In other words, let's not start engaging in oral congress on each other just yet.
- GalacticStone

You can oral congregate all you want, but I don't play that game.

All of this means zero.

The regular season is an extension of the pre-season.

The playoffs are the only games that matter. Get into the playoffs and the season starts.

You can make observations during the regular season, but all of that goes out the window in the playoffs. Every team starts with a clean slate.

Sure, we have dominated Montreal in three games this season - but let's not forget, this team embarassed us in the playoffs last year when the games mattered. Even though we had Swiss Cheese Lindback in net, we still didn't look great in any of those losses - it's not like we lost solely because of Lindback. We hung Lindback out to dry.
- GalacticStone

90% Lindback and our lack of confidence in him.

I did - thats why i made a bunch of statements after saying i didnt think it looked like total dominance. I like advanced stats but you have to watch games too as any stat in a complete vacuum is not that useful.

Like i said i think there were several instances where the bolts got 3,4,5 quick shots in a row that werent necessarily good scoring chances but make the difference in play based on coris look much more dramatic.

I watched the game with a bolts fan and he was surprised at the end by the shot differential because it didnt seem to jive completely with what we perceived as a fairly well played game.

Just my opinion.
- DirtyDozen

Agreed, Montreal had the better of the first period for sure.

You can oral congregate all you want, but I don't play that game.
- Artyukhin76

LOL. Old obscure movie quote. Bonus points for recognizing it.

No not saying engrave the cup now , just saying that if this is how Montreal always plays then get ready for an early playoff exit whether you play Tampa or not cause you didn't play very well

My observations...

Coburn was stellar last night.

With the increased role wow did Drouin impress. His vision of the ice around him is truly astonishing. Also how many times did he make a play on the backcheck last night? Small plays but huge in limiting Montreal's zone time and scoring chances

Kucherov continues to mature. Something I haven't seen mentioned very much is how much stronger he is this season. Also not mentioned much is how defensively responsible he is. Hopefully Drouin can follow his path into next year and if so, wow will our offense be stupid good

Price further cemented his Hart

Sustr is scary but he played a darn good game last night. Barberio as well

The save Price made on Calahan was dynamite, however Cally scuffed the shot so that has to be taken into account. The save by Bishop in the 2nd was just as big of a save. Honestly I felt like both of them were trying to match each other last night. Obviously Price made more saves but both were at their best.

This was as close to a playoff game without being a playoff game. Intense on TV so I can only imagine the intensity at the Bell Centre

No not saying engrave the cup now , just saying that if this is how Montreal always plays then get ready for an early playoff exit whether you play Tampa or not cause you didn't play very well
- RileyB77

I'll wait and see. Goalies win playoff series. Just look at round one last year. Price played amazing, Bishop was on the IR.
Not saying Bishop is going to be on the IR again... but can Price outplay him?

I'll wait and see. Goalies win playoff series. Just look at round one last year. Price played amazing, Bishop was on the IR.
Not saying Bishop is going to be on the IR again... but can Price outplay him?
- mlindsay

You do realize that Carey "almighty" Price allowed 10 goals in those four games against us right? Or did that slip your mind? That's a 2.50 GAA!!!!

You do realize that Carey "almighty" Price allowed 10 goals in those four games against us right? Or did that slip your mind? That's a 2.50 GAA!!!!
- Artyukhin76

yup.
So we'll just expect that to happen again, right?

10 goals... yup...
-4 in a blowout early in the season
-4 in another game
- two 1 goal OT games.

Much like the "advanced stats" that the blog writer gets hard for, looking at simple numbers without the full picture gives an obscured view.

I'll wait and see. Goalies win playoff series. Just look at round one last year. Price played amazing, Bishop was on the IR.
Not saying Bishop is going to be on the IR again... but can Price outplay him?
- mlindsay

Why is Bishop being mentioned when talking about the playoffs last year?

See: Lindback, Anders if you want to bring up the past. If you want to take into account the "full picture", then by all means look at Lindback's current season and now his current team to get a true reflection on the quality of his goaltending and for that matter legitimacy as an NHL goaltender. Otherwise last year's playoff series should have no effect when comparing a potential matchup this season vs last year.

Why is Bishop being mentioned when talking about the playoffs last year?

See: Lindback, Anders if you want to bring up the past. If you want to take into account the "full picture", then by all means look at Lindback's current season and now his current team to get a true reflection on the quality of his goaltending and for that matter legitimacy as an NHL goaltender. Otherwise last year's playoff series should have no effect when comparing a potential matchup this season vs last year.
- uf1910

Great reading comprehension.
If you look at my comments it's in regards to the fact that Goalies make a difference in the playoffs. I then go on to mention that Bishop was not in fact in the lineup ("on the IR").
Last year Montreal ran a low scoring team to the conference finals. When he was injured the team struggled mightily.

Great reading comprehension.
If you look at my comments it's in regards to the fact that Goalies make a difference in the playoffs. I then go on to mention that Bishop was not in fact in the lineup ("on the IR").
Last year Montreal ran a low scoring team to the conference finals. When he was injured the team struggled mightily.
- mlindsay

Understood and comprehended just fine. Again, based on the fact that goaltenders DO make a difference in the playoffs and last year's goaltender now is leading a tank charge in Buffalo, I fail to see a correlation between last year's matchup and a potential matchup this year. They don't compare at all and that was my point.

yup.
So we'll just expect that to happen again, right?

10 goals... yup...
-4 in a blowout early in the season
-4 in another game
- two 1 goal OT games.

Much like the "advanced stats" that the blog writer gets hard for, looking at simple numbers without the full picture gives an obscured view.
- mlindsay

Go look at the playoffs last season against us smart guy!!!

Understood and comprehended just fine. Again, based on the fact that goaltenders DO make a difference in the playoffs and last year's goaltender now is leading a tank charge in Buffalo, I fail to see a correlation between last year's matchup and a potential matchup this year. They don't compare at all and that was my point.
- uf1910

God.
It's like trying to teach a cat how to knit with you!
I asked the question "Can Price Outplay Bishop?" THIS YEAR.
NOTHING to do with last year, not once did I say it had ANYTHING to do with last years playoffs. I said that he was on the IR so there is NO COMPARABLE to look at.

Go look at the playoffs last season against us smart guy!!!
- Artyukhin76

ok...
but our discussion was in regards to this seasons games to date. Your reference to the fact that there were 10 goals against Price.
So where does last years playoffs play into that?

Is the sun bleaching away brain cells these days?

ok...
but our discussion was in regards to this seasons games to date. Your reference to the fact that there were 10 goals against Price.
So where does last years playoffs play into that?

Is the sun bleaching away brain cells these days?
- mlindsay

This is your quote:
"I'll wait and see. Goalies win playoff series. Just look at round one last year. Price played amazing, Bishop was on the IR.
Not saying Bishop is going to be on the IR again... but can Price outplay him?"

Where is there regular season mentioned?

This is your quote:
"I'll wait and see. Goalies win playoff series. Just look at round one last year. Price played amazing, Bishop was on the IR.
Not saying Bishop is going to be on the IR again... but can Price outplay him?"

Where is there regular season mentioned?
- Artyukhin76

In your response you mentioned this year.
I was actually commenting on those games. Also 10 goals. Again, very subjective stat without the full picture.

God.
It's like trying to teach a cat how to knit with you!
I asked the question "Can Price Outplay Bishop?" THIS YEAR.
NOTHING to do with last year, not once did I say it had ANYTHING to do with last years playoffs. I said that he was on the IR so there is NO COMPARABLE to look at.
- mlindsay

So we agreed the entire time. Maybe you should spend less time trying to teach a cat to knit and more time learning to articulate your point and we could all avoid stupid conversations like this.

See, I can be a condescending ass too

ok...
but our discussion was in regards to this seasons games to date. Your reference to the fact that there were 10 goals against Price.
So where does last years playoffs play into that?

Is the sun bleaching away brain cells these days?
- mlindsay

I believe he meant the bolts scored 10 goals in last years 1st round playoff, meaning price didn't beat the bolts in last years playoffs.

So we agreed the entire time. Maybe you should spend less time trying to teach a cat to knit and more time learning to articulate your point and we could all avoid stupid conversations like this.

See, I can be a condescending ass too
- uf1910

I appologise.
We were in agreement the whole time.
Looks like a discussion in writing has once again caused folks to misunderstand one anothers stance when in person it would have been easy to see.
My bad.

I appologise.
We were in agreement the whole time.
Looks like a discussion in writing has once again caused folks to misunderstand one anothers stance when in person it would have been easy to see.
My bad.
- mlindsay

We all make mistakes, just ask my mom the day I was born.

We all make mistakes, just ask my mom the day I was born.
- Artyukhin76

LOL...
Self-depricating humour...
the best kind!

LOL...
Self-depricating humour...
the best kind!
- mlindsay

I have worked very hard to change by image on hockeybuzz. Whether it does change or not is inconsequential, the effort is what matters to me. I try every day not to be aggressive and insulting, sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail, but I will keep on trying. I now Only pick on myself.

Coburn out 4-6 weeks.
Palat out 2-3 weeks.
Paquette out 10-14 days.

Coburn out 4-6 weeks.
Palat out 2-3 weeks.
Paquette out 10-14 days.
- Michael_Stuart

Ouch. Coburn hurts the worst as he won't be back until playoffs at the earliest. Thankfully it looks like Carle will be back Saturday as we need another vet presence with only Hedman, Stralman, and Garrison healthy right now.