Where has the offense gone?

[Monctonscout]

First 13 games(October):

8-5-0
37 goals scored, 2.85 per game
23 agaimst, 1.77 per game

Next 8 games

2-4-2
15 goals scored, 1.88 per game.
22 against, 2.75 per game

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[LeMAD]

Cold streak. Nothing to write home about.

 

[Stylizer1]

Bergevin hasn't really addressed many of the problems facing the team.

 

[MXD]

Chez Parée.

 

[Toastman]

Quite simple, our main goal scorers aren't scoring (Patches, Gionta)

We can't rely on the EGG line all season

 

[donghabs98]

Our vets are struggling and teams are now sending out top defensive pairing guys to stop the EGG line. What made us such an effective team last year was the fact we could role 4 lines of offense. This year we can only role 1 line that can score

 

[Smokey Thompson]

Well Max and Davey combined for 125 points on a team that finished 15th in the East. Now that there is actually another line providing offense, they have disappeared. It says a lot about character when u can play very well on a bad team, but play like **** on a decent team that can use ur production to make the playoffs. Or when u disappear completely in a playoff series vs a lesser team.

I hate to say it, but I've lost a lot of respect for Maxy and his buddy Davey.

 

[Lshap]

Teams are bottling up our puck-moving defence. They're forechecking harder and deeper in our zone, forcing Markov and Subban to hurry their passes. It's working. Habs passing has become a series of desperate flips, hail-Marys and two-line bombs. Result: Our puck-possession has disappeared because we can't start a proper rush out of our own zone. We're stuck in our zone or we try a long pass that misses, bringing us back into our zone.

The fast breakout worked last season, but other teams have adapted to us. When is Therrien going to adapt in turn?

 

[Wats]

Well Max and Davey combined for 125 points on a team that finished 15th in the East. Now that there is actually another line providing offense, they have disappeared. It says a lot about character when u can play very well on a bad team, but play like **** on a decent team that can use ur production to make the playoffs. Or when u disappear completely in a playoff series vs a lesser team.

I hate to say it, but I've lost a lot of respect for Maxy and his buddy Davey.

One hasn't been able to score/visibly frustrated in the 7 games since returning from an leg injury but was going on a roll with 2 goals/3 points in 3 games pre-injury. He's averaging almost 4 shots a game but still hasn't looked his best. This fellow also happened to lead team in scoring for 2 years in a row (65 and on pace for 70+ last season) and signed at discount. His buddy has been MIA since the ~50 games since signing his contract extension which was at a premium especially when you consider the cap dropping.

Just take a look at videos of Pacioretty's production over the past 3 years going into this season. Nothing to do with Desharnais' play.

Only Habs fans can lump both together...then again might be same people who would want Subban traded if he struggles a few games or asks over 7M.

 

[LeHab]

First 13 games(October):

8-5-0
37 goals scored, 2.85 per game
23 agaimst, 1.77 per game

Next 8 games

2-4-2
15 goals scored, 1.88 per game.
22 against, 2.75 per game

Kids were playing at a PPG pace which was not sustainable. Vets need to step up a notch now, something that has not happened yet.

 

[Milhouse40]

Pretty simple:

Chucky-Elle-Gally was on fire in the first couple of games.
Let's brake them of course....then they struggle when the get back together.

Bournival-Plek-Gion was on the fire in the couple of games after that.
Let's brake them of course (to put Bourni with DD to re-start him)
They all struggle since then.

Pacioretty-Briere-Bourque played together for 1 period 1/2 and it work, Briere scored.
Let's brake them of course (Let's put back DD in the middle of them)

Briere had 2 points in 2 games at center.
Let's put him on the 4th line of course....it all make senses!!

Seems like when something is working....Therrien brakes it up in the hopes of re-starting those who are struggling.

 

[otto bond]

It's pretty simple:
Patches-2goals, 1EN
Briere-2goals,1EN
Gionta-4golas
DD-0 goal
Bourque-5goals
Only Total of 13 goals from more then half of the top9 playing over 15 minutes a game since the start of the season.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

Bergevin hasn't really addressed many of the problems facing the team.

Bingo

 

[otto bond]

Bingo

Yah,,,ding ding ding, we have a winner.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

while Desharnais has high end offensive talent

What?

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

It's pretty simple:
Patches-2goals, 1EN
Briere-2goals,1EN
Gionta-4golas
DD-0 goal
Bourque-5goals
Only Total of 13 goals from more then half of the top9 playing over 15 minutes a game since the start of the season.

Top 9 needs to be addressed. It's an ugly lineup right now. I don't even think Bergy has the balls to make a move.

 

[JusticeBeaver]

Teams are bottling up our puck-moving defence. They're forechecking harder and deeper in our zone, forcing Markov and Subban to hurry their passes. It's working. Habs passing has become a series of desperate flips, hail-Marys and two-line bombs. Result: Our puck-possession has disappeared because we can't start a proper rush out of our own zone. We're stuck in our zone or we try a long pass that misses, bringing us back into our zone.

The fast breakout worked last season, but other teams have adapted to us. When is Therrien going to adapt in turn?

This, soo this.

Just watch the Tampa game and last night, if the opposing team pressure our D, we usually struggle. The system worked for 3 months, teams adapted, time for Therrien to.

 

[pine*]

What?

I also have high end offensive talent.

 

[overlords]

I also have high end offensive talent.

Does that mean I'm an elite scout?

 

[Sterling Archer]

I think there's a few reasons for this.

The vets aren't chipping in their share. The 4 youngsters Eller, Gally, Bournival and Galchmeyuk have nearly half the Habs goals.

Therriens insistence on playing DD with Patches even though it's not working. When Briere was with Patches for half a game, they scored a big goal and helped get a point in what was a sorry effort. Same for Bou who is given too many minutes by MT than what he can handle. What's with Plex and Gio having to play together. They haven't worked well for a long time but MT keeps them together ALL the time. Why? Break them up and change up the lines as they clearly aren't working now.

Bergevin can't pull a trade off for some offence the we desperately need. We have a ton of assets at our disposal to pull off a trade. He seems like he's afraid to make another Gomez trade and he's afraid to take a chance. Given the number of teams who are out there and publicly stating they're aggressively pursuing trades, why haven't we made one yet to address some of our weakness'?

Overall, the team is playing great defense and the core guys you want to build around are doing a fantastic job for the most part. The problem seems to be more the lack of a supporting cast and vets stepping up. They should be the pieces that are the easiest to interchange and trade. At the ver least change the line pairings.

Patches Chuckie Galagher
Prust Eller Gio
Briere Plex Bourque
Moen White Bournival
Parros
DD

Markov Emelin
Gorges PK
Murray Diaz

 

[pine*]

Does that mean I'm an elite scout?

Precisely. #HireOverlords

 

[Picaroon]

One line has been providing offense all year. We all know which line that is. When they don't score, we lose. Simple as that. DD is junk, Pacs is playing terrible, Bourque is invisible, Gionta is nearing the end, Pleks has no line mates besides a rookie and Subban has been ruined by Therrien. Is anyone really surprised we aren't scoring? We have been trying to "get the vets going" for 3 seasons now. It's a total waste of time. Bergevin needs to embrace the youth and make this team his own.

 

[hockeyfan2k11]

I also have high end offensive talent.

Same here. Already faxed my CV to Bergie

 

[Hoople]

Teams are bottling up our puck-moving defence. They're forechecking harder and deeper in our zone, forcing Markov and Subban to hurry their passes. It's working. Habs passing has become a series of desperate flips, hail-Marys and two-line bombs. Result: Our puck-possession has disappeared because we can't start a proper rush out of our own zone. We're stuck in our zone or we try a long pass that misses, bringing us back into our zone.

The fast breakout worked last season, but other teams have adapted to us. When is Therrien going to adapt in turn?

Nailed it!!! This is spot on accurate.

And, conversely, the Habs are not aggressively fore-checking like we did last season.

One would think that Therrien would see how well the aggressive play AGAINST us is working so well and decide that we need to do the same to the other team.

 

[Smokey Thompson]

Teams are bottling up our puck-moving defence. They're forechecking harder and deeper in our zone, forcing Markov and Subban to hurry their passes. It's working. Habs passing has become a series of desperate flips, hail-Marys and two-line bombs. Result: Our puck-possession has disappeared because we can't start a proper rush out of our own zone. We're stuck in our zone or we try a long pass that misses, bringing us back into our zone.

The fast breakout worked last season, but other teams have adapted to us. When is Therrien going to adapt in turn?

U hit the nail on the head.. This has been apparent for many games now yet still no change. We just can't get the puck out of the zone, and when we do we usually turn it over in the neutral zone.

And if we actually get into the offensive zone, we have 2-3 lines that'll just circle around the perimeter, and eventually get off a shot from a bad angle with 0 circulation infront of the net. Opposing teams have realized we just don't have the size and speed to break through to the middle, so they essentially block off the middle of the ice to perfection against us.