NGKEIB

I think that Abdelkader will stay down in GR for now, and that any rotation will be between Maltby, Eaves and May.

No... Cum hoc ergo propter hoc and post hoc ergo propter hoc are different, the former meaning 'with this, therefore because of this', the latter meaning 'after this, and therefore because of it.

I think that it is a shame to sit Maltby, when he's had a good start to the season and had a good post-season. If this is his last year (looks likely, and it's definitely a contract year), give him all the chances you can for him to play his heart out - that is, until he does something (or fails to do something) and therefore merits benching.

Check out Downey vs Norton. Amazing scrap. Malik on mlive suggested that when Helm is healthy, he might be the one sent down. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Kopecky vs May anyone?

Does Montreal's top line count?

I actually think that Babs has wanted to get May for a while - I've read this somewhere, but I can't remember where so I can't give anyone a source. Re May/Abdelkader, it does look like Abdelkader has been sent down, and that May will take his place - but I'm sure this is only until Helm gets back; I assume that May will go down to GR in a few games time...

Yeah Gill is a joke - I wouldn't call him a heavyweight, just a bigger target. Chara is best known for beating him up, but is a poor example since he is one of the few who is bigger - just shows that Gill has absolutely no idea what he's doing when he can't hold someone off with his reach. He also has terrible chin, just watch his fight with Kocur.

I disagree - I think that our 4th line hasn't been the problem, and he certainly doesn't belong on a scoring line (at this stage at least). I'm not sure that has anything to do with physics, just like most of his posts have little regard for rhetoric or reason. I look forward to getting Helm back, but I think that everyone is in for a rude awakening if they expect him to do the same amount of hitting during the regular season as he did in the playoffs.

I think that your even strength line combos have been subjected to enough criticism, so I'd just like to highlight something that made me chuckle.

That would just be overkill, albeit potentially ridiculously talented. But I can't see him using Datsyuk and Malkin on the same line. Especially when Kovalchuk, Semin and Kovalev needs to be worked in somewhere... Hmm, you mean when Pronger and Timonen kept on not letting him by towards the end of the game and in OT? I must admit, that having Ovechkin and Semin centred by Nicklas is hench. Though I still prefer the Flyers (after Detroit, they're the team I like the most, partially because they're the only NHL team I've seen play) - I'm so jealous that they got Betts, and for an incredibly cheap 1-year deal... Edit - grammar.

You must have been taking lessons from Detroit.

No chance that Fedorov plays with Ovechkin - Russia's top two centres will be Malkin and Datsyuk.

Use Sopcast and get great streams here (and even internet flash-based ones): www.myp2p.eu

He'll only take 82 shots this season - but they will all be shorthanded goals.

Plenty of good streams on myp2p.eu, and you won't need to bother with changing your proxy. I reckon that our 3rd and 4th lines will play as well as they did yesterday, but that one of our top lines will get into the mix more. Mule is angry he missed so many chances.

No, but Joey Barton is probably the closest thing that they have to an enforcer. He has an impressive track record/rap sheet. Did I mention that he's closely related to a racist axe-murderer?

I'm not denying that Gerrard and Torres have more 'skills', but look at Dirk's goalscoring record in Europe. QED. Because the Premiership is afraid of him, so they didn't let him play. And I'm being completely serious... I'm just worried about Ericsson. And do you reckon Howard will start tomorrow?

He's with Newcastle at the moment, which is why I couldn't say premier league. And Torres and Gerrard have a lot more flair than Dirkie-Dirk, but aren't half as clutch. Dirkie-Dirk also has the 2nd best nickname in English football, only after Teenage Mutant Ninja Skrtl. Go Wings.

Dirk Kuyt is the second best player in English football. After Joey Barton.

Agreed. Leino had a great game I thought. And kudos to Malts, not so much for his shorthanded goal (which was way overdue...), more so for the fact that his comments from the penalty box got picked up by the microphones.

Is the key to being good sucking and getting high draft picks? LOL PROLLY!

Might almost make me miss Chelios...

Thanks - I was streaming the TSN feed, and they failed to even notice he was gone, though they were very good at calling people by the wrong name.

It's always a good sign when the guys who score in a big game like the season opener are a 3rd-pairing defenseman, a 4th-liner on the PK and a 3rd-line rookie. Depth is great, but only when the top two lines produce. One thing I learned: Bertuzzi is good at catching high pucks.

I swear that Ericsson didn't play towards the end of the game - I never saw him out there. Injury, or just benched? Apologies if this has been mentioned, but I don't feel like reading through 30 pages.