[PST] Quarter Finals: Montreal Canadiens vs. Winnipeg Jets - HABS WIN SERIES 4-0

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by habernac

This is a bogus comment. None of the teams played each other so how can you rate this until they actually play each other?



In the regular season. Which means nothing now.

Have you watched any of the games in the American divisions this year?
I challenge you to one of the games tonight, then watch the Habs-Jets game tomorrow. It's hard to believe it's even the same level of play.

Did you watch the Leafs-Habs game 7? It was like junior hockey when compared to the Islanders-Boston game. By the way, NY and Boston are the worst Americans teams that are still in.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by troutman

You don't think TB, BOS and FLA are much better than EDM,WIN and CGY? Ok.

They were 5th in that division last time (including 9 loser points). Minus 9 goal differential.
https://www.nhl.com/standings/2019/division

Yeah it's not that we are bashing just the Habs for being terrible. It's the entire North Division that was terrible as a whole. The Leafs would still likely make the playoffs in any other division but no other team in the division would.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by troutman

You don't think TB, BOS and FLA are much better than EDM,WIN and CGY? Ok.

They were 5th in that division last time (including 9 loser points). Minus 9 goal differential.
https://www.nhl.com/standings/2019/division

2019 is not now, and I think the Jets are also better than people give them credit for.

FLA I'm not completely sold on. BOS and TB are really good teams.

But of course CGY just sucked this year and E=NG so your general point stands regardless of these nitpicks.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

It’s a split second decision, but I think he could see he wasn’t going to prevent the goal, and could have let up to either lessen the blow or even avoid him. But I’m sure he thought he could deliver a message by”finishing the check”.

I don't believe this was a "split second decision" on Scheifele's part. It sure looks to me like he stops skating the moment he can see that he is not going to beat Evans to the net—still a good 8–10 metres away. He then clearly changes trajectory while still 3 m from the net to plow Evans.

[troutman]

I think he should get one game suspension. No need to blow up a guy when the game is over.

[CalgaryFan1988]

He definitely did more than just try to separate player from puck.

His "who me, what did I do" look after the hit with the injured player laying on the ice beside him shows his character.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Have you watched any of the games in the American divisions this year?
I challenge you to one of the games tonight, then watch the Habs-Jets game tomorrow. It's hard to believe it's even the same level of play.

Did you watch the Leafs-Habs game 7? It was like junior hockey when compared to the Islanders-Boston game. By the way, NY and Boston are the worst Americans teams that are still in.

While I would agree that the pace of play and overall skill level in the remaining US teams looks a lot higher, I would not be surprised at all to see a competitive series once a North team faces one of them.

Look at any Olympics where a super team like Canada faces a Belarus in a quarterfinal and it ends up being a close fought game. Bring in a hot goalie and thats a game changer as well. I kinda doubt we see MTL or WPG get ragdolled in the next round.

[Poster]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

In the regular season at 5v5 they were:

Corsi: 54.5% (2nd)
xGF: 52.93 (10th)

this isnt a real thing, other than with fanboi's.

The game is played on the ice and in real time, not on a spreadsheet.

The only stat that matters is which team had more goals in that game. The summarization of "actions" while they might be interesting are neither a predictor nor a differentiator in the outcomes.

I guess based on your posts, you enjoy the statistical comparisons and thats cool but wish people would stop thinking they are indicators of anything other than "interesting comparisons of irrelevant data".

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by greyshep

While I would agree that the pace of play and overall skill level in the remaining US teams looks a lot higher, I would not be surprised at all to see a competitive series once a North team faces one of them.

Look at any Olympics where a super team like Canada faces a Belarus in a quarterfinal and it ends up being a close fought game. Bring in a hot goalie and thats a game changer as well. I kinda doubt we see MTL or WPG get ragdolled in the next round.

Fair point. At the end of the day, hockey is unpredictable. Even in a 7 games series. It’s possible the Canadian teams can adjust.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Colorado looks like a juggernaut. I mean we still have to play the games but they are just looking a tier above.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by PegCityFlamesFan

Colorado looks like a juggernaut. I mean we still have to play the games but they are just looking a tier above.

Ya, Colorado/TB final seems like a very strong bet.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

It is very possible to skate hard, try to make the hockey play stick on puck, and not explode through a vulnerable player with head as point of contact

Most players would do it

He could have let up or made some attempt to turn but was fully committed to hitting through Evans

Even the last split second when you are loading your weight on a leg and bracing to deliver the hit you have time to stop from that push and elect not to proceed with the hit

They actually showed a play in the Avs-Knights game where the hitter actually communicated to the vulnerable player, and held up somewhat, avoiding a blindside catastrophe.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Fair point. At the end of the day, hockey is unpredictable. Even in a 7 games series. It’s possible the Canadian teams can adjust.

The amount of energy Vegas and the Avs are going to steal from each other may be a factor as well. They both worked their asses off last night. If the series goes long, it will be one exhausted team coming out. Though I guess at some point the Avs will get a well-rested Kadri back.

[transplant99]

Not going to argue the Canadian teams are at the same level as some of the Yankee based teams, but its not as far apart as some are claiming IMO.

Two factors....there is something about the way NBC broadcasts games that certainly makes them seem far more lively and thus when you switch to a SN broadcast, they just seem so dull. Doesnt mean they are slow or bad or whatever, just a perception thing. Thats a part of it albeit a small one.

But the biggest thing is the North division, excepting the Oilers and Leafs funnily enough, play a defense first system which always stifles speed through the middle of the ice when employed properly. Montreal is really effective at it and Winnipeg plays it well too. Thats something that coaching can affect if they switch the way to attack through neutral zone (dump it in instead of trying to carry it) but niether the Oilers and especially the leafs did that. Once Montreal figured out how to force everything to the outside, the Leafs were hooped because there were no adjustments made. Monbtreal has perfect personnel to play it that way as well because its a hard way to do so. Discipline in assignments and trusting your line mates is imperative and they nail it more often than not. I think its why Ducharme was so hesitant to plug the kids in earlier in the series. Ended up they did that just fine and also added the spark and energy missing in the offensive end. Last night was a continuation of that but the Jets did start to adjust. Price was really good though...and the difference for at least game 1.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ya, Colorado/TB final seems like a very strong bet.

Thing is, both of them won game 2 despite being outplayed for most of the game. Which I guess is what championship teams do, and a 2-0 hole might be a bridge too far against either of them. But they're not obviously better than their opponents in the series they're in. TB's advantage is entirely goaltending-derived.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think he should get one game suspension. No need to blow up a guy when the game is over.

I just can't onside with that view. It's the second round of the playoffs, and you think that he should basically just let him score? I mean it was a devastating hit, but his feet never left the ground and he basically coasts in from center (or takes a stride or two). He has to keep his head up, and there's no way you can expect them to just give him a goal.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just can't onside with that view. It's the second round of the playoffs, and you think that he should basically just let him score? I mean it was a devastating hit, but his feet never left the ground and he basically coasts in from center (or takes a stride or two). He has to keep his head up, and there's no way you can expect them to just give him a goal.

He did just give him the goal. He did nothing to try and prevent it.

And "coasts in from centre"? Come on. Maybe from the hash marks, and then only so he can brace for a hit. If he was really trying to stop a goal why coast from centre?

[Poster]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just can't onside with that view. It's the second round of the playoffs, and you think that he should basically just let him score? I mean it was a devastating hit, but his feet never left the ground and he basically coasts in from center (or takes a stride or two). He has to keep his head up, and there's no way you can expect them to just give him a goal.

it was a vicious hit, but didnt Evans have puck on stick at time of contact? how is that not a hockey play? i know everyone is up in arms so i feel like i am missing something.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Poster

it was a vicious hit, but didnt Evans have puck on stick at time of contact? how is that not a hockey play? i know everyone is up in arms so i feel like i am missing something.

The puck was well into the goal. Freeze this at 8-10 seconds.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1400289054399287296

[greyshep]

The thing that strikes me is how watching the hit in real time looked dirtier than it does in the slow motion replays. Normally it seems like we get upset at the slow motion replays as it exposes elbows coming up, head contact, etc. Not in this case though.