Post-Game Talk: Habs lose to LA

[schwang26]

Why has Caulfield sucked for so many games now???

 

[Andy]

Why has Caulfield sucked for so many games now???

Forcing the play. He wants to score so badly that he's making bad decisions with the puck.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Why has Caulfield sucked for so many games now???

He's easily being neutralized. But despite all that, he still has 6 pts in his last 10 games. And only 1 of those points is on the PP. So he's still contributing offensively even if other teams are finding ways to make him less effective overall.

The only disappointing part is that he's not scoring. He only has 2 goals in his last 13 games. And that's not Caudield-like. When Slaf was serving up golden scoring chances to Anderson and he was missing, you didn't expect that Slaf setting Cole up for golden opportunities, he'd be missing so many also.

 

[schwang26]

if they're struggling with a fully healthy team, then I’d be worried. not even mcdavid can carry this team right now.

 

[schwang26]

if they're struggling with a fully healthy team, then I’d be worried. not even mcdavid can carry this team right now.

You don’t need to be on a top team to produce. Star players find a way to produce. The odd point is trickling in for Caulfield and Suzuki, but it’s not like they’re putting on a show, so to speak. Shots are off, passing is off. I’m concerned.

 

[DAChampion]

Do last night's Los Angeles goals reduce your long-term enthusiasm for Kaiden Guhle?

 

[schwang26]

He's easily being neutralized. But despite all that, he still has 6 pts in his last 10 games. And only 1 of those points is on the PP. So he's still contributing offensively even if other teams are finding ways to make him less effective overall.

The only disappointing part is that he's not scoring. He only has 2 goals in his last 13 games. And that's not Caudield-like. When Slaf was serving up golden scoring chances to Anderson and he was missing, you didn't expect that Slaf setting Cole up for golden opportunities, he'd be missing so many also.

Ya but that’s on him. He used to find spots and now he’s not. Ovechkin has been scoring from the exact same spot for over a decade. Why hasn’t he been neutralized? He stands there and blasts a shot.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Ya but that’s on him. He used to find spots and now he’s not. Ovechkin has been scoring from the exact same spot for over a decade. Why hasn’t he been neutralized? He stands there and blasts a shot.

You're talking about the PP. The one thing is that Ovechkin gets the puck at the right spot to shoot. Many times, Cole gets the puck on his skates or off target. It's like the guys have fotgotten how to set him up properly on the PP.

 

[WeThreeKings]

You're talking about the PP. The one thing is that Ovechkin gets the puck at the right spot to shoot. Many times, Cole gets the puck on his skates or off target. It's like the guys have fotgotten how to set him up properly on the PP.

There's not enough elements to get Caufield open.. and there isn't enough players able to serve him the puck.

Ovechkin had Backstrom, Oshie in the bumper, Kuznetsov and Carlson on the point.

Until the Habs have enough available talent, it won't work. Hutson will help and a healthy Dach will help.

 

[The Real Timo]

He's easily being neutralized. But despite all that, he still has 6 pts in his last 10 games. And only 1 of those points is on the PP. So he's still contributing offensively even if other teams are finding ways to make him less effective overall.

The only disappointing part is that he's not scoring. He only has 2 goals in his last 13 games. And that's not Caudield-like. When Slaf was serving up golden scoring chances to Anderson and he was missing, you didn't expect that Slaf setting Cole up for golden opportunities, he'd be missing so many also.

We found the problem. It's the Slaf!

 

[OldCraig71]

Why has Caulfield sucked for so many games now???

Why? Because both he and Suzuki are the new Plekanec and Pacioretty, good players but not good enough to lead the charge on a team starved for offense. We have been this way for the last 30 years. The guys on our top lines are typically not as good as what we see around the league from the best teams. The issue is that we are giving both of them just under 8 million a year so they are expected to lead.

 

[Adam Michaels]

We found the problem. It's the Slaf!

The guy is playing so much better, but everyone around him seems to drop a few levels. Even Anderson scored when he was away from Slaf.

 

[nhlfan9191]

Why? Because both he and Suzuki are the new Plekanec and Pacioretty, good players but not good enough to lead the charge on a team starved for offense. We have been this way for the last 30 years. The guys on our top lines are typically not as good as what we see around the league from the best teams. The issue is that we are giving both of them just under 8 million a year so they are expected to lead.

What’s crazy is a lot of people wanted Dubois last summer. Can you imagine dumping even more absurd money into another player whose not even close to a PPG? We have to be patient to get the team we actually want. How many years do we have to watch a GM try to quick fix things to understand Rome wasn’t built in a day?

 

[morhilane]

Do last night's Los Angeles goals reduce your long-term enthusiasm for Kaiden Guhle?

He's getting exposed by execution speed and harder match-up since MSL started to shelter a bit Matheson and Guhle is now in Savard's spot as the main shutdown D. Since he's only 21 and doesn't have a full NHL season under his belt yet, I see this as just normal progression hiccups.

Slaf was never going to be the only kid that was going to struggle this season.

 

[The Real Timo]

The guy is playing so much better, but everyone around him seems to drop a few levels. Even Anderson scored when he was away from Slaf.

"even Anderson scored when he was away from Slaf" is probably the strongest argument anyone can make for sending Slaf to minors

 

[Habs Icing]

.... but we didn't capitalize on our chances.

That was the major observation I came away with. The Habs I thought had more scoring chances the first two periods. I turned it off after the third goal.

There was a movie called The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. I suggest we borrow that for this team. Apparently, they have a skills coach. Maybe he should spend the rest of the year teaching them to hit the net. I haven't got stats to prove it but my feeling is the Habs must have one of the highest number of shots directed at the net that don't hit the net. I don't mean just in last night's game. This has been a problem all year long.

 

[Habs Icing]

The 2 positives for me from this game.

1. Slaf looked really good.
2. The Habs don't have to play the Kings anymore this season.

3. You don't have to shave your legs for the next game.

 

[Habs Icing]

I wonder what great philosophy MSL will bless us with during the presser

Either Kant or Schopenhauer.

 

[Adam Michaels]

"even Anderson scored when he was away from Slaf" is probably the strongest argument anyone can make for sending Slaf to minors

Trois-Rivières has been struggling lately. They can use Slaf.

 

[Habs Icing]

Suzuki I can see being a 2nd line player but Caufield is NOT.

He’s a 1st line player who NEEDS desperately a HIGH END forward on his line. SUZUKI is not that and Juraj is….
Not that.. yet?

Suzuki is the best player on this team.

 

[26Mats]

Why has Caulfield sucked for so many games now???

He's still getting and creating a lot of chances. He's buzzing. Though not every shift. He just isn't finishing.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Even worse ... we lost to a team wearing these:

Depression.jpg

How we doing today lmao

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

 

[Pazucha]

"even Anderson scored when he was away from Slaf" is probably the strongest argument anyone can make for sending Slaf to minors

What's even funnier is that it was an empty net goal.

 

[schwang26]

You're talking about the PP. The one thing is that Ovechkin gets the puck at the right spot to shoot. Many times, Cole gets the puck on his skates or off target. It's like the guys have fotgotten how to set him up properly on the PP.

That should be Caulfield s bread and butter. The PP. the best shooters position themselves properly and adjust when a pass is off. He’s done it before, so what’s changed? The PP was close to top 10 for a while and has dropped like a stone. I love the guy, but for him, he’s been really bad for quite a while now. Of course it’s not all on him, but he bears a lot of it.