Sept 7, 1972 Sinden Shuffles Lines

Sinden reshuffles troops for 'fresh legs'

The headline in the Montreal Gazette prior to Game 4 in Vancouver, from Ted Blackman, Sports Editor.

Harry Sinden, now faced with the very real possibility of heading overseas behind in the world hockey showdown, has reshuffled his lines on a major scale again in an attempt to inject "fresh legs" into the last game in Canada.

His problem has been compounded by injuries to defenceman Guy Lapointe and Serge Savard. Lapointe will be out for Game 4 at least with a severe charley-horse: Savard is out for the series with a badly-bruised ankle, which may actually be fractured.

"Some of the guys have played three games in five nights and they're a little run down." Sinden said as he outfitted Phil Esposito with his third set of wingers, Dennis Hull and Bill Goldsworthy, and dropped a new centre between Frank Mahovlich and Yvan Cournoyer - Gilbert Perreault.  "We're a little out of shape to be playing these kind of games every second night," he said. "I'm not dropping anyone because of the way they have played. As I said, they've really put out. But I need some fresh legs for the fourth game.

Rounding out the juggling act, Ken Dryden replaces Tony Esposito and Don Awrey and Rod Seiling go back on defence with Bill White dropped and Savard and Lapointe out. With five defenceman dressing, there was room for an extra forward and that's why Pete Mahovlich, originally scheduled to sit out, will dress. He'll play with two-thirds of the Rangers GAG line - Vic Hadfield and Rod Gilbert. "We need a penalty killer badly," Sinden said, "which is why we picked Peter."

The one forward line that remains intact - as it has throughout the series - is the Bobby Clarke, Ron Ellis, Paul Henderson trio.

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