7pm: Rangers @ Canadiens | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBCSN, Radio TSN 690.

[habs_93]

Every playoff, I usually do a joke GDT making fun of our opponent. And every series, we usually lose that game. So, lesson learned.

Instead, let's look at some information about the series so far, courtesy of some wonderful graphics from @IneffectiveMath's excellent HockeyViz.com

First, Game 1.

(Micah uses the term "shots" to apply to all shots, on goal, blocked, or missed.)

As you can see, as a team we were pretty good, but a whole lot of our players and combos were getting run around.

Next, 5-on-5 shot locations for us and the Rangers:

 

For all the talk about "going to the net", we actually weren't doing a bad job getting shots in the "home plate" area. The Rangers had a scattershot assault, mostly opportunistic.

Now, onto game 2:

That's much more like it. Particularly, take a look at Byron and Petry. Wow. I'll be showing some individual graphics for them later. Shot locations:

 

I don't think the difference could be any more obvious. Let's look at some individual player reports, starting with Galchenyuk:

Notice how dominant he was in terms of shot production when he was finally put with Lehkonen for good near the end of the 2nd period. Particularly the third and overtime, when his shifts became more regular. It didn't matter who he was paired up against, we were driving offence.

Now, let's take a look at Byron's chart:

He was bringing it all night. That line with Plekanec can carry the defensive water against the Zuccarello-Stepan-Kreider line while also providing sound, organized offence.

Now, Petry:

The narrative about Nathan Beaulieu is that he's "risky" and "drags players down". At least in the second half of game 2, that's garbage. He certainly wasn't dragging Jeff Petry down; most of Petry's offence came when he was paired with Beaulieu, as compared to Benn. The real fulcrum appears to be the opposing Rangers pair. McDonagh-Girardi got positively toasted against Petry-Beaulieu. Smith-Skjei was significantly better. McDonagh was actually one of the Rangers' worst players over the last few games. Another instance of narrative collapse.

And finally, the Captain.

Look at that run in the third and into the first half of Overtime. Almost 10 straight 5-on-5 minutes without conceding a shot attempt against, all while piling up the chances for. A bit mediocre in the rest of the game, though. Hopefully his late-game heroics can carry over to tonight.

GO HABS GO!

[H_T_L]

My head is spinning.

Thanks 93. Let's get that home ice advantage back. The score flattered the Rangers last game as i thought we were pretty dominant. More of the same please. Let's hope the NHL digs deep and finds us at least some semi impartial refs to call this one.

[BigTed3]

12 minutes ago, H_T_L said:

My head is spinning.

Thanks 93. Let's get that home ice advantage back. The score flattered the Rangers last game as i thought we were pretty dominant. More of the same please. Let's hope the NHL digs deep and finds us at least some semi impartial refs to call this one.

We do get last change tonight, but we should have some fans in NYC. And as I noted elsewhere, NYR's home record was significantly worse than their away record. They have the worst home record of any playoff team, so hopefully we can steal one and maybe two of the games there.

[Clues]

Thanks for the thread, 93!

[vegasrick]

Wow, those are advanced stats!  Quite revealing.  I wonder if Coach Julien is into these?  Or Muller?  Hope so.....we need every advantage we can get!

[BigTed3]

Practice lines:

Pac-Dano-Rad

Byron-Plek-Gallagher

Lehk-Galch-Shaw

King-Ott-Mitchell

D remains unchanged.

So barring surprise, looks like Mitchell draws in for Martinsen but we still get cursed with King and Nesterov. Bad decisions.

[BigTed3]

Now reports Davidson and Nesterov alternating reps with Beaulieu, but Nesterov got first action... maybe the decision hasn't been made yet, but it's vital that Davidson draws in over Nesterov. We can't afford to be pinned in for all the 3rd-pairing D shifts.

[kinot-2]

WOW, 93,,,,, that a ummmmmm, whole bunch of stats . Too bad I can't figure them all out, but as long as some members do, then it's alright.

 

[Clues]

10 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

WOW, 93,,,,, that a ummmmmm, whole bunch of stats . Too bad I can't figure them all out, but as long as some members do, then it's alright.

 

Neither could I, haha. But I appreciate it all nonetheless.

[vegasrick]

8 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

WOW, 93,,,,, that a ummmmmm, whole bunch of stats . Too bad I can't figure them all out, but as long as some members do, then it's alright.

 

.....yeah, we'll keep ya posted.   

[kinot-2]

19 minutes ago, vegasrick said:

.....yeah, we'll keep ya posted.   

Would love to post you. 

[vegasrick]

7 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

Would love to post you. 

Speaking of post, don't you have a Game Day Thread to make? 

[habs1952]

45 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

WOW, 93,,,,, that a ummmmmm, whole bunch of stats . Too bad I can't figure them all out, but as long as some members do, then it's alright.

 

You are not alone. I wonder why he never included the eye test results?

[kinot-2]

9 minutes ago, habs1952 said:

You are not alone. I wonder why he never included the eye test results?

Personally, I think he made those graphs up. 

[BigTed3]

Davidson is in, Nesterov out! Hallelujah! Now if only we could get rid of Dwight King...

[H_T_L]

Also looks like Chuck will start the game as the center of his line.

[kinot-2]

 

John Lu:

Pacioretty - Danault - Radulov
Byron - Plekanec - Gallagher
Lehkonen - Galchenyuk - Shaw
King - Ott - Mitchell

 

[Habberwacky]

5 hours ago, habs_93 said:

Every playoff, I usually do a joke GDT making fun of our opponent. And every series, we usually lose that game.

So Kinot has been telling you to make fun of the other teams and costing us games? Am I reading that right?  Wow! I think I can figure out why we have been struggling. The players don't stand a chance against that sort of influence.

[southernhabfan]

WE are suppose to figure that all out...."I know nothing....."

[southernhabfan]

24 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

 

John Lu:

Pacioretty - Danault - Radulov
Byron - Plekanec - Gallagher
Lehkonen - Galchenyuk - Shaw
King - Ott - Mitchell

 

Yes that forth line still makes me a little nervous..though Ott played a pretty good game. 

[kinot-2]

25 minutes ago, Habberwacky said:

So Kinot has been telling you to make fun of the other teams and costing us games? Am I reading that right?  Wow! I think I can figure out why we have been struggling. The players don't stand a chance against that sort of influence.

Heck,,, I can't even figure out what you said. 

[Habs=stanleycup]

32 minutes ago, Habberwacky said:

So Kinot has been telling you to make fun of the other teams and costing us games? Am I reading that right?  Wow! I think I can figure out why we have been struggling. The players don't stand a chance against that sort of influence.

It's called LUCK & karma, and we need every bit of it as possible IMO. 

[Habberwacky]

Just now, kinot-2 said:

Heck,,, I can't even figure out what you said. 

That's part of the problem.  Until one can master that sort of power (the kind of power that controls all problems related to Les Canadiens) it often goes out of control spreading trouble when others just want to be humerous. Just a small part of the Blame Kinot chronicles I believe

[vegasrick]

1 hour ago, Habberwacky said:

So Kinot has been telling you to make fun of the other teams and costing us games? Am I reading that right?  Wow! I think I can figure out why we have been struggling. The players don't stand a chance against that sort of influence.

Just for future reference, you spelled kinot wrong.  There are no capital letters.  That's OK, though, it's not your fault.  I blame kinot.  

[vegasrick]

I wish someone would close this thread.  I blame kinot.