I find this matchup interesting, strikingly different teams.
The big question for Seattle is how to contain Orr (more on that later). I do think I still have a solid goaltending advantage but Bower’s playoff resume makes things closer than in a regular season matchup.
I feel like our top two lines couldn’t be more different, Fedorov/Keon is a real bitch to go up against.
A couple different looks that Bowman would try this series is to load the top line up. Conacher/Espo/Bathgate would have a VsX up over 300. As a line they could simply overwhelm any of Toronto’s lines. In this case Bowie would go to the bench, Lemaire would centre Barber and Rousseau and Murray Oliver would jump in between the Russians.
Another look to use on the road would be to split the big three onto their own lines and go with Alexandrov/Bowie/Bathgate, Conacher/Lemaire/Vikulov and Barber (or Oliver)/Espo/Rousseau. Then roll them and play whoever has the hot hand more.