Pre-Game Talk: Habs vs Leafs (line changes)

[CaptainBenn]

I'd like to know what any of you have seen in Sekac the last 20+ games to suggest he deserves more of a chance right now?

Nothing against Sekac...but the guy has done virtually nothing outside of showing some good possession on the perimeter.

still has more points than lars eller

 

[S Bah]

Lines at practice:

Pacioretty - Desharnais - Weise
Galchenyuk - Plekanec - Gallagher
Eller - DLR - Thomas
Prust - Malhotra - Bournival

Extra forward: SEKAC

Markov - Subban
Beaulieu - Gonchar
Emelin - Weaver

Extra D: Gilbert

Nice to see that Malhotra's actually getting some relief from the defensive zone faceoffs before the playoffs. Also really nice seeing Thomas finally get the monkey off his back and JDLR assisting that effort. That against one of the fastest teams in the league is a huge bonus, one that has been a sort of stumbling block up until this point in the season. No longer should this be as big an issue, the Habs have more than enough speed to play any team in the league, match physicality and talent, both offensively and defensively, with our ace goalie backstopping the opposition. The Habs are solid throughout the lineup, with the possibilities of adding prospects from Hamilton and the CHL still a very good option.( Tinordi, McCarron, Scherbak, Hudon(LW), Carr(LW) a few that come to mind as the Habs "Black Aces" that will be in Brossard ready for the call if necessary in May/June. The Habs could have a line with ex-Bulldogs (Hudon/Carr(LW) - JDLR(C) - Thomas(RW) to insert for fresh legs in a long playoff run.

 

[LaP]

I really don't get how you zero in on the guy with 8 points in 6 games as being our problem offensively.

Probably for the same reason Therien decided that Galchenyuk was the reason the first line was not "producing enough" when he was the center of it. Galchenyuk almost had a ppg for something like 10 games with Patch. Montréal was winning. After 2-3 bad games he was removed by Therien. DD was good against Buffalo. First really great game in a while for him. But yesterday he was not great at all. Can't wait to see if he doesn't do any point in the next 2 games if MT will remove him from the first line.

 

[mtlhockeyfan]

The ultimate problem is that even with Parenteau, he is not a 1st line winger. That is causing Weise to be put on the first line, which he is not a 1st line winger. We need a first line RW and it will all be dandy

 

[417]

What has Bournival done? Nothing more. He doesn't bring anything to the team.

Michelangelo

Fair enough...but I don't think Bournival should be with the Habs right now. So that's really irrelevant to the question I asked

 

[LaP]

Last 5 games:
Weise: 5 points
Pacioretty: 6 points
Desharnais: 7 points

So you would punish them after 1 game when they've been our only line consistently producing? How does that make any sense?

And?

Plekanec and Galchenyuk had good sequences with Patch. They were still removed after only 2-3 bad games in a row.

 

[hototogisu]

And?

Plekanec and Galchenyuk had good sequences with Patch. They were still removed after only 2-3 bad games in a row.

Then wouldn't it make more sense to wait for 2-3 bad games in a row, at the very least?

 

[DenverHabsFan]

Relax, guys. Every time MT comes up with the most ridiculous line combos, the team wins big.

I say 1 goal apiece for DD, Weise, DLR and Weaver. 4-1 Habs.

 

[donghabs98]

Has Eller at any point looked good at wing?

 

[417]

Growing pains with a rookie. I figured they would ride out the pains as we go but I guess with other players being evaluated like Thomas, DLR, Bournival they decided to make a move. Sekac is better than most of them though, even if he hasn't performed.

I think there's a lot to work with Sekac...but at some point, he has to show more than what he has. He looks great with the puck in the neutral zone, but when he enters in the offensive zone, he's pretty repetitive, he'll take the puck along the wall, behind the net, and send it back to the D. He also has to work on getting his shot off more quickly.

When I compare Sekac to Thomas the last dozen games or so, I've seen more from Thomas than I have in Sekac. The goal that Thomas scored last night is the result of a few games of strong play.

I don't disagree with sitting out Sekac for a few...

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Then wouldn't it make more sense to wait for 2-3 bad games in a row, at the very least?

With his son, Therrien is always more tolerant.

 

[417]

still has more points than lars eller

It's not about points..those are largely circumstancial, I don't expect Sekac to put up tons of points, he doesn't play enough for that.

however, I do expect him to show that he deserves more icetime...so far, nothing in 2015.

 

[Blackshad]

I like the changes too!

 

[Bryson]

Then wouldn't it make more sense to wait for 2-3 bad games in a row, at the very least?

And do what exactly? Change up the lines again until that line doesn't work so we have a revolving carousel of a roster the entire season instead of developing chemistry and a stable line that can lead this team in the playoffs with our two most dynamic players? Nah...

 

[lou4gehrig]

I really don't get how you zero in on the guy with 8 points in 6 games as being our problem offensively.

Gallagher: 0g, 3a in his last 8 games
Eller: 1g, 0a in his last 15 games
Sekac: 0g, 1a in all of 2015
Bournival: 3 points in 21 games
Malhotra: 1 point in his career with us

Desharnais is one of the few guys at the moment doing what he's supposed to do. If he's a 'deadzone' I can't imagine how you'd characterize some of the other guys here.

DD has created very few chances for MaxPac. Almost none during those 6 games. You can continue to look at points irregardless of overall team play. Good luck with that. Kessell and JVR have alot of points too, doesn't mean they're playing good, winning hockey.

Fact is we're 3-3 in the last 6 games against the worst teams in the league including two awful loses to Phoenix and Edmonton where we gave up the lead. Opposing teams do not fear our top line and know they can continue to grind and work throughout the game while DD starts to float around. No fear factor.

The reality is DD is a floater and only has spurts where he's fully engaged. And at 5'7" you simply cannot get away with that in this league.

When you have teams that are trying to lose on purpose in Phoenix, Edmonton and Buffalo beating us by simply OUTWORKING us, it's a fundamental problem. Teams see DD floating mid-game and it's like blood in the water. They start circling, get a goal and start to push from there.

 

[Andy]

Has Eller at any point looked good at wing?

Once. When he came back from the benching early in the 2012-2013 season when MT made him sit after the first game of the season. He played on a line with Pacioretty and DD as the RWer and looked pretty decent.

He's never looked good on the LW though.

 

[sheed36]

Sekac has been struggling and maybe a game off might be good for him but Gallagher hasn't really been tearing it up of late either so MT needs to do something to get him going again. That Pleks-Galchenyuk-Gally line just doesn't see to have great chemistry to me.

 

[Raimu]

What has Bournival done? Nothing more. He doesn't bring anything to the team.

Michelangelo

Sekac is clearly part of the future of this team. You discipline him now to try to make him a better player down the road. Sombody has gotta fill lineup spots, might as well be Bournival.

 

[WilliamNylander]

Good luck guys.

Blow us out please. Excited to see Galchenyuk and Patches play

 

[Hope Of Glory]

Last 5 games:
Weise: 5 points
Pacioretty: 6 points
Desharnais: 7 points

So you would punish them after 1 game when they've been our only line consistently producing? How does that make any sense?

Wasn't Galchenyuk (and Plekanec) producing with Pacioretty right up to a few games before they were split? What's different now?

 

[Lemons]

MT is preparing for war lmao.


Weise top 5 winnger in leegue

 

[LyricalLyricist]

Good luck guys.

Blow us out please. Excited to see Galchenyuk and Patches play

You know, MTL is the one team I can accept losing to this time of year. That run for 1st overall annoys me.

 

[lou4gehrig]

Wasn't Galchenyuk (and Plekanec) producing with Pacioretty right up to a few games before they were split? What's different now?

It's safe to say that after 4 years, nobody makes MaxPac go. He makes others go because he's one of the best offensive players in the league.

That fact that he's 26th in the league in scoring, leading in +/- and 8th in goal scoring playing with DD, Weise, etc should be considered a miracle.

 

[That Habs Fan]

Goodbye Lars, it's been fun. He said he didn't want to play wing and now, there he is.

The removal of Sekac boggles the mind.

Expect my gdt later today

 

[Hope Of Glory]

It's safe to say that after 4 years, nobody makes MaxPac go. He makes others go because he's one of the best offensive players in the league.

That fact that he's 26th in the league in scoring, leading in +/- and 8th in goal scoring playing with DD, Weise, etc should be considered a miracle.

Oh, yeah, I agree, he is an outstanding player. I'm just saying that it didn't take much to remove Galchenyuk/Plekanec from his line so by the same logic if DD plays as bad as he did yesterday against Toronto he should be removed too. We all know that won't happen though.