school hip check. And really, his whole game.
Skinner is a nightmare matchup on the 3rd line. 3rd pairings can't contain him. Think Ruutu replaces Nash on that line when he gets back? Skinner Ruutu Dvorak is a scary scary 3rd line.
Brett Sutter has been a great utility guy. Face offs and PK duties. I think he can fight too? A big upgrade over just Westgarth.
- notwalnc
Couldn't agree more on Sutter. It is only 2 games, but he is playing his way toward a more permanent home in Raleigh.
On Skinner, I need to go dig back through my blogs and find the first 7-8 times I suggested separating Skinner and JStaal and make a couple people apologize for calling me an idiot or similar.
As you noted, opposing coaches especially playing in Raleigh are going to very often send out their 5 and then realize that they have too many players at too much of a skating disadvantage to Skinner and his line in total. Bad things happen to other teams when Skinner gets to size up a non-skating defenseman at 1-on-1 with a head of steam and the puck on his stick entering the offensive zone.
