A question of depth, lines

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- OK, I've been thinking about depth. The Rockford IceHogs, who are planning on activating Bruce Watson for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, certainly have it. This will be the third different lineup coach Steve Martinson will have used in the series.

Meanwhile, the Komets have changed their lineup only once in the playoffs. Now, it seems maybe they need to shake things up, but how can they? I'm a fan of Arthur Kiyaga but I'm not sure I put him in a series this physical. Erick Tremblay is supposed to be promising, but do you really put in a player who hasn't played a game in the pros? And Kyle McAllister is there, but I'm not entirely sure what he'd add. So, I think the Komets will stick with their lineup.

That means they don't have enough depth. It may sounds strange, but I wonder if this all goes back to K.J. Voorhees retiring? I know he wasn't playing much, but he was around to give the Komets an experienced player for these types of situations, and now they're sitting there with three rookies they may not be able to use. Or there was the trade of Kelly Miller for Andrew Lackner. Who would you rather have right now?

I don't think there's any question, though, if the Komets could go back in time, they'd have groomed one more player for this situation. Just my opinion.

Speaking of lineup changes, I know that part of the Komets' success this season has rested with coach Pat Bingham's belief in his lines; he hasn't meddled much with them. But after two dreadful games in a row, personally, I would shake up the lines a bit. What's it going to hurt? I was thinking of this: Daniel Goneau-Bruce Richardson-Terry Marchant; Matt Syroczynski-J.C. Ruid-Pascal Morency; David Hukalo-Martin Gascon-Jonathan Goodwin.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Greg]

Kiyaga has played all year though. The only knack on him would be that he'd get pummelled by the Hogs. I doubt Bingham changes his lines up much. Here's hoping Watson goes overboard and gets a few penalties.

[Greg]

Justin, how much ice time did Labrre get last night?

[Justin Cohn]

Honestly, I didn't even notice him on the ice.

[Randy J.]

I agree - seems like the lines need to be switched up a little.

I like these:

Goodwin, Goneau, Gascon
Ruid, Marchant, Syro
Richardson, Morency, Hukalo
or
Richardson, Gasccon, Goneau
Ruid, Syro, Morency
Marchant, Hukalo, Goodwin

Or put Labarre in somewhere.

Does anybody know how these new guys are? Can they play against a physical Rockford team?

[Greg]

Then the idea would be to put Labarre in when one of the others seems off their game. He's fresh, he actually contributes, a goal in game 2, make a guy miss a couple of shifts, then I bet his head gets screwed on right. Labarre hasn't flubbed up when he does get in so give him a chance.

[Hit Somebody!!!]

I think Marchant has to sit out. Labarre in the lineup makes sense. He tore things up when he played with Gascon and Morency. Why not try Hukalo on the top line and drop Goneau or Goodwin down? Try these lines out...

Huk, Richardson, Goodwin
Goneau, Ruid, Syrocynski
Gascon, Morency, Labarre

Make one of the rookies your extra skater for energy purposes. Preference would be an extra D-man so that Henley can play his game and not have to worry about leaving the Defense shorthanded.

Goneau and Richardson and Goodwin need split up and Ruid need a true center that can get him the puck around the net.

Also, we need to play aggressive like game 1. Rockford plays dumb when we hit them, all of our guys doing the dirty work really rattles them and they start to play stupid. Johnson cannot stand to be checked, nor does Mizzi. We need to step it up physically if we are going to win this series.

[Brad Lyons]

Kiyaga as small as he is and as little as this might seem, when he's in the line-up he FINDS a way to get to the puck and clear it. He can't check for squat so if the play is in front of the net he's not much help, but he will fight like a pesky little mosquito and track down the puck and get rid of it. He has energy, I'd say put him out there.

[jkmess11]

And there shall be at least 8 teams next season and an exciting anouncement forthcoming.

[jc]

I would go with these combos:
Ruid Marchant Morency
Gascon Hukalo Syrozynski
Richardson Goodwin McAllister
Labarre

Bench Goneau. He's worthless.

[jc]

Or do something creative like Martinson has done. I might dress 7 defensemen and play Henley at forward. It's a smaller rink in Rockford and you can punish the defensemen by dumping the puck in and getting some good hits. Take the Hogs strategy and use it against them. Play Henley at forward to punish Lutz, Boeser, Hessler, and company.

[kometfan2]

JC I dont know that I agree about moving Henely...his play lately has been solid.

[Tom]

I say let the coach decide. He needs to be able to get his teams to the next level. If he is like his players he is sick of getting this far and not moving on..he will figure something out.

[K.M.]

Since Labarre doesn't seem to be playing much and this is a physical series I would insert Tremblay into the lineup. With all out penalties having an extra defensemen can't hurt, plus he has size and its much easier to move a defensemen in a pinch to play forward for a shift or 2.

Its almost like the Komets are playing a player short anyways since Labarre isn't playing much, why not add a player who at least can add a more physical element which we seem to need?

[Greg]

We don't know what Tremblay can add though. That's the problem.

[Hit Somebody!!!]

Let's put Colin Chaulk, Sean Venedam and Jonathon Goodwin on the first line.....oops....Chief destroyed that a couple of years ago.....crap!