Post-Game Talk: Habs lose Blackhawks in a Shootout. Fail to clinch Playoffs.

[rik schau]

Habs have been 6-2-2 in last 10GP…14-of-20 pts that’s nowhere near choking

You strike me as the glass is always half full type of guy.lol

 

[OldCraig71]

A 2-0 lead should have never been relinquished. Adrenaline alone should have led to a victory.

The Guhle hit had the reverse effect he hoped it would. The Hawks rallied after that, and we crumbled. If I'm being really honest, the whole team looked petrified, with the exception of Demidov. That kid is not scared of the big stage.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Speaking of penalties did the officiating crew miss a 4 minute high stick on Gallagher I don't think they showed a replay on RDS.

Yeah, reffs missed a lot.

 

[rik schau]

The Guhle hit had the reverse effect he hoped it would. The Hawks rallied after that, and we crumbled. If I'm being really honest, the whole team looked petrified, with the exception of Demidov. That kid is not scared of the big stage.

Maybe because he doesn't really know how the media and fans react to performances yet.

 

[Tyson]

Playing Nick Suzuki 27 minutes tells you everything about the depth of this team, there is not enough of it.

 

[JianYang]

Fair enough. I get wanting Demidov to shoot. But MSL is hardly an idiot for choosing guys who’ve been awesome in the shootout before. Just because Laine hasn’t been playing well at 5 on 5 doesn’t mean he hasn’t been lethal in shootouts.

100%.

If Laine scores, nobody is talking about him being in the shootout.

You let your best finishers go in the shootout regardless of anything else. It's just that on this particular night, I felt demidov was one of the top 3 options in terms of finishing because of how uptight most other players were during the game.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Everyone knows Caufield’s going five-hole in the shootout. I don’t get why he keeps going back to that move

Because he's been successful.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

100%.

If Laine scores, nobody is talking about him being in the shootout.

You let your best finishers go in the shootout regardless of anything else. It's just that on this particular night, I felt demidov was one of the top 3 options in terms of finishing because of how uptight most other players were during the game.

Who would you have removed?

 

[Miller Time]

Was my post inaccurate? Why did you bother posting such an irrelevant post?

Was my post inaccurate.

Why did you bother posting such an emotional reply?

 

[Supersonic]

A victim of our own success. Having caught fire after the Four Nations break, now everyone expected them to make the playoffs.

 

[sampollock]

Habs are completely front-loaded with so little talent; Hutson and Suzuki need others to step up so they can breathe. If they make the playoffs that rest will be welcomed.

then they should not make the playoffs, dont mean to be that guy
but they will be just as tired in the first round

 

[SpeedyPotato]

Ok as long as they earn it.

And so only the last 5 games count as far as earning it? I feel the previous 77 through which they put themselves in a favorable position should count too.

Did Rory not deserve his green jacket cause he f***ed up on 18th by missing a 4 foot par and actually playing over par for the round? He still won in overtime, and the fact he built enough of a lead in the first 3 days of the tournament allowed for him to have a bad last round and some nervous moments and still win.

If the habs make it, they’ll have deserved it and I wouldn’t look into that tough last stretch to predict them failure in the playoffs. This team is literally learning how to win. Very few of us were expecting this to happen this year despite all the “mix” talk.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

That's the rule, but the fact is, he scored. Winning on a technicality sucks.

A win is a win. Refs have screwed the Habs all year. It's time the othere team gets screwed.

 

[Takeru]

How quickly things change.
A week ago the coast was clear to clinch playoffs with 5 games remaining.

Now playoffs or not, it'll likely leave a sour aftertaste unless the tide turn again.

Can't lack urgency that much and start the first half of the game with under 10 shots every night.

Hopefully they learn from this how to manage pressure.

Also, KH better bust his ass this summer finding a decent center for Demidov (and possibly a winger) cause Newhook/Dach/whoever ain't gonna cut it.

 

[Mats NAslund]

The Guhle hit had the reverse effect he hoped it would. The Hawks rallied after that, and we crumbled. If I'm being really honest, the whole team looked petrified, with the exception of Demidov. That kid is not scared of the big stage.

St-Louis horrible line change on the Ghule PK was also a direct result of the goal against and let’s not forget his mis management of players in and out of the current lineup!

If Montreal misses the playoffs this has to come down to his mis-management and use of players!

His over loyalty and use of his vets has been his downfall thus far ie Savard and Matheson!

 

[Naslundforever]

then they should not make the playoffs, dont mean to be that guy
but they will be just as tired in the first round

The Rangers and Blue Jackets have much better gf/ga totals but I mean even this is good xp; winning nhl playoffs takes more than a few clumped winning streaks for sure…

Even making the playoffs and getting swept is better than not making the playoffs though. Imagine quitting because afraid to fail.. Not very pro behaviour

All great xp and good info for management you don’t get otherwise (although a 2c they know they need..).

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

And so only the last 5 games count as far as earning it? I feel the previous 77 through which they put themselves in a favorable position should count too.

Did Rory not deserve his green jacket cause he f***ed up on 18th by missing a 4 foot par and actually playing over par for the round? He still won in overtime, and the fact he built enough of a lead in the first 3 days of the tournament allowed for him to have a bad last round and some nervous moments and still win.

If the habs make it, they’ll have deserved it and I wouldn’t look into that tough last stretch to predict them failure in the playoffs. This team is literally learning how to win. Very few of us were expecting this to happen this year despite all the “mix” talk.

What will decide at the end is the numbers. I want to see Habs in PO because it will be an experience and who knows. But they have to qualify, there is no cheating with numbers. It also depends on the BJ. If they have the number at the end, they earned it, that's all.

 

[staubitz]

My observations fwiw:

1) how do the refs miss that Nazar SO goal? They had the best vantage point and the puck cleanly went in the net. Because they didn’t see the net come out of the net they assumed it went out of play?

2) Demidov was incredible and I had a blast watching him. But on Reichel’s 3rd goal for Chicago, any type of defensive effort by Demidov to cover for Guhle would have prevented Reichel from being in the clear to receive the pass and score. I found that disappointing, hopefully that is something the team will identify and work on.

I’ll be tuned in to the Blue Jackets vs Flyers tonight…

Go Habs!

 

[Andrei79]

Speaking of penalties did the officiating crew miss a 4 minute high stick on Gallagher I don't think they showed a replay on RDS.

The Guhle hit had the reverse effect he hoped it would. The Hawks rallied after that, and we crumbled. If I'm being really honest, the whole team looked petrified, with the exception of Demidov. That kid is not scared of the big stage.

I didn't rewatch exactly what happened, but I didn't understand why it wasn't a 4 on 4 as the roughing penalty should have been to Foligno alone.

 

[salbutera]

You strike me as the glass is always half full type of guy.lol

No … I’m being realistic. I find it illogical when 98% of posters predicted this team would be picking 5-10OA all of a sudden are filled w rage Habs haven’t locked up a wildcard spot.

NHL is all about 10GP performance trends. Habs built up their margin on the other teams because those other teams including CBJ had horrible previous 10GP - now CBJ is trying to catchup.

Philly will have their strongest lineup out there & are on a hot streak post-Torts, whereas, Canes will be resting their top end players or minimizing their TOI w playoffs starting this weekend.

Probability remains on the Habs side - they hold pole position.

A season is a marathon not a sprint… patience.

 

[Andrei79]

Everyone knows Caufield’s going five-hole in the shootout. I don’t get why he keeps going back to that move

It's one of the most effective ways to score nowadays.

 

[JianYang]

Who would you have removed?

I would have put one of caufield or Laine 4th.... probably caufield.

 

[dinodebino]

We had Dryden in '70.... We don't have anything like that in the roster now. That'll have to be Fowler -- we'll also have to get him a veteran backup. A shutdown D will be a necessity as well, and a proper 2C to center Demidov. Still quite a few pieces away.

Fowler can be Dryden. The 70 team had great leadership with Béliveau of course. But their defensive corps was rather inexperienced too. And their forwards were a work in progress, aside from le Gros Bill. Cournoyer had not achieved elite status yet (that would come the next year).

 

[Adriatic]

No … I’m being realistic. I find it illogical when 98% of posters predicted this team would be picking 5-10OA all of a sudden are filled w rage Habs haven’t locked up a wildcard spot.

NHL is all about 10GP performance trends. Habs built up their margin on the other teams because those other teams including CBJ had horrible previous 10GP - now CBJ is trying to catchup.

Philly will have their strongest lineup out there & are on a hot streak post-Torts, whereas, Canes will be resting their top end players or minimizing their TOI w playoffs starting this weekend.

Probability remains on the Habs side - they hold pole position.

A season is a marathon not a sprint… patience.

Stop using logic!!

 

[Guy Larose]

No … I’m being realistic. I find it illogical when 98% of posters predicted this team would be picking 5-10OA all of a sudden are filled w rage Habs haven’t locked up a wildcard spot.

NHL is all about 10GP performance trends. Habs built up their margin on the other teams because those other teams including CBJ had horrible previous 10GP - now CBJ is trying to catchup.

Philly will have their strongest lineup out there & are on a hot streak post-Torts, whereas, Canes will be resting their top end players or minimizing their TOI w playoffs starting this weekend.

Probability remains on the Habs side - they hold pole position.

A season is a marathon not a sprint… patience.

It's probably because they were 8 points up and they can't close the deal. They are right there.