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Post by Gogie on Apr 25, 2010 21:23:43 GMT -5
Dogs win in OT to move on to the next round. Outplayed Manitoba by a fair margin (especially in OT) but Cory Schneider kept the Moose in the game.
Subban set up the Dogs' first two goals on the PP with some nice playmaking. That said, he's too much of a "fancy dan" at this stage of his career - he'll get eaten up alive trying to pull some of the stunts he does in the NHL. He's going to have to learn to simplify his game when he moves up to the Habs, but he will be a real force on the PP for them.
The Bulldogs seemed to have an interesting approach to their PP, at least when Subban was on the ice. They played four men in close and only one on the blue line for the most part, with Subban playing midway in the offensive zone almost as a rover.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 25, 2010 22:52:31 GMT -5
That type of PP started a couple of years ago in the WJC. One of the assistant coaches (could it have been Boucher?) devise this system of only one point man with a rover partway between. I think it was a case of having a guy (Subban) who had the whole skill set to play that position. He has the speed to get back just in case. It really does depend on your personnel because when other guys were used in that Rover position, it didn't work as well. Subban seems to be a natural for it and it can throw the defensive positioning out of whack. Subban was 3rd star tonight. Schneider really was the reason it was close. But the Baby Habs outshot the Moose 12-3 before 9 minutes were up in the OT. Talk about an exclamation mark. theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007232 |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 26, 2010 11:36:47 GMT -5
Dogs win in OT to move on to the next round. Outplayed Manitoba by a fair margin (especially in OT) but Cory Schneider kept the Moose in the game. Subban set up the Dogs' first two goals on the PP with some nice playmaking. That said, he's too much of a "fancy dan" at this stage of his career - he'll get eaten up alive trying to pull some of the stunts he does in the NHL. He's going to have to learn to simplify his game when he moves up to the Habs, but he will be a real force on the PP for them. The Bulldogs seemed to have an interesting approach to their PP, at least when Subban was on the ice. They played four men in close and only one on the blue line for the most part, with Subban playing midway in the offensive zone almost as a rover. Yeah, they seem to mix it up between the first and second PP units (as you say, likely based on when PK is on the ice). It is a bit of a double edged sword as you tend to take away a big shot from the point (it is easier for the defenders to take away shooting lanes with only one guy back) and you are vulnerable to odd man rushes the other way with only one man on the back-end. On the other hand, you move the whole play much lower in the offensive zone and get more bodies closer to the net. It also forces opposing coaches to mix up how they defend the PK as well. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 27, 2010 9:23:11 GMT -5
The Bulldogs now know when their second round series will start, but not whom will occupy the opposing team dressing room. Game one goes Thursday night in the Copps Mausoleum and Game two goes Sunday afternoon.
Tonight, Abbotsford visits Rochester to decide who advances and who goes home in a big game seven battle. It would be actually quite neat if the Dogs could start their first two playoff rounds entirely in Canada as there currently are only three Canadian based teams in the AHL. It would also give our lower mainland based Habs fans a chance to sneak out and potentially catch a playoff game. So...Go Heat Go!!
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Post by Gogie on Apr 27, 2010 14:00:48 GMT -5
The Bulldogs now know when their second round series will start, but not whom will occupy the opposing team dressing room. Game one goes Thursday night in the Copps Mausoleum and Game two goes Sunday afternoon. Tonight, Abbotsford visits Rochester to decide who advances and who goes home in a big game seven battle. It would be actually quite neat if the Dogs could start their first two playoff rounds entirely in Canada as there currently are only three Canadian based teams in the AHL. It would also give our lower mainland based Habs fans a chance to sneak out and potentially catch a playoff game. So...Go Heat Go!! Don't want to see Abbotsford win - all that bus travel for the Dogs could make their next series pretty difficult!  |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 27, 2010 22:46:20 GMT -5
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Post by seventeen on Apr 28, 2010 0:40:12 GMT -5
Heard on the telly tonight that Schneider was called up from the Moose to be the 3rd goalie for the Canucks, which means he shouldn't be available for the Moose. That has to help the Dogs.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 28, 2010 9:12:05 GMT -5
Heard on the telly tonight that Schneider was called up from the Moose to be the 3rd goalie for the Canucks, which means he shouldn't be available for the Moose. That has to help the Dogs. Dogs have already bagged, skinned and quartered their Moose. He is up in VanCity since his AHL season is done thanks to the Dogs. He was very good in the series too. |
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Post by duster on Apr 29, 2010 15:43:07 GMT -5
Got my tix to the games in Abby. I can't wait. There's no love lost between these two teams so it's going to be a gritty, physical series. I expect a very close run thing.
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Post by jkr on Apr 30, 2010 7:48:16 GMT -5
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Post by LoupDogg on Apr 30, 2010 10:28:40 GMT -5
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Post by Gogie on Apr 30, 2010 12:22:44 GMT -5
Another smurf. He's a 5'9" 170 lb centre and was drafted in the 5th round by the Habs in last year's draft. He led the "Q" in goals this past season with 51 and had 93 points overall (3rd in the league). Despite his size he did wrack up 127 PIM's. His team got knocked out of the Q playoffs last Friday, losing to Moncton in 5 games in the semi-finals. Actually makes for an interesting final - the two finalists for the "Quebec" Major Junior Hockey League are both New Brunswick teams, Saint John (my hometown :-)) and Moncton. Go Seadogs! |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Apr 30, 2010 14:56:43 GMT -5
Another smurf. He's a 5'9" 170 lb centre and was drafted in the 5th round by the Habs in last year's draft. He led the "Q" in goals this past season with 51 and had 93 points overall (3rd in the league). Despite his size he did wrack up 127 PIM's. His team got knocked out of the Q playoffs last Friday, losing to Moncton in 5 games in the semi-finals. Actually makes for an interesting final - the two finalists for the "Quebec" Major Junior Hockey League are both New Brunswick teams, Saint John (my hometown :-)) and Moncton. Go Seadogs! I have no problem with smurfs if they play well and skate fast. Locke was a smurf. Hudler was a smurf. Ribeiro was a smurf. Stan Mikita, Cournoyer, Roadrunner, Pocket Rocket, St. Louis........... The size of the heart is not proportional to published height. Little guys just need to skate faster to make up for their lack of size. Gionta and Gomez stick their noses in traffic and don't back down. That's more important than size. Crosby isn't great because he's 5'10". He's great because he is fast, talented, fearless and works hard. |
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Post by Gogie on Apr 30, 2010 15:40:09 GMT -5
Another smurf. He's a 5'9" 170 lb centre and was drafted in the 5th round by the Habs in last year's draft. He led the "Q" in goals this past season with 51 and had 93 points overall (3rd in the league). Despite his size he did wrack up 127 PIM's. His team got knocked out of the Q playoffs last Friday, losing to Moncton in 5 games in the semi-finals. Actually makes for an interesting final - the two finalists for the "Quebec" Major Junior Hockey League are both New Brunswick teams, Saint John (my hometown :-)) and Moncton. Go Seadogs! I have no problem with smurfs if they play well and skate fast. Locke was a smurf. Hudler was a smurf. Ribeiro was a smurf. Stan Mikita, Cournoyer, Roadrunner, Pocket Rocket, St. Louis........... The size of the heart is not proportional to published height. Little guys just need to skate faster to make up for their lack of size. Gionta and Gomez stick their noses in traffic and don't back down. That's more important than size. Crosby isn't great because he's 5'10". He's great because he is fast, talented, fearless and works hard. I don't have anything against smurfs either :-). Henri Richard was my idol growing up. It's just an easy term to point out the player is small in stature (but not necessarily anything else). As I pointed out, he did have lost of penalty minutes so he must be aggressive and active - you don't usually accumulate that type of PIM totals by floating around the periphery. Maybe I'll get a chance to see him in person in Steeltown during the playoffs and be in a position to comment on his abilities. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 30, 2010 20:41:27 GMT -5
Dumont had a special season this year. Truly special. He got to play on a line with projected 2011 top three pick Couturier, but he was a great combo of skill and jam all season. Sure, he is small, but is all heart. He was magical in the Memorial Cup last season when playing with numerous injuries, and I really hoped the Habs would take a late flyer on him. Glad he is in the system.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 30, 2010 20:42:40 GMT -5
Under 1800 fans for a second round series game. Amazing. |
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Post by Anardil1 on May 1, 2010 13:44:55 GMT -5
Well there is the NHL playoffs going on in Tor..., never mind. |
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Post by jkr on May 2, 2010 19:33:14 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 4, 2010 10:25:32 GMT -5
The first of three straight games in Abbotsford start tonight. They all clash with the Habs' schedule but the good thing is they start on the Pacific time zone, so they work out being back to back (for those so inclined to listen on the Dogs radio or catch a web cast somewhere or somehow). Will be tough for Habs fans in BC though, a little sacrifice of their Habs TV time if they do go to any Dogs games.
Go Dogs Go!!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 4, 2010 23:41:46 GMT -5
Dogs with a huge win tonight in BC. 3-2 was the final, with Benoit getting the first goal, and Dumont and Fortier rounding off the scoring for the Dogs. It was the first pro goals for both the two latter recent Q grads. Fortier was in his 5th AHL game and Dumont his second. Nice job, young lads!! Desjardins gets the win on the road. The Dogs came back from 1-0 and 2-1 scores, so good on the boys to battle back in the unfriendly confines of the Heat.
Game four on Thursday night. Same bat time, same bat channel.
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Post by duster on May 7, 2010 12:39:02 GMT -5
Dogs lose 4-1 in a sparsely attended and mostly one sided contest. Five Hamilton players were sick with the flu and Desjardins wasn't all that sharp. With all the better players up in Montreal, the injuries, and now a virus, something had to give. When Russell is one of the better players that night, you know offense will be limited. The defense is doing its best but they miss PK. The team was completely outplayed in the third period. After the terrific season they just had, it would be a shame if they couldn't make it to the finals in part due to illness.
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on May 7, 2010 22:52:09 GMT -5
Dogs lose 4-1 in a sparsely attended and mostly one sided contest. Five Hamilton players were sick with the flu and Desjardins wasn't all that sharp. With all the better players up in Montreal, the injuries, and now a virus, something had to give. When Russell is one of the better players that night, you know offense will be limited. The defense is doing its best but they miss PK. The team was completely outplayed in the third period. After the terrific season they just had, it would be a shame if they couldn't make it to the finals in part due to illness. Could SK help? Even a stopped clock is useful twice a day?? |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 8, 2010 23:35:39 GMT -5
Tuned in after the Habs loss and thought we were going 0-2 tonight. Down 2 zip after 40 minutes and most of the key guys injured or up in MTL, but the Dogs found a way to pop 5 unanswered (two in the empty net) to get the big win.
How big? 2-2 with game 5 in Abbotsford is huge. The last two are in Steeltown and being up against the wall would be tough. Now the Dogs get to go home in a better shape with the last two games (#7 only if necessary) in steeltown.
Go Dogs Go.
p.s. Hope Trotter wakes up, he has been sleepy the last few games. Desharnais pretty close too. Good for Sanford to get his first win in his first start in ages. The Sandman and Desjardins are a great combo. Good to see both are healthy again, as all those missing skaters make this playoff run tough.
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Post by seventeen on May 9, 2010 1:19:50 GMT -5
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Post by jkr on May 9, 2010 8:08:11 GMT -5
Saw that summary too. The PP is hurting without Subban but they have managed to take the lead in the series without their best player. Good on them. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 10, 2010 21:06:18 GMT -5
The shorthanded Dogs get it done tonight, with a huge win.
Goals by Desharnais, Palushaj, Trotter and Benoit. Sandford in net for the big win for his second in a row....and the big NO-NO.
Palushaj with 1+2 tonight and a plus 3. This kid has serious wheels and some nice skill. Matt D'Ago who?
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Post by Yossarian on May 10, 2010 21:57:50 GMT -5
Hopefully, Hamilton has to wait and get it done without Subban, Darche, and Pyatt, at least for another couple of weeks!! |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 10, 2010 23:10:28 GMT -5
The Dogs start at home either on Thursday against Chicago or on Friday against Texas. They are into their fourth conference final in nine years. They also will get to play their first 2010 playoff game in the US in game three of this third round series. Final Four baby!!
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Post by Yossarian on May 11, 2010 20:49:53 GMT -5
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Post by The New Guy on May 12, 2010 5:53:38 GMT -5
I know the team has said they won't stand in Guy's way if he wants to make a move to the NHL level, and I know that our current coaching team is looking pretty good right now, but I really hope Gauthier and Co. make some attempt to keep Boucher onboard during the offseason. Sit him down, ask him want he would want to stay and then give it to him. He really looks like he has the midas touch right now and I'd hate to lose him. |
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