Post-Game Talk: Playoffs? Habs clinch playoff berth.

[Habs Icing]

I think he's just spent.

His energy or his skill?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Lehkonen gets so much hate and I never understood why. Sure, he isn’t a top-6 winger, but he’s a solid bottom-6 option that works his ass off, isn’t soft and shows up in the playoffs. A few years ago, when the Rangers eliminated us, other than Radulov, Lehkonen was great in that series.

Yes. That series, only three guys really showed heart and stepped their game up: Radulov, Lehkonen & Gallagher.

Habs haven't been in the playoffs much in the last few years. But in 2017 and last summer, Lehkonen actually elevated his game. And it doesn't mean he produces. But he just brings the energy up when it really matters.

 

[26Mats]

Lehkonen gets so much hate and I never understood why. Sure, he isn’t a top-6 winger, but he’s a solid bottom-6 option that works his ass off, isn’t soft and shows up in the playoffs. A few years ago, when the Rangers eliminated us, other than Radulov, Lehkonen was great in that series.

Personally, I don't hate him. But we can't be spending 3.4M on Byron, 2.6M on Armia, and 2.4M on Lehkonen. They're all overpaid. We need the cap space to u pl grade the talent in the top 9.

They're all great though if they play on your 4th line for 1M.

Given the contracts we have on the books, I wouldn't qualify Lehkonen at 2.4M.

 

[CHwest]

I've accepted the perpetual mediocrity and will just be happy and enjoy the Habs being in the playoffs. What else can you do at this point?

Probably the happiest guy on the board. I should take lessons.

 

[the]

Still cannot believe we in the playoffs!!

Celebrated the win last night.

 

[CHwest]

Best worst team for two years in a row. Bergy is pilling up the records.

Extension worthy performance.

 

[Habs Icing]

Guess what ? KK and CC won't be in the line up. Perry and Staal, yes.

It looks that way.

 

[Habs Icing]

Kotkaniemi, Lehkonen, Evans, or Caufield will be the ones sitting while Staal plays even more...I'd bet my house on it...

Evans and Lehky won't be sitting especially not against T.O.

 

[Habs Icing]

I would not all be surprised if KK sits for Staal.

Probably

Tatar -- Danault -- Gallagher
Toffoli -- Suzuki -- Anderson
Lehkonen -- Evans -- Byron
Perry -- Staal -- Armia

Caufield, KK out.

Edmundson -- Petry
Chiarot -- Weber
Romanov -- Kulak or Merrill

That's the lineup I see also.

 

[salbutera]

His energy or his skill?

Physically & mentally burnt out

 

[BLONG7]

I TOLD yall Habs were going to make the playoffs. Bergie is here to stay baby!

They are discussing his future......thinking he will be in charge of concessions next year.

 

[Lshap]

Man this feels good for Lehkonen. Hard working, sometimes-ace-shootin' SOB.

Lehkonen gets so much hate and I never understood why. Sure, he isn’t a top-6 winger, but he’s a solid bottom-6 option that works his ass off, isn’t soft and shows up in the playoffs. A few years ago, when the Rangers eliminated us, other than Radulov, Lehkonen was great in that series.

He's such an underrated player and will be dynamite in the playoffs again. Works his sack off every game

I'm one of those who gave Lehkonen a hard time. Gutsy, responsible, strong, yeah I get all that, but when the puck was on his stick I took a bathroom break, knowing he'd miss the net or float a shot safely into the goalie's chest.

But I admit he's stepped up his game. He's one of the few players who consistently disrupts the other forwards, wins a puck battle, and moves the play in the right direction. And recently he's even managed to put the puck in the net. He's a valuable bottom-six forward, especially in the playoffs when, as you guys mention, he has been excellent.

 

[Kriss E]

Still cannot believe we in the playoffs!!

Celebrated the win last night.

This is the 2nd year in a row the Habs make the POs when they shouldn't. They would be sitting outside the POs with their 59pts if under normal format.
Last year they had to include almost the entire league for us to make it.

What a pathetic group.
That's why you don't rebuild on the fly.

 

[Habs Icing]

This is how you replace Danault when he prices himself out:

I love what Evans and his line brought last night but can we please see what Evans can do in the playoffs before we start thinking of replacing Danault with Evans.

 

[gillyguzzler]

Evans line : 10/10
Suzuki line : 6/10
Staal line : 5/10
KK line : 1/10

Amazed, shift after shift, at what the Evans line was doing against the Oilers top line.
Disappointed and frustrated, shift after shift, at what the KK line was doing against the Oilers 4th line.

I can't believe it but KK will not be playing game 1 of the playoffs. Place blame wherever you want... he's not playing well enough right now and that's a fact. Very disappointing. As bad as Staal is, yesterday, he was better than KK - and Staal was not very good at all.

 

[Lshap]

Isn't it kind of telling that the three guys who's jobs were in jeopardy work their balls off and get us the point that clinches the playoffs? All three guys sat at one point and came back better.

It's a good point. Hard to know how much correlation there really is, but certainly some.

Byron was a freakin revelation last night. Holy cow! Where has this guy been the last year and a half, and how do we keep him in that gear?

 

[Habs Icing]

You remember the movie "Usual Suspects"? Well, the Habs are limping into the playoffs but don't be fooled. We are pulling a Keyser Soze! lol

Nice analogy. I'm rooting for you to be right but something tells me naw.

 

[Habs Icing]

Isn't it kind of telling that the three guys who's jobs were in jeopardy work their balls off and get us the point that clinches the playoffs? All three guys sat at one point and came back better.

So what are you saying? A press box visit for KK will do him wonders?

 

[Lshap]

Evans line : 10/10
Suzuki line : 6/10
Staal line : 5/10
KK line : 1/10

Amazed, shift after shift, at what the Evans line was doing against the Oilers top line.
Disappointed and frustrated, shift after shift, at what the KK line was doing against the Oilers 4th line.

I can't believe it but KK will not be playing game 1 of the playoffs. Place blame wherever you want... he's not playing well enough right now and that's a fact. Very disappointing. As bad as Staal is, yesterday, he was better than KK - and Staal was not very good at all.

I won't pretend to know the best course of action for Kotkaniemi, but I do know that all the should've/would've/could'ves fly out the window when the playoffs start. It's not the time to experiment. Go with what works – or with what sucks less – and ice the roster most likely to win. Kotkaniemi showed flashes of what he could become, but he's been mired in a funk. A short break might be as helpful for him as it was for Evans. If we're lucky, that short break will be the week between the last game and the beginning of the playoffs.

 

[Hins77]

This is the 2nd year in a row the Habs make the POs when they shouldn't. They would be sitting outside the POs with their 59pts if under normal format.
Last year they had to include almost the entire league for us to make it.

What a pathetic group.
That's why you don't rebuild on the fly.

There is no normality this year. There is no comparison to do. North division was maybe the section were they travelling the most. They played 25 games in 53 days I believe. I mean. You can’t compare the result of this year vs a normal year. And, there was no bottom feeder team in the section like detroit/Nj etc were its easier to gets free points. So let just be happy to make playoff

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Happened twice under Bergevin.

With the only difference that Julien had a better record than Therrien or are you referring to when Bob took over from Carbo?

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Don't be negative or Brian Wilde and John Lu will cry about it. You're supposed to be excited for the progress under Bergevin.

I don’t see any progress, but who am I?

 

[BLONG7]

This is the 2nd year in a row the Habs make the POs when they shouldn't. They would be sitting outside the POs with their 59pts if under normal format.
Last year they had to include almost the entire league for us to make it.

What a pathetic group.
That's why you don't rebuild on the fly.

This is also why they should have fired Bergevin 3-4 years ago...

 

[Lshap]

So what are you saying? A press box visit for KK will do him wonders?

Depends how it's presented. Sitting out can be framed as a punishment, a needed break, or an opportunity to learn. In the Therrien era it was a poorly used punishment. Used properly and judiciously it has value.

 

[gillyguzzler]

I won't pretend to know the best course of action for Kotkaniemi, but I do know that all the should've/would've/could'ves fly out the window when the playoffs start. It's not the time to experiment. Go with what works – or with what sucks less – and ice the roster most likely to win. Kotkaniemi showed flashes of what he could become, but he's been mired in a funk. A short break might be as helpful for him as it was for Evans. If we're lucky, that short break will be the week between the last game and the beginning of the playoffs.

Well said...

I like that "or with what sucks less".