The Sens are in Pittsburgh tonight taking on Crosby and his (not so) merry men in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals.
Crosby cowers at the might of Wade Redden's right hook!
After the 4-0 loss on Wednesday, it's time for these guys to put on their boots and go to work. If we're going to have a chance in this series, we need this game. Gerber needs to play like he did from the post-2 minute mark onwards (so, without the first goal), and the team needs to play a harder hitting, blue collar, in your face kind of game.
My suggestion? (Because Bryan Murray should certainly listen to a guy who hasn't played organized hockey in over a decade) Scratch Randy Robitaille and dress Brian McGrattan. Not for McGrattan's fighting (or is puck handling skills really), but more because Robitaille has no place on the top line. He doesn't have the skills that Spezza or Heatley has, and he's even less interested in getting physical. If anything, he's hurting those two by not holding them accountable for their lack of physical play. Put Neil (well, the Neil who doesn't disappear on the road), or Lapointe out there with them, and I think those two guys would get a little gritier and might produce a little more.
EDIT: This post was definitely completed before I heard Murray's new line combo's. Glad to hear he's mixing it up and putting Lapointe with the top line. Also glad to know I have what it takes to be an NHL head coach (if this works out anyway).
Crosby cowers at the might of Wade Redden's right hook!After the 4-0 loss on Wednesday, it's time for these guys to put on their boots and go to work. If we're going to have a chance in this series, we need this game. Gerber needs to play like he did from the post-2 minute mark onwards (so, without the first goal), and the team needs to play a harder hitting, blue collar, in your face kind of game.
My suggestion? (Because Bryan Murray should certainly listen to a guy who hasn't played organized hockey in over a decade) Scratch Randy Robitaille and dress Brian McGrattan. Not for McGrattan's fighting (or is puck handling skills really), but more because Robitaille has no place on the top line. He doesn't have the skills that Spezza or Heatley has, and he's even less interested in getting physical. If anything, he's hurting those two by not holding them accountable for their lack of physical play. Put Neil (well, the Neil who doesn't disappear on the road), or Lapointe out there with them, and I think those two guys would get a little gritier and might produce a little more.
EDIT: This post was definitely completed before I heard Murray's new line combo's. Glad to hear he's mixing it up and putting Lapointe with the top line. Also glad to know I have what it takes to be an NHL head coach (if this works out anyway).
Now, speaking of Crosby, I certainly don't condone the suggestion made by local sports writer Don Brennan, who suggested that the Sens take certain liberties with Crosby's injured ankle. Mind you, maybe if we send Robitaille out there, it's a way to get rid of Robitaille AND Crosby...
Kidding! But seriously, while I am wow'ed by Crosby's skills, the guy has to shut up some time. People talk about Cryin' Bryan? How about (insert witty rhyming word here that means whiny) Crosby?
Prediction: Sens win, 4-2. Goals by McAmmond, Phillips, Spezza, and Heatley (all while channeling the spirit of Daniel Alfredsson).
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