GDT: GAME 35: Habs @ Bolts | Barron holds court | Wednesday, Dec. 28th, 2022, 7PM -- SN, RDS, TSN690, 98.5 FM

[MilesNewton]

Hopefully we see what Barron can do on the PP today

Yes, but Wideman has . has also played the fewest games of the above. Not sure if MSL will stick Barron on the PP but stranger things have happened. I wonder if MSL and the GM are on the same page or not? The bigger issue is the Suzuki slump elephant in the closet.

 

[Runner77]

Powerdonkey!!!

I was inspired by @Apoplectic Habs Fan, who has a knack of coming up with timely zingers. I’m always a big fan of a warped mind, lol.

 

[salbutera]

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Why would they not play Barron on the PP?

I guess same reason they don’t play Slaf on the PP.

Jesus

 

[Runner77]

Hoffman and Drouin on the 2nd line. Tank mode super activated.

 

[Redux91]

Why would they not play Barron on the PP?

I guess same reason they don’t play Slaf on the PP.

Jesus

Lol Marty might be a great motivational speaker n all, and very good at pumping the boys up sure..

But man.. it gets harder and harder everyday to feel good about him as a coach.., it just does lol
How many times you gonna run a f***ing powerplay with 5 forwards and still be 32nd in PP before you f***ing wake up a bit I mean christ almighty

 

[morhilane]

wtf is the coaching staff doing? Seriously this is just brutal now

Armia is the best option to replace Dach on the first, Caufield/Suzuki need a winger who can play near the boards and win pucks. There aren't that many options on the team...

Drouin and Hoffman usually play on a line that is sheltered in the offensive zone. Better using them together to avoid having to fee defensive lines considering how much times the Habs spend in their own zone. And, who plays with Drouin end up stuck in his own zone anyway...

 

[Lazytrout]

Hopefully the tank continue to pick steam tonight, Coyotes are playing well lately and gaining ground on us.

5 rookies on D, incredible.

 

[schwang26]

I expect nothing short of 3 PP goals

For or against?

 

[Naslundforever]

Habs resuming a 7-game road trip, interrupted by the Christmas break, facing the Bolts in Tampa.

In the 3 games played prior to the break, they won one game in OT, lost another in OT and finally suffered a regulation loss against Dallas.

In the Dallas game, Michael Pezzetta was finally having a breakout with a goal and an assist, but unfortunately, he earned a costly penalty that allowed Dallas to come back in the game.

Evidently, Marty was none too happy with the outcome.

Habs are scrambling for solutions as the trade freeze officially ended Dec. 27th, midnight.

Only one move seemed obvious -- calling up Barron, to hold court.

Barron has been particularly effective with the Rocket, where he tallied 16 points in his last 20 games. He's showing up with a hot stick, that should help bolster the PP.

Of course, there can't be good news without some irritant. Now that Barron is up, you can bet on this cringe apprehension ...

Christmas may have come and gone, but most fans on the forum have put in their requests to Santa. One of our insiders has managed a snapshot of what those requests look like and it turns out, a majority appear to want the same thing.

As we wait to find out whether Santa will grant the above wish, one thing is clear. Confrontations abound on the Habs forum about the merits of throwing away a season, cheering for your team to lose and the importance of building a winning culture. Safe to say, we don't have consensus.

Meantime, there is deadwood on the team that can't possibly find a taker.

There are also underperforming players, who were expected to take a step forward but who unfortunately seem to have plateaued or even regressed.

One such player is the Powerhorse.

Sadly, he's no longer a Powerhorse in the minds of a lot of fans expecting greater production and a better use of his physical attributes. He has just been unable to be productive despite several stints on the team's top line or playing with the team's better offensive players. And so, he's been demoted ...

Another, is the enigmatic national Finnish hero, Joel Armia. Marty will have Armia playing on the first line this game, based on the permutations at practice. What can possibly go wrong?

Borrowing a page from @Conflicted Habs fan and his reliance on ScarJo in all of his GDTs:



Armia will disappear. Just like the woman who walked behind ScarJo, never to be seen again.


LINEUPS TBA

Awesome gdt! I chuckled and you got me stoked.

5 rookies on D is worth watching if for nothing else.

 

[Troyp]

Looks like Armia is on the top line..and not for Laval

 

[sheed36]

So the Habs have 2 wingers in their top 6 tonight who have combined for 0 goals and 8 assists in 41 games played this season between the 2 of them.

 

[Apoplectic Habs Fan]

It always gives me a chuckle when a coach has a player going from top PP or say top line to healthy scratch and vice versa.

It was so critical for Wideman to be on the PP in MSL eyes but not so much that he shouldnt be healthy scratched the next game.

 

[bighab]

Very excited to see a third line of Slaf, Dvorak & Anderson - I think Dvorak is an ideal center for those two.

Armia on the first line will be interesting as well. I've liked a lot of parts of Armia's game this season. He sneakily wins a lot of board battles, which is exactly what Suzy & Caufield need. If anyone is to break him outta this slump it's those two. Armia getting hot before the deadline is the dream

 

[The Real Timo]

So the 5 rookie D tonight...

That's one way to get them all experienced

Sink or swim.

Ugh, losing Wideman hurts the tank
But at least get to see Barron

And Gallagher back helps the tank so I guess we break even lol

Is Gallagher playing tonight? Can't say I missed him.

 

[NobleSix]

Caufield-Suzuki-Armia
Hoffman-Dach-Drouin
Slafkovsky-Dvorak-Anderson
Pezzetta-Evans-Richard

Edmundson-Guhle
Xhekaj-Kovacevic
Harris-Barron

 

[OldCraig71]

Great GDT @Runner77, Bolts 8 Habs 4, losses are wins!

 

[AlexGretzchenvid]

Typical lines from a Typical Owner.

He bought his way into the 1st OV and then had his buddies sell a few trades to the league.

Poor fans never learn. Molson at the helm.

Slafkovksy with NO starts on the top line? not even a period with them yet.

Barron playing with harris?

Unless barron is going to carry harris that sounds like a disaster. Put him with Jack or Guhle atleast

 

[Redux91]

Those better be tears of joy for having 2 top 10 picks in this draft baby

 

[AlexGretzchenvid]

Those better be tears of joy for having 2 top 10 picks in this draft baby

Let's GO!

Lets change this culture and hopefully Mailloux can work through the PRESSURE of what he needs to go through.

 

[Naslundforever]

MSL trying to get Dach to interiorise playing wing aint that bad.

 

[jrom]

Lol Marty might be a great motivational speaker n all, and very good at pumping the boys up sure..

But man.. it gets harder and harder everyday to feel good about him as a coach.., it just does lol
How many times you gonna run a f***ing powerplay with 5 forwards and still be 32nd in PP before you f***ing wake up a bit I mean christ almighty

He’s managing his locker room egos. Why should Barron get a chance before Xhekaj or Guhle ? Honestly our terribad power play this year is awesome for the tank.

 

[Redux91]

He’s managing his locker room egos. Why should Barron get a chance before Xhekaj or Guhle ? Honestly our terribad power play this year is awesome for the tank.

No I know bud
It's just frustrating sometimes being SO patient lol

 

[Naslundforever]

He’s managing his locker room egos. Why should Barron get a chance before Xhekaj or Guhle ? Honestly our terribad power play this year is awesome for the tank.

100% my conclusion. Management wants players to want to come here, so they are taking care of the vets while showcasing them. Small family, hockey players.

…or Hughes has a secret collar on all the overpaid vets and presses the zapper button only when they are about to score or to prompt them and turn the puck over for no reason.

 

[The Real Timo]

Armia is the best option to replace Dach on the first, Caufield/Suzuki need a winger who can play near the boards and win pucks. There aren't that many options on the team...

Drouin and Hoffman usually play on a line that is sheltered in the offensive zone. Better using them together to avoid having to fee defensive lines considering how much times the Habs spend in their own zone. And, who plays with Drouin end up stuck in his own zone anyway...

You know your team sucks very bad when you start a sentence with "Armia is the best option... "