Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Possible Lines for the Avs tonight in Vancouver


*Update*
Per Adrian Dater, Landeskog did not skate this morning and will not play tonight.

The Avs will have a bit of a new look tonight with 20-year-old former OHL scoring champion Michael Sgarbossa likely to make his NHL debut.  Here's how the lines could possibly shape up tonight.

Landeskog-Duchene-Parenteau
McGinn-Stastny-Jones
Olver-Sgarbossa-Hejduk
McLeod-Mitchell-Bordeleau

Of course, the million dollar question is the status of captain Gabe Landeskog, who missed the first game of his NHL career Monday night in Edmonton.  Obviously, the best case scenario for the Avs will be that he will be good to go tonight and we could see the above lineup.  Sgarbossa could fill in the 4th line center position that was held on Monday by Brad Malone, the player he replaced on the Avs current roster, but I would actually like to see Sgarbossa on at least the 3rd line in order to get him a bit more ice time in an NHL game and with scoring wingers like Milan Hejduk.  Olver-Sgarbossa-Hejduk would be a small line, but there would also be scoring potential there, which the Avs desperately need.  You could even switch Olver and McLeod to give the 3rd line McLeod's grit and size.

If Landeskog's symptoms have not yet cleared, we could see McGinn up on the 1st line with Duchene and Parenteau just like we did Monday night.  Playing with Dutchy and PAP helped McGinn earn his first point of the season and the Avs are of course hoping that will open up the flood gates for Ginner's scoring.  If that's the case, then why not give Sgarbossa a shot with Stastny and Jones?  Stastny and Jones are due over $10 million worth of offense and perhaps the young scorer can help spark the 2nd line veterans.  Of course, if Landeskog is out, Chuck Kobasew would be inserted into the lineup as he'd be the last avaialble forward.

McGinn-Duchene-Parenteau
Sgarbossa-Stastny-Jones
Olver-Mitchell-Hejduk
McLeod-Kobasew-Bordeleau

It's unknown who will start in goal tonight, but with back-to-backs tonight and tomorrow, it seems very likely that veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere will get his first start of the season either tonight or tomorrow in Calgary.  Jiggy was perfect in his only appearance so far this season, stopping all 17 shots he faced when he relieved Semyon Varlamov against the Sharks.

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