Post-Game Talk: Habs lose to Oilers in OT

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I'll go against the flow here and say it was an extremely well coached OT by MSL. The strategy was clearly to play defense, don't take stupid chances, keep puck possession and keep defensively responsible players on the ice while McDrai was there. And it basically worked for 4:55. The Habs got the best scoring opportunities and McDavid was invisible until the last 5 seconds.

You won't win against this 2 headed monster by just betting on offense.
 
I don't understand MSL's PP and OT strategy. PP1 don't get more than a minute in PP time per PP and no Laine on OT, even he is skating bad now but he can still finish.
 
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It should mostly be hutson. Matheson should be in the rotation, but guhle was a decent option too, and now I think they are essentially down to two viable dmen in OT.
I don't *hate* Matheson in OT. He can skate, even though his IQ is very often questionable, when he makes the right play, it usually ends in a goal for us. But when he makes the wrong play, it's a goal against. So he's like a 50/50 dman. I'm fine with that.

What I don't get is to play him in EVERY possible situation, but specifically on the PK. I watch him specifically during those times and the guy can't win a board battle to save his life, has absolutely no physicality (although he does bounce himself off his opponents pretty good). At least he's not like Carrier, who ices the puck even when all he sees is his own shadow.

Once both Guhle and Rein are with the team, Matheson is 100% expendable. It's just a very painful process in the meantime...

Beck should replace Dvorak so that means we're still in need of at least 1 center. I'd like for us to take a run at the playoffs (and i'm sure so would the players) but i'm not willing to sacrifice anything now to get there. I don't think we have the goaltending or the D to make it past the 1st round. But it is good experience for the young guns. Assuming they play at all, seeing how MSL manages his bench...
 
I don't *hate* Matheson in OT. He can skate, even though his IQ is very often questionable, when he makes the right play, it usually ends in a goal for us. But when he makes the wrong play, it's a goal against. So he's like a 50/50 dman. I'm fine with that.

What I don't get is to play him in EVERY possible situation, but specifically on the PK. I watch him specifically during those times and the guy can't win a board battle to save his life, has absolutely no physicality (although he does bounce himself off his opponents pretty good). At least he's not like Carrier, who ices the puck even when all he sees is his own shadow.

Once both Guhle and Rein are with the team, Matheson is 100% expendable. It's just a very painful process in the meantime...

Beck should replace Dvorak so that means we're still in need of at least 1 center. I'd like for us to take a run at the playoffs (and i'm sure so would the players) but i'm not willing to sacrifice anything now to get there. I don't think we have the goaltending or the D to make it past the 1st round. But it is good experience for the young guns. Assuming they play at all, seeing how MSL manages his bench...
Reinbacher can play 2nd PP, OT, 4v4, etc so yes, I agree that Matheson is gonna be expendable soon enough.
 
Playing third/fourth line in OT when you need the win,starting with Carrier geez. Can't believe it. finish with evans and slaf who have both bad game. All on St-Louis
Felt like Therrien/Julien were back in charge with the OT selection of Byron and Donut. Carrier was so surprised his controller disconnected behind the net. Obviously some scoreboard watching jitters as well.

Guess they’ll learn both on the ice and behind the bench how to win important games, pretty much a buyers market so unless someone blows us away might as well keep our 3 UfAs for the run
 
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I don't *hate* Matheson in OT. He can skate, even though his IQ is very often questionable, when he makes the right play, it usually ends in a goal for us. But when he makes the wrong play, it's a goal against. So he's like a 50/50 dman. I'm fine with that.

What I don't get is to play him in EVERY possible situation, but specifically on the PK. I watch him specifically during those times and the guy can't win a board battle to save his life, has absolutely no physicality (although he does bounce himself off his opponents pretty good). At least he's not like Carrier, who ices the puck even when all he sees is his own shadow.

Once both Guhle and Rein are with the team, Matheson is 100% expendable. It's just a very painful process in the meantime...

Beck should replace Dvorak so that means we're still in need of at least 1 center. I'd like for us to take a run at the playoffs (and i'm sure so would the players) but i'm not willing to sacrifice anything now to get there. I don't think we have the goaltending or the D to make it past the 1st round. But it is good experience for the young guns. Assuming they play at all, seeing how MSL manages his bench...
Mastheson is not expendable and will mpt be moved
 
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If you get someone, you use picks. But if you want to play PO, you need someone, more specifically a 2nd line center. Someone like Geeke, Coyle etc would be enough.
I like Beck, but it doesn't make sense for him to play less than 10 minutes without PP/PK. Maybe would be better for him to develop on the farm this season.
 
I'll go against the flow here and say it was an extremely well coached OT by MSL. The strategy was clearly to play defense, don't take stupid chances, keep puck possession and keep defensively responsible players on the ice while McDrai was there. And it basically worked for 4:55. The Habs got the best scoring opportunities and McDavid was invisible until the last 5 seconds.

You won't win against this 2 headed monster by just betting on offense.
Ah yes playing defense on 3v3 lol
 
Of course people pissing against Matheson for not passing on that 2 on 1 but no mention how he went up against McDavid and did relatively well.
Or no mention how Slafkovsky loses his man leading to the GWG.

The funny thing if Matheson passes it to Evans but the D-man breaks it with his stick, people will complain saying why didn't he shoot.🙄
 
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Yes. I just find people get way too impressed with kids who are great in non-NHL leagues, like that automatically means they're ready for the big league
Well, yeah. :laugh: That’s par for the course here. Dobes started strong and everyone shat all over Montie. Then Dobes came back to earth… Beck played well and a bunch of guys shat all over Dach. Now he’s going through the usual rookie stuff. It’s just the way fandom works. Very short term thinking.
 
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This team will keep those washed vets for nothing.

I guess the same players played good and the same suspects were suspect


Can't believe they are scared to trade our problematic players

Suzuki doesn't want anyone traded. I'm pretty sure if KH gets a great offer, he'll execute the trade but no matter what you or I think, having those players not traded is probably good for team morale, which contributes to team success. The habs players and Suzuki deserve to be listened to this season as they've done a pretty good job so far and have reached the goal management set out for them of being in the mix and playing meaningful games in March
 
Okidokie KH. Then what's ur move by the tdl?
Matheson is the least of this team’s problems. Unless Hughes is able to secure an overpayment for one of our expiring UFAs or overrated prospects, I doubt that he does much tomorrow. I suspect he studiously adheres to the wise bromide that the best transactions are the ones you don’t make.
 
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Suzuki doesn't want anyone traded. I'm pretty sure if KH gets a great offer, he'll execute the trade but no matter what you or I think, having those players not traded is probably good for team morale, which contributes to team success. The habs players and Suzuki deserve to be listened to this season as they've done a pretty good job so far and have reached the goal management set out for them of being in the mix and playing meaningful games in March

There is no way Suzuki is happy with that roster. Cmon now. You think Suzuki has to double shift night after night because he loves that roster?

Put Hutson Suzuki and Caufield like off for 3-4 games and they get probably wrecked offensively every games.

Laine is only visible on the PP where he plays with good players.
Newhook and Beck are not a solution for a potential playoff race.
The third line is abysmal offensively and not even good defensively
the fourth line is so soft without energy to give momentum. Heineman's place is not on a 4th line also.

We all know we shouldnt be in playoff race before even the four nation tournament. They also had that good stretch during December/January when Hutson Suzuki Caufield were on fire. They went invisible for games when those guys were off.

We have enough pick to waste for that to happen.

I don't mind them missing the lottery but for god sakes then do a move except staying in no man's land, enough Bergevism
 
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That's a weak mindset to have. It's not like our best players are just a bunch of plugs. Caufield and Suzuki have been electric in OT and Hutson is one of the most productive dmen in the league. No team can compete with Bouchard-Drai-McDavid, but it doesn't mean they should just roll over and accept defeat.

How did they roll over ? They almost scored, it could have gone either way. Those three you mention were getting hammered when McDrai were on the ice. Suzuki did that one play defensively, but that's it. It's a miracle the team is even in the position it is with no second line and Guhle out, who would've helped the match ups tremendously, so clearly they're neither rolling over or accepting defeat.
 
This team will keep those washed vets for nothing.

I guess the same players played good and the same suspects were suspect


Can't believe they are scared to trade our problematic players
It’s not for nothing. Selling players for a couple of draft picks when you’re within a couple of points of both wildcard spots sends the team the wrong message. Trying to get them to transition out of the bottom 10 should be the focus to end the year. We don’t want to create a team of losers like the Buffalo Sabers.
 
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It’s not for nothing. Selling players for a couple of draft picks when you’re within a couple of points of both wildcard spots sends the team the wrong message. Trying to get them to transition out of the bottom 10 should be the focus to end the year. We don’t want to create a team of losers like the Buffalo Sabers.
It's not , Dvorak Armia and Savard brings nothing to this team.

1 cant skate anymore , lays on the ice to do anything useful
the other one produces nothing offensively
the last one score once a month at 3m a year.

Who cares if we get a total of a 2nd and 2 3rd for those 3. Free assets and they are not even useful on the ice. They are not coming back next season anyways. Like the game in Calgary would make any difference without those 3. All they can do is put a stick on the ice and kill a PK which even the most useless player can learn in the NHL.
 

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