Shaggy
Forum Moderator 
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
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Post by Shaggy on Sept 21, 2008 4:16:18 GMT
A few of us were discussing this after last night's match...
Which one is the Panthers' first line? Do we have a stand-out first line?
Do we even have a weaker third line?
Clarke - Richardson - Bergin
Molin - Tessier - Levers
Cook - Myers - Galbraith
I'm fnding it hard to make much of a distinction in quality level with these lines... and all three with a British player on them (as Corey had said was going to happen). Over the whole season, this could provide an edge to win games that would otherwise be in doubt - constantly cycling three damn-near-equal lines could be a total git for opposing teams to match.
Thoughts, anyone?
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Post by Rob #12 on Sept 21, 2008 8:08:54 GMT
No, I don't think we will have a top line. They are all equally threatening. It's not often you can say that about a team.
The best thing is if we need to make an adjustment (e.g. PK or PP) the players seem to be interchangable which gives Corey a lot of options and makes us hard to predict and like you say match other players up to us.
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barthez
Robert Lachowicz
Posts: 593
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Post by barthez on Sept 21, 2008 9:32:02 GMT
Clarke - Richardson - Bergin
Cook - Myers - Galbraith
Molin - Tessier - Levers
they were the lines last nite in that order
but i think they are 3 strong lines
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Post by NickThePanther44 on Sept 21, 2008 9:34:03 GMT
Can't be easy for opposing coaches to choose which of those lines to put your third line against
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NP
Lorne Smith
Posts: 706
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Post by NP on Sept 21, 2008 9:37:01 GMT
you can't though call molin & Tessier are 3rd liners. They would be the top liners in most other teams.
All lines are fairly equal, with the myers probably slightly weaker, and the Richardson line probly the most productive in terms of goals.
Lets hope we stay pretty much injury free this season, so we can remain with those lines.
Great work Corey in recruiting!
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John88
Simon Hunt
Posts: 1,031
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Post by John88 on Sept 21, 2008 9:44:26 GMT
Obviously it is working now and we have more quality than in the past, but having watched hockey for a fair few years, the receipe for success in big games seems to be "put your best players together as they will score the crutical goals". Obviously as we have 6 or 7 forwards you could say are geniune class but say at the end of the game, 2-1 down, I'd probably want Tess taking the face off, with Clarke and Jade for example, not Levers.
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Post by focus12 on Sept 21, 2008 10:20:17 GMT
Don't you think that this is why we are all saying we now have a TEAM? There is no-one line better than the other. All are equal.
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Post by dodit on Sept 21, 2008 13:13:21 GMT
I don't think we even need a top line because we are going to get goals on all three lines and that has been proven already this year especially on the bergin - richardson - clarke line. So im very happy with that.
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Rich
Paul Adey
Go hard or go home
Posts: 6,691
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Post by Rich on Sept 21, 2008 13:27:10 GMT
Id still like to see a special unit for the big situation but with the talent he has available, Corey has options and guys for every scenario.
Due to the 2 way play of the "third line" id like to see that used more as a first line as it wins faceoffs and can neutralise other teams first lines but the way Corey has set things up mean it doesnt matter. D play D, wingers stay on the wings and the centres mould the 2 together and provide the transition. Its not rocket science but only works when you have three top draw centres, which we appear to have. EG, last season we had to do things differently due to not having the quality centres and we came unstuck
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JT
Jade Galbraith
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Post by JT on Sept 21, 2008 17:06:49 GMT
All lines are fairly equal, with the myers probably slightly weaker I don' think myers is a weaker link, hes about 5th in points (in assists mainly) this season for our team alone. Levers (and yes, i understand he missed most of one game and the following game) has hardly any, IF any |
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matt44
David Clarke
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Post by matt44 on Sept 21, 2008 19:14:27 GMT
If we are down late in a game i'd like to see a line of Clarke - Tessier - Cook as I feel this is our best 3 scoring threats.
We have all the attributes needed for a championship winning side............................fingers crossed.......
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Pucky
Pat Casey
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Post by Pucky on Sept 22, 2008 9:04:12 GMT
Now I've not yet seen the Panthers play, but what you're describing sounds very much like the Lions team from last season - there were lines that started the game but that wasn't necessarily the 1st line - we had 3 forward lines and 3 defensive parings!
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MP
Paul Adey
Hail hurts and rain is cold. Summer in the mountains
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Post by MP on Sept 22, 2008 11:47:07 GMT
D play D, wingers stay on the wings and the centres mould the 2 together and provide the transition. I was curious on Saturday to see a complete contradiction of that! Think it was on a PK when Tessier broke up a play near the our goal then released Neilson who made the transition up ice with his defensive partner whilst the forwards did the defensive duties. That role reversal happened more than once during the game IIRC suggesting it's a planned tactic. |
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lee
David Clarke
Posts: 3,712
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Post by lee on Sept 22, 2008 11:50:32 GMT
i love the fact we don't have an obvious 1st line, every line we do have is a threat.... and like has been said there is no way another team could line match us, i.e their 1st v our 3rd.....its a great tactic on Corey's behalf.
There was a point in the game on saturday when we were on the powerplay that the lines changed, but Corey told Tess to stay on with Richardson as well, this resulted in tess scoring..... another good tactical move by corey!
so far i'm very impressed with this team. (hope that doesn't come back to bite me)
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Rich
Paul Adey
Go hard or go home
Posts: 6,691
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Post by Rich on Sept 22, 2008 11:52:38 GMT
D play D, wingers stay on the wings and the centres mould the 2 together and provide the transition. I was curious on Saturday to see a complete contradiction of that! Think it was on a PK when Tessier broke up a play near the our goal then released Neilson who made the transition up ice with his defensive parnter whilst the forwards did the defensive duties. That role reversal happened more than once during the game IIRC suggesting it's a planned tactic. Was it during a Powerplay or PK by any chance? We send a D man high each time to break up the outlet pass, he then (in theory) stays with the playmaker (usually the centre) as the opposition go through the neutral zone. The key is, the centre controls the play. If Tess breaks up a play (as he should if the opposition are passing into the high slot, then the D will make themselves available because we are in possesion. Generally speaking though, the D are quite reseved and only go forward when we have complete control or are on a special unit. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2008 12:08:46 GMT
Id be quite happy if our d just patrolled the blue line for the whole game and not jump into the play like Danny and Corey were doing on saturday, theres really no need with the forwards we have, the make plays on all 3 lines. We are not getting caught out that often on odd man rushes which is good except if we lose it on the boards
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MP
Paul Adey
Hail hurts and rain is cold. Summer in the mountains
Posts: 6,811
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Post by MP on Sept 22, 2008 12:55:12 GMT
Was it during a Powerplay or PK by any chance? We send a D man high each time to break up the outlet pass, he then (in theory) stays with the playmaker (usually the centre) as the opposition go through the neutral zone. The key is, the centre controls the play. If Tess breaks up a play (as he should if the opposition are passing into the high slot, then the D will make themselves available because we are in possesion. Generally speaking though, the D are quite reseved and only go forward when we have complete control or are on a special unit. Yes it was on special unit I think - I wasn't trying to analyse what was going, far too busy enjoying an eventful hockey match! I noticed Tess break up a play and make an outlet and was surprised to realise it was Neilson moving forward and Tess stayed back in the defensive position. When I commented on it I was told it's not the first time the D seemed to have taken up advanced positions on plays like that this season. It makes sense I guess - Neilson is a good transitional player and Meyers (and Ferrara perhaps) also have the potential. Tessier is probably a better defensive player than many of us give him credit for as well. |
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Post by Rob #12 on Sept 22, 2008 13:07:32 GMT
Would it have something to do with a D mans ability to poke check the puck away from the rushing forward, hence why they stay up top and forwards drop back?
It's how it seemed on Sat...
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Rich
Paul Adey
Go hard or go home
Posts: 6,691
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Post by Rich on Sept 22, 2008 13:23:35 GMT
Would it have something to do with a D mans ability to poke check the puck away from the rushing forward, hence why they stay up top and forwards drop back? It's how it seemed on Sat... Thats the idea. It aids with transition too. There is nothing worse than having 4 guys stood completely still waiting for the PP unit to come forward and play through them. It seems that is what Corey is trying to Eliminate. Of course, a well timed outlet pass to a high guy on the opposition blue line (panthers being the opposition in this case) who controls it and becomes the set up guy totally ruins the system, but dont tell the other coaches  Seriously though, if it forces the opposition to go to a plan B that can only be a good thing aswell and with guys like Richardson and Tessier, and to a degree Myers covering the play nicely, its easy to spot, harder to break down |
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Adam
Chick Zamick
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Post by Adam on Sept 22, 2008 15:45:07 GMT
We all noticed that too.. It was on a PK and Neilson went high man and poke checked a Steelers player down the bench side of the arena, broke the play up then gave it to Tessier at centre ice.
Nice tactic, never seen it before.
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