Post-Game Talk: Habs lose game 2. Capitals lead series 2-0

[Natey]

Was Heineman really underwhelming enough to keep off the ice in the 3rd? Only Two shifts

He's been fine.

But he hasn't scored since he played Grand Theft Auto, so it makes sense to give him less minutes when trying to tie the game.

 

[Adam Michaels]

McMichael,Strome and PLD are all f***ing warriors. Im shocked by all of them on how they've quietly become such hard to play against guys.

I remember being one who wanted PLD in Montreal. I mean, the guy had 3 x 60+ point seasons already under his belt (he had his 4th one this year). He produces in the playoffs. He's 6'4" and 220 lbs. Everyone was hung up on the infamous shift in Columbus, but that wasn't a habit of his. That was an outlier.

He's also a healthy player and hasn't missed many games.

 

[Andrei79]

I mean you did flat out tell me I'm unreasonable for dogging on Dach because he missed a year but the same doesn't apply to Laine in which he suffered another horrendous knee injury after a year of no hockey which would have been so easy for someone to do if they didn't care.

That's the definition of a double standard but oh well, we can move on. Didn't mean to come off as an angry attack, I was just genuinely curious.

Here are the number of times I've used the word unreasonable on this forum:
Search results for query: Unreasonable.

We disagreed on Dach, especially early on in the year in October when it was completely ridiculous to call out a player coming off ACL/MCL surgery as they all look like shit and the MCL co-injury significantly impacts performance even further. I don't remember saying you were "flat out" unreasonable, even though we disagreed. Trust me when I say that with similar circumstances, Dach would get his fair share of a beating. Heck, the proof is right here in front of you as I've been patient until recently with Laine. I remember doing it in November when Dach dogged it and caused a clear goal. I'd also add the circumstances and context are not the same. I'm not interested in black/white arguments and I think anyone who's argued with me knows that I like context/nuance regarding every player. If you want to call that a double standard because I argued against one of your opinions, go ahead but I disagree. I gave Laine ample chance, but I can't stand players with big mouths, bad attitudes that can't back up their play and even worse, lay an egg.

 

[No More Subban]

you wanna more mean mfers.....bring up Florian. Play Arber. Next season sign a couple more mean guys. We got big players who play small(except Anderson) and small guys who play big but that can only go so far.

I really gotta see the Xhekaj bros in the same lineup next season. I'm all in with these young players.

 

[MasterD]

It's ridiculous to think throwing Reinbacher in vs the best team in the East is going to solve our problems at all. He would be overwhelmed easily. They have been destroying us on the forecheck and Reinbacher is still missing games for Laval due to injury. Recipe for disaster.

I'm not advocating for him to come in. Like you, I agree it wouldn't change much of anything to the Habs faith, and he's better off winning in the AHL.

That said, I'm sure he'd do well.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

On another note, I've seen multiple series involving the habs where the team down 2-0 has won the series.

1996 habs win the first two on the road and lose the next 4.

2004 Habs lose the first two and win the series in 7

2006 habs win the first two games on the road and lose the next 4

2011 Habs win the first 2 games on the road but lose the series in game 7 OT.

Honorable mention:

2008 Habs win the first 2 games against Boston but it took the habs 7 games to close the deal.


All this is just to highlight the ebbs and flows of a series. Every game is brand new and if the habs win game 3, it's on again.

Well we did have a very good home record and having last change with a lineup that needs a fair bit of matchup sheltering will help

 

[Hins77]

Good reminder yet again that the environment has a huge impact on player performance... A year ago PLD was considered a write off by many, including the team that had just signed him to a big deal.

New year, new team, different player.

LAk kings were playing PL Dubois mostly on the 3rd line and sometime on the fourth on the wing. At some points, don't be surprised if he just get you 40 points. I always knew he was a perfect 2nd line player with his flaw like anyone else..

 

[BullLund]

The threat of the big, bad Tom Wilson was greatly over-estimated before the series. The dude is equal in hits to Patrik Laine. He has spent more time on his ass fishing for calls than throwing hits.

 

[JianYang]

Indeed... Lots of positives.

The last change factor will be big for us, as will the energy of the Bell center.

Excited for game 3

Usually the habs come out storming in the first home playoff game. Doesn't matter what team or what year.

If they can capitalize on that early storm, maybe get the caps rattled with that environment (and we already see that caps do get rattled), then it's a good recipe for success.

 

[Wats]

Don't expected to win but I hope they can at least get it to game 6. That's all I ask.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I'm not advocating for him to come in. Like you, I agree it wouldn't change much of anything to the Habs faith, and he's better off winning in the AHL.

That said, I'm sure he'd do well.

Well relative to your expectations for him, or by NHL standards?

 

[Big Lurk]

There’s no way he could do any worse than Laine. Putting a Roomba out there would be better than Laine - it would probably make its way to the front of the net at some point and there’d at least be a possibility of some deflections. Might get in the way and block some shots and/or trip up some WSH players too.

Might as well bring back Manny Malhotra.

One of the reasons our PP is so predictable is because he is no threat to shoot the puck.

Could we try Xhekaj on PP 2?

 

[calder candidate]

The ref really screwed us in both games, cross checks to the face, knee, check to player without the puck, interference and some of the call were very easy to make especially considering the call being made the other way… In Montreal the crowd is going to be on top of them I can’t see it the ref missing all these calls

 

[austin316]

Slaf was nearly in tears in his post game interview? What is wrong with this kid?

Soft physically and soft mentally it appears

 

[Yoor]

Man can't help but feel a bit bad for Laine...im not so sure it isn't his body that just can't anymore after the injuries. Either way...he likely is done in this series and maybe for good and you gotta think he knows that. That's tough...i really wish it would have turned out different.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Slaf was nearly in tears in his post game interview? What is wrong with this kid?

Soft physically and soft mentally it appears

I thought he was decent today

 

[austin316]

Might as well bring back Manny Malhotra.


Could we try Xhekaj on PP 2?

Not the worst idea. He has a bomb. I’d like to see Guhle get a chance first though.

 

[Miller Time]

The threat of the big, bad Tom Wilson was greatly over-estimated before the series. The dude is equal in hits to Patrik Laine. He has spent more time on his ass fishing for calls than hitting.

And I bet you a big component of it is that he's doing his best to avoid hurting his team with a bad penalty.

Not an easy task for a player used to running around like a pitbull all regular season.

 

[Rapala]

One of the disappointing aspects of this post season has to be how the size we thought we did have up front was never really healthy.
I'm not sure how Dach would measure up to the rigors of the NHL playoffs if I'm being honest and we've seen Laine try to be physical but it wasn't pretty.

 

[JianYang]

Well we did have a very good home record and having last change with a lineup that needs a fair bit of matchup sheltering will help

I think we can throw regular season stuff out the window but I'm very interested to see how they feed off of that environment.

There's nothing like it in hockey, but it also goes both ways. All the players feed off of it, and we will see who harnesses that energy in a positive way.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The ref really screwed us in both games, cross checks to the face, knee, check to player without the puck, interference and some of the call were very easy to make especially considering the call being made the other way… In Montreal the crowd is going to be on top of them I can’t see it the ref missing all these calls

There's no doubt that the cross checks should've been called. That being said, I'd rather the refs put the whistles away than call a bunch of ticky tacky penalties.

The young guys are learning what playoff hockey is all about. And if this is how the refs are going to call it we need to adjust. Simple as that.

 

[Rapala]

Not the worst idea. He has a bomb. I’d like to see Guhle get a chance first though.

Guhle's quick heavy wrister is ideal and he can move the box with his mobility.

 

[DemidovSZN]

Slaf was nearly in tears in his post game interview? What is wrong with this kid?

Soft physically and soft mentally it appears

No other players throwed more hits than him other than Ovi and Anderson. So I understand that everyone were more than soft?

 

[expy]

Yep, they haven't shown playoff energy at all

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

One of the disappointing aspects of this post season has to be how the size we thought we did have up front was never really healthy.
I'm not sure how Dach would measure up to the rigors of the NHL playoffs if I'm being honest and we've seen Laine try to be physical but it wasn't pretty.