I watch the entire game, as painful as it was, and I have to say that generally speaking, MTL didn't do too bad. After the 5th goal, yeah wheel fell off, but you could see that the team could compete with Seattle. So I don't get too exited by the final score of 8-2. CC could have score 2 more, some good chance by the Evans line again. and some good D play by Hutson. There are some positives.
Like after the NY lost, one shouldn't panic, MTL still has one of the youngest team in the NHL, still missing to regular D and one top 6 FWD. That said, there are clear area of work,
There is a reason why MTL was rumored to be on Askarov last summer: inconsistent goaltending from Montanbeault and Primeau. Yesterday, this cost the team the game. We knew Primeau was a borderline AHL/NHL G, but we all hoped that Monty could show some consistency. In retrospect, i wish he had accepted Team's Canada invite last Spring. He still need more game time. I'm sure that the 4 Nations things is playing in his head right now too. For now, you have to live with his short coming, but clearly, Monty need to work with a sport psychologist.
MLS reverted back to his preferred lines too early. I would have like that he use this situation to really test other combo. Slaf on the 2nd lasted what, 10m?? We all know that we have option for the 1st line and that we have a 3rd line that is ok with Evans, work on finding solution for the 2nd line. stop doing the same shit with Newhook, Armia and Dach.
This get me to: sit Armia and Dvorak. Seriously. waive them... send them to the moon.. I don't care. I don't want to see them on this team.
Xhekaj: ok... two things going against him right now: first the ref are being so f***ing inconsistent in enforcing the rules with him that he must be like "wtf can I do or not do". he's really in this "dam if you do, dam if you don't" kinda situation. I can totally see why this is confusing him. That say, this shouldn't impede is capacity to make hockey play and he's been taking bad decision over bad decision. I'm wondering if you dont send him to Laval for a month or so when Guhle/Barron are back. He needs to play a lot and get that swagger back. I'm also warming up to the idea of converting him as a W, not there yet tho.
They put Slaf back with the 1st line before the 1st even ended.
I think once it got to 3-0 MSL did.
Didn't take a timeout until it was 4-0 already.
Brought Monty back out after the 1st for him to give up a supposed weak goal and then pull him.
slaf 1st shit back with the 1st line was on CC goal, so at 4-0
As soon as Dach left that line he went on to struggle as usual right?
Yes. In fact that line got score of a defensive face off after an icing.
