Playoffs Positivity Thread

[domiwroze]

It's weird but it feels like every team Montreal plays is either well into the palyoffs or on a hot streak. No gimmes. When are the easy games please?

Philly Thursday but then it's Hurricanes on Friday and Panthers on Sunday.

Rough Schedule, it's better for the kids anyway. You wanna be the best, no one is going to hand you the cup, you gotta be the best.

 

[domiwroze]

Wings are ahead 3-1 with less than 5 minutes to go in the 3rd period.

... with 10 shot on goal, wow.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Maybe we should offer the refs the same amount than those at the Isles-BJ games got from us for screwing the Islanders by disallowing a perfectly good goal with 8 seconds left in regulation.

Everyone has had goals called back. Gallagher's GI was bullshit, too. If you let that stop you you won't get anywhere. Teams always think "refs have it out for them", when the truth is refs suck for everyone.

Perseverance is a must through an 82 game season. You either have it or you don't. Islanders are pissed, but they're not special in this. They've had 70 games to get into a Wild Card spot. If they miss, it isn't due to one f***ing goal.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Wings are ahead 3-1 with less than 5 minutes to go in the 3rd period.

... with 10 shot on goal, wow.

4-1 now with 11 shots on goal. That's just embarrassing. A .636 save percentage.

Detroit moves to within 3 points of Montreal. I still think they're out, as they have to jump 4 teams, but considering how shit NYI, NYR, CBJ & Detroit have been, it's amazing they're all still in it.

5-1 Detroit. 13 shots. Lol

That's the final. Utah's playoff aspirations are done.

 

[domiwroze]

4-1 now with 11 shots on goal. That's just embarrassing. A .636 save percentage.

Detroit moves to within 3 points of Montreal. I still think they're out, as they have to jump 4 teams, but considering how shit NYI, NYR, CBJ & Detroit have been, it's amazing they're all still in it.

5-1 Detroit. 13 shots. Lol

That's the final. Utah's playoff aspirations are done.

Yep they are done. My bet is on StLouis to make it, closest 2nd would be CGY but I don't think they will outpace the Blues,

Utah needs to go 8-2-1 in their last 11 to make it to 92. Which wouldn't be just enough if the Blues goes .500. It ain't happening.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Detroit moves to within 3 points of Montreal.

They're -4 (pts/g) behind us though, same as us behind Ottawa.

Habs need to get on a roll, one way or another.

 

[Andrei79]

Controversial opinion, but I agree with the ref on the no goal after watching a few angles. He makes contact with the goalie who's in his crease, has to push him away and is affected in his ability to make the save. NY and Bebe Lala Roy can cry about it all they want, but the Suzuki offside was inconclusive and they benefited from BS reffing themselves not too long ago. Actually, we've been on the receiving end of some brutal calls this year, including against another NY team.

 

[Scintillating10]

Dvorak been playing good hockey for us down the stretch. Good faceoff and penalty killer. Has good puck possession and corsi. I think injuries cut his career down here. Because he's been playing his best hockey now that he's healthy.

His line with Gallagher and Anderson one of best third lines in NHL. Better than our second line most nights

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Habs have the advantage now.

They're 1, or more points ahead of everyone chasing them with 1, or more games in hand.

That game in hand will be uses in comparison to most teams tonight.

So, a win for the Habs would be huge.

Game is also huge for the blues.

Should be a good one

 

[tazsub3]

4-1 now with 11 shots on goal. That's just embarrassing. A .636 save percentage.

Detroit moves to within 3 points of Montreal. I still think they're out, as they have to jump 4 teams, but considering how shit NYI, NYR, CBJ & Detroit have been, it's amazing they're all still in it.

5-1 Detroit. 13 shots. Lol

That's the final. Utah's playoff aspirations are done.

And we made fu of the canucks goalie save percentage vs the rangers …. And now this

 

[salbutera]

Dvorak been playing good hockey for us down the stretch. Good faceoff and penalty killer. Has good puck possession and corsi. I think injuries cut his career down here. Because he's been playing his best hockey now that he's healthy.

His line with Gallagher and Anderson one of best third lines in NHL. Better than our second line most nights

Posters here have been laughing all season but fact remains Habs have had the BEST / most dominant collective bottom-6 all season in the NHL except for the period Heineken was out due to injury

 

[WeThreeKings]

Habs have the advantage now.

They're 1, or more points ahead of everyone chasing them with 1, or more games in hand.

That game in hand will be uses in comparison to most teams tonight.

So, a win for the Habs would be huge.

Game is also huge for the blues.

Should be a good one

Will be a good one decided by two unscrewed shots from distance that beat a fatigued Monty and Marty will be befuddled that his goalie that has never managed even close to this workload at this level is not playing at his optimal level.

Meanwhile I'll be all shocked pikachu

 

[Lshap]

Will be a good one decided by two unscrewed shots from distance that beat a fatigued Monty and Marty will be befuddled that his goalie that has never managed even close to this workload at this level is not playing at his optimal level.

Meanwhile I'll be all shocked pikachu

So Montembeault is starting again tonight? Yeah... this has red flags all over it.

I get it – the team's getting closer to nailing down a playoff spot. It's great for team morale, it's a learning experience, etc. All legit reasons to go with the proven vet. However, they're setting themselves up for a fall when the inevitable goalie fatigue kicks in.

Curious how the other in-the-mix teams are handling their goalie assignments.

 

[WeThreeKings]

So Montembeault is starting again tonight? Yeah... this has red flags all over it.

I get it – the team's getting closer to nailing down a playoff spot. It's great for team morale, it's a learning experience, etc. All legit reasons to go with the proven vet. However, they're setting themselves up for a fall when the inevitable goalie fatigue kicks in.

Curious how the other in-the-mix teams are handling their goalie assignments.

It already has set in. He's been letting in multiple bad goals a game. That's mental and physical fatigue.

Islanders are riding Sorokin because Varly is hurt. But Sorokin has gotten a heavy load like this before in the KHL and then at multiple times with the Islanders.

Devils are using Allen and Markstrom pretty evenly.

Rangers are gonna ride Shesterkin but he's a horse.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Will be a good one decided by two unscrewed shots from distance that beat a fatigued Monty and Marty will be befuddled that his goalie that has never managed even close to this workload at this level is not playing at his optimal level.

Meanwhile I'll be all shocked pikachu

He does get 2 days off. I expect Dobes to get the Philadelphia game, so that's another 2 days off.

The difficult game for the team will be Sunday against Florida. They play Thursday & Friday night back-to-back then have a 1 PM start time in Florida on Sunday - less than 48 hours after that back-to-back. That's brutal.

 

[salbutera]

So Montembeault is starting again tonight? Yeah... this has red flags all over it.

I get it – the team's getting closer to nailing down a playoff spot. It's great for team morale, it's a learning experience, etc. All legit reasons to go with the proven vet. However, they're setting themselves up for a fall when the inevitable goalie fatigue kicks in.

Curious how the other in-the-mix teams are handling their goalie assignments.

McGuire was saying yesterday word around the league amongst scouts, is Dobes is very vulnerable to high SOG due to subpar positional awareness - his anticipation in G is viewed as very weak so he reverts to dropping down too fast

 

[Adam Michaels]

Desired results for tonight:

- MTL win vs. STL

- DET reg. loss vs. COL: DET reg. loss + MTL win = MTL moves 5 pts ahead of DET with 1 game in hand.
- NYR reg. loss vs. LAK: NYR reg. loss + MTL win = MTL moves 3 pts ahead of NYR with 2 games in hand.
- OTT reg. loss to BUF: OTT reg. loss + MTL win = MTL moves 2 pts behind OTT.

- PHI reg. loss to TOR: although not looking at them as a threat... PHI reg. loss + MTL win = MTL moves 12 pts ahead of PHI with 3 games in hand.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

8 PM: Canadiens @ Blues: We need 2 points!

9 PM: Wings @ Avalanche: Detroit is closing in on being mathematically eliminated. A loss here would really help.

10:30 PM: Rangers @ Kings: LAK have won 3 consecutive games, are 8-1-1 in last 10 & have a 25-3-4 home record. (Road record is brutal: 14-18-5). This should be an easy win for Kings.

NYR will have only 10 games left after tonight.


Also, 7 PM: Sens @ Sabres. It should be a win for Ottawa. They're @ Detroit on Thursday then home to Columbus next Saturday. In fact, Ottawa has 3 games left against Columbus.

 

[Goalfield22]

McGuire was saying yesterday word around the league amongst scouts, is Dobes is very vulnerable to high SOG due to subpar positional awareness - his anticipation in G is viewed as very weak so he reverts to dropping down too fast

So, I guess my hunch was right that the book is out on him. It was only a matter of time and isn't that surprising. They are likely keeping him out to work on his weaknesses. Sucks for Monty. Let's hope Dobes plays well when he plays either Thur/Fri so we can use him a bit more.

 

[Lshap]

McGuire was saying yesterday word around the league amongst scouts, is Dobes is very vulnerable to high SOG due to subpar positional awareness - his anticipation in G is viewed as very weak so he reverts to dropping down too fast

Good to know, especially for Dobes and the coaching staff. Every goalie has weak spots, especially young developing goalies. After all the coaching is done, a goalie needs to play NHL games in order to correct his weak spots. Let's hope the Habs give Dobes the opportunity to become as good as he can be.

 

[salbutera]

The question IMO now becomes..will the Habs sign and are they willing to ride Fowler in backup role … assuming BC exits quickly from Frozen Four (1st game this Friday)?

 

[salbutera]

Good to know, especially for Dobes and the coaching staff. Every goalie has weak spots, especially young developing goalies. After all the coaching is done, a goalie needs to play NHL games in order to correct his weak spots. Let's hope the Habs give Dobes the opportunity to become as good as he can be.

Unfortunately for Habs fans, we were spoiled for over a decade with perhaps the best positionally sound / efficient goalie of all time.

 

[Habssince89]

McGuire was saying yesterday word around the league amongst scouts, is Dobes is very vulnerable to high SOG due to subpar positional awareness - his anticipation in G is viewed as very weak so he reverts to dropping down too fast

I've defended Dobes in the sense that he's more than just a big body, but its been my contention that they've been working on him not losing his net and relying on athletics, and instead focus on moving less and playing the angles a la price. I felt he was doing that during his hot stretch, but as time has gone on, you can see he's starting to panic and is swimming a bit in his net.

I think the issue is likely easy to correct, but it takes time. It makes sense that they have been working with him and won't play him until we need to. They are definitely looking to avoid another Primeau situation.

I think dobes has shown a decent glove hand but yes I think this is a good description for what Dobes needs to improve. Good thing he's young and talented.

 

[dinodebino]

This road trip is THE road trip of the year. Could prove to be the fatal one or could prove to be the highlight moment of the season.

I don’t like that they are back to falling behind in games. If you recall, it was the case just before their major pre-4Nations slide. Playing catch up hockey takes a toll physically and mentally. I sense they are right at that tipping point.

Because this is the positive thread, I’ll refrain myself from writing my prediction for this road trip.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Because this is the positive thread, I’ll refrain myself from writing my prediction for this road trip.

Dinodegloom

Who knows how they'll play. One thing though, they aren't easy prey. Only 1 regulation loss in their last 10, so that means they are motivated and don't give up easily, which is encouraging for the coming weeks. Plus they have a moderately easy schedule after the game vs the Canes and the two games vs the Panthers.