Singin' the Third-Period Blues...

Lshap

Hardline Moderate
Jun 6, 2011
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Montreal
A huge problem in 2011/12 was our chronic system failure in the third period. We lost a ton of games in the third as our scoring dried up and the opponent's scoring woke up.

This year, our overall scoring is much better, but we're still noticeably weaker in the third period. In the Habs' first ten games of 2013, here's our scoring breakdown:

1st Period - 11 GF / 5 GA (Wow!)

2nd Period - 13 GF / 9 GA (Solid)

3rd Period - 6 GF / 9 GA (uh-oh...)

So what do you see as the reason behind this? IMO, this is the weakness of having smaller defensemen. The opposing team comes on strong late in the game, crashes the net more, and we don't have the size and strength to counter the aggressive forechecking. Our D can neutralize plays and transition quickly, but a full-on physical attack is where we're weak. Last night, even without White's penalty we had lost momentum and were being outplayed.

If we're going to blow a game, chances are it'll be in period-three. Any opinions on why?
 

katatoniak

Registered User
Feb 5, 2009
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Well, with Emelin and Subban it's not too bad. But we do need one more big defender like Tinordi when he's ready.

Subban is at 216 lbs on nhl.com :amazed:
 

zzoo

Registered User
Mar 9, 2004
3,092
156
Yesterday was a typical game of 2011-12: play fairly good, fail to protect a 2 goals lead, dramatic ending, loss in SO.

I hope that we don't live that nightmare again.
 

skule123

Registered User
Mar 24, 2008
492
0
Not that being on back-to-backs is an excuse (NO EXCUSES), but the team seemed gassed last night and Sunday against the Senators late in the game, while better earlier in the game. If that's a problem, it'll get a lot worse over this season, especially when we lose depth to injuries.
 

Lshap

Hardline Moderate
Jun 6, 2011
27,277
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Not that being on back-to-backs is an excuse (NO EXCUSES), but the team seemed gassed last night and Sunday against the Senators late in the game, while better earlier in the game. If that's a problem, it'll get a lot worse over this season, especially when we lose depth to injuries.

Yeah, fatigue is also an issue this season. But that's just another cause of the same nagging effect: Weak third-periods.

Therrien must see this problem and the players must remember it from last year. They must realize they become vulnerable after 40 minutes. So what can Therrien do to counter the fatigue/size/intensity issues that continue to cost us games? It's obviously a bit more complicated than just yelling, "Dig in and try harder!!", mid-way through the third. Maybe that's where the big shutdown guy becomes the missing piece.
 

Hackett

BAKAMAN
Mar 4, 2002
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You can almost tell the fate of this team after 20 minutes of play. The constant has been he team's ability to greatly outplay their opponent in the first period.

The determining factor for their fate has been how well they converted on their chances in that period.

Watching the Boston game, you just knew that they were going to pay for not converting during their first period storm.

Credit Boston for fighting back, but Montreal shot themselves in the foot against Buffalo, or should I say, white shot his teammates in the foot by allowing some hope to enter the game.

When teams simply chip away at you and tie it up, it doesn't hurt as much. But when you lose a 3rd period lead by beating yourself, that's when it stings. Buffalo was the first time I saw real concern in that regard.
 

habsfanatics*

Registered User
May 20, 2012
5,051
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A symptom often the result of a young inexperienced team.

Diaz/Emelin 2nd year in the nhl

White, borderline nhler and lacking experience.

Gally/Gally inexperienced, not that they contributed to the lost directly, but not many coaches will role those guys out in high leverage defensive situations, puts more of the burden on pleks and so on.

Subban played only 4 games and everyone is playing under a new coach, including Subban. These things should be somewhat expected. The good news is that our play has been pretty good in all our games except the opener. I'd rather we play well and lose the odd game than stink and win the odd game.

Why things are happening are often more important than them actually happening, so far the habs look better in their losses than they did at any time over the previous year, which is encouraging on many levels.

Go Habs go!!!
 

Hoople

Registered User
Mar 7, 2011
16,193
121
Lshap, I think that you are spot on with regard to your assessment of our D and our struggles to hold a lead in the 3rd.
 

Lshap

Hardline Moderate
Jun 6, 2011
27,277
24,867
Montreal
10 games later. Let's see how our period-by-period scoring is progressing from games 11 through 20.

Recap: In our first 10 games, we were 6-3-1 and still displaying some of the bad habits in the 3rd period that we had last year. Here was our scoring breakdown for games 1 through 10:

First 10 Games:

1st Period - 11 GF / 5 GA (Wow!)

2nd Period - 13 GF / 9 GA (Solid)

3rd Period - 6 GF / 9 GA (shades of last year...)


Since then, we've gone 7-1-2. Look at the scoring by period for these last 10 games:

Second 10 Games:

1st Period - 5 GF / 3 GA

2nd Period - 10 GF / 8 GA

3rd Period - 10 GF / 6 GA


A total reversal. 1st period scoring is way down, but part is because of so many missed chances. We're still dominant, but the puck just isn't going in as much. But check out the big difference in the 3rd period! We've finally stopped retreating into a defensive shell and have made that period our most productive. In my opinion, that's a mark of a confident team that doesn't feel threatened. Our players are keeping the game wide open even while holding a lead, which is the psychological edge we needed. A very good sign.
 

Fish on The Sand

Untouchable
Feb 28, 2002
60,203
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10 games later. Let's see how our period-by-period scoring is progressing from games 11 through 20.

Recap: In our first 10 games, we were 6-3-1 and still displaying some of the bad habits in the 3rd period that we had last year. Here was our scoring breakdown for games 1 through 10:

First 10 Games:

1st Period - 11 GF / 5 GA (Wow!)

2nd Period - 13 GF / 9 GA (Solid)

3rd Period - 6 GF / 9 GA (shades of last year...)


Since then, we've gone 7-1-2. Look at the scoring by period for these last 10 games:

Second 10 Games:

1st Period - 5 GF / 3 GA

2nd Period - 10 GF / 8 GA

3rd Period - 10 GF / 6 GA


A total reversal. 1st period scoring is way down, but part is because of so many missed chances. We're still dominant, but the puck just isn't going in as much. But check out the big difference in the 3rd period! We've finally stopped retreating into a defensive shell and have made that period our most productive. In my opinion, that's a mark of a confident team that doesn't feel threatened. Our players are keeping the game wide open even while holding a lead, which is the psychological edge we needed. A very good sign.

A big difference in the third period is the fact you conveniently chose to bump the thread the same night we went +3 in the 3rd period. The next time we blow a 2 goal lead in the 3rd and lose somebody else will bump, then we will have a good third and somebody else will bump.
 

Lshap

Hardline Moderate
Jun 6, 2011
27,277
24,867
Montreal
A big difference in the third period is the fact you conveniently chose to bump the thread the same night we went +3 in the 3rd period. The next time we blow a 2 goal lead in the 3rd and lose somebody else will bump, then we will have a good third and somebody else will bump.

There's nothing coincidental or convenient about checking stats every 10 games. The thread was started after 10 games, bumped after 20 games.

Wanna guess when I'm planning to bump it next?

Our 3rd-period problems were a huge part of our collapse last year; I think it's worth looking at that same thing this year to see what's changed. BTW, even before last night's game our 3rd-period performance had really improved.
 

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