|
Post by habsgm on May 29, 2006 8:16:23 GMT -5
This is in the wake of a rash of injuries to Sabre defencemen: Tallinder, Numminen and Kalinen, but one can't help but wonder how good the defence corps actually is. It might be the best in the NHL this season. Last night, the 'top' pairing of McKee/Lydman played about 26 minutes a piece. They played a combined 14 minutes on the PK (shame on Buffalo for so many penalities). Offensive defencemen Brian Campbell, who sits low on Buffalo's defensive charts, played a Norris type game. He was on the ice for almost half the game, almost 33 minutes. He contributed over four minutes of PK time and 5 minutes as the PP quarterback. Campbell finished the game at +2 and with 4 blocked shots.
|
|
|
Post by Bryce - Minny on May 29, 2006 8:24:40 GMT -5
if Campbell is on the PK they are in trouble......I'm hoping Buffalo somehow comes through that series simply because the Oilers would bang and crash that defense (or whats left of it) to death.
Although I found myself rooting for Dougie and the Canes, I really dont care who comes out of the west, the Cup is coming back to the Heartland of Hockey.
|
|
|
Post by habsgm on May 29, 2006 8:43:54 GMT -5
I don't think that Campbell is a defensive liability. He doesn't see much PK taime because there are already four very good pk d-men in front of him. It's a depth thing. It's not like he's a flake or lightweight defensively either. One just has to watch the games to see he plays his position quite capably from the blue line in and excells from the blue line out. Moreover, he forces guys to keep their heads up: ie Staal last night. On another club with less depth, he would probably see significantly more time and a regular pk shift.
|
|