Poll: Who would you rather face in Round 3?

[H_T_L]

A little rest before next round. Who will it be?

[ChiLla]

I don't really care, they were the two best teams in the league after the regular season so it'll be tough either way. I think they're both clearly better than Toronto, even though their division wasn't exactly the strongest either with the three California teams and Arizona at the bottom of the standings. I'm not particularly keen on facing Pacioretty in general and it could be fun to play against Colorado given their Quebec history, so I'm leaning a little towards the Avalanche, but to be honest everything is just gravy at this point. They boys are playing really good hockey and we're still being underrated, which is good for us I think, so let's see if we can give those top teams a run for their money. If they're underestimating us, even better, I think our guys are really having fun proving everybody wrong.

[CaptWelly]

I would say the Av's only because Vegas is a deeper team and as Vegas has shown you can forecheck and keep Colorados d hemmed in. 

[RCAF48]

It is a flip of the coin for me although Denver's elevation might adversely affect our veterans' stamina.  

[habsisme]

I feel like Vegas has the same depth we have with more playoff experience and a little bit higher top end talent. Colorado is more like a Toronto, very high end talent but the depth isn't as good as ours. I think we can beat Colorado, I think we'll have more trouble with Vegas

[maas_art]

1 hour ago, ChiLla said:

I don't really care, they were the two best teams in the league after the regular season so it'll be tough either way. I think they're both clearly better than Toronto, even though their division wasn't exactly the strongest either with the three California teams and Arizona at the bottom of the standings. I'm not particularly keen on facing Pacioretty in general and it could be fun to play against Colorado given their Quebec history, so I'm leaning a little towards the Avalanche, but to be honest everything is just gravy at this point. They boys are playing really good hockey and we're still being underrated, which is good for us I think, so let's see if we can give those top teams a run for their money. If they're underestimating us, even better, I think our guys are really having fun proving everybody wrong.

 

31 minutes ago, CaptWelly said:

I would say the Av's only because Vegas is a deeper team and as Vegas has shown you can forecheck and keep Colorados d hemmed in. 

"This" to both of this posts.

Im leaning (but not heavily) to Colorado because I think while they have probably the best player on either team, their depth is not as great as Vegas & if we can contain that top 6, colorado is probably easier to beat than LV but "easier" is a relative term when it comes to these teams.

Either is going to be really tough but the boy sure do seem to have some magic going right now, eh?

[booboo_mtl]

I think we could improve on what the Wild did to Vegas. Would be extra nice to beat Patches and Fleury too

[Manatee-X]

Here's Yost's take:

https://www.tsn.ca/travis-yost-which-third-round-matchup-should-the-montreal-canadiens-want-1.1651475

The conclusion is basically what we already know (either of these teams is going to be a tough matchup, but don't completely count Montreal out) but there are some interesting takes on both teams there too.  I haven't had a chance to watch any of the Avs/Knights games, so it was also nice to get a bit of a recap about how that series is going.

[H_T_L]

Pretty tough coming up with any comparisons to help us figure out who's the best matchup for us. I can recall us having some success vs the Knights last time we played them in regular season but that was a different team. IMO we won't get any idea of what we're up against until the first couple games are played. We're a decent road team so i'm not overly concerned about crowd influence. That's pretty much why i voted that i didn't care which team we played. At this point i'm just elated that we are where we are.

[HabsAlways]

Essentially ... Avalanche are Toronto in terms of style and strengths.  Knights are the Habs on steroids.

[maas_art]

17 minutes ago, Manatee-X said:

Here's Yost's take:

https://www.tsn.ca/travis-yost-which-third-round-matchup-should-the-montreal-canadiens-want-1.1651475

The conclusion is basically what we already know (either of these teams is going to be a tough matchup, but don't completely count Montreal out) but there are some interesting takes on both teams there too.  I haven't had a chance to watch any of the Avs/Knights games, so it was also nice to get a bit of a recap about how that series is going.

A great read & i agree with most of what he's saying.  For sure we're underdogs against either but the Avs' pp is of real concern (not that we have any control over who the next matchup is).     If you can contain the Mackinnon line & their PP you have a good shot against Col.  Vegas doesnt require one line to be shut down but how effective will our 3rd and 4th lines be against theirs?  A lot more even matchup throughout.   

 

7 minutes ago, H_T_L said:

Pretty tough coming up with any comparisons to help us figure out who's the best matchup for us. I can recall us having some success vs the Knights last time we played them in regular season but that was a different team. IMO we won't get any idea of what we're up against until the first couple games are played. We're a decent road team so i'm not overly concerned about crowd influence. That's pretty much why i voted that i didn't care which team we played. At this point i'm just elated that we are where we are.

For sure.  When the north division was announced i was like "oh heck yeah, we can win this thing" but as the season went on you had to be concerned (right down to whether we've even make the playoffs!) but in the end, they pulled it off.  Now the question is: how much magic is left? And can Carey Price will this team to another upset?

[rkgoalie]

imo we stand a better chance of beating the av's

[ramcharger440]

For me it is a toss up it is all gravy right now. with everything that happened i still can't believe we made  the playoffs and to come back on Toronto was epic! then to sweep the Jets confirmed the team was good. If we can keep it going it will be fantastic if we can hold our own but we end up losing I can live with it because the team has already done very well don't forget we are missing Drouin and Evans got his head torn off in the first game this series. All in all it has been great but I want more! and Price Webber Perry and Stall all seem to be willing it to happen and the kids are following! who knows where it could end up.

[maas_art]

6 minutes ago, ramcharger440 said:

For me it is a toss up it is all gravy right now. with everything that happened i still can't believe we made  the playoffs and to come back on Toronto was epic! then to sweep the Jets confirmed the team was good. If we can keep it going it will be fantastic if we can hold our own but we end up losing I can live with it because the team has already done very well don't forget we are missing Drouin and Evans got his head torn off in the first game this series. All in all it has been great but I want more! and Price Webber Perry and Stall all seem to be willing it to happen and the kids are following! who knows where it could end up.

While i 100% agree with the bolded part you have to wonder how guys like Price, Weber, Petry are feeling - even guys like Gallagher and Danault arent young anymore. They all know its rare to get a shot at the cup and for many of them this may be it.  For the old guys like Perry and Staal, sure they've won but not since they were rookies or sophomores.

  
As fans I agree, to make it this far is terrific, but I sure hope they channel some more magic for 8 more wins!! 

[tony5775]

Definitely Colorado, Fleury could definitely be trouble in a series. Not to mention Patches and Stone. No reason we cannot keep Colorado’s  top line in check. 

[habs1952]

Until we meet one of those two teams I think it's kinda hard to really know. I don't really care who it is because after KK's overtime goal in game 6 the Habs are on a mission.

[PuckPundit]

   at those who chose the "I don't care" option because it's realistically the "correct" answer.  Neither semi-final opponent will alter the outcome of the series .  You know I speak the truth .

Regardless, I'll say Colorado is a better matchup for the Habs.  Vegas plays a similar 'trap' style to the Habs but they're bigger, faster and tougher at it.  MAF can definitely match Price over a series.  In contrast, I'm beginning to sense Grubauer is more of a temporary fad like how Andrew "Hamburglar" Hammond was in Ottawa many years ago.  The Landeskorg-MacKinnon-Rantanen line is Colorado's most dangerous.  And while the Habs might not be able to shut it down as effectively as Vegas had done the last 3 games, the possibility nevertheless exists that it could be shut down.

It's been a fun and enjoyable playoff ride so far, but all parties come to an end.  Because I never expected the Habs to progress so far in the playoffs, there are no expectations and I won't be disappointment when the inevitable comes to roost in the semi-finals. 

[H_T_L]

20 minutes ago, PuckPundit said:

   at those who chose the "I don't care" option because it's realistically the "correct" answer.  Neither semi-final opponent will alter the outcome of the series .  You know I speak the truth .

Regardless, I'll say Colorado is a better matchup for the Habs.  Vegas plays a similar 'trap' style to the Habs but they're bigger, faster and tougher at it.  MAF can definitely match Price over a series.  In contrast, I'm beginning to sense Grubauer is more of a temporary fad like how Andrew "Hamburglar" Hammond was in Ottawa many years ago.  The Landeskorg-MacKinnon-Rantanen line is Colorado's most dangerous.  And while the Habs might not be able to shut it down as effectively as Vegas had done the last 3 games, the possibility nevertheless exists that it could be shut down.

It's been a fun and enjoyable playoff ride so far, but all parties come to an end.  Because I never expected the Habs to progress so far in the playoffs, there are no expectations and I won't be disappointment when the inevitable comes to roost in the semi-finals. 

So what your saying is,,,, it will be a bloodbath. Think i heard that somewhere before.

[BigTed3]

Watching the Col/LV game and I'm flip-flopping on who I'd rather face. Both teams look incredibly fast. We really need there to be more hatred and physicality and injuries coming out of this. Someone put Kadri back in there! Someone get Reaves angry!

[kinot-2]

1 hour ago, H_T_L said:

So what your saying is,,,, it will be a bloodbath. Think i heard that somewhere before.

Nordiques?

[ChiLla]

8 hours ago, BigTed3 said:

Watching the Col/LV game and I'm flip-flopping on who I'd rather face. Both teams look incredibly fast. We really need there to be more hatred and physicality and injuries coming out of this. Someone put Kadri back in there! Someone get Reaves angry!

Didn't catch the whole game but from what I've seen the pace was pretty crazy, we'll need to find a way to slow things down against either team. It's going to be really interesting, hopefully their current series goes to seven games.

[H_T_L]

3 minutes ago, ChiLla said:

Didn't catch the whole game but from what I've seen the pace was pretty crazy, we'll need to find a way to slow things down against either team. It's going to be really interesting, hopefully their current series goes to seven games.

It is a fast paced series but at the same time they don't seem to be trying to slow each other down at all until they enter each other's zones. It's like a slingshot effect going through the neutral zone. The Vegas crowd could help the Knights end this in game 6, which by my calculations means we could be playing as early as Saturday or Sunday.

[MALMACIAN_CRUNCH]

Either matchup is going to be tough. A true test. Has our success so far been a mirage, masked by a substandard level of play in our division as a whole? Or are we, and our North division better than we have been given credit for? Both teams are different beasts, and offer there own unique challenges. I’m just looking forward to getting this thing started!

[BigTed3]

4 hours ago, MALMACIAN_CRUNCH said:

Either matchup is going to be tough. A true test. Has our success so far been a mirage, masked by a substandard level of play in our division as a whole? Or are we, and our North division better than we have been given credit for? Both teams are different beasts, and offer there own unique challenges. I’m just looking forward to getting this thing started!

I don't think it's a mirage in that the team played well down the stretch against Toronto and certainly against Winnipeg. Did we play in a weaker division? Probably. Did we benefit from Tavares and Scheifele being out? Yes. Would we win those two series against those same teams if we had to play them over? Maybe not. We probably could have been eliminated in 5 games against Toronto as easily as we won that series. Even really great teams probably only win 60-70% of games and series that they play in and anything is possible. Winning a Cup requires a balance of skill and a well-built roster but it also requires luck and timing. These guys worked hard and you have role players like Evans, Lehkonen, Edmundson, Chiarot, Staal, Perry, Armia, etc. who played about as well as you could expect them to play, along with more skilled guys like Price and Suzuki and Kotkaniemi and Toffoli who elevated their games when needed. I'd peg our chances of winning the next series at about 40% but anything can happen and I certainly think we've put in a full effort every night. This team is capable of playing well and getting results, especially when Carey is on, so I don't think it's a fluke, I think it's just nice that all the parts of the machine have showed up to play well at the same time. It's a nice change from the inconsistency we've seen over recent years.

[MALMACIAN_CRUNCH]

23 minutes ago, BigTed3 said:

I don't think it's a mirage in that the team played well down the stretch against Toronto and certainly against Winnipeg. Did we play in a weaker division? Probably. Did we benefit from Tavares and Scheifele being out? Yes. Would we win those two series against those same teams if we had to play them over? Maybe not. We probably could have been eliminated in 5 games against Toronto as easily as we won that series. Even really great teams probably only win 60-70% of games and series that they play in and anything is possible. Winning a Cup requires a balance of skill and a well-built roster but it also requires luck and timing. These guys worked hard and you have role players like Evans, Lehkonen, Edmundson, Chiarot, Staal, Perry, Armia, etc. who played about as well as you could expect them to play, along with more skilled guys like Price and Suzuki and Kotkaniemi and Toffoli who elevated their games when needed. I'd peg our chances of winning the next series at about 40% but anything can happen and I certainly think we've put in a full effort every night. This team is capable of playing well and getting results, especially when Carey is on, so I don't think it's a fluke, I think it's just nice that all the parts of the machine have showed up to play well at the same time. It's a nice change from the inconsistency we've seen over recent years.

By mirage I meant in regards to the North division being the weakest of the divisions. We are absolutely the kings of the North, what that’s worth will be determined by this next round