Martin Holland Smith are going to get eaten alive I think
- ClarksonDavid

I doubt it Holland/Martin have been holding their own....more like Rielly/Z/Hunwick will be chewed up and spit out. ( hoping not )

Habs are a good team. Pretty hard to dispute that, I don't see them as a cup team but they're playoff team forsure.. unless...
- ClarksonDavid

Yep...pretty much Price or bust.

Yep...pretty much Price or bust.
- Garnie

With Price, I think the Habs can compete with the best of them, even dream of a cup.

Without him? Montoya is better than Condon... maybe they wouldn't collapse like they did last year.... but they won't win it at all for sure.

Well Subban's Corsi is terrible now...I guess it was Price propping him up.
- Garnie

Well, that or an appropriate sample size...

still think were goona see a D coming in at some point !! morning!

I doubt it Holland/Martin have been holding their own....more like Rielly/Z/Hunwick will be chewed up and spit out. ( hoping not )
- Garnie

Switching Smith with Brown makes that line quite a bit worse imo, Tampa is fast, Martin won't keep up. He hasn't done much of anything, nice to see them getting him to start killing penaltys though makes him a little more useful if he can turn into a good PK guy... Rielly and Zaitsev are going to have a tough night I think

Martin Holland Smith are going to get eaten alive I think
- ClarksonDavid

Looks like a 4th line should to me.

Well, that or an appropriate sample size...
- lumlums

true...but it's all we got right now.

still think were goona see a D coming in at some point !! morning!
- Lucas Neilson

Switching Smith with Brown makes that line quite a bit worse imo, Tampa is fast, Martin won't keep up. He hasn't done much of anything, nice to see them getting him to start killing penaltys though makes him a little more useful if he can turn into a good PK guy... Rielly and Zaitsev are going to have a tough night I think
- ClarksonDavid

Martin doesn't have a reputation for being slow. Stone hands sure, but slow? nah. And Smith is fine, and regardless, it's the fourth line. They'll see like 8 minutes tops.

What I think is more important is the Kadri, Komarov line just got faster with the addition of Brown.

Switching Smith with Brown makes that line quite a bit worse imo, Tampa is fast, Martin won't keep up. He hasn't done much of anything, nice to see them getting him to start killing penaltys though makes him a little more useful if he can turn into a good PK guy... Rielly and Zaitsev are going to have a tough night I think
- ClarksonDavid

I've had to miss most of the last 3 games. What's been the glaring issues? Clearly not offense. Team D? Or just the D?

- lumlums

<3 good morning my tender one

true...but it's all we got right now.
- Garnie

Which is why we don't jump to any conclusions yet...

My boy eichiefs is the best
- AdamFrench

careful provoking the Sabre faithful today... apparently Lehner is hurt/sick .... there's gonna be some head busting!

I've had to miss most of the last 3 games. What's been the glaring issues? Clearly not offense. Team D? Or just the D?
- markmark

The third period.

Switching Smith with Brown makes that line quite a bit worse imo, Tampa is fast, Martin won't keep up. He hasn't done much of anything, nice to see them getting him to start killing penaltys though makes him a little more useful if he can turn into a good PK guy... Rielly and Zaitsev are going to have a tough night I think
- ClarksonDavid

meh...Martin hasnt hurt us at least....he'll be fine, more worried about the other lines to be honest. Need to get Kadri's line going and hopefully the Matthews line doesnt get hemmed in too much against TB.

careful provoking the Sabre faithful today... apparently Lehner is hurt/sick .... there's gonna be some head busting!
- BorjeFan4Ever

Which is why we don't jump to any conclusions yet...
- lumlums

I still think Habs better with Weber than Subban ( for the moment )

But who knows...the year is young.

The third period.
- mykokes

So true

meh...Martin hasnt hurt us at least....he'll be fine, more worried about the other lines to be honest. Need to get Kadri's line going and hopefully the Matthews line doesnt get hemmed in too much against TB.
- Garnie

This is just an observation...the Matthews line doesn't have issues with speed. It's facing size and structure in their own zone. I think the Matthews line gets the Johnson line tonight and shines.

I've had to miss most of the last 3 games. What's been the glaring issues? Clearly not offense. Team D? Or just the D?
- markmark

Little bit of everything when it comes to the 3rd period.

Goaltending/D/forwards getting it out....mostly nerves I'm hoping.

This is just an observation...the Matthews line doesn't have issues with speed. It's facing size and structure in their own zone. I think the Matthews line gets the Johnson line tonight and shines.
- mykokes

It doesnt help when the wingers play soft and scared in their own end.

Nylander that 1 game...just kept tipping up the boards to their D so he wouldnt get hit....I'm sure they'll get it rolling and at least they're scoring.

Little bit of everything when it comes to the 3rd period.

Goaltending/D/forwards getting it out....mostly nerves I'm hoping.
- Garnie

I know this is cliche, but with 2/3's of the team being new to eachother, they need a little more time figuring out eachothers strengths and weaknesses. THus far they're riding their talent and what got them to the NHL.

It doesnt help when the wingers play soft and scared in their own end.

Nylander that 1 game...just kept tipping up the boards to their D so he wouldnt get hit....I'm sure they'll get it rolling and at least they're scoring.
- Garnie

Maybe that's him trying to play it safe and keep the high risk moves to a minimum. He's 27 games into his NHL career with mostly new linemates and teamates. As this season goes on, I'm sure he'll figure out the right way to play.

There will still be pain...but enjoy the show.