Post-Game Talk: Capitals win game 1, lead series 1-0

[Victoire HuGo]

Umm Montreal PP ranked 21st in the league ! At 20.1 % if This PP was top 5 or top even id say ya you’re right but it’s not even close!

There’s more of an arguing to keep Savard in the lineup then there is Laine !

I think you need to look up stats before posting stuff.

5 on 5 Laine has been useless and a liability. Effort level and give a shit factor is atrocious.

There’s also has to be a reason he’s been booted out of every team he’s played for.

Where there’s smoke there’s fire !

20% is hardly bad if you look at just 5 years ago. It's not as bad as it was a few years ago for the team

 

[Mrb1p]

This team is sofffffff.

If it wasnt for Suzukis prowess this year wed be battling it out with the Sharks and Hawks. We need size, especially up front.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

PP has to change for game 2, it’s just not working

Pass to Laine for a shot doesn’t work when he only hits the net 2% of the time

 

[That Habs Fan]

Too bad it's not possible to dress 13 forwards and 7 D otherwise we could dress Pezz and Xhekaj to go out and stir shit up without having to scratch any of the more skilled players

 

[Mats NAslund]

20% is hardly bad if you look at just 5 years ago. It's not as bad as it was a few years ago for the team

Sure but my argument was for the original poster saying we need Laine in the lineup because he's made this PP a real weapon when this isn't the case. Early on that's true but teams know what's coming from him for a while now!

 

[417]

Umm Montreal PP ranked 21st in the league ! At 20.1 % if This PP was top 5 or top even id say ya you’re right but it’s not even close!

There’s more of an arguing to keep Savard in the lineup then there is Laine !

I think you need to look up stats before posting stuff.

I’m well aware of the stats but also aware of what I see with my eyes and I disagree that the guy who leads our team in PP goals and finished 3rd in the NHL in half a season, is the big issues with it.

5 on 5 Laine has been useless and a liability. Effort level and give a shit factor is atrocious.

There’s also has to be a reason he’s been booted out of every team he’s played for.

Where there’s smoke there’s fire !

miss me with the effort level nonsense, more low hanging fruit arguments.

Lack of effort is the easiest thing to blame players on because it can’t actually be substantiated.

There wasn’t a single Habs player who lacked effort last night.

Also Laine wasn’t booted out of every team he’s played for, he was traded.

Why are people so thirsty to blame someone for losing last night?

How the hell can anyone be mad at last night (OT loss notwithstanding)?

 

[Mats NAslund]

I like what Xhekaj adds, but at this point Struble's the safer choice. 'Safer' isn't always the best choice, but based on last night I wouldn't change the lineup for game 2. That could change if the Habs lose their grip on the series.

Play 11 Forwards add Xhekaj as a 7D with he odd shift up front to maybe change the momentum (physicality).
Swap Demidov and Slaf
Insert Heineman on that right side replacing Laine entirely

 

[417]

Sure but my argument was for the original poster saying we need Laine in the lineup because he's made this PP a real weapon when this isn't the case. Early on that's true but teams know what's coming from him for a while now!

I said nothing of the sorts.

What I said was that I don’t agree with singling out the guy who has the most PP goals on the team as being THE problem.

You’re upset about the loss and finding a scapegoat, that’s all this is.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

that NewHole Laine and Demi line need to go asap

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Anderson - Dvorak - Gallagher
Heinemen - Evans - Demidov
Laine - Newhook - Armia

Let Demidov drive that 3rd line

 

[Mats NAslund]

I’m well aware of the stats but also aware of what I see with my eyes and I disagree that the guy who leads our team in PO goals and finished 3rd in the NHL in half a season, is the big issues with it.

miss me with the effort level nonsense, more low hanging fruit arguments.

Lack of effort is the easiest thing to blame players on because it can’t actually be substantiated.

There wasn’t a single Habs player who lacked effort last night.

Also Laine wasn’t booted out of every team he’s played for, he was traded.

Why are people so thirsty to blame someone for losing last night?

How the hell can anyone be mad at last night (OT loss notwithstanding)?

No one said I was mad and no one said Laine is the issue on the PP
He's an issue 5 on 5 and lacks combativity and hustle and is replaceable on the PP by guys like Caufield and Demidov. Heineman offers much more 5 on 5 than Laine does.

You can go an entire game without a PP then what, you just watch Laine lose puck battles all night cause he's uninterested in giving a shit or effort?

 

[Tyson]

I'm not sure why rink size gets continually brought up even by people who should know better.
The dimensions of SKA's ice surface is standard NHL. Demidov played at least half his games on what is commonly called NA ice. This was brought up in his first KHL game and many more times since.

Stop stating facts, it affects the narrative.
Actually KHL rinks have been NA size for over 3 years and every highlight i saw of Demidov clearly showed he played on NHL sized rinks.

 

[Hannibal]

I'd be fine with Xhekaj in the lineup. More than fine, to be honest.

But putting him in means playing a higher-risk game. Based on how well the Habs adapted, I don't see the need to change the defensive pairings. Not yet.

If you dont do it now, marty will never do it. Better trade the guy and than instant regret it. Pathetic softness mentality.

 

[Tuggy]

I don't see MSL making any changes unless they lose Game 2.

I'd be pleasantly surprised if he did though.

 

[Hannibal]

We suck at protecting the front of the net.

Guess where X is pretty good at? Protecting the front of the net and clearing it.

Thats it marty, continue to put your head in your ass

 

[Mats NAslund]

that NewHole Laine and Demi line need to go asap

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield
Anderson - Dvorak - Gallagher
Heinemen - Evans - Demidov
Laine - Newhook - Armia

Let Demidov drive that 3rd line

I'm also good with this but Laine's 5 on 5 needs to be limited he offers nothing at this point and hasn't for a long long time now

 

[Tyson]

I don't see MSL making any changes unless they lose Game 2.

I'd be pleasantly surprised if he did though.

Well now that Xhekaj is not in game shape I would expect his to struggle. Setting him up to fail is not a good thing.

 

[StCaufield]

Anyone have the replay on the cross check on Laine?

 

[Andy]

I don't get why people need scapegoats, especially after a game like yesterday.

There wasn't really anything wrong with any of the lines. They all played very well. And I am not sure what the obsession is with breaking up the first line when it has been one of the top lines in the league and is consistently the team's best.

So much obsession with the second line and they had a good game. Also, the obsession with Xhekaj is nuts as well.

Habs went toe-to-toe with the best team in the east yesterday and could have easily won.

 

[417]

No one said I was mad and no one said Laine is the issue on the PP
He's an issue 5 on 5 and lacks combativity and hustle and is replaceable on the PP by guys like Caufield and Demidov. Heineman offers much more 5 on 5 than Laine does.

You can go an entire game without a PP then what, you just watch Laine lose puck battles all night cause he's uninterested in giving a shit or effort?

Again, the idea that the guy who leads our team in PP goals, is one of the NHLs best players in PP goals this year and historically over his career, is easily replaceable is with all due respect, ludicrous.

Even more so when you’re alternative is replacing him with Emil Heineman who hasn’t scored a goal since January 3rd.

Again, I just think you’re finding the easiest target.

He’s far from a perfect player, but they need to find a way to get him going, not remove him from the equation.

 

[Theodore450]

The day will come where i wont ever have to watch you play hockey for my team Matheson.
This playoffs is your coming out party, Hughes will need to be convinced to boot you.

 

[Mats NAslund]

Stop stating facts, it affects the narrative.
Actually KHL rinks have been NA size for over 3 years and every highlight i saw of Demidov clearly showed he played on NHL sized rinks.

I have an IPTV service and was able to watch many of those KHL games and Demidov needs someone to get him the puck. I hate watching Matheson look off a wide open Demidov on the right side for the one timer. He did the same thing to Slaf last year!

 

[larek]

Considering overall this team is way less aggressive and physical and smaller than caps
Thot game was pretty good

THe D is just overall too small
Need to add toughness sizel
Need protectors for little forwards

 

[That Habs Fan]

I was watching a podcast last night they were saying it's fine to have small players **if they are really your best most skilled players**. It's fine to have Hutson and Caufield... but you can't have too many small guys. And once you have Hutson and Caufield, is there really room for small average 5'11 players? And it's not just height you know, Suzuki is also 5'11 but he's built like a tank, I don't consider him small. Newhook though? He is small and plays small and IMO, there is no room for players like that in a bottom 6 on a contender. Especially given that we also have Gallagher. I just think Newhook needs to go. I don't want him on the wing, at center or anywhere in our bottom 6. Just my opinion.

I can't explain it but Newhook reminds me of the 7Up mascot Fido Dido. I'm truly aging myself with that reference.

 

[417]

I don't get why people need scapegoats, especially after a game like yesterday.

There wasn't really anything wrong with any of the lines. They all played very well. And I am not sure what the obsession is with breaking up the first line when it has been one of the top lines in the league and is consistently the team's best.

So much obsession with the second line and they had a good game. Also, the obsession with Xhekaj is nuts as well.

Habs went toe-to-toe with the best team in the east yesterday and could have easily won.

Through no fault of his own, he’s become the most overrated player by this fanbase, on this team, BY FAR.

I’ve never seen a guy who plays a bottom pair role 12-15 mins a game, appear to be so transformative by the fanbase.

 

[Whitesnake]

I’m well aware of the stats but also aware of what I see with my eyes and I disagree that the guy who leads our team in PP goals and finished 3rd in the NHL in half a season, is the big issues with it.

miss me with the effort level nonsense, more low hanging fruit arguments.

Lack of effort is the easiest thing to blame players on because it can’t actually be substantiated.

There wasn’t a single Habs player who lacked effort last night.

Also Laine wasn’t booted out of every team he’s played for, he was traded.

Why are people so thirsty to blame someone for losing last night?

How the hell can anyone be mad at last night (OT loss notwithstanding)?

I would have the tendancy to agree with you on this. Though, it does happen from time to time that a coach will blame his players for lack of efforts, it's really tough to envision a player in the playoffs lacking effort....but they could lack courage. They could lack intensity 'cause it's not in them. They could lack hockey IQ. They could clearly lack speed. Anticipation and all that. Way more than effort...for sure.

And yes, losing in OT last night if we take us back to end of 1st period....that's a scenario we would all take for sure. Thing is...when you are at 1 shot of actually winning a game, there will be frustration. Way more than being blown out 7-1 by a supposed much better team.