GDT: WCSF GM05 | Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers | Thur. May 16th | 7pm PST | SNP/CBC | So Tight, Almost Like a Playoff Series

[bossram]

I don't understand the assumption that a guy who put up 2 points in 6 AHL regular seasons games, and just got cut from a WC squad should just walk into the second line and inject a bunch of offence in the NHL playoffs.

Yeah. It's quite bizarre people think he would come in and be able to hang at all in this level of pace and physicality, let alone be a positive difference maker.

Lekk may become a very good player. But right now he has basically zero NA experience (and what games he did play weren't great), and is a light, perimeter player. He'd get destroyed.

 

[RobertKron]

Yeah. It's quite bizarre people think he would come in and be able to hang at all in this level of pace and physicality, let alone be a positive difference maker.

Lekk may become a very good player. But right now he has basically zero NA experience (and what games he did play weren't great), and is a light, perimeter player. He'd get destroyed.

The idea that the spot for him is on the second line with a struggling Pettersson and a guy the coach is clearly reluctant to trust in Podkolzin is just baffling.

You'd have to assume that if he was to see time these playoffs, it's likely that he plays the odd shift on the 4th line at ES and then gets deployed on the PP. Just throwing him on the second line with those players would be weird as hell.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

one of our media guys with a national profile should tweet these before every game

 

[Bgav]

Biggest game since 2011. Come out and play your hearts out boys. Win or lose, that’s all I ask.

 

[I am toxic]

No need to win tonight.

Win in oilville in game 6 and can still knock them out at home in game 7.

Or not. Either way, the oil's goose is cooked, thanks to the Canucks exposing them.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

I don't understand the assumption that a guy who put up 2 points in 6 AHL regular seasons games, and just got cut from a WC squad should just walk into the second line and inject a bunch of offence in the NHL playoffs.

I would very much see Aatu Raty next to Pettersson. You take a hit on speed but the guy has shown some skill at the AHL level.

Lekkerimaki was still skating with his head down in the AHL. You just worry about guys like Kane, Nurse or Perry taking the opportunity to floor him which is especially concerning when you consider he had a concussion the season before.

 

[supercanuck]

I feel like a wily vet could easily goad Kane into taking some really stupid retaliatory penalties. (Although our PP is so awful that it may be for the better not to get one.)

 

[Canucks LB]

I wanna dominate, not just win
Make a statement tonight

 

[Canucks LB]

 

[Peen]

Is anyone expecting a big surprise at morning skate today?

Or just smaller changes?

 

[arttk]

woah wut. what would be a good reason for that? not doing enough from a dev perspective?

 

[sting101]

Tocc has to do something with that line, at least. It's baffling how committed he is to having Mikheyev be Petey's #1 linemate.

Yes it's really strange. 60 games with 1 goal and it was with Miller Boeser if i remember correctly?

I do get some of the lack of defensive trust for say a Podkolzin Bains and even Hoglander but for BOTH Pettersson and Mikhayev AND the team you owe an attempt at something different rather than the INSANE idea that next game will change.

It's more likely Mikhayev if you want his speed and PKing (which is fine to stay in the lineup) scores on a broken play off the 4th line than he does when Pettersson sets him up for a scoring chance. He's done nothing but flub open nets and is unable to hit a target if his life depended on it.

Ballsy enough to go with Silovs yet not ballsy enough to try and break up that dynamic duo? it's driving me mad

 

[Tact]

If Tocchet doesn't re-unite Joshua-Blueger-Garland, and he doesn't put Pettersson on the wing with Lindholm, then he has to give Pettersson both Hoglander and Podkolzin. Hoglander just to give it another shot, and Podkolzin as a wild card that can just forecheck for the puck.

It might hurt them defensively to do this, but you need to risk something right now to get Pettersson going.

Mikheyev can play with Blueger and Aman/Lafferty. This is assuming PDG doesn't play, but if he does, drop Lafferty and go with PDG-Blueger-Mikheyev on the 4th line:

Suter-Miller-Boeser
Joshua-Lindholm-Garland
Hoglander-Pettersson-Podkolzin
PDG-Blueger-Mikheyev

That’s exactly the lineup and decision making I made.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

woah wut. what would be a good reason for that? not doing enough from a dev perspective?

Edit: Nvm.

 

[StickShift]

Pettersson to wing
Lindholm as his center
Hoglander is back
Blueger reunited with Joshua and Garland
Podkolzin gets 4th line opportunity
PDG is back

Mikheyev benched

 

[SelltheTeamFrancesco]

Delete

 

[arttk]

ok this feels a lot better

 

[bossram]

Thank bejeebus, Tocc doing the right thing.

He actually took Mikheyev out too. Wow. Thought they just would've moved him to the 4th line so they can have him around for PKing.

 

[Bgav]

Pettersson to wing
Lindholm as his center
Hoglander is back
Blueger reunited with Joshua and Garland
Podkolzin gets 4th line opportunity
PDG is back

Mikheyev benched

ooooh baby, lets go

 

[Big zZz]

Pods in. Nice.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Certainly looks like it could be a balanced attack up front. Hope Hoglander and Podkolzin are ready to skate their asses off.

 

[Izzy Goodenough]

He learned all that he knows from the Sedins:

https://x.com/spittinchiclets/status/1791148722018975829

 

[Leif Rohlin]

ok this feels a lot better

Agreed

 

[beckstreaker07]

Drance also mentioned

"No Demko with the main group. Silovs and DeSmith are the goaltenders."

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

Pettersson to wing
Lindholm as his center
Hoglander is back
Blueger reunited with Joshua and Garland
Podkolzin gets 4th line opportunity
PDG is back

Mikheyev benched

Lafferty also gone, thank god.