Post-Game Talk: Dobby's first loss. Montreal loses to Devils, falls in PO race.

[RabbleMasterBlaster]

Matheson is the most frustrating player I've ever watched.

Laine, so many bad plays as well in OT. Weak shots giving up possession. If he isn't scoring, he's kinda brutal honestly.

Ya I gotta say... He seems kind of lazy on a lot of plays. He made several weak passes that turned over. And he's been doing that for a while. Dude's a big body but a bit of a liability.

Matheson... What can one say that hasn't already been said... It's been a couple games the Habs give up over 40 shots. Getting worried out there. Team doesn't have the same fire.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

They are not really a contender at the moment. Palat and Tatar are done. They are doing nothing. meier is mediocre. Cotter and Noesen are 3rd liners playing well over their head. They have bratt and Mercer who they won't use. They need wingers at the deadline to contend. Goaltending is average. Not sure the d is good enough defensively.

For a non-contender, they overwhelmed us like few teams have. The score and point in overtime were deceiving. But for Dobes, we lose this game by 4 to 5 goals.

 

[sampollock]

So I came home from playing hockey
Cracked a beer watch the highlights with a friend

What do I notice math coughs the puck up three on three and we lose the game

At what point does this guy get moved he causes so many turnovers

 

[Habssince89]

I love the way this team fights back. They just need to handle a full 60.

OT sucked but clawing back at point despite being outplayed is what good teams do.

 

[HuGort]

Not going to win many giving up 40+ shots. Habs need to tighten up defense, giving up too shots. Tough night for Laine and Matheson. Both bad defensively.

I hope we go with Dobes as #1 goalie rest of way. He has a certain charisma about him. Montembeault is solid NHL goalie but I prefer Dobes. Gives team better chance to win.

Suzuki with 3 points. Our first line is back. Our 2nd line however?? We need an offensive center who can win faceoffs. Dvorak only one who can win a faceoff, he won all three draws in overtime. Something which needs to be addressed in offseason. Puck possession in overtime is crucial. Important all the game but increases in OT.

 

[Bcap88]

 

[Natey]

The NHL app has a good angle of the play. Go watch the replay. What would you do? Try to shoot it? The only logical play was a pass and Matheson wasn’t ready.

Matheson WAS ready for a pass. But in his head, he decided it was better to leave no one back on defense and just go forward. Laine read it logically - 'pass here, because Matheson isn't going to go too deep because we'd have no one back."

Laine expected Matheson to slow up instead of continuing towards the net. One timer? Maybe. Or maybe Laine thought he'd get a quick pass back for his own one-timer. Who knows.

The biggest issue I have with the whole thing is Matheson needs better awareness. No Hab was behind him, so any mistake because he's drifting forward, is going to be end up an odd man rush the other way. And that's exactly what happened.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Not going to win many giving up 40+ shots. Habs need to tighten up defense, giving up too shots. Tough night for Laine and Matheson. Both bad defensively.

I hope we go with Dobes as #1 goalie rest of way. He has a certain charisma about him. Montembeault is solid NHL goalie but I prefer Dobes. Gives team better chance to win.

Suzuki with 3 points. Our first line is back. Our 2nd line however?? We need an offensive center who can win faceoffs. Dvorak only one who can win a faceoff, he won all three draws in overtime. Something which needs to be addressed in offseason. Puck possession in overtime is crucial. Important all the game but increases in OT.

I thought we were the better team overall in overtime. But for a few sequences, I thought we were chasing the play in regulation time. The Devils were a step faster and that difference showed in the shot totals and scoring chances which were both decidedly slanted in the Devils’ favour.

 

[HHel]

Sometimes it feels like people don't even watch the games when you watch their commentary. Or they just focus on one player's failures. It doesn't matter if a player makes ten good decisions and one bad one, because that bad one is just remembered and that's it.

All lines had problems in their own end. The 1st line made the goals of their chances. But I think the 2nd line created good chances for most of the game, but couldn't finish them. Their biggest problem is that they don't win the faceoffs.

As for overtime, those situations just happen sometimes. Matherson misread the situation. Laine wouldn't have been able to pass safely where he was going because the defender was in front of him.

 

[tazsub3]

Imagine if team had another Carrier and not Matheson. Kenny need to get off his hands and provide some support to his core.

Patience , it will come. Important they keep learning and playing hard
This year rise is a bonus

 

[Gally11]

So I came home from playing hockey
Cracked a beer watch the highlights with a friend

What do I notice math coughs the puck up three on three and we lose the game

At what point does this guy get moved he causes so many turnovers

Matheson probably here until Reinbacher is ready which is fine

 

[yianik]

How was Dach ?

 

[morhilane]

I'm calling it: 7 games losing streak in-coming, already 2 on the counter.

 

[Rapala]

How was Dach ?

One of our best forwards in the first period certainly his was the only line creating chances.

 

[ReHabs]

I'm calling it: 7 games losing streak in-coming, already 2 on the counter.

7 is too much and too long and brings doubts about the core+coach into the picture. A modest 3-4 game slide is acceptable and keeps us in the mix until further notice.

 

[yianik]

One of our best forwards in the first period certainly his was the only line creating chances.

Dach may be our most important player right now. We desperately need a 2C for obvious reasons but also importantly with bringing out the best in Laine and Demidov. Laine wont stay and we wont attract anybody if we have a low end 2C. If Dach can be that guy then our only real possible hole is at D. And if we don't have to spend assets for a 2C, we have lots of assets to fill that hole with a high quality player if we want.

I'm really pulling for Dach.

 

[BLONG7]

So I came home from playing hockey
Cracked a beer watch the highlights with a friend

What do I notice math coughs the puck up three on three and we lose the game

At what point does this guy get moved he causes so many turnovers

Mr Matheson..........did not have his best game.
Too bad........
The boys got a hard earned point, but man they were overwhelmed 80% of the game, by the Devils.
Devils have won 9 in a row at the Bell Centre. Wow.

I'm calling it: 7 games losing streak in-coming, already 2 on the counter.

No way............

 

[BLONG7]

Sometimes it feels like people don't even watch the games when you watch their commentary. Or they just focus on one player's failures. It doesn't matter if a player makes ten good decisions and one bad one, because that bad one is just remembered and that's it.

All lines had problems in their own end. The 1st line made the goals of their chances. But I think the 2nd line created good chances for most of the game, but couldn't finish them. Their biggest problem is that they don't win the faceoffs.

As for overtime, those situations just happen sometimes. Matherson misread the situation. Laine wouldn't have been able to pass safely where he was going because the defender was in front of him.

Faceoffs....................................Huge Fu^&ing problem folks. The Devils had the puck all night, and mainly because of their winning of faceoffs.

I do think, even though this is mostly a homestand outside of the Wings game, but the schedule and the travel have hit them hard. After a Christmas break, they came out, and played lights out and were a top team for a full month......
Hate to say it, but the schedule pricks have us going back to the west coast for 3 more games next week.

 

[dinodebino]

I’m expecting (and would be satisfied with) .500 play the rest of the season. I had already said so when the winning sequence stopped. I still maintain it.
Come at me.
84 points is still my target this season.

 

[Heineman Mineman]

Yikes the first posts of this thread read like a leafs thread after a loss, where they just destroy their own players. Go easy on the "hate" word guys, it's okay to be going from an end to the other in 20 seconds in overtime. Matheson isn't prime Markov, but at 4.875 M$, he's worth every penny

 

[eklund the clown]

This new fangled thing of waiting till the 2nd period or later to start playing has got to stop for any chance of success.Can't have Laine in overtime .Besides the turnovers he is just way too slow

 

[Rapala]

Dach may be our most important player right now. We desperately need a 2C for obvious reasons but also importantly with bringing out the best in Laine and Demidov. Laine wont stay and we wont attract anybody if we have a low end 2C. If Dach can be that guy then our only real possible hole is at D. And if we don't have to spend assets for a 2C, we have lots of assets to fill that hole with a high quality player if we want.

I'm really pulling for Dach.

As we all should. With Evans cooling off and our PP stagnant our destiny is tied to our top six being good every night. There isn't much margin for error if one of those lines is off.

 

[Rapala]

I’m expecting (and would be satisfied with) .500 play the rest of the season. I had already said so when the winning sequence stopped. I still maintain it.
Come at me.
84 points is still my target this season.

True and well said you haven't deviated one iota from before the season started and it's a logical first step.
The hot sequence has balanced out the horrid start and we just don't have the horses to play the grinding hockey that will be needed after the TDL. >500 is a bonus and getting our goal differential flat will be a huge improvement.

 

[schwang26]

Laine shouldn't be in OT

Slow. Very slow

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

For a non-contender, they overwhelmed us like few teams have. The score and point in overtime were deceiving. But for Dobes, we lose this game by 4 to 5 goals.

That doesn't mean much. Habs are a one line team with the 2nd contributing a little at even strength and more on the PP. Bottom 2 lines are made up of stone hands and forwards with no hockey sense.