I can't believe how badly everyone on the ice played on that last goal. Yes, Pleks should've made the safe play and dumped it, but even then it was only a 2-on-3 for Tampa then a 3-on-3. Just horrible to watch.
Markov: All he does is back-up & puck watch. By the end, he is so far on top of Price, he's nothing more than a screen. He doesn't see the cross over. He's standing watching the entire way.
Pacioretty: Goes to an already covered man (Subban's). As the 3rd man, it's his job to take away the trailer. He doesn't. Still, he can save the situation by either forcing the player into Subban, take away the passing lane, or just hit the guy. He does none of that. The pass is made to the trailer.
At this point it's a 3-on-3, but Markov is so far on top of Price that he's useless. Pacioretty is going the wrong way and ends up on the same side of the ice as:
Gallagher: who must've really hustled just to get back into the play, but he is play watching. He does the right thing by coming back to the net but doesn't pick up Johnson at all. Like Patches, there is no effort to get inside of Johnson, play physical D with him and move him out. Nothing. He just puck watches. Useless.
Plekanec: Floats back. Like in a really baaaaad way. He's not skating. With his speed, no way should Gally beat him back. Johnson is his man, while Pleks is gliding back he's gliding to the front of the net all alone.
Subban: the only one playing hockey. He is one - on - one with the puck carrier which is the right thing to do. At this point, Habs out number Tbay, because of that I would've liked to see him step up here and take his man physically like he used to do. There's no TB player who's a danger. Subban could've snuffed it all out by stepping up, protecting the blueline and playing physically. But, he doesn't. He keeps his man to the outside perimetre. He is allowed to skate untouched through the middle of the ice.
Subban doesn't see the cross over because Johnson's behind him. He does see the trailer. He recognizes the danger of the open ice and drops back to protect the slot/centre of the ice in case of a pass across, which is the right thing to do.
At this point, only Subban is in anything resembling good position. Markov magically ends up in good position because the Tbay player comes right at him. Marky has the chance to step up and challenge, force the guy to the wall or corners, or force him into a low percentage pass since Subban has the middle of the ice. Instead, he drops to his knees then his stomach and goes for a swim.
Subban is still protecting the middle of the ice, but since he turned he now sees Johnson, who neither Patches or Gally has bothered to pick up considering both are on that side of the net.
Subban recognizes the whole play has turned into a 2--on-1 down low with him the 1. This is in spite of their being 3, yes 3! Other Habs in the ****ing zone. 4 guys are back! 4! And, it turns into a 2-on-1.
Subban uses his stick to try to take away the passing lane while trying to get to Johnson. The pass has to be perfect and it is. If that was one of our inept forwards, the pass is behind the open guy, or it's a pass the open player can't handle, or it harmlessly hits the D, or it just goes no where.
I feel like Subban could've done more with Johnson. He ended up right there. He needed to take away his stick and be a lot more physical in front with Johnson. But, considering Subban was the only one playing hockey and well trying I find it hard to blame him. His teammates are ****ing morons.
I watched that last play over and over and over. It was so mind boggling awful D and effort.
Passive keep them to the perimetre D to go along with our passive keep to the perimetre offense. We ain't winning jack **** with this kind of play.
