We don't know yet who the Habs will face, or what state of health they'll be in when they get to the playoffs. But I can't help thinking they've got a legitimate shot to win the Cup. I don't think I ever felt that way in the last 20 years, even in 2008 when they won the conference. This year, they're playing as a team and they've got great chemistry, which a Cup winner has to have. They don't have the best scorers, but they've got a lot of them with somebody stepping up every night, which makes them harder to predict and contain. They don't have the best defense in the league, but they're solid and move the puck quickly. Price can be insanely good when he's hot, and the coaching staff knows what they're doing. They've got depth.
So, I think the only question now is how healthy they'll be going in. If Emelin, Diaz, Bourque and Armstrong can be ready on opening night, the Habs can compete with anybody. Am I alone in thinking this team could actually win it all?
Habs haven't faced much adversity this season. I'm curious as to how they will manage it in the playoffs.
We could get steamrolled physicaly
4 teams are getting in from the NE. all hated rivals. deal with it.
people conveniently forget the last game vs. TO.
all they ****ing remember is the preseason game that ended by a
****ing goal and our worst game of the year.
Reasons I would dread facing Toronto:
- They play waaay too well in our building.
- Kessel is a Habs killer.
- All the pressure will be on our team with about 500 reporters covering the series reminding them of that everyday. If we lose, it's viewed as a choke job.
- Reimer seems to be at his best against us.
- Toronto has nothing to lose.
- Our defence right now is NOT suited to play teams with 3 lines of offence, which Toronto is. We absolutely need a Diaz in top shape to play this team.
- They will try to goon it up at certain points.
- Randy Carlyle may actually smarten up and play Jake Gardiner since we're a skating team.
- Refs at the ACC...you know the deal by now. Guarantee the Leafs average at least a 5 on 3 per home game.
My honest feelings about the playoffs, is i dont know if i will be reading hfboards.
If its a Toronto/Montreal, this board will be unbearable
You meant entertaining
series will be entertaining, this board will be unbearable to read
My honest opinion?
Well, right now it looks more and more like we're going to face a big size teams and i don't like it one bit.
Half of our top 6 is under 5'9" (DD, Gionta, Gallagher)
Not feeling confortable against any big team right now
Height is definitely overated here. What's much more important in the playoff is toughness, grit, heart and determination.
DD, Gionta and Gallagher are not in the top 6, but in the top 9. (the other 6 top 9 players are Plekanec, Bourque, Pacioretty, Ryder, Eller and Galchenyuk)
Now, compare what you see as our weakness in our top 9 with the weaknesses in the other contender's top 9. And tell me if you would be willing to trade DD, Gionta and Gallagher for one of the following trio of players :
Chicago : Stalberg, Bolland, Shaw
Pittsburgh : Cooke, Sutter, Jokinen
Boston : Peverley, Kelly, Campbell (or Horton if Bergeron is back from injury)
Anaheim : Bonino, Winnik, Cogliano
Los Angeles : Stoll, Lewis, Clifford
Vancouver : Raymond, Roy, Kassian
Washington : Erat, Johansson, Fehr
San Jose : Gomez, Wingels, Galiardi
St. Louis : Sobotka, Tarasenko, McDonald
Minnesota : Brodziak, Coyle, Clutterbuck
Toronto : Kulemin, Grabovski, McClement
Ottawa : Smith, Neil, Latendresse
Rangers : Pyatt, Brassard, Boyle
Detroit : Kindl, Ericsson, Abdelkader
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Montreal : DD, Gionta, Gallagher
Let's ask the question differently : Your team has a top 6 of Ryder, Plekanec, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk, Eller and Bourque. You need to add 3 players to complete your top 9 to go far in the playoffs. Which trio do you chose?