[GDT] Gio, Bort, and Gus take on Boston at 5PM

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by timbit

Ryan is a better bet at 3rd line center and playing more minutes against a top tier team.

Has been since he got here.

This would be my guess. We're playing on the road so we don't control matchups against the Bergeron line. So while I thought Bennett looked good between Dube and Lucic, Ryan is better defensively which means Bennett moves over to wing to play with Janko and Rieder (who are also fairly responsible in their own end).

Going forward, I also agree that if you put Ryan back with Dube and Lucic, I'd rather see Bennett with Janko and Czarnik.

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Lucic plays well with both Dube and Ryan, and he has now played there a lot. That seems pretty logical to me.

I am not a Luc hater, but I honestly think he slows that line down.

Bennett provides more speed and skill to that line.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

I am not a Luc hater, but I honestly think he slows that line down.

Bennett provides more speed and skill to that line.

Does he really? The thing I have appreciated the most about Lucic since he arrived is how great a passer he is. He is frequently the one making tape-to-tape reads through traffic to get the puck off the boards and onto the stick of one of his line mates to get it out of the zone. I suppose Bennett has more raw skill, but I still question his ability to think the game at speed and make good decisions. He has been much better lately, but Lucic's vision is fairly under-appreciated.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

are all of Bruins trade acquisitions playing tonight too?

Cassidy didn't say no, but he said he wanted them to get more reps first, implying they would not dress tonight

[TheIronMaiden]

I don't really think that the arrangement of the bottom six is what has made the difference. If the top line produces the Flames win, simple as that.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Cassidy didn't say no, but he said he wanted them to get more reps first, implying they would not dress tonight

Kase has missed a few games with the flu, I think.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Elkyiv

are all of Bruins trade acquisitions playing tonight too?

Boston Bruins
@NHLBruins

#NHLBruins pregame updates per Bruce Cassidy:

Ondrej Kase is out tonight.

Nick Ritchie will make his debut alongside Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork.

Tuukka Rask in goal.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I don't really think that the arrangement of the bottom six is what has made the difference. If the top line produces the Flames win, simple as that.

100% in agreement.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Having Bennett on Janko's LW is a joke.

If you insist on Ryan with Lucic/Dube then the 4th line should be obvious:

Jankowski - Bennett - Czarnik

I think Lucic-Ryan have shown chemistry, and Dube-Bennett have shown chemistry.

Personally I'd be running with:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Mangiapane - Backlund - Tkachuk
Dube - Bennett - Czarnik
Lucic - Ryan - Reider
Jankowski

Send down Rinaldo.

[868904]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Boston Bruins
@NHLBruins

#NHLBruins pregame updates per Bruce Cassidy:

Ondrej Kase is out tonight.

Nick Ritchie will make his debut alongside Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork.

Tuukka Rask in goal.

Looks like we might see Ritchie vs Lucic tonight. New team for Ritchie, what better way to earn the love of the Bruins faithful than fighting the old guard Bruin?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think Lucic-Ryan have shown chemistry, and Dube-Bennett have shown chemistry.

Personally I'd be running with:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Mangiapane - Backlund - Tkachuk
Dube - Bennett - Czarnik
Lucic - Ryan - Reider
Jankowski

Send down Rinaldo.

I like Dube - Bennett - Czarnik but dislike Lucic - Ryan - Rieder... not enough offense on the latter. Maybe Lucic - Ryan - Phillips would be interesting. See if Phillips can get the Ryan boost that Eatbread and Dube have gotten. Would need to put Bennett or Dube or Mangiapane in a PKing role but I don't see a problem with that. Phillips also kills penalties but may not be rangy enough to be effective at this level.

[Puppet Guy]

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Does he really? The thing I have appreciated the most about Lucic since he arrived is how great a passer he is. He is frequently the one making tape-to-tape reads through traffic to get the puck off the boards and onto the stick of one of his line mates to get it out of the zone. I suppose Bennett has more raw skill, but I still question his ability to think the game at speed and make good decisions. He has been much better lately, but Lucic's vision is fairly under-appreciated.

Lucic’s passing ability has been something that has really got me caught off guard. He makes a better passer than shooter.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

I am not a Luc hater, but I honestly think he slows that line down.

Bennett provides more speed and skill to that line.

It's not Lucic that people want moved down - it's Ryan (for Bennett)

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I don't really think that the arrangement of the bottom six is what has made the difference. If the top line produces the Flames win, simple as that.

For sure, I agree. It doesn’t make a huge impact on the team one way or the other. BUT it does make a difference to Sam Bennett.

[badradio]

Dube - Ryan - Czarnik would be a fun, fast, smart scoring line... I think If they’d brought up Czarnik and give him a chance they would be pleasantly surprised.

[memphusk]

One D man coming back from injury. Two new guys. Don't be surprised when this doesn't end well.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by memphusk

One D man coming back from injury. Two new guys. Don't be surprised when this doesn't end well.

2 upgrades and the best defenceman returning.

Cynical much?

[Strange Brew]

Hope we see instant dividends on PP1 but may take a few games to find some chemistry. The Hawks PP was awful so a different scheme may be good for Gustaffson.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by timbit

2 upgrades and the best defenceman returning.

Cynical much?

Definitely not an optometrist.