Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer

They remind me of the old Holik-McKay checking lines and they're much more effective than Pandolfo-Madden. It's the physicality and the puck control - an active checking unit verses a passive checking unit.

Definitely the best shutdown unit in the league.

I'm watching them devour the Spezza unit. They're eating them alive.

Getzlaf is really something else

That's what a checking line should look like. Lou, take notes.

I'm so impressed by this line. Damn I wish we'd gotten Rob in 2003 when we tried.

That's what a checking line should look like. Lou, take notes.

Lou? Tell Madden and Pandolfo!

Lou? Tell Madden and Pandolfo!

Pando's fine, not Madden, he's lost a step.

Pando's fine, not Madden, he's lost a step.

I agree, Madden has lost a step, but Pandolfo seemed to be slipping a little towards the end of the playoffs, too. Not as much as Madden, but a little bit.

Getzlaf is really something else

Watching the guy progress through junior, it was easy to see he was ultra talented. The lazy/poor work ethic comments came up all the time with him, but I always chalked it up to him being just that much better than the rest of the WHL. He made things look so effortless, but even in his first junior season, you could see the size/skill package immediately. He can sure make guys look silly sometimes. I can see him having a monster year next season.

Watching the guy progress through junior, it was easy to see he was ultra talented. The lazy/poor work ethic comments came up all the time with him, but I always chalked it up to him being just that much better than the rest of the WHL. He made things look so effortless, but even in his first junior season, you could see the size/skill package immediately. He can sure make guys look silly sometimes. I can see him having a monster year next season.

Whoa whoa, take it easy there, Pierre.

an active checking unit verses a passive checking unit.

That is the key difference there. The problem is, it seems like Madden-Pando no longer have the ability to be an active unit. Now they are relegated to chasing around opposing forwards in their own zone for the entire shift.

That is the key difference there. The problem is, it seems like Madden-Pando no longer have the ability to be an active unit. Now they are relegated to chasing around opposing forwards in their own zone for the entire shift.

They treated even strength like they were killing a penalty... didn't initiate anything at all. I don't know how much was them and how much was the coaching scheme, however.

i agree, it did look like they were treating even strength like a PK, i think next season we have to drop brylin off the checking line, put him on either 2nd line or 4th line (pending on what gomer does) and add clarkson to the checking unit, i think he could add a youthful spark to mad dog and pando.

I'm watching them devour the Spezza unit. They're eating them alive.



Agreed.

they did do a good job against that line!

This is where Murray needs to "outcoach" Carlyisle.

I'm watching them devour the Spezza unit. They're eating them alive.


For the first time all playoffs, Spezza reverted to his old ways and looked scared. Geez, the Devs need to get more physical again. Hockey is still hockey and new NHL or not, physical hockey still works.

I agree, Madden has lost a step, but Pandolfo seemed to be slipping a little towards the end of the playoffs, too. Not as much as Madden, but a little bit.

Well if you had to play Madden's role AND your own to compensate, wouldn't you be tired too. ;)

I agree, Madden has lost a step, but Pandolfo seemed to be slipping a little towards the end of the playoffs, too. Not as much as Madden, but a little bit.

I really think Madden is hurt still. He didn't play that well after coming back from that groin injury.

I really think Madden is hurt still. He didn't play that well after coming back from that groin injury.

Could be. Madden definitly wasnt himself....

I'm 100 % positive that Madden was hurt during the playoffs, and so was probably Elias too. It's not like Madden suddenly turned 40 and couldn't keep up with the big guns anymore.

Our players are no babies and they don't cry and whine after being eliminated from the playoffs (*cough*Vancouver*cough*). We will probably find out next year if something was wrong with him or not.

This is not relevant to the Devils, but I would absolutely love to see the Sabres formulate a checking line like that who can shut down the opposing top lines. I would like to see our top 2 scoring lines be sent out there to score, and then have that 3rd line be out there harassing the opponent's top line all game. All teams should have a line like that. For you guys, I don't see Madden's contract getting moved, so I would expect to see that pairing remain together. I think that a new, youthful guy needs to either be brought in or promoted from within to give that line some youth and even more energy. Somebody with a little more scoring ability would be great, but somebody with size, talent, checking ability, and a solid defensive game would be fine. I would like to see a guy like Taylor Pyatt or Scott Hartnell (I know Hartnell will never sign with NJ because of your cap restrictions) added to that line. I expect that Madden and Pandolfo will be fine next season, as Madden should come back even more motivated to excel. I can't be sure, but, from an outsider's POV, that's what I expect.

I like the way McDonald plays. Guy came out of almost nowhere, too. He wasn't a first line center a 2 or so years ago.

right now they are controlling the play vs. the Spezza line

I like the way McDonald plays. Guy came out of almost nowhere, too. He wasn't a first line center a 2 or so years ago.

I've watched him for a while......he was never the most skilled, but always had a boat load of heart. Andy MacDonald is the type of guy everyone wants on their team.

I'm 100 % positive that Madden was hurt during the playoffs, and so was probably Elias too. It's not like Madden suddenly turned 40 and couldn't keep up with the big guns anymore.

Our players are no babies and they don't cry and whine after being eliminated from the playoffs (*cough*Vancouver*cough*). We will probably find out next year if something was wrong with him or not.

Doesn't matter if Madden is hurt, I'm sure some of the Ducks guys are too. It's how you use what you have. They were stuck playing a ****** passive game that let the Sens dictate. Spezza in his own end is a weak link. The Ducks checkers aren't sitting back playing PK 5 on 5. They're active and they might take the first two games of the series here.

The Devils kept riding the same thing over and over again, it didn't work, but they didn't change up. 7 of their top 9 are capable of checking. Why keep riding guys into the ground, when it isn't working in results, and the style of play sucked?

There is a huge gap in quality of D, obviously, but what is winning this series isn't the D, it's from the red line in with the checkers, not letting their big guys just run roughshod.

I hope Lou is watching. The Devils really need to rethink what they do.

Another amazing night for the Ducks. Ottawa looks ....stunned.

Pahlsson is nutty.

They're gonna get a lot of credit, but I think that most of the praise should be layed on Pronger, Niedermayer and Beauchemin. A combination of those 3 guys is always on the ice when the CASH line is and I think that if the Devils had those guys, Madden and Pandolfo would've looked just as good.

Traded for Moen last night on NHL07. He is on my 4th line with McCauley and Niel.

They're gonna get a lot of credit, but I think that most of the praise should be layed on Pronger, Niedermayer and Beauchemin. A combination of those 3 guys is always on the ice when the CASH line is and I think that if the Devils had those guys, Madden and Pandolfo would've looked just as good.

I agree, that's why having Stevens and Niedermayer made our checking lines look good.