Post-Game Talk: Wattanite at the Bell Centre, Habs can Cannots in OT!

[HomaridII]

HFHabs is hilarious the team starts winning and everyone likes everyone.

Personally:

1) I still hate Dvorak. Can't wait until he is gone.
2) Anderson and Gallagher are good vets and are playing their role but wow its what 11-12 mill between them? ridiculous.
3) Savard is too old now. Third pairing 3.5 mill and 34? Nope. Has to be replaced pronto.
4) Monty is a very good guy and a good backup but we need Dobes or Fowler to take the reigns in the next 2-3 years.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Guhle, Struble, and Arber were physical monsters last night. Absolutely crushed everyone.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Lots of great points but don't be hard on yourself, MSL deserved the criticism,

He deserved SOME of the criticism.

 

[Rapala]

I swear Hutson's rubbed off on him. He's making more smart plays in this stretch than the entirety of the season before hand. I still don't really like Newhook's game, if we make the playoffs and can sign Demidov, he's the odd man out.

Yeah but I'd suggest It's more a case of Hutson has rubbed off on the coaching staff...

"Mike Marty and Stephane want to see you in the office"

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I was sure they were going to collapse with Monty playing bad and how they started the 2nd period. But they said nope and "screw you Refs!" instead.

Officially in WC1 until tonight Jacket/Pen game.
Going to OT with the Canucks helps them stay above the Flames in the standing too. So perfect "tank-mix" night.


Who had the Habs in a playoff spot and playing above .500 before playing game 42 after that 2-10-0 start?

Before the season? I thought it was possible. After that start? Not a chance.

It was dark outside my friends. Real dark. The kind of dark where you stumble into things after a night at the bar…

 

[Habs10Habs]

Playoff spot at game 42? No

However, a few of us did post in preseason prediction thread the Habs would be battling it out for a wildcard spot this season….

Very true, but I don't think anyone was that positive. After we lost Laine. I was afraid I'd have to call the suicide hotline, once he was injured.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Its the biggest lesson, that teams can have talent but if people are in the wrong chairs, the downstream impact it can have, can make good teams look terrible.

Yep. That’s why I wanted to keep Evans where he is.

Fortunately our second line center went back to being Kirby Dach. It’s absolutely amazing how quickly he’s suddenly getting results. He’d been improving for a while but so snakenit. Hopefully it rubs off on Newhook. Another guy who’s really had bad luck.

 

[Habs 4 Life]

Personally:

1) I still hate Dvorak. Can't wait until he is gone.
2) Anderson and Gallagher are good vets and are playing their role but wow its what 11-12 mill between them? ridiculous.
3) Savard is too old now. Third pairing 3.5 mill and 34? Nope. Has to be replaced pronto.
4) Monty is a very good guy and a good backup but we need Dobes or Fowler to take the reigns in the next 2-3 years.

Dvorak and Savard are not part of the future, I expect both to be either traded or simply not extended, same goes for Armia. KH should try to move all 3

I don't think were capable of moving either Gally or Andy, so for now they're good 3rd and 4th line players..

 

[Rapala]

Well, I’m a man who always stands up and admits when he’s wrong in “real life” so I may as well do it here. Again.

Marty St Louis, is a good coach, I was wrong about him and I apologize for all the crass comments and rude remarks I made about his abilities when I was an extremely frustrated Habs fan. While he did make some awful mistakes, he’s proven he can adapt and has the team playing the best hockey I’ve seen them play in a very long time. He is the man behind the team’s turnaround and I feel like I should stand up and say, “I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

Lane Hutson is phenomenal. He’s gone head to head with Makar and Hughes, and come out on top. He’s a number one defenseman in this league already, and I genuinely feel like he’s got a shot at 60 points and the Calder. His poise, vision and hockey IQ are remarkable. I said this in the Hutson thread, but we are witnessing the birth of a superstar here.

Kirby Dach has been a monster lately, making big plays, scoring timely goals. It’s wonderful to see him keep going and scoring.

Suzuki and Caufield are quietly on track to be PPG players. Caufield has that elite shot and sniper accuracy, while Suzuki is becoming one of the best two way centers in the game. We need to get Slaf at their level, but he seems to be making progress.

Kaiden Guhle is the rock that the defense will be built upon. When he ran over Lekerrimaki and glared at him after the carnage, it set the tone immediately. Suddenly the Habs are the ones throwing the body, initiating the contact, setting the physical tone. Xhekaj and Struble were also very physical and played solid games.

The fourth line was terrific. Again. Evans, Armia and Heineman were fantastic in every zone. They may be the best fourth line in the NHL.

Montembeault was awful. He almost managed to lose the game for the Habs. It was extremely fortuitous that Myers only hit the iron because he had Monty beaten badly, and may well have put the game out of reach.

Overall one of the most entertaining games of the last couple of years. Great stuff.

Personal Insults aside this would be one hell of a boring place if we didn't have the freedom to be critical of player's coaching structure and management.
People are now giving Marty and his staff their due because they have earned it.
The same as Kirby Dach is getting his due because he's earning it and the same as Slaf will get his due when he earns it. (good game last night)

I mean there can't be one person here who can claim our bench is managed the same as it was to start the season?

Go Habs Go

 

[morhilane]

I mean there can't be one person here who can claim our bench is managed the same as it was to start the season?

There was improvements, but still some weird decisions sometimes. Like why bother suiting Pezz if you play him sub 4 minutes, although that might be a message to HuGo...

 

[The Real Timo]

lol I like your idea.

Is this what @Runner77 looks like?

 

[BLONG7]

There is a video on X where they focus on Matheson’s reaction to the winning goal. For a guy who would have been out there 20 games ago, he is super happy and jumps on the ice first and goes straight to Hutson.

I give him a ton of credit.

Remember the quote from Hughes, that told us, that Matheson was a 5 Star Human being......we all kinda laughed a bit, because he was just pimping his old client, but here we are...............bottom line all the Boys want is To Win!!

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

There was improvements, but still some weird decisions sometimes. Like why bother suiting Pezz if you play him sub 4 minutes, although that might be a message to HuGo...

MSL doesnn't get to choose who to dress in this case. With Laine out there is only Pezzetta on the roster. It's up to HuGo to call someone up. MSL is able to decide how many minutes to give him.

 

[ahmedou]

We're 8-2-0 in our last 10 games!

This is impressive stats.

No matter the teams that we faced! Good or bad teams, I don't care. It's still an impressive stats!

Keep it up like that!

 

[morhilane]

MSL doesnn't get to choose who to dress in this case. With Laine out there is only Pezzetta on the roster. It's up to HuGo to call someone up. MSL is able to decide how many minutes to give him.

My point was more that if you don't want to play him, might as well not suit him at all, play with 11 forwards because that's pretty much what he did anyway.

 

[Rapala]

Had to re-watch the game on Canadiens Express you always catch so much more when you aren't on the edge of you seat.
First of Mr. Cameraman why go to Claudine when we scored I'm sure most of us would have preferred 'Trojan Horse Honey Pot's" sad face.

I didn't realize just how good Nick Suzuki's game was it was near perfect.
The manner in which he protected the puck while letting play develop was masterful.
Even though his line was on for 2 GA the first one was on Caufield who decided his man was Lane Hutson.

The second goal was a combo of Slaf waving at the puck with his magic wand in the neutral zone and Monty he has to snuff that play out.
We could easily have scored 8 goals our possession was so good and we rarely dumped the puck in.

The one tweak I would make is on PP1 there is no reason to have Nick constantly taking the drop pass I'd use Hutson half the time.
The opposition is petrified when he's approaching with speed.

It's becoming very evident #48 has to be on the ice as much as possible with #14 they just read each other so well and we keep the puck.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He deserved SOME of the criticism.

Words of choice is key. I do agree with some of the criticism. The problem is some fans and most of the media like to spin it, dwell on it, and overblow it out of proportion.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Words of choice is key. I do agree with some of the criticism. The problem is some fans and most of the media like to spin it, dwell on it, and overblow it out of proportion.

Remember when he couldn't coach a defensive system, etc etc

He still needs to get better on timeouts and goalie pulls. Monty should have been pulled after 3. That would have served as a de facto timeout too.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Had to re-watch the game on Canadiens Express you always catch so much more when you aren't on the edge of you seat.
First of Mr. Cameraman why go to Claudine when we scored I'm sure most of us would have preferred 'Trojan Horse Honey Pot's" sad face.

I didn't realize just how good Nick Suzuki's game was it was near perfect.
The manner in which he protected the puck while letting play develop was masterful.
Even though his line was on for 2 GA the first one was on Caufield who decided his man was Lane Hutson.

The second goal was a combo of Slaf waving at the puck with his magic wand in the neutral zone and Monty he has to snuff that play out.
We could easily have scored 8 goals our possession was so good and we rarely dumped the puck in.

The one tweak I would make is on PP1 there is no reason to have Nick constantly taking the drop pass I'd use Hutson half the time.
The opposition is petrified when he's approaching with speed.

It's becoming very evident #48 has to be on the ice as much as possible with #14 they just read each other so well and we keep the puck.

Suzuki is still improving too. He's basically Bergeron round 2. Very difficult to find a flaw in his game. I missed the game last night because I was playing pool and the bar didn't have Amazon Prime (annoying). But one of the things I noticed with both Suzuki and Hutson against the Avs is how hard and effective they played against both Mackinnon and Makar.

Suzuki being on the ice when Hutson/Matheson are on the ice is a smart move.

I also agree with Hutson carrying the puck a bit more with less drop back passes. Don't get obsessive with doing one thing or the other is what I say.

 

[salbutera]

Had to re-watch the game on Canadiens Express you always catch so much more when you aren't on the edge of you seat.
First of Mr. Cameraman why go to Claudine when we scored I'm sure most of us would have preferred 'Trojan Horse Honey Pot's" sad face.

I didn't realize just how good Nick Suzuki's game was it was near perfect.
The manner in which he protected the puck while letting play develop was masterful.
Even though his line was on for 2 GA the first one was on Caufield who decided his man was Lane Hutson.

The second goal was a combo of Slaf waving at the puck with his magic wand in the neutral zone and Monty he has to snuff that play out.
We could easily have scored 8 goals our possession was so good and we rarely dumped the puck in.

The one tweak I would make is on PP1 there is no reason to have Nick constantly taking the drop pass I'd use Hutson half the time.
The opposition is petrified when he's approaching with speed.

It's becoming very evident #48 has to be on the ice as much as possible with #14 they just read each other so well and we keep the puck.

Courtesy of The Athletic:

It happened at 13:21 of the third period; a banal play in the game, but one dripping with symbolism as well.

The Vancouver Canucks entered the Montreal Canadiens’ zone, the puck got to all-world defenceman Quinn Hughes along the left boards, just above the hashmarks, and he let go of a shot that went directly into the shin pads of Montreal defenceman Alexandre Carrier.

It was, more than 53 minutes into the game, the first time the Canucks attempted a shot on the Canadiens goal at five-on-five with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook on the ice. A few seconds later, the Canucks actually got a shot on goal with both players on the ice. That was it for the entire game.

Other than a five-second span late in the game, the Canucks did not get a sniff of the Canadiens net with Dach and Newhook on at five-on-five the entire night.

And why is that symbolic? Because Dach and Newhook have spent entire games this season defending in their own end, chasing after the puck and giving up shot after shot after shot, breaking any momentum the Canadiens might have built on their previous shifts and handing it back to the opposition.

Both players have been searching for something for much of the season, much like the Canadiens have been searching for something for much of the season. So to have them perform like this on the very night the Canadiens moved into a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after a 5-4 overtime win makes it difficult not to link the two in some way — especially when it comes to Dach.

The domination of that 2nd line …

 

[admiralcadillac]

Monty was the only weak link tonight. I am happy with how everyone played. I am so madly in love with this team right now.

Dvorak is not an nhler anymore

 

[sampollock]

great win
love the effort

 

[salbutera]

Dvorak is not an nhler anymore

??

He’s skating great as someone previously pointed out and playing some great hockey

 

[Kosseca]

Recent success shows you that building a winning team is not a linear thing. Last season team would lose almost all their game by one goal. This season started by losing by 4+ goals... now they are winning these one-goal games. At this point, consistency in the level of play and effort is key. they can't win all the remaining games, but they can bring that same energy and "no quit" attitude every time they play. I like to see that wins are earn through the efforts of the kids with the support of the vets. This shows that this is a sustainable model.

Earlier this season, lots of people had identified lack of RD, 2C and backup as roster limitation. I like to see that each issue have somewhat been address differently: Dach self-improving, trade and organizational depth. That speaks to me a lot in term of how management has a good handle on their players and their development.

I'll admit that I was wrong on MSL (for now ) I didn't think he could implement a viable team system. He sold it... and it's working for now. Still of the view that a vet assistant coach would be a good idea though as to help him go through the next phase of his learning.

So... let see if this continues. If so... this is very exiting understanding that you dont have Demidov and Reinbacher on the roster yet. Also... non-negligible factor is that if MTL does well for the rest of the season, this may become an interesting place for UFA or top player with NTC/NMC to come.

 

[Gaud]

Personally:

1) I still hate Dvorak. Can't wait until he is gone.
2) Anderson and Gallagher are good vets and are playing their role but wow its what 11-12 mill between them? ridiculous.
3) Savard is too old now. Third pairing 3.5 mill and 34? Nope. Has to be replaced pronto.
4) Monty is a very good guy and a good backup but we need Dobes or Fowler to take the reigns in the next 2-3 years.

I think most people will be more excited about Evans and Beck as 3 and 4 C, but the question here is how far is Beck away from being at least as good as Dvo? Dvo doesnt put us in trouble but doesnt really generate anything. He also has a 52 percent plus in the FO circle throughout his career. I think Kovacevic was traded to make room for Mailoux, but then the habs realized he wasnt ready and now have Carrier. id hate to see the same mistake here.

im sure the Habs have plans to move the players in 2 and 3 but if the habs are in the mix till the end, it may send the wrong message. Overpaid, but playing well in their current roles and good off the ice. I think gallagher and Savard's contracts expire with the habs unless we get some nhl ready prospect talent. Not sure what they do with Anderson - he seems to embrace his new role and is physical, which is rare.