Post-Game Talk: Habs remain winless in November

[ChesterNimitz]

Better effort by the team in a general sense, but every f***ing game, we look awfully bad in our own zone. I wonder how frustrating that must be for the players, and whether they are all buying into the system St. Louis is trying to implement.

On another, more incredulous note, I'm surprised by the present vibe of this fanbase and forum. Many fans on here, some even pro-tank, are criticizing the Habs brass harshly & vocally, and have set some unrealistic expectations for this team.
No man's land was best-case scenario for this squad at the start of pre-season. Well, tough luck, the consensus of this fanbase was wrong, and as usual, overrated its team and staff.
We're in the midst of a rebuild, it'll hurt and suck for us. Growing pains for the young and inexperienced players.

Well said. The frustration is predictable as are many fans’ tendency to overrate their team’s strengths and chances.

As I have noted, last year, three elements: an elite top line, above average goaltending and a highly mobile defence allowed the team to be competitive. Remove one of those pillars of strength in any game and the team usually lost.

This year (at least to date) the top line has largely been absent; the goaltending spotty and the defence, whether by subtraction or injury, has been far less mobile and thus, far more ineffective.

Its not surprising therefore, at least to this writer, that on many nights the team is not competitive and, consequently, sits last in the Eastern Conference.

 

[Runner77]

Looked like someone shot the guy.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854732034645627165

 

[BLONG7]

Better effort by the team in a general sense, but every f***ing game, we look awfully bad in our own zone. I wonder how frustrating that must be for the players, and whether they are all buying into the system St. Louis is trying to implement.

On another, more incredulous note, I'm surprised by the present vibe of this fanbase and forum. Many fans on here, some even pro-tank, are criticizing the Habs brass harshly & vocally, and have set some unrealistic expectations for this team.
No man's land was best-case scenario for this squad at the start of pre-season. Well, tough luck, the consensus of this fanbase was wrong, and as usual, overrated its team and staff.
We're in the midst of a rebuild, it'll hurt and suck for us. Growing pains for the young and inexperienced players.

The golf tournament day, the vibe was in the mix, and playing meaningful games in March/April.....setting up expectations that may not have been the best for everyone.

The impatience is not just with this group, but the fact that we have been a terrible team since 2017
The new group have done some things to make strides, and some things that have gone sideways.

Development, as many have stated isn't always linear. My hope for the team to recover soon, and play 500 hockey is fading, but after 14 games, it's still early and HuGo I think will make some changes around the 20 game mark.

I was never expecting the playoffs, this year, but was expecting better than their current state of play, especially in their own end. We really miss Luke Richardson.

 

[ahmedou]

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Vintage Facepalm

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Maybe that's why he's better, less ice time.

More ice time would also entail harder opposition from tougher matchups.

 

[PhysicX]

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Vintage Facepalm
View attachment 927788

There needs to be blood gushing out of St. Louis' eyes. Someone have a go at it.

 

[Weltschmerz]

I might just have it figured out.

Here's Matheson, before he starts a game:

Give him 27+ mins TOI and/or use him in all situations and you end up with his meth head version:

Meth is on

 

[Theodore450]

No nut November taking on a new meaning

 

[V13]

In our last 10 we're the worst team of the NHL tied with Pittsburgh at 2-6-2

The tank is real

 

[junyab]

Tank lets goooooo. Hagens Martone Misa!

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Last night G was the weak link not D missing assignments (except Hutson getting outmuscled) - 2-3 of NJD goals should’ve been stopped by solid NHL caliber G

Which ones ?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Last night's loss is one I could handle because Habs played with energy and didn't give up.

I also find Newhook's been playing better the last 2-3 games. Hopefully he continues playing with the energy he's been playing with. I also feel Slaf's been playing better the last 2-3 games.

 

[Andy]

I'm okay if they lose games like they did last night. They were super competitive and didn't look outmatched. They were right there with NJ all night.

The game came down to the fact that they simply could not contain Hughes. While it's a team deficiency, it's also an indication that the club lacks a top pairing D man. In the Subban, Markov, Weber era, they would have gone head-to-head with Hughes all night.

I love Guhle, but he's not yet ready to handle that skill level.

One thing I do not love is the lack of intensity on the forecheck. The only players working hard on the forecheck are Gallagher, Evans, Newhook, Anderson, Heineman. Everyone else is so passive and barely pressure the D with speed.

 

[Kosseca]

I wonder if Newhook will have more games like tonight or did he reach his quota of good games. In fairness he was dynamite tonight. Habs tend to have random players wake up at random periods of time but never as a whole team.

In all fairness, NJ is not a physical team and MTL had space to play. I'm hoping this will inject confidence, but I remain skeptical for now. That said, if he can bring this level of play on a consistant basis... well that is gona be fun to watch

 

[teamfirst]

I wonder how much better Matheson might be if his minutes were more closely managed. He’s too erratic and mistake-prone at his current workload.

He was always erratic and mistake-prone with his former teams, dont think using him on the second our third pairing would change that

 

[Andy]

In all fairness, NJ is not a physical team and MTL had space to play. I'm hoping this will inject confidence, but I remain skeptical for now. That said, if he can bring this level of play on a consistant basis... well that is gona be fun to watch

I have no problems with Newhook. He's your typical top 6 forward who will have stretches of productivity and stretches where he has blanks. He is not going to carry a line, but every team needs guys like this.

The difference between top 6 players like Newhook and Drouin is that Newhook brings his lunch pale every game and works his tail off. Guys like Drouin coast and really just depend on their talent.

 

[JustAHabFan]

Drafting Top 5 almost a lock. Imagine if Suzuki were to miss a few weeks how horrendous this team would be

The team is already horrendous with Suzuki playing.

 

[JustAHabFan]

Habs didn't seem to breakdown as much as they normally do defensively, but still did more than you'd hope and it ended in the net quite often


Team is improving slightly, but I was gone to bed like 5 minutes into the 3rd, so they may have really sucked for the last 15 minutes

For me the goal by Hughes was just horrible. You let him go the front of the net that easy?

 

[The Great Weal]

How many times has Matheson lost us games mishandling the puck at the blue line in the last 5 minutes of games? 25? That stat must exist somewhere?

Lost us games means we were winning the game, when were we winning the game yesterday?

 

[Habs13]

How to say I'm boomer without saying I'm a boomer.


You work on remembrance day?

Pretty sure all of Quebec does. I have a doctors appointment to see how bad my PCL sprain is so I can probably see the game after all

 

[Adam Michaels]

Lost us games means we were winning the game, when were we winning the game yesterday?

I know what @Kennerback is trying to say. For example last night, Habs had the extra attacker and they had possession of the puck in the offensive zone. And instead of creating plays that lead to scoring chances to tie the game, he fumbles the puck at the blue line that leads Jersey to score in the open net.

And it's not the first time that Matheson is victim of such a play.

 

[The Great Weal]

I know what @Kennerback is trying to say. For example last night, Habs had the extra attacker and they had possession of the puck in the offensive zone. And instead of creating plays that lead to scoring chances to tie the game, he fumbles the puck at the blue line that leads Jersey to score in the open net.

And it's not the first time that Matheson is victim of such a play.

I understand as well, but that’s not costing us the game. If the game was tied then it would be costing us the game.

 

[salbutera]

Which ones ?

2nd (Palat) and Segenthaler (3rd) goals

For a G vying for Team Canada starter spot, Dikembe can’t let those shots beat him cleanly…