I think Ruutu is a little faster and better offensively than Zubrus, but I think Zubrus is better along the boards and defensively. So it's really a wash for me. We've also never really seen Ruutu in a top six role with this team. He's pretty much always been used as a bottom six forward in his time with the Devils outside of a brief stint with Zajac and Jagr. I just don't know if there would be that much of a difference between them, but I guess anything is worth a shot.
Zubs looked better with Henrique and Ryder and had a few chances tonight and some good possession and board work. Ryder had some chances as well.
Clowe looked better with Elias as well and that line did pretty well possession wise.
Top line did almost nothing. Jagr topping the list as he was missing a lot of passes but he of course made up for a blah game.
Not our best game of the year but not our worst either and definitely better then last night.
Cory was much better tonight. First goal looked worse then it was. Much better shot when I saw the replay and the PKers blew it. Merrill was playing to high and Sal skated away for some reason (I guess to take away the pass?). He made some big saves too.
Only thing is the puck handling. It gets scary at times and I know he is going to get caught one if these days and the board will self destruct.