GDT: Habs at Canes: The Battle of Quebec Edition

[Navin R Slavin]

To me, the remarkable thing is that we haven't looked this way all season. We've gotten used to seeing this team play beyond their on-paper capacity.

I disagree with this statement. I think we've gotten used to seeing the true capacity of a well-coached team that plays the right way with the right players in the right roles.

What we saw last night was a team that didn't do any of that. I suspect it's hard to bring the necessary energy to win a game that's basically meaningless. At least it wasn't as ugly as the Columbus debacle.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I disagree with this statement. I think we've gotten used to seeing the true capacity of a well-coached team that plays the right way with the right players in the right roles.

I don't think those are incompatible statements... a well-coached team with everyone in the right roles is greater than the sum of its parts.

What we saw last night was a team that didn't do any of that.

I mean, we have Patrick Brown and Joaquim Nordstrom (all of 11 career goals between them) flanking our best forward on a "scoring line". We have Derek Ryan and Chris Terry on the same top-9 line.

Was there an expectation that this wasn't going to be ugly?

 

[VAcaniac]

The only other interesting name out there on the goalie front as a UFA is Reimer and I'd bet dollars to donuts that San Jose is re-signing him.

Reimer would be a perfect fit because of his inconsistency. It would be like Wardo 2.0.

 

[DaveG]

Reimer would be a perfect fit because of his inconsistency. It would be like Wardo 2.0.

All for the low low price of probably a solid million more then we'd have to pay Ward per year.

 

[The Faulker 27]

I think it's pretty human to come out flat after you were just eliminated from playoff contention. I guess that really happened before Boston but there at least they could play spoiler. This game was basically a throw away at the end of the season. It would have been nice for us as fans but I don't feel offended by the performance

My issue with this stance is that we as fans are paying a lot of money to see these games. Some more than others, but it's all relative. It bothers me if they can't find the motivation to put on a show for their last home game, given that, without fans there is no team.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Was there an expectation that this wasn't going to be ugly?

I think there was a reasonable expectation that our guys wouldn't drop pass the puck to nobody multiple times, leading directly to odd-number chances the other way. I think there was a reasonable expectation that two defensemen wouldn't look at each other and watch a guy skate right between them and then bounce a shot off Cam's shoulder pads into the net behind him.

This was two AHL-caliber rosters last night. Playing the same simple, solid game they'd played all season, even with the roster on hand, might not have guaranteed a Canes win -- but I'm guessing it would have been more competitive.

 

[NotOpie]

oh, and if, on saturday, a player attempts a blind backhand to the slot through 2 defenders multiple times, i think we should have them checked out for a brain injury. Because it was obviously not working last night, yet that seemed to be our entire offensive strategy.

ftfy

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think there was a reasonable expectation that two defensemen wouldn't look at each other and watch a guy skate right between them and then bounce a shot off Cam's shoulder pads into the net behind him.

I'm honestly not sure what you mean. This was how the shot looked:

I mean, there wasn't even a path to the net. It was a prayer of a shot and Cam flubbed it into the net for no reason.

Unless you're being facetious, in which case I'm really confused

 

[NotOpie]

All for the low low price of probably a solid million more then we'd have to pay Ward per year.

....which we might actually need to spend just to get to the cap floor next season.

 

[geehaad]

I guess neither of those defensemen have seen the film "Step Up...To The Max".

 

[RodTheBawd]

Placing any blame on the D there is as laughable as the result of the play.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I guess neither of those defensemen have seen the film "Step Up...To The Max".

Why would they step up on him there? He's taking a wrist shot from a mile away.

IMO that's perfect gap control and posture. You can't ask for better from your D than limiting a player's options to what happened there. It's 100% on Cam.

 

[geehaad]

Not saying it's not on Cam. I LOL'ed at him at the time.

But I also said to myself "hey, one of you two redundant defenseman...why not step up and push ol' Maxy boy into your D pair?" Specifically the guy on his forehand, forcing him to switch to backhand and...well, a backhand is a bit tougher shot from outside the slot.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I feel like we just went from outrage over a purportedly terrible play to picking a pretty small nit.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Not the best example. Looked worse from directly behind the goal when the two D guys looked at each other and no one contested the shot. The other examples still stand. It was not the finest performance across the board.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

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