Post-Game Talk: Another day, Another L. Habs lose 3-1 to the Caps

[ChesterNimitz]

They actually look considerably better than last year even though the roster is worse on paper. Decent game last night, apart from the 2nd period breakdown and the brutal PP (which is nothing new). Our young defense is doing a surprisingly good job out

I was quite impressed with Xhekaj’s game. He made all the smart little plays in the defensive zone, stepped up when appropriate at the blueline to pinch off the rush, displayed controlled aggressiveness, and showed surprising vision in the offensive zone. My only criticism is that he should shoot the puck more when he has the opportunity. Maybe he’ll be the first Montreal Canadien Defenceman to take a slap shot this year. If he continues to show this overt improvement he will cement a position on the roster even when Matheson and Edmundon return.

 

[First Line]

Just what I suspected would happen. Dach would play really good hockey but because he's tall, people will disregard everything he does and get mad he isn't running around playing like Pezzetta.

Yeah, he doesn't compete. Just repeated stripped pucks off players, got into many physical altercations with the other team and back checks hard to prevent goals against. What a dilly dallying loser! I hate that he's leading the team in xGF% and is gaining the zone better than anyone on the team and constantly putting teammates in positions to score.

Wait until they turn on Slaf for being a skilled player with size and start complaining he’s not using that size to destroy people on the boards.
It’s inevitable.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Wait until they turn on Slaf for being a skilled player with size and start complaining he’s not using that size to destroy people on the boards.
It’s inevitable.

‘They’ are the same fans that start mockingly singing on those rare occasions that we go up a goal.

 

[NewEraGM]

It’s all good. We knew the season would be long. Rebuilds are not always fun or entertaining on a night to night basis. Sometimes get some « meh » ones like the last 2. Stick to the process.

1-2 with Pittsburgh next. Most likely a loss, which puts us at 1-3. At that pace, it’s bottom 5. Continue developing. Continue improving. It won’t always be in a straight line. Sometimes it’ll feel like it’s going no where. Sometimes it’ll feel like we have taken a step back. But you need to stick to the process. Develop and improve.

 

[Rapala]

We're going to see a lot of 3-1 this season.

I'm worried about getting the 1.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Guhle did well in juniors on the PP

He doesn’t have Mailloux’s shot. Its not even close. Currently, opposing teams only have to key on Caufield on powerplays when we establish possessed in the offensive zone. We’re so predictable. They have no respect for our pointmen’s shot. Think of the threat that Weber posed for the last few years. Teams had to defend Weber’s shot which opened up the ice for other scoring opportunities. Similarly, Teams will soon have to take away Mailloux’s shot which necessity will open up other options on the powerplay . Add Hutson’s vision and play making to the mix and this power play could become very interesting.

 

[WinterLion]

Advanced stats for night are in:

View attachment 594724


Xhekaj had a very, very good night, which matches the eye test, as did Nick Suzuki. He was strong at both ends.

Kirby Dach was excellent defensively but didn't provide much offense, which, yeah, that was his game tonight.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Chris Wideman also had very good nights at both ends even if they didn't get points.

The pairing of Harris & Kovacevic provides excellent defensive play, but no offense, which is true. I like that pairing. I think they'll make a fine bottom pairing.

Brendan Gallagher was good defensively but not good on offense.

Anderson provided strong offense but was poor defensively.

Cole Caufield had an up & down night - mostly down.

Jake Evans, Jonathan Drouin & Mike Hoffman were neutral.

Dadonov was awful.

Savard & Guhle were worse; however I felt this was a terrible game by Savard and he dragged Guhle down with him & Caps were definitely targeting Guhle.

Thanks for sharing & the explanation!

Just curious if this takes into account at all who they were matched up against?

 

[Rapala]

It’s all good. We knew the season would be long. Rebuilds are not always fun or entertaining on a night to night basis. Sometimes get some « meh » ones like the last 2. Stick to the process.

1-2 with Pittsburgh next. Most likely a loss, which puts us at 1-3. At that pace, it’s bottom 5. Continue developing. Continue improving. It won’t always be in a straight line. Sometimes it’ll feel like it’s going no where. Sometimes it’ll feel like we have taken a step back. But you need to stick to the process. Develop and improve.

The Pens game should be better they play a more wide open style that will suite our counter attack. It's going to a very long 3/4 of a season as teams will continue play us very tight for the most part with points on the line. I'm very very happy with our young D and although we do have some talent up front we can't maximize it's potential until we get much much deeper. Looking at Detroit's bottom 6 the other night showed just how far off we still are from a having a reasonably balanced club. HuGo are going to be very hard pressed to find an asset than can be a candidate for the additional 1st rounder they covet in 2023.

 

[Manse]

Good job by Gally at the end.

Show boating shit just to cover his flaws is all Gally is anymore !!

 

[HuGort]

It’s all good. We knew the season would be long. Rebuilds are not always fun or entertaining on a night to night basis. Sometimes get some « meh » ones like the last 2. Stick to the process.

1-2 with Pittsburgh next. Most likely a loss, which puts us at 1-3. At that pace, it’s bottom 5. Continue developing. Continue improving. It won’t always be in a straight line. Sometimes it’ll feel like it’s going no where. Sometimes it’ll feel like we have taken a step back. But you need to stick to the process. Develop and improve.

Another long year though NewEraGM. Of bad, boring hockey. Then again next year I imagine. They say takes five years to develop these picks. Sometimes I don't think next five years of this is worth it. Be a good team for next 10 years after that. With 50/50 chance winning a Cup. By then the Suzuki will be like Gallagher on back end of his career. We havr to tear down and do it all over again.

 

[Rapala]

He doesn’t have Mailloux’s shot. Its not even close. Currently, 0opposing teams only have to key on Caufield on powerplays when we establish possessed in the offensive zone. We’re so predictable. They have no respect for our pointmen’s shot. Think of the threat that Weber posed for the last few years. Teams had to defend Weber’s shot which opened up the ice for other scoring opportunities. Similarly, Teams will soon have to take away Mailloux’s shot which necessity will open up other options on the powerplay . Add Hutson’s vision and play making to the mix and this power play could become very interesting.

Our PP sucked just as bad with Weber with the same predictability. I'm not sure why people seem to forget this all of a sudden. Not to mention their are plenty of very very effective D men on the PP with average shots. What they do have is vision and an ability to get the puck on net and to keep plays alive.
The argument for Guhle is that he will bring a different look to our zone enteries and once we are set up. You are absolutely right about our telegraphed PP but nothing will change until the personnel on it changes.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Our PP sucked just as bad with Weber with the same predictability. I'm not sure why people seem to forget this all of a sudden. Not to mention their are plenty of very very effective D men on the PP with average shots. What they do have is vision and an ability to get the puck on net and to keep plays alive.
The argument for Guhle is that he will bring a different look to our zone enteries and once we are set up. You are absolutely right about our telegraphed PP but nothing will change until the personnel on it changes.

Big difference was when we had Weber at his peak, we had no other elite shooter. Teams could focus on taking away Weber’s shot. Now we have Caufield. Once we get a shooter from the blueline teams will have to pick their poison. For this year, once we get Matheson back, our poweplay will be noticeably better as Matheson is an elite puck transporter; has good vision in the offensive zone and has an underrated shot. For those hoping for a tank, Matheson’s injury was, as they say, a blessing in disguise.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Wait until they turn on Slaf for being a skilled player with size and start complaining he’s not using that size to destroy people on the boards.
It’s inevitable.

Yep, everyone who's big has to play like Anderson. Then once they play like Anderson they suck for not being more skilled.

You have to be prime Cam Neely/Bertuzzi or you're a bust.

 

[NewEraGM]

Another long year though NewEraGM. Of bad, boring hockey. Then again next year I imagine. They say takes five years to develop these picks. Sometimes I don't think next five years of this is worth it. Be a good team for next 10 years after that. With 50/50 chance winning a Cup. By then the Suzuki will be like Gallagher on back end of his career. We havr to tear down and do it all over again.

I don’t think rebuilds take 5 years now. I think they can be done in 2-3 especially with younger players playing a bigger role.

And by the way, you will never ever have a 50/50 chance of winning the cup. Even the favorites at the start of the season only have at most a 15-20% chance.

We were lucky that before the rebuild even started, we had players like Suzuki and Caufield and Guhle. So we are not starting from 0. Another year like this, and we will be okay.

But it’s only been one season and you’re ready to throw in the towel already on the rebuild. It takes time

 

[themilosh]

Fantilli is another player I would love to get into the fold

Watch us win 1st oa and going to be a debate btw fantilli and bedard

 

[HomaridII]

I pray that one day:

Dadonov is not on this team.​

Hoffman is not on this team.​

Dvorak is not on this team.​

Wideman is not the PP QB​

Anderson is not on the 1st Line​

Gallagher is not taking any PP time and playing 3rd or 4th line​

​

I know its too much to ask.

 

[Gustave]

Maybe he’ll be the first Montreal Canadien Defenceman to take a slap shot this year.

I was thinking that as well. So weird that the slap shot has vanished from the repertoire. Is it a strategy?

 

[Deebs]

I was thinking that as well. So weird that the slap shot has vanished from the repertoire. Is it a strategy?

Forwards are so good at getting in the lanes, that extra fraction of a second to get a bomb off usually ends up being wasted. Getting the puck through and on net, at any speed, is better than not getting it there

 

[Gustave]

Forwards are so good at getting in the lanes, that extra fraction of a second to get a bomb off usually ends up being wasted. Getting the puck through and on net, at any speed, is better than not getting it there

Yeah probably. It has to be baked in the strategy to take the higher percentage play of the puck going where you want instead of the more random trajectory of a slap shot. I'm just not used to it having completely disappeared.

 

[HuGort]

I don’t think rebuilds take 5 years now. I think they can be done in 2-3 especially with younger players playing a bigger role.

And by the way, you will never ever have a 50/50 chance of winning the cup. Even the favorites at the start of the season only have at most a 15-20% chance.

We were lucky that before the rebuild even started, we had players like Suzuki and Caufield and Guhle. So we are not starting from 0. Another year like this, and we will be okay.

But it’s only been one season and you’re ready to throw in the towel already on the rebuild. It takes time

This is second season of terrible hockey. Going to be more than next year. Takes time developing these draft picks. Our '23 pick hasn't even reached the draft yet. You see how long it is going to take Slaf. Every other team rebuild they said going to accelerate but still took five years.

 

[The Real Timo]

Wasn't able to watch much last night (Still had my steak though... it was great). Caught very end where Gally was trying to be a tough guy while being tied up by the ref. Was a bit comical. All good though.. the result as expected - Suzuki scores and Habs don't get a point. Going hard for Bedard (D is not silent so that it rhymes) is full on!

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Toffoli played great with the ice time he had. Drouin, Dadonov and Hoffman are getting almost the same opportunities but they don't deliver.

They need to play for two reasons. 1. Get more value before TDL. 2. Lose games to get Bédard or another one close.

Nobody like to see them play. They are like the Buckley syrup that taste bad. We have to accept this.
It's gonna be a long long year reading angry posts about Drou, Hoff, Dado and maybe Dvo and Shu all year long.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

This is second season of terrible hockey. Going to be more than next year. Takes time developing these draft picks. Our '23 pick hasn't even reached the draft yet. You see how long it is going to take Slaf. Every other team rebuild they said going to accelerate but still took five years.

Colorado took basically a decade

I do appreciate the retool that took place a few years ago that landed the Habs key young pieces. But MB truely screwed this team in the 2021 offseason

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Habs 6th best in NHL @ 56.7% faceoffs… does that count?

Oh wow !! I'm so excited learning that. Somethin' is growing, I have to leave you for 20 minutes.

 

[NewEraGM]

This is second season of terrible hockey. Going to be more than next year. Takes time developing these draft picks. Our '23 pick hasn't even reached the draft yet. You see how long it is going to take Slaf. Every other team rebuild they said going to accelerate but still took five years.

We are at the start of year 2, and this time last year, we weren’t even prepping for a rebuild. It was really only around December.

So we are literally 9.5 months into a rebuild and you’re already saying it’s long…Slaf doesn’t need to at his max potential now. If he reaches it in 2 years. That’s fine.

And there are many examples to the contrary. For example, New York sent out a letter to their fans in 2018. Now their are full on contenders not even 4 years later. Last year, they had a competitive team as well.

Toronto didn’t rebuild for that long either. It was 3-4 years and they were up coming with lots of potential. It doesn’t take 5 years of being a bottom feeder. It’s 1-2 as a bottom feeder and the slowly move up in years 3-4 and then competitive after that