Got to consider the opposition but team has been playing better and deserved the win. Maybe crawling out of the morass they were in but holes in the lineup still very evident. Also thought some lesser lights came up with good efforts
Good
Demko - unlike some other wins, it wasn't the only reason they won but still an important one. Aided by very sloppy finish by Habs. As a side note, saw little in Toffoli that I really liked and maybe losing him long term is not all that important.
Garland - pepper pot description is appropriate here. Again best forward by a good margin and just a pity others aren't coming up to his level and giving him more to work with. Seemed like team had chances whenever he was out. Deserves more ice time - especially on the PP
Hughes - in games like this you get to see just what a wonderful player he is. Better teams can limit him but tonight he was consistently controlling game from the back end. Looked like he was back in college with the puck all the time.
Chaisson - a view partly based on expectations but he was skating well and effective at both ends of the ice. Rewarded with more game time and got played late in a tight game meaning his efforts were not lost on Green. Again competition was factor but Chaisson looked NHL caliber in this game.
Motte - like Garland the little engine that could. Starting to make a huge difference on the PK and on the different lines he plays on. Has the speed to keep ahead of the play.
OEL - solid game from the back. Negated some of Montreal's better offensive players
Poor
Poolman - Burroughs - very poor puck movement and both getting beaten wide far too often. If you had two good NHL defensemen in their places, it would transform the team. Team is near always in trouble with this pairing out.
Others
Dowling - showed good speed in getting in on the forecheck. Nothing tremendous but did provide the team with some at least competent shifts
Dickinson - not so obviously bad but still losing too many puck battles. Black hole offensively
Boeser - effort is there but shadow of what he was in rookie season. I think he must have an injury. However, skating will always be an issue with this player
Pettersson - that shot brought back hope that somewhere in there is the player we once knew.
Schenn - Green just leave him with Hughes. Don't get your pants on fire if they have a few bad shifts or even games. If nothing else Hughes plays better with Schenn and you have nothing better to play Hughes with. They were a good combo in this game.
Podkolzin - again contributed. Liked him a lot better than Caulfield. Believe we made the right choice here and some need to maybe fess up that they were wrong about regretting picking Podkolzin ahead of Caulfield.
Horvat - made some good reads to break up plays and set some plays up but his skating is still limiting his ability to hang solidly and continuously in the play.
Second game ion two days and getting to the end of some time on the road and give the team credit for overcoming that. But in the vast scheme of things you wonder how much these kinds of wins will hurt come draft time. Probably Montreal fans were glad their team lost.
Good
Demko - unlike some other wins, it wasn't the only reason they won but still an important one. Aided by very sloppy finish by Habs. As a side note, saw little in Toffoli that I really liked and maybe losing him long term is not all that important.
Garland - pepper pot description is appropriate here. Again best forward by a good margin and just a pity others aren't coming up to his level and giving him more to work with. Seemed like team had chances whenever he was out. Deserves more ice time - especially on the PP
Hughes - in games like this you get to see just what a wonderful player he is. Better teams can limit him but tonight he was consistently controlling game from the back end. Looked like he was back in college with the puck all the time.
Chaisson - a view partly based on expectations but he was skating well and effective at both ends of the ice. Rewarded with more game time and got played late in a tight game meaning his efforts were not lost on Green. Again competition was factor but Chaisson looked NHL caliber in this game.
Motte - like Garland the little engine that could. Starting to make a huge difference on the PK and on the different lines he plays on. Has the speed to keep ahead of the play.
OEL - solid game from the back. Negated some of Montreal's better offensive players
Poor
Poolman - Burroughs - very poor puck movement and both getting beaten wide far too often. If you had two good NHL defensemen in their places, it would transform the team. Team is near always in trouble with this pairing out.
Others
Dowling - showed good speed in getting in on the forecheck. Nothing tremendous but did provide the team with some at least competent shifts
Dickinson - not so obviously bad but still losing too many puck battles. Black hole offensively
Boeser - effort is there but shadow of what he was in rookie season. I think he must have an injury. However, skating will always be an issue with this player
Pettersson - that shot brought back hope that somewhere in there is the player we once knew.
Schenn - Green just leave him with Hughes. Don't get your pants on fire if they have a few bad shifts or even games. If nothing else Hughes plays better with Schenn and you have nothing better to play Hughes with. They were a good combo in this game.
Podkolzin - again contributed. Liked him a lot better than Caulfield. Believe we made the right choice here and some need to maybe fess up that they were wrong about regretting picking Podkolzin ahead of Caulfield.
Horvat - made some good reads to break up plays and set some plays up but his skating is still limiting his ability to hang solidly and continuously in the play.
Second game ion two days and getting to the end of some time on the road and give the team credit for overcoming that. But in the vast scheme of things you wonder how much these kinds of wins will hurt come draft time. Probably Montreal fans were glad their team lost.
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