April 14 Practice - Ramo & Byron on the ice. Monahan leaves practice early...

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Have to disagree, of course they care about who is playing and what the line combos might be.

Originally Posted by jar_e

The Canucks are about to play up to seven games against the Flames. Of course they're keeping tabs on line combos and match ups and who's in and out.

I don't think it changes anything whatsoever in terms of their preparation. They're going to play their game regardless of who's in or out of the lineup. And if one of the Sedins was out, I would expect the Flames to do exactly the same thing.

[dino7c]

Monahan is likely sick, my guess anyway

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kristin Hallett @Kristin_Hallett
Lanny McDonald, Joel Otto & Theoren Fleury address the players ahead of their flight to Vancouver. #FlamesFamily

Maybe they'll be the fourth line??!!!!?? After all, every lineup decision will be made at game time!!!!

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Maybe they'll be the fourth line??!!!!?? After all, every lineup decision will be made at game time!!!!

Lanny and Theo's numbers are stil available, just sayin'...

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I don't think it changes anything whatsoever in terms of their preparation. They're going to play their game regardless of who's in or out of the lineup. And if one of the Sedins was out, I would expect the Flames to do exactly the same thing.

I think you're underestimating how much off-ice prep in such things as video meetings players go through the day before a regular season game never mind a whole playoff series. Match ups and reviewing video is a huge portion of the off ice prep coming into a series.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

Lanny and Theo's numbers are stil available, just sayin'...

It all adds up!

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by sa226

That BBB line is veeeeery interesting. At best a good secondary scoring line. At worst a great energy line that is a huge pain in the ass to play against.

a buzzsaw line with Bennett and Byron

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Yeah, but for systems more than for individual player tendencies. E.g., the Flames tend to do this after a defensive zone faceoff loss, and we will do this. It's not like the Canucks coaching staff is going to say, "listen, we were planning to structure our breakout thusly, but since Monahan looks like he isn't good to go we're going to do something else instead". They have their structure, they're going to play accordingly.

Now, the coaches might change their matchups, but that sort of thing changes frequently in the course of a game anyway.

[Finger Cookin]

@Fan960Wills 2m2 minutes ago
Sean Monahan on Game 1 vs. #Canucks - "I will be in the line-up". You can breathe again, #Flames fans! #CGYvsVAN

[Finger Cookin]

You silly geese.

[Vinny01]

Glad Monny is playing and hopefully he is not playing hurt like many of our guys did in 2009. Pretty sure Sarich, Dion, Langkow, and Bourque all played with injuries.

Really excited about Bennett. I truly think he can be a huge factor for the Flames and add some secondary scoring. His speed, passion, and skill are all added bonuses for sure

[sureLoss]

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Monahan on brief skate this AM: "Guys are going to be skeptical but it was the plan to at least get my feet under me with the team." #Flames

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by sa226

That BBB line is veeeeery interesting. At best a good secondary scoring line. At worst a great energy line that is a huge pain in the ass to play against.

Yeah. As long as Byron is off that line, its good.
BBC a lot better

[PugnaciousIntern]

Wow, beyond the goalies, this lineup sure isn't what I would have envisioned at the season opener. I'm just excited to see what happens!

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Monahan on brief skate this AM: "Guys are going to be skeptical but it was the plan to at least get my feet under me with the team." #Flames

I'm wondering if part of it has to do with conditioning and putting on muscle? We commonly hear that players will lose 10 lbs over the coarse of a season (just wear and tear) and they try to get it back in the off season. Monahan is still pretty young and growing into his body, put on a ton of muscle going into the season (I think it was 15 lbs?) and perhaps over the coarse of the past week, some training staff and nutritional came up with some fancy program to physically prepare him for a tough playoff grind, maybe put back a few pounds of muscle? Not sure what you can do in 5 days, but just general physical prep for a long playoff haul.

[AC]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Monahan on brief skate this AM: "Guys are going to be skeptical but it was the plan to at least get my feet under me with the team." #Flames

I agree maybe a cold/flu is a likely explanation.

[hixxes]

Apologies if its been pointed out already, but during the celebration at the end of the Kings game it looked to me that Monahan was in pain. He's hunched over for a moment and for the brief second his face is shown he appears to be in agony. Or he could have just been tired. At the time I thought he might have been winded in the celebration.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by keratosis

I think the they do. If one of the twins weren't playing, do you think the Flames would care?

Sure they'll "care" but it won't change the players they ice. Maybe if a fringe guy / enforcer is playing, a coach could choose to dress one player over another on the 4th line. But for top line players? You breathe a sigh of relief but it doesn't change your roster.

For example, if Henrik isn't playing, would you expect Hartley to drop someone from the lineup? If so, who?

[Fire]

I didn't think there was a chance that Hartley would put Bennett in the line-up for Game 1, but I am pleasantly surprised (if it does actually happen).

[CGY12]

If he is sick their is NO WAY they put him on the ice with the rest of his teammates, why take that risk?

Has to be a minor injury that needed another day off the ice, gave it a go, decided best to rest up a little more.