|
Post by Disp on Mar 16, 2015 21:42:05 GMT -5
Adversity will make this team better.
|
|
|
Post by HFTO on Mar 16, 2015 21:47:34 GMT -5
We'll see .....yes they showed some fight but Tampa can match them in all areas ...until they can take that fight and win below the dots and make life miserable for Bishop I have my doubts.Not sure this team has the right make up to beat T. Bay.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2015 22:18:46 GMT -5
We are a better team when we hit.
Saw some nastiness in this game, and our guys elevated their game because of it. Tampa doesn't scare me.
|
|
|
Post by PTH on Mar 16, 2015 22:20:28 GMT -5
Price was merely human, and it took us a long time to get going. And missing our 4th line C from early on screwed up the "4 lines of skating furballs" approach. Emelin seemed really out of it, though he did make a few nice passes.
I really liked MT's adjusments, flipping the top 2 centers and putting Eller at C on his line, it led to his being an important part of the near-comeback.
|
|
|
Post by 24andcounting on Mar 17, 2015 0:02:56 GMT -5
We are a better team when we hit. Saw some nastiness in this game, and our guys elevated their game because of it. Tampa doesn't scare me. I agree. It seemed that once Prust finally had enough and hit Bishop (despite my disapproval at the time), frustration began to boil over and everyone got their legs moving and into it. Checks were being finished, we were gaining their zone easier, our defenseman were joining the rush (Berg: can we keep Petry? Please?). And Gally, even more emotion there, what a tilt. And for once this season it seemed like things were much more balanced between these two squads. Play like this, and it's a 7 game series this post season - plus I like our odds with Price. Play the way we've been playing before and it's a 4 and out scenario. It's up to the boys.
|
|
|
Post by stoat on Mar 17, 2015 0:09:16 GMT -5
Didn't we know all along that TB was better? What baffles me is that the Lightning lose to the Bruins. What gives the Bruins that kryptonite? I'd like to see those two face each other in the first round, with the Bruins emerging victorious.
|
|
|
Post by habsorbed on Mar 17, 2015 1:22:46 GMT -5
MT Hater here. I think we saw tonight just how good this team can be when not restricted or impeded by MT's system. Once we were down 3-0, MT let the boys play. And boy, did they play. PK rushing the puck and dipsy doodles like he can, and did in past seasons. Who'd a thunk? Mixing up the lines - PLeks, DD, BGal and Chucky, and even Parenteau were unshackled. It's always bothered me how a team with the best goalie, the best dman and such skill up front as Max, DD, Pleks, Chucky, and AGal could always struggle to win just by a goal. When the coaches orders are to circle the wagons and block all shots to make sure we don't lose one can see why we have been less of a team than we can be. Boy would i like to see what this team could do with a coach!
So here's to falling behind by a lot more often so MT can dump his system and open things up so we can use our speed and skill!
|
|
|
Post by BadCompany on Mar 17, 2015 6:54:16 GMT -5
I thought that was a pretty entertaining game, myself. Fun to watch. Obviously going down 3-0 was a nice kick in the you-know-whats but I thought that was more because of bad luck than anything else. Puck off of Markov's butt, and then of course Max Pacioretty doing his best Ryan O'Byrne impression. Ugh. I wonder if Stamkos did the old garage league trick of calling an opposing player's name to get him to pass you the puck?
I also don't think that the team didn't show up for the first half of the game. I thought they were there with Tampa, but like I said, couple of mistakes, and bad bounces. Sometimes the other team decides to show up too you know, and Tampa is a very good team. If the puck is going their way, or their getting the matchups, or the Seguins and Spezzas are aligned properly then one team will control the play. Ebb and flow of the game. Doesn't mean we had to be down 3-0 mind you, but I can live with a very good team being very good. Like I said, were it not for some unfortunates... After that... Subban hit the post, Pacioretty had a couple of break-aways, and if the puck bounces towards the goal line instead of along it on that mad scramble... Only moral victories to be sure, but still.
I was extremely impressed with Petry's play tonight. To the point where I thought he might have been our best defenseman, which is saying something because I didn't think Subban or Markov played bad. But I thought Petry was really dialed in. Good thing too, because his partner Gilbert was terrible, in my opinion. I don't know if it's because he was on his wrong side, or if it's just because he's Gilbert, but man I thought he had a rough night. I thought Emelin had a pretty rough night too, though I felt he was getting stronger as the game wore on. Only natural I guess, given his long layoff. Paetryn was surprisingly solid, and while he kept it simple he didn't keep it Tinordi-simple. He actually curled back a couple of times, or held onto the puck looking for a play, instead of just blindly dumping it away.
We lost, but I was encouraged by the game. A few key players had bad nights, and we still could have very easily pulled that one out. And they needed their goalie to be very good too. I don't want to face them in the playoffs, but then I don't really want to face ANY team in the playoffs. As Pierre Lebrun's most recent column pointed out the East is getting to be VERY good.
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 17, 2015 7:35:33 GMT -5
Was ready to turn the TV off when it was 3-0, then we got a goal so ... have to echo BC's opinion in that Petry was outstanding last night ... there was one play where he defended a one-on-one by simply throwing the forward off the puck using only one arm to do that ... the only other Habs defenseman I can remember doing what Petry did was Craig Ludwig ... that's how strong Petry looked ... Plekanec was dancing last night ... all over the ice ... good point by habsorbed in that the guys responded big time to a full-court press ... don't like seeing the rise of the Bruins either, stoat ... more so at this time of year ... even given that I'd still opt for taking on the Bruins rather than the Sens ... just one of those teams, eh ...
Cheers.
|
|
|
Post by Disp on Mar 17, 2015 7:52:07 GMT -5
It's nice when they push and match the pace, instead of chasing it. That's not a system thing, that's the guys playing hard. This team is fun to watch when they have some urgency in their game.
Like BadC said, some bad bounces and brain farts did us in early. Bishop made some good saves, could have been different.
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 17, 2015 8:23:09 GMT -5
It's nice when they push and match the pace, instead of chasing it. That's not a system thing, that's the guys playing hard. This team is fun to watch when they have some urgency in their game. Like BadC said, some bad bounces and brain farts did us in early. Bishop made some good saves, could have been different. It was the first time all year where I saw our team having a chance against Tampa ... a "W" would have gone a long way to shaking that TB monkey off our backs ... just a personal opinion (based on a dismal fantasy pool this year) but Bishop either had a bad year or he simply isn't as good as billed ... Cheers.
|
|
|
Post by Boston_Habs on Mar 17, 2015 8:38:04 GMT -5
We lost, but I was encouraged by the game. A few key players had bad nights, and we still could have very easily pulled that one out. I thought so too. It was certainly the best we've looked against them, but we had no puck luck and the Patches play was bizarre and it was Stamkos of all people! The lack of production is a concern. We just have no margin for error. Tonight's game is similar to the Phoenix game at the end of the West Coast trip. I know it's a back to back, but we need to be able to scrape out the 2 points against inferior teams. Ordinarly this would be a good spot for Tokarski, and it still is, but I want the 2 points tonight.
|
|
|
Post by Polarice on Mar 17, 2015 10:25:26 GMT -5
The Habs play best when they play with an edge....just look at our success against Boston. I have no fear going into the playoffs that we will be using that "edge" to our advantage.
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Mar 17, 2015 11:41:53 GMT -5
We lost, but I was encouraged by the game. A few key players had bad nights, and we still could have very easily pulled that one out. I thought so too. It was certainly the best we've looked against them, but we had no puck luck and the Patches play was bizarre and it was Stamkos of all people! The lack of production is a concern. We just have no margin for error. Tonight's game is similar to the Phoenix game at the end of the West Coast trip. I know it's a back to back, but we need to be able to scrape out the 2 points against inferior teams. Ordinarly this would be a good spot for Tokarski, and it still is, but I want the 2 points tonight. Pacioretty also made a terrible play late in the Isles game that made the finish more dramatic than it had to be. Two really poor plays from a guy that leads the league in +/-.
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Mar 17, 2015 11:55:13 GMT -5
I thought that was a pretty entertaining game, myself. Fun to watch. Obviously going down 3-0 was a nice kick in the you-know-whats but I thought that was more because of bad luck than anything else. Puck off of Markov's butt, and then of course Max Pacioretty doing his best Ryan O'Byrne impression. Ugh. I wonder if Stamkos did the old garage league trick of calling an opposing player's name to get him to pass you the puck? I also don't think that the team didn't show up for the first half of the game. I thought they were there with Tampa, but like I said, couple of mistakes, and bad bounces. Sometimes the other team decides to show up too you know, and Tampa is a very good team. If the puck is going their way, or their getting the matchups, or the Seguins and Spezzas are aligned properly then one team will control the play. Ebb and flow of the game. Doesn't mean we had to be down 3-0 mind you, but I can live with a very good team being very good. Like I said, were it not for some unfortunates... After that... Subban hit the post, Pacioretty had a couple of break-aways, and if the puck bounces towards the goal line instead of along it on that mad scramble... Only moral victories to be sure, but still. I was extremely impressed with Petry's play tonight. To the point where I thought he might have been our best defenseman, which is saying something because I didn't think Subban or Markov played bad. But I thought Petry was really dialed in. Good thing too, because his partner Gilbert was terrible, in my opinion. I don't know if it's because he was on his wrong side, or if it's just because he's Gilbert, but man I thought he had a rough night. I thought Emelin had a pretty rough night too, though I felt he was getting stronger as the game wore on. Only natural I guess, given his long layoff. Paetryn was surprisingly solid, and while he kept it simple he didn't keep it Tinordi-simple. He actually curled back a couple of times, or held onto the puck looking for a play, instead of just blindly dumping it away. We lost, but I was encouraged by the game. A few key players had bad nights, and we still could have very easily pulled that one out. And they needed their goalie to be very good too. I don't want to face them in the playoffs, but then I don't really want to face ANY team in the playoffs. As Pierre Lebrun's most recent column pointed out the East is getting to be VERY good. Yes, no chump change in the East. That's why I really don't want us fighting for the President's Trophy. To me it's just a distraction we don't need. Use the time to a) finish high enough so you get at least the first round home ice, b) keep injuries down (not something you can predict) c) rest some key guys, especially Markov. d) work out some lines and defense pairings. We do that and it's as much as you can do to be ready. Petry looks more and more like a guy we would want to re-sign, if possible. And Gilbert becomes trade bait, though it would be nice if he would play better. I didn't see the game but it seems a consensus that he didn't play well. That may be because he's not on his normal side, but that's very crowded right now. I was a bit surprised that he wasn't moved to the right side on the 3rd pairing. It seems they wanted to try Pateryn there again. While, as you say, BC, that the team was competitive except for some bounces, we still lost. That monkey is still on our backs IMO. My one consolation with Tampa is that I don't think Bishop is having the kind of year he had last year. In fact, of all the teams we'd have to face, Tampa is becoming one that I'm liking more as an opponent, compared to Washington, Boston, etc. Maybe I'm going crazy.
|
|