GDT: - Round 1 Game 3: Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens 4/25/25 7:00pm EST SN, TVAS | Page 15 | HFBoards - NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League

GDT: Round 1 Game 3: Washington Capitals @ Montreal Canadiens 4/25/25 7:00pm EST SN, TVAS

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This Xhejak talk everywhere is so f***ing insane. Holy f*** people are crazy.

At this point I feel like it was a mistake to even make the playoffs. Holy f*** the absurd pressure we put on the team like we have stashed the greatest f***ing defenseman to have ever played the game.

A 6th D, in the NHL, with 6 pts in the year in 70 games, that plays 10 minutes a night with sheltered minutes will suddenly change the outcome of this series by his presence? Gimme a break. Caps will feast on his presence

I mean I get why you're baffled, when I went to Mexico I didn't understand your culture as well.
 
I know you won’t accept the explanation but the coach doesn’t like him?
You're right - I don't accept that an NHL coach doesn't play someone because they dislike him as a person. That coach would be fired.

There are always concrete reasons, even if some are weaker than others. In Xhekaj's case, he IS a penalty risk:

1745563554502.png


Plus, he has the worst +/- of our defensemen, even playing sheltered minutes;

1745563554519.png


Like I said, it might not be a bad idea to play him now, given the poor performances of some other D, but it wouldn't have made sense before.
 
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What can you do? Cross check someone on the other side in the mouth and hope it doesn't get called?

X can come in and retaliate but we all know how the officiating treats retaliators. And you can bet your bottom dollar that the officials will have a shorter leash on X whenever he does get in.

The refs just need to do a better job. A cross check in the mouth has always been a penalty, playoffs or not.
Playoffs a lot rougher than regular season
 
wow
do you think you Slaf should work a little too?


Juraj Slafkovsky was seething in the locker room after the match:

"There's always something we're missing. Today this, tomorrow that. We need a practically perfect match to win."

- Juraj Slafkovsky, via Patrick Friolet

We just need to play harder, and we haven’t. Everyone here has to improve. It starts with me, more than anyone else. We need to show a different energy and play at home.”

- Juraj Slafkovsky
he talks the talk but....well you know the rest. what's also concerning is the Marc Denis observation where he says that they seem to be afraid to go into the corners and battle.Like it or not Smarty needs to insert some pain and Arber will definitely put some fear in Washington.
 
You're right - I don't accept that an NHL coach doesn't play someone because they dislike him as a person. That coach would be fired.

There are always concrete reasons, even if some are weaker than others. In Xhekaj's case, he IS a penalty risk:

View attachment 1022318

Plus, he has the worst +/- of our defensemen, even playing sheltered minutes;

View attachment 1022317

Like I said, it might not be a bad idea to play him now, given the poor performances of some other D, but it wouldn't have made sense before.
Gotta say brother, I disagree with you first point. There's almost definitely been cases of that in history. It's just human nature, like it or not. If it sabotaged the team bad enough, then yeah the coach would be fired. But it's most definitely happened in history.

And when you dislike someone, you see their faults so much easier because you already have a shorter leash for them.

MSL might not dislike Xhekaj, I'm not saying he does. I'm just saying that I disagree with your point.

This sounds like a stupid comparison - but I don't think it is. Who are you going to have a longer leash for... someone you like (child, wife, husband, best friend, mom, dad, etc) or me? If you child or wife steals $25 out of your wallet without telling you - you're going to be pissed but forgive them. If I did it to you, you'd probably want me in jail, lol.
 
I really hope they keep Evans with Newhook and Demidov.

The Newhook at C experiment should be over. He is a winger. He's better on the forecheck and creates more for his linemates. And Demidov looked better with them aswell. More space created gives him more time with the puck.
 
Gotta say brother, I disagree with you first point. There's almost definitely been cases of that in history. It's just human nature, like it or not. If it sabotaged the team bad enough, then yeah the coach would be fired. But it's most definitely happened in history.

And when you dislike someone, you see their faults so much easier because you already have a shorter leash for them.

MSL might not dislike Xhekaj, I'm not saying he does. I'm just saying that I disagree with your point.

This sounds like a stupid comparison - but I don't think it is. Who are you going to have a longer leash for... someone you like (child, wife, husband, best friend, mom, dad, etc) or me? If you child or wife steals $25 out of your wallet without telling you - you're going to be pissed but forgive them. If I did it to you, you'd probably want me in jail, lol.

It depends - tell me more. If you steal the $25 from me, do the Habs win tonight? What if you stole $50 instead, do they also win on Sunday?

I'd probably be willing to send your wife and child to jail if you could guarantee me the next 4 game wins - and allow you to steal $200 total from me.

Does that help your scenario?

;)
 
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he talks the talk but....well you know the rest. what's also concerning is the Marc Denis observation where he says that they seem to be afraid to go into the corners and battle.Like it or not Smarty needs to insert some pain and Arber will definitely put some fear in Washington.

Seems every year Slaf has an epiphany and then turns it up a notch. This year it was after the 4 Nations when he decided to let out his "Tkachuk".

Slaf is a big guy who skates well and has a skill set in that he can handle a puck okay, is able to pass well and can shoot. He is also very big and while not mean, he can hit heavy and be physical.

Slaf needs consistency which for him means a better game by game work ethic.

He is getting 50 points now. If he hit more consistently and fought in the corners , scored 20-25 goals and 60-65 points , hes a power forward.
 
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Gotta say brother, I disagree with you first point. There's almost definitely been cases of that in history. It's just human nature, like it or not. If it sabotaged the team bad enough, then yeah the coach would be fired. But it's most definitely happened in history.

And when you dislike someone, you see their faults so much easier because you already have a shorter leash for them.

MSL might not dislike Xhekaj, I'm not saying he does. I'm just saying that I disagree with your point.

This sounds like a stupid comparison - but I don't think it is. Who are you going to have a longer leash for... someone you like (child, wife, husband, best friend, mom, dad, etc) or me? If you child or wife steals $25 out of your wallet without telling you - you're going to be pissed but forgive them. If I did it to you, you'd probably want me in jail, lol.
That's fair – coaches are just as emotional and biased as the rest of us. Mike Babcock certainly got away with a lot of ugly shit that had nothing to do with hockey. In his case, he was shielded by his huge reputation. His GM probably thought twice before confronting His Lordship. Of course, even Babcock eventually had to answer for his shtick.

Safe to say Marty doesn't have Babcock's reputation. Marty can't operate in a bubble without being accountable to management. Any decision that isn't in the team's best interest would certainly have him called into Gorton/Hughes' office for a chat. And nothing about Marty's reputation suggests he's the type to do this.

Xhekaj hasn't played for objective hockey reasons, whether or not we agree with them. There are different hockey reasons to play him, but until now the negatives outweigh the positives.
 
Speaking of having fun, I put myself through a 10.1 mile walking session today, working at varying speeds. Totalled 20,920 steps, my highest of the year. OK, it wasn’t that much fun. You sharing details about your jog earlier, provided inspiration. Forum does have its benefits. 🥹
Since mid-January, I've lost 28 lbs and counting. Working out at the office gym as well as boxing gym, and being more careful with my nutrition. Yesterday, this forum subconsciously pushed me to go for a 1h15min walk in parc Maisonneuve after work. Note I worked on my upper body during my lunch break.

Love and respect you folks around here!
 
Since mid-January, I've lost 28 lbs and counting. Working out at the office gym as well as boxing gym, and being more careful with my nutrition. Yesterday, this forum subconsciously pushed me to go for a 1h15min walk in parc Maisonneuve after work. Note I worked on my upper body during my lunch break.

Love and respect you folks around here!
That's outstanding! 28 lbs is a significant accomplishment!👍
 
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Speaking of having fun, I put myself through a 10.1 mile walking session today, working at varying speeds. Totalled 20,920 steps, my highest of the year. OK, it wasn’t that much fun. You sharing details about your jog earlier, provided inspiration. Forum does have its benefits. 🥹
I was waiting for you to say, "And now today I have to walk 10.1 miles back."

Seriously, I'm guessing walking 10.1 miles took you over 3 hours. That's not only great exercise, it burns off stress. I may have to run a marathon before tonight.
 
Be the aggressor, don’t retaliate, let the Caps see what it feels like and let them do the dumb shit. Watching games from the other series you can’t rely on the refs, they’re missing lots and very inconsistent in their calls

This is the answer. The missed calls are frustrating and blatant, but committing fouls and getting away with it is literally in the winning playbook for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The thing is, you have to be willing to accept that you WILL get a penalty once in a while. Washington gets away with cross checks because they aren't afraid to get a penalty or two in order to give our players a sore face. They WILL not call everything, and after a while the reputation as a "tough team" precedes you and you can get away with even more nonsense.

It works for less violent penalties too. The glory Red Wings of the Lidstrom era were the interference kings. They did it so much that it was not feasible to call it all the time. When it does get called it is not a bad thing; on the contrary, it is an investment in establishing a baseline for your team. The Panthers set the bar high for both violence and interference last year and the year before. We all remember (too well) the '11 Bruins. The refs simply will not call everything. The more you foul, the more you get away with. The catch is, you have to commit to it and hold the line, even in the face of a few penalties. It might be a bit late for that now with the Habs really. Down 0-2, the margin for error has shrunk drastically. The time for "investing" is probably long gone for this year.
 
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Speaking of having fun, I put myself through a 10.1 mile walking session today, working at varying speeds. Totalled 20,920 steps, my highest of the year. OK, it wasn’t that much fun. You sharing details about your jog earlier, provided inspiration. Forum does have its benefits. 🥹
Next on the list is the 12h00 walk.
 
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Gotta say brother, I disagree with you first point. There's almost definitely been cases of that in history. It's just human nature, like it or not. If it sabotaged the team bad enough, then yeah the coach would be fired. But it's most definitely happened in history.

And when you dislike someone, you see their faults so much easier because you already have a shorter leash for them.

MSL might not dislike Xhekaj, I'm not saying he does. I'm just saying that I disagree with your point.

This sounds like a stupid comparison - but I don't think it is. Who are you going to have a longer leash for... someone you like (child, wife, husband, best friend, mom, dad, etc) or me? If you child or wife steals $25 out of your wallet without telling you - you're going to be pissed but forgive them. If I did it to you, you'd probably want me in jail, lol.

This is well said. People so often forget the human element, and how we develop bias's and preferences , or value this over that. I absolutley ¹1¹1¹

I think this series was important to play. No question the Habs have drafted some big boys , but its still good for them to see the need for physicality in action.
 
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Marc Denis yesterday said he’d like to see Habs play w 11F & 7D.

Use Savard & Laine exclusively as PK / PP specialists, insert Xhekaj even if he plays 6-7TOI and go w the 3-lines used in 3rd period of game 2 - giving each of those lines essentially 1-2 shifts extra per game (1.5-2TOI extra)
 
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Habs needs to wake tf up. This Washington is beatable. Their letting OV skate out there like he's already been in the Hall Of Fame for years. Put the old man on his ass and the rest of the dominos will fall.

LETSSS FKKNN GOOO!!
 
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