Just hanging in the pressbox at the moment, keeping tabs on the NFL, and kinda hoping this won't turn into a Flyers-like pre-season, with a third OT.

 

              Lineups for tonight (as reported earlier on Twitter, get with the program, boys and girls)  

        

              Forwards:

              Alex Frolov-Derek Stepan-Marian Gaborik

              Brandon Dubinsky-Erik Christensen-Mats Zuccarello

              Sean Avery-Todd White-Evgeny Grachev

              Brian Boyle-Artem Anisimov-Brandon Prust

 

              Defense:

              Dan Girardi-Alexei Semenov

              Matt Gilroy-Ryan McDonagh

             Pavel Valentenko -Michael Sauer

 

             Goalies:

             Martin Biron, Chad Johnson

***

              Some mid-afternoon remarks from head coach John Tortorella:

              Repeats that Anisimov, Callahan and Kennedy had "great games" in the 5-4 OT defeat of the Devs, undescores that the difference for Anisimov is his confidence. Praises Fedotenko's performance as well.

               Says Erik Christensen also will spend time between Frolov, Gaborik

               Believes team will carry more than 20 players on Opening Night, but that's still up to front office. Sounds like a 13th forward for sure, and possible a 7th D.

              Says there's been an emphasis on neutral zone play in meetings

              Steve Eminger still bothered by groin; Michal Rozsival sitting as precaution, will play in final three exhibitions.

              Evgeny Grachev? "Up and down".

              Wants to trim down after tonight to a "workable number for practices...I can tell you more than two." I'm guessing it'll be seven or so. My sense? Exelby, WIlliams, Newbury, Weise, Byers, Manning (Memo to self, is he still here?), maybe Sauer and if Grachev doesn't  have a killer game here...

***

              Popcorn time. More from Detroit in a bit...

 

 

             

 

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