rananda wrote:there are not really numbered lines on the russian team. all of the lines get rotated pretty evenly at even strength, kozlov's line is the only that doesnt get pp time, and yashin's is the only line that doesnt get pk. basically all of the lines are treated equally, for better or worse.
malkin is playing w those scrubs, ostensibly, becasue they played together at the rosno cup and allegedly have chemistry.
basically though, he's playing with them because the coach is an idiot. the problem is the coach loves kharitonov and sushinsky together because they play together for him in dynamo. it's a terrible mistake. ovechkin - malkin - sushinksy would eat up every team's 2nd pair of d. it's sad karitonov isnt big or skilled enough to take advantage of malkin's brilliance. it's sad, ovechkin and malkin are very good together.
This guy used "ostensibly"... I agree with him.
Seriously, he makes a great point -- there's really no "#1 line" on this Russian team, and that's exactly how it should be with that much talent on the bench.
They'll be fine. If they're beating Sweden 5-0 with Ovechkin and Malkin playing on different lines, there's not much more you can ask... I'm sure if they ever hit a rough patch and get down in a game, putting the two kids together will give them a spark.
Plenty of hockey yet.