simonus Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 while the zhog-plek-kost line would be interesting, I am hesitant to have 3 rookies on a line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch_nl Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 The only player the Habs can't replace. I was thinking of it and how to solve the situation. Here's my conclusion. Let the line with Ribeiro, Kovalev and Bulis be our first line. Kovalev has been great thus far and Ribeiro should grow with the task. I know some of you question his character but this is an oppertunity for Ribs. If he get's the chance I think he will take it. On the second line it would look tempting to rebiuld the rookie-line with Perezhogin, Plekanec and Higgins. But this is the playoffs and one with some experience should replace one of the rookies. Sundström, Bonk or Zednik? Bonk has been great so far and here's the problem. Do you promote him to the second line or do you keep the lines intact? I think Bonk deserves to be on the second line and therefore I suggest a line with Bonk, Higgins and Ryder. Sunny has 3 points in 3 games and he's up next. Zednik is a playoff performer and Plekanec is next in line when it comes to centers. Fourth line. Garth Murray. Alexander Perezhogin and the call-up. My vote goes to Andrei Kostitsyn. Why? Montreal scored just one goal last game. Any offense is welcome even at a loss of saftey in the defensive department. Huet might be the best goaltender in the leauge and the defesive is intact and has done a fantastic work so far. I trust them. And maybe Kostitsyn and Perezhogin can work some red-machine magic? Bulis - Ribeiro - Kovalev Higgins - Bonk - Ryder Sundström - Plekanec - Zednik Kostitsyn - Murray - Perezhogin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLP Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 it will certainly be interesting to see what the lines look like today. And I hope the Habs have better luck on the ice that I'm having at the roulette table. -JLP in Vegas, due to watch the game with the Cirque de Soleil guys this afternoon. Revenge Time!!!!!! Get well soon Saku. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iron Lung Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Koivu cannot be replaced... but maybe someone will be given a chance and will be inspired to take their game to a new level. We know we have players that can dazzle from time to time... maybe they'll take his injury to heart and put that focus on the task at hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gohabsgo252006 Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I hope Kostytsin gets his shot. Look at what Wolski is doing in Colorado, I think Kosty could have the same type of effect with Les Habitants. He won't replace what Koivu does, nobody on the roster could, but if guys like HIggins, Bonk and Plex pick it up on the ice we can go out there and win one for our Captain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mclusky Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Wow. Can't believe Gainey's going with Kost. Awesome, let's get him hungrier for the NHL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Being that I don't want Bonk moving to the top line because it would effect his pk time, what if the lines were: Kostitsyn - Ribiero (*shudder* I know) - Kovalev Higgins - Bulis - Ryder Zednik - Plekanec - Perezhogin Murray - Bonk - Sundstrom I'd hate to screw with line chemistry too much, but this seems to work out assuming Kostitsyn takes his role and flourishes... *prays* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athlétique.Canadien Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 (edited) One thing about Andrei that isn't known, (and this would apply to those who have only seen him play for Montreal) is that he is an aggressive forechecker. He's been training now for 2 years to understand the 2 way game. I think he's ready and mark my words for all who have never really seen him - PREPARE TO BE WOWED! :hlogo: PS. When I say forecheck, I mean his style reminds me of a defensive (or offensive hitting) Sergei Fedorov back in the day. And, I'm not sugar coating this. We might want to put him with Perezhogin and Kovalev. If there still exists a language barrier (doubt it), Belarussian is practically Russian anyway. Just a different dialect. Sort of like a Newfie talking to a Texan. GET WELL SAKU! Edited April 28, 2006 by ATHLÉTIQUE.CANADIEN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natural Mystic Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 They said on TSN tonight that Kostitsyn will replace Koivu on the top line. I assume Higgins will center Kostitsyn and Ryder. This may turn out to be a Carolina killer. I agree. I am definitely excited about this one. GO HABS GO! Get well soon Koivu! :hlogo: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 according to Team 990, Lapierre is going in instead. This is only if Begin cannot go in tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLP Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Belarussian is practically Russian anyway. Just a different dialect. Sort of like a Newfie talking to a Texan. :lool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athlétique.Canadien Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 (edited) according to Team 990, Lapierre is going in instead. This is only if Begin cannot go in tonight. Good call. I like this move actually. Edited April 28, 2006 by ATHLÉTIQUE.CANADIEN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 RDS just confirmed that Bonk will be centering Higgins and Ryder tonight. Lapierre, Downey and Kostitsyn have been practicing in the mean time. Maxime Lapierre is a natural center with good speed that affectionnate physical play and althought his drafting was relativelly hight (60), he was mostly developped to play the kind of game usually seen played on a 4th line........I can imagine him being prefered by Gainey over Downey or Kosty for different reasons in each cases. In taking that route a minimum of parts are being moved around from the original lines.......and that could have been Bob's priority no.1 in the decision process. Bonk and Koivu are certainly different animals on the ice and the whole Higgins Ryder interaction will certainly be obvious even for the untrained eyes..........I am shure Bonk is right into it...but I hope he'll have enought energy to keep bailling us out when we are killing penaltys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CerebusClone Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Good call. I like this move actually. I hope they're wrong. We need Kostsitsyn's skills more than we need Lapierre's safe play. I like Lapierre, and I'm looking forward to seing him in the lineup next season, but I believe that speed and skills are going to win this series, and we're short on that with the Koivu injury. Besides, we have plenty of guys that can hold the Canes down temporarily, but we'll need to score some goals if we want to win. Also, the Canes have a young and inexperienced (although very good) goaltender; let's capitalize on that, and make him look bad. Kostsitsyn finished very strong in Hamilton, and he's ready to contribute; let's see what the kid's got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzer Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I hope they're wrong. We need Kostsitsyn's skills more than we need Lapierre's safe play. I agree, actually. In fact, one thing I don't see staying the entire course of the game is Bonk centering Higgins and Ryder. I still see Plekanec eventually being the center on the line at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athlétique.Canadien Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I hope they're wrong. We need Kostsitsyn's skills more than we need Lapierre's safe play. I like Lapierre, and I'm looking forward to seing him in the lineup next season, but I believe that speed and skills are going to win this series, and we're short on that with the Koivu injury. Besides, we have plenty of guys that can hold the Canes down temporarily, but we'll need to score some goals if we want to win. Also, the Canes have a young and inexperienced (although very good) goaltender; let's capitalize on that, and make him look bad. Kostsitsyn finished very strong in Hamilton, and he's ready to contribute; let's see what the kid's got. I hear ya. I grunted when I heard it was Lapierre over Kostitsyn. Check out my previous posts in this forum. Anyway, I think the big key here is Lapierre is strong on the faceoffs. Maybe Gainey needs to counter their centers all he can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 In bringing in Lapierre as a center no players from the previous 3 games need being taken out of the allignment. Sundstrom and Murray have been on the top of their game at even sthrenth so far while being out of this world when killing penaltys. Explosive attack and team cohesion have been at the heart of our excellent performances so far and I presume that Gainey had to narrow it down in preserving cohesion over attack in making up for the lost of Koivu's total package. Now lets cross our fingers that some of our offensivelly gifted players will rise up higher to make up for Saku's lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbhatt Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I wonder if Bob will have sombody else wear the 'C' temoporarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bacchus Posted April 28, 2006 Author Share Posted April 28, 2006 Explosive attack and team cohesion have been at the heart of our excellent performances so far and I presume that Gainey had to narrow it down in preserving cohesion over attack in making up for the lost of Koivu's total package. Now lets cross our fingers that some of our offensivelly gifted players will rise up higher to make up for Saku's lost. I couldn't agree with you more. Keeping team cohesion going is good. I just hope someone stands up to be the sparkplug to keep the team moving and reacting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 CKAC just confirmed,....Streit in as 7th D......Kovalev will double-shift up front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Puck Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 CKAC just confirmed,....Streit in as 7th D......Kovalev will double-shift up front. Interesting. I actually like this. More Kovalev is good. More Kovalev with shorter shifts is even better. It would have been interesting to give Kostitsyn a shot though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komisarek the Cruncher Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I agree, actually. In fact, one thing I don't see staying the entire course of the game is Bonk centering Higgins and Ryder. I still see Plekanec eventually being the center on the line at some point. Why would Gainey undo our best line since the beginning of the playoffs? The Perezhogin-Plekanec-Zednik line will not be touched, I'm 100% sure of that. Bonk will stay there unless he does horribly, which he did not last game when he replaced Koivu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonus Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I wonder if Bob will have sombody else wear the 'C' temoporarily. no way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HABBER-oooooKNOWS Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I wonder if Bob will have sombody else wear the 'C' temoporarily. I'm hoping Bob will let you wear the C. Especially after a few drinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Doc Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 I cant see Streit playing alot tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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