Day 9: Coaches Corner

If we as a coaching staff believe that this team (as currently constituted) has the offensive potential to be one of the best in the conference, we need to foster the chemistry by keeping some trios together. And after the 4-4 tie with the Sockeyes, that's what we plan to do.

Frolov - Demitra - Murray
Korolyuk - Draper - Ekman
Halpern - Jokinen - Horton
Malone - Legwand - Hall

The lines will be remain the same with the exception of the fourth, where Adam Hall replaces Brad Isbister. With the sparse minutes that the fourth line was getting at even strength, Isbister wasn't in a position to show his strength, which supposedly is shooting (and hopefully scoring). What is true through four games is that our PK is struggling, so Hall gives us another guy that can win faceoffs and a better defensive presence. He'll be expected to kill penalties alongside Jeff Halpern on the second unit tonight. We also considered giving Malhotra his first action of the season, but needed a RW for the slot as we want to try and keep Horton on a line that can score.

As expected, Gerber will get the start tonight and will have to build on the positives from his first two games to beat the surprising Ale, who took out the 500s in their last game. Looks like we're not the only ones to have been bitten by St. Pete's this young season.