Post-Game Talk: Pain

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

To be positive, I LOVED our hitting game and being heavy down low. The Dallas broadcast guys were impressed and emphasized how it really pushed Dallas back in their zone and opened up space for our guys in the 2nd. We also started holding our blue line better, we were rolling out the red carpet for Dallas controlled zone entries in period 1 while we fought for every inch in their end. Once we started committing to dump and retrieve while hurting their Dmen it changed the whole complexion of the game. The second delay of game penalty Dallas took was completely due our pressure and hitting. Keep that up and we're bound to improve and win more games than we lose.

The bolded is exactly why playing physical and finishing your checks on the forecheck is important and serves a very real function towards winning hockey games.

I know people like to roll their eyes and be like "ugh why are they so obsessed with toughness?" but it's about more than just banging bodies and feeling tough, finishing checks and making the opponent feel it absolutely has cascading impacts over the course of a game.

 

[Synergy27]

So Dallas is a good face off team but the Capitals had some injuries going on. I want to see if they can continue that vs the Islanders or Bruins, 2 teams that usually slaughter us in face offs, before I believe they’ve fixed it.

Yeah. And they still lost a few key draws very cleanly. I’ve been harping on this weakness for years though and am glad to see that it may have finally been addressed.

 

[McRanger92]

Reaves showed why he is such an effective player in this one. He plays Gallants style to a T. He had Hakanpaa running for his life all game. It was nice to see the whole group putting pressure on their defense

 

[Machinehead]

Our bottom six has been excellent. The bangers are getting it.

We just need the skill guys to correct the stupid habits we fired Quinn over. It'll take a minute.

To be fair, I think Lafreniere is getting the Gallant thing. He's hitting and scrumming noticeably more. He needs more confidence offensively. He's become a deferrer in this league. That's his thing more than a team thing.

 

[Lays]

Goodrow should be playing on the Panarin line, Kakko should be moved up to the Zibanejad line. Panarin has success with the “Goodrow” type of players in Fast and Blackwell and Goodrow is better than either was.

Kakko and Panarin are both puck dominant and should be on separate lines.

No idea what you do with Kreider and Lafreniere though. Maybe demote LaF to 3rd line and keep Kreider up on the 1st line until LaF gets it together

 

[Machinehead]

Goodrow should be playing on the Panarin line, Kakko should be moved up to the Zibanejad line. Panarin has success with the “Goodrow” type of players in Fast and Blackwell and Goodrow is better than either was.

Kakko and Panarin are both puck dominant and should be on separate lines.

No idea what you do with Kreider and Lafreniere though. Maybe demote LaF to 3rd line and keep Kreider up on the 1st line until LaF gets it together

I also think the notion that Zibanejad needs a play driver has some merit to it. Kaapo Kakko is a play-driver. I wanted Laf-Zibanejad-Kakko coming in.

Just leave Lafreniere alone. He needs locked-in top six minutes. At least 10-15 games. We have to roll with it. It's our future.

Kreider is a third liner at even strength at this point, so no problem there.

 

[EdJovanovski]

I also think the notion that Zibanejad needs a play driver has some merit to it. Kaapo Kakko is a play-driver. I wanted Laf-Zibanejad-Kakko coming in.

Just leave Lafreniere alone. He needs locked-in top six minutes. At least 10-15 games. We have to roll with it. It's our future.

Kreider is a third liner at even strength at this point, so no problem there.

If only we rolled with the obvious from the start

Panarin - Strome - Kravtsov
Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Goodrow
Blais - The Hands - Reaves

 

[Ruggs225]

If only we rolled with the obvious from the start

Panarin - Strome - Kravtsov
Lafreniere - Zibanejad - Kakko
Kreider - Chytil - Goodrow
Blais - The Hands - Reaves

that first line would be steamrolled by heavier teams. Its actually an awful line. Lots of skill for sure, but no grit and no puck retrieval.

 

[EdJovanovski]

that first line would be steamrolled by heavier teams. Its actually an awful line. Lots of skill for sure, but no grit and no puck retrieval.

Kravtsov is a puck hound, first man in deep every forecheck, first man back every backcheck. He’s also no small kid either. That line played well together before. If I were coach myself though, I from the start have said I see Kravtsov as a center and I would’ve rolled with a line of

Panarin - Kravtsov - Goodrow

Goodrow would play that Fast role on that line and he can also take draws for Kravy while he adjusts to center

 

[romba]

Well...I would like to see them keep going 5 on 5 even when time expires and let it go for 5 more minutes as is with no whistle at the 20 minute mark.....and if it is tied...so be it . Each team gets a point . Or they could throw each a shooter out for one crack at winning in a short SO . 2 points for winning and ZILCH for losing and 1 each for a tie.

The problem with that is there would be too many ties and the league wants to avoid that at all costs which is why they originally went to OT in reg season, followed by the change to 4 on 4, then shootout, then 3 on 3. 5 minutes of extra 5 on 5 most likely won't decide a winner which is why I thinkg we should move to 10 minutes of 4 on 4 as a compromise. It's real hockey with more scoring chances, and 10 minutes of it would more likely lead to an eventual winner. The PA may not want the extra 5 minutes of play so there would need to be some sort of concession from the league on that part.

TLDR: 3 on 3 sucks (shootout does too), so let's figure out an alternative that involves real hockey and not many ties.

 

[effen]

that first line would be steamrolled by heavier teams. Its actually an awful line. Lots of skill for sure, but no grit and no puck retrieval.

I'm actually all for LaFreniere trying to make himself into a grinder that I think about it. Mika has negative physicality at this point and shit just isn't gonna work in 2021 unless he has 1.5 other people on his line doing grunt work.

 

[Miamipuck]

By pain do they mean ours or

nevermind. lol

 

[Sayba]

Lindgren is just as poor of a skater as Trouba and offers less offensively. Miller is a great skater but also shaky af right now

You're not watching if you think they skate the same.

 

[Kovalev27]

Danault would've been perfect, but you kinda have to think he wanted to go to LA. He took pretty much the same deal he rejected from MTL IIRC.

i don’t blame management for not getting f him sounds like they tried. Look at kopitar he said it yesterday he’s freed up to be more offensive with a guy like Danault behind him. That’s what we needed or as I said go all in and get another star to put behind mika like Eichel who does everything.

Strome is a roller hockey player honestly

 

[bigdog16]

You're not watching if you think they skate the same.

You're right I dont watch any games I just make up things. Lindgren is a bad skater man, like, bad

The difference is he knows he is a bad skater so he never tries to jump into the play. Trouba, although also a bad skater, tries to jump into plays thinking he can play that game (he can't).

But he is a better option than Lindgren. Not close

 

[chosen]

Defensively, yes. But Fox drives play and when he goes, the teams goes. So overall, no, but Trouba has been their best actual defender.

Trouba has not been better than Fox defensively. I'm totally shocked anyone believes that, but maybe there's others here who agree with you.

 

[chosen]

Yes. Fox was terrible until the second period of last nights game. I don't suspect Trouba being the best d-man each game to continue.

Fox was terrible?

Anyone have that analytics graph that often shows up after every game?

 

[chosen]

Defensively, yes. But Fox drives play and when he goes, the teams goes. So overall, no, but Trouba has been their best actual defender.

Isn't getting the puck out of the defensive zone a major part of being good defensively?

 

[EpicDing]

I absolutely think this team is on the right track so far. Way more physical, and in the right way (heavy forecheck, not just being goons).

Once the skill guys get it going, we'll be in good shape. Still only been 2 games with a new coach.

 

[chosen]

Best prospect in hockey, eh?

Someone's on the pipe.

 

[bl02]

Goodrow should be playing on the Panarin line, Kakko should be moved up to the Zibanejad line. Panarin has success with the “Goodrow” type of players in Fast and Blackwell and Goodrow is better than either was.

Kakko and Panarin are both puck dominant and should be on separate lines.

No idea what you do with Kreider and Lafreniere though. Maybe demote LaF to 3rd line and keep Kreider up on the 1st line until LaF gets it together

I wish they figure this out sooner rather than later. Sure it would be awesome for Kakko and Panarin to share the puck perfectly with amazing chemistry but it's not gonna happen. Blais or Goodrow with absolutely be on that line so better sooner rather than later.

And as much as people would hate it probably Laf on the third line and Kreider next to Mika is way to go. Let Laf control the puck and be more assertive. He's totally lost on a line with Mika. I rather have Laf play a few minutes less and actually be effective than mostly be invisible on our "first" line.

Kreider-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Goodrow (or Blais)
Lafreniere- Chytil- Goodrow (or Blais)
Hunt (whatever)- Rooney- Reaves
Unfortunately odd man out as usual Gauthier.

 

[Greg02]

By pain do they mean ours or

nevermind. lol

French bread

 

[chosen]

I wish they figure this out sooner rather than later. Sure it would be awesome for Kakko and Panarin to share the puck perfectly with amazing chemistry but it's not gonna happen. Blais or Goodrow with absolutely be on that line so better sooner rather than later.

And as much as people would hate it probably Laf on the third line and Kreider next to Mika is way to go. Let Laf control the puck and be more assertive. He's totally lost on a line with Mika. I rather have Laf play a few minutes less and actually be effective than mostly be invisible on our "first" line.

Kreider-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Strome-Goodrow (or Blais)
Lafreniere- Chytil- Goodrow (or Blais)
Hunt (whatever)- Rooney- Reaves
Unfortunately odd man out as usual Gauthier.

Your projected lines demonstrate why Buch was so important to this team.

Neither Blais nor Goodrow have ever shown they are top-6 players.

This isn't an argument to have kept Buch. The problem is that Kravtsov is a headcase who is screwing up the top-6.

 

[bl02]

Your projected lines demonstrate why Buch was so important to this team.

Neither Blais nor Goodrow have ever shown they are top-6 players.

This isn't an argument to have kept Buch. The problem is that Kravtsov is a headcase who is screwing up the top-6.

Yeah would have been nice if Kravtsov would have filled that slot but it just seems that for the Panarin line more than any other line by a good margin needs someone like a Goodrow or Blais. It's almost crazy to think but just someone who can hunt down the puck and then let Panarin control the puck for the most part vs someone who has a ton of skill with the puck. Not sure how much more successful that line is having a Kakko/Kravtsov/Buch vs a Goodrow or Blais?

 

[Levitate]

To be fair, I think Lafreniere is getting the Gallant thing. He's hitting and scrumming noticeably more. He needs more confidence offensively. He's become a deferrer in this league. That's his thing more than a team thing.

I kinda think that's the "downside" to getting a high pick like him and having him riding shotgun to established star players like Panarin or Zibanejad. Instead of being like "I'm the guy, I'm taking over this line" he's holding back to the vets