GDT Round 1 - Game 1 - Canadiens @ Lightning - April 19 - 5:30 p.m. (5:45 Puck Drop)

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

30 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

I can say i was wrong.  I had Slaf at 4th 

 

But that guy who had him 42nd was INSANE.

 

Completely insane!  Not easy predicting how an 18 year old will continue to develop but 42nd?  

 

Hughes deserves a ton of credit for signing these guys to long term contracts. A 100 point guy, a 50 goal scorer and an emerging beast at under 8 million/year. Phenomenal. 

[DON]

1 down 15 to go.

1st line 7 points 

Demidov 1a 2 shots 16:34

Hutson 1a 2 shots 29:00

[hab29RETIRED]

2 hours ago, Commandant said:

 

It was ballsy in that he was clearly in the top 4 that should have been considered but not a clear #1.

 

Just that Bacon guy having him 42nd is the worst draft list ever.

Where did Bacon have Hutson?

[xXx..CK..xXx]

I was going to allude to something similar. Slafkovksý may have been vastly underrated on that list at 42 (and I’ve had many debates on here defending the pick over the likes of Cooley, etc.) but Lane Hutson was actually drafted 62nd overall.
 

I’m not sure which one is worse.

 

I didn’t make this post because I had looked at re-draft lists (instead I checked afterward) but prior to game 1 yesterday, and perhaps even still, many people have Hutson rated higher than Slaf. I’m also not saying I agree with these lists, my point was merely that it is crazy that Hutson was drafted 62nd overall by the GMs and scouts that actually have their jobs, as opposed to one random analyst with Slafkovský.

 

[tomh009]

Moneypuck gave the Habs a 3.0-2.1 edge in xG. After a slow start, the Habs really put the pressure on in the third (and OT of course).

 

 

Need to generate more chances five-on-five, though: neither team really had much there (1/0-0.8 for the Habs).

 

 

Cooper mostly had his top line playing against Texier-Newhook-Demidov, and they really weren't able to do much:

 

 

He had the Cirelli line playing against our top line instead, and this worked better for the Lightning:

 

 

 

[Commandant]

Yeah but the 2nd line sucks and needs changes...

 

Once again, Im glad Marty coaches the team and not the fans.

[DON]

Tampa just didnt seem that threatening, was it an off-game for them?

Didnt seem to be that physical, quick or dangerous and just 23 shots.

4 goals on 19 shots, love it. 

[tomh009]

9 minutes ago, DON said:

4 goals on 19 shots, love it. 

 

I think at this point Caufield and Slafkovsky are in Vasilevskiy's head. They have now scored a combined seven goals on him in the last three games (two regular season and the series opener).

 

And this is very much a good thing. (It's probably also the reason why Cooper put the Cirelli line on the ice against the Habs' top line.)

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

26 minutes ago, DON said:

Tampa just didnt seem that threatening, was it an off-game for them?

Didnt seem to be that physical, quick or dangerous and just 23 shots.

4 goals on 19 shots, love it. 

 

Tampa is missing Hedman and it shows.

 

However, apart from Hagel, who is going to be a major problem all series, the Habs are faster and probably more talented overall. And TB's vaunted physical advantage has been greatly exaggerated. (It was two Lightning who had to be helped off the ice last night, which I do not celebrate, but which, psychologically, sends a certain signal).

 

That being said, TB should be better in goal (?), has tons more experience, and the talent gap isn't so vast that either team can be said to have a clear edge. 

[tomh009]

32 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

That being said, TB should be better in goal (?)

 

Should be, yes. But it's generally agreed that goaltending is 50% mental and the rest is in your head. And here the Habs have a psychological advantage over Vasilevskiy. 

[DON]

Slafkovski seems to have Tampa's number this year. Go get em big fella.

 

Tampa goalie poo pooed Dobes great stats to finish the season. Basically saying just a short sample not like a long resume like mine.

OK Andrei in your last few playoffs you havent done shite.

Is the 31 going on 32year old, with 700+ NHL games played, getting worn out by end of regular seasons?

 

10 Thoughts: Slafkovsky leads Habs to a 4-3 OT win in Game One – HabsWorld.net

 

First Star: Juraj Slafkovsky (3g, 0a, 7 shots, -1, 2 hits, 21:11 TOI) was a force to be reckoned with. Not only did he score the third-ever Habs overtime hat trick (and the first ever power play hat trick) in the playoffs, but he was smart, he was physical, he drew a penalty, and was a threat whenever he was on the ice. Forget Brady Tkachuk, the Habs look to have something much more than that in Slafkovsky.

...

Third Star: Josh Anderson (1g, 0a, 1 shot, +1, 1 block, 4 hits, 14:47 TOI) had shifted into his playoff gear and nearly had a second goal to add to the one he scored in the first period. Nearly 15 minutes on the ice included three-and-a-half minutes of penalty killing time. Anderson is not the player the fans expected when he arrived, but he is an excellent fit for the role Martin St-Louis has assigned to him.

[Commandant]

 

[Meller93]

Slaf had one of my all time favourite games from a Hab last night. 
 

On the biggest stage he just stepped up and he proved he’s a leader. Can’t wait to see him with a letter on the jersey. When the Habs drafted him 1 OA I didn’t now what to think. This season he surpassed what I hoped he’d become.

 

go Habs go 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

43 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

 

Again...this confirms my sense all night that the Habs were not being outplayed...yet if you go through this thread the board was semi-unanimous that the Habs were playing poorly 🤷‍♂️

 

11 minutes ago, Meller93 said:

Slaf had one of my all time favourite games from a Hab last night. 
 

On the biggest stage he just stepped up and he proved he’s a leader. Can’t wait to see him with a letter on the jersey. When the Habs drafted him 1 OA I didn’t now what to think. This season he surpassed what I hoped he’d become.

 

go Habs go 

 

Slaf looked imposing, large and in charge, from his first shift onward last night. Bring it on! 

[tomh009]

6 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Again...this confirms my sense all night that the Habs were not being outplayed...yet if you go through this thread the board was semi-unanimous that the Habs were playing poorly 🤷‍♂️

 

First period was not so good but they were much better in the second and third. 5v5 data bears that out

• First period: 1 HD chance, 0.24 xGF, 0.37 xGA
• Second period: 3 HD chances, 0.40 xGF, 0.21 xGA
• Third period: 4 HD chances, 0.68 xGF, 0.21 xGA

Moneypuck had the xGF/xGA a bit closer, the above are from Naturalstattrick as they break it down by period.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Stats can be skewed in order to portray a picture but I don’t think the Habs are in Vasilevskiy’s head.

Add the covid playoffs and one other game that he didn’t start in 2015 which for some reason are omitted and it’s similar.
 

 

I can agree that we are perhaps saying that he is struggling more recently, but I tend to think the long term stats have somewhat of a relation mentally, and it’s also not like he’s been putrid against us recently. Statistically, only this most recent playoff game did he have a save percentage below .900. It’s a nice thought, and Vasilevskiy was nothing special in game 1, but that could change at any moment. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t.

[GHT120]

 

[GHT120]

 

 

[dlbalr]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Again...this confirms my sense all night that the Habs were not being outplayed...yet if you go through this thread the board was semi-unanimous that the Habs were playing poorly 🤷‍♂️

 

I'd be curious to see what the breakdown was after 40 minutes.  When a team has five shots on net ~38 minutes into a game (and around 20 shot attempts), that can't be classified as playing well.  They were much better in the third period though.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

I was fine with how the Habs were playing throughout the first half of the game. The game felt uneventful and I was neither stressed nor angry at anything that was going on. Around 8 minutes into the second, I felt a general shift in the game where the tempo was rising and something was about to happen. Soon after, Anderson scored a goal that was disallowed and then Tampa scored a few goals in quick succession.

 

I never felt the game was out of hand and the Habs were on the road and played a prototypical solid road game despite being outshot. I didn’t really have any qualms with any one of our players and since he was brought up a lot, I thought Newhook played fine, if not well. 

[Commandant]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

Again...this confirms my sense all night that the Habs were not being outplayed...yet if you go through this thread the board was semi-unanimous that the Habs were playing poorly 🤷‍♂️

 

 

Slaf looked imposing, large and in charge, from his first shift onward last night. Bring it on! 

 

People focus too much on the total number of shots, and not enough on where those shots are coming from. 

[Commandant]

1 hour ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

Stats can be skewed in order to portray a picture but I don’t think the Habs are in Vasilevskiy’s head.

Add the covid playoffs and one other game that he didn’t start in 2015 which for some reason are omitted and it’s similar.
 

 

I can agree that we are perhaps saying that he is struggling more recently, but O tend to think the long term stats have somewhat of a relation mentally, and it’s also not like he’s been putrid against us recently. Statistically, only this most recent playoff game did he have a save percentage below .900. It’s a nice thought, and Vasilevskiy was nothing special in game 1, but that could change at any moment. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t.

 

I dont know what his stats from 2014-2024 have to do with facing the current Habs team.

 

His recent play is much more relevant than the career stats when he was stopping Pacioretty and Plekanec and co.  

[xXx..CK..xXx]

28 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

I dont know what his stats from 2014-2024 have to do with facing the current Habs team.

 

His recent play is much more relevant than the career stats when he was stopping Pacioretty and Plekanec and co.  

Yeah, you’re stating the obvious but repeating what I said in my post, when it comes to being mentally in his head, I tend to think the long term impact of facing a team and having success against them does influence his mentality. It’s just as much of a guess to say what I am saying as it is to say we are in his head, which I absolutely do not think we are. The last two games (this year) we faced him prior to yesterday, we scored 2 goals and 2 goals against him respectively. He had over a .900 save percentage. Why exactly are you even arguing against the point that we are not in his head? Is it so clear that we are in his head? 

 

You’re being analytical and stating “past results don’t predict future events” but it sure would be better for Vasilevskiy himself to feel comfortable while remembering the success he has had against the Habs, including the cup final run rather than him mysteriously feeling as though he can’t have success against our players because he had one bad game in a row. I guess we just know based on his personality that he is weak mentally?  I play sports, coach sports for a living, and 100% believe it’s possible for him to adopt that mentality. I wish it were the case but you can feel free to sue me for finding no reason to believe that the Habs are in his head.

[Commandant]

I dont know that the Habs are in his head.  But I do think its totally relevant that whether it be for a mental issue, a physical issue, or that hes just off his game for whatever reason, he has not played well in recent weeks.  Not just against the Habs, but against everyone.

 

Over a playoff series, recent results at the end of the regular season and form are totally relevant.  Whatever it is, long may it continue.

 

Thats what Im arguing when i say "his recent play" in my last post.

 

Over his last 10 games hes .893 save percentage.

Over his last 5, even worse (slightly), .891.

 

That includes last night in both samples.

[DON]

3 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

Slaf looked imposing, large and in charge, from his first shift onward last night. Bring it on! 

Other than when McDonagh crumpled him into the boards.

Maybe that help fire him up.

(i was just glad he got up mad and not injured)