Personally, I think Manny must be hurt more than anyone knows and they are putting up a front for morale purposes....then again, it could be Lemaire playing possum.

I think Lemaire wants in the playoffs, and he feels that the confidence is there with Backstrom more. Fernandez has been too shaky. Even Harding has played better of late.

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DobberHockey Rules
14 Team Keeper, points only, best 12 skaters 2 dman 2 G count. Playoffs count.
F - Crosby, C.Smith, Wheeler, Parenteau, Hudler, Clowe, Grabovski, Atkinson, Frolik, S. Kostitsyn, Marchand, Peverley, Tavares, Read, Brouwer, Bickell, Gionta, Setoguchi
G - Anderson, Hiller, Markstrom, Brodeur
D - Letang, Del Zotto, I. White, Kronwall, Brodin, Nikitin

lemaire knows his hockey and has always gone with the hoot hand...he will play a guy 30 games straight if he has to untils he drains him, then looks to the next guy. Backstrom earned his time right now...fernandez will probably get a chance if baccky faulters.