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Game 2, Habs vs Bruins, 12:30 PM


dlbalr

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It would arguably be unfair to bench Bouillon given that his playoff performance has been excellent on the whole. However, I do think we need that extra offensive push Beaulieu could provide.

Jeff, I disagree that "the Habs letting up" is the problem. Boston has a track record of explosive third periods and has consistently been able to hit that top plateau for extended stretches in both games. I think we have to face the facts that we're in tough against a powerhouse squad that had 17 points more than us in the regular season and won the President's Trophy. If anything, this Bruins team is actually BETTER than the 2011 team, in that they seem to be faster and have more offence from the blueline. Plus they have Cup experience.

They are also incredible at keeping the puck in the zone at the offensive blueline. I don't know how many attempts to clear the zone they have somehow foiled, but I'd be looking closely at the tape to see if there isn't some way we can improve our break-outs. (Beaulieu, again, could make a small difference here).

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well the boys get few days at home, that home cooking should help. Sleep in their own bed get laid and come out ready for B'ar. Dan'l (boone) Briere and the rest of the b'ar hunters will prevail. I am just so ticked off that I try to find some humour in this situation. :habslogo:

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BTW, still waiting for "playoff hero" Briere to show up in this series. Just a small point.

I'd wanted to add: whatever happened to Markov's cannon from the point? I get that PK has surpassed him as the Main Man, but I find it odd that #79 hardly ever seems to look to unleash that Howitzer any more. Has his shot just lost some zip, or is he just deferring too much to PK? In think about under-utilized weapons in our arsenal, that might be a significant one.

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What a garbage way to lose a game.

They've collapsed twice in the third period, one more collapse and the series is over.

The Good:

The Habs have held the lead for a super-majority of the series. Looking forward to this series, winning one in Boston is a major coup. We can depend on a victory in the Belle Centre. Vanek got going. Subban is playing like a Hall of Famer. Price whiffed on the big goal, but none of the others. Like the way the Habs won the first game, the Bruins aren't going to have 5 screens go in during the next two games. The powerplay is superb, neutralizing any goonery. Even loser Julien got a bench minor, for suprise, surprise, complaining about the refs. Two teams stole two games.

The Bad:

Prust is hurt. Get him out of there. He's no better than Ryan White, and we have Travis Moen in the wings. Bournival-Plekanec-Gallagher is a better line that having Prust as an anchor for fifteen minutes a game. Bouillon and Weaver are fine. I'm worried about Markov-Emelin, they can't win battles along the boards, or break the cycle.

The Ugly:

The Bruins are in control of the play. Adjustments are needed. One piece that's missing from the team is a faceoff specialist. Can Weaver take faceoffs? He's been a Swiss Army knife everywhere else. They lose the faceoff to Bergeron, the puck is kicked back to the point, and they're pinned in their zone for the entire shift. They have to disrupt the cycle, the Bruins are executing their game. On that front, I haven't seen the counter attack at all from the Habs. Perhaps it's "road hockey." If it's not, they're in trouble.

The Butt Ugly

"4-9 on PP, the Bruins need to stay disciplined. The Power Play is the only chance the Canadiens have in this series" Billy Jaffe (ex Bruins commentator on NHL Network). Complain all you want about HNIC/CBC, my friends from North of the 49th. At least you have hockey coverage. C'mon. The Bruins fifth commentator is doing PBP for the NHL Network? I know Billy Jaffe pretty well from the old Bruins game. He said three sentences, and two of them were to agree with Dale Arnold during intermissions.

(EDIT: The toolbag was Jeff O'Neill. Good Ontario Boy. Maybe there is something about the socialist hockey coverage).

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I have tickets for game 3.

Been caught dreaming about the ambiance of a 2-0 lead back home when we made it 3-1...

Shame on me.

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Bournival-Plekanec-Gallagher is a better line that having Prust as an anchor for fifteen minutes a game. Bouillon and Weaver are fine. I'm worried about Markov-Emelin, they can't win battles along the boards, or break the cycle.

They did have Bournival on that line while Prust was on the 4th in the 3rd period. A useless stat, Prust was the lone Hab with a positive +/- rating in this game.

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Guest Stogey24

Poor Bouillon. I thought his pairing did well. He's not a goat like Bartkowski, and playing two pairing in the last ten minutes was a mistake from Therrien imo.

I was so pissed about that pairing being out there
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The Habs are a different monster on home ice. I was execting a split in Boston and Im expecting the Habs to take the next 2.

3-1 Back in Boston can go either way. I expect the Bruins to get away from hockey and get too goonish. Habs in 5.

Habs have trailed for 10 minutes in these playoffs. As MT said.. they'll be re-focused. Plus the line combinations that MT can construct is a big advantage.

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well the boys get few days at home, that home cooking should help. Sleep in their own bed get laid and come out ready for B'ar. Dan'l (boone) Briere and the rest of the b'ar hunters will prevail. I am just so ticked off that I try to find some humour in this situation. :habslogo:

How about..that next year we'll be straining to remember it... :blush:

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BTW, still waiting for "playoff hero" Briere to show up in this series. Just a small point.

I'd wanted to add: whatever happened to Markov's cannon from the point? I get that PK has surpassed him as the Main Man, but I find it odd that #79 hardly ever seems to look to unleash that Howitzer any more. Has his shot just lost some zip, or is he just deferring too much to PK? In think about under-utilized weapons in our arsenal, that might be a significant one.

I was wondering about the same thing.. how come no Markov point shots...

With the two of them out there.. hmmmm

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The Habs are a different monster on home ice. I was execting a split in Boston and Im expecting the Habs to take the next 2.

3-1 Back in Boston can go either way. I expect the Bruins to get away from hockey and get too goonish. Habs in 5.

Habs have trailed for 10 minutes in these playoffs. As MT said.. they'll be re-focused. Plus the line combinations that MT can construct is a big advantage.

I was HOPING for a split in Boston and hoping hard after the first lucky game.

I was quite a bit more impressed with this game despite the late fluke deflection that unleased the horses.. rather.. ourses....

Home ice ..that extra man.. should help a lot.

If we had won that game it might have been it, although Cuke is right to remember 2011.

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BTW, still waiting for "playoff hero" Briere to show up in this series. Just a small point.

I'd wanted to add: whatever happened to Markov's cannon from the point? I get that PK has surpassed him as the Main Man, but I find it odd that #79 hardly ever seems to look to unleash that Howitzer any more. Has his shot just lost some zip, or is he just deferring too much to PK? In think about under-utilized weapons in our arsenal, that might be a significant one.

Lets be realistic. Briere is only going to be effective when he's in position to take advantage of a miss match. Home game against the oppositions 4th line. Where basically the other team is at a disadvantage for having to put the line on the ice. This should basically be viewed as a scoring opportunity, imo. Unfortunately, Paille back really is a thorn in that angle.. aaaand luckily Kelly is hurt. Briere vs TB was a good matchup..

Personally I'd rather have Moen, White & Bourny in the lineup than Briere. They bring more reliable tangible aspects than clutch. I feel Gally Gio DD meet or maybe exceed the quotient necessary vs the B's. Extra sandpaper on Dmen make all the difference.

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Poor Bouillon. I thought his pairing did well. He's not a goat like Bartkowski, and playing two pairing in the last ten minutes was a mistake from Therrien imo.

It's hard to get a chest out of the way of a fast shot.

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Man...three hours later and I'm still bummed out :( Sigh...

Yeah, and since it's an afternoon game, we have the rest of the day to stew. The good news is that it's May 3rd, and we're still watching Habs hockey. There's still a chance that we'll be able to say that come Memorial Day.

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Man, I know that in the "big picture" the news is still very good. We got the split in Beantown; we are healthy; we have the first Habs team with genuinely elite home-grown talent in decades; we have established ourselves as a strong, highly competitive franchise; we're making a good run; PK Subban wears the CH; you can't win a Cup without going through gut-wrenching moments like this; and so on.

It's just hard to smile when you've been kicked in the teeth :bonk:

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Man, I know that in the "big picture" the news is still very good. We got the split in Beantown; we are healthy; we have the first Habs team with genuinely elite home-grown talent in decades; we have established ourselves as a strong, highly competitive franchise; we're making a good run; PK Subban wears the CH; you can't win a Cup without going through gut-wrenching moments like this; and so on.

It's just hard to smile when you've been kicked in the teeth :bonk:

amen brother amen.

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