xXx..CK..xXx

Happy for Hoffman and Dadonov

I was indeed content when I saw that Allen was still in the net at 2-9.

I haven’t been the only one to comment on the timing of some of the goalie pulls this season. Some games have been alright, some games the timing has been off, whether it has been because of our positioning on the ice at the time of the pull, or another reason. From my standpoint, there’s a reason I am discussing this topic this season and never have before, even though Patrick Roy started a trend years ago.

Habs looking like Austria out there 🇦🇹

Exactly my point.

Analytics also show that the Habs are top 5 worst in terms of success rate when it comes to playing with an empty net, and have allowed the second most goals against in the same situation. Perhaps the coach should make an adjustment based on the specific team he is working with, rather than follow a general trend.

Not talking about this instance specifically but St. Louis has been terrible at deciding when to pull the goalie. Not pulling your goalie with 3-4 minutes left is not giving up on the game, and there have been many instances where he has done something of the like. We go from having a chance, to not having a chance. This also doesn’t really change your point as Lehkonen was indeed generally used in a defensive role, but just as recently as our last playoff appearance, Lehkonen was used on the top line with Danault and Gallagher. He was also used earlier in his career to replace Tatar on the top line with Pacioretty and Drouin. Regardless, not his primary use, and not much of a comparison talent wise to what he’s playing with now In Colorado.

As I’ve stated before, we are really good at letting in empty net goals.

My perspective as well. I always go back to thinking about having a child and watching the game with them. A fictional example, but seeing the child sad after a loss and telling them “it’s okay Jimmy, the Habs are trying to lose this year”. I don’t think I would have become a fan of the Habs or sport if I grew up wishing the Habs would lose at any point. I’ve always wanted them to win every game. One could argue that a child is naive and “adults know better”, but I also think that a losing mentality goes against the grain when it comes to sport that it is so unrealistic to actively cheer for it, because there is not a single player on the team that are actively trying to achieve that result. That type of mentality has to stem from someone who has not faced mental adversity in sport before, and the players we should want on the team need to be mentally strong and keep competing when faced with adversity. For the myriad of reasons mentioned already, I cannot be on the same page. But alas, you summed it up very well, and I agree.

Nice win in OT! 🚨

I’m not here to change anyone’s mind but there are key differences. 1) I don’t equate fighting for a playoff spot as the same as fighting for last place in the league 1a) fighting for a playoff spot is good for the team. 1b) fighting for the tank is good to get 1 player, who will likely only have a slight impact on any future championship, relative to the reality that there are 18 other players on the ice in any given game. This, in addition to the fact that a losing culture is bad for the current players, especially the youth, whereas winning develops our youth in a positive environment. 2) For all we know, Arizona goes on a 10 game winning streak immediately after this game. 4 point game? Whoopdy do. Perhaps if the game were in April and we actually saw that it made a difference. 3) The Habs are the team we cheer for. It’s much different to cheer for the team against a division rival so we can make a playoff spot, rather than root for our team to lose for the opposite reason. Personally, I don’t equate the two, but realize that some people do.

It’s probably so rare that the game that people wish the Habs lose because of the reasons stated actually make a difference come the end of the year.

Some points people will agree with, some points people won’t like. 1) Anaheim’s 2nd regulation win of the season after 31 games. 👏 2) Drouin has had some decent spells since being back. I thought he had a good game the other day until he had a huge gaffe at the offensive blue line which led to an empty netter. With that being said, he also had an assist and caused a penalty which was a borderline penalty shot due to his hustle. It is what it is in terms of fan perception, but I actually expect him to go on a decent run. Unfortunately for Drouin and the fanbase, a decent run for him could mean 10 points in 15 games along with a -11 total. 3) Only a small annoyance, but I am getting tired, and have already been tired of padding the other team’s stats with poor goaltender pulling tactics. Sometimes it has potentially cost us the game as well.

After watching it a few times (as I only caught the 3rd period) I agree that it’s a penalty.

3-0 🚨🚨🚨 make that 4 🚨🚨🚨🚨 Pezzetta 🚨

Not victim blaming but he has to keep his head up a little more and anticipate that other people are out there trying to hit him. It’s been a few times now where similar hits have happened to Slaf. Anderson was skating the same path just before and I was thinking to myself what if someone were to hit him as he streaked behind the net, but he had his head up the whole time and maintained his speed. A few seconds later, bam, the hit on Slaf.

Definitely interested to see Matheson in action.

Boggles my mind that some people root for 0 points. No Konecny for Philly tonight and he‘s been producing quite well for them so that’s a good thing for the Habs.

I agree with Brian on there needing to be an adjustment when it comes to the manner in which the goaltender is being pulled. Patrick Roy did it years ago and it worked so everyone began copying it. For me, it’s like a drop shot in tennis. Do it once, and it surprises your opponent. Perform it multiple times, and your opponent will make adjustments and turn on the offensive because you are bringing them to the net. Analogy aside, there are two factors in play here. 1) It is no longer a surprising tactic to pull your goalie with a few minutes left. Teams have made adjustments when it comes to defending this threat for a longer period of time. 2) The team itself has to be good, or have quality training with what to do with the extra man once they have it. 6 on 5 isn’t the exact same as 5 on 4 but the Habs power play is 28th in the league out of 32 teams. It does not surprise me that we are having this conversation in regards to this specific team. The analytics may show that a team has an advantage when they have the “man advantage” but the statistics also show that the Habs themselves are poor in this respect, for whatever reason. I tend to agree that in the case of the Habs, St. Louis’ decision making has been borderline reckless when it comes to pulling the goalie because it has indeed happened many times where the opposing team scores their empty net goal with over 90 seconds left. With that much time left in a one goal game, the Habs are still in it. We go from a situation where the Habs are throwing their guts at the wall and pressing giving it their all, to a joyous celebration and sense of relief for the other team; all of this with plenty of time left still on the clock.

Suzuki pulls the Suzuki 🚨

We just played non contact hockey on Columbus’ fourth goal.

I definitely misread that part so my mistake. The point stands in a different way though, in that if they are organizational centers, they would be good enough to replace Suzuki on the first line within a few years. I’d be ecstatic if that were the case but I personally think there is generally a little too much naive enthusiasm when it comes to the potential of the unknown and future prospects jumping in to save the day. At some point, we need to utilize what we have, or know for sure. Otherwise we will always be a franchise looking to the future rather than competing in the now. With that being said, I don’t think the actual organization operates to such an extreme and so that is where the dichotomy that I was pointing out lays.

Not to get personal, but I believe that is what you are looking for the Habs to do, rather than what their actual “plan” is. I mean, I did not come here with an actual suggestion as to what their plan will be, but it is in my eyes much more likely that Dach gets placed in that role, rather than anything you suggested. I’d calm it down with 4 generational centers as well. Slafkovsky was a 1st overall pick and it’s not like he is coming in and destroying things in his first season. I understand that next year’s draft will be incrementally better, but I also realize that it is unlikely that any player drafted next year (outside of Bedard/Mitchkov) will have any type of major impact for a few years.

Another thing to consider (if one agrees with my Kessel and Matthews comparison) is that they only played roughly 70 games each those seasons I quoted. Somewhat of a coincidence based on my “heart” prediction but over an 82 game season, they were on pace for about 42 goals had they played. To answer Don’s question, 40 goals is certainly in the realm of possibility.

Last year I got criticized heavily for stating that Caufield is someone I could always use in the same breath as Kessel and Matthews when it comes to goal scoring ability. I still believe there’s a comparison to be made when it comes to scoring. Kessel scored 36 goals in his third year and Matthews scored 37 (though he scored 40 in his rookie year). I think your answer is likely there. Just so I can look back at the end of the year how many goals Caufield ends with I will predict: Head: 36 Goals Heart: 42 Goals