Is this gamesmanship or is he really going to trot out the same lines he did in game 1? Thoughts on who should sit and why.

I'd switch Gunnarsson and Bortuzzo. That's all I'd do. Disappointed he won't be in.

Most obvious is Bort. Beyond Petro and Shatty you could throw a dart and he'd be a suitable replacement after last night.

Nothing shocking. Maybe you'd like to see Bortuzzo in there but physicality really wasn't the issue. The team just flat out sucked and came out flat. This way no one's off the hook for poor performance.

Sit Tarasenko and Steen and go back to playing shut down hockey like the last week of the season. I'm half joking here. Of course you don't sit those two but we should go back to shut down hockey like the last week of the season.

Bortuzzo must not be ready yet. I heard Hitch in an interview that as soon as he's ready he's going in.

I would sit hitch, and dance with the girl that brung me. Oshie,Steen,backes. Vladi,yori,Schwartz. Bergs, staz,jaskin. Reaves,goc,Ott. And quit trying to reinvent the fucking wheel, he's certifiable imho for mixing this team up. Best shot in decades and that idiot tries to fix something that wasn't broke. Sorry if I've offended anyone's sensibilities, just needed to vent for a sec. Carry on.

UMSLBlues12 wrote:I'd switch Gunnarsson and Bortuzzo. That's all I'd do. Disappointed he won't be in.

Same here.

The forwards just need to shoot more.

They were looking for high percentage shots instead of just shooting.

BluesSK wrote:Bortuzzo must not be ready yet. I heard Hitch in an interview that as soon as he's ready he's going in.

I read that as well. I think that means they are just being safe with him. Waiting until he is 100% or close to it perhaps.

Battra wrote:

UMSLBlues12 wrote:I'd switch Gunnarsson and Bortuzzo. That's all I'd do. Disappointed he won't be in.

Same here.

The forwards just need to shoot more.

They were looking for high percentage shots instead of just shooting.

Same. The team plays better with Bort in the lineup. He brings physicality. Gunnar brings transition, and we have enough of that.

Gunnarsson is a liability in our own end, I sure hope Bort just isn't ready yet, we can't get Gunnarsson out of there fast enough to suit me. Aside from getting physically abused he's not handling the puck well, not standing up well to any pressure applied to him.

I was hoping we might see Bort tomorrow too, but I can't be too upset he's not in there. Last nights issues seemed to run deeper than personnel. Gunnar wasn't great, but you can say that about just about everybody but Petro last night.

Roll out Fabbri, Ratti, Barbashev, Lindbohm and Parayko. Let Berglund fill waters and put Backes in charge of puppies. Tell Oshie to stand by and be ready in case the game goes to a shootout.

With few exceptions, the entire lineup sucked last night. No reason to think one or two changes would make much of a difference. These guys have the ability to beat the Wild.
Question is, do they want it bad enough to do what it takes?

I don't like anything Hitch does, he is Andy Murray times 911.