Godard's Goal Aside...
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 15, 08:33 PM | Hype this story!
Let’s put aside Eric Godard’s second goal of the season, which came in yesterday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators.
What purpose did the Pittsburgh Penguins have to dress him this weekend?
Was coach Dan Bylsma that afraid of Chris Neil or Shawn Thornton?
As fellow FF writer Jonathan Farzalo would say, “Let’s face it…” Craig Adams would have been a better choice.
With Godard in the lineup, the fourth “line” — and I use that term loosely, as the players rarely skate together — becomes a collection of players, not an individual unit.
So, instead of having four lines, the Penguins have three lines, two extra skaters, and an enforcer to skate two or three minutes. And yes, that’s all Godard played — 2:02 today and 1:54 yesterday.
To add, that enforcer “enforced” a grand total of zero times, though, in his defense, he did try to change momentum in the first period today by challenging Thornton, who didn’t oblige.
With Adams, Bylsma would have had the ability to role four lines, thus keeping his team fresher — something that one would have predicted to be important, considering their back-to-back games.
Godard is a nice player to have around during the regular season, especially against more physical teams in what project to be more physical games.
But when the games become more important, Godard becomes less important, as fighting tapers off to a very modest level.
It’s difficult to argue the results of this weekend, as the Penguins, Godard and all, took home three of a possible four points. And, when Petr Sykora sat out with a shoulder injury, Godard didn’t hinder the team’s win streak, which eventually converted to a point streak.
But with four consecutive shootout games and another one-goal game today (excluding Jordan Staal’s empty netter), I have to wonder how big of a role fatigue played?
When a player skates for just two minutes a game, that icetime must be distributed amongst the remainder of the forwards.
And, with just one checking/grinding line, there are fewer role-defined players to take care of the dirty work.
This reduced pressure from the bottom lines leads to less fatigue on opponents, which can lead to closer games.
So my guess is fatigue played a rather large role in this past week’s, and more specifically, this weekend’s, close games.
In other words….it’s time to sit the rather large guy.
He won’t (or, maybe I should say shouldn’t) be dressed during the playoffs, so why not develop additional team and, more accurately, line chemistry while helping to eliminate fatigue down the stretch?
Comments
Zach Boslett
Mar 15, 09:05 PM
Great article. I had the same exact feeling all weekend. I attended the Ottawa game and I was surprised to see Godard in the lineup and I was too surprised when he scored to even cheer. As was everyone in the stands. And I did not notice him for the rest of the game. He does not play a role on this team as you said after late January or so…
sully
Mar 15, 10:03 PM
With adams on the 4th they have played very well. I think it was against columbus where the 4th line, with adams on it, kept the puck in the offensive zone for the majority of their shifts. adams looks comfortable there with talbot and dupuis, thats a pretty good looking 4th line all things considered. adams reminds me of an adam hall type player – who contributed down the stretch last year; lets hope bylsma puts him in and gives him the chance to do the same this year a la hall last year.
bag o' pucks
Mar 15, 10:58 PM
Games with a lot of special teams play will reduce the role of a heavyweight, as well. I like Adams and expect the club to re-sign him next season, he’s cheap and effective as a 4th line RW and a good presence in the room.
The best process is to rotate he and Godard in the 12 spot, depending on the opponent. Of course, games against Philly, NYR, NYI, the team must dress Godard. Against teams that don’t employ a heavy, get Adams in the mix. Often times, they’ll both be in the lineup due to an injury, anyway.
Come the playoffs, Adams’ role increases, excepting playoff series against Philly or NYR if those clubs dress Cote and Orr, respectively.
Atlanta, on Tuesday, will likely dress Boulton and Valabik. With the recent history between the two clubs, not dressing Godard would be asking for trouble.
Ads7
Mar 15, 11:13 PM
Agreed. The 4-1 win in Florida was the most complete game the Pens played all season, and the ONLY game where they had a healthy lineup with all four lines set and rolling. It was nice to see. They need to get back to that if they have that option.
Zach Boslett
Mar 16, 12:53 AM
Valabik has proved unwilling in the past to fight both Godard and Bissonnette. Maybe he has grown a pair since then. (sorry I had to)
DaBich
Mar 16, 05:08 AM
LOL @ Zach. Good laugh.
I also missed Adams in the line-up. What is Bylsma thinking?
John
Mar 16, 07:58 AM
We could also look at the flip side of the coin here. Godard has been a member of the team since day 1 of this season. Unity. Presence. I like him when he’s out there, even if it’s only for 2 minutes a game. I like that he can be employed when necessary. If he’s not on the 4th line, and Bylsma uses Adams, and starts spreadin’ ice time around, then that’s time away from the first 3 lines. We’re seeing a resurgence in Staal, because (it appears to me) that his line is becoming a more “regular line”... thanks in part to a 4th line that is used sparingly. When the 4th line IS out there, they’re effective as far as I can tell. Bylsma’s got a wildcard line he can throw out on the ice for energy, or to enforce, or to rest the top 3 lines. I’m good with Godard in the line-up.
Matt Bodenschatz
Mar 16, 10:20 AM
@Bag, for sure, when the Penguins play a team like Philly or New York, it is necessary to dress Godard. But it made little sense over the weekend. I truly got the sense that Godard’s presence on the fourth line is directly responsible for increased icetime for the other three lines, which has resulted in fatigue and, ultimately, close games and blown leads. i don’t have a problem inserting Godard in physical games, but at this point in the season, he should not be a regular member of the lineup unless there is an injury or the Penguins are playing a team with a heavyweight in their lineup.
@ADS7, the Penguins rolled four lines last season, something that, in my opinion, was a big part of their playoff success. The same can be said for their game against Florida, as you mentioned.
@Dabich, not quite sure what he was thinking. But, to be clear, I’m not saying dressing Godard is idiotic — just that it’s something I think should be done more sporadically.
@John, I understand your point that a fourth line with increased icetime equals other lines with decreased icetime. But what you have to look at is that, with two checking/grinding lines, the opponent gets worn out quicker and, as a result, more scoring opportunities enter the equation. So, even with reduced icetime, a player like Jordan Staal — who is playing possibly the best hockey of his career right now — may get even more scoring chances, even though his icetime may be reduced by a minute or two. Now, I do have to somewhat correct you, John. Staal has the third most icetime per game among Penguin forwards this season, and the third line (in one form or another) has taken a regular shift together all season long. To add, the fourth line has been used sporadically all season long. Staal’s emergence, in my opinion, has more to do with an opened up style of play, which is allowing him to use his big frame to create momentum and be aggressive. But the aggressive style that Bylsma is preahcing to this team is physically draining, and, mark my words, if the fourth line does not take a somewhat regular shift (7-8 minutes per game), the Penguins will not go far in the playoffs, as they will be worn out.
@Everyone, great conversation!
bag o' pucks
Mar 16, 11:04 AM
@Matt, Dab, etc. What Bylsma was thinking on Sunday is that the Pens were playing one of the biggest teams in the conference that skates both Lucic and Thornton. When the game was 2-1 Boston, Godard challenged Thornton, who declined. After that, there was no real chippy play, no BS runs. Even Crosby and Savard reduced their jousting after that. Are you willing to bet that Lucic and/or Thornton would not have taken a few liberties without Godard present? Godard let the Bruins know early on that if they wanted a scrap, he was ready and willing. That’s what Godard is supposed to do and that’s what his presence means.
@Zach, that’s true, Valabik has declined to fight Godard, but everyone knew that he wasn’t going to fight Godard. The other thing Valabik didn’t do? Attempt to exact some payback on Crosby. Godard did his job without having to drop the gloves. If Godard isn’t in the lineup on Tuesday, there’s a much more likely chance that Valabik does try to go after Crosby. It’s the last game of the season between the two clubs, that’s the ideal time to get some payback.
I expect to see Godard dressed on Tuesday and I expect him to have some first period dialogue with Valabik reminding him what will happen if BV takes liberties with 87 or 71. Then, quite frankly, I expect Atlanta will deploy Boulton and he and Godard will throw some blows. And I have no problem with that.
@Matt. They’ll roll their four lines in the playoffs, when Adams gets increased ice time. But the Penguins aren’t in the playoffs yet. So you can bet that Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar, Staal, etc., are going to continue to get boatloads of ice time to keep climbing and earning points just to get into the tournament. The Pens will be fatigued in the playoffs, no doubt. And they can thank themselves for all the points they blew from December-February which put them in a position to have to play their stars 24 minutes per game and their starting goalie, what, 30 out of the remaining 32 games just to get in. If the Pens don’t go far into the playoffs, having a 12th forward who played two minutes instead of seven minutes down the stretch will have exactly nothing, zero, zip, to do with that. Indicating so is really misguided.
bag o' pucks
Mar 16, 04:09 PM
@Tom, I think the roles are reversed here than they were with Boston & Pittsburgh. Boston has all but clinched the first seed in the East. They’re kinda playing out the string and their main goal is to stay healthy between now and round one. The Pens are desperate just to make the playoffs.
So, when Godard says, in so many words, to Thornton, “How about I break your orbital bone a month before the playoffs?” Thornton is likely to decline, but at that point the entire Bruins team knows that being stupid is out of the question. And the Bruins quite behaved after that. No runs from Lucic, no late shots with the stick from Chara.
On the other side of the spectrum, Atlanta has nothing to lose, they’re done. The can throw the kitchen sink at the Pens knowing that an injury to Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar may very well deep-six the Pens’ season. That’s why Godard is in the lineup. Letang isn’t a fighter, and I don’t want him tangling with anyone down the stretch unless it’s unavoidable. The kid’s valuable to the team.
Same with Crosby. I’m glad to see he’ll take off the shield and challenge Savard, but time and place, man. Savard isn’t going to risk a broken hand, etc, when he has a chance to win a Cup. Nor should Sid. If those two want to tangle, expect it in the fall of ’09, not the spring.
Tuesday has more potential to be nasty than Sunday did, despite the potential playoff implications against the Bs.
espo33
Mar 17, 03:52 PM
I would rather have Adams then Godard for sure, but when it comes into the playoffs I hope either Wallace or someone else plays. Adams has done really nothing since coming over. I am not looking for scoring, but even good shifts, cycles, etc.
Jables117
Mar 18, 12:37 PM
Bag O’Pucks, you are right on. Godard has a very specific role on the team, and he does an outstanding job. It’s easy for people who are watching the game at a watered down surface level to not appreciate him. Not to take anything away from Sid or Geno, but those fancy crowd pleasing plays they make are all some fans see. What they don’t realize is that Godard’s presence alone helps to keep our stars safe out there. Adams can generate more offense at times, sure. I’d still rather have Godard in the line-up doing his job though. And ESPO33, no offense but benching Godard and/or Adams for Wallace? Are you on crack?
Steve
Mar 18, 02:14 PM
Bag O’ Pucks wins the Psychic for a day award for predicting that the game would get nasty last night. Nice to Godard take care of Valabik. What a crock that the linesman wouldn’t let Godard & Boulton go and while restraining Godard allowed Boulton to waltz over and cheap shot his way into another scrum.
I know they have their hands full during those 10 man scrums, but they need to be aware of which players are doing what. If the two baddest players out there want to go with each other, let ‘em go and it’s over. Of course that’s easy for me to say…
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