Probable olympic lineups - Luongo starts first game

by Wan Ihite on Feb 15, 2010 10:44 PM EST

TSN reports that Luongo will start the first game. They also have tentative lines from some team's first practices:

Canada:

Crosby, Rick Nash, Patrice Bergeron

Getzlaf ,Perry, Eric Staal

Heatley, Thornton, Marleau

Richards & Morrow rotated centering a fourth line with Jarome Iginla and Jonathan Toews

Russia

Ovechkin, Semin, Datsyuk

Malkin, Kovalchuk, Afinogenov

Fedorov,Kozlov, Radulov

captain Morozov centered Zaripov, Zinoviev

defence:

Andrei Markov & Ilya Nikulin

Fedor Tyutin & Sergei Gonchar

Dmitri Kalinin & Anton Volchenkov as Russia's shut-down tandem

Denis Grebeshkov & Konstantin Korneev will be the extra pairing.

USA

Kane, Parise, Stastny

Pavelski, Kessel, Malone

Kesler, Brown, captain Langenbrunner

Callahan & Ryan, rotated in on a line with Chris Drury and David Backes.

"The defensive pairings were not immediately available."

And now you know.

But holy shit, am I ever scared of Russia's top 2 lines.

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You know you're badass when...

your 3rd line is Heatley – Thornton – Marleau. Dayum.

Pumps out more male with one thrust of the pelvis than the United States postal service over the last 146 years.

by Blinky on Feb 15, 2010 11:12 PM EST reply actions

Ya, all 3 countries have terrifying top lines, Russia has a rediculous top 2 lines, but Canada has 4 lines of awesomeness.

Woooooooooo depth. Any team that can tell Mike Green that we won’t be requiring his services is too fuckin talented.

Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.

by nhlcheapshot on Feb 16, 2010 7:27 AM EST reply actions

Bergeron on the 1st?

Iginla on the fourth? No thanks.

by SPENCEMAN on Feb 16, 2010 7:42 AM EST reply actions

Yzerman must have a hardon for Bergeron. He’s was the most controversial selection of the team, and then miraculously gets put on Crosby’s line along with Nash.

Maybe he’s trying to balance out the lines a bit and figures Crosby can get anyone to score goals. I dunno.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on Feb 16, 2010 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

probably trying the chemistry first angle and Crosby and Bergeron played together at the WJC, I’m sure the lines arnt set in stone

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Feb 16, 2010 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

I was thinking the same. Nash is going to be the guy who works the corners and front of the net, and is more of a goal scorer. Bergeron and Crosby can both pass and score, so even if Crosby gets focused on, it gives Bergeron and Nash time and space.

I’d thought about Staal at LW, Iginla at RW and Crosby in the middle. Can’t believe Iggy is that far down, however, I’m assuming Babcock is just going to roll 4 lines instead of approaching it with the “2 scoring lines, 2 checking lines” mentality. Everyone will get about the same amount of ice time I’d assume…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on Feb 16, 2010 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

I’ll given it 2 games before Bergeron gets bumped in favour of Iginla

Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking at next year since 1967

by LeafFan1989 on Feb 16, 2010 11:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

maybe, maybe not, if anything i see Iggy getting bumped to play with Perry and Getz
that line would be next to impossible to handle on the cycle.

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Feb 16, 2010 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

More so when you consider that Staal is a natural center and Iginla a natural winger.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on Feb 16, 2010 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

too many ~~grandmas~~ centers!

Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That

by JaredFromLondon on Feb 16, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

So is bergeron…..I’d rather have Staal playing than Bergeron

Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking at next year since 1967

by LeafFan1989 on Feb 16, 2010 11:38 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

It seems you were precient here :)

Glory glory Man United, AND the other MU, AAAAnd the Leafs. I think I need a drink now.

by Wan Ihite on Feb 17, 2010 3:24 AM EST up reply actions

Interesting that Luongo starts the first game. Still it’s too early to read too much into it… Brodeur will probably play against Switzerland. From there though it will be very intriguing to see who starts against the USA.

Also, I do love Canada’s depth at all positions, but yeah Russia’s top two forward lines… holy shit. And their third line ain’t bad either.

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on Feb 16, 2010 10:37 AM EST reply actions