Florida vs Montreal Tuesday Apr 2 @ 7 PM EDT

[Skilly]

Caufield with the wrap around goal Gretzky-esque. You don't see that goal much anymore

[Skilly]

Jake Evans with the shortie

5-2 Habs

[Willie Dog]

Slaf and wifi sandwiched a panther...lmao

[Skilly]

If that Matheson shot was in ... a lot of time goes back on the clock, AND we'd still get that Pezetta penalty

[folatre]

What is that? The Kulikov *ucks so bad we will invent a penalty against Pezzetta so the poor slob does not get scratched by Maurice in Ottawa? Whatever, game management 101 courtesy of the NHL.

[folatre]

Cousins is such a big piece of shet, totally gutless puke.

[folatre]

I doubt I can stomach the Leafs winning in round 1. But, man, I have a serious dislike for the frickin Florida Panthers.

[Skilly]

Montreal's 5 on 3 PP may be worse than their 5 on 4 PP

[Skilly]

Every 10s now, there is a penalty , they'll soon have to put them in the front row, there isn't any more room in the box

[folatre]

What a bunch of d-bags.

[Skilly]

Montreal had three 5 on 3s this game and very little shots on net ... 🤮🤮

[Skilly]

I respect MSL giving the plugs some PP time, but I'm just as effective on a PP as Anderson and White

[Skilly]

No one touches Bennett who goes for a skate around the net and out in front to score

5-3

[Skilly]

So, this game Slaf has been mugged twice, and Evans was hit late ... do people really think Xhekaj stops people from doing that? I think he has been told not to fight, because if he isn't grabbing someone this game, he never is

[folatre]

I hear you, man. But who the heck on Florida was going to fight one of the top five heavyweights in the NHL? The refs calmed it down by nailing Cousins with the double minor. So unless something else crazy happens after that incident, Montreal does not really have a window open for going nuclear.

Maybe if Cousins had not got tossed, he may have been willing to drop the gloves with Pezzetta, but really who knows, I kind of doubt it.

[jkr]

Apr 2, 2024 20:39:26 GMT -5 folatre said:

I doubt I can stomach the Leafs winning in round 1. But, man, I have a serious dislike for the frickin Florida Panthers.

I make all sorts of rationalizations when it comes to Leaf playoff opponents. They are at the top of my list for most disliked team in any sport.

There's a phrase I repeat - the enemy of my enemy is my friend.😀

[jkr]

Apr 2, 2024 20:49:48 GMT -5 Skilly said:

So, this game Slaf has been mugged twice, and Evans was hit late ... do people really think Xhekaj stops people from doing that? I think he has been told not to fight, because if he isn't grabbing someone this game, he never is

I wasn't able to watch so I can't comment on specific incidents. But maybe the answer to weasels like Cousins is for Montreal to go after Panthers that are usually non combatants- guys like Barkov or Verhaege & make their life miserable.

[Willie Dog]

Apr 2, 2024 20:49:48 GMT -5 Skilly said:

So, this game Slaf has been mugged twice, and Evans was hit late ... do people really think Xhekaj stops people from doing that? I think he has been told not to fight, because if he isn't grabbing someone this game, he never is

I think Slaf handled himself fine... I think his strength surprised the panther d-bags...

[folatre]

For sure, jkr. This is where you need a couple of fourth liners and a one or two d-men ready and loaded for whatever happens. Florida does not have a heavy, per se. So no one was going to fight Xhekaj. And in all likelihood Maurice probably messaged to the bench that fighting in a back to back when the opponent has nothing to do with their immediate future is basically the equivalent of having a hand that is better to fold.

[habsorbed]

Only got to watch a few parts of the game due to other commitments. But every time I tuned in all I saw was Fla players were ganging up on Slafs. Sure he held his own but he is our future and given we got nothing to lose thier should be consequences to the opponent. I don't care what Xman has been told since his return, this is the time for Marty to say to everyone, incliding Xman and Pizza, "GO NUCLEAR!!!". Are we really that concerned that we might lose the 2 points It's about pride and sending a message: "Don't mess with our best players!".

Anyway, it was good to see Slafs laughing in the box at the end of the game. Man, I love this guy and his skills and attitude!

[seventeen]

Apr 2, 2024 19:45:25 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Newhook and Guhle get possession, Guhle passes it to Matheson who loses it and pressure is sustained forcing MTL to take a penalty ...

Matheson causes more goals than he creates

I agree, but Marty sure likes him. Marty also defends Anderson, but I think his trade value is shot. If Hughes can move Anderson this summer, it will the greatest heist since Shea Weber's trade to Vegas.

[seventeen]

Apr 2, 2024 20:49:48 GMT -5 Skilly said:

So, this game Slaf has been mugged twice, and Evans was hit late ... do people really think Xhekaj stops people from doing that? I think he has been told not to fight, because if he isn't grabbing someone this game, he never is

That's my assessment too, Skilly. In Basu and Godin's Notebook, they talked about how Xhekaj came to Montreal's attention (it was a good story). Arber ended up getting an invitation to Habs training camp and at camp Arber was trash talking everyone, trying to get under their skin. The camp was split into amateurs and pros and the Pros went to mgmt asking for Xhekaj to be put with them. I guess even there he was feared a bit (or respected a lot) and guys wanted him on their side.

I don't think X has lost his aggression, but he is obviously not fighting as much (which isn't a bad thing) but he'll be there if something really egregious happens. He'll protect his boys.

[habsorbed]

Apr 3, 2024 0:17:52 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Apr 2, 2024 19:45:25 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Newhook and Guhle get possession, Guhle passes it to Matheson who loses it and pressure is sustained forcing MTL to take a penalty ...

Matheson causes more goals than he creates

I agree, but Marty sure likes him. Marty also defends Anderson, but I think his trade value is shot. If Hughes can move Anderson this summer, it will the greatest heist since Shea Weber's trade to Vegas.

Marty is a class act. He ain't going "All Torts" and slagging a player in public - nothing to be gained; just have a pissed off player.

Maths helps us now in our current position as a non-playoff team and being able to eat up lots of minutes while the youngins continue to acclimatize. So not much to get rid of him although hopefully we get a decent return as some gms may not recognize his low IQ.

Despite how ugly Josh been this year, I haven't given up on him. If he can be traded I'm not adverse. But if we're talikng "heists" and helping the team, it will be unloading Gally that will have the biggest impact.

[habsorbed]

I give Marty credit for putting the 4th line out for the late PP and not running up the score. I think Maurice recognized that as even when they pulled within 2 goals he did not put his best players out on their late PP, nor pull his goalie. Given Fla is in jeoprady of losing home game advantabe to Leafs in the opening round, Maurice properly calculated the odds of winning this game with the proper respect paid to Marty. Then again, he may have been so frustrated with his team he simply gave up

[habsorbed]

Apr 2, 2024 19:21:45 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Just when you think you've seen everything in hockey ...

"after review it was determined it crossed the goal line we have a good goal for Montreal ... I'm sorry upon further communications, we had bad communications and it didn't cross the line , no goal"

I thought April Fools was yesterday

"A miscommunication"? So what is the process to be followed. "Miscommunication" indicates the refs on thenice who made the announcement did n ot get the proper communciation from Hockey Central, i.e Toronto. If it is TO making the call, why are the refs looking at the video on the laptop they're given at the penalty box. This whole think wreaks. i didn't see it as a goal, but the facade of pretending the refs on the ice have any say in this is ridiculous.

[PTH]

Apr 2, 2024 20:40:32 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Montreal's 5 on 3 PP may be worse than their 5 on 4 PP

It's so bad, the RDS guys left it all on the cutting board when putting together the 1-hour remix of the game (which includes something like 45 minutes of play).

[habsorbed]

Apr 2, 2024 20:36:51 GMT -5 folatre said:

Cousins is such a big piece of shet, totally gutless puke.

I don't remember Cousins being such a d!ck when he was a Hab. Perhaps the Habs culture could use with a modification from the emphasis on "class" and move towards "winning" at all costs.

[habsorbed]

Apr 2, 2024 20:11:45 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Caufield with the wrap around goal Gretzky-esque. You don't see that goal much anymore

Haven't seen much of Stolarz but after seeing his performance tonight I don't get the hype. Fla better hope they don't need him in the playoffs.

[Skilly]

Apr 2, 2024 20:55:15 GMT -5 folatre said:

I hear you, man. But who the heck on Florida was going to fight one of the top five heavyweights in the NHL? The refs calmed it down by nailing Cousins with the double minor. So unless something else crazy happens after that incident, Montreal does not really have a window open for going nuclear.

Maybe if Cousins had not got tossed, he may have been willing to drop the gloves with Pezzetta, but really who knows, I kind of doubt it.

Where are you Cranky???

That's the problem. Xhekaj is no deterrent at all if he needs to go asking for invitations.

Slaf got mugged twice, once he was twisted to the ice in a way he easily could have got injured.
Evans was hit late. It wasn't egregious, but the refs did deem it a penalty.
Gallagher gets manhandled with a stick up high, twisted in a manner I'm still not sure how he wasn't injured, then Montador wraps his legs around him MMA style

Now Montreal held their own in those melees, but make no mistake, Florida won those scrums and Montreal did not respond in any fashion to deter it.

If teams know they can go after Slafkovsky without a Montreal response, then teams are going to continue to do so. And his size will work against him, because the bigger and stronger he gets, the worse it will get and soon Slaf will have to throw down. No one wants that.

The first time Slaf was mugged, Montreal should have sent a message. Either had X pummel the defenseman that did it, WHETHER THAT GUY COULD FIGHT OR NOT, or someone should have grabbed Barkov and flung him to the ice. They need Barkov more than we need Slaf this year.

[Tankdriver]

Apr 3, 2024 5:47:05 GMT -5 Skilly said:

Apr 2, 2024 20:55:15 GMT -5 folatre said:

I hear you, man. But who the heck on Florida was going to fight one of the top five heavyweights in the NHL? The refs calmed it down by nailing Cousins with the double minor. So unless something else crazy happens after that incident, Montreal does not really have a window open for going nuclear.

Maybe if Cousins had not got tossed, he may have been willing to drop the gloves with Pezzetta, but really who knows, I kind of doubt it.

Where are you Cranky???

That's the problem. Xhekaj is no deterrent at all if he needs to go asking for invitations.

Slaf got mugged twice, once he was twisted to the ice in a way he easily could have got injured.
Evans was hit late. It wasn't egregious, but the refs did deem it a penalty.
Gallagher gets manhandled with a stick up high, twisted in a manner I'm still not sure how he wasn't injured, then Montador wraps his legs around him MMA style

Now Montreal held their own in those melees, but make no mistake, Florida won those scrums and Montreal did not respond in any fashion to deter it.

If teams know they can go after Slafkovsky without a Montreal response, then teams are going to continue to do so. And his size will work against him, because the bigger and stronger he gets, the worse it will get and soon Slaf will have to throw down. No one wants that.

The first time Slaf was mugged, Montreal should have sent a message. Either had X pummel the defenseman that did it, WHETHER THAT GUY COULD FIGHT OR NOT, or someone should have grabbed Barkov and flung him to the ice. They need Barkov more than we need Slaf this year.

Invitation to fight. This sounds like Georges Laraque all over again. Guy could drop the mitts with the best of them but lived by "the code" and would only drop if the other teams tough guy would.