Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
You should separate home versus away. I don't know what it would reveal, but if Monahan takes away faceoffs would mean that opponents are steering their top lines away from Backlund and at Monahan, or are at least indifferent.
Kopitar facing Monahan more is more of an indication that Sutter wants Monahan checked by Kopitar than Monahan being assigned to check Kopitar. Plus Carter is the faster guy, and better checked by Backlund.
Arguably Toews is the same, since Backlund might be assigned the Anisimov/Kane line. Toews is out there to shut down Monahan, not the other way around. Backlund is trying to shut down Kane.
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Totally agree... but it is not like Backlund is at all like Gainey That he is being put out as a shut down guy against the best players and the other team is taking steps to avoid him.
Kopitar/Carter ..... Backlund is not big/strong enough to play against Kopitar. Getzlaff/Kesller.... again Kessler is likely harder to match up physicallly although that is a hard matchup and teh Ducks would rather have Kessler checking Monahan.
Backlund faceoff stats should be inflated against top guys because he is the #1 guy on the PK.
Sedin makes no sense at all.... bad line management by coach?
Totally believe that the other teams are comfortable matching top-lines