Post-Game Talk: #VegasStronger - Golden Knights 3, Jets 2 (OT)

[Howard Chuck]

Roslovic certainly looking more and more like he truly belongs. He plays like a coach's dream. Vincent did a great job with him.

I REALLY like Roslovic's game. When Scheifele is back imagine a '4th' line of Connor/Roslovic/Armia. they would eat other team's 4 lines alive. And every one of them could move up in case of injury.

 

[Howard Chuck]

________________________________________________________

According to the post game show Buff played about 30- 35 minutes - "a lot" and probably should not have been used on 3 on 3 overtime hockey.

We are 1-7 in overtime, whereas Vegas is 7-1 or something close to that.

If your going to run a 26 mile marathon, it's always the very skinny guys that win. The reason is they have low muscle mass and less body weight to move, and the muscles don't need as much oxygen, and therefore they have way more "endurance.

When your running a 100- 300 meter race then it's different, as maybe a little extra muscle helps, as your not running for a long time, and the extra muscle gives you the strength and torque to get you there faster.

For this reason, I'd like to see guys like Little, Ehlers, Perrault, Armia, Connor, and these types of body frames being used. They can go a lot longer before running out of gas. The lighter frame guys can go longer, and their also good scorers. Joal Armia is our best possession guy, and I'd like to see him out there on 3 on 3 hockey.

Hopefully the Jet's will revamp their strategy for 3 on 3 hockey, as those extra points we've lost, are sure adding up. With this being said, I think we played OK in the overtime, and outchanced them ( hit the post) - so a "luck" played a factor.

I've said the same thing in the past. Those you mentioned and now add in Roslovic and Morrissey, should be our bread and butter in OT.

It's absurd because the two players who get gassed the quickest are always sent out over and over again. I understand that they are our leaders, but it's no reason to throw away points.

 

[Howard Chuck]

Agree. Wheeler has become basically a pylon playing C. He played faster vs. TB, but last night went back to his glide around style, like he's thinking too much about his positioning.

Anyone think Roslovic should get a shot a Centering that line? Just to see?

 

[Royale With Cheese]

I'm a Buff fan but I do think they need to play him less in OT simply because it's a 3 on 3 and he just isn't fast enough in that situation. The Jets record in OT this season is very poor. If they had won even half of those OT games they would be in a much better position in the standings instead of being neck and neck with Nashville. I wish Maurice would come up with a plan that doesn't include so much ice time for Buff or even Wheeler in OT. Maybe try using more of the younger players as their legs wouldn't be as tired since they get less ice time during the game. Ehlers should always be a consideration for OT since he is not only fast but can carry the puck from one end to the other even when there are 5 players on the ice so 3 on 3 should be no problem for him.

My thoughts exactly.

I would most definitely want Morrissey and Kulikov out there over Buff, every time. Speed and possession wins OT games.

 

[Howard Chuck]

Which one of Wheeler (1st) and Laine (4th) is he passing on the depth chart?

As for skillsets, Armia is in a really tough spot in Winnipeg. Neither Laine nor Ehlers play a game that is suited to a bottom six role in the slightest, which makes demoting either one practically impossible. As a winger, Wheeler is far superior to Armia (and every other winger, to be exact), hence why he won't be the one seeing his ice time cut in favour of 40. This means that Armia has little chance of climbing up the rankings without one of the aforementioned wingers going down with an injury.

This is true, unfortunately for Armia. He is one of my favorites on the team as well, always goes about his business quietly and does it very well. I think the saving grace for him might be when Scheif comes back and they have to do something with Roslovic. Imagine a Connor/Roslovic/Armia '4th' line? Think they might score some goals?

Our insane depth might just be what he needs.

 

[CaptainChef]

Was going to say the same thing, where is the improvement in Laine’s game this season.

Wheeler should have skipped the All Star game!

Mo needs to figure out the 3 v 3, you don’t just roll 4 guys the whole 5 minutes!

Ehlers had a real Gump like game, mindless skating and no scoring or playmaking threat!

Sticking Buff out on the ice again a minute after he'd stayed out so long they had to practically tie a rope around him to get him off the ice Wheels & Buff standing around and conserving energy is just about as bad. So much for the accolades regarding player usage by our coaches. Gallant wins coach of the year hands down

 

[Howard Chuck]

Come on. Wheeler ****ed up on the 1-1 goal. However, he does not end up in that position, if Buff does not turn the puck over moments before at the Knights' blue line. But hey - maybe he would have managed to keep the puck, if any other Jet supported his attempt to carry the puck in. But yeah, probably Buff's fault. Or was it about Connor/Roslovic (one of them, can't remember which), who was unable to exit the Jets' zone under pressure? Then again, if Laine moved the puck or his feet before that, we would not talk about this situation at all.

The point is - how about we stop trying to single out Wheeler, when the entire ****ing unit made several mistakes on that play?

You can't really single out any one player in that mess of a play It was simply bad by everyone on the ice.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

This is goalie interference

 

[CaptainChef]

Agreed Laine and Wheeler had very off games. I was also expecting a turnover pretty much every time 29 touched the puck tonight. And not surprisingly he was getting a few jeers from the crowd tonight.

You have to wonder whats in a young guys head when he's on the top line & puts in that kind of effort. Deserves to start the next game on the 4th line with Connor on the first. Wheels & Buff, just poor examples for the young kids out there tonight, but who gets stuck out there every second shift in OT

 

[Aavco Cup]

So, Mo's explanation for demoting Armia was "His first two shifts weren't so great".

Was there something wrong in his first shift ? No.

Yes, the second shift wasn't so great, but did something seriously bad happen during that shift ? No.

I guess that's all it takes for some players. The special treatment. And why it's impossible to reward these guys when they're doing great ?

He also said he wanted to add speed to that line. I suspect his true motivation was trying to make the Hendricks line better. They had a tough time early. For the most part it worked

 

[Aavco Cup]

Sticking Buff out on the ice again a minute after he'd stayed out so long they had to practically tie a rope around him to get him off the ice Wheels & Buff standing around and conserving energy is just about as bad. So much for the accolades regarding player usage by our coaches. Gallant wins coach of the year hands down

Do people realize that in OT it is not always easy for players to change, especially D.

 

[Aavco Cup]

Anyone think Roslovic should get a shot a Centering that line? Just to see?

He looks pretty bad on the faceoff dot when Wheeler gets tossed. I would like to see it but it might not happen this season. He rarely seems out of position so I think he can handle the role.

 

[AlphaLackey]

Agreed. After 8 hours of sleep, and a 200% reduction in systolic blood pressure. Good words, full props to you.



(Still pissed about the two hander by Neal on Helle).

Rest assured I'm still incensed about that too. I mean, for the chintzy two-bit things that have passed for goalie interference (the opposing player 'crop dusted' the goalie 24 hours after Taco Tuesday, etc. etc.) I couldn't believe that the lumber to the head, make Hacksaw Jim Duggan blush swing, didn't count. So confusing.

That's alright. Let their egos continue to distend until we meet them in the West final and the Vegas horseshoes fall out of the Vegas goalies' asses. All unsustainable winning streaks end.

 

[ffh]

You have to wonder whats in a young guys head when he's on the top line & puts in that kind of effort. Deserves to start the next game on the 4th line with Connor on the first. Wheels & Buff, just poor examples for the young kids out there tonight, but who gets stuck out there every second shift in OT

I have never heard the words poor example for young kids and wheeler used in the same sentence before.

 

[AlphaLackey]

But let's be honest, you pretty much knew when you saw Buff on the ice to start OT that we were going to lose the extra point.

Then how do you explain us getting the lion's share of the good chances, and getting them before the Knights got any of theirs?

 

[CaptainChef]

Finally... Talking about the real probem this game .

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Then how do you explain us getting the lion's share of the good chances, and getting them before the Knights got any of theirs?

Hindsight makes everyone a genius

 

[Howard Chuck]

Do people realize that in OT it is not always easy for players to change, especially D.

Right, so start players who are fresher, younger, faster and who will retain their cardio better.

Besides, I don't really like this argument, because other teams seem to be fine at getting in line changes in OT.

 

[Aavco Cup]

Right, so start players who are fresher, younger, faster and who will retain their cardio better.

Besides, I don't really like this argument, because other teams seem to be fine at getting in line changes in OT.

I think we changed lines yesterday. I've seen plenty of OT this year and other teams have similar issues TBH.

 

[Howard Chuck]

I think we changed lines yesterday. I've seen plenty of OT this year and other teams have similar issues TBH.

I agree, I just think we have better options.

 

[CaptainChef]

Good to come back to get a point last night. A shame that Mo keeps going back to the losing formula in 3v3.

Vegas is a smothering team defensively that takes advantage of your mistakes offensively. By the way, that's a good formula for success for the playoffs. Even while we were trying to open the game up to get the tying goal, they effectively closed the game down in the third with the one goal lead. What were the shots, like 5 a piece or something? A great snipe by KC to get us the point.

The reason that I am pissed about Buf on the 3v3, and the fact that PMo keeps using him is the following: He stays out too long. He makes selfish and irresponsible choices to stay out when he shouldn't. Even when there is a chance where a team leader / veteran player knows that he should change em up, he stays out. That is how you lose in 3v3. You get tired bodies out there while the other team gets fresh legs out there. How many times do we have to see it before the coach does what the coach is supposed to do and either get Buf to be responsible with his 3v3 ice time, or stop playing him there. Buf was so gassed on that game winning play he couldn't even move his stick out to tip/block the shot. He literally just stood there. He started to move his stick but it was like in slow motion. It was pathetic. And there were opportunities for Buf to change out and he just chose to stay on the ice. After the initial puck drop on the 3v3, he had been out for about a minute and there was a perfect chance for him to change as he was out of the play and the puck was up ice. He stayed on and ended up being out for an almost 2 minute shift to start the OT. Simple example of selfish, irresponsible decision that bites us over and over again in OT.

But when the player does it over and over and over and it keeps costing us points, AND, the coach keeps putting that player out in that same situation to let him fail again, then it's on the coach. That's where we are now - Buf's play 3v3 is on Maurice. Why? Because by now you know what you get, so you are choosing to get that as the coach when you put him out there in OT.

I am not even going to ask the question as to why the other two guys who were really bad last night (Wheels and Laine) were out there when we have so much other talent on that bench. Dude the guys struggled, give someone who is on fire the chance in OT. That's another topic for discussion.

Good game by two really good teams. Both team's apparent struggles to do simple things at times were really due to the other team's effectiveness at taking away time and space, using active sticks, covering their man, stifling defence, keeping things to the outside etc. to The missed slash was BS. The effort to tie the game was great. But let's be honest, you pretty much knew when you saw Buff on the ice to start OT that we were going to lose the extra point.

Agree 100%. If this was the only time we've seen this sort of behaviour out of Buff (and Wheeler), it would be forgivable. But it happens over & over, everyone else does the responsible thing & goes off when their shift is nearly complete & you get a line change. Buff & Wheels lollygag a bit, think they can probably survive another 15 secs and a minute later they are standing around on life support while players are ripping around them like they are standing still (because they are!).
And what happens, they come off the ice for one shift & get stuck out there again. Sheer stupidity is all that is. Next time we're in OT.... rinse and repeat. 3 on 3 -- Ok Buff, Wheels & Laine get out there.

 

[Daximus]

This is exactly how Maurice is bad, although in many ways he has been in fact a better coach than I thought of him in the beginning of the season.

But he is so damn stubborn with lineups and certain players playing together even if it is obvious that it is like hitting your head constantly against a wall. In many ways he reminds me of Edmonton’s McLellan. That dude is playing a plug like Letestu constantly in their first power play line although he can’t practically do anything useful there. And otherwise McLellan is amazingly stubborn. But Edmonton has a much weaker roster than Winnipeg, so McLellan’s stubborness leads easier into trouble, at least this season

Edmonton is really a pretty sad team to watch play at the moment. One McDavid and one Draisaitl do not change much of that at the moment. Winnipeg’s situation is clearly so much better.

Chiarelli is more to blame. Trading a 1st and 2nd for Reinhart that ended up being Barzal and Stephens. And traading Eberle from Strome. Imagine how much better they would be this season with all of them. Barzal and Eberle have shown some amazing chemistry. The Hall trade could still be made but even then if they kept all of them and didn't sign Lucic.

Hall - McDavid - Draisaitl
Cammalleri - Barzal - Eberle
Maroon - RNH - Caggiula
Pakarinin - Khaira - Slephyshev
Letestu

That is a solid lineup up front. They'd be a little weaker at defence but they would likely score so much, espcially on the PP that they could combat it a bit.

 

[Aavco Cup]

I agree, I just think we have better options.

Score more often

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

He's 19! There is almost nothing "concerning" about a 19 year old who is leading his NHL team in goals who sometimes has a few issues in his game. If he's still having similar issues in 2 or 3 years...maybe some real concern. For now, it's growing pains and he's well ahead of the curve as far as those go.

This is fair.

He is still a truly remarkable goalscorer. He is still a very good hockey player.

With that being said, my expectations were very high after his first year, and to be frank he has looked worse this year than last. Development is not always linear, he will still get better, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with his season. I really hope he works on his footspeed in the offseason, he just does not move quick enough to make any plays along the boards. Every time the puck comes to him breaking out, if there is any sort of pressure, I expect him to turn it over.

 

[Huffer]

I like the fact that we just got 3 out of 4 points against two of the best teams in the league without Scheifele, Trouba, and Kulikov.

The worst thing to come out of last night is a possibly injury to Lowry. Fingers crossed it's just a game or two.

We lost the ST battle (not only lost, but went -1 on the PP) and that was a big factor. I'm of a similar mindset to many regarding 3v3. I don't think an overhaul is needed, just a commitment to shorter shifts and to maintain puck possession as much as possible. I'd like to see some new players get more looks in the 3v3 as well.

Onward and upward.