Your favorite team is up by 1 goal with 30 seconds to go.....
and the faceoff is deep in the defensive zone, which 5 guys do you want out on the ice in a situation like this? i thought this thread might be interesting b/c it doesnt necessarily have to be all stars out there, just warriors who are willing to sacrifice themselves and do whatever it takes to hold on (and maybe even the teams 4th line center if he is a very good faceoff man).
for the devils:
elias-zubrus-langenbrunner
salvador-martin
other guys i considered were shanahan, zajac, white, and oduya but i gave the edge to these 5.
As an innovator, I'd have my centre take a slashing call before the draw and take out their #1 face off guy. Then I'd pull Luongo for the 5th defender so we could ice the puck. Years and years of suffering have taught me the Canucks can't hold a lead if it's an important game.
A Devils fan is starting this thread? After that horrendous Game 7? My first instinct is: Not whoever was on the ice for that spectacular collapse. With further thought though:
Elias-Zajac-Langenbrunner The three best defensive forwards on the team
Martin-Oduya The closest the Devils have to a shutdown pairing, and they play best together so I wouldn't split them up
Hrm.. interesting. Tough call for Caps - someone else can do a better job than myself but I'd put:
Laich - Steckel - Backstrom
Poti - Jurcina
Alternatively you could stick Semin in at RW, as he's pretty damn good at holding the puck, but Backstrom is very responsible defensively. Could also switch Backstrom and Steckel but Steckel is a better faceoff man. Laich and Steckel are great penalty killers.
Defense, I'm just not sure. Jurcina can lay down the hits and Poti is.. well, Poti. Honestly you could put anyone else in on defense there and have legitimate reasons.
A Devils fan is starting this thread? After that horrendous Game 7? My first instinct is: Not whoever was on the ice for that spectacular collapse. With further thought though:
Elias-Zajac-Langenbrunner The three best defensive forwards on the team
Martin-Oduya The closest the Devils have to a shutdown pairing, and they play best together so I wouldn't split them up
If I remember correctly, it was Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner on the ice when that tying goal was scored. White and Mottau had just gone off for a change and Havelid was just coming on the ice. I believe Mottau stayed out there. I'm not 100% sure though.
Talbot-Crosby-Staal
Gonchar-the ghost of Rob Scuderi/Orpik
Our three best face off guys, in case Crosby gets chucked out (which is rare). After the draw, Staal would play center role and Crosby would focus on digging in corners. If Malkin is having a good game, put him out there instead of Crosby and let Staal take the faceoff. Malkin is an on-or-off kind of guy defensively. Sometimes he's dominating, other times he watches the other team score.
A Devils fan is starting this thread? After that horrendous Game 7? My first instinct is: Not whoever was on the ice for that spectacular collapse. With further thought though:
