GDT: Game 80: Habs vs Leafs, April 12th, 7 PM | CBC, SN, TVAS

[Runner77]

Gonna be Demidov and Hutson on the ice every morning all alone

Other players on the team, should be following that example. Hutson working hard and constantly challenging himself — he’s earning his ice time and is not taking it for granted. You love to see it.

 

[Habs]

I think you need to chill and look at the whole roster and that MSL is about to get that team to the playoffs

I want Arber too btw

We still haven't clinched and there is no excuse for keeping that lineup together that got destroyed last night.

 

[The Real Timo]

He also doesn't know the system. But being such a sharp kid, he could probably assimilate enough theory before the game.

In fairness nobody knows the system. There are concepts though.

 

[Canadienna]

They said Demidov was practicing with the extras for tonight's game.

Heineman and Xhekaj were on the ice with him.

That's just crazy to me. What are we doing here??

 

[Paddy17]

Lol, great. We have jet lag experts now.

Some fans in here acting like spoiled kids. They have the new toy and they want to play with it now. The new toy needs to charge up first!

If you've traveled all over the world a lot, you know about jet lag. It can be problem for some people, but if you know how to handle it, it really isn't.

First, many many athletes have performed at a high level with little sleep and less than optimal conditions. Second, I'm sure any fatigue his body experiences from jet lag is less than the fatigue the whole team is feeling on a back-to-back and over the last grueling schedule where they gave everything to be in this position. Even with jet lag, he's fresher than his teammates.

It really shouldn't be an excuse for not playing, because he's been here since thursday. Some guys have less time to acclimatize during World Junior tournaments.

If you tell me that he's not playing because they want him to practice and get acclimatized to the team and the system, then that's another story. I'm fine with that (even though we know there aren't going to be any practices).

 

[Habs]

In fairness nobody knows the system. There are concepts though.

They have the 'drop pass' down to perfection

 

[EveryDay]

We still haven't clinched and there is no excuse for keeping that lineup together that got destroyed last night.

At least Pezzetta out and Hal Gill....

 

[Tyson]

That's just crazy to me. What are we doing here??

It would not hurt to add a couple of fresh, hungry players.

 

[EveryDay]

That's just crazy to me. What are we doing here??

Playing soft October hockey?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

It would not hurt to add a couple of fresh, hungry players.

They have to learn rispeck first

 

[Tyson]

They have to learn rispeck first

At least we don't have to watch Ryan Reaves beat up Pez.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Sit Matheson/Savard insert Xhekaj.

Sit Pezzetta and insert Heineman and show him off as he's notna player you bring back. You trade him + for an upgrade

Obviously start Dobes.

Have Demidov play Monday. If you can clinch tonight, Sit a vet to get some rest. If not, maybe kick Heineman back out.

Or Armia.

 

[DemidovSZN]

 

[Ezpz]

Jet lag is a silly excuse for the weak. It's not a problem if you know how to handle it. Jesus, you people must be jet lagged for 5 days when you travel to Europe or Asia?

Well I fly through 16 actual time zones and 13 drawn up ones to get to my wife's hometown in China. Since Beijing standard time is countrywide despite China being in 5 time zones and her hometown is the second most west, and there's approximately zero flights ever that fly over the Atlantic then Africa or the Middle east to get to China. I definitely don't recover fast enough to be playing high level sports essentially one day later. But that's more than double the difference of any part of Europe to EST. Asia is very f***ing far if you didn't know.

Mainland Europe is only five-six timezones different. Not really an adjustment except bed times. Obviously if you sleep at 10pm or something and you move back 7 hours like Demidov, 7 PM start in the new zone is 2AM, 5 AM for start of the third. He'll probably need a melatonin day or two.

I've only done the flight a dozen times so I am not an expert or anything compared to the mighty HFBoards men.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Sit Matheson/Savard insert Xhekaj.

Sit Pezzetta and insert Heineman and show him off as he's notna player you bring back. You trade him + for an upgrade

Obviously start Dobes.

Have Demidov play Monday. If you can clinch tonight, Sit a vet to get some rest. If not, maybe kick Heineman back out.

Or Armia.

Why wouldn't Heineman be a guy you bring back? He was excellent before his injury, let's see how he does next year when he's had a summer to heal. We need bottom 6 guys like him

 

[Team_Spirit]

Savard again huh. The coaches seems unaware the winning streak was on the back of the goalies.

Gonna need another 37 saves performance by Dobes.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Why wouldn't Heineman be a guy you bring back? He was excellent before his injury, let's see how he does next year when he's had a summer to heal. We need bottom 6 guys like him

Too sporadic in what he would bring and be on.

He's been horrendous since that injury.

If he comes back it's not a bad move, but he's not someone that looks to have a spot long-term.

 

[habdynasty]

Savard again huh. The coaches seems unaware the winning streak was on the back of the goalies.

Gonna need another 37 saves performance by Dobes.

View attachment 1012167

 

[Runner77]

I share your view on Demidov, it will take time till he adjusts to the NHL game. No one can convince me that the KHL has anything near the rough stuff and speed of the NHL. I would put it somewhere between the AHL and NHL, and we have all seen the adjustments AHL players go through.

With all that said, he could hit the ground running and produce right away, which would be great, but it's better to shelter him as much as possible and see how it goes.

I don't think I would play him with Laine and Newhook, but Evans might be the safest starting point.

Also, thanks to Rottenberg, Demidov comes with limited wear and tear and as fresh as a daisy to tackle the rigors of NHL games. Who knew there’d be so many benefits from benchings and limited ice time.

 

[JianYang]

It's a big game for Toronto as they are trying to lock down the division, so I suspect they won't be resting anyone.

Habs are on a back to back but a much more palatable one compared to the last b2b which took them from Quebec to Tennessee.

When you have been playing playoff hockey as long as the habs have had, it is critical to get as much rest as you can, and it's difficult to do that when haven't officially clinched. One way or another, I'm hoping the habs clinch before the Chicago game so that they can get a week off and shut down some players for the rest of the regular season, including montembeault, armia, savard, gallagher and Anderson. I think Evans could use at least the the final game off as well.

I don't know if they have enough bodies to do that or if it's practically possible but the Habs definitely need a recharge as the focus shifts from clinching to replenishing.

 

[Canadienna]

I think you need to chill and look at the whole roster and that MSL is about to get that team to the playoffs
If
I want Arber too btw

Is he?

Forget the moneypuck percentages. Can CBJ win their remaining games? 4 games - Caps, Caps, Flyers, Isles

Is it really that unlikely that CBJ wins those games? They've been a cinderella team all year riding on pure emotion.

Now look at the Habs - We have played some of our worst hockey all year in the last week. 3 games left - Leafs, Hawks, Canes. Leafs/Canes are expected losses.

I won't lie I am nervous about these last few games and I think a choke out of the playoffs at this point will have genuine long term consequences for the growth and bottle of the group.

Oof - Okay I got that negativity out.

 

[Kennerback]

Also, thanks to Rottenberg, Demidov comes with limited wear and tear and as fresh as a daisy to tackle the rigors of NHL games. Who knew there’d be so many benefits from benchings and limited ice time.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Rottenberg didn't play him much. Sat him during stretches of time. Absolutely zero wear and tear. Knowing he's here now, it's absolutely like Rottenberg made a huge favor to the Habs. Gave him a good taste of the KHL while keeping Demidov completely healthy and fresh.

 

[StCaufield]

How long did it take for Kapanen to play? Demidov was in the playoffs last week, he doesn't need to practice. He's ready to go.

Kapanen is familiar

 

[JianYang]

Sit Matheson/Savard insert Xhekaj.

Sit Pezzetta and insert Heineman and show him off as he's notna player you bring back. You trade him + for an upgrade

Obviously start Dobes.

Have Demidov play Monday. If you can clinch tonight, Sit a vet to get some rest. If not, maybe kick Heineman back out.

Or Armia.

I don't think dobes was obvious choice in this case. I avoid back to back starts for goalies in general, but Ihis is not a general circumstance. I keep referring back to luongo saying it took a week to recover from a b2b. The club may have thought about giving themselves the best chance to win with their best lineup tonight, then Monty gets a week off before playoffs regardless.

Ideally, you want to bring in demidov in a condition where that playoff cloud is no longer above you head by winning tonight. There will be enough circus atmosphere to deal with anyways, so i can see the appeal of putting your eggs in one basket and going for the win tonight.

 

[Ezpz]

Asian women are hot, i'd also travel through many timezones to get Asian poon

They're just not fat. You can look in any direction and see what would be a 7-8/10 in North America. Nearly everyone looks good when they're in shape and well groomed. Brad Marchand notable exception.