Playoffs Positivity Thread

[Natey]

I assume you saw the game. Yeah, the shot count was ridiculous, but Montreal actually had more shot attempts than Toronto. Skating was fast, defence was tight, possession time and scoring chances were very good. Bottom line: Habs played well, they just couldn't hit the freaking net.

Again, this was a noticeable improvement from previous 1st periods when they came out flat and spent most of the period hemmed in their zone.

I thought they played terrible against Toronto. It's one of my least favourite Montreal games I've ever watched. I just felt like we were absolutely putrid.

To each their own, I guess.

 

[le_sean]

The same team that choked last night won six in a row last week without Demidov. They weren't going to win every game. The weekend losses were forgivable. Last night... not so much. My point stands – their 1st periods were better the last two games. It's a noticeable improvement.

Did they deserve to win the Predators or Red Wings games? You think they played well?

 

[Lshap]

Well, the races are coming down to the last game of the season again.

Games today:

7 PM: Columbus @ Philadelphia - Like Chicago, Flyers are playing hard & having fun. They're 5-3-2 in last 10 & and are slightly above .500 at home. Since kicking Torts to the curb, Flyers have actually gone 5-1-1 and have won their last 4 home games.

Columbus is still well below .500 on the road (13-23-4). They've gone 3-7-0 in their last 10 road games. With the exception of the Washington game on Sunday, the majority of their winning streak has been at home. The Caps out played Columbus on Sunday, but Lindgren has decided to shit the bed late for Washington, while Columbus got excellent net minding from Greaves.

A win in Philadelphia is definitely not a sure thing for Columbus. If the game is tied late, Columbus will have to strongly consider pulling the goalie like Philadelphia was forced to last season.

If this game goes to OT, Montreal clinches.


8 PM: Utah @ Blues - This is game 82 for St. Louis & they need to win this game in regulation to clinch. Anything other than a RW and Calgary can pass them in either points or RWs. Blues are an outstanding home team, but Utah is one of the better road teams in the league.

Utah is 6-2-2 in last 10, while Blues are 7-2-1.


8 PM: Anaheim @ Minnesota - This is game 82 for Minnesota. They need 1 freaking point to clinch. Both teams are playing .500 in last 10. Ducks are 5-5 and are below .500 on the road, while Minnesota is 4-4-2 and is above .500 at home, but have one of the worst home records among playoff teams.

Anaheim has actually been a tough out lately. Minnesota could actually lose this one. They just need to get it to OT.


9 PM: Vegas @ Calgary - This is only game 81 for Calgary. The Blues & Wild games will end before this one does. Calgary could be eliminated mid-game. They'll want to win this one in regulation and then see where things stand for the last game of the season.

We of course would like anything else but an RW. We'll see what happens in the 2 earlier games. This one may not matter.

If Columbus gets an OT win, couldn't they still clinch if they win the other game in regulation? They'd have 40 wins to our 39, and we'd be tied at 29 RW each.

 

[Lshap]

Did they deserve to win the Predators or Red Wings games? You think they played well?

I'm not a fan of the 'Deserve' game. There were games the Habs deserved to win, but lost. So what? 'Deserves' is ultimately just an excuse.

 

[le_sean]

I'm not a fan of the 'Deserve' game. There were games the Habs deserved to win, but lost. So what? 'Deserves' is ultimately just an excuse.

Okay. They keep coming out flat in must-win games. I just can’t respect it. I don’t care if a team loses when trying. They tried harder last year when there was nothing to play for. Heck even the year before.

Right now, it is abysmal hockey to watch.

 

[Lshap]

Okay. They keep coming out flat in must-win games. I just can’t respect it. I don’t care if a team loses when trying. They tried harder last year when there was nothing to play for. Heck even the year before.

Right now, it is abysmal hockey to watch.

Frustrating for sure. Last night was the first game I felt they really blew. I'm just trying not to get too pissed.

This same team has managed to recover from slumps all season. Hopefully, they get into the playoffs and end the season strong, one way or another.

 

[70Stang]

Super hard to stay positive when this team is literally on life support last 5 games. They won some games they had no business winning. They are in the process of being in another 10 game loser heater. We could all see it coming. There are things that can be done to create more energy like taking Savard out of lineup. MSL has been getting out coached with in game changes etc. He needs to move players around up front depending on who's going. That is another problem not many players are going right now directly related to the centres they have. Evans has looked absolutely brutal. Dvo line has been good to get momentum back. Way to many pieces not clicking right now so you have to make changes. MSL is stuck in his ways and they are not working. Not having WIFI in lineup is beyond stupid you have 2 Struble and Savard that should not be playing over him. This is still a Smurf team and you have to have WIFI dressed. Everyone plays bigger when he's dressed and there is no bullshit. I called it when Guhle had the big hit, there was no need for that when they were up 2-0. It woke up the Hawks and the rest was history. Some of the wounds are self inflicted.

 

[le_sean]

Frustrating for sure. Last night was the first game I felt they really blew. I'm just trying not to get too pissed.

This same team has managed to recover from slumps all season. Hopefully, they get into the playoffs and end the season strong, one way or another.

It’s on the leaders. If they were nervous last night, imagine on Wednesday assuming the Jackets win. I thought the guys would have went all out last night knowing they’d have a week off.

 

[ahmedou]

93.2%! Vs! 6.8%

 

[Tuggy]

If Columbus gets an OT win, couldn't they still clinch if they win the other game in regulation? They'd have 40 wins to our 39, and we'd be tied at 29 RW each.

ROW is the next tie-breaker which Montreal would hold. Blue Jackets must win both games in regulation.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Okay. They keep coming out flat in must-win games. I just can’t respect it. I don’t care if a team loses when trying. They tried harder last year when there was nothing to play for. Heck even the year before.

Right now, it is abysmal hockey to watch.

It is but the team has played so much hockey in such a short period of time. It's catching up to them.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

If Columbus gets an OT win, couldn't they still clinch if they win the other game in regulation? They'd have 40 wins to our 39, and we'd be tied at 29 RW each.

No it's over, because they can only tie us in points and they need two regulation wins to gain the tiebreaker.

They absolutely need to win both in regulation or it's over.

1st tiebreaker is RW, 2nd tiebreaker is ROW. They can't catch us on ROW, so they need to beat us in RW.

 

[Lshap]

ROW is the next tie-breaker which Montreal would hold. Blue Jackets must win both games in regulation.

No it's over, because they can only tie us in points and they need two regulation wins to gain the tiebreaker.

They absolutely need to win both in regulation or it's over.

Gracias, amigos.

I'm considering going to a bar to watch tonight's Columbus game. I'll be less melodramatic out in public.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

If Columbus gets an OT win, couldn't they still clinch if they win the other game in regulation? They'd have 40 wins to our 39, and we'd be tied at 29 RW each.

No, RW is 1st tie breaker. ROW is 2nd tie breaker. Then total wins. It used to be just total wins, but teams didn't want shoot-out wins being used in any manner in the first or 2nd tie breakers.

If Columbus doesn't win in regulation tonight that means they can only tie Montreal in RWs. That means it goes to 2nd tie breaker - ROWs, which Montreal leads 37-32.

Columbus can only tie Montreal in points they need to beat Montreal in RWs. If they win in regulation tonight, Montreal still needs a point.

 

[dinodebino]

Cole’s comments after the game tell me that this group needs to get their heads of our their asses and grow up. No sense of urgency.

Being nervous is one thing. Feeling the urgency is the other thing.

And coach needs to coach the moment. If a player is red hot, even if he’s not called Suzuki, use him until he dies. No tomorrow.

 

[The Great Weal]

Okay. They keep coming out flat in must-win games. I just can’t respect it. I don’t care if a team loses when trying. They tried harder last year when there was nothing to play for. Heck even the year before.

Right now, it is abysmal hockey to watch.

I do think it's nerves (and fatigue to some extent) rather than lack of trying. Suzuki looks so off after being one of the best players in the league since the break, Hutson isn't playing anywhere close to the level he used to, CC/Slaf look very mediocre, and Guhle is making horrible reads.

The years before they were already out of the race so they had no reason to be nervous.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

I do think it's nerves (and fatigue to some extent) rather than lack of trying. Suzuki looks so off after being one of the best players in the league since the break, Hutson isn't playing anywhere close to the level he used to, CC/Slaf look very mediocre, and Guhle is making horrible reads.

The years before they were already out of the race so they had no reason to be nervous.

I wouldn't be surprised if Suzuki got hurt when Chiarot rocked him.

 

[Adam Michaels]

If Columbus gets an OT win, couldn't they still clinch if they win the other game in regulation? They'd have 40 wins to our 39, and we'd be tied at 29 RW each.

If they get an OT win, they can't pass MTL in RWs. The next tiebreaker is ROWs. MTL have a net advantage as they have 37 and CBJ currently have 32.

Only way CBJ get past MTL is if they win both of their games in regulation and MTl fails to pick up a point tomorrow against CAR.

 

[417]

Habs aren't beating the Canes tomorrow.

But the Blue Jackets aren't winning their 2 remaining games.

We got this y'all.

 

[jellybeans]

93.2%! Vs! 6.8%

View attachment 1014212

They obviously haven't watched the Habs play lately

 

[Ezpz]

I bet Michkov is a huge bust and proves it tonight by not beating Columbus by himself.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Habs aren't beating the Canes tomorrow.

Hopefully CAR rests a bunch of their best players. Remember FLA two years ago in the final game of the year? MTL scored 10 and Cole had a hat trick because FLA rested a lot of their stars.

But the Blue Jackets aren't winning their 2 remaining games.

Even if they win them both, as long as one of those victories is in OT/SO.

 

[Guy Larose]

I STILL BELIEVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JianYang]

I do think it's nerves (and fatigue to some extent) rather than lack of trying. Suzuki looks so off after being one of the best players in the league since the break, Hutson isn't playing anywhere close to the level he used to, CC/Slaf look very mediocre, and Guhle is making horrible reads.

The years before they were already out of the race so they had no reason to be nervous.

Sometimes being young is good because you don't know any better that you should be nervous.....but being young and nervous is a dangerous cocktail.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Hopefully CAR rests a bunch of their best players. Remember FLA two years ago in the final game of the year? MTL scored 10 and Cole had a hat trick because FLA rested a lot of their stars.



Even if they win them both, as long as one of those victories is in OT/SO.

Dundon has secretly ordered for no rest so Molson doesn't get that playoff revenu