Playoff Lines

Personally, I don’t think Belanger or BMo have done anything to say that they definitely deserve a playoff sweater if healthy. I think the lines right now (when Ovie and Gordon are back) are basically what I would go with, assuming no one (like BMo) goes on a hot streak down the stretch.

Ovie – Backstrom – Knuble
Laich – Flash – Semin
Chimera – Belanger/BMo – Fehr
Gordon – Steckel – Bradley

I’d probably just keep going with the hot hand at #3 center, with the possibility of one of them moving up if flash isn’t getting it done at #2C.

D and goalies I agree with, including who is and isn’t “guaranteed” a sweater each night.

Here’s what I would do:

AO – Backs – Knuble
Laich – Belanger – Semin
Chimera – BMo – Fehr
Gordo – Stecks – Brads(assuming Gordo is healthy; if not, then Walker)

Scratches: Flash, Bradley, Laing

Why scratch Flash? He can’t play center; not enough defense, not enough faceoff skill. He doesn’t play enough defense to play on a checking or energy line. Laich and AO are better than him for the Top 6 LW positions.

What I think will happen is that BB will start with 3rd and 4th lines like this:

Flash – BMo – Fehr
Chimera – Stecks – Bradley

If Juice is in game shape does he play? And who sits if he’s in?

/he might not be game-ready ’til late in the second round, is my guess.

is unfortunately not as much of a negative as an injured player otherwise would be. i do want the lines to be cemented somewhere here in the next week. I concur carlson might have a lapse in the playoffs, much like shultz did last year. the good thing is that GMGM has built depth with erskine and juice to counteract that. I really want Theo to play well this playoffs. he has had such a rough year and has handled it like such a man and with such class. his house is the place the team gathered to watch the olympics, this could be his year.

I dont like the way belanger plays, with our second line quit yet, i feel the caps have a uniquely different philosophy of playing that takes new acquistions awhile to be comfortable with.

Last year, the “fourth line” got more minutes than the “third line.” Perhaps the answer, in order of playing time, is:

Ovechkin – Backstrom – Knuble
Fleischmann – Belanger – Semin
Laich – Steckel – Bradley
Chimera – Morrison – Fehr