Quote:
Originally Posted by 868904
The problem with taking Lindholm off the top line is that there is no one to dig the puck out of the defensive zone. All 3 of Johnny, Mony and Neal are terrible when it comes to digging in in the defensive zone and helping get the puck. That's why Lindholm works so well with that line, he does ALL the dirty work.
Johnny, Mony and Neal are all leaving the zone early, that's why when they are together, they can never get anything going because they can't get the puck.
Maybe Lindholm between Gaudreau and Neal is the better fit. Then have Monahan with Tkachuk and Bennett. Tkachuk and Bennett are willing to get their hands a little bit more dirty in the defensive zone.
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I would have left the top line alone. I don't think Tkachuk has much chemistry with Johnny and Monahan (this also applies to the powerplay).
The second line wasn't good at all. So I was fine that Peters changed it. But I might have just thrown Frolik back with Backlund and Tkachuk and maybe sent Neal, Bennett and someone else out - Ryan, Dube or Czarnik (or maybe even Hathaway who was skating hard).