Montreal @ NY Rangers Sunday Jan 15 @ 5 PM ET

[Disgruntled70sHab]

MONTREAL CANADIENS @ NEW YORK RANGERS 

Sunday Jan 15 @ 5 PM ET 

Networks: MSG,
TSN2, RDS

 Radio (Français): 98,5 fm Les Amateurs de Sports 
Radio (English): TSN 690   

Canadiens end 1986-87 regular season vs Rangers
April 5th, 1987 (Box)

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee #15
Kjell Dahlin

1986-87 O-Pee-Chee #262
Kjell Dahlin, LL

Canadiens end 1986-87 regular season vs Rangers
Montreal 8 @ NY Rangers 2
April 8, 1987 (box)



* Logos via Sportslogos.net / TSN.ca / Sportsnet.ca

[folatre]

I almost forgot there is a game today. This is seriously quick turnaround. The Rangers do not mind grinding games out and unfortunately the Habs modus operandi all season has been to let the other team score first.

Moving ahead into next season, that simply has to change and it is on the coaches and the team leaders to set the tone.

Is St. Louis staying with the wasteful (Wideman) seven d-men lineup? Where the heck is Hoffman, hurt or what? I imagine Evans is out for a time, that greasy play by Nelson looked painful. Is there a centre who could even logically be called up from Laval? I suppose either Dadonov or Drouin could play centre in a semi-emergency. Man, right now during the dog days of a long season, this roster is just a mess.

[habsorbed]

I say put Drouin at centre with some slugs on the 4th line to let him wind down his career with the Habs in the position MB was so certain her would excel.

Fate is a strange thing. Y got a chance to play with Suze and Cole last night, and I thought he did quite well. Unfortunately he missed a glorious set up from Suze and the next thing you know Drouin takes Y's place. And then Suze scores on a great individual effort with Drouin getting the assist. Y never gets back on that line. Let's see if Y gets another opportunity. I'm assuming the position is anyones to grab as with Evans out Dach will be playing centre on another line - which is good for his development.

But please. please. do not have Drouin with Suze. I want a winger who can develop chemistry with Suze and Cole, not some dud who ain't going to be on the team in a few months.

[Willie Dog]

Jan 15, 2023 13:11:34 GMT -5 habsorbed said:

I say put Drouin at centre with some slugs on the 4th line to let him wind down his career with the Habs in the position MB was so certain her would excel.

Fate is a strange thing. Y got a chance to play with Suze and Cole last night, and I thought he did quite well. Unfortunately he missed a glorious set up from Suze and the next thing you know Drouin takes Y's place. And then Suze scores on a great individual effort with Drouin getting the assist. Y never gets back on that line. Let's see if Y gets another opportunity. I'm assuming the position is anyones to grab as with Evans out Dach will be playing centre on another line - which is good for his development.

But please. please. do not have Drouin with Suze. I want a winger who can develop chemistry with Suze and Cole, not some dud who ain't going to be on the team in a few months.

Knowing our luck MSL puts Drouin there, Drouin excels, they sign him to a contract and we're stuck with that potato skin for years

[NWTHabsFan]

Not entirely surprising changes to the lineup. No word yet on how long Evans is out and the 7D thing seemed a bit of a waste.

[Skilly]

You got to feel for Kirby Dach. He is fairly smart with the puck, and he gets to play with Dumb and Dumber

[Skilly]

I really don't think Slaf will be a big goal scorer in the NHL. He takes too long to shoot.

The Dvorak pass wasn't conducive to a one timer, but he has the whole side of the net and shot to the middle of the net.

[Skilly]

Just our luck that the breakaways / wide open looks we've had were Dvorak and Dadonov

[jkr]

I'm surprised Montembeault is playing on such a quick turnaround. He faced 38 shots less than 24 hours ago. Play Primeau. What do they have to lose.

[folatre]

The boys had good energy in the first period. They had some trouble with the Rangers forecheck, but nevertheless plenty of breakouts came through the neutral zone with good speed, which led to a few high quality scoring chances. Unfortunately, guys like Dvorak, Slafkovsky and Dadonov are not natural snipers.

I love Xhekaj clearing the crease. Sammy Blais is a large man and the Sherriff threw him down like a kid.

[Willie Dog]

Jan 15, 2023 17:39:19 GMT -5 jkr said:

I'm surprised Montembeault is playing on such a quick turnaround. He faced 38 shots less than 24 hours ago. Play Primeau. What do they have to lose.

They could have kept primeau in laval and had a cardboard cutout of Carey

[folatre]

Montembeault was excellent against the Islanders and thus far he is standing on his head this evening. Primeau makes NHL money in Laval, so from his perspective I am not sure what the benefit is from sitting in the backup chair. I do not know Laval's schedule, but if I were him I would rather start games for the Rocket.

[Skilly]

Kirby Dach scores and gets his 27pt. The most points he has had in any season.

Coincidentally, it is his 27th career goal.

[jkr]

Jan 15, 2023 17:41:48 GMT -5 folatre said:

The boys had good energy in the first period. They had some trouble with the Rangers forecheck, but nevertheless plenty of breakouts came through the neutral zone with good speed, which led to a few high quality scoring chances. Unfortunately, guys like Dvorak, Slafkovsky and Dadonov are not natural snipers.

I love Xhekaj clearing the crease. Sammy Blais is a large man and the Sherriff threw him down like a kid.

Its troubling to see Slafkovsky included with Dvorak & Dadonov. I hope you mean " at this time" .

[Skilly]

Jan 15, 2023 18:24:05 GMT -5 jkr said:

Jan 15, 2023 17:41:48 GMT -5 folatre said:

The boys had good energy in the first period. They had some trouble with the Rangers forecheck, but nevertheless plenty of breakouts came through the neutral zone with good speed, which led to a few high quality scoring chances. Unfortunately, guys like Dvorak, Slafkovsky and Dadonov are not natural snipers.

I love Xhekaj clearing the crease. Sammy Blais is a large man and the Sherriff threw him down like a kid.

Its troubling to see Slafkovsky included with Dvorak & Dadonov. I hope you mean " at this time" .

I dunno, Slafkovsky looks real lazy to me, especially on defense. He just waved at Panarin on that goal, AND he was the only player who wasn't on the ice for over 90 secs.

[Skilly]

I don't think Drouin will ever score this year

Goalless streak currently at 34 games (379 days)

[Willie Dog]

Jan 15, 2023 18:39:39 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I don't think Drouin will ever score this year

Goalless streak currently at 34 games (379 days)

Everytine he takes a shot it's a muffin... no goalie fears it

[jkr]

Jan 15, 2023 18:32:46 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Jan 15, 2023 18:24:05 GMT -5 jkr said:

Its troubling to see Slafkovsky included with Dvorak & Dadonov. I hope you mean " at this time" .

I dunno, Slafkovsky looks real lazy to me, especially on defense. He just waved at Panarin on that goal, AND he was the only player who wasn't on the ice for over 90 secs.

I haven't been impressed lately either. I don't think hes looked good since Monahan went down. He had a game in Calgary where he scored and hit a post. That was probably the best I've see him.

I'm hoping it's and age thing, that it will get better as he gains more experience. If he doesn't improve it will be a huge setback for the team. Just look at the Rangers top picks - Lafreniere and Kakko are nothing special.

[Willie Dog]

Jan 15, 2023 18:49:16 GMT -5 jkr said:

Jan 15, 2023 18:32:46 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I dunno, Slafkovsky looks real lazy to me, especially on defense. He just waved at Panarin on that goal, AND he was the only player who wasn't on the ice for over 90 secs.

I haven't been impressed lately either. I don't think hes looked good since Monahan went down. He had a game in Calgary where he scored and hit a post. That was probably the best I've see him.

I'm hoping it's and age thing, that it will get better as he gains more experience. If he doesn't improve it will be a huge setback for the team. Just look at the Rangers top picks - Lafreniere and Kakko are nothing special.

I'm hoping it's just the NHL grind, he's not used to playing this many games... anyways I am far from giving up on him, he is part of the future...

[Skilly]

This is Game #80 for Caufield under MSL

He just scored his 48th goal in those 80 games

[Skilly]

If we get THAT Sam Montembeault every night, then we found our #1 goalie.

That was his best game as a Hab, and it isn’t even close

[folatre]

Hard-working team win. For sure, Montembeault was great. It is so hard to make definitive judgments about goalies. Montembeault has more than a handful of incredible starts this season. He has nice size and he is seriously a quick cat moving laterally. But does he really check all the boxes in terms of tracking the puck in traffic situations, mental toughness, and overall consistency? Is he another third round talent, late bloomer in terms of putting it all together in the way Binnington was, who basically arrived at age 25-26?

[CentreHice]

Back-to-back Full Montys.

vs. Islanders. .947 2 GA on 38 shots.

vs. Rangers. .974 1 GA on 39 shots. (per espn box scores)

Linear development? If so, it's been trial by fire...

Feel good for him no matter what. Tough season...enjoy the good ones.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Jan 15, 2023 20:00:27 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Back-to-back Full Montys.

vs. Islanders. .947 2 GA on 38 shots.

vs. Rangers. .974 1 GA on 39 shots. (per espn box scores)

Linear development? If so, it's been trial by fire...

Feel good for him no matter what. Tough season...enjoy the good ones.

[habsorbed]

Monty played great but so did Rags goalie. In fact I think Sherts had more 10 bell saves. Boys played well.

Really impressed with Ylo. He's a great skater, great hands receiving passes, and lots of hustle.

Team didn't seem to jss Evans. He's OK defensively but you gotta score mow and then to be of value.

[jkr]

This win is even more impressive when you consider that the actual turnaround- from the end of the Isles game to the start of the Rangers game - was only about 19 hours.

Why was this game a 5PM start anyway?

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Jan 15, 2023 18:39:39 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I don't think Drouin will ever score this year

Goalless streak currently at 34 games (379 days)

Drouin couldn't score in Chez Paree with a fistfull of his paycheck.

[seventeen]

A quick note about Caufield after watching several highlights of his goal yesterday. I recall the criticisms of Cole both after drafting him (too small, not fast enough, what worked at the lower levels won't work in the NHL, a poor WJC, etc.), and during his first NHL season under Dom Ducharme. What always impressed me about him was the same things that made Brett Hull so good. You don't notice him until the puck is in the back of the net. He always seemed to be more open than he should have been and that shot of his was something to marvel.

Yesterday's goal was a perfect example. He was nowhere, getting ready to backcheck. The turnover happens and he is suddenly right in the slot but surrounded by 3 Rangers. Suzuki gets him the puck and the release is so incredibly quick. The 3 guys turn to him to check him and Shesterkin is getting into position, but still moving and the puck's already in the net.

I'm finding that I'm surprised when he has a good chance, and doesn't score. Five foot, seven inches and 174 lbs and while he's a quick skater and reasonably fast, he won't win any speed contests against the top skaters in the NHL. He now has 36 points in 44 games, with 26 goals for a 48.5, 82 game pace. At his current pace, barring injury, he'll finish with 48 goals. I think he'll break 50 since his game recently has improved IMO. He's playing a better all around game and he's finding ways to score without having to be fed by Suzuki. Fifteenth overall pick. Peyton Krebs and Alex Newhook were both still available at that point and they are centres, so it was a good call to take Caufield over them. Habs needed a scorer and they thought at that time that KK would turn into their top centre, so it wasn't that tough a pick after he fell that far, but still you wonder if everyone else is right and you're the guy making the mistake instead of the other way around.

In any case, thank god we have him. Every team needs, but doesn't always have an elite scorer.

[seventeen]

Jan 16, 2023 14:23:47 GMT -5 Habs_fan_in_LA said:

Jan 15, 2023 18:39:39 GMT -5 Skilly said:

I don't think Drouin will ever score this year

Goalless streak currently at 34 games (379 days)

Drouin couldn't score in Chez Paree with a fistfull of his paycheck.

Don't let that hide the fact he's been playing a lot better lately. He is owed a goal by Anderson.

[folatre]

Jan 15, 2023 18:32:46 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Jan 15, 2023 18:24:05 GMT -5 jkr said:

Its troubling to see Slafkovsky included with Dvorak & Dadonov. I hope you mean " at this time" .

I dunno, Slafkovsky looks real lazy to me, especially on defense. He just waved at Panarin on that goal, AND he was the only player who wasn't on the ice for over 90 secs.

Well, being lazy or unaware defensively is one thing, though quite possibly that can be corrected as he understands how demanding hockey is at the NHL level.

The issue of whether Slafkovsky can be prolific goal scorer in the NHL is another thing. And in this regard, I tend to reside in the camp that sees elite goal scoring as a gift that cannot be coached. I do not see Slafkovsky possessing a lightning quick release or a variable release point that deceives NHL goalies. Of course, on the plus side Slafkovsky has a heavy shot, soft hands, and big body who should be able to pot goals in close. But for me it is hard to envision the kid as a natural sniper in the way Caufield clearly is. In the right system and with the right mentality on the part of the player, a guy with these strengths can regularly score a lot of goals (25-35 per) but for me regularly being in the rarified air of 35+ requires a special gift.

Anyway, hockey is debatable and time will say.