Post-Game Talk: Habs beat the Vancouver Petterssons

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Many of The same posters complaining and nitpicking about the game -a road win in mid-March against a team fighting for their playoff life despite being concensus playoff pick roster going into the season, also pegged our healthy roster to be a bottom 5 team with no shot of the playoffs back in September...

No Guhle
No Laine
No Dach

We're 1-1-1 on this Match road trip... Still very much in the playoff mix, 2 points out with the best record over the past 10 games of all WC & non playoff teams.

The inability to grasp context and/or enjoy what an impressive job this coaching staff and youngest-roster-in-the-league is doing is baffling...

Future is bright

(& The present is damn enjoyable for anyone with realistic expectations)

No Dach xD

 

[BLONG7]

I dont think this team would score a goal without Suzuki line

Also Roy sucked so bad

Newhook the speedster, with Roy and Gally.............lol

 

[salbutera]

 

[Lshap]

I tuned out in the 3rd period, hoping (wrongly) that 3-0 was enough to easily lock up the game. Sigh... wake up to find it's never easy...

Did we allow Vancouver back in the game because of sloppiness, or were the Canucks just that good?

 

[Gaud]

So far i think Dach is still better than Newhook at C.

looking forward to seeing what happens at 2C this summer.

 

[Tuggy]

One line team...no problem!

 

[waitin425]

 

[Dagistitsyn]

So far i think Dach is still better than Newhook at C.

looking forward to seeing what happens at 2C this summer.

Newhook is dog shit. Can’t wait for him and Dvorak to be gone.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Newhook the speedster, with Roy and Gally.............lol

There were a lot of mediocre skaters and fringe NHL players (Gallagher, Pezzetta, Armia, Roy and Savard ) on Montreal’s line-up last night. It’s not a roster that will strike fear in the heart of many opponents.

We won last night for the same reason we were competitive in many games last season: excellent top line play; a mobile defence ( Matheson, Hutson, Struble, Carrier) and strong goaltending.

As for Roy’s play, everyone has to cut this kid a bit of slack. While he didn’t embarrass himself, his greatest weakness, a lack of quickness, was clearly evident. I just don’t understand the reasoning behind inserting Roy in place of Beck. Beck showed that he had the skating ability to push the play at the NHL level. Roy, on the other hand, was seemingly, always a step behind the play. Makes no sense whatsoever to this writer.

I though Hutson’s had a strong game defensively and his growth as a player and importance to this team’s success is becoming more manifest each successive game.

Also, Montembeault had a great game making numerous difficult stops at key moments during the game. Frankly, without his strong goaltending, we don’t win this game. Not even close.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Still have 10 mins to watch of the 3rd period but my observations:
- I thought Caufield was our MVP earlier this year but in last month Suzuki has been our top player and it's not even close.
- Beside that ugly turnover by Heineman, I thought that was the best game by the Evans line since they were reunited. Still find Heineman isn't close to level of hockey he was playing before the injury.
- It wasn't a bad game by him but how would Condotta not be an upgrade on Pezzetta? He'd bring extra assurance for faceoffs and he's better defensively
- I'd like Hutson to start getting some reps on the PK next year
- Strong game by Monty

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I tuned out in the 3rd period, hoping (wrongly) that 3-0 was enough to easily lock up the game. Sigh... wake up to find it's never easy...

Did we allow Vancouver back in the game because of sloppiness, or were the Canucks just that good?

Habs gave up a goal - which is fine. But about ten minutes in we took a penalty - controversially - and the Canucks scored again.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

I hope Slaf can find consistency down the road. He's still such a raw talent.

He’s still only 20!

 

[ReHabs]

I couldn't catch the game unfortunately. Only caught the 10min recap but they often lack nuance and interesting little details.

Savard looked awful in the recap. Lumbering and slow. A spot-upgrade on Barron did wonders for the team, a spot-upgrade on Dach/2C and Savard will go a long way too.

I thought Caufield was our MVP earlier this year but in last month Suzuki has been our top player and it's not even close.

Suzuki has been aces and here's a cool detail I just caught: this is both his most productive season and somehow also the first one he's been a + player. The same applies to Caufield too, actually.

Him and Caufield are both better than ever and they have very little help in terms of scoring depth.

 

[BLONG7]

There were a lot of mediocre skaters and fringe NHL players (Gallagher, Pezzetta, Armia, Roy and Savard ) on Montreal’s line-up last night. It’s not a roster that will strike fear in the heart of many opponents.

We won last night for the same reason we were competitive in many games last season: excellent top line play; a mobile defence ( Matheson, Hutson, Struble, Carrier) and strong goaltending.

As for Roy’s play, everyone has to cut this kid a bit of slack. While he didn’t embarrass himself, his greatest weakness, a lack of quickness, was clearly evident. I just don’t understand the reasoning behind inserting Roy in place of Beck. Beck showed that he had the skating ability to push the play at the NHL level. Roy, on the other hand, was seemingly, always a step behind the play. Makes no sense whatsoever to this writer.

I though Hutson’s had a strong game defensively and his growth as a player and importance to this team’s success is becoming more manifest each successive game.

Also, Montembeault had a great game making numerous difficult stops at key moments during the game. Frankly, without his strong goaltending, we don’t win this game. Not even close.

My biggest issue with Roy is, he doesn't look like he is even trying?? Is this just me? He doesn't need to have a ton of speed ( ala Gally ) but his intensity and level of compete is not there.............certainly Beck was a better fit.

I tuned out in the 3rd period, hoping (wrongly) that 3-0 was enough to easily lock up the game. Sigh... wake up to find it's never easy...

Did we allow Vancouver back in the game because of sloppiness, or were the Canucks just that good?

Hearing the refs seemingly let the Nucks back in.........

 

[waitin425]

I couldn't catch the game unfortunately. Only caught the 10min recap but they often lack nuance and interesting little details.

Savard looked awful in the recap. Lumbering and slow. A spot-upgrade on Barron did wonders for the team, a spot-upgrade on Dach/2C and Savard will go a long way too.


Suzuki has been aces and here's a cool detail I just caught: this is both his most productive season and somehow also the first one he's been a + player. The same applies to Caufield too, actually.

Him and Caufield are both better than ever and they have very little help in terms of scoring depth.

View attachment 992078

Yeah....an upgrade at 2c and RD are absolute musts if we are going to take the next step.

With a legit 2nd line....matchups will be tougher for our opponents and we will see Suzuki, Caufield and Slaf step ahead even further. Demidov can't come soon enough for me.

 

[OldCraig71]

It looks like those who voted "No" in the poll were correct, seasonal depression is zapping my will to do much of anything these days, and it looks like I missed a good one. I watched the highlights, and the first line looked good.

 

[Habs Icing]

Another solid 27 minutes for Matheson.

Hey, you're not permitted to say that. We have to trade him because he is so bad.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It looks like those who voted "No" in the poll were correct, seasonal depression is zapping my will to do much of anything these days, and it looks like I missed a good one. I watched the highlights, and the first line looked good.

Good news my friend, the sun has made its return. Try to get out and have a nice walk.

 

[Habs Icing]

If you think that out C depth, both NHL roster and org depth chart, is the same caliber as 3 years ago...

MB spent 10 years and made zero progress in either, we've seen a marked improvement in just 3yrs with the current regime. I get patience is hard, but come on...

You might want to rethink that sentence. MB got Suzuki. And yeah I know, he settled for Nick. Really wanted Glass.

He got Suzuki.

 

[ReHabs]

You might want to rethink that sentence. MB got Suzuki. And yeah I know, he settled for Nick. Really wanted Glass.

He got Suzuki.

Okay the thing is -- and it's an important thing -- MB sold our best forward to acquire a prospect, a border-line cap-dump, and a pick. It was a strange move for a team committed to Weber and Price's late 30s.

MB got Suzuki
MB drafted Caufield

and yet MB never once managed to make progress toward the Habs having an actual top6.

 

[Miller Time]

You might want to rethink that sentence. MB got Suzuki. And yeah I know, he settled for Nick. Really wanted Glass.

He got Suzuki.

Indeed... & Evans, Dvorak, Kapanen, Kidney...

Certainly young players and prospects have some future progress to be determined over time.

Much like we can't today state definitively what Dach or Beck or Kapanen et. will top out as, Suzuki wasn't yet the bonafide 1C he's become when MBs tenure ended.

He started with Plekanec (& DD, Eller...) From day 1 on the job to his last day, the effective C position had not improved (1 top 6 C, some bottom 6 C, some C prospects).

I think it's fair to say the org. C depth chart in the past 3 years has improved considerably more than it did in the previous 10. That's the main point I was implying however awkwardly

 

[Habs Icing]

Okay the thing is -- and it's an important thing -- MB sold our best forward to acquire a prospect, a border-line cap-dump, and a pick. It was a strange move for a team committed to Weber and Price's late 30s.

MB got Suzuki
MB drafted Caufield

and yet MB never once managed to make progress toward the Habs having an actual top6.

I'm not an MB fan, but I also disagree with ignoring the fact that he brought good players into the team. He may have exaggerated his take on the availability of top-notch centers but after almost 4 years in place this management hasn't brought any reliable NHL center to the team, That for me underscores MB's point. Getting excellent centers ain't easy.

 

[Guy Larose]

Why are your takes so out of touch with reality?

Roy played 13min in his first NHL game since December. He was mostly mistake free, showed poise and assertiveness with the puck, competed hard, and was not the worst player on his line.

Terrible take.

I don't think he's a Habs fan, just masquerading as one, as I've never seen him say anything positive about this team.

 

[ReHabs]

I'm not an MB fan, but I also disagree with ignoring the fact that he brought good players into the team. He may have exaggerated his take on the availability of top-notch centers but after almost 4 years in place this management hasn't brought any reliable NHL center to the team, That for me underscores MB's point. Getting excellent centers ain't easy.

He was GM for ten years and had zero spending limitations he better fn hope he brought good players into the team.

Getting excellent centers ain't easy. Bergevin couldn't manage to get a single NHL centre, much less an excellent one. He got a C prospect in exchange for our captain and top15 LW in the league.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

My biggest issue with Roy is, he doesn't look like he is even trying?? Is this just me? He doesn't need to have a ton of speed ( ala Gally ) but his intensity and level of compete is not there.............certainly Beck was a better fit.

There's an element of complacency in Roy's game, but the real issue is Roy's style of play.

Roy is a highly skilled player who readily sees, reads and anticipates the play. He is a finisher. He has an excellent shot and release. He's able to get his shot off in a blink of a second. While that style of play may work and be productive in junior hockey and in the AHL, the speed of play in the NHL is quantum degree faster. You have to be able to buy yourself, time and space to be in a position to use your skills. Some do it with size, while most do it with speed and quickness. I have watch Roy closely over the the past several years and I have yet to see him exhibit the skating ability that would allow him to be a productive offensive forward at the NHL level.

I think Roy's sometimes lackadaisical style of playing is a significantly lesser issue than his overt lack of skating speed and quickness in what is becoming an ever faster paced NHL.

Let's hope I'm wrong. But with Demidov, Hage, Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Tuch, Davidson and Kapanen coming and coming fast, the window for this enigmatic player to make the team is closing quickly. And that doesn't even take into consideration the host of high draft choices Hughes has collected and the potential free agents that may be signed. There will be no room for slow pokes.