NewarkDevil5 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Since the start of this season there have been no real consistent lines (outside of the attempt to keep the CBGB line together for the most part). Obviously Deboer is looking to see what works and what doesn't and has been attempting to find that "lightning in a bottle" type line if at all possible. Injuries have also played a part in this. In my view I would like to see the following lines attempted and kept for a full game at least: Kovalchuk Loktionov Henrique Elias Zajac Clarkson Ponikarovsky Josefson Matteau Bernier Carter Gionta I liked what I saw of the chemistry on that top line when they started the game against Winnipeg. People keep saying that Loktionov forces passes to Kovalchuk but I think that tendency can be controlled. Henrique has benefited from some of Loktionov's passes as well and all three have a scoring knack with a good amount of speed. The second line I think is rather a no-brainer although in some ways I think it's a symptom of my own insanity. It's a combination that has been failing miserably to generate anything for weeks and yet it seems the only place for all three of those players. This third line I think could be trained into a legitimate shutdown line akin to the old Bobby Carpenter lines of yore. I know that the shutdown line thing is something we've tried to shy away from in recent years, but I think that it's one of the issues we've been having. Never before can I remember the Devils being victimized by other teams' top scorers as consistently as we have been of late. In years past it was always opposing teams' secondary scorers who would have success against us while we would stymie the top liners. How often would guys like Jagr come up short while guys like Alexei Morozov would give us nightmares. I'd rather worry about the Morozovs of the world than the Jagrs. Have this line trained to shadow and disrupt while the rest of the team runs it's usual game plan. Then we might be able to breathe a little easier when a guy like Tavares steps on the ice or Ovechkin. The benefit of the above is that it bumps this fourth line down to where it belongs: fourth line. It's a good line. Keep it together. Don't play it more than any of the other lines and don't start the game with it on the ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdgeControl Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Kovy needs 5 shots on the net per game in 22 mins, and lots of support in his defensive end. thats job one. how can we get that done??? last 3 games have not been succesfull and its not just bad shooting luck (although its part of it) deboer needs to dial something up to get his hands free. even if he has to go all in on a super line! we need our sniper to get hot and carry us a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanericher44 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Time to bench Zajac, he has 6 point in 21 games all for the bargain price of 46 million dollars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njd3b1ink Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Time to bench Zajac, he has 6 point in 21 games all for the bargain price of 46 million dollars How does that help? Who do u call up that can play in his role? Also u want the guy to work his way out of his slump, don't demoralize him by benching him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socbrian Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Kovalchuk Loktionov Clarkson Elias Zajac Henrique Ponikarovsky Josefson Matteau/Barch (3rd or 4th line) Bernier Carter Gionta Clarkson very good board player and then cycles high to kovy and crashes the net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Eco Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Time to bench Zajac, he has 6 point in 21 games all for the bargain price of 46 million dollars Yeah, because, you know, that'll just... work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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