Pre-Game Talk: Game 82: Canadiens v. Canes, 4/16/25 @ 7PM

[The Real Timo]

I honestly think that tonight is the kind of game where Gallagher, Anderson and Dvoraks of the world have to take the bull by the horns and drag the team through it. You know all attention is going to be on the first line and demidov. Hopefully the 3 amigos still got it in them.

 

[Justin11]

I fully expect Matheson to try to hero ball all night and skate himself into trouble

It's every game without fail.

 

[That Habs Fan]

I honestly think that tonight is the kind of game where Gallagher, Anderson and Dvoraks of the world have to take the bull by the horns and drag the team through it. You know all attention is going to be on the first line and demidov. Hopefully the 3 amigos still got it in them.

Gally has been great this year and I would love if he scored one tonight, would be a nice addition to his story this year.

 

[David Suzuki]

Carolina eliminated us and CBJ took the final spot.

that cheap bugger bettman is reusing scripts

 

[schwang26]

Get ready boys, Laine+Demidov=Magic

I hope you meant Lane. Cuz if it’s Laine, the only magic will be one making the other disappear.

 

[SpeedyPotato]

Not true regarding Suzuki.
Led the team in points in those playoffs and had the same TOI as Danault.

Also, I recall Staal, Gallagher and Richardson talking about his leadership qualities back then.

You can produce without being expected as the main leader, that’s what I meant. He was 21 playing on a team with the likes of Weber and Price, things have changed now as it’s the first time he’s actually expected to lead this team as he’s not only the best player on the team but also now one of the vets that are expected to carry it. Points and time on ice have nothing to do with it. Demidov might lead the team in points throughout the playoffs if we make them, he’s still not expected to be a leader and carry the team.

 

[TRG]

Agreed and the other thing is player TOI management, not a single Forward on Columbus typically plays more than 20 minutes keeping them fresh and engaged where Montreal is consistently playing Suzuki 25 plus.

At the back end Columbus is playing their top 2 D 25 plus and then their 3 and 4 around 20. Using that logic MSL is telling everyone that Matheson at 25 plus a night is our number 1, Hutson Ghule and Carrier in that 2 3 4 hole at roughly 20 minutes per game.

Anyone here see something wrong with Matheson avg'ing 25 minutes a game, that's more than any other D by 5 minutes on AVG per night?

On one hand, I think the fanbase has been quite harsh with Matheson. He does a lot of good, overshadowed by some of the brain farts. But to me, he's still a net positive, even defensively.

On the other hand, coaches put themselves in that position, where they can't rely on the third pair because they keep Savard in for PK duties and it's now too late to have a Struble/Xhekaj become competent PK'ers. That would've help keep Matheson's TOI down.

Right now, they have to use Matheson as a PK'er, as 2nd wave PP, shutdown role. And fortunately he has the physical ability to do it. Unfortunately, because of how much he's prone to those brain farts, more TOI simply equals more costly mistakes.

 

[sampollock]

wut...are you having a stroke?

Nope but MSL is sweating

 

[FLHabs]

This team is resilient, they got this! Suzuki, Demidov, and Hutson will lead the way!

 

[JianYang]

Carolina eliminated us and CBJ took the final spot.

Wasn't it a road game in Washington that did the Habs in?

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I don't buy that. These are a bunch of guys ranging from 19-35 years old, in the collective prime of life and not one of them plays over 25-30 minutes a game, and have every possible amenity at their disposal for recovery. They are no more gassed than a team that is now sitting with 100 points.

Our travel schedule is relatively light compared to that of many other playoff teams, and we have the comfort of playing the majority of our games in the same time zone. There is no excuse for not playing hard tonight; I just don't buy it.

This tells me you don't understand the degrees of separation here. In professional sports, every inch matters. We have been playing with playoff desperation for nearly 2 months. Of course they are exhausted, teams with 100 points don't need to put in the same effort because they don't have the talent deficit that we have.

These are humans, not robots. Being 19-35 doesn't mean your body doesn't wear down over time. It's absurd to believe that.

21 Comeback wins and 10 3rd period come back wins and you think the problem is lack of motivation?

 

[Mats NAslund]

Clearly and not in particular order:
Slafkovsky
Newhook (so many chances missed)
Laine
Armia
Evans
Savard
Matheson
Carrier
Montambeault

P.S. Magic has its limitations...

I can work a little for sure
Bye Bye Savard enter Xhekaj
Limit Matheson to 15 to 18 minutes a night and spread the rest through the lineup. No reason for any D-man to see under12 minutes.
Slafkovsky is inconsistent and should be on a short leash you have a new weapon you can move up the lineup and insert on PP1 (Demidov)
Laine - Same issue as Slafkovsky but even worse as far as actual give a shit factor so he's on an even shorter leash for me
Montambeault's only issue is his inconsistency
Armia and Evans get them engaged again, MSL hasn't given them enough TOI outside of the PK and adjust as the game progresses.

This doesn't solve all the world's issues but ti does solve a few key factors

1. Removing Savard and inserting Xhekaj provides a more mobile defenseman who has the ability to deliver big hits, clear the front of the net and make opponents fear playing a certain style. MSL should have allowed this kid to develop and make mistakes (like Savard and Matheson have) and not be punished for it. Allow him to grow as a player and play without the fear of being benched by MSL. No other D has this issue with MSL.

2. Playing the guys that are performing on that night despite age or experience and limit the ice time of those that cant handle it mentally, ie Matheson is making stupid decisions with the puck and in his positioning (pivoting inside when he should pivot outside as an example) because he's physically and mentally exhausted. Those are mental mistakes you make when you're tired.

In game adjustments (MSL will rarely see almost never remove Laine from PP1 as an example)


“insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.” this is what MSL is doing by sticking to vets at all costs!

 

[Conflicted Habs fan]

Taking this narrative to its logical conclusion, the Habs WILL lose tonight and their fate will depend on the outcome between BJ and NYI which will be determined in OT.

 

[Wats]

Taking this narrative to its logical conclusion, the Habs WILL lose tonight and their fate will depend on the outcome between BJ and NYI which will be determined in OT.

Jackets need a regulation win

 

[the]

Wasn't it a road game in Washington that did the Habs in?

All I remember is that I called for a Price shutout with 10 mins left and Carolina cameback to win in OT and nobody wanted to talk to me after because I cost the season.

 

[Saundies]

I fully expect Matheson to try to hero ball all night and skate himself into trouble

I mean whether it's game 82 with the season on the line or game 37 in December in like Utah he would be doing that though.

Safe bet.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Taking this narrative to its logical conclusion, the Habs WILL lose tonight and their fate will depend on the outcome between BJ and NYI which will be determined in OT.

If Columbus gets to OT, they are eliminated.

 

[That Habs Fan]

Taking this narrative to its logical conclusion, the Habs WILL lose tonight and their fate will depend on the outcome between BJ and NYI which will be determined in OT.

If I understand all the math right, even if we lose tonight and Columbus wins in OT we are through. Columbus has to win in regulation tomorrow.

Would be ridiculous and shameful to not win it ourselves tonight.

 

[Ozmodiar]

KK is their 1C. f*** me... we've been had so bad!

FIRE BERGEVIN!!!!

KK climbed the mountain!!

(More like … left standing after the avalanche, but whatever)

 

[ahmedou]

Memo:

 

[Ozmodiar]

You can produce without being expected as the main leader, that’s what I meant. He was 21 playing on a team with the likes of Weber and Price, things have changed now as it’s the first time he’s actually expected to lead this team as he’s not only the best player on the team but also now one of the vets that are expected to carry it. Points and time on ice have nothing to do with it. Demidov might lead the team in points throughout the playoffs if we make them, he’s still not expected to be a leader and carry the team.

“Complementary at best” pieces don’t lead their team in points and ice time. … and display leadership that’s noticed by vets.

If you want to move goalposts to “main leader”, then fine. It was Weber and Price.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

This tells me you don't understand the degrees of separation here. In professional sports, every inch matters. We have been playing with playoff desperation for nearly 2 months. Of course they are exhausted, teams with 100 ponits don't need to put in the same effort because they don't have the talent deficit that we have.

These are humans, not robots. Being 19-35 doesn't mean your body doesn't wear down over time. It's absurd to believe that.

21 Comeback wins and 10 3rd period come back wins and you think the problem is lack of motivation?

Yup they aren't gutless they are just shot , gonna need to squeeze the last once of juice left tonight

 

[morhilane]

I fully expect Matheson to try to hero ball all night and skate himself into trouble

You forgot and play 30 minutes.

 

[le_sean]

This tells me you don't understand the degrees of separation here. In professional sports, every inch matters. We have been playing with playoff desperation for nearly 2 months. Of course they are exhausted, teams with 100 ponits don't need to put in the same effort because they don't have the talent deficit that we have.

These are humans, not robots. Being 19-35 doesn't mean your body doesn't wear down over time. It's absurd to believe that.

21 Comeback wins and 10 3rd period come back wins and you think the problem is lack of motivation?

So what’s the plan then, limp dick your way into the playoffs and get swept, losing every game by 3+ goals? If they are exhausted now, imagine in a playoff series.

But if you tell me they won’t get absolutely smashed then that means they have something left in the reserves. So why aren’t we getting it this past week?

 

[PavelBrendl]

I get the feeling that Suzuki puts the team on his back and comes up big tonight. He's proven a few times already that he's got the clutch gene and this is going to be a huge opportunity for the captain to show what he's got.