shootout strategy

I was really impressed with Murray's shootout strategy tonight. He went with Vermette, McAmmond, Fisher, the players who had been working hard. He rewarded hard work, and sent a message to starts that they need to start playing like stars - no glory if they don't work for it.

So, my question is, what is the best shootout strategy. Take your best players on the night, your hardest workers on the night, or take your stars?

And, for the record, I wrote this BEFORE Don Cherry commented on the choice of shooters :-)

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Originally Posted by jonf

I was really impressed with Murray's shootout strategy tonight. He went with Vermette, McAmmond, Fisher, the players who had been working hard. He rewarded hard work, and sent a message to starts that they need to start playing like stars - no glory if they don't work for it.

So, my question is, what is the best shootout strategy. Take your best players on the night, your hardest workers on the night, or take your stars?

And, for the record, I wrote this BEFORE Don Cherry commented on the choice of shooters :-)

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I was so shocked with the choices that Murray put in. I had guessed three other players. And yes those three did work really hard tonight. What a game :) GO SENS GO

I was not really shocked....last year he went with Heatley, Alfredson and Spezza everytime and they could buy a goal in the shootout!
not to change the topic....but take a look who scored the first three goals for Chicago tonight...Havlat..Smolinski...then again HAVLAT!!

no matter how many points he gets this year though, that trade had to be made

BIG time that trade had to be made...he had to go :thumbsup

isn't best and hardest workers of the night the same thing?
Can you explain please? :)

Ya, I was actually thinking of that as I wrote it. It is just about the same thing. I guess I made the distinction because a guy like McGratton will work hard every night, but we all know you don't want him taking a shot. I probably should have just made it best players on the night vs stars, but its always good to recognize hard work.

Speaking of stars....is it just me or is Spezza looking like a bum out there. Sure he has some great moves but for every great pass or deke he turns the puck over a lot more, and absolutely zero backcheck. Holy cow, a turnover, defenceman races to get back Spezza is closer and doesn't move. Maybe Martin was right about this guy. Hopefully Spezza and the rest of the "stars" can turn it around and start working as hard as Fisher, Neil, Hamel and the rest of the 3rd and 4th liners. Compare this team to Buffalo, even Toronto and they are well behind. Buffalo is young, speedy, talented and play well as a team.(My pick to win the cup) Toronto is Hungry and looking really good early. That said Murrays shootout strategy seemed to work. Maybe this will fire up the talent on the first line.


Thoughts?

Sorry if this is a thread jack!

Well, that's nothing new about Spezza. That's been the scouting report on him since day one. From what I've seen from the Sens this year, they should be getting rid of Volchenkov altogether - every time he touches the puck he looks like he's trying as hard as possible to give it away. I mentioned in another thread about Huet that a bad play to lose a playoff game can sometimes destroy a player. Well, it certainly hasn't done it for Huet, but it sure looks like it has for Volchenkov. He no longer looks like a threat to crush the opponents into the boards. He looks tentative and completely unsure of himself. This guy's career is done, at least in Ottawa. We should be getting rid of him while we can still get something for him.

Buffalo definitely looks like they're one of the teams to beat. Toronto...not so sure... a playoff team, yes, but let's not go crazy. I would also like to point out that a 22-3 start to the year means NOTHING, as we have seen in the past, so there's no need to panic about starting off 2-3.

I loved Murray's strategy. I'm pretty sure he looked at his top line, saw they weren't performing, and decided they needed something to jumpstart him. The fact that his shooters actually pulled off the win was more of a bonus than it was his primary goal.

Being a habs fan,i nearly laughed my ass off when i saw Ottawa's shootout pics last night!
I am humbled..good coaching:thumbsup

Fisher and Vermette didn't seem out of place to me. It was McAmmond who was the big surprise....funny he's the one who didn't score (although that one almost squeeked through too). But alas, its almost 4 am...probably about time for me to hit the hay.

I keep forgetting where you are!
I'm getting set to head out to play:-)

Jonf,did cbc play the Ottawa game out there or do you have center ice?

Vermette and Fish made sence to me, I'm still not sure where McAmmond came from - if Brian was trying to reward the hardest working Sens in the shoot-out last night Chris Neil should have taken all 3 shots, he has been far and away the best Sen in the last two games!! Hats off to Murray though for having the balls to sit the top guns - hopefully this is the wake-up call that they need.

As for the other related issues in the thread, Buffalo will certainly contend for the Eastern Conference Title, Toronto isn't a play-off team IMO - they'll be posting in the looking for a game section come play-off time.

Just heard Murray's comments on Sportscentre. When asked about why the usual guns weren't picked for the shootout, he flat out said they didn't deserve to take the shots. Good on him. Maybe a good wake up call for all the snipers on the team.

My buddy and I were watching the gam,e and said wouldn't it be great if he Put Fisher & vermette out there with like neil to take the shots. That'll show the "stars" they don't deserve it. We were so impressed and happy with the great coaching. We also wanted to see him drop Spezza and Heatley to the 4th line last night, they STUNK!!!!

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Originally Posted by covanant

Jonf,did cbc play the Ottawa game out there or do you have center ice?

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No, I got stuck with the Toronto/Calgary game, which was actually really entertaining. It finished before the Sens game though, so I got to see the last couple minutes of regulation and all of the overtime/shootout. I think I'm going to have to invest in digital cable though - I get very few sens games, and never get to see my beloved bills lose.

Digital cable? You mean HD right? Digital is old news already...:-)

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Originally Posted by Weazl

Digital cable? You mean HD right? Digital is old news already...:-)

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So I'm thinking that you don't want my VCR eh? :) :-) :P

It's all about the HDPVR man - this should of been invented before the wheel, and just after pizza & beer!!! :-)

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Originally Posted by Weazl

It's all about the HDPVR man - this should of been invented before the wheel, and just after pizza & beer!!! :-)

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AMEN!!! That is why I have 2 of em :thumbsup

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Originally Posted by Hacker

AMEN!!! That is why I have 2 of em :thumbsup

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Me too - plus a regualr digital box upstairs. I'm an electronic junkie!

ya, the catch with all that great technology is you have to own a tv that wasn't around when the leafs last won a cup :-)

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Originally Posted by Hacker

AMEN!!! That is why I have 2 of em :thumbsup

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How much does Rogers bone you for a second box?

Rogers sucks. Go with Bell, they have more HD channels then Rogers. I ditched Rogers for my cell and TV service two years ago after they just kept jacking up the prices every several months. Bell ExpressVu is the way to go.

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Originally Posted by fundonny

Rogers sucks. Go with Bell, they have more HD channels then Rogers. I ditched Rogers for my cell and TV service two years ago after they just kept jacking up the prices every several months. Bell ExpressVu is the way to go.

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Not so sure about Rogers having less HD channels anymore Donny - Rogers has a HD version of every US broadcaster as well as ever Canadian Boradcaster and in most cases, multiples of each in different time zones.

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Originally Posted by covanant

How much does Rogers bone you for a second box?

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I'm likve Weazl I have 2 HD PVRs and 1 HD Digital box. I think the HD Digital Box is an extra $8/month, but I'm not sure off the top of my head what the 2nd HD PVR is costing me.

I have every station that Rogers offers including the movie networks, Centre Ice, MLB and NFL packages, 2 cell phones, Internet and home phone - my month Rogers bill is almost as thick as War and Peace :rolleyes