They are not SLOWER...

Bigger, faster, more physical.
- TouenneTiiTree

In 2005 they were definitely slower.

EDIT: or whenever the lockout was.

Hooking still gets called. But if it is a good Lacrosse hack its okay. At least according the calls that are being made.

Habs get away with a lot of that too. Subban is always using his stick.

The interference is bad now too, guys slowing down forecheckers in a puck race or trying to pressure the guy with the puck. I think if a guy alters another guys skating path it should be interference every time. Unless he has his feet planted and was already occupying that space.

But the league is what it is, that is why I don't see a future on this team for guys like Desharnais or even Plekanecs unless one or the other is centering the third line.

Those Western teams all have size up the middle and seemed to control the play for the better part of 3 full games.
- blarneylad

That's a little extreme. A defender is entitled to a certain amount of space on the ice, and he is entitled to skate in a direction and manner which is reasonably perceived to be making a play on the attacker and/or puck. If you're referring to making a guy who doesn't have the puck alter his skating course, then I agree, because the forechecker is also entitled to a reasonable amount of space on the ice and entitled to skate in a straight line.

How about a trial of:
67-14-51 (MT won't ever seperate his little pet from Pacioretty again and we know DD can't play defensively, so having 2 defensive guys with him will help).

27-81-11 - EGG time is overdue
22-25-21
17-32-8

How about a trial of:
67-14-51 (MT won't ever seperate his little pet from Pacioretty again and we know DD can't play defensively, so having 2 defensive guys with him will help).

27-81-11 - EGG time is overdue
22-25-21
17-32-8
- Puckers

How about a trial of:
67-14-51 (MT won't ever seperate his little pet from Pacioretty again and we know DD can't play defensively, so having 2 defensive guys with him will help).

27-81-11 - EGG time is overdue
22-25-21
17-32-8
- Puckers

You know Desharnais is +22 and Pac a league leading +36. I doubt they are having defensive difficulties.

All I keep thinking is Albert Haynesworth
- DoubleDown

He was fat and lazy. Suh may be crazy, but he never takes a play off.

You know Desharnais is +22 and Pac a league leading +36. I doubt they are having defensive difficulties.
- Fredobface

Go watch Carter's goal from last night.

From Bruce Arthur - Toronto Star:

Montreal's even-strength Corsi: 48.64 (23rd in League). EDM: 48.45 (24th). AZ: 48.96 (22nd).

MTL's ES save %: 93.38 (1st). EDM: 89.70 (30th). AZ: 90.37 (28th)

" Carey Price for Hart!"

"Of course, you could also argue that Price is costing them McDavid. Least Valuable Player"

Go watch Carter's goal from last night.
- hscesq

Yeah he missed his assignement on that one.

From Bruce Arthur - Toronto Star:

Montreal's even-strength Corsi: 48.64 (23rd in League). EDM: 48.45 (24th). AZ: 48.96 (22nd).

MTL's ES save %: 93.38 (1st). EDM: 89.70 (30th). AZ: 90.37 (28th)

" Carey Price for Hart!"

"Of course, you could also argue that Price is costing them McDavid. Least Valuable Player"
- Puckers

Well, duh.

Yeah he missed his assignement on that one.
- Fredobface

He's not terrible defensively, but I think that's the area where his size is a problem, playing against bigger #1 centers.

It's not the first time Eller has been in the box with just a few minutes to go and cost us a goal. The game against San Jose He was a -2 and another goal was scored when he was in the box!
He flops around like a dying baby seal out there, slipping and falling. it's ugly and getting worse. Send him to the press box! Stop playing him on the 2nd line and hope to get him going, he's not working out. Bring back PAP and give that a whirl - anything is better than Eller. He's not even, he's costing us points all the time.

That's a little extreme. A defender is entitled to a certain amount of space on the ice, and he is entitled to skate in a direction and manner which is reasonably perceived to be making a play on the attacker and/or puck. If you're referring to making a guy who doesn't have the puck alter his skating course, then I agree, because the forechecker is also entitled to a reasonable amount of space on the ice and entitled to skate in a straight line.
- 3M

agree. i thought the hockey coming out of the lockout was brutal. there were games that had 15 minor penalties called and each team was getting 6-7 PPs. i agree that forwards don't have much room today but it's not because of clutching and grabbing like it was 10 years ago. it's because so many teams skate well and play structured defence. it's really, really difficult to break down well-structured defence no matter how great your forwards are.

Go watch Carter's goal from last night.
- hscesq

Wow. You know what Howard? You win this one. This is the most intelligent, most cogent and most indisputable piece of evidence I have ever been up against. I just can't argue against this kind of proof. I'll just tip my cap and move on with my day.

Wow. You know what Howard? You win this one. This is the most intelligent, most cogent and most indisputable piece of evidence I have ever been up against. I just can't argue against this kind of proof. I'll just tip my cap and move on with my day.
- _nay_

zzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

zzzzzzzzzzzzz.....
- hscesq

Pretty much.

He's not terrible defensively, but I think that's the area where his size is a problem, playing against bigger #1 centers.
- hscesq

Yeah let's say he won't win a physical battle against Jeff Carter anytime soon. His forechecking skills are not that good either because of it, he doesn't have Gallagher's tenacity.

But give him a little open ice and he'll find those open lanes like the third goal. He also improved on his faceoffs, that clear win led to Gilbert's goal.

Thanks nay, was having a not-so-bad day, and then finally gave me another good reason to nurture my hate towards you.
- hscesq

fixed

Gilbert scored a beauty last night

fixed
- Symba007

From Bruce Arthur - Toronto Star:

Montreal's even-strength Corsi: 48.64 (23rd in League). EDM: 48.45 (24th). AZ: 48.96 (22nd).

MTL's ES save %: 93.38 (1st). EDM: 89.70 (30th). AZ: 90.37 (28th)

" Carey Price for Hart!"

"Of course, you could also argue that Price is costing them McDavid. Least Valuable Player"
- Puckers

What I take from this is that Corsi and Fenwick are meaningless.

They simply do not work consistently enough on a sample size of one team and are WAY less meaningful on a sample size of a single player.

Gilbert scored a beauty last night
- Symba007

Little help from the official, but was impressive.

Brian Flynn has got as many points as Lars Eller.

An no one knew who Brian Flynn was until a few days ago.
- TouenneTiiTree

nice observation !

Wow. You know what Howard? You win this one. This is the most intelligent, most cogent and most indisputable piece of evidence I have ever been up against. I just can't argue against this kind of proof. I'll just tip my cap and move on with my day.
- _nay_

Sarcasm?

agree. i thought the hockey coming out of the lockout was brutal. there were games that had 15 minor penalties called and each team was getting 6-7 PPs. i agree that forwards don't have much room today but it's not because of clutching and grabbing like it was 10 years ago. it's because so many teams skate well and play structured defence. it's really, really difficult to break down well-structured defence no matter how great your forwards are.
- DoubleDown

I couldn't agree more.