Or "Vermette Kingdom"
http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2 ... sb:previewHoly shit...HUGE game tonight...and really how many times can you say that about a matchup of these two teams?
EJ still out with back issues, so Tyson Barrie stays in, otherwise the lineup will remain the same even though Chuck Kobasew is supposedly healthy.
Avs have GOT to get more out of their "third" line of Mueller-Duchene-Hejduk, which more or less is the castaway line. Basically these three guys have either battled injuries or inconsistency (or both) and the other three lines are doing so well that Sacco doesn't really have anywhere else to put them. They have been by far the worst line for the team the past two games or so. You can tell Duchene is completely out of sorts--losing puck battles, coughing it up too easily, and so forth. Mueller actually hasn't been horrible but he certainly hasn't been great. Hejduk...well, let's just say I'm glad they gave him the captaincy before he retired, which most assuredly is happening after this season.
Also doesn't help that Steve Downie still appears to be nursing a shoulder injury. Hasn't been nearly as effective the past few games.
Anyway, the Avs have not fared well against good defensive squads this year...hope they buck the trend tonight. Way too much on the line for them not to!
Obviously no Captain Doan for the Dogs, Varly vs. Smith in net.