State Of The Habs 2018-19

[BigTed3]

Our team can score at 5v5, it's clear. Without stats, I feel like a decent percentage of our goals come off of rushes though. Tatar, Gallagher, and Danault on a 3 on 2. Domi and Drouin on a 2 on 1. Byron on a break. It seems like a fair amount of our 5v5 scoring comes from odd-man rushes where we can use our speed. What we seem to be less good at is playing within the O zone and on the PP, that's largely what you need to do. I said this in the off-season, but this team got rid of its two best snipers in Galchenyuk and Pacioretty and didn't replace them. I'm not talking about a big shot from the point, but rather a guy who has a quick release and pinpoint accuracy. Even with good shooters like Tatar, Domi, and Kotkaniemi, we don't have that guy with a reliable laser like MP and AG had. I wonder how much of that plays into the lack of PP success.

That said, KM is an NHL level coach. He has NHL players and he's got to figure out a way to make the PP work with those guys. If you don't have a sniper, you need to play to your strengths of speed, puck movement, and the cannons at the point. The puck movement on the PP has been too slow on most nights. The second chances aren't coming. Yes, CJ did take over leading the PP practice a few weeks back, but I don't think this was a permanent takeover and I think Muller is still the guy in charge. IMO he's got to be able to do more in this regard if we want a chance of advancing to and through the playoffs.

[ramcharger440]

4 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

Our team can score at 5v5, it's clear. Without stats, I feel like a decent percentage of our goals come off of rushes though. Tatar, Gallagher, and Danault on a 3 on 2. Domi and Drouin on a 2 on 1. Byron on a break. It seems like a fair amount of our 5v5 scoring comes from odd-man rushes where we can use our speed. What we seem to be less good at is playing within the O zone and on the PP, that's largely what you need to do. I said this in the off-season, but this team got rid of its two best snipers in Galchenyuk and Pacioretty and didn't replace them. I'm not talking about a big shot from the point, but rather a guy who has a quick release and pinpoint accuracy. Even with good shooters like Tatar, Domi, and Kotkaniemi, we don't have that guy with a reliable laser like MP and AG had. I wonder how much of that plays into the lack of PP success.

That said, KM is an NHL level coach. He has NHL players and he's got to figure out a way to make the PP work with those guys. If you don't have a sniper, you need to play to your strengths of speed, puck movement, and the cannons at the point. The puck movement on the PP has been too slow on most nights. The second chances aren't coming. Yes, CJ did take over leading the PP practice a few weeks back, but I don't think this was a permanent takeover and I think Muller is still the guy in charge. IMO he's got to be able to do more in this regard if we want a chance of advancing to and through the playoffs.

 i think we have some guy's who can shoot they just don't seem to do it, for some reason they try to make the perfect play or hang on to the puck too long. it is in their heads now and it will take a new person either telling them to shoot or a new shooter. one thing i find odd we had quite a good PP with MT but as soon as CJ got here it fell off a cliff with the same players too, Max and Chucky were here then as well so it seems like CJ must stress 5on5 and good d play so much guys may be thinking too much on the PP.

[CANADIENS27]

A team that outplayed the Kings and goaltending by Price.  

 

 

[caperns61]

On 3/5/2019 at 4:24 PM, BigTed3 said:

I said this in the off-season, but this team got rid of its two best snipers in Galchenyuk and Pacioretty and didn't replace them. 

NOT TRUE...They got rid of their best sniper in Patches. There second best sniper  was and is Gallagher it was NOT Galcheynk....Check there goal totals..

[BigTed3]

23 minutes ago, caperns61 said:

NOT TRUE...They got rid of their best sniper in Patches. There second best sniper  was and is Gallagher it was NOT Galcheynk....Check there goal totals..

Disagree with this. By sniper, I don't mean goal-scorer. Gallagher has scored a bunch of goals the past two years, but in my opinion, he's not as good a shooter as Galchenyuk. Gallagher works hard, he goes to the net, and he buries his chances, but I wouldn't look at him and think he's got one of the most dangerous shots on the team, even now. Best sniper doesn't necessarily mean best player, but it is without a doubt something we have been missing on our PP this season. Last year, when the team finally moved Galchenyuk to the right half-board where he could use his shot, our PP improved its scoring chances and success drastically. We haven't found someone to do that yet this year.

[BigTed3]

Some good news for the Habs on the injury front for other teams:

- Karlsson is confirmed as still being out for the match against the Canadiens tomorrow

- Evander Kane has missed a couple of games with a "mid-body" injury and is considered a game-time decision for tomorrow, but could possibly also be missing or playing at less than 100%.

- And with Lehner out, that might help with slowing down the Isles a bit. Maybe, maybe not.

[Habs=stanleycup]

On 3/5/2019 at 8:18 PM, ramcharger440 said:

 i think we have some guy's who can shoot they just don't seem to do it, for some reason they try to make the perfect play or hang on to the puck too long. it is in their heads now and it will take a new person either telling them to shoot or a new shooter. one thing i find odd we had quite a good PP with MT but as soon as CJ got here it fell off a cliff with the same players too, Max and Chucky were here then as well so it seems like CJ must stress 5on5 and good d play so much guys may be thinking too much on the PP.

Drouin comes to mind on this one, lots of fancy plays and back passes but not as much production as he should or could achieve. It's a speed and fast reflexes game nowadays.

[26NCounting]

The power play unit with Drouin on it just looks discombobulated. Not sure it's entirely his fault, the drop pass when entering the zone to the D men cause the forwards to stop skating and wait for the shoot in.  Then the D men shot it in the forwards have no momentum to chase the puck making it way too easy for opposition teams to clear the puck.  Let the players skate it in like we do when 5v5 use the speed.

[CANADIENS27]

Inability to take advantage of a shorthanded team.  

 

 

[habby67]

They need to rest Price and they need points. Those two predicaments are certain. The bad thing about resting Price is that lately Niemi hasn't been very good. Should have Bergevin made a trade for a better back up? Maybe, but he better do something about it in the offseason. 

[CANADIENS27]

No power play or defense last night.  

 

 

[habby67]

The west coast abyss strikes again.

[kinot-2]

We're out of the POs. 

[jennifer_rocket]

Oh, it's going to be such a slog to make the post-season. Hopefully the Bruins defeat the Penguins today. And the Blue Jackets and Islanders will hopefully end in regulation on Monday. Avalanche against the 'Canes on Monday, too. Scoreboard watching is brutal. I wish we still had this in our own hands, but... Losing to the Pengions 5-1 and the Ducks 8-2 saw to that.

[caperns61]

On 3/6/2019 at 8:55 PM, BigTed3 said:

Disagree with this. By sniper, I don't mean goal-scorer. Gallagher has scored a bunch of goals the past two years, but in my opinion, he's not as good a shooter as Galchenyuk. Gallagher works hard, he goes to the net, and he buries his chances, but I wouldn't look at him and think he's got one of the most dangerous shots on the team, even now. Best sniper doesn't necessarily mean best player, but it is without a doubt something we have been missing on our PP this season. Last year, when the team finally moved Galchenyuk to the right half-board where he could use his shot, our PP improved its scoring chances and success drastically. We haven't found someone to do that yet this year.

I am not sure how you classify Galchenyk as a sniper. This is his 7th season in the NHL and he is likely not going to get  20 goals. The odds are certainly against him. Only ONCE in seven seasons has he recorded more then 20 goals. 1 in 7, Sorry but that is not a sniper. 

Patches is a sniper, this is his 11 season, 5 seasons of 30 or more, this season over 20 goals, so 6 seasons MORE than 20 goals.  Surpassed 20 goals 55% of the time...

Galchenyk surpassed 20 goals once in 7 seasons thats 14% on the time.

Patches sniper YES

Glachenyk sniper NO

Unfortunely no matter how much you think Galchenyk is a sniper or how much you like him, the numbers do not support it. 

 

[BigTed3]

6 hours ago, caperns61 said:

I am not sure how you classify Galchenyk as a sniper. This is his 7th season in the NHL and he is likely not going to get  20 goals. The odds are certainly against him. Only ONCE in seven seasons has he recorded more then 20 goals. 1 in 7, Sorry but that is not a sniper. 

Patches is a sniper, this is his 11 season, 5 seasons of 30 or more, this season over 20 goals, so 6 seasons MORE than 20 goals.  Surpassed 20 goals 55% of the time...

Galchenyk surpassed 20 goals once in 7 seasons thats 14% on the time.

Patches sniper YES

Glachenyk sniper NO

Unfortunely no matter how much you think Galchenyk is a sniper or how much you like him, the numbers do not support it. 

 

I judge Galchenyuk to be a sniper based on the quality of his shot, and you can read in the media who go to Habs practices and games how they too have talked about AG's shot being missing on the PP this season.

If you do look at numbers, you would see that AG has a 12.3% shooting percentage for his career. Pacioretty is at 11.2%. Max gets more ice time and a bit more PP time than AG per game, and he certainly got better linemates. I don't think it's fair to say AG isn't a sniper just because he didn't put up 30 goals a year every year. Agreed with you that MP was a better scorer than AG. Agreed with you he was a more complete player. But AG had just as dangerous a shot with somewhat less opportunity to use it. I don't think that takes away from the fact he had a great shot and that we are missing that from this year's PP.

[habsisme]

8 minutes ago, BigTed3 said:

I judge Galchenyuk to be a sniper based on the quality of his shot, and you can read in the media who go to Habs practices and games how they too have talked about AG's shot being missing on the PP this season.

If you do look at numbers, you would see that AG has a 12.3% shooting percentage for his career. Pacioretty is at 11.2%. Max gets more ice time and a bit more PP time than AG per game, and he certainly got better linemates. I don't think it's fair to say AG isn't a sniper just because he didn't put up 30 goals a year every year. Agreed with you that MP was a better scorer than AG. Agreed with you he was a more complete player. But AG had just as dangerous a shot with somewhat less opportunity to use it. I don't think that takes away from the fact he had a great shot and that we are missing that from this year's PP.

I agree, there is a difference between a goal scorer and a sniper. Gallagher is no sniper for example. Galchenyuk definitely has a good shot and I think we may be missing that in our lineup

[BigTed3]

4 hours ago, habsisme said:

I agree, there is a difference between a goal scorer and a sniper. Gallagher is no sniper for example. Galchenyuk definitely has a good shot and I think we may be missing that in our lineup

Right. Gallagher has proven he can score goals, but I wouldn't call him a "sniper"... most of his goals are scored from in close. He gets rebounds, he gets deflections, he gets set up for a shot inside the circle, he gets a wrap-around and so on. Galchenyuk can wire it from the top of the circle. And I'm by no means trying to argue that Galchenyuk is better than Gallagher, just that they have different skillsets and whereas we have a bunch of guys who are small and fast and work hard, our PP seems to be lacking a guy with a deadly quick shot from mid-to-long range. We have Weber's cannon from far out but he doesn't have a quick release and that gives teams a chance to get on him. It would be nice to have a quick-release sniper who can set up next to Weber and be another shooting threat that stretches the D. I don't see Gallagher or Tatar or Domi or Drouin as good as they are as being big threats to score from between the blue line and the top of the circle, so they're just not drawing coverage when they're played in that area.

[maas_art]

5 hours ago, habsisme said:

I agree, there is a difference between a goal scorer and a sniper. Gallagher is no sniper for example. Galchenyuk definitely has a good shot and I think we may be missing that in our lineup

Exactly. Byron is another guy. They will go to the net, they will make their own chances & they will score at a decent rate no matter where you put them or who their linemates are. Sure they will do better with better matched centres but overall they just bring their lunchboxes & get the work done. 

A "sniper" is a player who (usually) needs the right kind of assignments and line mates to get the job done.  

[tony5775]

They recently did a story on Gallagher showing where his goals are coming from this year. More of them are coming from the sniper areas. He may of been a in front of the net chip in guy. But he is definitely turning into a sniper. 

And seriously Galchenyuk, good old defensive liability  Galchenyuk. -19 on a team that is -5. Gallagher is +10 on a team that is +1. So glad he is gone, he should of won the most over rated player award.

Snipers at this point have at least 25 goals. 

[HabsAlways]

While I would like the Habs to make the playoffs, I really don't think we're going to.   

4 pts back of Pens 

2 pts back of Canes, who have a game in hand

Tied with CBJ who own the tie break AND have a game in hand

Our chances looked a lot better before SJ/ANA  curb stomped us, but even then I wasn't convinced we'd make it.    This roster is in transition essentially and still lacks 1-2 pieces.    I like the players we have now and I think our roster looks the best it has since MB has been around, pity it's taken him this long to figure it out and we have some prospects in the cupboard that could push us to the next level when mixed in (Suzuki, Poehling, Romanov, Brook)  

[ChiLla]

4 minutes ago, HabsAlways said:

While I would like the Habs to make the playoffs, I really don't think we're going to.   

4 pts back of Pens 

2 pts back of Canes, who have a game in hand

Tied with CBJ who own the tie break AND have a game in hand

Our chances looked a lot better before SJ/ANA  curb stomped us, but even then I wasn't convinced we'd make it.    This roster is in transition essentially and still lacks 1-2 pieces.    I like the players we have now and I think our roster looks the best it has since MB has been around, pity it's taken him this long to figure it out and we have some prospects in the cupboard that could push us to the next level when mixed in (Suzuki, Poehling, Romanov, Brook)  

I tend to agree and realistically don't think we'll make it because we do have the toughest schedule on paper but there may still be hope. We have one game left against Carolina and Columbus, which will obviously be huge, and then we'll wrap up the season against Winnipeg, Washington, Tamba Bay, and Toronto. They should all have clinched by then, so maybe they'll rest a few of their top guys. Let's hope for the best

[HabsAlways]

10 minutes ago, ChiLla said:

I tend to agree and realistically don't think we'll make it because we do have the toughest schedule on paper but there may still be hope. We have one game left against Carolina and Columbus, which will obviously be huge, and then we'll wrap up the season against Winnipeg, Washington, Tamba Bay, and Toronto. They should all have clinched by then, so maybe they'll rest a few of their top guys. Let's hope for the best

I'd rather we didn't make the playoffs versus finishing in the bottom WC spot and getting rolled over by TB in 4.

[campabee82]

19 minutes ago, HabsAlways said:

While I would like the Habs to make the playoffs, I really don't think we're going to.   

4 pts back of Pens 

2 pts back of Canes, who have a game in hand

Tied with CBJ who own the tie break AND have a game in hand

Our chances looked a lot better before SJ/ANA  curb stomped us, but even then I wasn't convinced we'd make it.    This roster is in transition essentially and still lacks 1-2 pieces.    I like the players we have now and I think our roster looks the best it has since MB has been around, pity it's taken him this long to figure it out and we have some prospects in the cupboard that could push us to the next level when mixed in (Suzuki, Poehling, Romanov, Brook)  

I agree at this point we don't look like we will make the playoffs however look at who Columbus' game in hand is against either Boston or the Islanders either way not a gimme. We totally should have beaten the Ducks and even the Sharks as well, if we had things may look way different headed down the stretch.

[HabsAlways]

Just now, campabee82 said:

I agree at this point we don't look like we will make the playoffs however look at who Columbus' game in hand is against either Boston or the Islanders either way not a gimme. We totally should have beaten the Ducks and even the Sharks as well, if we had things may look way different headed down the stretch.

if we'd beat ANA/SJ that's 83 pts and being 2 up on Carolina, 4 up on CBJ and sitting in the top WC spot looking at Washington in first round ... instead, we're just outside and looking at barely squeaking in to get annihilated by Tampa