GDT Round #1: Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game #1 - Montréal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals - Monday, August 21st @ 7PM EST

[Fanpuck33]

6 minutes ago, Commandant said:

Thats weird.

He was right at the line... he might have touched it, I'm not 100% sure... but the dman cross-checked him in the back as the puck got there. 

 

Right before Guhle dumped it they changed to camera that was zoomed in right on Guhle, so didn't show anything that happened along the boards.  Just watched it again and could just make out Laine's helmet starting to come into frame before the angle changed.

[Helmethead]

Just now, Fanpuck33 said:

 

Right before Guhle dumped it they changed to camera that was zoomed in right on Guhle, so didn't show anything that happened along the boards.

Which is why I didn’t pick up on it either. 
 

By man are people pissed on X

[DON]

2a for Hutson, but did he lose Ovi, who seemed wide open on the OT goal?

Newhook line -2.

PP looked good.

Laine 5 shots, but still snakebit.

 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

A tough tough loss after a terrific 3rd period by the boys. Proud of their effort. It's been a while since I have felt heartbroken after a loss. Nice to be in the playoffs again and the boys proved they belong. 

[Butterface]

Don’t worry. We got them right where we want them. We need another quality game by Monty and we will win game #2 and earn a split.

 

Caps threw everything they’ve got and it won’t be enough.

 

.

[BCHabnut]

Laine and Matheson were terrible tonight. I'm kind of sick of watching Laine do anything but shoot. Everything else is terrible. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

2 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

Laine and Matheson were terrible tonight. I'm kind of sick of watching Laine do anything but shoot. Everything else is terrible. 

Laine is almost useless but Newhook wasn’t great either. He has a habit of trying to stick handle through 4 opponents all on his own. 
 

I’m not a fan of 7 Dmen and 11 forwards but I would strongly consider it. Use Laine for Ozone starts and PP time only because he is useless otherwise 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Good and truthful comment by St. Louis here. Habs played a very good game and Montembault was outstanding 

 

 

[bar]

MSL has to find a way to play Xherkaj. I dont know what he did to piss him off so much. I read a funny tweet that Xherkaj is the only 3rd pairing defenseman that has the expectations of a 1st pairing guy. Did everyone see what Matheson was doing with the puck tonight, I counted 3 give aways in a 2 minute span.

 

Also, I would try Anderson with Demidov.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

30 minutes ago, bar said:

MSL has to find a way to play Xherkaj. I dont know what he did to piss him off so much. I read a funny tweet that Xherkaj is the only 3rd pairing defenseman that has the expectations of a 1st pairing guy. Did everyone see what Matheson was doing with the puck tonight, I counted 3 give aways in a 2 minute span.

 

Also, I would try Anderson with Demidov.

In theory Anderson, Newhook, Demidov would be a great line that leverages high speed and Anderson can create space through his truculence 

 

At the same time the Dvorak, Anderson, Gallagher line plays hard defensive minutes and Laine would be a poor fit there. 
 

 

[Commandant]

A few things.

 

1) you dont break up the Anderson - Dvorak - gallagher line that worked so well imo.

 

2) as discussed earlier in the thread, playing Xhekaj doesnt solve a single issue but creates problems with the penalty kill.  Again dont see the point.

 

3) the Laine-newhook-demidov line got caved in and with Washington having last change got caught against the Ovi line for 2 goals against.

 

Id consider going back to Armia Newhook Demidov from his first game and Laine with Evans and Heineman so they cant get caught matched against Ovechkin again

[bar]

You have to try something to get more offense, the 1st line cant do it all. Laine is a pp specialist at this point. I think replacing Anderson with Armia wont drastically change the way Dvorak and Gally play. if the gain is a secondary threat to score with the teams sorely needs its worth the trade off. 

 

I disagree with number 2. Caps were taking runs at Montreal all game. They need a prescence out there to deter that. If Xhekaj trades his five minutes for Tom WIlsons, thats a good trade.

 

Our PK strats seems to be just give up the zone easily, play passive, hope to block a shot, have Savard and/or Matheson lay down on the ice to prevent a pass and hope Monty bails them out.

 

I know people will think I am over reacting to what was a good 1/3 of the game from the habs, but the caps haven't been in playoff mode, they haven't taken the bumps that Montreal has the last 3-4 weeks. Montreal will be grinded to dust if they try to keep going hit for hit with the caps. Since the wear they've received just getting to the playoffs.

 

 

[Commandant]

Xhekaj doesnt stop the Caps from hitting the Habs d.  Thats who they are and his 15 minutes isnt going to stop Wilson, ovechkin, etc from forechecking.

 

Struble is much better than Xhekaj.  Im not taking him out to play Xhekaj.

 

Savard is key on the PK and also a rhd.  Im not taking him out, screwing up the PK, and then having one if struble/Xhekaj play out of position.

 

The best way to stop them forechecking is to keep the puck in the washington end.  Forecheck them instead.

 

The issue last night was not getting enough of your own physical play.  Both goals came when Slaf started causing issues in front of Thompson and retrieving pucks behind the net.  Thats what we need more of.  Thats what gallagher/anderson already do and thats why it was our second most successful line on the night.

 

Having Armia with Demidov and Newhook gives that line someone to do that job.  While Heineman and Evans can do that job with Laine.

 

 

[Plutarch]

7 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

Laine and Matheson were terrible tonight. I'm kind of sick of watching Laine do anything but shoot. Everything else is terrible. 

I felt Laine was not that awful. He serves a role and while he isn't physical he doesn't get pushed around. Matheson however I'd be almost tempted to bench for Xhekaj

 

Christ Xhekaj would at worst still not fumble the puck as much as Matheson tht game!

 

31 minutes ago, Commandant said:

A few things.

 

1) you dont break up the Anderson - Dvorak - gallagher line that worked so well imo.

 

2) as discussed earlier in the thread, playing Xhekaj doesnt solve a single issue but creates problems with the penalty kill.  Again dont see the point.

 

3) the Laine-newhook-demidov line got caved in and with Washington having last change got caught against the Ovi line for 2 goals against.

 

Id consider going back to Armia Newhook Demidov from his first game and Laine with Evans and Heineman so they cant get caught matched against Ovechkin again

 

Evans was fantastic at times imo... maybe move him up?

 

What other centers do we have right now for the 4th if we ran Newhook-Evan-Demidov?

 

On defense would Struble-Guhle be that much worst on the pk?

[Prime Minister Koivu]

4 minutes ago, Commandant said:

Xhekaj doesnt stop the Caps from hitting the Habs d.  Thats who they are and his 15 minutes isnt going to stop Wilson, ovechkin, etc from forechecking.

 

Struble is much better than Xhekaj.  Im not taking him out to play Xhekaj.

 

Savard is key on the PK and also a rhd.  Im not taking him out, screwing up the PK, and then having one if struble/Xhekaj play out of position.

 

The best way to stop them forechecking is to keep the puck in the washington end.  Forecheck them instead.

 

The issue last night was not getting enough of your own physical play.  Both goals came when Slaf started causing issues in front of Thompson and retrieving pucks behind the net.  Thats what we need more of.  Thats what gallagher/anderson already do and thats why it was our second most successful line on the night.

 

Having Armia with Demidov and Newhook gives that line someone to do that job.  While Heineman and Evans can do that job with Laine.

 

 

Armia would bring structure and a strong board presence to that line. 
 

I'm all for it

[Prime Minister Koivu]

1 minute ago, Plutarch said:

I felt Laine was not that awful. He serves a role and while he isn't physical he doesn't get pushed around. Matheson however I'd be almost tempted to bench for Xhekaj

 

Christ Xhekaj would at worst still not fumble the puck as much as Matheson tht game!

 

 

Evans was fantastic at times imo... maybe move him up?

 

What other centers do we have right now for the 4th if we ran Newhook-Evan-Demidov?

 

On defense would Struble-Guhle be that much worst on the pk?

I feel like Laine loses 9 out of 10 battles and his passes are blocked or picked off 4 out of 5 times. 
 

He has that killer shot

[Commandant]

3 minutes ago, Plutarch said:

I felt Laine was not that awful. He serves a role and while he isn't physical he doesn't get pushed around. Matheson however I'd be almost tempted to bench for Xhekaj

 

Christ Xhekaj would at worst still not fumble the puck as much as Matheson tht game!

 

 

Evans was fantastic at times imo... maybe move him up?

 

What other centers do we have right now for the 4th if we ran Newhook-Evan-Demidov?

 

On defense would Struble-Guhle be that much worst on the pk?

 

You cant play two.centres on the same line unless you are playing Kapanen at centre which seems a bridge too far for him IMO.

 

With my lines youd give a lot of minutes to the top line but the 

 

Armia Newhook Demidov

And

Laine Evans Heineman 

 

Line would both get about the same 5v5 icetime.  Its not one over the other 

[Commandant]

Matheson isnt perfect.  But Xhekaj isnt playing his 25 minutes and isnt moving the puck the way he does.  Again the way to avoid the D being forechecked is to control the puck more in their end.

[alfredoh2009]

I do not think Arber could single-handedly win a game

Montembeault needs to steal one. I would dress 7 Ds for next game and sit either Armia or even Demidov. Demidov had one shot and looked like a kid among men.

There Habs played a solid road game, they need to elevate their game in a smart way

[alfredoh2009]

7 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Armia would bring structure and a strong board presence to that line. 
 

I'm all for it

Armia seems to still be playing hurt

[JoeLassister]

8 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

Laine and Matheson were terrible tonight. I'm kind of sick of watching Laine do anything but shoot. Everything else is terrible. 

As much as I think Laine sucks on the defensive side of the game, I thought he was quite dangerous last night, in the 1st period at least when he got 2 good looks at the night with excellent shots.

 

I think the PP has to change.  I would keep Laine on 1st PP  but switch Demidov for Slaf.   Anyway, Slaf is not posting his ass in front of the net, like never.

 

The goal would be to ask Hutson to feed Demidov 2-3 times and hopefully Demidov can create things and plant the idea that he's a threat on the right.  It would open up Laine and his one-timer a lot more.   Right now, the Caps know that this is our mean weapon (à la Weber, Subban, Souray, etc)  and it's not effective enough to score the important goal.

[Commandant]

7 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I do not think Arber could single-handedly win a game

Montembeault needs to steal one. I would dress 7 Ds for next game and sit either Armia or even Demidov. Demidov had one shot and looked like a kid among men.

There Habs played a solid road game, they need to elevate their game in a smart way

 

 

11/7 is a terrible idea.  It screws up the lines for what... 6-8 minutes from Xhekaj as the 7th D. 

 

I don't see what it accomplishes. 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

The Habs played a solid game, especially in the 3rd period. They almost scored with about 25 seconds left to win it. If they had hardly anybody here would be talking about all the changes they need to make. They are playing a team that had 111 points in the regular season, it's going to be tough. 

 

They need a 2nd line center but that can't be addressed until the off season. 

[DON]

Caufield scored off Laine's shot, had 5 shots for the game, not horrible. Without puck he still sucks but not news and wont ever change.

The 1st PP also had numerus good chances also.

Am guessing St Louis will make zero changes.

Habs did have 14 shots in 1st period which is 1000% improvement and 35 for the game, much better overall... damn blocker save by Cap goalie on Suzuki's shot.

 

[Commandant]

44 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

The Habs played a solid game, especially in the 3rd period. They almost scored with about 25 seconds left to win it. If they had hardly anybody here would be talking about all the changes they need to make. They are playing a team that had 111 points in the regular season, it's going to be tough. 

 

They need a 2nd line center but that can't be addressed until the off season. 

 

I dont think big changes are needed.  That said one of the 4 lines did get caved in analytically and were a -2 in goals.

 

Especially on the road, id move Armia to the Newhook-demidov line just to give it more structure and not let the caps get ovi on the ice with our two worst defensive forwards.