So Bruce Boudreau had some interesting things to say about his possible playoff lineup. Not that everything’s been decided – at all. But there are clearly spots already spoken for. The rest of the lineup? We’ll soon see, won’t we?
“Well, I still haven’t made up my mind about that. You got [Brooks] Laich and [Alex] Semin are going to be together. Who is going to be the centerman there? Is it Brendan Morrison? Is it Belanger? I’m still looking to find that. I think the fourth line is pretty well set. If Gordon is healthy then he’ll be on the fourth line. When everybody gets healthy then it makes it a little different of where do we use a couple different guys. And probably at that point it’ll be how well they’re playing. Some of them aren’t playing as well right now as they should be.”
With a batch of players fighting injuries it’s hampered Boudreau’s efforts to experiment the last few days. Recently there haven’t been as many choices to make going into each game with Morrison, Walker and Laich out. But time is growing short with just seven games left before the playoffs and decisions are right around the corner. But Gordon is a lock for the fourth line? Obviously, with a bad back he needs to get healthy first so I’m taking Boudreau’s words a little too literally. But that puts pressure on guys like Jason Chimera, Tomas Fleischmann, Eric Fehr, etc. Hard to believe any of them sitting in the playoffs. Then again – you could always sit Brendan Morrison, too, move Steckel up a line and Gordon to fourth-line center and then open up wing spots that way. Lots of options. Was just surprised to hear Gordon listed as a lock – though his faceoff and penalty-killing skills certainly make him a valuable asset in any playoff series. As for when any final decisions will be made?
“I guess first things first is we got to get everybody healthy so we get the ability to do that,” Boudreau said. “And if we can then it’s probably two out of the last three games, I would think.”
