Niemi gets the call, possible fourth line changes, free time in L.A. and that 1985 playoff comeback | Working the Corners
Antti Niemi will be back in goal for the Sharks tonight in Game 4 after giving up four goals on the first 10 shots he faced in [the last game]. Here’s Todd McLellan’s answer when he was asked why Niemi got the nod. “He’s[…] recovered well from poor games in the past […],” the coach said.McLellan did say he was thinking about maybe changing his fourth line for Game 4. The usual forwards — Scott Nichol, Ben Eager and Jamal Mayers — were together during the morning skate, but that doesn’t mean things can’t be different at 7:30 p.m.
[…] when it came to a free night in Los Angeles [,] McLellan […] headed to Dodger Stadium for a little baseball distraction while assistant coaches Trent Yawney and Matt Shaw stayed behind at the hotel to follow other NHL playoff series. Dan Boyle also was in front of a TV set, following other games. So was he sorry to see Detroit sweep the Coyotes, considering that means extra rest for the Red Wings? He wouldn’t bite. “C’mon. you know we can’t look ahead that far,” he said, smiling. “We can’t worry about that.”[…]
Boyle’s pass to Patrick Marleau parked to the left of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick set up San Jose’s first goal in that 6-5 comeback win in Game 3 and the defenseman says it was nice to have an alternative to simply firing the puck into the traffic in front of the net. “Teams do such a great job blocking shots that sometimes you’ve got to look off to the side of the net,” Boyle said. “Good for one guy to be off to the side.”
Possibly something the Kings might have considered, too.