First, the good news. Stephen Weiss wasn't at practice today but Pete DeBoer says he may be back tomorrow and in the lineup Thursday. If not, Nathan Horton is back at center with David Booth and Cory Stillman.
DeBoer says Weiss has an upper back/lower neck thing going on, he hopes it loosens up enough over the next day to allow him to get back out there.
Keith Ballard wasn't here because of a family situation and Rostislav Olesz is still out with his groin injury.
Tomas Vokoun back in net against Carolina.
Richard Zednik working on a line with Kamil Kreps and Michael Frolik; CPR Line is back; Brett McLean centered the other line with Nick Tarnasky and Anthony Stewart.
If Weiss returns, he'll be with Booth and Horton. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
Yea, Vokun should be in tommorow. We both agreed on this in Q&A. Then one game at a time for as PD said, we have 2 #1 goalies.
If horton and zednick ruin this chemistry ill be really pissed. I hoped Horton started 4th line and needed to earn former status.
Posted by: jh | December 16, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Richard Zednik working on a line with Kamil Kreps and Michael Frolik; CPR Line is back; Brett McLean centered the other line with Nick Tarnasky and Anthony Stewart.
If Weiss returns, he'll be with Booth and Horton. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
Where's Stillman????????
Posted by: Martin | December 16, 2008 at 01:56 PM
don't where stillman would go if weiss is back...right now, he's with booth and horton
Posted by: George Richards | December 16, 2008 at 02:31 PM
If Weiss is back then you go with what was working with Weiss Frolik and Booth. Kreps can centre the Stillman Horton line and Maclean can toil on the bottom where he belongs.
Posted by: Chuck | December 16, 2008 at 03:11 PM
when was the last time we were able to talk about who is on what line and who has to sit?
while we still need to improve the talent level of our forwards at least we are seeing the hard work that has not been seen in these parts in almost 10 years :)
Posted by: season ticket holder since day one | December 16, 2008 at 03:54 PM
sthsdo good points. My dream is to make the playoffs and steal a round. Build on that with ufa fowards and next year go further.
Posted by: jh | December 16, 2008 at 04:03 PM
Is Ballard going to be back by game day???
Posted by: Panthers Fan | December 16, 2008 at 04:09 PM
If Weiss returns, then
1. Put Weiss with Booth and Horton on the first line;
2. Remove Zednik in favor of Stillman on 2nd line with Kreps and Frolik;
3. Retain CPR line as is;
4. Call Matthias up from AHL and have him center the 4th line with Stewart and Tarnasky as his wingers. Put McLean on waivers;
5. Bench Zednik unless there's an injury to a speedy winger (i.e. Dvorak, Frolik).
Posted by: EJ | December 16, 2008 at 09:59 PM
I like the Line Stillman-Kreps-Horton.
Kreps is a great stick handler and a very good passer. I think this line could really be solid.
I love Booth-Weiss-Frolik... Frolik has been dynamite as of late.
Posted by: phil | December 17, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Happy Birthday Gregory Campbell...now score some goals!
Posted by: EJ | December 17, 2008 at 03:17 PM
I don't agree with some of you saying to put Horton on the first line. Horton has under-performed this season. He should be put on the 4th line and see if he can work his way up. Putting him on the first line the way he has played---with no heart----sends the wrong message, don't you think?
Posted by: Bill | December 17, 2008 at 10:06 PM