MLD 2015 Quarter Finals - Providence Friars (3) - Stockholm All-Stars (6)

[ResilientBeast]

coach Brian Sutter

Slava Kozlov - Pierre Larouche - Billy Gilmour
Jimmy Gardner - Slava Bykov - Andrei Khomutov
Steve Vickers - Mikko Koivu (A) - Ryan Callahan
Dutch Hiller - Ron Sutter (A) - Pat Flatley
Gus Bodnar, Normie Himes

Howard McNamara (C) - Albert Langlois
Joe Cooper - Leo Reise, Sr.
M-E Vlasic - Brent Burns
Doug Crossman, Weldy Young

Normie Smith
Gerry McNeil

VS

Coach: Todd McLellan
Captain: Walt Buswell
Alternates: Mike Ricci, Mike Murphy



Ulf Dahlen - Billy McGimsie - Alex Semin
Nick Mickoski - Bill Hay - Rick Kehoe
Murray Craven - Mike Ricci (A) - Mike Murphy (A)
Tomas Holmström - Guy Chouinard - Petr Sykora

Alexei Gusarov - Mike O'Connell
Walt Buswell (C) - George Owen
Haldor "Slim" Halderson - Niklas Hjalmarsson

Ryan Miller
Pelle Lindbergh


Spares: Rob Zamuner, LW/C - Michael Nylander, C - Darren McCarty, RW - Larry Hillman, D



PP1: Semin - McGimsie - Kehoe - Holmström - O'Connell
PP2: Mickoski - Hay - Chouinard - Dahlen - Owen

PK1: Ricci - Murphy - Buswell - Hjalmarsson
PK2: Hay - Craven - Gusarov - O'Connell
​

Click to read more...

 

[VanIslander]

Providence certainly had room for Mickoski, Ricci, Buswell, Halderson and Miller from the All-Stars of Stockholm.

(The top pairing and top line, not so much.)

Speed, playoff performances, championship experience, goaltending and arguably coaching is to the Friars' advantage, though the series may be closer than at first glance.

Holmstrom on the pp and Hay at even strength have to be respected.

(Chouinard, Semin and Sykora are more likely to be thrown from their game with physical play in playoff tussles with Friar grit.)

Hillman on the bench is a shame.

Good luck whatever.

 

[Hobnobs]

Providence certainly had room for Mickoski, Ricci, Buswell, Halderson and Miller from the All-Stars of Stockholm.

(The top pairing and top line, not so much.)

Speed, playoff performances, championship experience, goaltending and arguably coaching is to the Friars' advantage, though the series may be closer than at first glance.

Holmstrom on the pp and Hay at even strength have to be respected.

(Chouinard, Semin and Sykora are more likely to be thrown from their game with physical play in playoff tussles with Friar grit.)

Hillman on the bench is a shame.

Good luck whatever.

Do you have examples when this happened because I havent seen them get thrown of their game by physical play? He played very well against a tough nasty flyers during Devils cup run for example. Guess TDMM would know more.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Sykora was a typical softish scorer who needed a big guy on his line to clear room for him. First he had Holik, then in 2000 and 2001, he had Arnott. Pretty useless on a 4th line, I'd say, though he'd be a good PP ringer, either up front or on the point (why isn't he on your PP?)

Yeah, he played great in the playoffs against the Flyers, but he had some serious protection on that team - not only Arnott, but one of Scott Stevens/Ken Daneyko/Colin White was also on the ice at all times.

 

[Iceman]

Providence certainly had room for Mickoski, Ricci, Buswell, Halderson and Miller from the All-Stars of Stockholm.

(The top pairing and top line, not so much.)

Speed, playoff performances, championship experience, goaltending and arguably coaching is to the Friars' advantage, though the series may be closer than at first glance.

Holmstrom on the pp and Hay at even strength have to be respected.

(Chouinard, Semin and Sykora are more likely to be thrown from their game with physical play in playoff tussles with Friar grit.)

Hillman on the bench is a shame.

Good luck whatever.

I think the same. Probably the best match up of the 4 imo.


As far as forward lines go:

1st line: Providence
2nd line: Stockholm
3rd line: Stockholm
4th line: Providence

I think the defense is kinda even imo, I think both teams have the best depth at that position in this MLD.

 

[Iceman]

Sykora was a typical softish scorer who needed a big guy on his line to clear room for him. First he had Holik, then in 2000 and 2001, he had Arnott. Pretty useless on a 4th line, I'd say, though he'd be a good PP ringer, either up front or on the point (why isn't he on your PP?)

Yeah, he played great in the playoffs against the Flyers, but he had some serious protection on that team - not only Arnott, but one of Scott Stevens/Ken Daneyko/Colin White was also on the ice at all times.

I don't see a reason why my 4th line can't pot a goal here and there over a playoff and that is generally how I want a 4th line to be, not an 8 minute clock eating plug.

Sykora was picked because I considered him the best available offensively capable forward.

You know it better but I don't think Sykora was softish in a way Semin is. Quite frankly, the only time I remember him getting totally run over was the Hatcher hit in the SCF but Sykora got his name on the cup anyway so what's gives.

 

[seventieslord]

I don't see a reason why my 4th line can't pot a goal here and there over a playoff and that is generally how I want a 4th line to be, not an 8 minute clock eating plug.

Sykora was picked because I considered him the best available offensively capable forward.

You know it better but I don't think Sykora was softish in a way Semin is. Quite frankly, the only time I remember him getting totally run over was the Hatcher hit in the SCF but Sykora got his name on the cup anyway so what's gives.

getting run over doesn't make you soft anyways. It's what happens after that, that will earn you your reputation.

 

[VanIslander]

3rd line: Stockholm

A checking line versus a two-way line:

Murray Craven - Mike Ricci - Mike Murphy
vs.
Steve Vickers - Mikko Koivu - Ryan Callahan​

Coach Sutter and goalie Normie Smith would likely appreciate the match-up.

 

[Hobnobs]

A checking line versus a two-way line:

Murray Craven - Mike Ricci - Mike Murphy
vs.
Steve Vickers - Mikko Koivu - Ryan Callahan​

Coach Sutter and goalie Normie Smith would likely appreciate the match-up.

How is your line a two-way line and his a checking line? Bot Craven and Ricci were pretty good offensive players. Both of them were probably better at it than Callahan.

 

[VanIslander]

Both Craven and Ricci were pretty good offensive players. Both of them were probably better at it than Callahan.

I hear what you're saying. But the fact remains:

Vickers > Craven offensively
Koivu > Ricci offensively
Callahan > Murphy offensively

Hence the impression that the Stockholm third line is on the ice more for its checking than scoring ability.

Craven is a two-way guy. Ricci went from offensive youngster to defensive specialist. Murphy grinds.

 

[seventieslord]

I would have Murphy ahead of Callahan offensively, for now at least. Callahan is likely to put up another 3-4 seasons of VsX7-worthy offense, but for now he's not as established a producer as Murphy.

Vickers? Yes, marginally better offensively, moreso at even strength. Koivu? Yes, by a good margin though the margin shrinks when only ES play is considered (as it should be).

Defensively, I can't really choose between these lines. Craven and Vickers are around the same. Ricci has a definite edge on Koivu even though Koivu is very good himself. Callahan has the selke evidence in his favour over Murphy, even if that's an unfair comparison due to era, and Murphy has a well-built anecdotal case. If either has an edge (and I'd lean towards Callahan), it's a small one. I'd have to say the line with Ricci is ultimately better defensively.

With the wingers being practically equal in all-around value it is really down to the centers, and you've got two two-way guys there, with one more heavy on the offense and one more heavy on the defense. It could go either way, really.

 

[Hobnobs]

I hear what you're saying. But the fact remains:

Vickers > Craven offensively
Koivu > Ricci offensively
Callahan > Murphy offensively

Hence the impression that the Stockholm third line is on the ice more for its checking than scoring ability.

Craven is a two-way guy. Ricci went from offensive youngster to defensive specialist. Murphy grinds.

Are you only going by peak now? Because outside of Vickers two peak season he werent much better than Murray Craven. In some cases you might even be able to argue Craven was better.

Ricci did actually score quite a fair bit even when he "settled" for a two way role. Mikko is definitly better in overall offense tho but he did pick up an extra 25-30 points at PP.

Why is Callahan better than Murphy exactly?

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Your winner is Stockholm over Providence in 6 games
1/2. Smith/McGimsie
3. Larouche/McNamara