Fleury not starting?

[Kharlamov]

[mikey287]

That'll teach him for being our best player vs. Carolina!

[pensfan1989]

Bylsma is asleep at the wheel

[dixonyy18]

This makes absolutely no sense

[joe icepick]

bylsma ls a mastermind. Eaton playing, Bylsma coaching like he wants to be fired. Sign Ulfie to a tryout, I'm ok with that

[Gaucho]

[mikey287]

I'd say that maybe HCDB is a boxscore fan and saw that Fleury gave up 4 vs. Carolina and therefore had a poor game, but I saw him there, so I think he watched it and knew better...so maybe it's a history-based move:

Career:
Fleury vs. Montreal: 24 GP, 13-8-2, 3.25 GAA, .889 save pct., 0 SO
Vokoun vs. Montreal: 21 GP, 6-9-4, 2.45 GAA, .925 save pct., 1 SO

Fleury has given up more ES GA vs. Montreal than any non-division team in his career.

Whatever...Fleury gives us the best chance to win every game, but whatever HCDB needs to do get something positive from this team...

[DelPen]

Vokoun needs to play. Not reading too much into it.

[npv708]

Wow. I think this is a terrible decision. I think MT might be in DB's head for this game. I don't blame DB for switching things up, but Fleury needs to play tonight...but if the last few games have been any indication, he still might...

[dixonyy18]

Vokoun needs to play. Not reading too much into it.

And why does he NEED to play?

[MRandall25]

Vokoun needs to play. Not reading too much into it.

And why does he NEED to play?

The same reason Fleury needs to play...

Which I guess doesn't actually exist.

[Gaucho]

Hockey team starting its backup. Shocker.

[murphydump55]

I'd say that maybe HCDB is a boxscore fan and saw that Fleury gave up 4 vs. Carolina and therefore had a poor game, but I saw him there, so I think he watched it and knew better...so maybe it's a history-based move:

Career:
Fleury vs. Montreal: 24 GP, 13-8-2, 3.25 GAA, .889 save pct., 0 SO
Vokoun vs. Montreal: 21 GP, 6-9-4, 2.45 GAA, .925 save pct., 1 SO

Fleury has given up more ES GA vs. Montreal than any non-division team in his career.

Whatever...Fleury gives us the best chance to win every game, but whatever HCDB needs to do get something positive from this team...

Vokoun's GAA at the Bell Centre is also under 2. 1.92 I believe? They have to give him a chance to show they still believe in him or we might be back to where we were last year. We need Vokoun to get back to his early season play.

[dixonyy18]

Hockey team starting its backup. Shocker.

It's not about a backup goalie starting, yes they get starts. It's about establishing your starting goalie and giving him nights off when needed, I.e. back to backs, low success against teams, etc. look at every team in our division and every goalie starts probably 80% of their games. Lundquist, Nabokov and bryZgalov are clearly the starters, even brodeur when healthy. Although fleury is the "clear cut" starter, do backups play 2/3 times in a week on a regular situation? It just doesn't make sense at all. Fleury is the work horse goalie that is going to be a factor in a cuo run, if they want to prepare vokun in case, then this team has already lost.

[Fire0nice228]

So you say its cool to go with the backup when playing a 'low success' team..

Career:
Fleury vs. Montreal: 24 GP, 13-8-2, 3.25 GAA, .889 save pct., 0 SO

Is that not low success enough for you? And MTL has been terrible the last few seasons, let alone the way their playing currently.

[dixonyy18]

So you say its cool to go with the backup when playing a 'low success' team..

Career:
Fleury vs. Montreal: 24 GP, 13-8-2, 3.25 GAA, .889 save pct., 0 SO

Is that not low success enough for you? And MTL has been terrible the last few seasons, let alone the way their playing currently.

Well hopefully we don't play Montreal then in the playoffs or we will see a lot of vokun I guess then.

[Lt. Dish]

Vokoun needs to play. Not reading too much into it.

And why does he NEED to play?

So Fleury doesn't hit the wall like he did last year. We knew going in that he shouldn't/couldn't log 30-35 games, and he's already had to come in to spell Vokoun after his recent hooks.

I'm fine with this, as I was fine with him starting vs. PHI. At that time, he needed to face the Flyers as a part of the rivalry. It worked out poorly, but he was hardly the sole person to blame, as we've gone over and over.

We have to get Vokoun back on track sooner rather than later. If you treat him like he's a fragile nut case, then he's going to become a fragile nut case. Being a goalie, he's already got a running start on that anyway. And the team has to do its part in playing better in front of him, especially against quality teams.

[KG]

Hockey team starting its backup. Shocker.

It's not about a backup goalie starting, yes they get starts. It's about establishing your starting goalie and giving him nights off when needed, I.e. back to backs, low success against teams, etc. look at every team in our division and every goalie starts probably 80% of their games. Lundquist, Nabokov and bryZgalov are clearly the starters, even brodeur when healthy. Although fleury is the "clear cut" starter, do backups play 2/3 times in a week on a regular situation? It just doesn't make sense at all. Fleury is the work horse goalie that is going to be a factor in a cuo run, if they want to prepare vokun in case, then this team has already lost.

Agreed. Well said. Yes the backup has to play. The backup does not have to play when the team is 0-2 on a road trip and has looked disinterested at best. You play your best lineup when you're struggling.

DB and Shero think Vokoun is better then he is at this stage in his career....

[farnham16]

This was the plan all along according the Bylsma. I think its a mistake. Playing the top team in the East, team coming off two horrible games, and MAF playing much better than Vokoun right now.

I hope I'm wrong.

[pugilist13]

DB doesn't want Flower to be embarrased in his hometown, when his mates leave him out to dry.

[tfrizz]

Hockey team starting its backup. Shocker.

Against one of the best teams on the conference... :?

[tfrizz]

I can't imagine Flower is too pleased with Vokoun getting the start in the Pens' only game in Montreal this season.

[nocera]

Despres is in the lineup. He had to give us something to complain about.

[penmyst]

I think HCDB realizes MAF likes to throw games pour les Habitants, since he's a frenchie.

But I am worried because Vokoun has looked like gahbage.

[slappybrown]

Even if Vokoun plays well, this makes no sense. There's no justification for playing our backup tonite, particularly given Vokoun's recent struggles. In Montreal vs. a team that is 3 pts. ahead of you with a game in hand. What are you up to?