Hi. So this is the first game preview or recap I've posted in a while. I used to do recaps regularly, but I didn't want the pressure of having to do one after every game, so I took them down. I'm having a crack at the idea once again, but I may or may not post them reliably. You have been warned.
Raise your hand if you expected the Coyotes to go 3-1 through the first four games of the season. Everything is falling into place for them: Mike Smith has (so far) rebounded from a horrible 2014-15, the rookies are producing, and they managed to knock off the Kings, Penguins, and Ducks before falling to the Minnesota Wild for their first loss of the season.
The Bruins, on the other hand, are 1-3, suffering injuries to both Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand early in the season. The defense corps (particularly the dismal Irwin-Trotman third pairing) made several mistakes and turnovers that led to goals. Matt Irwin was waived and has reported to the AHL while Trotman was scratched for two games. Luckily, they finally managed to win a game, the third line is finally looking as good as advertised, Chara's back from injury, and Brad Marchand is making a quick recovery. So, there's positives.
Last game's line combos (Arizona)
Max Domi-Antoine Vermette-Mikkel Boedker
Tobias Rieder-Martin Hanzal-Anthony Duclair
Kyle Chipchura-Brad Richardson-Shane Doan
Jordan Martinook-Boyd Gordon-Steve Downie
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Michael Stone
Nicklas Grossmann-Zbynek Michalek
Klas Dahlbeck-Connor Murphy
Mike Smith
Anders Lindback
Scratches: Stefan Elliott (D), John Scott (F), Joe Vitale (F)
Last game's line combos (Boston)
Loui Eriksson-Patrice Bergeron-Brett Connolly
Matt Beleskey-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Chris Kelly-Ryan Spooner-Jimmy Hayes
Zac Rinaldo-Joonas Kemppainen-Tyler Randell
Zdeno Chara-Kevan Miller
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Zach Trotman-Tommy Cross
Jonas Gustavsson
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: Max Talbot (F), Zach Trotman (D)
Line combos from DailyFaceoff.com
FLYING HIGH
Anthony Duclair
Fresh off a hat trick against Anaheim that hoisted the team to victory along with Mike Smith's 37-save shutout, Duclair chipped in with another goal against Minnesota to put his total at four goals in four games. A rookie some didn't expect to make the team, Duclair is on a streak.
Jimmy Hayes
Who else would I pick? With a one-goal, four-point career high performance against Colorado, Jimmy Hayes is definitely flying high. Heading into the game, he was pointless with a horrible 34.55 CF%. During the game, he had a 61.90 CF% and, as mentioned previously, four points. It looks like he finally got the monkey off his back.
COMING DOWN TO EARTH
Shane Doan
A guy you could typically count on to play 20 minutes a game on the second or first line, Doan was relegated to the third line against the Wild and played just 15 minutes - mostly with such luminaries as Kyle Chipchura and Brad Richardson. Doan has registered one assist with horrible possession numbers - a 33.78 CF% and an unthinkably bad 28.81 FF%. Yikes.
Tuukka Rask
Sent down to the backup role against the Avs, Rask could only watch as Gustavsson got the first win of the season for his team. When he is playing, Rask has been brutal with an .846 save percentage - allowing 14 goals in 178 minutes. While he isn't being supported by the best defense, an .846 save percentage is not and should not be exceptable for one of the best goalies in the world.
Prediction: Coyotes take the game 3-1 and possibly the division lead from the Canucks - just one point ahead of the Coyotes and Sharks.