GDT Game #64 - Habs @ Canuckleheads

[Prime Minister Koivu]

 

“The power forward is up to 1.77 hits per game average. That checks out. He has won 43% of his puck battles, that’s below where he will be in a few years. He’s not there yet physically and when that part arrives in full force, watch out.

 

His two-way game is starting to come around. The coaching staff is now giving him 21% defensive zone starts and I can see that growing a bit next season. That’s a positive sign that plus/minus doesn’t always tell.

 

As we saw yesterday, he can pick the top corner from a distance. But when I look at his shot map, the place on the map with his most expected goals is up the gut, just off-center and around 12 feet away. That’s not surprising considering how good his shot is and how hard it is to get around the net in the NHL these days.”

 

 

I was surprised by the 43% stat. My eye test would have put Slafkovsky over 50%

[Prime Minister Koivu]

2 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

I couldn’t watch this one for various reasons. The highlights suggest a strong performance by Monty and a hell of a game by Suzuki (even though Slaf is getting all the attention; and not to be an old sourpuss, but as has often been the case with him in the past, he seems to be a more a beneficiary of his stellar linemates than an actual play driver. Still, good on him). The Canucks had what looked like a lot of chances; we still need to be better defensively, if highlights are any guide. But - good road win! 

 

Canucks are now in desperation territory. Although I don’t hate that team like I once did, I still enjoy the fact that the Habs inserted the shiv. 

I get your point and I agree with you. 
 

Slafkovsky looks like he earned the attention this time. This game stat card shows a Slafkofsky that dominated. 
 

 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Yesterday’s game was not a good example when discussing Slakovsky’s lack of driving the play and riding the coattails of his linemates. Sure, Suzuki and Caufield made nice plays, which there is nothing wrong with, but Slafkovský was a part of those nice plays as well. In addition, just take a look at Slafkovský’s unassisted goal. That play was the definition of driving the play yourself and in fact, he pretty much assisted his own goal by lobbing the puck out of our own end and then retrieving it himself, albeit in part due to a good bounce. After retrieving the puck, he carried it in himself and lasered a shot top cheese. Pure unassisted goal.

[DON]

1 hour ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

This makes sense at least - ref watching the play and missed most of the abuse. 
 

 

The only positive thing that I can say about Chris Lee is that he is very consistent. He screws every single team in the league because the guy is an incompetent tit  - at least he isn’t just blatantly biased against certain teams or players like some other refs

Yes a Hab got away with a blatant tripping penalty as well.

[DON]

BUT, which d-man dosent play well with Hutson?

Bottom Six Minutes: The Struble-Hutson pairing has real potential

 

While they were on the ice at even strength, they held an expected-goals share of over 80%. Going back to the previous game against Calgary, they were over 70% on that front. This is a pairing that raised some eyebrows when it was initially put together, but they have been steadily improving as they get more game experience alongside each other. There is some seriously intriguing potential to this pairing, as they’re really only getting started.

 

 

[Commandant]

17 minutes ago, DON said:

BUT, which d-man dosent play well with Hutson?

Bottom Six Minutes: The Struble-Hutson pairing has real potential

 

While they were on the ice at even strength, they held an expected-goals share of over 80%. Going back to the previous game against Calgary, they were over 70% on that front. This is a pairing that raised some eyebrows when it was initially put together, but they have been steadily improving as they get more game experience alongside each other. There is some seriously intriguing potential to this pairing, as they’re really only getting started.

 

 

 

There is playing well... and there is 70-80% xG which is unreal. 

 

This is more than just playing well. 

 

Even if they fall off to 60% that's still one of the best pairs in the NHL. 

[tomh009]

2 hours ago, Commandant said:

There is playing well... and there is 70-80% xG which is unreal. 

 

This is more than just playing well. 

 

Even if they fall off to 60% that's still one of the best pairs in the NHL. 

Indeed.

 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

@The Chicoutimi Cucumber If you come around in the next few hours, you’re the game thread man for Seattle vs Habs tonight since we won vs the Canucks.