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

[The Real Timo]

Remember when an hour used to take an hour? In my late 40’s an hour now takes 5 minutes.

I no longer want it to take an hour. Too much work

 

[Habs Halifax]

Are we going to get humiliated (4 straight) or are we taking this 6 or 7 games. IMO, it's one or the other.

Caps have a very solid team D with solid goaltending. Lots of big boys that skate well, which is something the Habs don't stack up well against.

Hoping for the Habs to prove me wrong (again). Didn't expect playoffs. Expected a pick from 8-15 range. So yeah, lets see what they are really made of because the competition just increased to the highest level.

 

[Habs Icing]

Je dirais meme plus

Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be


You know you just created a shocking visual for me. You dolled up like Doris Day dancing and singing that song. I hope your breasts are as lovely as hers.

You know you just created a shocking visual for me. You dolled up like Doris Day dancing and singing that song. I hope your breasts are as lovely as hers.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Wait Edmonton is younger based on that list

That's why I said in 45 years

 

[FerrisRox]

We need big Arbs, and why are we dressing a guy that is retiring end of year? He’s done, limit that ice, Savard will hurt us

I disagree.

Savard is dressing because they have very few right shot defenders and, more importantly, Savard is dressing becuase he's a key part of their penalty killing unit.

I would be pretty concerned if the Canadiens opted not to dress Savard for this game. From a coaching standpoint it would be really stupid to hobble our penalty killing like that right before a key playoff game.

 

[Supersonic]

Just watched the first two episodes of that show. My neighbours went golfing and I might just go see what they got lol

It’s great honestly enjoy
I rewatched it recently with my wife and she loved it

 

[FerrisRox]

How is he supposed to stop doing that? Attending optional practises in 12 of the last 13 games of the regular season and getting scratched? Maybe he wasn’t all that bad during the 70 regular season games he did play. Why have a player with net clearing abilities and equipped for physical one on one battles needed for the playoffs, forced into inactivity for such an extended timeframe? Struble played flawlessly while Xhekaj was scratched?

I had no issues with Struble at all in the time that Xhekaj was in the press box. Certainly nothing that would warrant him being pulled from the lineup.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I disagree.

Savard is dressing because they have very few right shot defenders and, more importantly, Savard is dressing becuase he's a key part of their penalty killing unit.

I would be pretty concerned if the Canadiens opted not to dress Savard for this game. From a coaching standpoint it would be really stupid to hobble our penalty killing like that right before a key playoff game.

It's insane how many people just ignore the penalty killing piece here.

 

[Kennerback]

It's insane how many people just ignore the penalty killing piece here.

Savard’s the guy I want in front of Ovy’s shot on the PP.

 

[Tuggy]

Savard’s the guy I want in front of Ovy’s shot on the PP.

Back that ass up!

 

[FerrisRox]

Have you watched him kill penalties lately ? The "I've fallen and can't get up" quote comes to mind!

I've watched him contribute as part of the the top penalty killing units in the NHL. I think there are six playoff teams that kill penalties better than the Montreal Canadiens. You can pretend Savard isn't an important part of that unit, but nobody that knows hockey would take that opinion very seriously.

 

[Habs Icing]

I am looking forward to seeing if Laine has a playoff level.

You'll have to be more specific. Maybe his playoff level is worse than his season level.

 

[ahmedou]

Youngest playoffs team in 45 years



View attachment 1019034

25 years old! For the 25th Stanley Cup!

 

[CHfan1]

I disagree.

Savard is dressing because they have very few right shot defenders and, more importantly, Savard is dressing becuase he's a key part of their penalty killing unit.

I would be pretty concerned if the Canadiens opted not to dress Savard for this game. From a coaching standpoint it would be really stupid to hobble our penalty killing like that right before a key playoff game.

Agreed and since both Struble and Xhekaj don’t play well on their offside it changes the pairings up quite a bit. In addition to Hutson playing on his offside, one of Guhle or Matheson has to as well.

Also, as we’ve already seen this playoffs, being able to kill penalties is significant in a 7 game series. Ottawa got into penalty trouble last night and it was a big reason the Leafs won, scoring 3 of their 6 goals on the power play.

 

[tazsub3]

Happy Easter to all! Was everybody spit roasting lamb like I was today ??

A long time ago , During the days of bal en blanc my Easter weekend often included some some spit roasting

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Savard’s the guy I want in front of Ovy’s shot on the PP.

Savard as a shot blocker is the Duncan the Walrus version of defensemen

 

[The Real Timo]

You are correct Struble was playing better than Xhekaj BUT Struble wa splaying with Carrier at the time and Xhekaj with Savard. The second Struble started playing with Savard his play dropped hard.....

Savard is the issue but no one will say it, WHY?

I actually thought that Struble - Hutson was a good duo. Thought they did alright while they were paired together.

 

[Habs Icing]

The mood today is already very different from the Canes game. More like a wedding than a funeral. Excitement not dread.

I guess I've attended too many of the wrong weddings.

 

[Tuggy]

I'm coming into this series with very much tempered expectations.

I don't expect the Habs to win this series, but I'll of course be cheering for that until the bitter end.

I'm exciting to see what our young lads can do in front of a playoff crowd and with the playoff intensity. And excited to see the Bell Centre full in the playoffs again!

 

[Habs Icing]

That reaction from Ovi made me like him a whole lot more.

 

[Kennerback]

That reaction from Ovi made me like him a whole lot more.

Bad news is we don’t have Price anymore, the good news is we have Savard.

 

[FerrisRox]

Agreed and since both Struble and Xhekaj don’t play well on their offside it changes the pairings up quite a bit. In addition to Hutson playing on his offside, one of Guhle or Matheson has to as well.

Also, as we’ve already seen this playoffs, being able to kill penalties is significant in a 7 game series. Ottawa got into penalty trouble last night and it was a big reason the Leafs won, scoring 3 of their 6 goals on the power play.

No disrespect to the posters calling for Xhekaj to play instead of Savard, but they are kind of illustrating a lack of understanding for how team's play, how systems work and how this hockey team has been winning games.

The notion of intentionally removing David Savard from this roster shows a fundamental lack of understanding for the things that don't show up on the scoreboard. Not only is he part of our penalty killing unit, he's a very key part. It's absurd to suggest he would be removed for any reason other than injury.

 

[roy munson]

Only HABs fans would be so proud limping in, beating a team minus 7 big players!
Caps will smoke them . Caps in 4

Do people not realize where we came from to "Limp In"
Damn we own a lot of head space.

I LOVE IT

Leafs fans were mocking the on-ice celebration after the last game saying we were celebrating a clinch... They had no idea (or didn't care) it was going to happen even if we lost, that it was for the fans or that it also honoured Gally's mom's passing. They're 9 year old.

 

[dinodebino]

Expecting them to get walloped like the Hens were. Refs will call every little chintzy thing against Habs and we will get trampled physically.

Good lesson learned it will be for our younger lads.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I have been told that Slaf elevates his game when it matters, so I will go with him and Heineman. I don't know what to expect from Demidov playing with Newhook and Laine.

If Heineman’s healthy and can play like he did pre-injury, he’ll definitely be a factor.

He stirs that 4th line drink for sure