It will be interesting to watch Zohorna tonight, but keeping my expectations in check. I am going to assume that without the luxury of an actual practice, Zohorna might be looking a bit lost out there at times on coverage since he doesn't know the system yet.
Hopefully Backlund is fine and this was a mild bruise or something, as I assume that Coleman would also be getting pulled if it was a rest day for that pair. Maybe I am reading too much into it.
Stone vs Mackey for that temporarily open spot on defence. Stone has to be the favourite. Mackey has been good too I thought, but clearly a step or two behind Stone, but probably a couple of steps ahead of Valimaki it seemed.
1 spot for the 3rd line open, and 1 spot on the 4th line that I expect will be a rotation. That leaves Zohorna and Ruzicka as likely candidates for that 3rd spot, with the loser entering a rotation with Lewis and Ritchie for the 4th line? I assume Lucic and Rooney will probably end up as a pair.
I would be surprised if Milano got signed. I will also be surprised if Eakin gets a deal, but I do think he has been mostly good and probably deserves one. I don't think it happens simply because of all the bodies. However, I can see Sutter pushing for him and having a center that is excellent at face-offs that he can call up in case Rooney or another center go down.
Should be a decent game. Hopefully we can start seeing some chemistry being developed on that top line. Might take some time, but hopefully it comes sooner rather than later.
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