xXx..CK..xXx
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Posts posted by xXx..CK..xXx
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Are there any updates on Kostitsyn's status? Will he be playing tomorrow?
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Yeah I guess my focus was more on the fact that no one was suggesting any line combinations to back up their argument as to whether Gomez or Desharnais should play on the wing. The line combinations don't really matter, I'm not the coach. But they certainly help in answering the question as to who should play where. I don't mind your lines either though, DD - Eller - A Kost may be a little too weak. I'm glad to see we agree that splitting up Gionta and Gomez might be a good solution as well... Although I thoroughly believe that Martin will put the two together upon Gomez's return, and probably rightly so.
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After having gone to the Habs game vs Boston last weekend I was actually very impressed with the manner in which DD plays when you see him live. With that being said, the same can be said with most players including Gomez... in that you notice subtle things about what make players great when you see them live. The discussion about whether Gomez or DD should be at center upon Gomez's arrival is an important one. Personally, I think you keep Gomez at center and play DD on the wing.
There are two things which are on topic but have yet to be discussed here though... Firstly if DD is indeed put on the wing what do the lines look like? No one has really posted any line combinations here. Secondly and tied in with this fact is the winger Brian Gionta. For much of his career, Gomez's successes as well as his troubles have been tied in with his play with Brian Gionta. Upon Gomez's return, you may want to give the two a little more time to play together (as Gomez has not really been given a fair shot this season yet) but if things don't work out I would not hesitate to finally split them up. The book on Gomez and Gionta is known even to 5 year old toddler hab fans who watch hockey while playing with plastic toys. While at their best, the duo can be a top 10 duo in the league. When things are not going well however, they can be one of the worst. Gomez and Gionta have chemistry that not many can match, however they do not really adapt to different situations and other teams do not have a very difficult time defending them. This surely has an impact on both Gomez's and Gionta's production.
Should things not work out here is a ballpark look at my suggested lines...
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Gionta
Cammalleri-Gomez-Cole
DD-Eller-Kostitsyn
Moen-Nokelainen-Darche
From a personal standpoint if I would contemplate switching anybody it would be a debate between Eller and DD at center vs wing... not Gomez or DD. With the lines I put up, I actually kind of like Eller on the left wing and DD at center. Also Moen has certainly been playing better than a 4th line player but it would make for a pretty solid energy line.
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I am certainly not happy with the results that the habs have been having since the beginning of the season, but I do feel as though the knee-jerk reactions around here are a bit extreme. We have gone through poor stretches throughout the year in past seasons and made the playoffs. I guess it's just been awhile since it has happened right at the beginning of the season. I know I'm only quoting a small sample size but the sentiments on here seem to be that the season is over. Not only that, but that we should even go as far as tanking the season (joking or not). Who here truly believes that the habs will end this season in 15th place simply because of our start? In reality, regardless of what's happened so far the habs will be finishing this season 8th-10th in the east at absolute worst. Have there been any positives to be taken out of the first few games this season? Very few. However we do have a veteran core who is used to winning. This group knows how to win and wont accept the current mediocre standards for much longer. I don't completely buy in to the talk that we are not ready because of the manner in which we chose to use the pre-season either. In my mind if there's anything worth discussing it is the injuries which have happened, and are continuing to happen to our team. This chemistry and "working out the system" that everyone keeps referring to isn't due to the manner in which they approached the pre-season, it is largely in part due to these injuries. Sure, the Habs have had 8 games to work it out but certain key players, especially when discussing chemistry, have had much less than that. To sum up this post: Captain Obvious is pointing out that things can only get and will only get better.
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It will be ill guess 6-8 months.
5 on 3
Will be 1 -1 soon enough unless Price can do it alone.
Don't call me an expert on the topic or anything but it was the top of his knee. I don't think (more hoping) it's actually that bad!
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Yeah he's been sent back to the Flyers...
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I think my answer is a pretty obvious one, but I believe that there's a combination of factors. There are two things which can be taken out from The Hit itself. 1) The team witnissed a horrific hit and reacted in the way you're suggesting since then. 2) The actual player who was on the receiving end of the hit was becoming an integral part of our lineup and our team has had a difficult time filling the gap. Personally, I think the latter is more responsible for the team's play since 'The Hit'. Obviously it could just as easily be a regular slump, but I believe you're right in saying that we've been a different team since the incident. It has definitely been a terrible week for the team, but like yourself I believe that we will bounce back soon enough. The team definitely still has spirit, I'm just hopeful that their available skill level will allow them to succeed for the rest of the season and playoffs.
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Don Cherry might be the dumbest man on television. He suggests karma for the Habs running up the score against Minnesota. Didn't his beloved Bruins beat us by the same margin?
Yeah, but that was followed by the Bruins getting shutout vs the Rangers themselves.
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I have seen Zednik decapitated and I have seen Savage almost break his neck as a Habs fan. I have seen in the last year Booth and Savard wiped out. I have seen way more than one "freak accident" in my life. That doesn't include the plays like Malarchuk and Zednik having their throat slashed or Trent McCleary almost dying when his trachea was crushed by a slap shot. There is an understanding that these things can happen, but not like last week where it was totally avoidable.
This is a legit problem whether you like it or not. As for "punishing ourselves" that is in the eye of the beholder. If somebody is turned off by something and you aren't, then don't assume because it is punishment for you that it will be for them. I am not done with the game yet, but I am a hell of a lot closer than I was 5 years ago and the continuation of these type of events could lead me there one day and I will not be punishing myself.
500 hours a year could easily be moved to something else without punishing myself, just like it was easily replaced in 2005.
The difference is that when you saw Zednik nearly get decapitated or many of the other examples you listed, we didn't have such a large percentage of the city of Montreal and much of its fanbase saying they were turned off by hockey as a consequence. Not only that, we certainly did not have people saying they did not care how the habs did from there on out. The topic at hand is just as much about whether or not people have stopped caring about how the habs progress as it is about people who have stopped caring about the sport itself. Personally, I am a fan of the greatest hockey team in the world and I will not simply end this lifelong relationship I've had with my favourite team at the snap of a finger. We are all individuals and I appreciate that some people will indeed be turned off by the sport, both because of the brutality of the play, as well as the manner in which the league dealt with the matter. I am also willing to admit that there are serious problems with the game that need to be looked at. Questioning where the game of hockey is headed because of these problems is much different than not caring how the habs do from here on out because of a dirty play by a player on a rival team. I guess this is the main point I am trying to make, "not caring" about how the habs do is simply a knee jerk reaction whereas questioning the game as a whole is more appropriate for the situation. Pacioretty himself said that he did not want or even expect more than a one game suspension for the play... Why should we as fans get our panties in a bunch and abandon the game as well as our team? It simply does not make sense to me. I can see how the evolution of the game can lead older generations to become less "involved" with the game, but "not caring" about how the habs do because of one incident? An irrational response to a single, horrific, event. If you do not feel as though you would be punishing yourself by not following the habs anymore then I do not know how you could call yourself a true habs fan... something I am indeed aware you are. 500 hours for an avid fan were easily replaced in 2005 because we had no other option, poor comparison.
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If it helps you feel good about yourself, fine, but there's no reason to pass fantasies off as fact. Face it, Pacioretty is done for the year. Even if he's healthy enough to attempt a comeback, the team will tell him to wait until next year. And I'd say there's a very serious chance that he's no longer the same player even if he does return. That's just reality.
Do you think Gauthier sits in his office thinking "Hmm... everything is A-okay: Pacioretty will be back for the playoffs just as good as always and Markov will be as good as new for training camp. I'm sure it'll all turn out alright. Of course, in the back of my mind, there's a possibility that both careers are over but why think about that?" Gauthier needs to deal with reality not with optimism.
Extreme pessimism is no better than what you consider blind optimism. While it is possible that Pacioerrety never evolves into the player he is capable of becoming, that is simply a hypothetical assumption. There's very little reason to believe his career is over, he is 22 years of age and people have overcome much worse in their lives.
As for the initial question, I have certainly not lost interest. I understand that we cannot take back the reality that this very horrific play happened, but people in Montreal are only reacting like this because this time it was personal in that we witnessed it first hand. Similar plays have happened in the past to other teams as well, and I think it is irrational to assume that these types of plays/injuries will happen to players on our team at any type of consistent frequency. Premeditated and dirty because it was 4-0 and Chara vs Pacioretty? Perhaps. Freak incident that we will hopefully witness only once in our lives (the outcome)? Just as likely. The games matter as much as they ever have, we just have a little sour tastes in our mouths at the moment. Come playoffs (if not sooner) the passion will return to each and everyone of you. If not, you're only punishing yourself.
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Cherry didn't exactly say it as brobin made it out to be... He didn't really target francophones at all, just the companies based in Montreal who threated to rescind their sponsorships. While I wasn't entirely pleased with Cherry's opinion either you all seem to have missed his main point: he simply said that it should have been a 20 game suspension or 0 game suspension, nothing in between.
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The Haws are so deep with talent that Philly is going to be dominated. Chicago dominated the Sharks and the Wings who are both far better that the Flyers.
As far as hate goes, Philly is top 3 but Boston is still my number 1!
Sharks and Canucks, but your point is still valid.
With that being said, I think the finals will be a lot closer than most people think as well... At least each individual game.
Philly is definitely in my top 3 hate list, how can they not be?
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It's easy to say that we'll fold if we get scored on first after the way the rest of the series has gone so far, but I just don't see this being the case tonight. Let's hope we won't have to test that theory though!
I agree that at least one of the "0 for x" group have to put one in tonight.
GHG :hlogo:
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there it is... Leighton.. 3 shutouts... unreal...
I know some people will defend them.. but I am very disappointed in Pleks and AK in particular.. the games get tough, they disappear.. Pouliot, MAB, Moen.. yup.. not good enough, but AK and Pleks are suppose to be our 2nd line.. and they have done nothing..
Cammy, Gomez, Gionta, subban.. they are trying at least, but I don't see anyone else stepping up with them..
and Healy.. shut up about Leighton.. I could have had a shutout for Philly tonight.
Well since you asked for someone to defend them, let's take a look out west. How many goals do Hossa and Heatley have? How about Thornton or Versteeg? None of them have more goals than either AK or Pleks, so I truly believe people are being harder on them than they should be... The playoffs are a tough ride. I'm not saying I'm pleased with their effort, but thank god we don't have any of the other players that I mentioned...
Terribly upset with the loss, but I do still believe...
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In case anyone was curious, I went with the 1915 CA jersey, just as I did for game 7 vs WSH. Guess I have found my game 7 jersey! GO HABS GO!!!
Smart choice! I would have done the same.
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Yeah same here... I voted for 5-0 when facing elimination. 0 giveaways vs the Penguins in game 7 was a close second though.
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Ugh. Can't say that I like Vancouver's chances anymore.Sucks, Vancouver were my pick in the West for SC final...
Somewhat related article...
http://passittobulis.blogspot.com/2010/05/...h-ruptured.html
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Hmm three keys for success eh?
1) Production from Plekanec, Cammalleri and A. Kost. This is just a personal opinion, but prior to the series I felt as though Gomez and Gionta would have a lot more success this series than the other line. IF this is the case, the second line will have to be better. Though I guess, one could argue that the production of the Gomez-Gionta combo is just as important if they're expected to produce. Cammalleri has been steady all throughout the playoffs, but the other two need to up their level this series. I'm definitely not as hard on him as some others here, but AK played a horrible game 1. He definitely knows how to put the puck in the net though, so hopefully he comes through tonight.
2) Special teams. Quite simply, special teams killed us game one. We have to be much better blocking shots at the point and intercepting passes. Washington's only power play goal in the first series came off the rush. The penguins are much better at setting up in the offensive zone. It's as if the team forgot how to play on the penalty kill because of Washington's unorthodox style in such a scenario. On the other hand, our power play on the other hand will have to adjust to a lack of Markov...
3) Team defense. They will have to step up big to the occasion and contain the opposing team's star forwards. We are playing well in the netrual zone, but we have to be much better in our own end. The penguins' speed down low hurts us sometimes and creates great scoring opportunities. Markov's injury is more important to our all round game, not specifically important to our defensive zone coverage. We can definitely still play some fundamentally strong defense without his presence. His injury should not be an excuse for poor defensive zone coverage, though obviously he helps.
In short, looking back on your post, my three keys to the game are pretty much the same as yours!
Go Habs Go!! I hope it's an enjoyable game. :hlogo: :hlogo:
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I really don't think fatigue was the problem for Halak. We're playing a completely different team, and most of the goals were one time shots or Halak being screened... both of which he faced very little of in the first round. Well, he faced a lot of one timers in the Caps series, but the Pens seemed to be successful in keeping their one timers low, whereas the Caps always went up high on him. That being said, if Price were needed at all this series, I'd feel more comfortable with him in the net than I would have (before he even played) been in the Washington series. Halak should start next game in my opinion however, there's no question about it.
As for the players, I agree that they did look a bit tired, especially in the third period. With that being said, like someone else pointed out, BOTH teams actually looked pretty tired out there during many periods of time.
I'm an optimist when it comes to this year's squad and will continue to hope for the best, but the Markov injury is just demoralizing. Why oh why did it have to happen? Hopefully other players step up, but ugh.
Next game should be more tightly checked, hopefully we'll pull out a close, low scoring game.
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Probably the best-case scenario to call him up, after a win and because of an injury. No savior pressure there. I just hope for the kid he doesnt make some mistake on the PP that leads to a Caps goal.
Only worry I have as well... I'm sure it won't happen though. :hlogo:
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I actually expect a really strong game from our team tonight. I think our weakest link will probably be our defense. Goals will come in bunches and Halak will make some game saving stops. In the end we will come out with the victory. You heard it here first.
Let's go boys, one week of playoffs is certainly not enough!
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Yeah but Martin also added that it will depend on the health of their players... Spacek was already out last game, so regardless of Bergeron's horrendous -8 I don't see it happening either... Unless of course, someone else is injured.
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Nah, the player really didn't even notice that he'd been hit with the puck like MK1 said. (Sorry I started this post before some of the replies.
)With that being said, it's a pretty useless discussion given the context. It was a stupid penalty, there is no doubting that but Price should not get singled out because of it. Players get stupid penalties all the time... ALL THE TIME. Sure, goalies get less penalties than players but Price is only human. Plekanec, arguably our best player got an unsportsmanlike penalty the game before. He didn't shoot the puck at anyone, but it happened and I did not see much discussion about it. Like Colin is saying, they are simply showing positive emotion and frustration (though I would add that Gomez and Plekanec have both shown a decent amount of emotion this series as well). Unfortunately the emotion they have been showing haven't been productive for the team.
With all that put in place, I truly believe that Price needed to be stronger last game. As someone mentioned, we always knew that goaltending would have to be our strongest asset this series in order for us to stay competitive. To me, this is the reason that Price and Halak are and should be discussed as much as they have been. Can we fault Price for the loss? Certainly not. Did he need to be better for us to win? I truly believe that the answer is yes. Regardless of the late second period Hamrlik brain cramp, the Caps would have come out hard in the third period, I'm certain of it. I think the most agitating part of it is that we all know Price can be better. It's his inconsistency that kills it. I recall him making one very important save on the penalty kill in the second period last night, but saves like that get lost as a consequence of other mental mistakes. It's simply his consistency for 60 minutes that he needs to work on. Once this is achieved, he will be great.
I'm not bashing Price or anything, I'm just saying it like I see it. Halak needed to be better in Game 2 for us to win and Price needed to be better yesterday for us to win. No goalie could have won game 3 for us. Of course the lineup in front of the goalies have to be great as well in order for us to compete, but I truly believe that in general, they have been. We are not playing a Vanek-less Buffalo or Ottawa, we are playing the elite of the east. Unfortunately our goalies have to play stellar as a consequence. Certain fans want the habs to win at any cost and believe that they can do so regardless of context. Fans who have watched every game this season and understand hockey realize how good our goalies have to be this series in order for us to actually win 4 games out of 7. So far Varlamov has been the best goalie in the series while Price and Halak have been relatively equal to one another. As a consequence, based on the overall season and playoffs, Halak should start next game and there should be no question about it. If that conclusion seems biased to you, then you are simply biased yourself.
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To me this is on Martin not Hamrlik. He is being put in a situation he is no longer capable for. but Martin, what a fxcking idiot
:angry:
All of the negative things that the habs do are on Martin coming from you, so it's not much of a surprise.
Horrible times right now, but we better pull it out in the third. It will be a hard loss to take because we deserve this game regardless of how the Caps play for the rest of the game.
Permanent Rumour Thread
in Habs & Hockey Talk
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I'm probably in the minority here but I would not trade Gill away for anything even close to his value. His "perceived" value is much less than his actual value. Not many people realize this but we would be a MUCH worse team without Gill.