Pre-Game Talk: NYR vs. CAR - 10/16/2014 - 7:00 PM ET

[Alluckks]

Stempniak?

I knewww I forgot someone, I was scratching my head for a while; I'm at work and didn't wannna bother looking up the lineup hah

Okay hmm

You don't want to move Nash to LW because he is playing so much more comfortably on the right side and is rolling. I don't know if St. Louis or Zucc can play the left, but I am gonna assume that we can put Zucc on the left and see how he does? Maybe move Stemp there, unsure...

Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Duclair - Brassard -St. Louis
Hagelin - Hayes - Zucarrello
Malone - Moore - Stempniak

I want Malone/Moore/Stempniak as our 4th line with maybe switching Malone for Fast depending on player momentum. Mostly because I feel that it can be a very strong 4th line, similar to last year.

 

[Krams]

any word on Jeff Skinner's availability?

 

[Vitto79]

beat the Canes Today and Tomorrow then everythings dandy again

 

[Vitto79]

as for if he's playing I've read they are likely going to take it slow so I would say no but maybe

 

[Raspewtin]

Miller should be back in this game.

Hayes should stay in.

 

[Alluckks]

as for if he's playing I've read they are likely going to take it slow so I would say no but maybe

Anyway, yeah I don't think he is going to play. Carolina has cashed in their season already and don't want to let one of their young, injury prone, assets get hurt again.

 

[TheTakedown]

I assume we're keeping MSL at center for this game?

we'll probably have:

Duclair-MSL-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zucc
Hagelin-Hayes-Stempniak
Glass-Moore-Fast

I just HATE that third line... it's just putrid to look at on paper... Stempniak is the only thing holding it together, mostly because he's a grinder...


What I'd like to see is this:

Kreider-Hayes-Nash
Stempniak/Duclair-Brassard-Zuccarello
Hagelin-Miller-MSL
Malone-Moore-Fast/Stempniak

That balances the attack, and keeps the RW depth... You could also try swapping Fast and Stempniak, although Fast is not known to be a finisher so I highly doubt that's doable.

It's also worth a shot putting Miller on the Brass-Zucc line as the LW. He's a lefty shot, plays a big game with plenty of size... he won't be required to do a ton on that line offensively. Defensively it could take a hit, but I'd rather balance the attack instead of stacking our top line with our 3 best players... it's just NOT making sense anymore

 

[Alluckks]

Miller should be back in this game.

Hayes should stay in.

So Miller and Hayes both at center? Finally move Marty away from center? I can only hope.

 

[Alluckks]

I assume we're keeping MSL at center for this game?

we'll probably have:

Duclair-MSL-Nash
Kreider-Brassard-Zucc
Hagelin-Hayes-Stempniak
Glass-Moore-Fast

I just HATE that third line... it's just putrid to look at on paper... Stempniak is the only thing holding it together, mostly because he's a grinder...


What I'd like to see is this:

Kreider-Hayes-Nash
Stempniak/Miller-Brassard-Zuccarello
Hagelin-Miller-MSL
Malone-Moore-Fast/Stempniak

That balances the attack, and keeps the RW depth... You could also try swapping Fast and Stempniak, although Fast is not known to be a finisher so I highly doubt that's doable.

It's also worth a shot putting Miller on the Brass-Zucc line as the LW. He's a lefty shot, plays a big game with plenty of size... he won't be required to do a ton on that line offensively. Defensively it could take a hit, but I'd rather balance the attack instead of stacking our top line with our 3 best players... it's just NOT making sense anymore

Where's Duclair on what you would like to see?

Kreider - Hayes - Nash
Duclair - Brassard - St. Louis
Hagelin - Miller - Zucarrello (bleh)
Malone - Moore - Stempniak

 

[Raspewtin]

So Miller and Hayes both at center? Finally move Marty away from center? I can only hope.

If there was any game to try it, it'd be this one, imo.

 

[TheTakedown]

Where's Duclair on what you would like to see?

Kreider - Hayes - Nash
Duclair - Brassard - St. Louis
Hagelin - Miller - Zucarrello (bleh)
Malone - Moore - Stempniak

Just updated it. forgot to add him in. apologies

Kreider - Hayes - Nash
Duclair - Brassard - Zuccarello
Hagelin - Miller - MSL
Malone - Moore - Stempniak

If there was any game to try it, it'd be this one, imo.

Agreed... MSL at center is a stop gap at best. We're not putting guys into a position to succeed with him at center. Hayes is more comfortable at wing however, so I wonder if that keeps MSL at center:

Kreider-MSL-Nash
Duclair-Brassard-Stempniak/Zucc
Hagelin-Miller-Stempniak/Zucc
Malone-Moore-Glass/Fast

 

[Kokoschka]

Just updated it. forgot to add him in. apologies

Kreider - Hayes - Nash
Duclair - Brassard - Zuccarello
Hagelin - Miller - MSL
Malone - Moore - Stempniak



Agreed... MSL at center is a stop gap at best. We're not putting guys into a position to succeed with him at center. Hayes is more comfortable at wing however, so I wonder if that keeps MSL at center:

Kreider-MSL-Nash
Duclair-Brassard-Stempniak/Zucc
Hagelin-Miller-Stempniak/Zucc
Malone-Moore-Glass/Fast

I stated I'm pro moving MSL back to wing. I still support that. But every time I see that center depth I get a headache.

 

[Idlerlee]

The Hagelin experiment with Zucc needs to end, its been beyond absymal

 

[silverfish]

Gonna miss this one tonight Probably the earliest in any season ever that I miss a game...

Which can only mean the Rangers are going to dominate tonight

Well, they better

 

[Alluckks]

I stated I'm pro moving MSL back to wing. I still support that. But every time I see that center depth I get a headache.

It's not our real center depth though. Any team missing their 1C looks drastically different.

 

[aonb]

Hello, Caps fan here. I have a question about Nash. He scored in 4 consecutive games. is it a franchise record? And how do you think guys, is there a chance to strike in fifth game? It would be amazing. I don't recall that somebody scored in 5 successive games in last years. Neither Ovi or Stammer.

 

[NYRFAN218]

any word on Jeff Skinner's availability?

He practiced yesterday in a non contact jersey so it sounds like he may play tonight.

Dan Rosen @drosennhl · 59m 59 minutes ago
At MSG for NYR-Canes. One team gets going tonight. Both ravaged by injuries. Skinner might play. Sekera might as well. E. Staal doubtful.

 

[Levitate]

Hello, Caps fan here. I have a question about Nash. He scored in 4 consecutive games. is it a franchise record? And how do you think guys, is there a chance to strike in fifth game? It would be amazing. I don't recall that somebody scored in 5 successive games in last years. Neither Ovi or Stammer.

It is indeed a franchise record.

And with the way he's shooting the puck, there certainly is a good chance he scores again tonight, especially if Carolina is starting Cam Ward. Then again, hot streaks tend to end unexpectedly and you can never outright rely on someone to score every game.

Not sure what the league record for goals scored in consecutive games to start the season is

 

[Zucc36]

Hope to see
Duke/Kreider - MSL - Nash
Duke/Kreider - Brassard - Zucc

 

[Raspewtin]

Hello, Caps fan here. I have a question about Nash. He scored in 4 consecutive games. is it a franchise record? And how do you think guys, is there a chance to strike in fifth game? It would be amazing. I don't recall that somebody scored in 5 successive games in last years. Neither Ovi or Stammer.

It is a franchise record, yes.

I think he scores again tonight. Of course he's riding an unsustainable SH%, but lets have some fun while it lasts .

 

[Gardner McKay]

It is a franchise record, yes.

I think he scores again tonight. Of course he's riding an unsustainable SH%, but lets have some fun while it lasts .

He also was riding an unsustainably low shooting % in the playoffs. Things even out

 

[LORENZO]

Nash to get extra Nashty tonight.

 

[Levitate]

He also was riding an unsustainably low shooting % in the playoffs. Things even out

He's getting looks from much better areas of the ice so far this season...

 

[Gardner McKay]

He's getting looks from much better areas of the ice so far this season...

Agreed. He was throwing everything at the net during the post season (even from terrible angles). He is being more patient and at the same time not holding the puck too long as he has been known to do

 

[OverTheCap]

Nash hung out around the perimeter way too frequently last season. Now he isn't afraid to drive to the net or get to the dirty areas of the ice. It's refreshing to see.