Post-Game Talk: Vegas legs, hot Hawks goalie down Habs 4-2!

dcyhabs

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May 30, 2008
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Say what you want about savard but he was missed. Laine obviously was missed. Disappointed to see struble not seize his opportunity, hopefully he gets another shot.

Got to move on from this loss and keep the momentum
Savard is not great at this point, but the hole left when he doesn’t play is pretty huge. The habs would be competitive with a top pairing rhd.
 

morhilane

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Feb 28, 2021
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Habs got goalied. Soderbloom saved 2 goals above expected.

Monty was ok, Chicago had enough high danger chances on their 26 shots to expect 4 goals from them...which means the defense was very ass. Habs screwed Struble development hard, he should have been sent down to Laval after the first two games he struggled in months ago, before he couldn't be waived anymore.

Half the line-up looked still hangover too.

Tomorrow will be something...

He had an open net one timer. After his misfire, my reaction was that he looks like he hasn’t practiced his one-timer in months.
It's possible the injury he had that kept him out of 3 games earlier this season and made him grimace every time he shoot came with post-injury training limitations for a while.

And then there is the back injury he had last Summer that had the Habs kept him out of the Olympic qualifier to rehab. It would have screwed over his off-season training and back injuries tend to be recurring.
 

salbutera

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Sep 10, 2019
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Games like last night is why playing meaningful games into April is crucial for the young players - gaining the understanding and most of all experiencing the effect of one bad play /shift at NHL speed & intensity results in losing the game / not picking up pts to make playoffs etc
 

ReHabs

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Games like last night is why playing meaningful games into April is crucial for the young players - gaining the understanding and most of all experiencing the effect of one bad play /shift at NHL speed & intensity results in losing the game / not picking up pts to make playoffs etc
This is all I want. I call it “serious hockey” but it’s independent of the aggregate talent level of the team — I just want to see them* play honest, tough, strong-willed hockey. If they do that, I’ll trust the rebuild is on the right path win or lose.

*them = the team as a whole but also more specifically the young, core, relevant players. I could not possibly care less if Dvorak and Armia were hustling with extraordinary effort.
 

Guy Larose

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Jan 25, 2018
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Slaf is back to being Kotkaniemi.. Dach plays another great game but people are crying that he was out with Slaf trying to tie the game.

Same suspects, they just don't post in the GDT, they come in after losses.
Yeah notice this as well after every loss. Some are here just for the negativity and drama and are not really hard to miss. Some also admittedly just watch the highlights, flip through the game, watch only a small part, ect but then feel the need to shit all over them.
 

Essenege

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Oct 5, 2019
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They dominated 5v5 play like they were supposed though. Hot goalie, stupid 5v3 and costly mistakes (Struble, Carrier) cost us the game.

Now they need to win today’s game that they are supposed to lose…
 

Lshap

Hardline Moderate
Jun 6, 2011
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Despite giving up 4, Montembeault played a solid game. He made some excellent saves and didn't allow a bad goal. Forget the 5-on-3, from memory... the other three goals were prime chances as a result of defensive breakdowns or giveaways. He's not Carey Price, but he's a reliable starter, whether 1A or 1B.

Dach looked like pre-injury Dach – strong, confident, good control and smart passes. For me, that was the most important takeaway from the game. Dach at 100% adds a legit 2C to our roster – imagine that for the second half of the season!

Caufield is becoming a really good player, much more than a sniper. I trust him with the puck in all zones.

Slafkovsky is clearly struggling. He's playing scared, being bullied easily, losing the puck, rishing passes. No point in guessing what's going on; I'll just remind everyone (and myself!) he's only 20. We've invested a lot of draft capital and money in this kid; getting him past this issue should be a major priority for the staff.

Still pretty happy with the overall progress of our D. As mentioned by others, Carrier is a good fit, as long as he's not overplayed. Say what you will about Savard, he's a smart, steadying influence whose value was missed last night. The kids will learn; until then they need him and Matheson (yes, him too).
 

hvac412

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Apr 15, 2013
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Nah as a team that's trying to drag itself up the standings you need to secure the easy wins. This was the right decision. The team just wasn't desperate tonight.
yup,they could have leap frogged a couple of teams in the standings.first penalty should have been matching, dive and a trip,defense was not great tonight.
 

Tuggy

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Nov 26, 2003
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They dominated 5v5 play like they were supposed though. Hot goalie, stupid 5v3 and costly mistakes (Struble, Carrier) cost us the game.

Now they need to win today’s game that they are supposed to lose…

Slow/flat start inevitably hurt them. Great second period that they somehow lost.

Not a great game from a select few.
 

Tyson

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
51,183
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Texas
I still think playing Monty tonight was stupid.

Give Dobes Chicago with a fresh team in front of him, not Colorado with a tired team in front of him. Tomorrow night could easily be a blowout and he could have his confidence shattered 2 games into his NHL career...
Don't underestimate Dobes against Colorado especially if Savard plays
 

Rapala

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Mar 29, 2013
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Montreal
He was bad tonight and looked really out of sorts.
Slaf getting the puck standing still is a problem.
I don't know if his stick is too long or what but he really doesn't seem to be able to do much with the puck in tight.
We saw Slaf attack the line far more often In flight last season something is off there.

I'm seeing some very nice plays to both Suzuki and Caufield die in good offensive positions because there is no third option.
Having to defend Suzuki when he has to hold up play all the time is so much easier to when your team isn't forced to over pursue.
He does make decent plays but not the wide open ones we've seen when he has more options.

The main reason I suggested Newhook a while back was the lack of footspeed on the line.
I will reiterate what I said then Suzuki is a master at slowing the game down but the game has to be going fast for that to have an impact.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I'm seeing.
 
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ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
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Yeah notice this as well after every loss. Some are here just for the negativity and drama and are not really hard to miss. Some also admittedly just watch the highlights, flip through the game, watch only a small part, ect but then feel the need to shit all over them.
Been watching this team for seventy years (since the Eisenhower administration). I have learned to ignore the noise.

This is all about entertainment. For the first time in years, win or lose. we have an entertaining team to watch. And with Demidov, Hage, Beck, etc. on the horizon, the best is yet to come. So sit back and join me in ignoring the noise.

Slaf getting the puck standing still is a problem.
I don't know if his stick is too long or what but he really doesn't seem to be able to do much with the puck in tight.
We saw Slaf attack the line far more often In flight last season something is off there.

I'm seeing some very nice plays to both Suzuki and Caufield die in good offensive positions because there is no third option.
Having to defend Suzuki when he has to hold up play all the time is so much easier to when your team isn't forced to over pursue.
He does make decent plays but not the wide open ones we've seen when he has more options.

The main reason I suggested Newhook a while back was the lack of footspeed on the line.
I will reiterate what I said then Suzuki is a master at slowing the game down but the game has to be going fast for that to have an impact.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I'm seeing.
You are completely correct. Slafkovsky is just not skating the way he did last year when he helped make Suzuki, Caufield and him one of the top lines in the league.

He's just got to start moving his feet.
 
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Rapala

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Mar 29, 2013
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Montreal
Armia on pp1 instead of Heineman is why this team won't make the playoffs.

Thanks Marty.
I'll go even further not giving Heineman a chance to prove himself in the top six because you want to protect the integrity of your so called 4th line? :skeptic:
I can't stress how bad I actually think that is particularly when you end up double shifting that slot before the first period is over in a B2B situation.
I get it we were down some assets but I think the coach over thought how to go about winning an obvious trap game.
The first thing I do is Play Dobes believing my team will bust their asses playing for him after Florida. I said as much.
The next thing I do is dress my best possible top six. Slotting in Pezz is like a slap in the face to Kirby and Newhook who are trying to get on track.
 

Guy Larose

Registered User
Jan 25, 2018
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Been watching this team for seventy years (since the Eisenhower administration). I have learned to ignore the noise.

This is all about entertainment. For the first time in years, win or lose. we have an entertaining team to watch. And with Demidov, Hage, Beck, etc. on the horizon, the best is yet to come. So sit back and join me in ignoring the noise.


You are completely correct. Slafkovsky is just not skating the way he did last year when he helped make Suzuki, Caufield and him one of the top lines in the league.

He's just got to start moving his feet.
:thumbu:
 

Habs

Jake Evans will steal your wife
Feb 28, 2002
23,525
19,024
Slaf getting the puck standing still is a problem.
I don't know if his stick is too long or what but he really doesn't seem to be able to do much with the puck in tight.
We saw Slaf attack the line far more often In flight last season something is off there.

I'm seeing some very nice plays to both Suzuki and Caufield die in good offensive positions because there is no third option.
Having to defend Suzuki when he has to hold up play all the time is so much easier to when your team isn't forced to over pursue.
He does make decent plays but not the wide open ones we've seen when he has more options.

The main reason I suggested Newhook a while back was the lack of footspeed on the line.
I will reiterate what I said then Suzuki is a master at slowing the game down but the game has to be going fast for that to have an impact.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I'm seeing.

no you are correct, something is wrong. Not skating the same, or shooting. He's floating and not aware of his surroundings

Armia on pp1 instead of Heineman is why this team won't make the playoffs.

Thanks Marty.
Funny I was going to make that comment too.
 
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Rapala

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Mar 29, 2013
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Montreal
The win streak, as short as it may have been, showed some of the progress we needed to see. Dach is finally starting to get some bounces, Laine even tho his sample size is small, shows that if we do have another top 6 winger in the line up we’ll be alright for scoring, and they are capable of playing good hockey in their own end despite being inexperienced. There’s things to be positive about again.
I liked Dach's game why the bleep was he given Pezz as a replacement for Laine that makes no bleeping sense at all.
Once again Kirby was stopping and starting much better than at any point during this season he's also starting to get aggressive with his frame.
 

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
43,649
41,760
Montreal
Savard is not great at this point, but the hole left when he doesn’t play is pretty huge. The habs would be competitive with a top pairing rhd.
It's not even a hole that he left it has existed since none of our young RD could take on a bottom pairing assignment.
I realize we couldn't foresee Reinbacher bowing out in camp but we still need to make another move on that side.
I thought Struble could play RD but he just can't.
 

ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
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I liked Dach's game why the bleep was he given Pezz as a replacement for Laine that makes no bleeping sense at all.
Once again Kirby was stopping and starting much better than at any point during this season he's also starting to get aggressive with his frame.
People underestimate how long an athlete takes to gain confidence after major knee surgery. The fear of re-injury is ever present. Some never overcome that element of hesitancy and doubt.

It's good see Dach becoming more engaged, confident and stressing that repaired knee. His improved presence makes a material difference to the team's offensive capabilities and resulting chances of victory.
 
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Nate070

Registered User
Sep 15, 2010
848
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Maldives
Slaf getting the puck standing still is a problem.
I don't know if his stick is too long or what but he really doesn't seem to be able to do much with the puck in tight.
We saw Slaf attack the line far more often In flight last season something is off there.

I'm seeing some very nice plays to both Suzuki and Caufield die in good offensive positions because there is no third option.
Having to defend Suzuki when he has to hold up play all the time is so much easier to when your team isn't forced to over pursue.
He does make decent plays but not the wide open ones we've seen when he has more options.

The main reason I suggested Newhook a while back was the lack of footspeed on the line.
I will reiterate what I said then Suzuki is a master at slowing the game down but the game has to be going fast for that to have an impact.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I'm seeing.

Why not try Laine in the top line?
 

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