Post-Game Talk: Habs defeat the Utah Hockey Club™ 5-3

[WeThreeKings]

Didn’t Newhook get a really nice assist on Laine’s goal, hit the post on the PP, and just missed a couple of other chances?

This board is so weird once it designates a whipping boy. Like folks simply become unable to see any nuance in a game

Yep, he had a great game last night and the writing is on the wall that he's going to get the message from management this off-season that he will need to update his identity as a 3rd line scorer, who can use his speed on the forecheck, in PK situations and mature defensively. I think he'll actually score at a better p/60 rate in that role since he won't be facing the same level of competition.

We’re all happy for him and the team; this hater/lover talk is good for 4th graders who grew up on social media… Pretty sure we come here hoping for more interesting talk.

Yeah like "He's the worst player in the league and we need to waive him"; while he's 20 games removed from a major injury and a full year without hockey. Excellent posts on the board that bring a lot of value.

 

[sampollock]

love PL got a goal.. the doubts from some may be leaving

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Yep, he had a great game last night and the writing is on the wall that he's going to get the message from management this off-season that he will need to update his identity as a 3rd line scorer, who can use his speed on the forecheck, in PK situations and mature defensively. I think he'll actually score at a better p/60 rate in that role since he won't be facing the same level of competition.

Couldn't agree more, It's what I've been saying since the start of the season, that's who he is, use him for that and forget what you traded to Colorado to get him. Every SC contender has that type of guy on the 3rd line anyway, so good for us. We also know he can step into the top 6 if needed from time to time to replace....

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Didn’t Newhook get a really nice assist on Laine’s goal, hit the post on the PP, and just missed a couple of other chances?

This board is so weird once it designates a whipping boy. Like folks simply become unable to see any nuance in a game

It's the fact the kid can't hit the broadside of a barn. 2 on 1 with Laine, Laine feeds him a perfect pass, he has an open net shortside, and he puts it 6 feet over the net.

Slafkovsky hits him with a pass from behind the net. Newhook is 2 feet from the net, and he puts it wide shortside. He just needed to jam it to get a goal.

PP he goes into slot, he's 10 feet from net, gloveside is available, he puts it over the net again, like dude, come on. It's not even close.

The Laine 2 on 1 he was definitely frustrated with himself. They showed him on the bench & he was shaking his head looking upset/pissed.

Right now, this kid couldn't hit an empty net. He'd hit the crossbar or send it into the stands.

 

[InsideLaine]

And he was set up for two prime scoring chances but didn't convert. He could have ended the night with 2 goals and an assist. Even if he didn't score, he was at the right spot at the right time, a skill in itself. Not bad for a guy who was playing sick and wasn't a guarantee to play.

Ye that is sounding good to me. Lets hope he keeps it up.

 

[Naslundforever]

Yep, he had a great game last night and the writing is on the wall that he's going to get the message from management this off-season that he will need to update his identity as a 3rd line scorer, who can use his speed on the forecheck, in PK situations and mature defensively. I think he'll actually score at a better p/60 rate in that role since he won't be facing the same level of competition.



Yeah like "He's the worst player in the league and we need to waive him"; while he's 20 games removed from a major injury and a full year without hockey. Excellent posts on the board that bring a lot of value.

I don’t see how that makes anyone hate him, he looked done and the assessment did not come from a place of love or hate, and was not a marginal assessment. He also symbolized « we don’t care about winning this year » which was a big turnoff for a lot of people as he was still getting 2nd line duty while rehabbing. He is finally doing well, how the habs are in a playoff push despite seems improbable, but I for one will enjoy the show.

If we’re afraid to comment on anything bad because we get labelled as one of two binary things it takes the fun and purpose away from the site…

I hate (lol) these fake dichotomies, it’s unrelated to hockey. It just kills conversation and steers to « so do you hate or love? », closed questions (which are usually in fact rhetorical).

 

[Habs 4 Life]

And he was set up for two prime scoring chances but didn't convert. He could have ended the night with 2 goals and an assist. Even if he didn't score, he was at the right spot at the right time, a skill in itself. Not bad for a guy who was playing sick and wasn't a guarantee to play.

Even though they could have scored 2-3 goals each last night, I'll gladly take that effort and game from Newhook and Evans last night every f***ing night!! Jake Evans is turning into one of my favorite Habs ever and I'm an old fart who's seen a lot of players over the years!!

 

[Dirby Kach]

I few weeks ago i was basically told I was an idiot on here for my name sake. bow down boys.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Ye that is sounding good to me. Lets hope he keeps it up.

Newhook needs to produce more. They didn't acquire him not to put up points. However, he's been playing well regardless for a while now. Much like the rest of the team, he's not a passenger, which was the main problem with him early in the year.

 

[InsideLaine]

Ye that is sounding good to me. Lets hope he keeps it up.

Who knows, maybe Laine-Dach-Newhook starts to really gel and gets so hot that they wanna keep it to start next season.

And with that we get:

Caufield-Suzuki-Demidawg

Slaf slots in 3rd? Not likely I know. But yea Im starting to agree that Newhook is a good guy to have and to hold (cue for peeps who know what this refers to), as no team survives a season without injuries to their top two lines.

 

[salbutera]

we could have both man
feelsbad

Oh pls the Ruskie mental midget who doesn’t even understand the game of hockey.

 

[The Real Timo]

I mean Dvorak Evans Armia , we could trade Matheson and Anderson , Savard

that's alot of money going off

Will need that money to pay Slaf. Oy.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Love that it captures me laughing at those foolish opinions.

Has HeadLiceHatty ever posted something that wasn’t absolutely f***ing Pejorative Slured?

 

[Naslundforever]

Newhook needs to produce more. They didn't acquire him not to put up points. However, he's been playing well regardless for a while now. Much like the rest of the team, he's not a passenger, which was the main problem with him early in the year.

He’s on the puck and skating hard he just seems to have only one thinking/action speed. I remember Higgins being too excited around the net and would oft choke after nice rushes.

Sick pass to Laine last night for sure.

 

[Andy]

He’s on the puck and skating hard he just seems to have only one thinking/action speed. I remember Higgins being too excited around the net and would oft choke after nice rushes.

Sick pass to Laine last night for sure.

Newhook is literally Higgins - sans the physical strength.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Watching the highlights... many Utah's d is f***ing atrocious.

I think that 5th goal, Dach's 2nd was tipped, but from that distance you would have assumed the goalie would be able to react, but maybe not as it was fluttering a bit.

 

[JianYang]

I saw David savard losing his shit after that 2nd goal. I thought he was complaining to the refs at first. Pierre mcguire is convinced that he was actually ripping into the players, so msl didn't have to.

 

[Deebs]

I saw David savard losing his shit after that 2nd goal. I thought he was complaining to the refs at first. Pierre mcguire is convinced that he was actually ripping into the players, so msl didn't have to.

Leadership

 

[salbutera]

I saw David savard losing his shit after that 2nd goal. I thought he was complaining to the refs at first. Pierre mcguire is convinced that he was actually ripping into the players, so msl didn't have to.

Saw that - right after Utah scored on the PP (penalty to Dach)

Sure looked like he was ripping the bench for all the lazy stick penalties…till that point

 

[Habs Halifax]

Newhook needs to produce more. They didn't acquire him not to put up points. However, he's been playing well regardless for a while now. Much like the rest of the team, he's not a passenger, which was the main problem with him early in the year.

No doubt he has ability to produce more points. His play has been better lately (I agree). It's just frustrating to see him struggle to get on the score sheet more. The skating/skill and energy is there.

 

[HHel]

That Laine goal. I think we are going to see more of those next year, when Demidov arrives. Dach playing better helps lot too.

 

[The Real Timo]

They showed him on the bench & he was shaking his head looking upset/pissed.

Hahah... to rub it in?! Like Hey dude, see how you f***ed up there?! Even Gally would have scored

No doubt he has ability to produce more points. His play has been better lately (I agree). It's just frustrating to see him struggle to get on the score sheet more. The skating/skill and energy is there.

What if Slaf had Newhook's skating... that would be nice, eh?

 

[Toene]

Newhook is literally Higgins - sans the physical strength.

Higgins could score 20 in a lower-scoring era

 

[Rapala]

love PL got a goal.. the doubts from some may be leaving

His back pressure was impressive and set the play in motion.
A fully healthy Laine takes that directly to the net a smart Laine knows his limitations.

 

[JianYang]

I don’t see how that makes anyone hate him, he looked done and the assessment did not come from a place of love or hate, and was not a marginal assessment. He also symbolized « we don’t care about winning this year » which was a big turnoff for a lot of people as he was still getting 2nd line duty while rehabbing. He is finally doing well, how the habs are in a playoff push despite seems improbable, but I for one will enjoy the show.

If we’re afraid to comment on anything bad because we get labelled as one of two binary things it takes the fun and purpose away from the site…

I hate (lol) these fake dichotomies, it’s unrelated to hockey. It just kills conversation and steers to « so do you hate or love? », closed questions (which are usually in fact rhetorical).

He's not quite back, but he is trending well. I think he's moving better than the start of the season, so it looks like he's finally rounding back.

It's important for him to have that assertiveness because his chances are going to come closer to the net and his reach is becoming a factor again. The next thing I want to see before declaring him "back" is using that frame and reach to protect the puck, kind of like how Laine does it.

I think everyone realized he was playing very poorly this year. Call it whatever but there was one side of the spectrum preaching patience given the severity of his injury, and another side of the spectrum suggesting that he never showed anything special prior to injury either citing his point totals.