GDT #36 - Wild at Sharks - 7:30PM

[Cmon_WTF]

Yes, the top line assignment is tough but they've been getting dominated pretty bad lately, IMO. They have somehow miraculously managed to not give up many goals but they give up a ton of chances so it's just a matter of time.

Marleau is great defensively, as is Couture. So I blame Wingels. His defensive skills aren't good and when his offense is also non-existent -- and, worse yet, the entire line is "out of sync" out there offensively with Couture-Marleau just passing to each other 99% of the time -- it's time to take let the kid sit a few.

I have no problem with Burish sitting to free up the slot for Torres. You know I dislike Burish very much and don't think he belongs on an NHL team.

But just saying that Wingels just isn't very good at teh hockey either. We really have nobody better that can take his spot in the lineup? What do the coaches see in him so that's so great when he clearly takes entire games off (mentally) like he has been?

Wingels is better defensively than Couture. Couture is good defensively but Wingels is better. I think the reason you have this perception of Wingels is because of how he's being used on that line. Wingels is most effective when he's allowed to be the primary forechecker on a line. It allows him to use his speed an play physical. With Marleau and Couture he's being asked to play a third man high role as the primary defensive forward. I honestly don't think there is anyone else on the team that could fill in on that line for Wingels and still be able to match it up against the other teams top lines.

 

[SJVP408]

Vlasic fined for slashing Heatley

Y! SPORTS

 

[SJVP408]

Wingels is better defensively than Couture. Couture is good defensively but Wingels is better. I think the reason you have this perception of Wingels is because of how he's being used on that line. Wingels is most effective when he's allowed to be the primary forechecker on a line. It allows him to use his speed an play physical. With Marleau and Couture he's being asked to play a third man high role as the primary defensive forward. I honestly don't think there is anyone else on the team that could fill in on that line for Wingels and still be able to match it up against the other teams top lines.

Is it fair to say that the third man high (TMH) is the toughest role of the three forecheckers? He has to read what the first two forecheckers are doing. If they seem to have a jump on the puck carrier, then the TMH has to jump in to support and secure the turnover. If he sees that the first two forecheckers are about to fail on the forecheck, then he needs to take a defensive stance and get in position to slow the opposition's transition game. TMH seems like he needs to be very cerebral.

As opposed to the first two forecheckers who just need to get on their horse and take a good angle on the puck carrier (cutting off passing lanes, while closing fast).

 

[Cmon_WTF]

2nd forechecker has the hardest job. He has to be able to read the play and know when to support the primary forechecker or take up a secondary defensive position.

 

[CJdublé]

"It kind of caught me off guard when they threw me out there," Galiardi said. "There is so much talent out there, just go to the net and it worked out for me. (Ryan) Suter gave me a nice little cross-check from behind and then called me an (expletive). It was sitting right there for me after that. As long as you stick around, you get lucky."

 

[SJVP408]

"It kind of caught me off guard when they threw me out there," Galiardi said. "There is so much talent out there, just go to the net and it worked out for me. (Ryan) Suter gave me a nice little cross-check from behind and then called me an (expletive). It was sitting right there for me after that. As long as you stick around, you get lucky."

Kudos to Todd for playing the guy that's hustling. Rewarded with PP time.

I have not been impressed with Sheppard lately. Seems very weak on the stick, losing possession just a little too easily and not getting pucks out of the D zone efficiently. Still like Gomez, he sets up his mates a few times a game, just no finish from the mates.

 

[MacJ88]

It has to be either Shep or Burish to the press box in favor of Raffi. I have been fairly pleased with how Sheppard has played this season but recently he has been noticed for all the wrong reasons. Burish will be on my shit list until he starts doing what he was brought here to do, get in the opponents face and throw them off their game. Sure he was brought in to be a presence on the PK but I thought Burish had a rep for being a loud mouth, an agitator, a guy that will give you a face wash after the whistle and get in your head. It seems like Burish got paid and he's no longer motivated to do the extra things. Whatever, it's not like he wasn't a waste of space before we signed him, it's just that he's even more worthless now.

I'm ok with the Raffi trade, in fact, I think I hate myself because I kinda like it. Maybe in 2 weeks when the Wild come back to the tank, things will have settled down a bit but I expect a war, some retaliation for the loss and the Heatley injury (barring its seriousness). I feel like that's when we are really going to miss Clowe and to some degree Murray. Opposing teams are going to be much braver without them on the ice but I guess it's been pretty obvious that we are a much better team because we are faster without those guys.

 

[koblix]

NHL fines Marc-Edouard Vlasic

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has been fined for slashing Minnesota's Dany Heatley.

The NHL fined Vlasic $8,378.38 for the infraction at the end of Wednesday's 4-2 victory against the Wild.

Vlasic and Heatley were jostling in the closing seconds of the game. After Vlasic delivered a cross check, Heatley responded by swinging his stick at Vlasic. He missed and Vlasic retaliated and hit Heatley with his stick.

The Wild were upset after the game because Heatley was hurt. But the NHL says the injury came in the ensuing scrum and not from the slash.

 

[rares]

The NHL fined Vlasic $8,378.38 for the infraction at the end of Wednesday's 4-2 victory against the Wild.

Yeah, max fine is half a day's pay or $10k, whichever is less... so I guess Pickles makes $16,756.76 a day, to be exact.

Also, obligatory lightsaber version of "teh fight":

 

[RaiderZar]

Yeah, max fine is half a day's pay or $10k, whichever is less... so I guess Pickles makes $16,756.76 a day, to be exact.

Also, obligatory lightsaber version of "teh fight":

I like the light sabers. Was waiting for Darth Pickles to chop off Luke Heatler's arm. Now, that may have warranted a suspension.