4th line

pretty much the same thing is happening that did last year for the most part with the 4th line. i realize last night's game was an exception as we were trailing the entire game, but rasmussen and janssen barely saw any icetime at all, and lacouture had like 6 minutes.

this cant continue the whole year, or our guys are going to be dead. i love cam as much as the next guy, but maybe we need to sit him in place of rupp, who at least can hold his own out there.

just a thought, because i know it seemed like the top lines were tired at the end of last year

I thought they played a pretty good puck possession game last night. On a couple shifts they controlled the puck in Toronto's zone for a long time. Janssen seems to be a bit better this season.

Personally, I would like to see Rupp in the lineup more often. I thought the played well against Dallas, and he would help legitimize the line if added to it.

I was disappointed to see Janssen in the starting lineup this year. I love him when he plays, but if he's only good for 4 minutes a game, what's the point?

I wonder who sits when Dowd is back.

I also think the only reason that Lacouture got more ice time was because Julien would send Madden's line out there after the second PP unit, which Brylin was on, was done. Not to mention when Brylin was used instead of Zajac on the second line.

I was disappointed to see Janssen in the starting lineup this year. I love him when he plays, but if he's only good for 4 minutes a game, what's the point?

I wonder who sits when Dowd is back.

Probably Janssen. "Rass - Dowd - LaC" has more hockey talent and PLENTY of nasty (and I love Cam, who IS looking a little better, but only if we know there will be a need for fighting).

Warnings from the Omen aside (Lackofskill, Lacrap, etc.), Dan LaCouture has looked pretty responsible and solid out there, and subbed for Brylin well on Thrusday after Sarge had to do PK/PP duties...

you make a good point the fourth line needs more playing time. however lets give the coach a chance. opening night in carolina they saw lots of ice time. toronto game was different because we were trailing by 3 goals.

with janssen in lineup it is risky to keep them out there much. with rupp they can actually do some damage here and there.

As a Ranger fan, I would recommend you keep Cam in there. He certainly causes tons of havoc and even changes the game when the Devils play the Rangers. He is a true intimidator with the way he hits, wish Orr had his quickness

As a Ranger fan, I would recommend you keep Cam in there. He certainly causes tons of havoc and even changes the game when the Devils play the Rangers. He is a true intimidator with the way he hits, wish Orr had his quickness





yeah when we play a rival team, i definitely want cam in there.

but im saying in general, we cant have our 4th line play 5 minutes per night the whole year. the top 3 lines will be dead

4 or 5 minutes a game isn't unusual for a 4th line. If you can roll 3 lines pretty evenly at about 17 - 18 minutes per line, you're doing pretty good. Look at some of the top line guys on other teams, they regularly log over 20 minutes. We're really lucky to have two legitimate scoring lines and such a good 3rd line.

yeah when we play a rival team, i definitely want cam in there.

but im saying in general, we cant have our 4th line play 5 minutes per night the whole year. the top 3 lines will be dead

Absolutely, and im sure it was not the intention to play the top 3 lines right at the start of a 6 games in 10(i think) day trip... but it seems Julien thought they could get back in it so he rolled the offensive lines.. the 3rd line played alot because they were the best scoring threat for 2 periods.

I was really hoping to see Cam square off with Tucker... I guess it was going to be unlikely anyways seeing that Madden would be the one going against Sundin's line. At least Fahey clocked him one early in the game.

Tucker is like Claude Lemieux, everyone would like him on their team, hates him when he plays against you.

4 or 5 minutes a game isn't unusual for a 4th line. If you can roll 3 lines pretty evenly at about 17 - 18 minutes per line, you're doing pretty good. Look at some of the top line guys on other teams, they regularly log over 20 minutes. We're really lucky to have two legitimate scoring lines and such a good 3rd line.


I think we're all looking the fact that the best three teams last year in the playoffs (Carolina, Edmonton, and Buffalo) all had 4th lines that played significant minutes and contributed. Lots of teams don't have really effective 4th lines, but how well did they do?

I think we're all looking the fact that the best three teams last year in the playoffs (Carolina, Edmonton, and Buffalo) all had 4th lines that played significant minutes and contributed. Lots of teams don't have really effective 4th lines, but how well did they do?

post hoc ergo propter hoc. Your 4th line, ultimatly, has little to do with your success. Goaltending, top end talent, and depth (through lines 2 and 3 and your defensive pairings) are far more important. Having a quality 4th line like Buffalo is definatly a huge advantage, but it is a luxury that isn't really worth persuing. It's more of a serindipitous type thing. For example, if Bergfors and Vrana lit it up so much in the AHL this year that they forced the team to call them up, and then constituted a dangerous 4th line, it would be great.