S.O.B. line tops in the NHL!!

According to TSN Caps fans are treated to the best line in the NHL (when Semin is healthy enough to suit up). Who still doesn't like the Alexes on the same line? Those boys can put on a clinic...

over 3 years ago Rob Parker 17 comments 2 recs |

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surprised to see the astoundingly good +/- without “the rug.”
(speaking of which, line #6 ain’t so bad.)

looking forward to people’s thoughts. as injuries clear up, i hope BB can find some consistency with at least the top two lines.

by Natty Bumppo on Feb 13, 2009 6:52 PM EST reply actions

if the FFF line can keep playing like they have been then that frees BB up to keep the SOB line together and then put together kozlov/nyls/laich. not bad if it plays out that way.

by Rob Parker on Feb 13, 2009 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

They’re a great line, but it leaves the other lines a little short. I actually like Nylander/Semin a little better than Backstrom/Semin, personally. Like F&B, I loves me some F3 and wouldn’t break up that line.

So:

8-19-25
14-91-16
21-92-28
87-15/39-10

How’s that for three scoring lines?

by gotsparkly on Feb 14, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

SOB line definitely depends on having at least one more scoring line. As of now the F3 line is doing a great job but we’ll see how long they last. If we have both Alexes on the same line I’m not sure we can have 3 scoring lines. 3 Scoring lines looked like it was the plan to start the season but it hasn’t panned out at any point so I wouldn’t bank on it. Who knows though, if the F3 line can keep it rolling and Nyls and Semin can get some chemistry together it is obviously possible, but right now I’m happy with 2 scoring lines if one of them is the dominant SOB line.

by Rob Parker on Feb 14, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

He may be the rug in the regular season...

but he’ll be the welcome mat come playoff time

by Rob Parker on Feb 13, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions

Count me as one who is not convinced. I’ll happily take Kozlov as the 3rd and have Semin playing with Feds on a second line.

by Sct112 on Feb 13, 2009 9:03 PM EST reply actions

Beat me to the punch, F&B. Good post.

by David Getz on Feb 14, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions

Thanks, I was a little surprised when I saw the SOB line ranked first since they haven’t spent all that much time together but considering how much time Holmstrom has missed and how Babcock switches lines around the Hossa/Datsyuck/Holmstrom line hasn’t exactly been a fixture in the DET line up. Same with the 3rd ranked line on the list. SJS switches there studs around pretty regularly to put hot players together so I’m not going to hold the lack of time together against the SOB line. When they do play together, they can absolutely put on a clinic.

by Rob Parker on Feb 14, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

I am not a fan on seeing the Alex’s on the same line. I would rather see Semin increase his shooting on the second line and be closer to the number of shots that Ovechkin takes. That cannot happen when they are on the same line.

I still hope to see lines like the following,
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Fehr
Laich – Fedorov – Semin
Flash – Nylander – Kozlov

by CapsFanSince1979 on Feb 14, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions

Actually, I would prefer to see Fehr getting an increase shot workload on the third line and therefore switching Fehr and Kozlov.

by CapsFanSince1979 on Feb 14, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

Why would you break up the F3 even if you want to break up the Alexes? They have been awesome the last two games and Semin/Nyls/Laich is actually a pretty well balanced scoring line. Why tinker too much? We haven’t had too many line combinations with great chemistry this season but the F3 has had it so far. I say leave them together regardless of your feelings about the SOB line.

by Rob Parker on Feb 14, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Yup. +1

by Sct112 on Feb 14, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions

Two games does not a season make. Granted, you do have to ride the river until there’s no more flow.

How the HELL does Shaone Morrisonn keep getting a sweater?

by Whiter Mage on Feb 15, 2009 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

I like the Alexes playing apart

keeps the other teams juggling their D-line and typically puts Semin against a less then Number One defensive pairing where his stick and skate skills can just outright embarrass someone in front of their own fans and teammates.

Also, any line with Ovie on it is all about controlled chaos, opportunistic wristers, etc. While Semin, particularly when playing with Nyls, is much better at running a system and breaking down the opposing defense to exploit one-on-one or positional weaknesses.

With Ovie out there its just “Bring out the best you have and he’ll take off on a 1-on-3 breakaway and shoot a game winning wrist shot off his back foot through the legs of your best defender (ie Bouwmeester)”. Semin does not flourish in that kind of firewagon hockey.

Now… if Mr 28 would just learn how to stay out of the damn penalty box.

by Wisper on Feb 17, 2009 10:43 AM EST reply actions

Have you watched how long the SOB line keeps possession when they play together? They don’t have to play “AO down the wing all alone” hockey because the D can’t take the puck away from them. They put on a puck possession clinic at least once a period when they are together. I also think keeping them together frees Semin up for more shots. The No. 1 D is always lined up on Ovechkin’s side, that leaves Semin with either the 2 or the 3 on the other side, depending on how teams set their D pairs. They also bring AO’s wing down on him and the Center comes down on him. With that much attention going to AO they cannot cover AS as well. In system hockey they can play their best defensive pair and line against AO and try to triple team him, and then play their second best d pair and still have the forward line gravitate toward AS. With them on the same line that is impossible.

by Rob Parker on Feb 17, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

You make good points

but this only works as long as the 2nd line is clicking, be it FFF or some other lineup, otherwise this is top-ending all the talent on the A line for no reason.

But I think ANYONE lining up on the other side of Ovechkin is going to benefit greatly from open ice and a deficit of defender attention.

What the SOB is lacking though is net-presence. Ovechkin gets in there a bit sometimes to hawk for rebounds, but he is better and more dangerous flying at wing or drifting back to point when Green comes skating in for the kill. Semin and Backstrom are just too small to be a good creasehound the way someone like Kozlov (or Clark in his day) can get down there and make something happen.

The SOB line is a dazzling when it works and the most likely combination to get the Boudreau “TOO DAMN CUTE” label when it doesn’t.

For now it is definitely working though, so I’m all for it. Curious to see what happens when Kozlov’s groin decides to play again but that is still a ways off…

by Wisper on Feb 17, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

You are right that anyone would benefit playing with AO and Baxter. However, what I am addressing is who is going to take advantage of that opportunity. Kozlov has put up pretty good numbers but I wouldn’t say he makes teams pay for overloading on AO. Semin has that capability. Despite his size and hands I also don’t think Kozlov is a “net presence.” I can’t remember the last time I saw him take up shop on top of the crease and bang home a garbage goal. Considering the way the SOB line produces when they are together I wouldn’t say that they really miss a net presence. But yeah, the SOB line is entirely predicated on a legit secondary scoring line. Teams that can only score with one line generally do not do too much in the playoffs.

by Rob Parker on Feb 17, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions