brobin Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 They can't let Price get worn down like that. He is a big man and the Bruins are working him side to side. As the third got under way, he was lower and slower. They need to save him for the Bruins push in the third. Fortunately, we have a longer rest. Overtime and a short rest was killer on Price the way the team was letting the Bruins blast away. Same goes for the D pairings.... The forwards have to do a better job back checking and taking away the trailer. The top line needs to be more effective and harder to play against 5-5. They should be the line improving out possession stats if we want to help Price. Let's hope we see a flying Habs team at home who give the Bruins all they can handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 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 Oh yeah, and there were certainly more "GO BEEEZ" posts on social media from my friends in NE. They run for the hills for fifty minutes, gloat after the next ten. Their team is full of muckers and goons and all they do is succeed. I guess, the only think you can do is crack a beer and listen to some Rod Stewy.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronthab Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 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). good review Lovett. I liked today's game a lot more than the first one and I'm hoping that extra adrenaline will kick in when they're playing for the happy gang. We got a lot going today with Vanek kicking in at least near the net which was pretty smart if he's weak, and we can glory in Price and PK, and a few others as well. On the whole I'm pretty happy heading home and the bleeding on my wrists has slowed considerably... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 good review Lovett. I liked today's game a lot more than the first one and I'm hoping that extra adrenaline will kick in when they're playing for the happy gang. We got a lot going today with Vanek kicking in at least near the net which was pretty smart if he's weak, and we can glory in Price and PK, and a few others as well. On the whole I'm pretty happy heading home and the bleeding on my wrists has slowed considerably... That game was easier to watch, that's for sure, less stressful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Lovett, I disagree with your characterization of the Prunes. They are a tremendous hockey team - up there with Chicago in my mind as fundamentally the best in the league. True, they don't have big-name superstars up front, but they do throw wave after wave of incredibly effective forecheckers and lots and lots of talented players. Their back end is much stronger and faster than we are led to believe; the D is also incredibly good at keeping the puck in at the blueline, and the team as a whole has been masterful at garbling our breakouts. The book on the Habs has always been that we are vulnerable to an aggressive forecheck and they are proving the truth of this axiom. Do they play chippy and dirty? Absolutely. Are they capable of deliberately injuring players in the cheapest possible ways? Obviously. But calling them nothing but a bunch of "goons" is just inaccurate. They are - unfortunately - beasts in every facet of the game. Like I said, the Habs are in tough against an absolute monster of a hockey team, and that is why we have yet to see our boys muster an effective answer (other than Price) to BO's top level. Face the facts: if we beat these guys, it will be a huge accomplishment, and we're gonna need some luck to do it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 They need a few adjustments for sure. I'd like to see Tinordi in for Bouillon, and the forwards have to get the puck through the neutral zone. Make them come 200ft, and for cripe's sake (Gorges) don't keep giving up the blue line!!! The two points are left alone because the defense, especially #74/79 are over matched. Simple math, 4 v 3 down low, with someone like Bournival up high. Price is saving everything he sees, but with four players in his face, were getting burned. This is how Weaver scored, if you watch the replay, the Bruins had five players down low. Hamilton goal-five players down low. Bergeron goal-Freak deflection. Smith goal-Magnet puck! The good news is that we're smoking them on special teams, and these are easy adjustments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronthab Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 That game was easier to watch, that's for sure, less stressful! Ya ..sure was. In game 1, I'd eaten my nails to the quick ,... past that and all the way to the slow! Have you ever tried biting your wrists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 4 of 9 on PP, not shabby at all. And if Bruins continue to take more penalties/ have less discipline, should bode well. Bruins were doing jack-squat in 3rd period till Habs took 2 goal lead and why I thought was a done deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronthab Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Lovett, I disagree with your characterization of the Prunes. They are a tremendous hockey team - up there with Chicago in my mind as fundamentally the best in the league. True, they don't have big-name superstars up front, but they do throw wave after wave of incredibly effective forecheckers and lots and lots of talented players. Their back end is much stronger and faster than we are led to believe; the D is also incredibly good at keeping the puck in at the blueline, and the team as a whole has been masterful at garbling our breakouts. The book on the Habs has always been that we are vulnerable to an aggressive forecheck and they are proving the truth of this axiom. Do they play chippy and dirty? Absolutely. Are they capable of deliberately injuring players in the cheapest possible ways? Obviously. But calling them nothing but a bunch of "goons" is just inaccurate. They are - unfortunately - beasts in every facet of the game. Like I said, the Habs are in tough against an absolute monster of a hockey team, and that is why we have yet to see our boys muster an effective answer (other than Price) to BO's top level. Face the facts: if we beat these guys, it will be a huge accomplishment, and we're gonna need some luck to do it. Gotta agree Cuke. Except for Aristotle on "luck". Luck is a function of creatures who form intentions. When events coincide with intentions, they call it good "luck". When events do not coincide with intentions they call it bad "luck". And ...my personal favorite..... "If you breed horses you get horses." Thus spake the "father of western science." That said... good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronthab Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 4 of 9 on PP, not shabby at all. And if Bruins continue to take more penalties/ have less discipline, should bode well. Bruins were doing jack-squat in 3rd period till Habs took 2 goal lead and why I thought was a done deal. I had a good feeling about that too Don. That fluke deflection off Cube's rib cage, which I don't think he could have kept from happening incidentally, (but I"m a great big fan of the little guy who could .. and we hope.. can..) flipped the score and the switch. They became "believers". I much preferred the "despondents". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 So what if some of those goals were lucky deflections. There were even more unlucky bounces for them where they should have easily scored. If you allow a team to have that many quality scoring chances all game long they will score. Price was wearing down in the third. The reality is he let Four goals in and had a below 900 sv. That is what happens when the other team is allowed to dominate for most of 8 periods of hockey in less then two days. Unless the Habs find a way to take their game to another level, this series is over. Price can't win this alone. He stole a game. It is time for the team to earn some wins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 So what if some of those goals were lucky deflections. There were even more unlucky bounces for them where they should have easily scored. If you allow a team to have that many quality scoring chances all game long they will score. Price was wearing down in the third. The reality is he let Four goals in and had a below 900 sv. That is what happens when the other team is allowed to dominate for most of 8 periods of hockey in less then two days. Unless the Habs find a way to take their game to another level, this series is over. Price can't win this alone. He stole a game. It is time for the team to earn some wins. How was Price wearing down, Bruins had 1 shot in first 11minutes of 3rd period and Habs outshot Bruins in 2nd period also? Rask save % has been below .900 both games, so what does that mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Also, how much of this is because they haven't been able to practice? The Bruins have played the same game for four years, the Habs need to make some adjustments. I don't know if MT/MB believe in practices, but they have no defensive scheme against the cycle, besides being hemmed in and running around their zone. I like Moen in, Prust out, and Bouillon out, Tinordi in. Murray is too slow with the long layoff he's had. Bournival looked good on the Plekanec line, and Moen is a good option on the fourth line. Or, Moen in, Briere out, and have Prust center the fourth line. Briere isn't giving them much of a boost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCHabnut Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 I would leave boullion right where he is. Prust is deinitely hurt. The healthier of Moen White need to replace him next game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 I like Moen in, Prust out, and Bouillon out, Tinordi in. Murray is too slow with the long layoff he's had. Technically, Tinordi has had a longer layoff than Murray (by all of one day...). When the Habs signed Murray, I immediately thought of a Boston playoff matchup as a spot where they'd want to use him. I suspect Murray would get the first look if they make a change since he's more of a crease-clearer than Tinordi and that's an area of need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hab29RETIRED Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Technically, Tinordi has had a longer layoff than Murray (by all of one day...). When the Habs signed Murray, I immediately thought of a Boston playoff matchup as a spot where they'd want to use him. I suspect Murray would get the first look if they make a change since he's more of a crease-clearer than Tinordi and that's an area of need. more important than clearing the crease, they need more dmen who can actually get the puck out of their damn zone. They were too many screwups from everyone from Bouillon to Markov and Subban, to the forwards on making a simple play of moving the puck out. I couldn't believe the number of times they gave up the puck trying to get out of their zone. I really don't care how many shots the dmen are blocking, when the can't get the damn puck out of the zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toronthab Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 more important than clearing the crease, they need more dmen who can actually get the puck out of their damn zone. They were too many screwups from everyone from Bouillon to Markov and Subban, to the forwards on making a simple play of moving the puck out. I couldn't believe the number of times they gave up the puck trying to get out of their zone. I really don't care how many shots the dmen are blocking, when the can't get the damn puck out of the zone. That's what I notice most too hab29. Time after time we'd flub an easy out, or flip the puck up to their Dman. Pressure? Not sure, but we just gave it up time after time. CBC commantators were mentioning it too. Might have been just this game, but it was noticeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 That's what I notice most too hab29. Time after time we'd flub an easy out, or flip the puck up to their Dman. Pressure? Not sure, but we just gave it up time after time. CBC commantators were mentioning it too. Might have been just this game, but it was noticeable. Statistically for giveaways-takeaways Habs-Bruins basically equal (for playoffs). But; for hits Bruins have a ton more and Bruins are #1 playoff team on faceoffs, while Habs suck on both faceoffs and in the hit dept (as they did in regular season also). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Habs29 is spot on. Breakouts have been a huge problem for us. I believe the Bs have keyed in on this - which is known to be an area of strength for us - as a crucial part of the game plan. Beaulieu might help (albeit at the cost of defensive mistakes), but for my money it's a strategic issue that the entire team has to address via a coaching adjustment. I have not seen the Habs having so much trouble clearing their own zone all season long, so it's the Bruins that are the independent variable here. For my money, if we cannot recapture our breakout game, we will lose the series. It's a real key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 Habs29 is spot on. Breakouts have been a huge problem for us. I believe the Bs have keyed in on this - which is known to be an area of strength for us - as a crucial part of the game plan. Beaulieu might help (albeit at the cost of defensive mistakes), but for my money it's a strategic issue that the entire team has to address via a coaching adjustment. I have not seen the Habs having so much trouble clearing their own zone all season long, so it's the Bruins that are the independent variable here. For my money, if we cannot recapture our breakout game, we will lose the series. It's a real key. You're not going to get fewer defensive giveaways with Beaulieu, you're going to get more. One of his biggest problems in Hamilton was turnovers under pressure and the Bruins are an aggressive team. There are some benefits to putting him in but those are more on the offensive side of things. Right now, scoring goals isn't the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Habs29 is spot on. Breakouts have been a huge problem for us. I believe the Bs have keyed in on this - which is known to be an area of strength for us - as a crucial part of the game plan. Beaulieu might help (albeit at the cost of defensive mistakes), but for my money it's a strategic issue that the entire team has to address via a coaching adjustment. I have not seen the Habs having so much trouble clearing their own zone all season long, so it's the Bruins that are the independent variable here. For my money, if we cannot recapture our breakout game, we will lose the series. It's a real key. But, Habs handled Bruins for 50 minutes and both games now Bruins have let Habs have had 2 goal leads vs them. so Bruins aint doing that great. But, I am all in for Murray replacing Frankie. The Big Swede adds entertainment; with his 'unorthodox' (like Mongo in Blazing Saddles) physical play and treating every puck like was a live grenade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I think we are exaggerating the degree to which the Habs outplayed the Bruins in Game Two. They had the better of it for the first half of the third and the second half of the second, that's about it. So far our recipe has been to rely on Price to be superhuman and cash in with opportunistic scoring. But far too much of both games was spent flailing around in our end and - my point here - continually failing to get the puck out of the zone, let alone break out effectively. We MUST find an answer to this problem. Brian may be perfectly correct to say that Beaulieu won't help; and I tend to think Honey Boo Boo deserves one more chance given what a rock he's been for us this playoff; but like I said, I think our inability to break out of our own end is a team issue, reflecting a conscious game-plan by the Brutes. In short, it's something that our coaches have to find a solution for: a tactical, game-plan issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I think we are exaggerating the degree to which the Habs outplayed the Bruins in Game Two. They had the better of it for the first half of the third and the second half of the second, that's about it. So far our recipe has been to rely on Price to be superhuman and cash in with opportunistic scoring. But far too much of both games was spent flailing around in our end and - my point here - continually failing to get the puck out of the zone, let alone break out effectively. We MUST find an answer to this problem. Brian may be perfectly correct to say that Beaulieu won't help; and I tend to think Honey Boo Boo deserves one more chance given what a rock he's been for us this playoff; but like I said, I think our inability to break out of our own end is a team issue, reflecting a conscious game-plan by the Brutes. In short, it's something that our coaches have to find a solution for. Price and dont forget; Habs are #1 playoff team in Goals/Game which also helps (thanks to rookie and vezina goalies with sub .900 save %) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoRP Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 To me, the Hab's biggest problem is what was mentioned, clearing the zone. The forwards are returning too deep to man the points properly, because of the B's aggressive forecheck. It's easy for the B's to get the puck back to the point, and they have some great point D men. The play then goes back to the corner, or to the front of the net, and the B's control these 3 areas, point, crease, and the corner. More muscle, and some stretch passing, as well as more up high support to help the D men clear the zone. We got the split, and we have reason to think we can indeed beat these cave dwellers, back to Montreal and if we take the lead again in the series, we know how it rattles the Bruins. They were pretty rattled before the seeing eye pucks started to go in late in game two....Julien was lost, you could tell by the stupid look on his face. Let's see if Therrien has an answer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stogey24 Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Habs29 is spot on. Breakouts have been a huge problem for us. I believe the Bs have keyed in on this - which is known to be an area of strength for us - as a crucial part of the game plan. Beaulieu might help (albeit at the cost of defensive mistakes), but for my money it's a strategic issue that the entire team has to address via a coaching adjustment. I have not seen the Habs having so much trouble clearing their own zone all season long, so it's the Bruins that are the independent variable here. For my money, if we cannot recapture our breakout game, we will lose the series. It's a real key. We're missing another top 4 D-man. Markov has played well, but he hasn't been an offensive threat. Beaulieu obviously isn't ready for top minutes , but slotting him into the bottom pairing with Weaver doesn't seem like a terrible idea to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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