Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Changing The Mix
(From Sportsnet News Pacific) In an effort to break out of their five-game losing streak - or is it a five-game winless streak? - Marc Crawford is changing his line combinations for tomorrow night's game against the Nashville Predators. The new line combinations look like the following:
While Ruutu had played relatively-disciplined hockey at the start of the season, he had a tough game against the Flames last night and racked up four minor penalties, two of which took away Canucks powerplays. With the top line usually on the ice for 20-something minutes per game, I certainly hope Ruutu doesn't return to his undisciplined ways. Naslund and Bertuzzi, of course, don't kill penalties and if Ruutu takes more penalties during this extended ice-time, it means the Canucks' top two forwards won't be on the ice.
Here's hoping he doesn't.
Personally, I would have preferred to see Ryan Kesler on the top line. Kesler is a speedy, defensively-responsible forward, not to mention a natural center, and could possibly show more of his potential while playing on the top line. Crawford also experimented with a Naslund-Kesler-Bertuzzi line combination earlier in the season and with a bit of success.Naslund - Bertuzzi - RuutuSedin - Sedin - CarterCooke - Morrison - ParkKesler - Linden - Goren
While Ruutu had played relatively-disciplined hockey at the start of the season, he had a tough game against the Flames last night and racked up four minor penalties, two of which took away Canucks powerplays. With the top line usually on the ice for 20-something minutes per game, I certainly hope Ruutu doesn't return to his undisciplined ways. Naslund and Bertuzzi, of course, don't kill penalties and if Ruutu takes more penalties during this extended ice-time, it means the Canucks' top two forwards won't be on the ice.
Here's hoping he doesn't.
2 Comments:
I think Kesler would be alright on the top line, I also think Cooke would be alright. Ruutu does concern me a little. Bertuzzi and him take a lot of penalites.
Cookie would have been okay on the top line, but then Morrison's linemates would be Ruutu and Park - not exactly who you would like your $3.2 million center to be playing with.
I don't know how long this "shake up" will last, whether it will be for a period or the whole game or a few games.
I have a feeling that this is a minor storm before the storm. If the Canucks don't win tonight or Saturday night, I think Nonis and Crow has something else up their sleeves.
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