Post-Game Talk: Habs defeat Isles in OT in Laine's debut

[The Real Timo]

I think Slaf played ok. Arbs, other than that poorly judge play at the blue line that led to his penalty was ok too. I wish Slaf didn't slow down before throwing a hit and just barreled through the player he is intending to hit.

Dach... man, I don't know. I am so sick of him. Every single regime Habs have, there is a small group of players that just can't leave soon enough. Dach, Newhook, Matheson, Dvo, ... Something needs to be done. Hughes needs to be more active. Da playoffs are still possible.

 

[zx81]

Kinda surprised by the wave of positivity.
We barely won against a bad team, a thing we do occasionally. Meh.

Dach and Newhook still sucked and both should be demoted to the bottom 6.

On the positive side, Laine and Monty were very good.
I'm happy we won but I'm not as excited as some of you. They need a win streak to win me back.

 

[CheldishGamibno]

Dach had his knee destroyed, of course it'll take a while until he's completely confident. I would still bench him a game.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Newhook need to be replaced on that 1st line, please try Heineman or even Anderson or Gallagher. Put Newhook on the 4th with Dvorak and Armia.

Anderson and Gallagher do nothing for that line. Heineman is worth a try.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Was nice to see Laine snipe that one. I had doubts about his shooting ability based on him coming off a shoulder injury. No sign of it there. His shot looked awesome.

 

[Guiness time]

Dach had his knee destroyed, of course it'll take a while until he's completely confident. I would still bench him a game.

I understand the frustration with his play, but I do not see the point of benching him, he needs to play. Similar to Mailloux in Laval, he needs to make up for lost time.

 

[The Real Timo]

Kinda surprised by the wave of positivity.
We barely won against a bad team, a thing we do occasionally. Meh.

Dach and Newhook still sucked and both should be demoted to the bottom 6.

On the positive side, Laine and Monty were very good.
I'm happy we won but I'm not as excited as some of you. They need a win streak to win me back.

Dude... we latch on any bit of positivity we can. Who knows when the next time will be. Gotta seize the moment and soak it up.

It was refreshing to see what's it like to have a super star in the lineup. Sigh.

Anderson and Gallagher do nothing for that line. Heineman is worth a try.

I agree. Newhook experiment is a sound failure. Do some coaching, Marty.

 

[yianik]

Xhekaj with likely a career high 21:11 TOI tonight with 5 shots and a few hits. Nice.

Thank you Laine for triggering a fun game

 

[gritdash60]

Only one thing better than Laine scoring was how happy Caufield and Slafkovsky were for him to score, Caufield especially almost jumped on Laine after the goal hahah, bet it feels good to be welcomed to the team like that!

 

[The Real Timo]

Only one thing better than Laine scoring was how happy Caufield and Slafkovsky were for him to score, Caufield especially almost jumped on Laine after the goal hahah, bet it feels good to be welcomed to the team like that!

I felt like Caufield let up at the last second probably not wanting to injure Laine

 

[1909]

Xhekaj is coming along nicely., since he is focusing mainly on his d-game before his fighting skills. That,s the way to go to have a long and useful career at NHL level.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Xhekaj is coming along nicely., since he is focusing mainly on his d-game before his fighting skills. That,s the way to go to have a long and useful career at NHL level.

Don't want to see him fighting other than to avenge a cheap shot on a teammate.

 

[Andrei79]

That was the best game I've seen the Habs play this season. Mind you, I've missed a handful of games. But they look like a different team.

Yeah, I agree. They started playing tighter during that three game streak when they weren't generating anything.

They're also working hard like they were since MSL took over. Let's just hope it's not just due to playing the Islanders, who have no skill and play a passive defensive game a la Therrien.

You’re not remembering wrong.

I mean, look at how good his skating is there compared to how he's skating in cinder blocks this year. And some foolish people can't see that there's a clear difference between pre injury and post injury Dach and others who say he wasnt very good before the injury. He's not as fluid, his strides aren't as strong and he doesn't crossover as well. It makes it so he's behind the play and trying to play catch up.

So, he's not skating as well after a knee injury.

And the answer to the reason is not the injury, but laziness and low IQ. It's so dumb.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah, I agree. They started playing tighter during that three game streak when they weren't generating anything.

They're also working hard like they were since MSL took over. Let's just hope it's not just due to playing the Islanders, who have no skill and play a passive defensive game a la Therrien.



I mean, look at how good his skating is there compared to how he's skating in cinder blocks this year. And some foolish people can't see that there's a clear difference between pre injury and post injury Dach and others who say he wasnt very good before the injury. He's not as fluid, his strides aren't as strong and he doesn't crossover as well. It makes it so he's behind the play and trying to play catch up.

So, he's not skating as well after a knee injury.

And the answer to the reason is not the injury, but laziness and low IQ. It's so dumb.

Yeah, tonight was the team we saw last year. Working hard, generating chances. It’s what I expected to see this year. Better late than never.

 

[1909]

Hockey is an easy game… But very hard to play.

 

[Rapala]

Xhekaj with likely a career high 21:11 TOI tonight with 5 shots and a few hits. Nice.

Thank you Laine for triggering a fun game

Arber had some good moments and some pretty bad ones too.
He is seeing the ice for the most part so that's good but there were a couple of plays he needs to bear down on instead of one handing the puck.
You can see everything live and there was one play he let someone get behind him and he wasn't aware of it that can't happen in the neutral zone.
His first penalty was bogus but the second one he got caught out on.

It was a blast seeing a player other than Suzuki and Hutson who knows how to manipulate space Laine is wicked smart with the puck even standing still.
That line played well and had a number of very good smart zone exits they also played heavy on a number of shifts it was great to see.

I didn't like Struble's game too much he doesn't see obvious plays when he's in possession.
He and Hutson teamed up pretty well for that GA.
The one thing about it is Lane sees enough for both of them.

Newhook was bad and Suzuki's line suffered big time tonight it's no coincidence His linemate's points came when he was not on the ice.
I watched Heineman very closely all evening I love him he makes nice plays around the net plays better line mates would benefit from.
I did get to see Laine's first like I hoped for and man that ovation was special.
C'mon Lane you are up next.

The funniest thing was Suzuki's winner initially I said to my buddy what the heck is Suzuki doing turning back like that
Sure enough he built up enough speed to take advantage of the lane that opened up.
Almost a carbon copy of his last OT winner.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Hockey is an easy game… But very hard to play.

Depends on who you’re playing against.

 

[durojean]

Laine-Suzuki-Slaf
Caufield-Dach-Newhook

Cole is playing well enough with whoever this year that he’ll do well with those guys.

Caufield Suzuki Heineman
Laine Dach Slafkovsky
Anderson Newhook Gallagher
Armia Evans Dvorak

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

Didnt get to see all of the game, some in background but like the energy in the game. Hopefully it isnt a one off.

From what i saw Laine looked decent for someone who has missed so much time. Still scared for him. I wince every time he gets contact

Monty was amazing

Felt the PK may need to adjust a bit. Seemed loose lately. Though Dach had a solid first and went off the rails after that

 

[durojean]

Arber had some good moments and some pretty bad ones too.
He is seeing the ice for the most part so that's good but there were a couple of plays he needs to bear down on instead of one handing the puck.
You can see everything live and there was one play he let someone get behind him and he wasn't aware of it that can't happen in the neutral zone.
His first penalty was bogus but the second one he got caught out on.

It was a blast seeing a player other than Suzuki and Hutson who knows how to manipulate space Laine is wicked smart with the puck even standing still.
That line played well and had a number of very good smart zone exits they also played heavy on a number of shifts it was great to see.

I didn't like Struble's game too much he doesn't see obvious plays when he's in possession.
He and Hutson teamed up pretty well for that GA.
The one thing about it is Lane sees enough for both of them.

Newhook was bad and Suzuki's line suffered big time tonight it's no coincidence His linemate's points came when he was not on the ice.
I watched Heineman very closely all evening I love him he makes nice plays around the net plays better line mates would benefit from.
I did get to see Laine's first like I hoped for and man that ovation was special.
C'mon Lane you are up.

The funiest thing was Szuzki's winner initially I said to my buddy what the heck is Suzuki doing turning back like that
Sure enough he built up enough speed to take advantage of the lane that opened up.
Almost a carbon copy of his last OT winner.

I know I won’t be liked here but I felt that the Habs were more dangerous with Barron in the line up instead of Struble.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

Hockey is an easy game… But very hard to play.

 

[Rapala]

To be honest , other then the goal he looked bad tonight as if he was coasting (or half asleep on the ice )

Look I was at the game and NO no he wasn't coasting.
The lad played with one hand tied behind his back and was one of the only reasons his line didn't get scored against.
Honestly I'm not sure how Newhook wasn't moved off that line.
He threw Gallagher on at the end of the second for an Ozone draw and I'm thinking OK Marty's had enough.
What I really liked is what I saw on our PP between him Lane Hutson and Laine.
The OT play was brilliant with Matheson creating just enough space for Suzuki to exploit.

 

[Rapala]

Sorokin played just as well as Monty. Isles regularly get that level of goaltending.

He did give up three or four juicy rebounds that Monty didn't.

 

[JIMVINNY]

Caufield Suzuki Heineman
Laine Dach Slafkovsky
Anderson Newhook Gallagher
Armia Evans Dvorak

I'd switch Andy and Armia, simply due to the success that 3rd line had last year. And how MSL hasn't given Heineman a shot on the top line... Dude deserves it a lot more that Newhook does at this point.

 

[Rapala]

You had to be there.