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Round #2: Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game #1 - Montreal Canadiens @ Buffalo Sabres - Wednesday, May 6, 2026 @ 7:00PM EST


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Posted

70 hours for us to catch our breath

  • Upvote 1
Posted

Sabres have had 2 more days rest, will it matter any?

Habs are mostly healthy i think.

Just Anderson was hunched over and then grimacing on bench after he tossed a hit on some d-man, hope just a minor issue. 

Posted

Who do you sit? Arber or Jaden? I think Arber played his minutes fairly well. He lost a lot of puck battles in his own zone, but so did struble. As long as they arent together, thats a big bonus. I loved Arver's physicality and self control in round one. I would sit Jaden.

Posted
3 hours ago, Commandant said:

Id play Struble.  I just think hes the better of the two.

I think he is the better player as well. Wins more puck battles. Doesn’t give it up as often when forechecked hard. I just like 72 violent hits. They look like they hurt.

Posted
13 hours ago, BCHabnut said:

Who do you sit? Arber or Jaden?

 

I think MSL made THAT decision last game ... if you pick Jayden for a Game 7 I think you pick him for a Game 1

Posted
7 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Who plays RD better?

 

If Guhle plays LD then maybe Arber is better suited to play RD?

 

We are probably rotating 5 D with very few minutes for the 6th D, so i'm not sure it matters..... Dobson and Carrier will mostly play RD, and occasionally Hutson. 

Posted

Struble is a better overall hockey player than Arber, I agree. (And Struble’s physicality and fighting chops are not to be sneered at either).

 

The complication is that Arber, unlike Struble, is actually elite at certain things. He is easily one of the strongest guys in all of hockey - just watch him ragdoll guys in scrums. His hits are thunderous (and in the playoffs so far, well chosen). Of course he can throw down with the best of them. And he has that insane boomer of a shot. So I can see the case for playing him over Struble, at least when he is in one of his ‘good’ phases: not too many dumb positional mistakes, no stupid penalties, actually able to get his shot off now and then, etc.

 

Anyway, like DON, I feel much better about the D with Dobson back in place. Not having to play both of those guys is reassuring.

 

Buffalo will be a radically different test from Tampa. And inexperienced, highly talented team flying high and skating fast. It will be a test of the players’ ability to adjust: another part of the learning.

Posted
39 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Hat trick in his 6 minutes of ice 

 

IMG_2202.jpeg

 

 

 

Posted
28 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I’m going to roll with whatever Marty does but a small voice in my head whispers ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME JOE VELENO 

 

The hate is strong for that one

Posted

I thought Veleno found a role in his last 10 games, and played it very well. He looked great defensively, and was doing way more than going for a skate.

Posted
17 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

 

The hate is strong for that one

 

1 minute ago, BCHabnut said:

I thought Veleno found a role in his last 10 games, and played it very well. He looked great defensively, and was doing way more than going for a skate.


Gallagher can, did, will score

 

Veleno can’t, didn’t, won’t score

 

Veleno has a fine defensive game but he probably won’t play much anyway

Posted
Just now, Prime Minister Koivu said:

 


Gallagher can, did, will score

 

Veleno can’t, didn’t, won’t score

 

Veleno has a fine defensive game but he probably won’t play much anyway

This is the question. What is more important to the coach in that 6 to 8 minutes? Periodic scoring ability and dogged puck pirsuit, or speed, mobility, and defensive ability. I think Gallagher should get the spot, but I understand if Veleno gets it. Maybe MSL values his size, faceoff ability in this matchup. Buffalo 3rd line is darn good. 

Posted
41 minutes ago, BCHabnut said:

This is the question. What is more important to the coach in that 6 to 8 minutes? Periodic scoring ability and dogged puck pirsuit, or speed, mobility, and defensive ability. I think Gallagher should get the spot, but I understand if Veleno gets it. Maybe MSL values his size, faceoff ability in this matchup. Buffalo 3rd line is darn good. 

Also, Veleno is an option on the PK when Gallagher isn't ... 4th most SH-TOI in regular season amongst Habs forwards dressing tonight ... although Newhook may have surpassed him ... not having to use Suzuki on the PK has value

Posted
8 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

These lines won’t last long 

 

Do they ever

Posted

Lane made it easy for the refs on that call ... time for a BIG PK

Posted

Almost 2-0 with Slaf (so it looked) leaving Tuch all alone ... WAKE UP guys

Posted
6 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:


I’m going to roll with whatever Marty does but a small voice in my head whispers ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME JOE VELENO 

That was my reaction

 

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