Post-Game Talk: Habs choke 5-3.

[HeShootsHeScores]

What?

You don't like Therrien's give up the slot and don't cover the point man or late man defense?

This. I don't get why the actual "defensive system" avoids covering the point man and late man. We've been exposed time and time again. I'm not a hockey mastermind, far from it, but shouldn't they put in a system where they concede shots and trust Price, while avoiding panic and chaos by letting the late man get the puck. It's like the Bruins knew it from the start and they have like 3 late men on every rush ready to score.

We have the best goalie in the league, he should be part of the system, and shouldn't be treated like he needs everybody to do the job in his place.

Play it man to man and let Carey do the saves.

 

[Markov4Captain]

JM had far more confidence in allowing his players to cover one on one.
He strategy was exactly that don't get beat inside.
When players did get beat the others were able to help because of strong positioning.
We are constantly overloading and getting burned whenever we can't clear the zone or turn over the puck.

For all the flack JM got around this city, he did everything he possibly could with the roster that was handed to him. In 2010, as much as Halak saved us, JM's defensive structure was second to none. Our PK was unbelievably good and our PP was money. We may have been outshot badly but we knew how to keep the shots to the outside. Rarely did Halak have pucks deflect past him off his own defenders. In 2011, we pushed the eventual cup champions to Game 7 OT, with a d-corps that contained the likes of Brent Sopel and Jaro Spacek.

However, Therrien's offensive forecheck is better than the passive style JM preached. The first round series against Tampa was one of the most dominant performances the Habs have had in years. I do think that our coaching staff is lacking in a defensive specialist, and JJ Daigneault won't cut it. If we keep letting the Bruins walk-in late, we're done in the d-zone. I wish Therrien could watch some tape of JM's old system and borrow a few of his plays.

 

[ThaDevilGirl]

For all the flack JM got around this city, he did everything he possibly could with the roster that was handed to him. In 2010, as much as Halak saved us, JM's defensive structure was second to none. Our PK was unbelievably good and our PP was money. We may have been outshot badly but we knew how to keep the shots to the outside. Rarely did Halak have pucks deflect past him off his own defenders. In 2011, we pushed the eventual cup champions to Game 7 OT, with a d-corps that contained the likes of Brent Sopel and Jaro Spacek.

However, Therrien's offensive forecheck is better than the passive style JM preached. The first round series against Tampa was one of the most dominant performances the Habs have had in years. I do think that our coaching staff is lacking in a defensive specialist, and JJ Daigneault won't cut it. If we keep letting the Bruins walk-in late, we're done in the d-zone. I wish Therrien could watch some tape of JM's old system and borrow a few of his plays.

Let's do this: MT's forechecking with JM's defensive positioning.

Stanley Cup, here we come.

 

[Rapala]

We are always in Boston's head. Always.
I prefer losing this way than 3-0. We've shown Boston that these are tight games, basically one goal games, whoever gets the bounces comes out on top. I don't think we will go back home and fold it in. Not sure why anybody would think that way. Pittsburgh vs Columbus is a great example of how leads are not safe, each team suffered losses after 2 (3 too?) goal leads, all of the same devastating nature as ours, and both teams kept going. Happened in the West too.
This series isn't finished, and the good thing is that we've won games all season despite being outplayed. We are used to this.

First of all I made no mention of the series being over.
Secondly we are not in their heads. Certainly not to the extent we were 7 minutes into the third.
Boston WILL be a far more composed team in Montreal bet on it.
2011 taught us that. (even when we were in their heads)
They can still be had I've said it all along.
This Dzone play however isn't the answer.

 

[HeShootsHeScores]

Confidence was not and won't be an issue for Boston.

They don't have mental breakdowns and never suffer momentum shifts. They either play good or absolutely great.

Habs will have to be relentless and as confident to have a chance to win this series.

We have a chance but damn it's gonna be so close. If we survive this round we're gonna plan the parade for sure, which is why I think we won't.

 

[izzy75]

If being a realist is pouting then I guess I'm pouting.
I am disappointed in letting one get away in the WORST possible manner.
There is not one person I know with even an average Hockey IQ that doesn't understand the impact of that loss. We got smoked in every area except the PP and goaltending in game one. Game two saw us take advantage of poor discipline get in their heads and yet find a way to gift wrap them a win.
Guess what we are no longer in their heads.

Rapala - you're one of the brighter and fresher voices in these parts. It's funny how our fans compensate for inferior talent by any of these coping strategies:

1. Faith: I have faith in our team
2. Chaos theory: Anything can happen in the playoffs
3. Denial: Montreal won game one. And should have one game two. See? We can play with these guys.

#3 is truly incredible given how badly we were outplayed in BOTH games.

 

[Wats]

Can someone explain why this is Subban's fault?

People are actually calling this Subban hitting Thornton

You want to see a REAL duck:

 

[Whitesnake]

The crouch is designed to help him see through screens.
He did seem to do it on occasion when there weren't any.
Maybe overworked

Problem is that how can you react even if you see a higher type of shot if you are in that position? So he prefers protecting the bottom part of the net instead of standing up and trying to find some viewing path on each side of players. Okay. Just not convinced he gives himself too much of a chance to react even if he sees what's coming.

 

[Rapala]

Rapala - you're one of the brighter and fresher voices in these parts. It's funny how our fans compensate for inferior talent by any of these coping strategies:

1. Faith: I have faith in our team
2. Chaos theory: Anything can happen in the playoffs
3. Denial: Montreal won game one. And should have one game two. See? We can play with these guys.

#3 is truly incredible given how badly we were outplayed in BOTH games.

Thank you
People always find a way to complicate simplicity.
Hockey is really a very simple game.
They can't or shouldn't score if you have the puck

 

[Whitesnake]

Can someone explain why this is Subban's fault?

People are actually calling this Subban hitting Thornton

Well Subban didn't help himself here....he said to Thornton that he was sorry. And frankly, I agree with both. Now that it's funny to be hit, but to duck hits is incredibly dangerous. That's what Subban did instead of just here trying to avoid it by moving out....or just taking it. Ducking is really dangerous.

 

[Whitesnake]

As I just wrote in the previous post, we have regularly been outplayed, outchanced, out possessed in the regular season and seemed to end up on top most of the time. We are used to this.
It will be interesting to see how Therrien mix and matches, the first line needs to get it going.
But Eller's line, which has been our best since the start of the POs had a rather tougher time yesterday. They will bounce back. But we are not going to outplay Boston at ES. That just won't happen. We need to keep being opportunistic.

But doing it in the regular season and being regularly exposed by the same great team is another thing.

 

[Wats]

Well Subban didn't help himself here....he said to Thornton that he was sorry. And frankly, I agree with both. Now that it's funny to be hit, but to duck hits is incredibly dangerous. That's what Subban did instead of just here trying to avoid it by moving out....or just taking it. Ducking is really dangerous.

Subban quote:

“I don’t know what happened,†Subban said of the play. “I just tried to shoot the puck around the zone and I sort of lost my footing there. Obviously you don’t want to see anybody go off hurt, but he came back. I don’t know if he stayed in the game, but [I was] happy to see that.â€

 

[HeShootsHeScores]

Can someone explain why this is Subban's fault?

People are actually calling this Subban hitting Thornton

Cavemen #22 had an injury to his pride. Next time that moron should aknowledge the fact a hit can indeed be dodged, and it should be considered great, non-violent and perfectly suitable in a high skilled, fast paced hockey game.

 

[Rapala]

Well Subban didn't help himself here....he said to Thornton that he was sorry. And frankly, I agree with both. Now that it's funny to be hit, but to duck hits is incredibly dangerous. That's what Subban did instead of just here trying to avoid it by moving out....or just taking it. Ducking is really dangerous.

It's a total non issue.
PK was already off balance when in the process of moving the puck.
Great athletic ability allowed him to avoid the check.

 

[Habssince89]

Can someone explain why this is Subban's fault?

People are actually calling this Subban hitting Thornton

You want to see a REAL duck:

summed up perfectly

 

[Rapala]

Cavemen #22 had an injury to his pride. Next time that moron should aknowledge the fact a hit can indeed be dodged, and it should be considered great, non-violent and perfectly suitable in a high skilled, fast paced hockey game.

PK never even looked at him.
He sensed he was there and made a great play.

 

[SirClintonPortis]

Being extremely efficient in scoring (due to bad goaltending and/or high-end skill compensating for lack of opportunities) can compensate for poor possession stats, but is a risky and unreliable strategy to rely in the long term. If the Bruins hold back their tempers or if Rask improves his play, the Habs will be finished sooner rather than later. While the "unfocused" Bruins have shown themselves this series, the "focused" Bruins that have shown up in the third periods are likely the Bruins that will come out if they obtain a lead in this series.

 

[SirClintonPortis]

PK never even looked at him.
He sensed he was there and made a great play.

I think PK's own words seems to be confirmed. He just lost his footing. His right skate went out from under him well before Thornton was really close.

 

[HABSonaroll]

HABS will WIN this series if they want it bad enough but can't sit back with the lead like this game - Gotta play 60 minutes not 50 etc. - GO HABS GO

 

[BLONG7]

HABS will WIN this series if they want it bad enough but can't sit back with the lead like this game - Gotta play 60 minutes not 50 etc. - GO HABS GO

Game 3 will tell the tale...all 60 minutes of it...will the team learn from yesterday? I think they will rebound!!

 

[Kriss E]

But doing it in the regular season and being regularly exposed by the same great team is another thing.

Yes and no.
Different because your opponent can expose flaws.
Not different because the feeling of being outplayed is always the same, it's a familiar feeling. Another team that isn't used to being outplayed might fold when they get into this weird zone of being dominated by another team.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

Is Price now at the level where he can't be criticized like ever? Every time you say something negative it's like you have to say how great he is to calm the herd of price supporters who will accuse you of blaming the whole game on him. Even Roy got criticized. Settle down. Saying price was weak on a goal doesn't mean he's to blame for the entire struggles of the team. jeez.

 

[Rapala]

Being extremely efficient in scoring (due to bad goaltending and/or high-end skill compensating for lack of opportunities) can compensate for poor possession stats, but is a risky and unreliable strategy to rely in the long term. If the Bruins hold back their tempers or if Rask improves his play, the Habs will be finished sooner rather than later. While the "unfocused" Bruins have shown themselves this series, the "focused" Bruins that have shown up in the third periods are likely the Bruins that will come out if they obtain a lead in this series.

There is really only one way to unravel the Bruins.
Besides Price stoning them.
Take away their time and space constantly.
Not just one of three shifts... ALL THE TIME
JM did that he didn't have near the team we have now.
Why the hell did we revert to playing the type of game we played in the regular season.
Why haven't we continued to evolve the style we played against Tampa?
Because the Bruins are a more physical team?
Not a good reason in my books. We need to play to our strengths not theirs.
5 men units forcing the play all over the ice.
Do we have the horses for that?

 

[BLONG7]

We all knew this would be a 6-7 game series, are we built for the playoffs? Not really, but we are getting there...can we compete with the bruins, yes...can we beat them 4 out of 7? I think we can...enjoy the series guys!!

 

[Kriss E]

First of all I made no mention of the series being over.
Secondly we are not in their heads. Certainly not to the extent we were 7 minutes into the third.
Boston WILL be a far more composed team in Montreal bet on it.
2011 taught us that. (even when we were in their heads)
They can still be had I've said it all along.
This Dzone play however isn't the answer.

1- You kind of did by insisting on how much of an impact the loss of this game will have.
2- We always are in the Bruins head. They hate us. They are open about it. Even after their win, Julien still managed to whine about things. Heck, they got a penalty for abusive language from the bench. They got a couple of deflections their way giving them a push, we blew some coverage, and now it means we're not in their mind?
We are always in their mind.
Will they be more composed? Maybe. Maybe not. One big hit and the Bruins lose their crap.
In 2011 we had just lost MaxPac, PK and Eller was a rookie, Markov was injured, we had greats like Sopel, Spacek, Weber, Mara, Pouliot, and although Price was solid he wasn't the same composed keeper. I mean really, the team is almost entirely different.