Pre-Game Talk: 2025 Playoff Round 1 - Game #1 : Montreal at Washington. Monday April 21st

[Naslundforever]

Washington have goons and cheap shot artists. If the violence is limited and the series doesn't spin out of control, Struble might be enough, IDK. I'm much more paranoid than MSL, I would have Xhekaj in game one.

Not much fighting in the playoffs though.

 

[Captain97]

hate gary galley, him and jennifer botterill are my least favorite personalities in the sport

I've actually met Botteril land i think she is still just "new" to being on TV and needs to settle into her own personality/stick. Sometimes it feels like she wants to compete with Bieksa for attention which will never work.

Bieksa is just more entertaining and she needs to accept the secondary role and she'll be better.

 

[Habs Icing]

there’s no driver on that bus

It's a self-driving bus. C'mon, man, get with the times.

 

[OldCraig71]

Struble is way better than Xhekaj and he isn't a creampuff either. I don't know how people don't see the logic at hand here. He is not part of our top 4 LDs and the one young D he had to outplay has shown to be a way better two-way player than he is. Not hard to wrap your head around this. MSL isn't gonna mess up his PK or dress 5 LHDs just to play our goon 10 minutes.

Struble became more relevant when Guhle got injured and was sitting for quite some time before that injury occurred. He saw action in 56 games compared to 70 for Xhekaj. He got a shot because of an injury. If Xhekaj could play the right side it would be his best shot at longevity with the Habs, Savard might retire soon and there will be a spot open.

 

[Runner77]

The idea is to give the Caps a good fight. That's my only hope. No matter what happens, we already won. First, let's hope the boys don't think that way...lol, but that's really just how I feel.

AS far as Arber is concerned...I also wish he would....but we all know he won't. Just hope that there are good talks with the guy this summer and we keep and play him next year. There's absolutely no plus to trade him for a pick...

There’s no plus either in having the player punished for mistakes and missing games. He’s clearly not the type of player MSL values so let’s not be surprised if the GM capitalizes on his value.

 

[ryan callahan]

Struble became more relevant when Guhle got injured and was sitting for quite some time before that injury occurred. He saw action in 56 games compared to 70 for Xhekaj. He got a shot because of an injury. If Xhekaj could play the right side it would be his best shot at longevity with the Habs, Savard might retire soon and there will be a spot open.

Well he jumped in and he made an impression, something Arber failed to make in his repeted opportunities.

 

[StCaufield]

Washington has been absolute ass lately. Let’s see it carry over.

 

[le_sean]

There’s no plus either in having the player punished for mistakes and missing games. He’s clearly not the type of player MSL values so let’s not be surprised if the GM capitalizes on his value.

I mean if he’s fine being in a pressbox, then he’s a really good 7D to have.

But he should fight for a spot next year. Savard is obviously retiring and Matheson better be gone if we want to be taken seriously.

 

[OldCraig71]

Well he jumped in and he made an impression, something Arber failed to make in his repeted opportunities.

He jumped in because Guhle was injured, and playing with Hutson didn't hurt. Most of the time we saw Hutson driving the play, which benefited Struble. He and Savard have made plenty of mistakes since he was split from Hutson, which is also the situation that Arber was a victim of.

Savard, by playing on the right side, continues to play, but certainly hasn't stood out as being a good player in the second half of the season.

 

[Vachon23]

My gut says Josh Anderson

Exactly what I was going to say, I think he’s gonna be a stud

Idk how he'll not be tempted. They're one of the Top-5 biggest NHL teams we're in the Top-5 small teams. Half a dozen of their guys fought this season. And they have 3 regular fighters: Wilson, Duhaime, McIlrath, perhaps a 4th, Leonard...

I hope they used Mcllrath at the bell center ! We could a used him with Suzuki line when he’s on the ice

 

[SpeedyPotato]

We definitely aren’t big of an underdog as we were that year, our current team is young but way more talented than the 2010 one, the caps on the other side aren’t as talented as their 2010 version but they’re more balanced. I expect games to be less lopsided and I feel it could go either way

 

[Vachon23]

We definitely aren’t big of an underdog as we were that year, our current team is young but way more talented than the 2010 one, the caps on the other side aren’t as talented as their 2010 version but they’re more balanced. I expect games to be less lopsided and I feel it could go either way

I don’t agree, we where a more experienced back in 2010 and every one expected us to make the playoffs that year

 

[LV426]

GHG

 

[Fatbiggie]

Habs as an underdog team is always a dangerous team.

Looking forward to these playoffs

 

[Adriatic]

Struble is way better than Xhekaj and he isn't a creampuff either. I don't know how people don't see the logic at hand here. He is not part of our top 4 LDs and the one young D he had to outplay has shown to be a way better two-way player than he is. Not hard to wrap your head around this. MSL isn't gonna mess up his PK or dress 5 LHDs just to play our goon 10 minutes.

He's not a creampuff but he's a lightweight as a defenseman. He has trouble handling big forwards and considering we already have undersized defenceman ahead of him in Lane and Carrier I would rather play Arber.

 

[JianYang]

It’s not about whether you agree or not. MSL doesn’t appear to value what the player brings. Disagree all you want, MSL doesn’t give a rat’s ass. There were several opponents that dressed one dimensional physical players (even call ups from the minors) during the regular season and MSL did not adjust his lineup.

Yes, I was speaking on what I think he will do.

 

[ryan callahan]

He's not a creampuff but he's a lightweight as a defenseman. He has trouble handling big forwards and considering we already have undersized defenceman ahead of him in Lane and Carrier I would rather play Arber.

If 207 is lightweight at 6 foot and at his shape... Then I'm crazy. There is games Xhekaj can't handle anyone because the games goes too fast for him. He needs to improve his skating if he wants to stick.

 

[JianYang]

We definitely aren’t big of an underdog as we were that year, our current team is young but way more talented than the 2010 one, the caps on the other side aren’t as talented as their 2010 version but they’re more balanced. I expect games to be less lopsided and I feel it could go either way

That 2010 caps team had more name brand but you could argue they weren't built for the post season the way the current version of the caps is.

 

[Runner77]

 

[Runner77]

Same with me. I find it annoying that this is what passes for French Canadian cooking, when there are traditional dishes like tourtière du Lac St Jean and cipaille that are wonderful and worth promoting.

Recipes, please.

 

[rahad]

Is a good think we beat Carolina. Columbus destroyed New York Islander...

 

[JianYang]

Bartlett is their best. Galley is that crappy channel that just happens to come with a package you need.

 

[sandviper]

All we need is Chris Lee to be assigned as ref to all the games and title this series as Double Trouble.

 

[ahmedou]

I'm more stressedou during qualifying into the playoffs.

I'm more calmedou during the playoffs.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

I'm more stressedou during qualifying into the playoffs.

I'm more calmedou during the playoffs.

You've heard it first. Ahmedou is calmedou as you can be.