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Post by CentreHice on Apr 13, 2014 19:04:57 GMT -5
Perhaps Skilly will once again do up one his great playoff prediction tables for all 8 matchups...but here's a simple one for our series.
I still have to think on it.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 13, 2014 20:43:04 GMT -5
Galchy's injury hurts a lot. Bolts in 6, though they'll have to do it with mirrors.
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 13, 2014 22:57:55 GMT -5
Habs in 5!
No Bishop - no contest! We'll split in TB, win both home games and take game #5.
When I play snooker you have to call the pockets!
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Post by stoat on Apr 13, 2014 23:56:39 GMT -5
Simple. Vanek will show why Bergevin wanted him and Pacioretty and Price will back him up. (Subban, too, if he's in the mood.)
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 14, 2014 6:52:42 GMT -5
I said the Habs in 5. The need to get patches his 40th and the pressure associated with it is gone, so the 1st line will start firing on all cylinders again. Carey is looking very sharp. We start on the road yet at home at the same time, there will be many Habs fans in Tampa. Bishop is injured so we have to jump on them in game 1 and don't let up.
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Post by Gogie on Apr 14, 2014 7:29:02 GMT -5
I'll go with the Habs in 6. They may take it in 5, but I'm going with a home-ice wrap up.
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Post by Gogie on Apr 14, 2014 7:31:02 GMT -5
Galchy's injury hurts a lot. Bolts in 6, though they'll have to do it with mirrors. I vote we have another pole and vote seventeen off the island. No anti-Habs sentiment should be allowed until we at least lose one game in the playoffs. Just kidding, seventeen.
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Post by franko on Apr 14, 2014 8:00:19 GMT -5
Galchy's injury hurts a lot. Bolts in 6, though they'll have to do it with mirrors. I vote we have another pole and vote seventeen off the island. No anti-Habs sentiment should be allowed until we at least lose one game in the playoffs. I am an unabashed homer when it comes to predicting. Carey, PK, Max, and Vanek could be out; BooBoo and Douglas could be our #s 1 and 1A d-men, and Bourque could be on our #1 line and I'd still go with the Habs.. So you have to have someone like 17 balance things out.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 14, 2014 8:20:31 GMT -5
Dark cloud....sorry....
Is Cooper capable of successfully coaching systems that will stymie our already fragile PP....and shut down Vanek, Max, DD? Those are the keys...and you bet he is. We really are a one-line team now, as Galchy's injury has thrown the middle 6 into disarray. How healthy IS Prust for the grind of the playoffs? Then there's the TBay powerplay, which was only slightly better than ours....but without Stamkos for over half the season.
MT's personnel decisions/favouritism catches up with him. He refused to develop Tinordi during the regular season....and Murray/Bouillon will likely take precedence. Palat, Stamkos, Callahan, Filppula, Johnson....they'll have us running around our own zone...especially with last change in Tampa.
Unless Price stands on his head and Subban regains poise and confidence...I say Bolts in 5.
We win Game 3....that's it. Kinda like the Philly series in 2010. I sense a very frustrating series for us...especially considering their #1 goalie won't be starting.
I SO hope I'm wrong. But playoff performance/execution is a different animal, and I just don't think we're there yet--MT's ability being a big part of that.
Like I said, unless Price is phenomenal and PK can be a difference-maker.
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Post by Polarice on Apr 14, 2014 8:25:39 GMT -5
I was going to say Habs in 4, but changed it to 5. Not worried about home ice, Tampa is home ice for the Habs, there will be more red sweaters in the stands than blue!!
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Post by Bones on Apr 14, 2014 10:38:33 GMT -5
I suspect a long series, the games between the two have been very tight this year and don't seeing it being any different in the playoffs, but the habs will prevail in the end. This one goes at least to game 6.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Apr 14, 2014 10:44:23 GMT -5
I went with Habs in 6. They split in Tampa and Montreal, with the Habs winning Game 5 in Tampa and wrapping up the series in Game 6.
But Tampa is a tough, well-coached team that has managed to overcome a lot this year. They have Stamkos and Hedman and not a whole lot else. And without Bishop, the Habs should have a clear edge in goal. I've said for a while that this series is a huge test for Therrien and the Habs to show what kind of team we really are. Are we going to play a possession game and dictate play? Or are we going to play a passive, defensive game like we did for 3 months when we were one of the worst possession and lowest scoring teams in the league? Can Price outplay Gudlevskis or are we looking at one of those "rookie came out of nowhere" to steal a series scenarios? On paper, I think we are the better team from top to bottom, but my big worry in this series is that Tampa is the smarter, more resilient, and better-coached team.
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Post by Tankdriver on Apr 14, 2014 11:14:25 GMT -5
Habs in 7.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 14, 2014 11:49:58 GMT -5
I was never impressed with the Tampa lineup through the season. On defense, Hedman had a great year, Gudas seems to be a young improving player, Salo is solid but often injured and Ohlund is on his last lets (37 years old). I don't know a lot about the rest of them, though. Kostka was let go by the Leafs (that's impressive), Carle is ok, Barberio only played 49 games (injuries or marginal?). Hedman probably matches up with one of PK or Markov, but we have two, they have one. Emelin and Gorges are probably as good or better than Salo and Gudas. Weaver has an edge over their 5th guy.
Defensively, you'd have to say the Habs have the potential to be better, perhaps, much better.
In goal, especially if Bishop doesn't play, Habs have a huge edge.
Up front, Stamkos gives them a huge edge in top player category and then the Lightning scored 25 goals more than us, 240 to 215. Our scoring is still an issue, though we didn't have Vanek all year long, of course. Still, the Islanders shut us out quite recently, and we'll be missing Galchenyuk. Hopefully they'll be missing Palat. Outside of Stamkos, there isn't anyone who should scare us, but Cooper had developed a good Power play and the Bolts seem to move the puck quickly and well. It will be critical for us to be extremely disciplined in our basics. Finish the checks and backcheck. You have to disrupt the flow of good skating teams by getting a piece of them or getting in the way of where they want to go. Unfortunately, that means having a team of players with high hockey IQ and I'd say we are on the lower side of average in that respect. Especially if Bourque and Bouillon get any kind of minutes.
On a pure talent basis, I'd be picking the Habs in 4. I just have no confidence that Therrien is going to be able to counter whatever Cooper throws at us. I have my fingers crossed that Tampa's goaltending sucks as much as it should. It will be critical to get a couple of quick goals against whoever is in net to destroy their confidence. If we build it up for them, we may not last even 6 games.
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Post by UberCranky on Apr 14, 2014 19:08:13 GMT -5
Got back my crystal balls from the wife, polished them a bit.......and they tell me Hab's in four. Bet your villa on it!
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Post by UberCranky on Apr 14, 2014 19:12:27 GMT -5
Galchy's injury hurts a lot. Bolts in 6, though they'll have to do it with mirrors. I vote we have another pole and vote seventeen off the island. No anti-Habs sentiment should be allowed until we at least lose one game in the playoffs. Damned straight! That Seventeen guy is a stumpy toad curmudgeon...unlike us happy people!
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Post by seventeen on Apr 14, 2014 19:57:23 GMT -5
I listened to the Happy song last week, but then I watched 24CH and saw Michel at work. I'm just a glass 1/17 full kind of guy.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 14, 2014 20:10:59 GMT -5
I listened to the Happy song last week, but then I watched 24CH and saw Michel at work. I'm just a glass 1/17 full kind of guy. Speaking of 1/17.....how ironic that your least favourite player wears your handle.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 14, 2014 22:32:34 GMT -5
Lol CH....welcome to the bitter side....I said Bolts in 5 as well.
MT the clown's run will end with a frustrating thud and Copper will hand him his hat and say thanks for coming out...I then hope that's the end of Therrien's reign on our future.
I fear It won't be regardless of what happens.... that would make it all the more frustrating.
I will gladly like to be wrong but so much has to go right to counter act how and who MT will employ in this series....Price again will have to save his coach and hope they can muster enough goals to squeak it out. As a fan I still hope that happens and for Price more than any other player.
HFTO
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Post by habsorbed on Apr 14, 2014 22:38:08 GMT -5
Lol CH....welcome to the bitter side....I said Bolts in 5 as well. MT the clown's run will end with a frustrating thud and Copper will hand him his hat and say thanks for coming out...I then hope that's the end of Therrien's reign on our future. I fear It won't be regardless of what happens.... that would make it all the more frustrating. I will gladly like to be wrong but so much has to go right to counter act how and who MT will employ in this series....Price again will have to save his coach and hope they can muster enough goals to squeak it out. As a fan I still hope that happens and for Price more than any other player. HFTO I too am hoping to win for Carey. Those who don't follow the Habs will have no clue just how bad MT is and will see a loss as Price being overrated. No justice in this world!
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Post by seventeen on Apr 15, 2014 0:07:05 GMT -5
I listened to the Happy song last week, but then I watched 24CH and saw Michel at work. I'm just a glass 1/17 full kind of guy. Speaking of 1/17.....how ironic that your least favourite player wears your handle. Salt on the wound. Don't think I haven't noticed. It's been a long time since the good old days of Murray Wilson. Heck, even at his current age, he's probably better than Bourque.
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Post by franko on Apr 15, 2014 5:39:03 GMT -5
MT the clown's run will end with a frustrating thud and Copper will hand him his hat and say thanks for coming out...I then hope that's the end of Therrien's reign on our future. the Habs run might end, but MT's won't -- he's here for the beginning of the season regardless; after all, the Habs are the only Canadian team in the playoffs and they weren't expected to make it. did you read Jack Todd's glowing report of him?
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 15, 2014 9:57:23 GMT -5
Mathieu Darche on Marinaro's show.
Goal: Habs Defense: A wash. Forward: Tampa. "Max is a great player....and so is Vanek...but Stamkos is better. And Tampa's top two lines....Filppula had much success with the Red Wings. Palat and Johnson went to the Calder Cup Finals last year....so while it's not the NHL playoff grind, it's still 4 series of professional playoff hockey. They play a very steady forechecking game...." Coaching: Tampa
His prediction: Montreal in 7....the difference will be Price.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Apr 15, 2014 10:43:15 GMT -5
His prediction: Montreal in 7....the difference will be Price. I think counting on a dominant goalie is almost a "gimme" in the playoffs. No teams advance without it. Last year we had the better team, the better goalie, but we couldn't score goals... when our only scoring line got shutdown, that was the end of it. Sure enough the big guns need to be there Price, Subban, Markov, DD, Pax, Vanek... ...but to me a lot hinges on a dominant performance of some dark horse, a forward not on the first line. A Eller... A Brière... Maybe a Bournival...
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 15, 2014 10:54:54 GMT -5
His prediction: Montreal in 7....the difference will be Price. I think counting on a dominant goalie is almost a "gimme" in the playoffs. No teams advance without it. Last year we had the better team, the better goalie, but we couldn't score goals... when our only scoring line got shutdown, that was the end of it. Sure enough the big guns need to be there Price, Subban, Markov, DD, Pax, Vanek... ...but to me a lot hinges on a dominant performance of some dark horse, a forward not on the first line. A Eller... A Brière... Maybe a Bournival... Lindback was just named first star of the week. That might even up the goaltending a bit, or he'll hold the fort until Bishop returns to form. I think you're right in that the team that gets the contributions from the lower lines will probably do well. If nothing else teams that win the Cup are: a. Strong in goal, b. Have a good system in place, and c. Get contributions from their lower lines. There are a few other things, too, but these are the ones I've picked up over the years (media, watching the games, etc). Cheers.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Apr 15, 2014 13:19:53 GMT -5
Habs in 5.
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Post by folatre on Apr 15, 2014 22:13:46 GMT -5
The heart says Montreal. The head says Tampa has better personnel-system alignment.
Habs in 6.
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Post by Gogie on Apr 16, 2014 8:08:05 GMT -5
For those of us with rose-coloured glasses, here's a little something to add to the tint.
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Post by Bobs_HABit on Apr 16, 2014 8:16:20 GMT -5
Selected Habs in six. I expect it to be close though like the regular season and see at least 2 OT's if not 3.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 16, 2014 10:04:06 GMT -5
I sure hope Palat and Filppula aren't 100%. I suspect they won't be. It takes a very strong commitment to a player to not put them back in the line-up too soon after an injury. Throw in the fact that most players feel that duty to not let their teammates down, and a strong belief that they're good to go, even if they're not, and I'm confident they will not be 100%. I won't be upset if they play as they'll be taking away a spot from a less talented, but hungry, healthy player, and it's quite possible they will aggravate whatever injury they have. This 'attitude' is even more prevalent at playoff time, so you can bet they'll come back earlier than they should. Just think of Prust last year. If the Habs win today, the pressure on Bishop to return even if his elbow ligaments are totally thrashed, will be high. Bring it on. At least we had most of our injuries earlier than Tampa. What a consolation .
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