Who do the habs match-up the best against?
- Thread starter Hackett
- Start date
Price My Man Crush
Registered User
Spring in Fialta
A malign star kept him
Honestly, Ottawa would be the best match-up. I doubt we'll finish second and i'm skeptical we'll make it out the first round, whoever we play. Although I absolutely want to avoid the Leafs, i'd feel more confident against either the Isles or the Sens.
PuckNorris
Registered User
The Islanders don't have the depth to win a 7 game series vs the Canadiens. Also, they're not a very physical team which plays into the Habs gameplan.
The Leafs have a fair shot at 4th (and home ice advantage in the first round) if the Habs or Bruins slip. The Habs' win against TB combined with the Leafs' loss to the Isles added a touch of comfort. Now if only the Bruins would oblige by losing their GIH! If the Habs and Bruins tie in points the Habs have the potential tiebreaker by their having won the season's series.
Hackett
BAKAMAN
To play devil's advocate, their PP looks dangerous with streit and visnovsky... both QB material and able to shoot the puck.. and then there's tavares (the quietest superstar in the nhl today) and pp specialist moulson to deal with too.
Their PP scares me, and our PK isn't great to begin with.
That's the one spot where I think the habs can get burned against the isles. Neither of them are an easy out though. I wouldn't be surprised if all those teams want the habs more than any other possible matchup either
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
Easily the Isles. And it would be a terrifying series if we face them. I want no part of either Ontario team.
We had a hard time against the Islanders and the Leafs all year and Ottawa just won't quit. I think all three are equally troublesome to the Habs. If we can't get past the first round, I really, really don't want to be eliminated by the effin' Leafs!
So, Ottawa or Long Island. Ottawa is the better team, but we can't beat the Islanders! Ottawa is a physical team, we're not, Islanders aren't.
Islanders.
So, Ottawa or Long Island. Ottawa is the better team, but we can't beat the Islanders! Ottawa is a physical team, we're not, Islanders aren't.
Islanders.
Hackett
BAKAMAN
I suppose I should put up the odds of each match-up occurring as of right now according to http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/Montreal.html
Boston 0.2%
Toronto 38.8%
Ottawa 27.2%
NYI 19.3%
Washington 0.8%
Rangers 12.7%
Winnipeg 1.1%
It wouldn't be a bad idea to update these daily
Boston 0.2%
Toronto 38.8%
Ottawa 27.2%
NYI 19.3%
Washington 0.8%
Rangers 12.7%
Winnipeg 1.1%
It wouldn't be a bad idea to update these daily
Whoever they face, all they need is 3 pts in 4 games to win home-ice and that's if the Leafs win all their remaining 4 games.
Yep, plus even though they're hot right now I think they'll cool down just as the playoffs start which will be perfect for us.
Also, getting Diaz back will give us two good pairings to use against Moulson and Tavares.
Tabarouette
ben kin
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
The Isles are a better matchup... We need to play HARD on Tavares and we will win. And not be undisciplined. Hopefully Therrien gets Plekanec and Subban on the ice VS JT. (Lol, won't happen....)
Assuming no adjustments to our roster, other than Diaz returning, I'd say we have the best chance against Ottawa. Alfredsson and Gonchar are key players who are likely to wear out quicker due to age.
If we play Toronto, it'll be very interesting to see if we adjust our roster accordingly and bring up Blunden or Tinordi to add some size. Not in the first two games, but if it turns into a one-dimensional physical series. Right now, I'm pretty happy with Dumont and hope we can keep him and keep our fast skill game. Leafs can be exposed as mediocre if we play our game and Price plays like Price.
If we play NYI, all bets are off. They're the dark horse of the EC. They're faster than us (at least their top line is) and we have the most trouble with them, at least when they're on. They have more pure skill, we have more depth. Winner would be determined by whose goalie is more solid.
If we play Toronto, it'll be very interesting to see if we adjust our roster accordingly and bring up Blunden or Tinordi to add some size. Not in the first two games, but if it turns into a one-dimensional physical series. Right now, I'm pretty happy with Dumont and hope we can keep him and keep our fast skill game. Leafs can be exposed as mediocre if we play our game and Price plays like Price.
If we play NYI, all bets are off. They're the dark horse of the EC. They're faster than us (at least their top line is) and we have the most trouble with them, at least when they're on. They have more pure skill, we have more depth. Winner would be determined by whose goalie is more solid.
There's not going to be a lot of PPs in the playoffs and to be fair, I think the Habs have been guilty of overconfidence when playing NYI. That wouldn't happen in the playoffs either.
I voted Ottawa but if EK is back for the 1st round I'd rather get the Islanders. They're a 1-line team, which is easier to neutralize in a best of 7, especially with home ice advantage, and I get the feeling making the playoffs is going to be their Stanley Cup, usually leading to an early exit.
I hope we play the laffs. Since I don't think we have a legitimate chance at the cup this year, I'd rather we have a tough 7 game series with a hot Toronto team. Set the foundation for Gal, Chuckie, PK, MaxPac, Eller, Price to take over as the unquestioned leaders of the team.
Ghetto Sangria
Registered User
- Apr 14, 2009
- 5,496
- 1,339
Going to completel disagree with you about the Isles. They don't have much depth, just one solid line, which is very slow might I add. Moulson and Tavares, while terrifying offensively, are both not fleet of foot. Boyes is just a complimentary player who has fit in nicely on that line. The have Thomas hickey on their 1st pairing... not much depth at Defense, and Nabokov would be on the same level as price's mediocre season.
The habs best match up against 1 line teams in the POs. They are easier to manage as Pleks, gio can play a shutdown role, and gorges subban can shut them down in a 7 game series.
I obviously selected the Isles, but there are always surprises in the POs... Mtl can be that surprise!
We kinda said the same thing, except I'm giving more weight to that one top line than you are. Tavares and Moulson are faster than you're giving them credit for. I know that's just one line and we beat them last game, but their team overall seem to be playing a better shutdown game these days, and Nabokov's been better than I expected. I still think we're stronger in depth and D (though our D is a big question right now) but, as they say, Islanders are getting hot at the right time.
That Habs Fan
Registered User
Viggo Mortensen
Gandalf the Grey
Isles for me
As others said, they are not that physical, plus their strenght is the PP and refs tend to keep the whistle in their pockets in the PO!
As others said, they are not that physical, plus their strenght is the PP and refs tend to keep the whistle in their pockets in the PO!
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
Burke the Legend
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2012
- 8,317
- 2,850
Since the Leafs and Isles gave us trouble, more than the Sens, I'll go with Ottawa. Whatever team we face, we better get our **** together before or it won't make much of a difference who our opponents will be.
