"Sink or swim!"

Nikita's nose is not broken so will dress but Paul will go to Butts on right wing on the big line if Filatov is lookin' like he needs a night off.

The big question...the DEFENCE pairings...

I'd go with the Swedish Offence #65 and #7 and give 'em lots of ice. The "old boys" (#4/#55) are doing pretty well with lots of rest and #2 with #5 will be fine.

Andy in goal again!

Zack's line ready for Ribeiro.

Jason is fine as long as he has "Cyborg!"

Alfie, 9mm and their new center are ready to really put it together.

The "Bingo Line!"

Zack, Condra and Daug are terrific.

Goal tending wins. Andy is plain "Good!"

Nick Foligno @ center goes back deeper in his own end and starts the rush as well as anyone...carries it with more authority through the center.

Jason...shooting!

EriK is "Cool".

Greening, our cyborg, is afraid of "Nothing!"

9mm two to start.

Alfie is right there taking it all in...steady as she goes.

So what do we do now?

Lee goes back in and Butts goes to the big line.

Dress Neil, make him play on one leg.

Or play 11 forwards.

The "Money Shot!"

The scoring shot right now in the NHL is the winger going too far, too deep and shooting short side top corner...if the goalie deflects it to the corner ya shoot it off the back of his goal pad (or his "Arse!")

Note: There is more than the odd one going in.

So Nikita, you being a right hand shot going down left wing allows you to hold the puck even longer before going high short side and your shooting angle is twice as good. Last game, you held it a little long but ya still had him down early with lots of room upstairs. Doubtless you have been told this but it's good to think about it again as this play will come to you more often than you think.

Jason the "Big Shooter!" It makes my heart flutter every time you let one go...even that one high off the cross bar. Again as you doubtless have been told if you and Nikita are going to put it together you are/will become the "gunner!"  So it's recognize the shot and take it. You and I both know you are much better at seeing these scoring chances than you are given credit for. As for the too far, too deep one you already take that shot so remind Filatov!

Nikita is back!

Option one to start...#21; #28; #16

Option two during the game...#21; #19; #9 with Greening going to 2nd line center.

Option three...double shift Jason...#21; #19; #16

Option four...#21; #71; #11

Do ya get the drift...the DaCosta experiment was done 5-6 games ago, this move was long over due and should have been explored out of Training Camp.

Just sayin'...

PHX played 5 centers tonight and Kyle didn't even dress...they have a very old defence.

EDM has two surplus offensive centers and no defencemen.

Waiting for Petr, who may return after xmas is a mistake.

Come on Bryan live by the sword, spend some of your young "D" stockpile!

Plan "F", bring up Filatov and play #14 @ 2nd center.

Plan "X" throw in the towel and bring up and play all the kids! Playing goal in Ottawa can't be any worse than playing in Bingo!

Protect Spezza!

The DaCOSTA experiment is over.

If we don't get another center ice man to protect Jason, his production will drop until he stops trying.

Petr is done with that shoulder even if he can come back he will not be a true second center.

Note: this is the National Hockey League, ya can't get by with only Jason Spezza and Zack!

Bryan, either ya go out and get us a real center man (ya got so many young NHL ready high skill DEFENCEMEN that you cannot develop them all) or throw in the towel on this season.

You cannot win...

In the Show, you cannot win without a "Big Time" goalie; an "All Star" 1st line center; a "Gifted" puck moving defenceman and a first line center playing second line in "Sheep's Clothing!"

Z-bad is starting to look like a super 3rd and may not be here for another year after this one.

Silfverberg is in Sweden.

I think shoulders (Petr) hurt bad many times don't come back. It's a bad wager.

#24 is badly over matched and Nick and Alfie know it and it is having an effect on them.

Winchester is game but is more valuable further down the line up.

Zenon is too slow.

#14 is unavailable.

Condra is a bridge too far...right now.

Brooks Laich plays in Washington.

Sid, Geno and Staal play in Pittsburgh...our next stop.

Foligno (and we love the guy) plays wing like a center but put him at center and he looks like a winger.

Due to some great advice gathered from various sources Bryan, you now have a glut of  young NHL ready defencemen...you cannot develop them all...

Make your move "early"...this season hangs in the balance...