Ok here is a try
Goal 1. Look at the play by Myers and Giroux on the first goal.
Cross-ice pass by Suzuki to Gallagher. Covered by Myers, who has good position. But (this will be a theme), The smaller Gallagher doubles back, completely flat-footing Myers (who has problems with quick change of directions in a small space, as Barzal showed us). Forwards are not expecting Myers to get beat so bad, they are relaxed, and Giroux completely loses Tatar who slides in from way out to score.
- PT21
The entire idea of AV's overload zone system is to have layers of defense and to overload and out man the opposition on the puck. Notice how the ice is cut in half vertically and all Flyers are on the puck side. Defenseman are occasionally going to be beat. I disagree that Myers has problems with quick changes of direction. That is false. Barzal has made a lot of defenseman whiff. Sanheim is able to help out with Gallagher. It's a BS excuse to say that the forwards are not expecting it. Giroux fell asleep and was puck watching.
Goal 2. Look at Braun, Ghost on second goal.
Play starts with a stupid turnover by Hart, who has no business going back there under pressure when that is not his strength. Hart loses his stick. Bit of a cluster(frank), with pucks being batted out of the air. A little confusion, with Couts and Braun going towards the same player (Domi).
Ghost is left alone in the crease and has terrible positioning. One MTL player gets behind him (Kotkaniemi) and he goes after the other (Lehkonen). He falls to his knees and is beaten as Lehkonen is able to complete a pass he should not have been able to make to an open Kotkaniemi. Ghost ended up doing nothing to impair either.
- PT21
I disagree that Hart has no business making a play on the puck. It was the correct read jut not executed. Gostisbehere got knocked down and really was hung out to dry on the play. Also it's a safe that should be made.
Goal 4. Look at Pitlick and Braun.
Pitlick cannot get puck in deep at the red line. Players are heading off on a line change. Turnover again.
Arnia races down the left, Braun is on him. Again, Arnia doubles back, and Braun ends up overplaying badly. Arnia gets a pass off, and it deflects off Ghost's skate. Lucky goal. (Bullpoop to Arnia aiming for Ghost's angled skate for a bank). That was a pass.
- PT21
Braun was fine on that play. he had his man to the outside and contained. Just bad luck.
Goal 5. Look at the timing off the line change on the pp!
Why is everybody going off on a line change when Canadiens have possession near their own blue line on a pp?! Because they underestimate how quick this team is.
To a certain extent, overall theme is:
- PT21
Nothing to do with underestimating. Laughton changed because he had no stick. Niskanen tried to change because he was playing with another players stick.
