Post-Game Talk: Habs shut out the Stanley Cup finalists

Nicko999

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Jan 23, 2008
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Best game of the year.

Goaltending was solid when it needed to be (first period especially).
Defense was good. Kept McDavid and Draisaitl on the perimeter.
Offense was average but that's the talent level of the forward core so hard to ask for more.
 
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Runner77

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Btw, I am sold on Amazon. f*** it's a nice picture quality and talking heads are ok.

I'm going to read Oilers forum for a bit.
I went over there, read 4 pages and found the tone too nice for my liking, despite their displeasure. It wasn’t Leaf-level hyperbolic, which has the highest entertainment value. Maybe you can’t foster a high degree of animosity with a fan base whose team plays so few games vs the Habs in the regular season.

Only one post in those 4 pages called the Habs a garbage team. A significant number of posts were Google translations into French. :laugh:
 

HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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A few thoughts on the game and a few players I posted elsewhere....

‐----------

They played man/man and then on the 5 on 6 zone.

I'm starting to think they have enough processing power to switch back and forth. If they can accomplish that at will, it's a big deal. Although when they played m/m, they were run around on purpose and they lost coverage. Looked like headless chickens.

I'm going to fall off my extra high toddler chair if the guys show that much discipline switching coverage type with a much better team. If they did it with the Wild as an example.

X is coming around. Not happy with his zone exits and losing possession. I don't know where to find the numbers but not thrilled seeing the puck sail down the zone. He seems to fear carrying it and he should be. Not exactly fleet of foot nor particulry great at beating m/m coverage. 17.10 has been the longest ice time in forever. Third highest this season and 3 minutes short of his longest at 20.34.

I'm pissed at the lack of shooting. Is he that wild and hard that the guys in front fear for their bones? He's not even calling for the puck, although he fails to put himself in the open or move himself to a shooting lane. So it may be more of his fault for not reading the ice to get into a shooting lane. There were a few instances where he was the best passing option to shoot yet he was not passed to. If it was me with 107mph canon, i would give him an earful but it seems perfectly normal. Or at least from our limited perspective. OR maybe he's afraid of a bad bounce and a breakaway on him. That where the words "shooting lane" comes in. Chicken and egg problem... at 107mph.

Dach...this is NOT the Dach of last season. WTH is going on with him? We are closing in on quarter of the season and he's still the Chicago Dach. I wonder if he going to wake up when Laine comes back. Laine is going to be a pretty statue in a line of pretty statues if Dach can't be his playmaker. Laine was a ppg with a good center...but not a Chicago Dach.

We are living in interesting Habs times...
 
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HabsAddict

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Only one post in those 4 pages called the Habs a garbage team. A significant number of posts were Google translations into French. :laugh:

I went there too and read the "garbage" comment. Must be an IQ shortage to call another team garbage when you just got beaten. Makes their team into what? Sub-garbage level?
 

RationalExpectations

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May 12, 2019
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I went there too and read the "garbage" comment. Must be an IQ shortage to call another team garbage when you just got beaten. Makes their team into what? Sub-garbage level?
You can have a bad game from time to time. COL could lose to SJS and that would not mean COL would be a worse team than SJS.
 

ReHabs

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Dach...this is NOT the Dach of last season. WTH is going on with him? We are closing in on quarter of the season and he's still the Chicago Dach. I wonder if he going to wake up when Laine comes back. Laine is going to be a pretty statue in a line of pretty statues if Dach can't be his playmaker. Laine was a ppg with a good center...but not a Chicago Dach.
Dach of last season...? He played 1.3 games out of 82. There was no Dach last season.

Chicago Dach was sold without tears with CHI fans wondering if he would ever 'put it together'. Fast forward two seasons and here we are, wondering if he'll ever put it together. He will get more time to re-invigorate himself and his game. It's a mental block for him. Let's hope it happens though, for many players it never comes together. We Habs fans should know not to endlessly chase after potential like dogs after a car.
 
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Bell Centre Hotdog

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Team played a complete and supporting game. Covering each other well defensively. Not much pressure in front of the net.

Forechecking was good. Chipped deep, Slafkovsky was so good beating guys to the corner or chasing the puck behind the net before Edmonton reached it. One which lead to Gallagher’s goal. Wasn’t on the scoresheet point wise. He worked his behind off and intercepted a couple of passes. Where pressure was happening in their own end.

Xhekaj’s best game. Guy was so confident, the huge hit on Hyman. Head up all game making some outlet passes or passes out of the zone. Cleared the net and was rough all game again not crossing the line. Even in the offensive zone few times at the point manning the line and a few shots and moving the puck around well. Progressing which I believe he’s going to be a well rounded defense. It’s taking time but he is going in the right direction.

Montembeault you can tell in his games when he is on from the first like 5 minutes of a game, just his tracking and his handling of the puck. I can’t explain it. Just some games he looks square but starts to overslide and getting pieces of pucks. Tonight everything was in the trapper, absorbed and he just had a sharp eye.

Then finally Gallagher. This guy just seemed like everyone left him for dead for these next three years just being on the books. This guy seems to have reverted back to his old ways. For a period he was trying to play finesse and be a shooter and such. He’s gone back to drive the net, standing in the lane and huge tips. Low center of gravity so he’s been effective back in front of the net and getting timely dirty and greasy goals. Love to see it. Guy deserves a lot of love for his play this year. He’s leading just as much as the captain. Seems like he has got his top gear back and turning into an engine/heart guy of the team again.

Outside of these guys who I thought deserved much needed mentions for some little and big things. The team clicked all night and are gelling. They seemed to have picked up a groove of how to play the backend tighter and transition to the offense.

Good job tonight Habs!!!!
 
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Tuggy

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Great game last night from the team and deserved result.

I had a feeling they would win last night and get a little win streak going. Nice to see them play smarter hockey.
 

Gaud

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May 11, 2017
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A few thoughts on the game and a few players I posted elsewhere....

‐----------

They played man/man and then on the 5 on 6 zone.

I'm starting to think they have enough processing power to switch back and forth. If they can accomplish that at will, it's a big deal. Although when they played m/m, they were run around on purpose and they lost coverage. Looked like headless chickens.

I'm going to fall off my extra high toddler chair if the guys show that much discipline switching coverage type with a much better team. If they did it with the Wild as an example.

X is coming around. Not happy with his zone exits and losing possession. I don't know where to find the numbers but not thrilled seeing the puck sail down the zone. He seems to fear carrying it and he should be. Not exactly fleet of foot nor particulry great at beating m/m coverage. 17.10 has been the longest ice time in forever. Third highest this season and 3 minutes short of his longest at 20.34.

I'm pissed at the lack of shooting. Is he that wild and hard that the guys in front fear for their bones? He's not even calling for the puck, although he fails to put himself in the open or move himself to a shooting lane. So it may be more of his fault for not reading the ice to get into a shooting lane. There were a few instances where he was the best passing option to shoot yet he was not passed to. If it was me with 107mph canon, i would give him an earful but it seems perfectly normal. Or at least from our limited perspective. OR maybe he's afraid of a bad bounce and a breakaway on him. That where the words "shooting lane" comes in. Chicken and egg problem... at 107mph.

Dach...this is NOT the Dach of last season. WTH is going on with him? We are closing in on quarter of the season and he's still the Chicago Dach. I wonder if he going to wake up when Laine comes back. Laine is going to be a pretty statue in a line of pretty statues if Dach can't be his playmaker. Laine was a ppg with a good center...but not a Chicago Dach.

We are living in interesting Habs times...
I feel we were totally on the other end of the spectrum just two games ago :D

that being said, last 2 games looked like credible hockey. I took Mtl's Senior Management's goal to "be in the mix" this year, so im not expecting the playoffs, but i was concerned with how we've been losing lately. I dont think man to man D is effective, but at least it looks like we have a hockey team now. Hope they can keep that up.

Dach just looks rusty to me. He looked good enough pre-injury to me that i am willing to wait a while.
 

morhilane

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Feb 28, 2021
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It looks different when the players are executing.
Also, having a proper 4th line that can bring energy and not leak goals helps a lot.

Now if the team could have an actual 2nd line center.
 

Andy

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Jun 26, 2008
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I've been repeating ad nauseam, but the habs team defense has been great since the Calgary game and now they are also getting good goaltending.

Dare I say that the young D of Hutson, Guhle, Struble, Xhekaj might finally be putting it all together? All four have looked great the last string of games.
 

Runner77

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Really surprised that @ArtPeur hasn’t yet chimed into this thread with one of his patented “wow” reactions. 😳
 

Saundies

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Jun 8, 2012
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It's kind of funny how the two of the guys up front that everybody piles on are the ones putting the team on their back and dragging them out of the funk (Gally and Anderson).

Definitely the most complete game of the year for sure. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for Chadkovsky.
 
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Andy

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Jun 26, 2008
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It's kind of funny how the two of the guys up front that everybody piles on are the ones putting the team on their back and dragging them out of the funk (Gally and Anderson).

Definitely the most complete game of the year for sure. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for Chadkovsky.
Gallagher and Anderson have been awesome almost the entire season - and I say that has someone who has ragged on them constantly.

Recently, I find they set the tone with their intensity and pace. The exact type of game you want to see from your 3rd line. Kudos to them for redefining themselves - or in the case of Gallagher, finding some rejuvenation.
 

Saundies

Fly On The Wall
Jun 8, 2012
3,297
4,827
NB, Canada
Team played a complete and supporting game. Covering each other well defensively. Not much pressure in front of the net.

Forechecking was good. Chipped deep, Slafkovsky was so good beating guys to the corner or chasing the puck behind the net before Edmonton reached it. One which lead to Gallagher’s goal. Wasn’t on the scoresheet point wise. He worked his behind off and intercepted a couple of passes. Where pressure was happening in their own end.

Xhekaj’s best game. Guy was so confident, the huge hit on Hyman. Head up all game making some outlet passes or passes out of the zone. Cleared the net and was rough all game again not crossing the line. Even in the offensive zone few times at the point manning the line and a few shots and moving the puck around well. Progressing which I believe he’s going to be a well rounded defense. It’s taking time but he is going in the right direction.

Montembeault you can tell in his games when he is on from the first like 5 minutes of a game, just his tracking and his handling of the puck. I can’t explain it. Just some games he looks square but starts to overslide and getting pieces of pucks. Tonight everything was in the trapper, absorbed and he just had a sharp eye.

Then finally Gallagher. This guy just seemed like everyone left him for dead for these next three years just being on the books. This guy seems to have reverted back to his old ways. For a period he was trying to play finesse and be a shooter and such. He’s gone back to drive the net, standing in the lane and huge tips. Low center of gravity so he’s been effective back in front of the net and getting timely dirty and greasy goals. Love to see it. Guy deserves a lot of love for his play this year. He’s leading just as much as the captain. Seems like he has got his top gear back and turning into an engine/heart guy of the team again.

Outside of these guys who I thought deserved much needed mentions for some little and big things. The team clicked all night and are gelling. They seemed to have picked up a groove of how to play the backend tighter and transition to the offense.

Good job tonight Habs!!!!
I can explain it: you can tell he's on when he hasn't let in 2 goals on his first three shots.

:sarcasm:
 

Saundies

Fly On The Wall
Jun 8, 2012
3,297
4,827
NB, Canada
Gallagher and Anderson have been awesome almost the entire season - and I say that has someone who has ragged on them constantly.

Recently, I find they set the tone with their intensity and pace. The exact type of game you want to see from your 3rd line. Kudos to them for redefining themselves - or in the case of Gallagher, finding some rejuvenation.
For Andy, I knew he couldn't possibility be as bad as last year (and I found a lot of that was bad puck luck/him losing confidence in the beginning). He's not flashy but he skates well in straight lines and plays really well when he's pissed off.

Gallagher I straight up thought he was done. Last season he looked slow, and at his age (especially with his skillset, where he has to work hard for everything he gets), being slow is death in this league. I'm not sure if he switched up his workout routine in the summer or what but he keeps up with the play now and it helps him tremendously.
 

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