What is our lineup going to look like for game #1 ?!?!?

I just want to know what are lineup will look like come wednesday. The Parise line will stay the same... that's a no brainer but in the last couple of games we saw Rolston moving up and down the roster and Pandolfo took Rupp's place for a couple of games. Will we see Andy Greene in the lineup or is he going to be a healthy scratch ?!?!?

Discuss :yo:

Probably wearing Red.

well, based on what was together in practice today...

Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
Elias-Zubrus-Gionta
Pandolfo-Madden-Shanahan
Leblond-Rolston Clarkson

Martin-Oduya
Salvador-Havelid
White-Mottau

I know what I want to see

Elias - Zubrus - Gionta
Parise - Zajac - Langs
Pando - Madden- Shanny
Rolston - Pelley - Clarkson

but holik will probably be thrown back into the the 4th line center spot. Experience in the playoffs and face-off ability when going against the best in the game is hard to beat.

In my opinion, Holik has got to be in the lineup. Playoff experience, good faceoff man. Hopefully he realizes hes gotta stop the dumbass penalties. And with the way Andy Greene is playing, I dont know how you take him out of the lineup

Probably wearing Red.

****... i put my life savings that they were gonna wear those for game #1.


http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/35167/2144296360100337552S200x200Q85.jpg


Thanks for the heads up Foy :facepalm:

I don't provide all the answers, just the important ones.

well, based on what was together in practice today...

Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
Elias-Zubrus-Gionta
Pandolfo-Madden-Shanahan
Leblond-Rolston Clarkson

Martin-Oduya
Salvador-Havelid
White-Mottau

Holik has to be part of the roster. The Canes have one of the best faceoff men in the game with Rod Brind'Amour and if we can win the faceoff, we'll control a good portion of the game instead of chasing the puck. Why was Roslton playing all kinds of minutes in the past week if he's gonna pivot the 4th line ?!?!? I don't get that one either.

I guess some changes will be made before the puck drops on wednesday... or not.

Why Leblond is in the lineup is beyond me.

Please Sutter don't put Pelley in the lineup.

Why Leblond is in the lineup is beyond me.

Holik has to be in the lineup... no ifs, ands or buts about it. I'd rather see Rupp instead of Leblond. When Mike is "on", he's a very solid 4th line grinder that can skate like the wind and throw some pretty impressive checks but putting a rookie in the 1st game of the playoffs who played a total of 8 games in the regular season just doesn't make any sense to me.

Pelley isnt going to play unless we have a few injuries. only reason he was called up was to have 5 equal lines IMO, with no one having to rotate in and out

In my opinion, Holik has got to be in the lineup. Playoff experience, good faceoff man. Hopefully he realizes hes gotta stop the dumbass penalties. And with the way Andy Greene is playing, I dont know how you take him out of the lineup

i think part of the problem with holik is not neccessarily that his game his terrible, it;s that the leagues rules no longer allow him to be as effective. many of the penalties he takes are marginal at best due to the new rules, if he can't play with that edge he is much less effective

but you can count on a penalty here and there with him when he is fired up and against carolina i think that hurts more than helps, when holik is trying to stay out of box his play suffers; i think he must sit this series, through no fault of his own but do to the new culture of the NHL which i hate

Is this thread a trick question, why would it look much different than it has?

The one thing that will hurt us against the Canes is the PK. If Holik is going to be running around like an idiot taking meaningless penalties, then he can go **** himself. Much rather have Rupper or PL3.

Holik has to be in the lineup... no ifs, ands or buts about it. I'd rather see Rupp instead of Leblond. When Mike is "on", he's a very solid 4th line grinder that can skate like the wind and throw some pretty impressive checks but putting a rookie in the 1st game of the playoffs who played a total of 8 games in the regular season just doesn't make any sense to me.

I don't want him in the lineup either. The annual crackdown on iffy calls does not weigh in Holik's favor, playoff experience or not.

Same thing goes with Rupp. He hasn't provided enough offensively to risk him taking a penalty. Leblond doesn't belong to be in the lineup either.

Use 7 defensemen, as I said. Give extra shifts with Clarkson and Rolston to the skillfull, disciplined players on this team - i.e. Elias, Parise, Zajac, Gionta, Langenbrunner (ok, he's not all that disciplined, but he's a key cog).

hahah CFD. Langs might be the 2nd least disciplined player on the team after Holik.

Is this thread a trick question, why would it look much different than it has?

Did Rolston play on the 4th line this season... no, but apparently he was the #4 center at practice. Was Holik a healthy scratch this season... not that i know of. Who will play between Rupp or Pandolfo ?!?!?

Just ****ing post your lineup and stop trying to find the "mole" were their isn't one... Jesus Christ :shakehead

Both Rupp and Pando should play. Holik sits his ass out. The only time I would consider putting Bobby in the lineup is if we meet NYR or Philly sometime in this playoff.

Put shanny on the pk to stand in front of Babchuks shot since everybody else on the team is too ***** to do so.

Both Rupp and Pando should play. Holik sits his ass out. The only time I would consider putting Bobby in the lineup is if we meet NYR or Philly sometime in this playoff.

My only concern is the faceoff department. Holik is the only one I have full confidence in winning his draw and faceoffs are very, very, very, very important come playoff time. I'm not saying to play him 10 minutes per game but he can be used as a faceoff weapon and that's it. Win the important faceoff and sit your ass down untill the next one.

Just my opinion ;)

I like what Sutter and Lou has done. Added enough guys to the lineup that even the fans don't really know who's gonna be playing. That means Carolina can't sit there and figure out a strategy against us. Not when they don't know who will be playing.

My only concern is the faceoff department. Holik is the only one I have full confidence in winning his draw and faceoffs are very, very, very, very important come playoff time. I'm not saying to play him 10 minutes per game but he can be used as a faceoff weapon and that's it. Win the important faceoff and sit your ass down untill the next one.

Just my opinion ;)

We've got one of the most proven faceoff men of this decade. I, unlike most of you here, have a lot of confidence when Madden is on the ice in key situations. I think he will step up big time in the playoffs and will be one of most important players on the team.

hahah CFD. Langs might be the 2nd least disciplined player on the team after Holik.

Incorrect.

Langenbrunner has taken 23 minors this season, tying him with Mike Rupp and Colin White for 5th most on the team.

Ahead of him are Bobby Holik, David Clarkson, Dainus Zubrus, and Bryce Salvador.

When you consider that Langs has played the 7th most minutes of all Devils this season, he is far from the 2nd most undisciplined player on the team. In fact he's more in the 7-10 range.

Would be interesting to find out who's penalties led to the most goals against the team.

Incorrect.

Langenbrunner has taken 23 minors this season, tying him with Mike Rupp and Colin White for 5th most on the team.

Ahead of him are Bobby Holik, David Clarkson, Dainus Zubrus, and Bryce Salvador.

When you consider that Langs has played the 7th most minutes of all Devils this season, he is far from the 2nd most undisciplined player on the team. In fact he's more in the 7-10 range.

You should also look at the times of the penalties. Langs has, well used to, have a habit of taking penalties at the worst times, like with a minute to go and the team down by 1. But it's good to see he isn't doing that much anymore.

Probably wearing Red.

:laugh:

Gonna guess some sort of special playoff shoulder patch too.

Holik's 33 minor penalties rank 49th in the league. Doesn't look as bad on the surface, but when you look closer, only one player who has taken more minors than Holik has played fewer than his 62 GP (Boris Valabik with 50).

Also, when you consider the fact that among those 49 players, only Raitis Iavanas has taken more penalties with few minutes being played, Holik might just be the 2nd most undisciplined player in the entire league.

Listen, Holik may be valuable in the playoffs, but it shouldn't and won't be in this round. You can't give the 2nd most undisciplined player in the league 10:00 a night against a team that draws the most penalties in the league and has an excellent PP.

:laugh:

Gonna guess some sort of special playoff shoulder patch too.

Really? They usually don't have a patch until the finals.

Of course, there are all kinds of jokes one could make about Oduya having a special patch that lets him in to the country club once they golf in a few weeks/months/whenever the ride ends.

I have no idea what to do do if I am Brent Sutter...

I believe the Elias Zubrus Gionta line is set in stone. Same goes for the Parise Zajac and Langenbrunner.

Now the question arises, do we keep Jay in the line-up, and if so, then probably with Madden and Shanahan. Pando has responded well lately, and against a team like the Canes, he is probably more useful than a tough grinder.

Clarkson and Rolston are a lock on the 4th line...That leaves Rupp, Holik, Pelley and PLLL. Rupp has shown that he can be very solid on the 4th line, then again, if Sutter sticks with the Madden combo, Rupp would destroy this line offensively. I don´t think Holik would bring much offensively to that line either, but a bit more. Pelley might have the most offensive upside, but I don´t really know if I want to have Pelley on the team come Wednesday.

I really do like the idea someone had of using 7 D and have Parise, Elias....play with Clarkson and Rolston. Double shift them. The fact, that our team is so deep might give us the opportunity to do so. We keep rolling all our 4 lines, have more than enough Penaltykillers out there, and at least Clarkie and Rolston have someone that can create something for them. That is what I would do.


The great part is, whatever we do, we have the ability to change it for Game 2. If we need to send a signal, we bring in Rupp and Holik. If we need a defensive shutdown guy that is not so physical but a bit faster or better, we can bring Pelley or Pandolfo. And rotating 7 D might be good as well. Keeps all of them fresh.

Holik's 33 minor penalties rank 49th in the league. Doesn't look as bad on the surface, but when you look closer, only one player who has taken more minors than Holik has played fewer than his 62 GP (Boris Valabik with 50).

Also, when you consider the fact that among those 49 players, only Raitis Iavanas has taken more penalties with few minutes being played, Holik might just be the 2nd most undisciplined player in the entire league.

Listen, Holik may be valuable in the playoffs, but it shouldn't and won't be in this round. You can't give the 2nd most undisciplined player in the league 10:00 a night against a team that draws the most penalties in the league and has an excellent PP.

I totally agree and there is no way in hell he will have been on the ice at the same time as Brind'anose anyway (I hope), so the one thing he does well would not even be available to us. Holik should sit, and I don't think it's even that controversial.

Why Leblond is in the lineup is beyond me.

He is providing good energy, some nice hits and we've been winning. Plus he's a francophone. :sarcasm:
If Rupp can prove that he can play like he was during the winter, then he should be in over PL3.

As mentioned allready, faceoffs will be crucial. With Zajac, Madden and Holik, we should farewell. I'm so glad Sutter is finally playing Madden and Holik on seperate lines, this is how they should be utilised.

Parise - Zajac - Langenbrunner
Elias - Zubrus - Gionta
Pandolfo - Madden - Shanahan
Rolston - Holik - Clarkson

Oduya - Martin
White - Mottau
Salvador - Havelid

Marty

That's what I think Sutter will go with anyway.

Did Rolston play on the 4th line this season... no, but apparently he was the #4 center at practice. Was Holik a healthy scratch this season... not that i know of. Who will play between Rupp or Pandolfo ?!?!?

Just ****ing post your lineup and stop trying to find the "mole" were their isn't one... Jesus Christ :shakehead

My point is IF there are to be any changes we've likely alreay seen them and they are fairly insignificant (i.e. PL3 or Holik). It's obviously not like they're reiventing the wheel in Game 1 of the playoffs. Stop being so sensitive.

Yeah I think it really boils down to who is the third guy on the 4th line.
Pando's probably not sitting.
Pelley is responsible defensively and is a center so draws are probably a good idea, but he has NOTHING offensively, and Clarky/Rolston can pot a few here and there.
Holik is taking bad penalties and is slow and older but he's a great energy guy, great on the draw and hits, and we must remember that he had some great offense way back when (Just like Shanny). How physical we need to be against Carolina though, when they can already outskate us, I don't know.
Rupp can center and hit and fight and plays hard, but again not much offensively and how much fighting will he be doing?
PL3, I love him, but I don't think he should be getting much time.
If I had to guess, though:
Holik, Rupp, PL3, Pelley. Just a guess though.

Pando and Rupp Play. PL3, Holik and Pelley sit. If Pando plays like **** again, put PL3 in.

/Thread

Why Leblond is in the lineup is beyond me.

My thought exactly. Rupp should be playing. Holik should be playing. Screw Pando and PL3.

Parise Zajac Lang
Elias Halishuk PElley
LEblond Vrana ROlston
Holik, Rupp, CLarckson

Corrente, Salvador,
Greene, Malmivara,
Martin, Kevin Blackistone

Frazee
Clemmenson
Chico

With Leblond already recalled and Pelley called up, any idea of what you think Sutter may do. I think with the Canes speed, we may not see Leblond, but if Holik gets into penalty trouble, Pelleys speed may get him some playing time in this series.

Parise-Zajac-Lang
Elias-Zub-Gio
Pando-Madden-Shanny (Don't like this line)
Rolston-Pelley-Clarkson (Like it a lot)

i thought we had a playoff lineup thread.

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=630770

i think theres absolutely zero chance Pelley plays at all unless someone gets hurt

Sorry guys, didn't realize we already had a playoff line-up.

Time out.

We beat this team on Saturday.

I'm willing to bet we use the same lineup again tomorrow...

I really dislike the Pando-Madden-Shanny line. I would drop Pando insert Rolston on the left side and have Rupp-Holik-Clarkson as our 4th line. And if Holik plays stupid, give Pelley a shot. I understand he had a pretty good season in Lowell.

And Pelley?

He hasn't play an NHL game all year. Remind exactly how you go from no games to the playoffs? Should I start digging out my skates? lol

And Pelley?

He hasn't play an NHL game all year. Remind exactly how you go from no games to the playoffs? Should I start digging out my skates? lol

I'm not going to say that I've seen him play this season, but from what I heard, he played well and has always been good defensively and has more speed that either Rupp, Holik or Pando. And let's face it, we wouldn't be losing any goals with sitting any of those guys. Plus, Pelley has played in the NHL before.

could we possibly do something along the lines of what tampa did 2 years ago when they played st. louis and lecavalier 25 mins a game, except with parise and elias? i'm only mentioning this because i saw someone mention we double shift zach and patty. i remember that and some of holmqvists saves where the only reason they were in the series(tampa)

And Pelley?

He hasn't play an NHL game all year. Remind exactly how you go from no games to the playoffs? Should I start digging out my skates? lol

I think Pelley is just there as the filler to complete the line of scratches..

I like Pelley, but I don't think he'll see any playing time.. Never know though

I think Pelley is just there as the filler to complete the line of scratches..

I like Pelley, but I don't think he'll see any playing time.. Never know though
Agreed. Barring injury he won't see playing time.

TG says Rupp was on the fourth line in practice today and PL3 was on the fifth, so that's probably what it will look like tomorrow. I'm a fan of that move.

could we possibly do something along the lines of what tampa did 2 years ago when they played st. louis and lecavalier 25 mins a game, except with parise and elias? i'm only mentioning this because i saw someone mention we double shift zach and patty. i remember that and some of holmqvists saves where the only reason they were in the series(tampa)

remember why Tampa lost?

Isn't Rolston a waste on the 4th line. It's time for him to earn his money.

Rolston-Madden-Shanny
Rupp-Holik-Clarkson

remember why Tampa lost?

lets model ourselves after a team that didn't win.:nod:

UFA signings and the New Jersey Devils just don't go hand in hand. Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik are probably the the two worst signings from last summer....one is on the 4th line and the other is a healthy scratch when the playoffs start tomorrow...:shakehead

When was the last time an UFA signing turned out well for the Devils? The are just too many failures for me to even remember a good one...

Karel Rachunek
Vitaly Vishnevski
Richard Matvichuk
Brian Rolston
Bobby Holik
Vladimir Malakhov
Dan McGillis
Alexander Mogilny
Krzysztof Oliwa
...and the list goes on...

One could make a case for Dainius Zubrus too...

Please Lou..stay away from the free agency market in the future. Ok, thanks.

When was the last time an UFA signing turned out well for the Devils?

Shanny.

When was the last time an UFA signing turned out well for the Devils?

Mike Mottau was an UFA, no?

John Madden was an UFA, no?

Scott Clemmensen started the season in Lowell this year after being signed as an UFA, and that worked out pretty well this year, no?

And now, correct if I'm wrong here, but didn't Mogliny, Oliwa, and Malakhov all win the cup? So apparently they did *something* right...

Mike Mottau was an UFA, no?

John Madden was an UFA, no?

Scott Clemmensen started the season in Lowell this year after being signed as an UFA, and that worked out pretty well this year, no?

And now, correct if I'm wrong here, but didn't Mogliny, Oliwa, and Malakhov all win the cup? So apparently they did *something* right...

I didn't mean undrafted free agents (Madden) and minor league signings (Mottau was at the time)...

Mogilny and Malakhov won a Cup with us after they were acquired via trade. They returned as UFA signings and we all know how that ended...

Clemmensen was a minor signing that turned out to be huge for us. Those are the only ones that seem to work out here for some reason.

Giving guys multi million deals just hasn't worked out....

UFA signings and the New Jersey Devils just don't go hand in hand. Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik are probably the the two worst signings from last summer....one is on the 4th line and the other is a healthy scratch when the playoffs start tomorrow...:shakehead

When was the last time an UFA signing turned out well for the Devils? The are just too many failures for me to even remember a good one...

Karel Rachunek
Vitaly Vishnevski
Richard Matvichuk
Brian Rolston
Bobby Holik
Vladimir Malakhov
Dan McGillis
Alexander Mogilny
Krzysztof Oliwa
...and the list goes on...

One could make a case for Dainius Zubrus too...

Please Lou..stay away from the free agency market in the future. Ok, thanks.

most of the recent signings have been "shot-gun" signings to make up for lost players that we had on the team but left via free agency, beggers cant be choosers.
I wish Lou would take care of our free agents before they leave us out in the cold.

i'd still like to bring in a good dman via UFA.

And looking at the list DS posted i will say basically only one player on there was a big time signing and that was Rolston but I'm not going to write him off after one year so i'll hold my judgement on that. The AMog and Malakov signings were purely reactionary signings to losing Scotty. Both players were clearly past their prime and i would'nt call either a big time FA splash. The rest of the list were scrubs to fill out the roster all teams do that. And Matvichuk was pretty good for us his first year here and the second he was injured.

I wouldn't say we've failed in the FA market we just don't normally go after difference making free agents so the scrubs we do sign get put into bigger roles then they should be therefore making them look bad.

so what are the lines gonna be?

Mike Mottau was an UFA, no?

John Madden was an UFA, no?

Scott Clemmensen started the season in Lowell this year after being signed as an UFA, and that worked out pretty well this year, no?

And now, correct if I'm wrong here, but didn't Mogliny, Oliwa, and Malakhov all win the cup? So apparently they did *something* right...

Madden was an undrafted free agent out of college. You can't really lump him into the group that Swede posted. Those guys were already in the NHL.

Mottau and Clemmer were both very good signings. But they were low-risk, high reward. Clemmer was supposed to be mentoring Frazee down in Lowell all this year, and Mottau was going to be AHL filler before both were thrust into big roles.

Mogilny and Malakhov won the Cup in 2000 after they were traded here. Their signings in 2005 were utter disasters.

Swede is spot on. Stay away from big free agents. I think he's going to have to anyway - the cap is likely to be going down and we have key FAs this year and Parise and Martin to deal with in the near future.

So all you guys screaming to get that #1 defenseman via FA are going to have to pipe down. He wasn't going to spend the cash on a guy like Campbell last year, and it's doubtful that he will throw 7+ million at Bouwmeester in July. Why do you think Lou went after Salmela? Rumoured to be going after Gilroy? He's throwing things against the wall and hoping something sticks.

Best thing for him to do is to draft nothing but defenseman in the first round for the next 3 years. We already have 2 members of our top line set for the future. We have a nice amount of 2nd and 3rd line forward prospects - but not much in the way of defensemen.

I didn't mean undrafted free agents (Madden) and minor league signings (Mottau was at the time)...

Mogilny and Malakhov won a Cup with us after they were acquired via trade. They returned as UFA signings and we all know how that ended...

Clemmensen was a minor signing that turned out to be huge for us. Those are the only ones that seem to work out here for some reason.

Giving guys multi million deals just hasn't worked out....

It seems, sir, that my memory was close. But wrong.

While I don't really agree, it's hard to argue too.