Eklund: The Media's Lack of Respect for Montreal is Baffling! Series Preview....
- Eklund

That's because Montreal is not the center of the universe. Ottawa is closer.

First of all, you neglect to mention the fact that Ottawa has beat Montreal 3/4 times this year, plus twice in the pre-season- which probably doesn't hold any weight.

Second of all, they made pretty quick work out of Carey Price in 2013 when all of the experts said the same things you are now about Carey Price. I'll give you the fact that he's had a fantastic year, but they have some confidence knowing that they've done it before.

Third- Montreal, outside of Carey Price, is not a very good team. This is especially true when they take away their bonafide goal scorer in Pacioretty. They have the lowest goal totals of any team in the playoffs.

Fourth- a lot of the guys you mentioned having "no playoff experience" were a part of the 2013 team that beat the Habs- especially Pageau who had a hat trick in one of the games.



Get your facts straight
- Jordo

Phew, Sens in 3.

First of all, you neglect to mention the fact that Ottawa has beat Montreal 3/4 times this year, plus twice in the pre-season- which probably doesn't hold any weight.

Second of all, they made pretty quick work out of Carey Price in 2013 when all of the experts said the same things you are now about Carey Price. I'll give you the fact that he's had a fantastic year, but they have some confidence knowing that they've done it before.

Third- Montreal, outside of Carey Price, is not a very good team. This is especially true when they take away their bonafide goal scorer in Pacioretty. They have the lowest goal totals of any team in the playoffs.

Fourth- a lot of the guys you mentioned having "no playoff experience" were a part of the 2013 team that beat the Habs- especially Pageau who had a hat trick in one of the games.



Get your facts straight
- Jordo

Please keep the disrespect for Montreal in the Misc. Forum. Thank you.

"The Sens have found snipers like Stone and Zibanejad, Hoffman, and even Pageau...but none have played in the playoffs. None have faced the pressure. "
- Eklund

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Pageau score a hatrick against Montreal the last time these two teams played in the playoffs?

I get what you're going for with the whole little experience but scoring 3 as a rookie in the playoffs seems to show that he was ok with the pressure (I am completely bias though).
- JoelytheGoalie

Now I remember why I stopped visiting this website.

Come on......i'm trying to start a fire here.
- willey101

It works better when you don't immediately fire your own comments into the sun.

Agreed, advanced stats are the be all end all of this game

So many average players in this league get great corsi stats...besides, the Habs' system get very little recognization, just like Markov. I would be nervous against the Bolts/Rags, not the Sens.
- Habsody

You sound a lot like your typical Leaf fan circa 2013.

It works better when you don't immediately fire your own comments into the sun.
- BINGO!

I'm just in an antagonizing type of mood.

What game were you watching??? The sens were great on Saturday. Or are you the kind of guy that believes shots mean everything??

Phew, Sens in 3.
- Habsody

Not saying that at all- it's going to be a great series, for sure. Habs should have a chip on their shoulder from 2013 and the Sens are riding a pretty impressive streak.

However, I think Ek is missing quite a few important points in his cheerleading effort here.

Despite and unbelievable record down the stretch the Sens made it into the playoffs on the final day of the season, and honestly only could be in such a position because the Bruins and Penguins struggled mightily in the second half.

Are you kidding me?

The Sens got into the playoffs with 99pts.

While other teams struggled down the stretch, that doesn't change the fact the Sens got 99pts. If it wasn't the Pens and Bruins struggling, it would have been someone else.

When is the last time a team with 99 pts missed the playoffs?

Oh yeah.. Never.

The Sens got in on their own merit and not because someone else struggled.

not sure i get the whole "pressure is off Ottawa now" thing. so they'd be OK with that historic, once-in-a-generation run resulting in nothing more than a quick first round exit? if that's the case then they will make a swift exit. but i'm sure it's not.

as for the lack of respect afforded the Habs... we're in an era where any success is automatically discredited if it's not accompanied by at least top-10 possession metric ratings. it's why everyone is finding excuses for LA and Montreal isn't taken seriously. at the end of the day, who cares. the playoffs will bare the truth one way or the other.

The lack of respeck, while frustrating as a fan to hear, has been going on all year with our new overlords Sportsnet. They have had Ryan Dixon covering the Habs and he would only show up online after the Habs lost a game to preach his advanced stats sermon and say the Habs can't be this good. All year the leafs have made it into the conversation on the Habs telecasts (even when they weren't playing).

No big chg here, just moved the bandwagon up the 401 and a bit west. It's ok though, with the way ppl are talking I'll be shocked if Montreal even comes out of the dressing room! From whet I've been reading and hearing on tv it sounds like the Habs might as well concede and save us all the time! Obviously I'm being sarcastic, but that's ok. Keep underestimating the Canadiens. They were underestimated all the way to 2nd overall and have a player who should be nominated for the Selke (Pacioretty), the Norris (PK), and the vezina/Hart (Price). Nope. Not a good group at all
- SmielmaN

Im a SENS fan, and I think they will have there hands full with Price. He is that good and can steal a few games for sure. That said, no way PK gets the Norris over EK. The year PK won was only because EK had his ankle severed, otherwise it would've been his again, he was on pace to run away with it that year. The guy is the best in the game by far. Don't need to be physical, his positioning, speed, timing and every other ability is simply insane. He will log an easy 27-30 minutes a night and not even blink an eye. I think if MTL wins, it will be because Price allows little to nothing by him... I don't see any other way to be honest...

Hi Eklund. I joined your site today, thanks for the article. I agreed to the points as i also felt montreal has been a much more consistent and relaxed team having less pressures and ups and downs with lots of play off experience.


What will be your series to watch for the East Rd1?

Are you kidding me?

The Sens got into the playoffs with 99pts.

While other teams struggled down the stretch, that doesn't change the fact the Sens got 99pts. If it wasn't the Pens and Bruins struggling, it would have been someone else.

When is the last time a team with 99 pts missed the playoffs?

Oh yeah.. Never.

The Sens got in on their own merit and not because someone else struggled.
- Charliebox

point totals are inflated this year. no team has ever missed with as many as Boston had. there are 11 100-point teams.

Hi Eklund. I joined your site today, thanks for the article. I agreed to the points as i also felt montreal has been a much more consistent and relaxed team having less pressures and ups and downs with lots of play off experience.


What will be your series to watch for the East Rd1?
- mklass489

And... You're Creepy.

Hi Eklund. I joined your site today, thanks for the article. I agreed to the points as i also felt montreal has been a much more consistent and relaxed team having less pressures and ups and downs with lots of play off experience.


What will be your series to watch for the East Rd1?
- mklass489

Quit while you still have a chance

You sound a lot like your typical Leaf fan circa 2013.
- 1979AD

Oh plz, i would have agree on the Habs lack of offense, especially if Pax is out. But suggesting the Habs aren't that good according to advanced stats? They must be doing something good having back to back 105+ pts season isn't it? Oh yeah, all Price

not sure i get the whole "pressure is off Ottawa now" thing. so they'd be OK with that historic, once-in-a-generation run resulting in nothing more than a quick first round exit? if that's the case then they will make a swift exit. but i'm sure it's not.

as for the lack of respect afforded the Habs... we're in an era where any success is automatically discredited if it's not accompanied by at least top-10 possession metric ratings. it's why everyone is finding excuses for LA and Montreal isn't taken seriously. at the end of the day, who cares. the playoffs will bare the truth one way or the other.
- DoubleDown

Why would they have pressure? The team MTL built was expected to go far.... Ottawa's wasn't. They had a great run and fans here are proud of that. If they went out first round, nobody would really be that mad. If MTL went out first round, chaos. Thats what people mean when they say there is no pressure.

MTL is expected to win. Ottawa, were just fine if they don't.

Hi Eklund. I joined your site today, thanks for the article. I agreed to the points as i also felt montreal has been a much more consistent and relaxed team having less pressures and ups and downs with lots of play off experience.


What will be your series to watch for the East Rd1?
- mklass489

Make sure you buy a season ticket. Well worth the investment.

point totals are inflated this year. no team has ever missed with as many as Boston had. there are 11 100-point teams.
- DoubleDown

Yep, but that doesn't change the fact that the Sens got in with 99pts.

Point totals were inflated because of all the 'tanking', but to claim that a team with one point shy of 100 only got in cause other teams struggled is ludicrous.

Washington was struggling for awhile and turned it around. The Isles backed their way into the playoffs.

The teams in the East played each other down the stretch. If it wasn't the Bruins the Sens caught with 99 pts, it would have been someone else.

Oh plz, i would have agree on the Habs lack of offense, especially if Pax is out. But suggesting the Habs aren't that good according to advanced stats? They must be doing something good having back to back 105+ pts season isn't it? Oh yeah, all Price
- Habsody

I think you nailed it.

Price has has a .890 save per centage coming down the stretch (last 6 games). He has played a lot this year.

Eklund: The Media's Lack of Respect for Montreal is Baffling! Series Preview....
- Eklund

Toronto's post mortem will generate more TSN attention than the OTT/MTL series.

Why would they have pressure? The team MTL built was expected to go far.... Ottawa's wasn't. They had a great run and fans here are proud of that. If they went out first round, nobody would really be that mad. If MTL went out first round, chaos. Thats what people mean when they say there is no pressure.

MTL is expected to win. Ottawa, were just fine if they don't.
- BodyCheckRadio

A) you've missed the point. they are ranked higher but Montreal is not expected to win. that was Ek's main point.
B) so you're talking about fan/media pressure. OK that i agree with. but to think that the players are just happy to be there and don't feel any pressure... not the case. Montreal fans having higher expectations than Ottawa fans has no bearing on the actual outcome.