GDT: Game 2: Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals 4/23/25- 7:00pm EST CBC, SN, TVAS

[Yoor]

The guy that cross checked Gally in the face...do you believe in Karma?

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maybe if they actually wore the mouthguards instead of just chewing on them...but what do i know.

 

[Yoor]

Surely someone from outside the first line will score goals tonight

release the donkey!

 

[McGees]

release the donkey!

 

[The Real Timo]

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Ain't AI great?

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

4 on 5 isn't PK though, since it doesn't include other game states where a team is playing with fewer skaters than an opponent (without a goalie pulled).

Right, but this is showing that Savard is higher in those categories. Meaning he has both a higher xGA/60 AND a higher GA/60 than Xhekaj does. Lower is better for these.

By comparing between the two on the PK, we can see that Xhekaj's xGA/60 based on NST's numbers is 9.05, whereas Savard's is 9.96.

Of course, PK includes 5 on 3, so if we only look at 4 on 5, then Savard is at 9.22 vs Xhekaj at 9.05 (doesn't look like he played 3 on 5 at all).

 

[Andy]

Are people really so biased towards Arber that they are now downplaying Struble's grit? I mean, cmon people. Enough.

 

[Redux91]

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Jesus

 

[lamp9post]

You can't fix Demidov's line without interfering with the other lines. This can only be addressed effectively in the summer at this point. Also, Demidov is likely not ready for this, regardless of who he is playing with, and this is completely normal. He is a kid with no experinece in North America, who just landed less than two weeks ago. Expectations are just unrealistic. This is not comparable to Caufield or Subban arriving in the playoffs.

I agree. My point is that I'm open to exploring those options. We can't change the personnel at this point, but we're also not forced to continue repeating a failed experiment. Even if we keep the other lines intact, why not try to double shift a few players to give that line a jolt? Start the line with Dvorak/Evans every now and again to win a faceoff. Sneak Suzuki there on occasions. Maybe even try Heineman to bring some energy and physical edge. There are things we can try that won't disrupt the team entirely. Based on what I saw on Monday, not trying anything is worse than trying something that might not work out.

To be clear, I trust Marty and this is just my opinion. I don't mean it to come across as overly critical.

 

[Yoor]

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yeah that's awesome!!!

 

[Redux91]

I won't lie the Xhekaj love and hate thing is just getting old now, we simply just have too many LD's is all
It's cool, they'll figure it out in the summer

But I'd LOOOOVE to go back and just focus on trashing that DOLT Matheson's play tho lol

 

[roy munson]

I wouldn't be surprised if they stick with the same lines.

Had the caps not crapped their pants in the final 10 mins, I think you would have seen changes.

Personally, I think i would keep the same lineup and swap demidov with armia.

I agree with the bolded part, just a better line for Demidov would be a plus.

 

[FLHabs]

You think the Capitals would be "caught off guard" if the Canadiens changed their #6 defenseman at the list minute?

I don't think it would make any difference at all to their game plan.

I've never said the Caps would change their gameplan because of Xhekaj. If the team is expecting one lineup and turns out a big bruiser hops in last minute, then it would effectively catch them off guard.

Calling the insertion of Xhekaj in the line up as just "changing a #6 dman" tells me you don't value what Xhekaj brings to the line up and that's cool, to each his own.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I mean Xhekaj is whatever, I don’t care since he’s a goon.

But he’s had 53 games of watching Laine with Newhook and it hasn’t worked. Why does he think the 54th game will bring a different outcome?

Its not that he thinks that Laine - Newhook connection will start working, its that he doesn't want to touch the other 3 lines that are working.

The Suzuki line is elite.

The Evans line was the best 4th line in the league before Heineman's injury, and they've started to look good again.

The Dvorak line was a big reason why they managed to win so many games the last couple of months.

He would rather keep 3 good lines and 1 bad line (that gets sheltered and play limited minutes) than breaking up the good lines just to make the bad line less bad.

You might not agree with it, but I don't see how his approach is wrong. It's just a different way of seeing things.

 

[Ezpz]

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You forgot to put RBC ads in all the corners. That's how I know it's AI.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...Xhekaj should be in the lineup and Savard shouldn't be...

 

[ahmedou]

The guy that cross checked Gally in the face...do you believe in Karma?

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Gallagher (1-1) Alexeyev

 

[Captain97]

I won't lie the Xhekaj love and hate thing is just getting old now, we simply just have too many LD's is all
It's cool, they'll figure it out in the summer

But I'd LOOOOVE to go back and just focus on trashing that DOLT Matheson's play tho lol
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Honestly I kind of feel bad for Matheson. I think he's a decent 2nd pairing dman who is playing too much.

It reminds me of young Petry, if he played too many minutes the brain farts were exponential as his time increased. But keep him around 20 minutes and he was fine.

 

[teamfirst]

A big at all the whiners in here crying cuz some fans has the nerve of not agreeing 100% with our coach, grow up boys.

GOOOOGOOOO



So sensible this world is becoming

 

[TomKosto]

A big at all the whiners in here crying cuz some fans has the nerve of not agreeing 100% with our coach, grow up boys.

GOOOOGOOOO



So sensible this world is becoming

Are you a new Habs fan? Always been this way, well for the 30 years ive been following them.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Honestly I kind of feel bad for Matheson. I think he's a decent 2nd pairing dman who is playing too much.

It reminds me of young Petry, if he played too many minutes the brain farts were exponential as his time increased. But keep him around 20 minutes and he was fine.

Yeah he did okay in Pittsburgh in a 2nd pairing role, but he just has too many horrendous decisions at this point to keep past this season.

He's basically what people think Evan Bouchard is

 

[FerrisRox]

I've never said the Caps would change their gameplan because of Xhekaj. If the team is expecting one lineup and turns out a big bruiser hops in last minute, then it would effectively catch them off guard.

Calling the insertion of Xhekaj in the line up as just "changing a #6 dman" tells me you don't value what Xhekaj brings to the line up and that's cool, to each his own.

The only D I could possibly see being replaced by Xhekaj is Jayden Struble.

Struble is a big, physical bottom pairing blue liner and so is Arber. Taking one out to replace him with the other doesn't "change" what is being brought to the lineup so I fail to see why this would be of any consequence to the Capitals and constitute "catching them off guard."

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

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Give him a Caps jersey so he doesn't get a penalty

 

[Seven7]

French media defending Matheson again. It's baffling.

 

[FLHabs]

The only D I could possibly see being replaced by Xhekaj is Jayden Struble.

Struble is a big, physical bottom pairing blue liner and so is Arber. Taking one out to replace him with the other doesn't "change" what is being brought to the lineup so I fail to see why this would be of any consequence to the Capitals and constitute "catching them off guard."

Just to make sure I understand, are you saying that Struble's PHYSICAL game is on the same level as Xhekaj? If so, then I don't think we need to continue a pointless back and forth. Have a good time watching the game buddy

 

[FerrisRox]

Are people really so biased towards Arber that they are now downplaying Struble's grit? I mean, cmon people. Enough.

Yes, they are.