Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Sens to put #1 defense on Malkin

Per TSN



Murray also plans to use top shut-down defensive tandem Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov against Evgeni Malkin's line. - TSN
This would mean that Ottawa's 2nd unit (Mike Commodore and Wade Redden) would be going up against Sidney Crosby and Marian Hossa.

Interesting. Phillips and Volchenkov played excellently throughout the playoffs, neutralizing most everyone they went up with at even strength. Malone/Malkin/Sykora is a unit that needs attention but this will open up a lot of room for Crosby and Marian Hossa to take advantage of.

Really we're most surprised that coach/GM/crybaby Bryan Murray is giving this information publically the day before the series begins. If we were in his position that might be a gameplan to keep close to the chest until gametime.

Also, the Sens practice lines were listed as:


Heatley - Spezza - Robitaille
Stillman - Vermette - Donovan
Foligno - McAmmond - Neil
Schubert - Bass - Lapointe

Despite the injuries, that's still a playoff caliber lineup...Of course, you add guys like Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson to the mix and it's scary but guys like Vermette and Neil are pretty good players while Cory Stillman is very experienced and knows how to win this time of year.

1 comment:

FAUX RUMORS said...

1) Intersting that the Sens believe that one of the best players in the world is now a secondary threat. LOL
2) With Alfie and Fisher out, and the goaltending/coaching inept, the Pens SHOULD be able to dispatch the sens.