Post-Game Talk: Habs beat the Ducks in Anaheim

[The Gr8 Dane]

Newhook was awesome. Ylonen slept with Marty's wife or something to be punished for no reason.

with a face only a mother could love to boot!!

 

[Tyson]

Same thing I thought when I saw that save. Incredible !

It can no longer be denied, #35 is a damn good goalie

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

What Monty's agent sees

What Hughes sees if he decides to trade him:

What Holland is like:

 

[WinterLion]

Did Pezzetta get injured or benched at the end?? Or did I just miss him...

 

[nhlfan9191]

It can no longer be denied, #35 is a damn good goalie

He was awful when we got him. Coaches did a really good job fixing him. Hopefully we don’t fall into the trap of giving him a contract we’ll regret a few years from now.

 

[jrom]

He was awful when we got him. Coaches did a really good job fixing him. Hopefully we don’t fall into the trap of giving him a contract we’ll regret a few years from now.

We should trade him because he’s good enough to steal wins but not an irreplaceable core piece (and we need high draft picks while the D gains experience).

 

[Adam Michaels]

We were the worst defensive team in the league a couple years ago but we have gotten better, our GAs has gone from 3.87 -> 3.72 -> 3.53. So the trend is actually in the right direction, but no question it's still a big weakness for the team.

On the one hand it's kind of expected given that we have one of if not the youngest D groups in the league. So it's something that might fix itself over the next few years with more experience and some of our top prospects like Reinbacher making the team. But on the other hand I for sure have some questions/concerns about how MSL's coaching philosophy will translate to being a strong defensive team. Like right now it's great that he doesn't bench a young guy when they make a defensive mistake, but can that really last when winning games becomes important? Will he start telling guys to forget trying to make a play and instead play it safe and chip it off the glass to clear the zone?

I don't disagree with you. I keep in mind they're not just a young D corps, but also a young team all around, so even the team as a whole, their defensive game needs work.

But when I mean defensively, I don't mean not to make plays to exit the zone or carry the puck out or join the attack. I mean that when the other team enters the zone, they shut their offence down quickly. They're playing man-to-man coverage, and guys end up rinning around and missing assignments. So the other team can have sustained pressure in our zone because our guys are chasing them.

We've seen them play some solid defensive games this year (more than last year). I'm thinking of the first Vegas game. The Red Wings game. And even the first Bruins game in Montreal. Those performances were encouraging to me because it showed that the team has it in them to be efficient defensively.

But I can't deny that it's frustrating when they get overwhelmed and they start running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Their second periods are dreadful to watch because they get hemmed in and guys are out there for a minute, maybe 2, and it's not fun.

 

[Habs Icing]

Newhook was awesome. Ylonen slept with Marty's wife or something to be punished for no reason.

with a face only a mother could love to boot!!

And Marty's wife. You forgot about her.

 

[nhlfan9191]

We should trade him because he’s good enough to steal wins but not an irreplaceable core piece (and we need high draft picks while the D gains experience).

I get the same vibe from Montembault that I got from Cristobal Huet. I feel like he strives playing in a market like Montreal but I have question if it’ll carry over after he leaves.

 

[CHwest]

Guhles a number one.

Mohook is good enough to be a 2nd line winger on a good team.

Monahan scores again.

He seems to have very good instincts.

 

[CHwest]

Looking a Carlson (Fantilli and Bedard)…getting out tank and missing that top 3 really hurt the rebuild…

One word. Pezzetta.

 

[Don D]

He was awful when we got him. Coaches did a really good job fixing him. Hopefully we don’t fall into the trap of giving him a contract we’ll regret a few years from now.

Jack Campbell anyone? Montembault is good, but a first string goalie? Allen has been a game saviour at times too! Still somewhat inconsistent. A dpedable quality second string keeper. If Montie can sign a 2-3 year affordable contract, that might fit the upcoming Habs payroll.
Current young players will want increases in the next few years. Better not tie up the payroll.

 

[Tyson]

Did Pezzetta get injured or benched at the end?? Or did I just miss him...

It could be both as MSL did go primarily with 3 lines in the 3rd

 

[nhlfan9191]

Jack Campbell anyone? Montembault is good, but a first string goalie? Allen has been a game saviour at times too! Still somewhat inconsistent. A dpedable quality second string keeper. If Montie can sign a 2-3 year affordable contract, that might fit the upcoming Habs payroll.
Current young players will want increases in the next few years. Better not tie up the payroll.

If we can get him on the Stuart Skinner $2.6-$3 million contract, I’d gladly resign him. For that money, even if we upgrade we have a very good 1b/backup. Anything more from both a cap and term standpoint, which is what I’m assuming he’ll be looking for given he’ll be 28 next year, I move on.

 

[salbutera]

Did Pezzetta get injured or benched at the end?? Or did I just miss him...

Bench was shortened at games end

 

[The Real Timo]

Bench was shortened at games end

YOu gotta go with your best talent in an important game like that. A must win truly.

He was awful when we got him. Coaches did a really good job fixing him. Hopefully we don’t fall into the trap of giving him a contract we’ll regret a few years from now.

Like Allens. Yeah, I don't think Montanbo is anything to hang your hat on. He is decent. At times. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Did Pezzetta get injured or benched at the end?? Or did I just miss him...

He got smoked twice on the same shift. I’m amazed he even stayed in the bench.

 

[eklund the clown]

Monty is playing himself out of Montreal.

Ken Holland says hi how are you Kent?

 

[BLNY]

That was Pearson.

Thanks. I only got to see the highlights, and thought I read 20 and not 70. Of course, it was 6am at the time lol.

 

[BLONG7]

Ylonen with 11 shifts and 7:23 ice time. I don't agree with his usage

Switch him with Gallagher asap...............come on Marty

 

[morhilane]

I've been reading some stuff about the 3rd period and looks like MSL has others take Dvorak's faceoffs in the dzone...despite his dzone percentage being
>50% this season and careerwise. It's mostly Evans, but Slaf took one against the Ducklings.

And at this speed, Slaf will beat his amount of faceoff taken last year (10 in 39 games) in the next game, he's at 9 already (more than any other wingers at even strength on the team...weird).

 

[Redux91]

This is how Special Guhle is

Struble plays his 1st NHL game last night at 22 yrs old

Guhle is already our best defenseman at 21 yrs old lol its incredible
Team high 5 hits, team high 3 blocked shots, and oh yeah why not a goal too

 

[Gillings]

I’m going to feel really bad for one of the Montreal goaltenders if they are in fact traded to Edmonton. NO one wants to play there. Montembault found his home here, Allen plays lights out like vintage price some night and Primeau is trending upwards with a lot of potential still for his age.

 

[Kosseca]

Some observations:

1. Nice to see Newhook involved and creating offensively. Seems like he's finding his 'chair' as a winger. He's fast, but not the strongest. he got pushed off the puck too many times to my liking.

2. CC: he's playing on the perimeter too much. he needs to atk the middle more and get closer to the net. How many time has he shot from the middle of the ice, just inside the blue line?? seems to be he new trick and that's not working.

3. PLEASE, move Monahan with Slaf and CC. Dvorak is a blackhole and Monahan is wasted with Pearson and Anderson right now.

4. Defensive coverage is still a mess. They need to address this soon. They cant retrieve the puck, always chasing and when they do, they are out of gaz from chasing. This undermine the counter attack.

5. Gulhe was good, but he need to be more physical/push other player more. Struble was surprisingly calm and efficient for a first game. I like what I saw... no panic, took the time to make the right play and didn't get pushed around.

6. Well, the Sherrif wasn't there and the team got push around quite a bit. if Newhook and CC are staple W on the top two lines, they will need to make sure they add size and grit. I'm hopping Slaf can develop a nasty/in your face type of game.

 

[rik schau]

Actually surprised Montreal won,just hung on. Very nice debut from Struble,already seems to play a smart mature game. All the negativity I read here about Lindstom,he actually looks not bad,better than what was being said..
Don't know why Montreal went on a long road trip with no extra forward though. Poor Ylonen,just can't be permitted to play with talented line-mates,and still looking good.Would prefer to see him on the PP than Gallgimpager and Handlessson.