I admit that I haven't watched much this year. With kids and the state of the team, my apathy is at an all time high. Doesn't mean I'm not a fan, I still follow results closely.
Anyhoo I have vague recollections of figuratively shouting at the television when we had an offensive zone faceoff and tied or down by one and who jumps over the boards? The 4th line!
I've often wondered is that because they're so terrible defensively that giving them O zone starts is the only way to get their ice time in? They can't be trusted with last change in a tight game to defend well enough in the D zone.
If you give them O zone starts it gives the coaching staff many more options if it's a lost faceoff or a turnover or sustained O zone time or whatever. Makes sense why Sutter likes veterans like Lewis, Lucic etc that he trusts in those situations.
Man we talk too much about the 4th line.
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