That is awesome news -- that dude can't get back soon enough
- AllInForFlyers

He does need to play better when he gets back. He's having a rough start, counting pre-season, but he can be very solid.

I really wish Grossmann or MDZ could play the right side

Well look who the main reactor was.
- NickTheKid87

No comment

He does need to play better when he gets back. He's having a rough start, counting pre-season, but he can be very solid.

I really wish Grossmann or MDZ could play the right side
- Jsaquella

Mac & Coburn doesn't work well as a pairing.

MDZ and Schenn doesn't work well because MDZ roves too much and LSchenn is not quick enough physically or mentally to cover for him.

So I would go with this lineup against Dallas if Coburn is fit:

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn

Mason is fine. He probably should have stopped that 5th goal but he was left out to dry all game long. I refuse to blame him for anything right now.
- GOA88

Definitely a save he should've made. But hard to blame a guy who is regularly one of their top players.

Was this the part where I let the rest of the team off the hook, "Personally I believe the Forwards take the blame for their defensive effort regardless of what Mason did."

We can agree to disagree then..To me in a 4 on 4 game , your starting goalie needs to make a save on a routine shot.

Also that strapping the pads on stuff is funny. Seriously , you sound as sand in the vag as I was last season every time someone praised Couturier.

- opeth_pa

Totally agree, save needs to be made. What's next, unless you've played an NHL game, don't criticize an NHL player?

Mac & Coburn doesn't work well as a pairing.

MDZ and Schenn doesn't work well because MDZ roves too much and LSchenn is not quick enough physically or mentally to cover for him.

So I would go with this lineup against Dallas if Coburn is fit:

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn
- Feanor

I like the bottom two pairs OK but think Coburn might struggle with MDZ.
Could be worth a try.
I know Luke looked good with Amac last year.

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn
- Feanor

Mac & Coburn doesn't work well as a pairing.

MDZ and Schenn doesn't work well because MDZ roves too much and LSchenn is not quick enough physically or mentally to cover for him.

So I would go with this lineup against Dallas if Coburn is fit:

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn
- Feanor

Frank it

with this group of dmen, they're better off going with 4 forwards

Mac & Coburn doesn't work well as a pairing.

MDZ and Schenn doesn't work well because MDZ roves too much and LSchenn is not quick enough physically or mentally to cover for him.

So I would go with this lineup against Dallas if Coburn is fit:

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn
- Feanor

That's probably a factor in the struggles. But it's hard to really have effective pairs with what they have. Coburn & MacDonald have struggled. Of course, last night Grossmann & Streit and Schenn & Del Zotto struggled.

Hartnell lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQvKYi8Ss4Q
- Marc D

What # was he?

What # was he?
- jmatchett383

43

Well, at least one person understood. I'm sharing an opinion of MacDonald, built upon watching him, looking at his stats, advanced and traditional and in conjunction with others whose opinions I respect.

IMO, if MacDonald is the best guy on your second pair, your 2nd pair isn't that great. If he's the second guy on your second pair, it's probably a solid, if not very good pair. It's not as if MacDonald was playing 20 minutes a night on a good defense. He was one of the Isles better defensemen, but if he was on a team like Chicago, St Louis, LA, or the Rangers, he's probably not playing 20 minutes a night.

He's not an awful player, but it amazes me the reaction one gets when it's suggested he's little more than a secondary guy
- Jsaquella

I disagree. The player I've seen so far this season is absolutely a solid NHL #3 puck moving defenseman. The way he's played this season, he could even be a compliment to a #1.

And if he was playing on Chicago, St. Louis, or LA, he'd be considered a defenseman fans covet, because he'd have solid numbers playing with the outstanding team game that those teams play with, he'd look even better.

What amazes me is the lack of understanding of how the team support around a defenseman affects the results.

Mac & Coburn doesn't work well as a pairing.

MDZ and Schenn doesn't work well because MDZ roves too much and LSchenn is not quick enough physically or mentally to cover for him.

So I would go with this lineup against Dallas if Coburn is fit:

MDZ-Coburn
Grossmann-Streit
MacDonald-LSchenn
- Feanor

I think it still remains to be seen if MacDonald and Coburn works as a pairing. if I'm going to use Coburn to match up against top lines. There's no way I pair Del Zotto with him.

43
- Jsaquella

He's now playing as a defenseman???

Del Zotto struggled.
- Jsaquella

Schenn struggled, but I don't know if you can say that MDZ didn't do his job to a T. He's supposed to be the 4th-F out there and creating chances... which he did in abundance... but his forwards and d-partners did a poop job of covering his ass.

I disagree. The player I've seen so far this season is absolutely a solid NHL #3 puck moving defenseman. The way he's played this season, he could even be a compliment to a #1.

And if he was playing on Chicago, St. Louis, or LA, he'd be considered a defenseman fans covet, because he'd have solid numbers playing with the outstanding team game that those teams play with, he'd look even better.

What amazes me is the lack of understanding of how the team support around a defenseman affects the results.
- MJL

That's super. I'm not talking about two games this season, but about his entire career.

What amazes me is how your opinions are required to be treated as facts, while other's opinions have to be quantified somehow.

He's now playing as a defenseman???
- jmatchett383

That or a matador.

I'm still bummed that Bellemare wrister from the blue line rang off the crossbar. That would have been an amazing first NHL goal.

That or a matador.
- Jsaquella

Just wondering why he's playing at the blue line as a slow, defensively irresponsible winger.

Schenn struggled, but I don't know if you can say that MDZ didn't do his job to a T. He's supposed to be the 4th-F out there and creating chances... which he did in abundance... but his forwards and d-partners did a poop job of covering his ass.
- Tomahawk

On the Zubrus goal, I thought Del Zotto made a good pinch, and sealed off the wall. Unfortunately the puck bounced right to Greene who moved the puck up quickly. Voracek skated hard to cancel his man and take away a potential 2 on 1. I would just like to see Schenn have a better stick there. And Mason needs to make the save. I can't really blame Del Zotto on that goal.

- MBFlyerfan

Schenn struggled, but I don't know if you can say that MDZ didn't do his job to a T. He's supposed to be the 4th-F out there and creating chances... which he did in abundance... but his forwards and d-partners did a poop job of covering his ass.
- Tomahawk

He did, but sometimes his timing and choosing when to pinch or try to create was poor. I'm not expecting Rod Langway, but he's got to be less...reckless(for lack of a better word) in choosing his spots.

As far as creating chances, that part of the job was done to a T

you stated your view on mason's performance in your original post rather plainly.

pretty much every shot is routine then right? and the goalie should just make every save, because he's the goalie? right? but wait, the backup shouldn't be expected to make that save on that routine shot simply because he's the backup? so if emery got beat there it wouldn't be atrocious? right?

funny? it's not funny, it's (frank)ing sad. because 99.9% of the population doesn't have a (frank)ing clue how hard the position is to play, even for the pros, and say poop like you did...atrocious, routine, all that matters etc etc...i'm sick to death of it.

and couturier is a terrific young player.
- hammarby31

Yes I did... I said "My issue last night was partially the D, primarily the forwards and Mason playing like junk. "

You can't be serious with the the stuff about how hard it is to play a position.

I don't think any of us are on this site because we aren't hockey fans or familiar with how to play any of the positions in that game. If you ask Mason 100 times if he should make a save in a 4-4 game on a wrist shot from the middle of a the circle at an angle with no screen which beats him short side I am willing to bet you he would answer 100% of the time that he should have made that save.

Their isn't a goalie anywhere that wouldn't say "I should have made that save" as a matter of fact regardless of if he is the starter, backup or plays in an over 30 mens league. http://video.nhl.com/vide...?hlg=20142015,2,6&lang=en

Yes , to this point Couturier is a really good young defensive forward, I don't disagree.

I disagree. The player I've seen so far this season is absolutely a solid NHL #3 puck moving defenseman. The way he's played this season, he could even be a compliment to a #1.

And if he was playing on Chicago, St. Louis, or LA, he'd be considered a defenseman fans covet, because he'd have solid numbers playing with the outstanding team game that those teams play with, he'd look even better.

What amazes me is the lack of understanding of how the team support around a defenseman affects the results.
- MJL

He's played two games this season. Direct quote from you today at 7:58 AM:

Two games into the season. No reason for panic. Already talk about trades, missing the playoffs, getting the top pick. Crazy.

Crazy for talking trades two games in and getting the top pick but totally reasonable to call AMac a #3 defenseman in the same span?

On the Zubrus goal, I thought Del Zotto made a good pinch, and sealed off the wall. Unfortunately the puck bounced right to Greene who moved the puck up quickly. Voracek skated hard to cancel his man and take away a potential 2 on 1. I would just like to see Schenn have a better stick there. And Mason needs to make the save. I can't really blame Del Zotto on that goal.
- MJL

If you pinch and the other team gets the puck, you failed on your pinch attempt. Bounces be damned.