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

[Lshap]

Is Laine is out? If so, it could be a blessing in disguise. No point speculating on his health or his future, other to say I hope management makes an informed decision. At worst, Patrik Laine was a cool gamble that paid dividends for awhile.

Savard deserves to sit, but I doubt Marty sits out a retiring vet in what might be his final few games.

 

[badi]

I know it won t happen but I would sit Newhook and insert Kapanen or Beck over him

 

[salbutera]

I know it won t happen but I would sit Newhook and insert Kapanen or Beck over him

Hughes has said he wants to leave the prospects in Laval there for playoffs

Kapanen will get killed, he’s not at all ready for NHL playoff hockey

 

[Lshap]

I know it won t happen but I would sit Newhook and insert Kapanen or Beck over him

Weird thing about Newhook is he's one of the few forwards who've been able to enter the o-zone and make space for himself. He just can't finish what he starts. Maybe I'm nuts, but I still see potential in the guy. I still think he can turn those crazy-making misses into goals.

 

[The Real Timo]

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.

I ran a marathon once in my life and hated every second of it. It's boring as f***. Life stress, Habs stress and a good bowel movement here and there helps with weight loss

 

[Cole Caulifield]

His name is not OnlyoneArm Armia?

We should bring in the drummer from def leppard for a motivational speech to Armia.

 

[Cole Caulifield]

I want those line tomorrow

Slaf-Suzy-Caufield
Andy-DVO-Gally
Newhook-Evans-Demi
Heinemein-Xhekaj-Xhekaj

If i say it often enough maybe it will come true

I want those line tomorrow

Slaf-Suzy-Caufield
Andy-DVO-Gally
Newhook-Evans-Demi
Heinemein-Xhekaj-Xhekaj

You have to repeat it in the dark in front of a mirror 3 times like candyman.

 

[Mats NAslund]

This won't happen but just thought .....Laine and Savard out Kapanen, Xhekaj in.

Swapping Demidov and Slaf will allow Slaf to be the main guy on the line. I think right now the problem is he's playing for Suzuki and Caufield and not playing the role he did in Jr. which was a goal scorer. He needs puck touches and he's really not getting it on that line. He's never going to B.Tkachuk so allow him to dev into what he is, a natural shooter. Remove the pressure of him playing on the 1st line. I also think Demidov is full of confidence and would flourish playing on the 1st line.

Put Kapanen into his natural position of Centre and move Newhook to the Wing ( guy is working hard but no one seems to have any chemistry with him) put him in spot where he's not facing the other teams best checking lines.

Go Habs Go

Caufield Suzuki Demidov
Heineman Evans Slaf
Gallagher Dvorak Anderson
Armia Kapanen Newhook

 

[Lshap]

I ran a marathon once in my life and hated every second of it. It's boring as f***. Life stress, Habs stress and a good bowel movement here and there helps with weight loss

I did half-marathons awhile back and felt even that took too much of my day. I could never commit to the extra training and time and aches to do twice that much. I don't think people realize running a marathon is much more than the actual marathon; it's the gazillions of miles and almost every day of training in the months leading up to it.

I still run, but a modest 3-5k. Still great as stress relief. My standards as an old man have been adjusted to "healthy and injury-free".

 

[Mats NAslund]

I know it won t happen but I would sit Newhook and insert Kapanen or Beck over him

I'm not against this but I would also sit Laine on offence. You could call up Condotta or Florian Xhekaj. Too big guys that play fast and heavy but again St-Louis is blinded by his own ego. Too proud to admit he's wrong!

 

[Mats NAslund]

Weird thing about Newhook is he's one of the few forwards who've been able to enter the o-zone and make space for himself. He just can't finish what he starts. Maybe I'm nuts, but I still see potential in the guy. I still think he can turn those crazy-making misses into goals.

Can't finish and he's not moving the puck, no one seems to have any chemistry with him!

 

[Team_Spirit]

The all-star legend has spoken!

Spoiler: If you missed it..

 

[Natey]

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?

Actually, unless you buy me the new Oblivion Remastered game, the Habs will lose tonight. Or so I've heard. That's the only scenario I know.

PS. I throw a better dropkick than Bob Holly. (no i don't - mine's absolutely terrible).

 

[Natey]

Can't finish and he's not moving the puck, no one seems to have any chemistry with him!

I think him and Demidov looked pretty good at points.

I think him moving back to wing will also help take some responsibility off him.

And it couldn't have been easy playing with Laine... let's be real, Newhook is legit 15x as fast lol

 

[The Real Timo]

Mme Bibaud says "Don't worry".

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/24/ne-soyez-pas-inquiets-lorganiste-diane-bibaud-confiante-malgre-le-deficit-de-0-2-du-canadien

 

[Natey]

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.

I just don't think he's getting called into his office for playing a vet over a younger player who also struggles. I 100% think that the younger player struggles less and brings more (right now), but hockey is kind of like an "old boys club" in a lot of ways still. Pro Wrestling the same way. Sometimes vets just get to hang onto their spots way too long - good for business or not.

 

[Natey]

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)

So scratch Heineman and keep Armia as a PK specialist?

Gotta say, I'd probably scratch Laine too. I think Heineman getting 5-8 hits is more important than Laine whiffing on some slappers and our PP have no other options.

 

[salbutera]

So scratch Heineman and keep Armia as a PK specialist?

Gotta say, I'd probably scratch Laine too. I think Heineman getting 5-8 hits is more important than Laine whiffing on some slappers and our PP have no other options.

Yup - that was Denis’ suggestion

I find the game is too fast for Heineken to process right now.

 

[Saundies]

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)

Honestly not the worst idea to be honest. We played really well after shortening the bench last game and Laine is dying out there. It 'sits him' without sitting him and solves that problem.

 

[Lshap]

Honestly not the worst idea to be honest. We played really well after shortening the bench last game and Laine is dying out there. It 'sits him' without sitting him and solves that problem.

The good news is that once Marty shortened the bench, our top guys were able to play very well against their top guys.

The bad news is that strategy is unsustainable. You can only double shift the Suzuki line for so long before they wear out.

But at least we can see where the weakness in the lineup is. We have the top talent, which is something we've lacked forever. But we desperately need a strong 2nd line and a more consistent 3rd. Same with the D pairings.

 

[schwang26]

People need a life for sure

Not to get too political, but I hope there’s no one in Quebec liking the idea of the 51st state, because if that happened, they could kiss the whole French language protection bye bye.

 

[schwang26]

I know it won t happen but I would sit Newhook and insert Kapanen or Beck over him

lol! Um, no. Adding another rookie into game 3??? Horrible idea.

 

[Tuggy]

What time are the Habs on the ice this morning? 10:30?

I'm anxiously awaiting lineup news...

 

[Andy]

This won't happen but just thought .....Laine and Savard out Kapanen, Xhekaj in.

Swapping Demidov and Slaf will allow Slaf to be the main guy on the line. I think right now the problem is he's playing for Suzuki and Caufield and not playing the role he did in Jr. which was a goal scorer. He needs puck touches and he's really not getting it on that line. He's never going to B.Tkachuk so allow him to dev into what he is, a natural shooter. Remove the pressure of him playing on the 1st line. I also think Demidov is full of confidence and would flourish playing on the 1st line.

Put Kapanen into his natural position of Centre and move Newhook to the Wing ( guy is working hard but no one seems to have any chemistry with him) put him in spot where he's not facing the other teams best checking lines.

Go Habs Go

Caufield Suzuki Demidov
Heineman Evans Slaf
Gallagher Dvorak Anderson
Armia Kapanen Newhook

Slaf has 9 shots in two games. Line 1 has been the best line since the start of the series. I am not sure what the urgency is to break up your best line to add a player with 4 nhl games of experience.

There is no pressure for Slaf playing on the first line. He's been playing well. Nick and Cole don't score goals in game 1 if Slaf doesn't cause havoc in front of the net. This is just silly.

 

[BLONG7]

What time are the Habs on the ice this morning? 10:30?

I'm anxiously awaiting lineup news...

Gotta be a change or 2...........gotta be.
Lineup shuffle would be warranted also...the lines need tweaking.
This is not a game to rinse and repeat.
The boys need to feed off the crowd and show some hustle and physicality also........we should, own the first period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!