Jump to content

Another win by the skin of their teeth


Mark Napier

Recommended Posts

Originally posted by Lexrst

What's up with you anyway Napier. I'm not sure how long you have been following hockey but apparently not very long. I can tell you this from 30 years of following the NHL and the Habs - winning by one  goal is OK! In fact its the mark of not only a good team, but a special team!

Now you are right lets temper our enthusiasm, its early in the year but not only are the signs positive so far - they are special! This many one goals wins and third period combacks say one thing - character. All the greatest teams have shown this ability. I have seen every habs game this year and with the exception of the first two periods last night - where yes indeed they lack some enthusiasm, they have played hard and have shown absolutely no quit. When is that last time I've seen that, hum - 1993! In fact, this team seems so much like that group. The 93 habs became known as the Cardiac Kids for their late game herorics and they way they kept us on the edge of our seats to the last moment. They also seem familair by the number of rookies in the lineup contributing. Another group of habs, the 1986 edition was similar.

And another point, I think perdictions are for idiots. We have had no hockey for over a year. The lineups of many teams have fundamentally changed. The balance of power has shifted and the playing field has levelled. I don't think anyone at this point has any real idea how good many teams are and who is going to be on the top when the season ends. Anything can happen over the course of a 82 game schedule and a short playoff series. Can they win the cup this year? Of course they can. But so can perhaps 15 other teams.  I think its not far off to suggest that the Habs are one of the top 6 teams in the east and one of the top 10 teams in the league. You mean to tell me the habs are not better than at least 20 other teams in this league right now and on paper? Not only that, I agree with you they probably can play better. So Napier I think you may underestimate this team, so lets wait and se where we are at XMas before we have perdictions of doom and gloom. I've been watchng hockey for long time my friend and I have a sense this is not a group you want to underestimate.

Excellent post!!. Could not agree more. Napier seems quite knowledgable, but his tone of arrogance is un-called for. We're all "border-line stupid" for considering the Habs a top-shelf club?. In yer ear pal. I don't give a shit if we win by 1 goal or 4, as long as we win. We're 10-3-1 so far against "top" teams in the east with a lack-luster Theodore. Come playoff time, if Theo is on his game, this squad can compete with anyone.:hlogo:
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 60
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

and now the count is 9 one-goal wins so far. if you match that with the 2 one-goal losses, that's a lot of one-goal games... don't know what that indicates but it sure is interesting

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mean really... you've got to be kidding.

Napier, Go buy a lotto ticket and see what luck is really all about. Give me a break.

Is a shot that hits the post a result of bad luck or simply the result of a missed play?

Is a shot that hits the net a result of good luck or simply the result of a play that worked?

Does the fact that we win by one mean we have been lucky? Or does it mean our team made enough plays that worked to win the game by one?

I think the answers are obvious.

In my opinion luck really has very little to do with an outcome of a hockey game.

Luck does have its place in a casino where odds are heavily in the house's favour.

Luck smuck!!!!

Nice commentary Napier. I guess we all need a bit therapy around here. Wow.

:hlogo:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by matsnaslundsuperfan

I mean really...  you've got to be kidding.

Napier,  Go buy a lotto ticket and see what luck is really all about.  Give me a break.

Is a shot that hits the post a result of bad luck or simply the result of a missed play?

Is a shot that hits the net a result of good luck or simply the result of a play that worked?

Does the fact that we win by one mean we have been lucky?  Or does it mean our team made enough plays that worked to win the game by one?

I think the answers are obvious.

In my opinion luck really has very little to do with an outcome of a hockey game.

Luck does have its place in a casino where odds are heavily in the house's favour.    

Luck smuck!!!!

Nice commentary Napier.  I guess we all need a bit therapy around here.   Wow.    

:hlogo:

you a smart boy, mnsf... very smart, yes... very, very smart... yessssssssssssssssssssssssss :clap::king:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Mark Napier

Nobody is being negative, just realistic.  One goal games are often won as a matter of luck. In all the one goal victories the habs have had, a well timed misdirection or bad call by a ref could of switched the outcome of the game instantly.  I'm not comfortable this team is as good as the standings suggest till I see some dominant 3 or 4 goal victories and games that aren't won in the dying minutes of the 3rd or overtime.  These games could of so easily gone the other way and only a fan blinded by loyality won't see this.

...[snip]..

I just expect this house of cards to come crashing down. Geesh last year everyone was surprised we made the playoffs and now no one is batting an eye when there are suggestions of finishing in the top 2 in the league.  This team is basically the same except for the addition of a few rookie that are doing well but certainly nothing earth shattering.  

...[snip]...

Meanwhile I don't know if I can keep posting here where most of you are so lacking in forethought that I need to argue over simple facts like that a team that can only win 1 goal games must surely be lucky.  

<snip>

I have to disagree with almost all of Napier's comments. Right now we are playing like the 2nd or third best team in the league. We have won a number of games in the third and in overtime but most of those games we solidly outplayed the opponents in the third period and earned those goals by applying steady pressure. Probably more goals in the NHL are scored by a lucky bounce or chance deflection than beautiful 3 way passing plays. You get those goals by creating more chances than your opponents.

A few people from other team's (e.g. Hitchcock) have publicly said the Hans are one of the elite teams. They don't think we are just lucky.

I think that there are a couple of important reasons why we are doing so well in the 3rd period. Firstly our boys are bearing down and skating and working harder when the game is on the line. They often seem to lack focus in the second period. More importantly I think our team speed is taking a toll on the opponents. The other team is more tired than us in the third period and this is leading to them taking penalties and also to us penning them into their own end occasionally.

I especially disagree with Napier's claim that we are basically the same as two year's ago. Higgins, Plekanec and Perezhogen are playing important roles. Kovalev gives us a legimate star 1st line winger to complement Koivu and Dandenault is an improvement on Brisebois. Anyone watching this team who watched 2 years ago can easily see they are a completely different team. Not just because of their great record but their confidence and the tremendous improvement in their quality of play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by Peter Puck
Originally posted by Mark Napier

Nobody is being negative, just realistic.  One goal games are often won as a matter of luck. In all the one goal victories the habs have had, a well timed misdirection or bad call by a ref could of switched the outcome of the game instantly.  I'm not comfortable this team is as good as the standings suggest till I see some dominant 3 or 4 goal victories and games that aren't won in the dying minutes of the 3rd or overtime.  These games could of so easily gone the other way and only a fan blinded by loyality won't see this.

...[snip]..

I just expect this house of cards to come crashing down. Geesh last year everyone was surprised we made the playoffs and now no one is batting an eye when there are suggestions of finishing in the top 2 in the league.  This team is basically the same except for the addition of a few rookie that are doing well but certainly nothing earth shattering.  

...[snip]...

Meanwhile I don't know if I can keep posting here where most of you are so lacking in forethought that I need to argue over simple facts like that a team that can only win 1 goal games must surely be lucky.  

<snip>

I have to disagree with almost all of Napier's comments. Right now we are playing like the 2nd or third best team in the league. We have won a number of games in the third and in overtime but most of those games we solidly outplayed the opponents in the third period and earned those goals by applying steady pressure. Probably more goals in the NHL are scored by a lucky bounce or chance deflection than beautiful 3 way passing plays. You get those goals by creating more chances than your opponents.

A few people from other team's (e.g. Hitchcock) have publicly said the Hans are one of the elite teams. They don't think we are just lucky.

I think that there are a couple of important reasons why we are doing so well in the 3rd period. Firstly our boys are bearing down and skating and working harder when the game is on the line. They often seem to lack focus in the second period. More importantly I think our team speed is taking a toll on the opponents. The other team is more tired than us in the third period and this is leading to them taking penalties and also to us penning them into their own end occasionally.

I especially disagree with Napier's claim that we are basically the same as two year's ago. Higgins, Plekanec and Perezhogen are playing important roles. Kovalev gives us a legimate star 1st line winger to complement Koivu and Dandenault is an improvement on Brisebois. Anyone watching this team who watched 2 years ago can easily see they are a completely different team. Not just because of their great record but their confidence and the tremendous improvement in their quality of play.

say it peter, say it loud and clear from the top of the bell center! :/):/):/)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"We didn't play the game we wanted to play tonight, and that cost us another two points," Dumont said. "We have to make sure that we come back even harder on Wednesday at home against Carolina. That's going to be another big two points, but it's really disappointing to lose four points like that in games that we should have won."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Originally posted by PurpleHills

I'm happy they won but I, for one, am sick of these one goal victories! Can we just win the old fashioned kick-butt style please It's almost as if there's a script and a formula going:

Canadiens Score = Opponent's score +1

Oh what do you know the formula holds again! Aright I'm gonna coin the formula as my own, let's call it the Pills (PurpleHIlls short version) Formula. People will be teaching with the Pills formula for years to come.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...