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Post by CentreHice on Apr 9, 2014 21:58:59 GMT -5
Don't know who'll have home ice yet. But we can start talking about the match-up. EDIT: Tampa gets home-ice in a lethargic 1-0 shootout over Washington. Bring it on!
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 9, 2014 22:11:35 GMT -5
Here's the playoff pump-up video posted by Tankdriver!
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Post by seventeen on Apr 9, 2014 23:30:54 GMT -5
REad somewhere that the Lightning say that Bishop may return for the playoffs. In another earlier article, the journalist mentioned a separated shoulder. I'm not a medico, but I suspect it takes longer to heal a separated shoulder than a week or two. It can't possibly be as strong or as quick in such a short time. I hope so anyway, as Bishop seems to have our number and I'd love to see how good a coach Cooper is with mediocre goaltending.
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 10, 2014 0:24:20 GMT -5
Don't know who'll have home ice yet. But we can start talking about the match-up. My eyes aren't that good but i'm betting if you blow up that photo of the Cup you'll see the name "Henri Richard"! I'm pumped!!! Should be a good series with the speed on both teams. Hope our d can handle their forecheck. But i'm feeling good with the DD line, whether or not Bishop plays.
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Post by blny on Apr 10, 2014 5:41:40 GMT -5
Bishop's agent is saying elbow. No timeline, but at least the rest of the regular season. Hard to imagine too many scenarios other than a dislocation when it comes to the elbow - especially the way he was writhing around on the ice.
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Post by BadCompany on Apr 10, 2014 7:32:06 GMT -5
Pour lancer le debat...
Gorges - Subban Markov - Emelin Murray - Weaver
With Bouillon getting the first call over Tinordi.
Not saying it's right, but I can see the logic. There are high expectations on the Habs this year, and I can see wanting to have some veterans in there to start off with, if only so as to not kill the confidence of a guy like Tinordi. Tinordi isn't as bad as Komisarek was, but I still see a little bit, a very little bit, of fragility in his ego. We can argue all we want about whether or not it is there because of Therrien, but it's there, in my opinion. Again, he's not nearly as bad as Komisarek was (who even going back to his Michigan days I thought had it), but I don't want him to be the goat on a Game 1 loss because the nerves got to him. It's one thing to come in and replace a player, it's another to be considered "the man" right from the get-go. Expectations are different.
I would have played Tinordi a LOT more during the season so that this wouldn't have been an issue, but it is what it is. That ship has sailed. So I think that he gets the bench to start the series, and Therrien goes with the vets.
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 10, 2014 10:17:36 GMT -5
Pour lancer le debat... Gorges - Subban Markov - Emelin Murray - Weaver With Bouillon getting the first call over Tinordi. Not saying it's right, but I can see the logic. There are high expectations on the Habs this year, and I can see wanting to have some veterans in there to start off with, if only so as to not kill the confidence of a guy like Tinordi. Tinordi isn't as bad as Komisarek was, but I still see a little bit, a very little bit, of fragility in his ego. We can argue all we want about whether or not it is there because of Therrien, but it's there, in my opinion. Again, he's not nearly as bad as Komisarek was (who even going back to his Michigan days I thought had it), but I don't want him to be the goat on a Game 1 loss because the nerves got to him. It's one thing to come in and replace a player, it's another to be considered "the man" right from the get-go. Expectations are different. I would have played Tinordi a LOT more during the season so that this wouldn't have been an issue, but it is what it is. That ship has sailed. So I think that he gets the bench to start the series, and Therrien goes with the vets. Good debating issue! Agree entirely with your thoughts on Tinordi. His confidence has improved but still fragile thanks to MT's handling. The top 2 pairings are given so we're really talking the 5th and 6th man. Weaver has played well and tough so i would give him the nod. But i will be shocked if MT's little darling Booboo doesn't get the start. Not agreeing with it. In fact i'd have him after Tinordi, Murray, and Beau but MT seems infatuated with the bowling ball. He had some good hits last night but also his usual gaffs.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 10, 2014 10:34:31 GMT -5
It goes for any playoff series, but it all starts with line-up decisions. We match-up well vs. the Bolts at forward and in goal.
But with Bouillon and Murray in the lineup....we're asking for trouble.
Murray can't handle the speed....and Bouillon can't handle the size AND the speed of opposing forwards' playoff tempo/intensity.
Especially in Tampa, Cooper will be salivating at getting his guns out there against those two. There will be open space and puck battles lost, resulting in good looks for the Lightning.
No time for favourites/subjectivity, MT. Time to be objective....it's about winning.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Apr 10, 2014 12:23:29 GMT -5
No time for favourites/subjectivity, MT. Time to be objective....it's about winning. This series will be a big test for Therrien. Can he adapt and adjust? I get that he may want to go with the veteran Doug Murray over Tinordi, but when Murray gets exposed for the liability and possession nightmare that he is, will Therrien use that information to make a different decision. Will Therrien revert to a "safe" style in the playoffs of tight defense and more dump and chase to minimize turnovers, even if that sucks the possession and offensive life out of this team? This is the time of year to play the best guys on the team, but I'm not sure NT has the stones to deal with that.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 10, 2014 13:14:40 GMT -5
I don't know if a forward shadow is used anymore. Might be old school....but if we had one guy who could shadow Stamkos as much as possible, it takes a big part of their game away. Tough to do on the road, and impossible on the PK, but I'm thinking along the lines of Marcotte on Lafleur and Houle on Hull.
One thing's for sure. Tampa is excellent on the penalty kill and always a threat on the power play. Special teams and discipline will be huge for us.
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Post by Polarice on Apr 10, 2014 13:27:34 GMT -5
This is the first time in years that I can say that we have a team built for playoff success. Not saying a cup team, but a team that possibly can go all the way!!
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Post by seventeen on Apr 10, 2014 13:47:20 GMT -5
Pour lancer le debat... Gorges - Subban Markov - Emelin Murray - Weaver With Bouillon getting the first call over Tinordi. Not saying it's right, but I can see the logic. There are high expectations on the Habs this year, and I can see wanting to have some veterans in there to start off with, if only so as to not kill the confidence of a guy like Tinordi. Tinordi isn't as bad as Komisarek was, but I still see a little bit, a very little bit, of fragility in his ego. We can argue all we want about whether or not it is there because of Therrien, but it's there, in my opinion. Again, he's not nearly as bad as Komisarek was (who even going back to his Michigan days I thought had it), but I don't want him to be the goat on a Game 1 loss because the nerves got to him. It's one thing to come in and replace a player, it's another to be considered "the man" right from the get-go. Expectations are different. I would have played Tinordi a LOT more during the season so that this wouldn't have been an issue, but it is what it is. That ship has sailed. So I think that he gets the bench to start the series, and Therrien goes with the vets. I never expected anything else. Unfortunately, a loss with a vet in your line-up is still a loss, especially worse if the vet contributes to it. This whole problem is due to exactly what you said, BC, Tinordi should have been played a lot more earlier. So even before the series start, IMO, we've got one or two fingers tied behind our backs because of poor earlier decisions. Oh well, let's hope Murray develops some skating ability between now and then.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Apr 11, 2014 13:13:36 GMT -5
If we flame out against the Bolts, especially with Bishop probably out for some or most of the series, I think Berg needs to take a good long look at Therrien. You might look at the 98-100 points and say "all is fine", but we all know this has been an extremely frustrating team to watch. We had a very good start, Corsi/Fenwick posession stats all good, and then we went on something like a 3-month stretch where we were one of the worst even strength possesion teams and lowest scoring teams in the whole league. It was AWFUL, and frankly, too big a sample size to just ignore. We were bailed out by excellent goaltending, that's all. The past couple of weeks have been better, but we won a few crazy games where we came back from big deficits and/or blew big leads and still managed to win.
All this is to say, "who are we?" Good teams have a real identity, keys to success, team strengths that everyone knows and plays to. You know what you're getting when you play Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago, St. Louis. With the Habs, I still don't know. We were a possession team last year, only to do a complete 180 this year. MT continually rolls out stiffs like Doug Murray and Frankie Bouillon, messes with PK Subban, generally gets outcoached more often that not, and mismanages his roster.
We're on pace for 100 points so we must be doing something right. I just have no idea what to expect when the playoffs start.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 11, 2014 14:11:09 GMT -5
I think you're bang on, BH. (Those who disagree with me about MT, yes, I'm probably biased). I may be biased, but I'm very objective. I see a team who has won games based on individual performances. Carey playing well. PK saving some late games. Patches scoring some great individual goals based on his speed and shot. There are some seroius holes on this team. We have way too many of the top shot blockers per 60 minutes in the NHL. That's because we're letting teams take a lot of shots on us and we have to block them in desperation. That's because we play guys like Murray and Bouillon who are notable possession losers. We play Bourque who is the king of turnovers. We have an 'uncertain' system for getting out of our zone. These are all coaching issues. MT's strength is supposed to be that he can get his players motivated and perhaps that is so. It's the other part of the equation that I find bothersome. He doesn't ice his best line-up or at least the best line-up that will ensure the highest possibility of success in the playoffs, not November. And I'm not convinced our system for getting out of our end is all that good. I don't think he's embraced the possession stats. Not if he keeps putting Murray in the position he has.
Regardless, I think our Round 1 hopes were hurt badly with Galchy's injury. It is absolutely essential to have secondary scoring that keeps the pressure on the opposing coach. Very few teams have two good checking lines, so how do you contain two good scoring lines? We lost that with Galchy. Gionta is a great 3rd line guy, not a 2nd line guy. It means Dourque will get more playing time and that is a guarantee for failure. I truly think I'd rather play Blunden than Bourque, because Blunden doesn't lose the puck as often. Anyway, besides the ripple effect, there just isn't anyone up front who can duplicate his spontaneous offensive creativity. Its going to hurt us big time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Tampa's goaltending sucks big time.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 11, 2014 14:19:01 GMT -5
I saw the Tale of Two Teams last night. I saw Tampa Bay play like a playoff team in their win against another playoff team, Philadelphia. However, I also saw Montreal, another playoff team, mail it in to a non-playoff team, the Islanders.
Two different attitudes ...
Cheers.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 11, 2014 16:38:35 GMT -5
On a different note....
I'm seeing a lot of Habs' gear around Cambridge!
Heart of Leaf country.....so it stays away most of the year....but seeing as we have NO Canadian competition, it's being waved/worn proudly.
Today, I saw a red car with red seat covers featuring big CH logos on the seat back.
Lots of car flags.....a few jerseys.
I have an official jersey and a few CH ball caps....but I've never been one to wear the gear in public.
I will if we get past the Bolts!
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Post by franko on Apr 11, 2014 17:03:16 GMT -5
I have an official jersey and a few CH ball caps....but I've never been one to wear the gear in public. I will if we get past the Bolts! do it now, do it now!!! I wear a Habs jersey in our non-beer league when I play [it's light vrs dark jerseys]. the ball cap? always [though I'm wearing a RedBlack cap some days]. no flag though. you do see a lot of Habs stuff here through the year.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 11, 2014 17:22:59 GMT -5
I have an official jersey and a few CH ball caps....but I've never been one to wear the gear in public. I will if we get past the Bolts! do it now, do it now!!! I wear a Habs jersey in our non-beer league when I play [it's light vrs dark jerseys]. the ball cap? always [though I'm wearing a RedBlack cap some days]. no flag though. you do see a lot of Habs stuff here through the year. I've got quite a few items with the CH logo on them. I used to wear my Habs golf shirt when greeting a new class for the first time. Great icebreaker. I used to wear something all the time that routinely ID'd me as a Habs fan. I don't so much anymore but it's certainly the right time to fly the colours. Cheers.
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 11, 2014 19:52:18 GMT -5
i've been wearing CH gear and when anyone comments I just tell them "It's not too late for you to get on the bandwagon. Of course you won't see much of me because I'm up at the front!"
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Post by jerry_dog on Apr 11, 2014 20:13:02 GMT -5
i've been wearing CH gear and when anyone comments I just tell them "It's not too late for you to get on the bandwagon. Of course you won't see much of me because I'm up at the front!" Nicely done!
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 11, 2014 20:34:43 GMT -5
you do see a lot of Habs stuff here through the year. I remember a high school teacher telling me about "all the Habs stuff the kids are wearing" at the peak of Gainey's tenure. Lots of Habs fans in Kingston and they don't mind promoting it. Me, I'm one of those guys who says, "... nice (whatever) ..." to people I don't know who are wearing Habs stuff. Always get something positive in return. Cheers.
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Post by folatre on Apr 11, 2014 21:17:31 GMT -5
Without place of doubt, discipline will be big issue. If Bolts get two or three more man advantage per game than the Habs, this may be the difference.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 11, 2014 21:32:27 GMT -5
Bolts beat the Jackets in regulation. Wouldn't count on the Caps to do us any favours on Sunday afternoon.....although they did beat Chicago 4-0 tonight. Odds are we're starting on the road. Here's a pic I saw on facebook today. Don't know if it's an old image or not....
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Post by seventeen on Apr 12, 2014 0:02:32 GMT -5
Good, well managed teams set a goal and set about achieving it. Not partially achieving it. Our goal should have been home ice advantage, not because I think it's normally such an important point (it isn't), but it matters to Tammpa. They are much better, it seems, when Cooper can match lines and much worse when he can't. Its a distinct advantage we squandered. Then again, the way MT manages the bench it may not matter if he has last choice.
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Post by Bones on Apr 12, 2014 0:44:05 GMT -5
Meh, I don't care either way if we have home ice or not, I think starting a series on the road has it's advantages too. That said, I just want the team to have a good game so they can go in on a positive note. Love to see patches notch his 40th as well.
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 12, 2014 0:51:03 GMT -5
Bolts beat the Jackets in regulation. Wouldn't count on the Caps to do us any favours on Sunday afternoon.....although they did beat Chicago 4-0 tonight. Odds are we're starting on the road. Here's a pic I saw on facebook today. Don't know if it's an old image or not.... Nice pic. Too bad about not being able to clinch 2nd against the Rags. It would have been nice to win and have a salute from the team at centre ice and a mini-celebration celebrating the clinch. Even if they win against the Rags, we will remain in limbo until the Caps game on Sunday. Losing to NYI likely cost us 2nd and certainly cost us momentum. Lose to the Rags and there will be much doubt throughout Habs Country - coast to coast to coast!
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Post by Gogie on Apr 12, 2014 8:02:33 GMT -5
Bolts beat the Jackets in regulation. Wouldn't count on the Caps to do us any favours on Sunday afternoon.....although they did beat Chicago 4-0 tonight. Odds are we're starting on the road. Here's a pic I saw on facebook today. Don't know if it's an old image or not.... I chuckled when I found this on Facebook. Mods can remove it or move it elsewhere if necessary.
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Post by blny on Apr 12, 2014 8:09:55 GMT -5
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 12, 2014 10:22:46 GMT -5
Wow...if this was april 1st I would have thought this was a joke.
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Post by franko on Apr 12, 2014 10:36:45 GMT -5
Tinordi out tonight. Because it is such an important game you can't have a rookie play. I guess.
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