Hey, in the future just keep this in the game thread or the game recap.

Carcillo is getting ice time because he is showing that he deserves it, him and Powe are the only players who hustle on this team.

 —- Carter, Briere and Hartnell make a decently balanced line – one mucker (Harts), one playmaker (Briere) and one shooter (Carts). They do have some defensive liability, but once Carter pulls his head out and remembers that it is part of his responsibility, he can cover Briere (who is and has always been patently awful on defense).
- Carcillo got more ice time because he deserved it. His energy has been great every game so far this season.
- I really don’t understand what the issue is with Coburn and Timonen, because they were a great pairing midway through last season. Coburn has had some serious gaffes, and Timonen has looked lost at times as well. I haven’t studied their play enough to make a real assessment, but this is a valid point (and the only one here).
- Lappy is a utility forward, and both Giroux and Gagne play a mixed center/wing style anyway, so adding him to a line with them shouldn’t be an issue at all. EXCEPT for the fact that having three good defensive players (and two good offensive ones) together limits the options for other lines (see the Carter line comment above).