NJDevs4978 Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 From the Ledger: Center Viktor Kozlov was a surprise scratch by the Devils as coach Pat Burns replaced him with Igor Larionov. Kozlov, who said he is not hurt despite suggestions that he is suffering from back spasms, was taken by surprise. "A little bit, yeah," he said, "but that's okay." Burns said of the change: "Kozlov doesn't have a whole lot of games. This a high tempo." Good god, did Burns completely lose it last night? Dressing FIVE non-physical D AND scratching Kozlov, one of the few big bodies (granted he hasn't played like one) for Igor the Terrible? Peesh. Talk about a wuss lineup. Put Kozlov back for Igor the Terrible, put Brown and Hale in for Alby and Martin. We need size, a physical presence, and more emotion for Game 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Puddy Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Put Hale in, let him go at Brashear. He'd probably get his ass kicked, but it'd fire the team (and the crowd) up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC Devs Fan Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Doesn't matter who we play in the lineup right now, we are being outcoached, out goaltended, out hustled, out played. One player will not make a difference. This whole team needs to wake up. But, as the end of the year showed as we continually lost to good team while beating up on the lesser teams, this might be as good as this team is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 And that's why I voted for Burns in the Who's To Blame Thread. You just don't scratch our biggest forward for Igor the freaken Terrible. I love Burns, he's a great coach, but if Kozlov isn't in the lineup on Monday night, then I won't be pissed off at all if Lou gives him the big boot in the summer. He just wouldn't be playing his cards right if he benched Kozlov for a 2nd straight game. But now, there's a flip side to this. If Kozlov comes back on Monday and lights it up, it will be because Burns benched him. It would have given him that extra push to succeed. It's kinda funny how that works out. Well there is a 3rd side to it. Him being back in the lineup and doing nothing. Still an improvement over Igor though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vadvlfan Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 This is total bullsh!t by burns. Why sit a big guy (kozlov) for a eurowuss who hides from all physical contact? this is not the time to punish someone for a sh!t game. If thats true he ought to sit marty! Paul martin has been a victum, and Albelin is a smart player. Flyers are physical, we need to respond, they can easily skate with us. Vince Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msweet Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Burns is thinking, I scratched Hrdina and now look....the same will work with VK. Hopefully we'll still be playing by the time he responds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRASHER Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 guys you know there IS a chance that he REALLY did get hurt too and all this maybes and if's and healthy scratches is just another smokescreen... I don't think Burns is foolish enough to put Igor out there for the sake of change... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Kozlov has played like sh!t. This is a move that will fire up Kozlov on home ice and hopefully it will work. Good mvoe by Burns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Kozlov doesn't seem to indicate that he is injured, and most players do when asked by the media. I do think Burns would replace Kozlov with Larionov, though I doubt he'll try the same thing again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekes Head Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 I want Martin out of the lineup, and I want Hale in his place. I also want Albelin out, and Brown in HIS place. So Kozzie DIDN'T pull a Sykora, eh? Ouch. That kind of smarts, but for as big of a guy as he is, he played like he was smaller than Brian Gionta for crying out loud. I was all for the Larionov experiment, to give him one shot, I just didn't think he'd be THAT BAD to actually COST us a game. Ergh. In further situations like these, please play Bicek over Larionov. Finally, take Larionov out back and shoot him in the foot with a BB gun. Then, he won't even be able to play the rest of the series because of a sore foot. It's GENIUS I tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killyphilly Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Kozlov must have been injured. To insert Larionov makes no sense whatsoever. Is there a less physical forward in the league? Is there anyone who shies away from the physical play more than Larionov? Bicek would have been a better addition than Larionov. I don't know what Burns was thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekes Head Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 It DID make sense to try Larionov for a game. Larionov is a proven playoff performer. Tis why he's nicknamed "The Professor". He's clutch, and if there was ANYTHING he could do right here, then it would AT LEAST be to show up in the playoffs and help us out. Unfortunately, Larionov was SCHOOLED himself, rather than schooling his opponent. Sometimes I wonder if Larionov signed with us solely to screw us over, because he seems to have done that A LOT this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 I don't blame Burns at all. He got us to be 100 point team with injuries that would have made other teams fold. Although I question putting in Albelin over Brown, but Kozy hasn't performed recently. Maybe he needs some motivation. Larionov was signed for the playoffs and helping the powerplay. He got his chance yesterday to justify that signing and failed. Burns can sit him for the rest of the playoffs now knowing he didn't make a POSITIVE difference. He did the same thing to Hrdina earlier and now he seems to be the only one scoring. Hopefully, this fires up Kozlov----we need him NOW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDew Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Hale over Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killyphilly Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 I cannot believe there are some Devil fans that don't have a problem with Larionov playing. The guy is totally useless and he proved that over the regular season. He avoids physical contact like the plague. He is not the answer to beating philly. Unless of course he suits up as a second goalie next to Brodeur. Between him and Marty in the crease at the same time, we should be able to get the save percentage up to .900. Kozlov should play, especially considering his size. And I'm not too sure why Hale is a scratch either. As much as I like Martin, he's been a target of the Flyers forecheckers and is directly responsible for allowing that 1st goal in Game #1. He was racing to touch up the icing and it looked like he would win the race but at the last second he pulled up to shoulder the Flyer forechecker and not get plastered into the boards. He was afraid to take the hit to make the play. And as a result, the Flyers scored. This is not to say Brodeur isn't to blame for that goal as well. To allow a rebound into the slot off a shot from the corner boards is unacceptable as well. I don't know if I'd scratch Martin though, we need his offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djstubbs Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Yeah trust me the majority, if not all of us hate Larionov with a brutal passion. He caused the Zhamnov goal last night, and has been useless this year. With 1 goal and 10 assists. He can go back to Detroit for all I care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyDevil Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 I don't know if I'd scratch Martin though, we need his offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djstubbs Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Hale over Martin Yes. Martin and Nieds have been close to useless this series so far. Nieds took 2 penalties and both of those times we were scored on. That basically says to me that we need Nieds for the PK. I would love to have Hale back if he was on a line with Stevens (if he returns tomorrow)... Which I believe he might! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice dog Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 (edited) Oh come on, we all love our little pansy... seriously, kudos to whoever suggested we take larionov and shoot him... Is Lou down for human sacrafice? Edited April 12, 2004 by Shred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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