Should Babcock stick with the Hossa/Flip combo?

[Guest blueadams]

How's aboot these lines:

LW: Franzen, C: Zetterberg, RW: Cleary

LW: Filppula, C: Datsyuk, RW: Hossa

LW: Holmstrom, C: Hudler, RW: Samuelsson

LW: Maltby, C: Draper, RW: Helm

Instead of moving Flip back to the third line when Pav returns, maybe we could slide him to the wing? Him and Hossa have looked so great together. It might not be a bad idea to ride that chemistry. It might also help Pav get out of his little mini-slump. It'd be a smaller line, but Hossa's been getting more physical the last few games, so I think we'd be alright. I'd also like what we'd get of the third line with Sammy sniping and Homer in front of the net.

[Guest mindfly]

No doubt, you can really tell Hossa loves playing with flip....

Question is, if datsyuk returns where would he fit?

[Guest Four]

Swap Cleary and Datsyuk, making Filppula the center on second line..

Hank - Pasha - Franzen

Cleary - Filppula - Hossa

[Jocke 53]

Holmstrom needs to play with someone who can keep the puck in the offensive zone.

[seeinred 1,488]

Leino - Filppula - Hossa FTMFW.

I know, I added nothing.

[Guest mindfly]

Leino - Filppula - Hossa FTMFW.

I know, I added nothing.

Finnish lover

[NGKEIB 32]

How's aboot these lines:

LW: Franzen, C: Zetterberg, RW: Cleary

LW: Filppula, C: Datsyuk, RW: Hossa

LW: Holmstrom, C: Hudler, RW: Samuelsson

LW: Maltby, C: Draper, RW: Helm

Sorry, but this isn't going to happen. Even if Draper and Datsyuk are able to play the next game, it would make no sense to play a line of Holmström-Hudler-Samuelsson. While I agree that Holmström could stand in the net, Jiri could find Samuelsson etc., it wouldn't be that good from a defensive point of view. None of them can skate very quickly, and are all mediocre defensive players. Babcock can't put waste 6 of his best two way players on two lines. So I would say that either Datsyuk or Filppula would need to switch with Holmström, or put Holmström on the fourth line and move Helm up etc. I wouldn't mind seeing (assuming everyone is healthy):

Franzén-Zetterberg-Hudler

Hossa-Filppula-Holmström

Cleary-Datsyuk-Samuelsson

Helm-Maltby-Draper.

That set-up would allow Cleary to do get to the net and play a physical style, Samuelsson could just shoot and hopefully take out a few defenders/panes of glass and maybe score a couple, and Pavel would be able to run the show. That said, he hasn't played with these guys so there might be no chemistry. I just think that Hossa and Filppula are clicking at the moment and there is no reason to break it up. Franzén and Zetterberg have been solid, and Hudler has shown chemistry with Franzén, and his mediocre skating and defensive play is made up for by the other two.

[Reds4Life 51]

Datsuk Zetterberg Franzen //good luck stopping this line

Cleary Datsyuk Samuelsson

Holmstrom Filppula Hossa

Hudler Helm Draper/Maltby/Leino/Abdelkader

Lidstrom Rafalski

Kronwall Stuart

Ericsson Lebda/Chelios

[Guest mindfly]

Datsuk Zetterberg Franzen //good luck stopping this line

Cleary Datsyuk Samuelsson

Holmstrom Filppula Hossa

Hudler Helm Draper/Maltby/Leino/Abdelkader

Lidstrom Rafalski

Kronwall Stuart

Ericsson Lebda/Chelios

So that's why Datsyuk has been absent, he's been in a labratory and has been cloned.. yeaaaah =)

Edited May 25, 2009 by mindfly

[tdinc 45]

Flip and Hoss = Win

[Fingercots 6]

I think the most important thing about Hossa isn't who his linemates are, it's how hard Hossa decides to play.

Hossa definitely elevated his play in game 4, he was skating faster and going to the net a lot more than he had in the first 3 games of this series. Flip is definitely working well with Hossa but if Hossa decides to lay back and take it easy in game 5, he won't do much regardless of his linemates.

[greenrebellion 415]

I think the most important thing about Hossa isn't who his linemates are, it's how hard Hossa decides to play.

Hossa definitely elevated his play in game 4, he was skating faster and going to the net a lot more than he had in the first 3 games of this series. Flip is definitely working well with Hossa but if Hossa decides to lay back and take it easy in game 5, he won't do much regardless of his linemates.

How high will Hossa's game go if we end up playing the Pens. I imagine there is a whole other level beyond what we saw in game 4.

But even if that played a part, I still don't think Dats and Hossa have much chemistry.

[Guest mindfly]

How high will Hossa's game go if we end up playing the Pens. I imagine there is a whole other level beyond what we saw in game 4.

But even if that played a part, I still don't think Dats and Hossa have much chemistry.

QFT

I doubt Hossa wants to look foolish if Detroit would lose against Pittsburgh in the finals, and it sure would, he came here only because he had a _better_ chance to win the cup, and it would just be awkward and probably embarassing for him if that were to happen so he will skate his ass off i think... there is another level in him I think.

Edited May 25, 2009 by mindfly

[titanium2 867]

I think the most important thing about Hossa isn't who his linemates are, it's how hard Hossa decides to play.

Hossa definitely elevated his play in game 4, he was skating faster and going to the net a lot more than he had in the first 3 games of this series. Flip is definitely working well with Hossa but if Hossa decides to lay back and take it easy in game 5, he won't do much regardless of his linemates.

True but with Flip he gets the puck a lot more.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Leino - Filppula - Hossa FTMFW.

[titanium2 867]

Swap Cleary and Datsyuk, making Filppula the center on second line..

You'd think that Babs would think Hoss has to stay with Fil from now on but who knows?

[Yzerman191 37]

I'd like to see:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom --> always has worked in the past. If they're not scoring, they'll be shutting the top line down for other teams.

Franzen-Flip-Hossa --> sure as hell worked last game.

Cleary-Hudler-Sammy --> could be an effective third line at shutting and grinding other teams down, with a pinch of a scoring touch.

Maltby-Draper-Helm

[b.shanafan14 733]

I'd like to see:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom --> always has worked in the past. If they're not scoring, they'll be shutting the top line down for other teams.

Franzen-Flip-Hossa --> sure as hell worked last game.

Cleary-Hudler-Sammy --> could be an effective third line at shutting and grinding other teams down, with a pinch of a scoring touch.

Maltby-Draper-Helm

Seems like a no brainer. But with Holmstrom struggling big time, better to have Cleary on the top line and move Homer to the third line. Then Franzen and Cleary are interchangeable on the top two lines.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Hossa

Holmstrom-Hudler-Samuelsson

Maltby-Draper-Helm

[2cool 0]

Seems like a no brainer. But with Holmstrom struggling big time, better to have Cleary on the top line and move Homer to the third line. Then Franzen and Cleary are interchangeable on the top two lines.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary

Franzen-Filppula-Hossa

Holmstrom-Hudler-Samuelsson

Maltby-Draper-Helm

i was thinking of similar, but slightly different.

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Cleary

this line should play very well together. Z and 13 are great defensively and Cleary is such a smart player that he will find the open ice playing with 2 playmakers.

Holstrom-Filppula-Hossa

this line played great together yesterday with Holstrom camped out in front, Filps setting up Hossa with his great speed and passing and, if Hossa plays like he did yesterday, these guys should be a threat to score every shift.

Hudler-Franzen-Samuelsson

This line definitely wouldn't be put out against scoring lines, but their offense would be tough to stop. Franzen has played plenty of center previously and would be a handful with Sammy and Hudler.

Maltby-Draper-Helm

Edited May 25, 2009 by 2cool

[bellarina 1]

Swap Cleary and Datsyuk, making Filppula the center on second line..

Hank - Pasha - Franzen

Cleary - Filppula - Hossa

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

This could work but not sure about Datsyuk yet.

[Dabura 12,232]

Flip and Hossa have chemistry. It looked like they'd been linemates for years yesterday.

They stay together, imo.

[titanium2 867]

It's a tough problem, but a good one to have.

-Zetterberg is a fixture at center

-Datsyuk feels as if he is more dangerous at center

-But Datsyuk maximizes Zetterberg's ability at his wing.

-Filppula plays well with Hossa because he gives him the puck more often

My preference is Datsyuk on Zetterberg's wing.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

How's aboot these lines:

LW: Franzen, C: Zetterberg, RW: Cleary

LW: Filppula, C: Datsyuk, RW: Hossa

LW: Holmstrom, C: Hudler, RW: Samuelsson

LW: Maltby, C: Draper, RW: Helm

Instead of moving Flip back to the third line when Pav returns, maybe we could slide him to the wing? Him and Hossa have looked so great together. It might not be a bad idea to ride that chemistry. It might also help Pav get out of his little mini-slump. It'd be a smaller line, but Hossa's been getting more physical the last few games, so I think we'd be alright. I'd also like what we'd get of the third line with Sammy sniping and Homer in front of the net.

The top two lines look the way I'd like to see them assuming the bottom two lines won't suffer too terribly from the sudden drop in centre depth. Having Filppula on the third makes for three real, real strong lines, then you add Draper/Helm for faceoffs on the 4th and the Wings should be 55%+ on the draw in every game.

[Guest L3T5G0W1NG5]

i don't see how u can't put them together for another game.