ATD2010 Jim Robson Semi-Final: Smith's Falls Fusiliers (2) vs. Montreal Shamrocks (3)
- Thread starter VanIslander
- Start date
VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
Smith's Falls Fusiliers
PP1: S.Howe - Trottier - Stewart - Leetch - Lutchenko
PP2: Pitre - Gottselig - Gilbert - Ozolinsh - L.Conacher
PK1: Pulford - Curry - Tsygankov - L.Conacher
PK2: Murray - Gottselig - St. Laurent - Leetch
vs.
Montreal Shamrocks
PP1: Lindsay - Clarke - Oliver - Duncan - Stanley
PP2: Harris - Lach - Mosienko - Alfredsson - Wentworth
PK1: Dumart - Clarke - Ragulin - Wentworth
PK2: Lindsay - Draper - Stanley - Stanowski
PP1: S.Howe - Trottier - Stewart - Leetch - Lutchenko
PP2: Pitre - Gottselig - Gilbert - Ozolinsh - L.Conacher
PK1: Pulford - Curry - Tsygankov - L.Conacher
PK2: Murray - Gottselig - St. Laurent - Leetch
vs.
Montreal Shamrocks
PP1: Lindsay - Clarke - Oliver - Duncan - Stanley
PP2: Harris - Lach - Mosienko - Alfredsson - Wentworth
PK1: Dumart - Clarke - Ragulin - Wentworth
PK2: Lindsay - Draper - Stanley - Stanowski
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
This is one series where the matchups could make a real difference. Who will Clarke be checking all series?
Who will Trottier and Pulford be harassing all series?
And then the defense, of course.
Who will Trottier and Pulford be harassing all series?
And then the defense, of course.
Hockey Outsider
Registered User
- Jan 16, 2005
- 9,171
- 14,534
HOW SMITH’S FALLS WINS
Exploit slower defensemen. Smith’s Falls will need to focus their attack on Stanley and Ragulin, who were both described as relatively poor skaters. A rush led by Leetch, Elias and Pitre (i.e. the Fusiliers second line and top defense pair) would feature three of the fastest skaters of their era and could cause serious problems for Montreal. Smith may face more than his fare share of odd-man rushes. As a mitigating factor, Steward was a slow forward, so Smith’s Falls can’t use their first line to exploit this weakness.
Advantage in net. Regardless of if you evaluate goalies by wins and Stanley Cups or personal stats and save percentage, Bower ranks extremely well. He matches Smith in terms of playoff success (and, for what it’s worth, won a retro Smythe) and easily beats him in personal success, leading the league in save percentage four times in his career.
Third line. Montreal’s third line isn’t great defensively, as Chaos admitted in the previous series. Smith’s Fall has home ice advantage, so they can have control in putting either one of their dangerous scoring lines against this trio. Dunderdale, the best player on the third line, was known for his offense and physical play. In many series, that would be a big advantage, however he’ll be outmatched in both regards by both Stewart and Trottier.
HOW MONTREAL WINS
First lines. VanIslander has shown us that it isn’t impossible to build a great team around Nels Stewart, a dominant player with a unique set of perceived weaknesses (like Dionne or Esposito) that makes it tough to use them as the centerpiece of a team. Smith’s Falls top line, objectively, is great, but is outmatched in this particular series. Stewart is a bit better offensively than Clarke, but he’s regarded as one of the worst defensive stars in NHL history, while Clarke is one of the best. Although Howe’s versatility and two-way play helps mitigate this weakness, he’s no match for Linday.
Westwick. Numerous sources indicate that Westwick was one of the most annoying, scrappy, tenacious pests of his era. Who will he harass this series? He might be most effective against Trottier, one of hockey’s greatest competitors, who may be prone to retaliating and taking stupid penalties.
Ozolinsh. I realize that, as his sixth defenseman, his icetime will be limited, but I don’t see him faring well in a very physical, aggressive series like this. How much of Lindsay-Clarke can he take?
“INTERESTINGâ€
Is anyone else looking forward to seeing a Clarke-Trottier bloodbath? (Or Stewart-Ragulin? Lindsay-Lutchenko? The possibilities are endless.)
Both teams have a Selke winning centre on the fourth line. They’ll certainly have their work cut out for them, as both teams have a Top-100 player centring both of the top two lines.
Exploit slower defensemen. Smith’s Falls will need to focus their attack on Stanley and Ragulin, who were both described as relatively poor skaters. A rush led by Leetch, Elias and Pitre (i.e. the Fusiliers second line and top defense pair) would feature three of the fastest skaters of their era and could cause serious problems for Montreal. Smith may face more than his fare share of odd-man rushes. As a mitigating factor, Steward was a slow forward, so Smith’s Falls can’t use their first line to exploit this weakness.
Advantage in net. Regardless of if you evaluate goalies by wins and Stanley Cups or personal stats and save percentage, Bower ranks extremely well. He matches Smith in terms of playoff success (and, for what it’s worth, won a retro Smythe) and easily beats him in personal success, leading the league in save percentage four times in his career.
Third line. Montreal’s third line isn’t great defensively, as Chaos admitted in the previous series. Smith’s Fall has home ice advantage, so they can have control in putting either one of their dangerous scoring lines against this trio. Dunderdale, the best player on the third line, was known for his offense and physical play. In many series, that would be a big advantage, however he’ll be outmatched in both regards by both Stewart and Trottier.
HOW MONTREAL WINS
First lines. VanIslander has shown us that it isn’t impossible to build a great team around Nels Stewart, a dominant player with a unique set of perceived weaknesses (like Dionne or Esposito) that makes it tough to use them as the centerpiece of a team. Smith’s Falls top line, objectively, is great, but is outmatched in this particular series. Stewart is a bit better offensively than Clarke, but he’s regarded as one of the worst defensive stars in NHL history, while Clarke is one of the best. Although Howe’s versatility and two-way play helps mitigate this weakness, he’s no match for Linday.
Westwick. Numerous sources indicate that Westwick was one of the most annoying, scrappy, tenacious pests of his era. Who will he harass this series? He might be most effective against Trottier, one of hockey’s greatest competitors, who may be prone to retaliating and taking stupid penalties.
Ozolinsh. I realize that, as his sixth defenseman, his icetime will be limited, but I don’t see him faring well in a very physical, aggressive series like this. How much of Lindsay-Clarke can he take?
“INTERESTINGâ€
Is anyone else looking forward to seeing a Clarke-Trottier bloodbath? (Or Stewart-Ragulin? Lindsay-Lutchenko? The possibilities are endless.)
Both teams have a Selke winning centre on the fourth line. They’ll certainly have their work cut out for them, as both teams have a Top-100 player centring both of the top two lines.
chaosrevolver
Snubbed Again
Should be a great series. Unfortunately, I'm leaving for North Carolina tomorrow morning, and may not have computer access while I'm gone. Will try to get some comments in tonight, but there's a chance I wont be able to respond to any of yours VI.
VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
seventieslord
Student Of The Game
I think these are the best teams VI and CR have ever put together. It's tough to choose, and it's a shame that one has to go down.
seventieslord
Student Of The Game
Smiths Falls defeats Montreal in 7 games (double OT!).
3 stars: Bobby Clarke, Bryan Trottier, Ted Lindsay.
3 stars: Bobby Clarke, Bryan Trottier, Ted Lindsay.
VanIslander
A 19-year ATDer on HfBoards
was looking forward to some intense discussion chaos; let the voters decide because you're busy; thought this series could go either way and indeed the results show that
One helluva physical series!
Hopefully that his players will be exhausted for the division finals!
I'm guessing it went to a tie breaker.
seventieslord
Student Of The Game
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Hmm, strange. I thought Brian Leetch's puck moving would be key for Smiths Falls to win.
Not surprised to see it go to 7 though, at all.
MadArcand
Whaletarded
I thought Brian Leetch's inadequate defense and toughness would be the key to losing the series for Smith's Falls
chaosrevolver
Snubbed Again
Congrats VanIslander. Wish we could've had some good debating. I'm pleased with my team, as my goal with every draft is to improve, and I feel I've done that.
Ad
Upcoming events
-
2024 NHL Draft Lottery Team that wins #1 pick - PICK ONLY ONE TEAMWagers: 17Staked: $19,742.00Event closes- Updated:
-
Stanley Cup 2024 Stanley Cup Champion - ONLY BET ONE TEAMWagers: 10Staked: $17,327.00Event closes- Updated:
-
Game 2 Carolina Hurricanes @ NY Rangers - NYR leads 1-0Wagers: 4Staked: $2,309.00Event closes
- Updated:
-
