Hugo Brossoit: Habs fail to clinch amidst Demidov Mania

great blog!

should i wear the habs hat while the flyers play the jackets?

great blog!

should i wear the habs hat while the flyers play the jackets?
- kicksave856

Feels like it can't hurt!

WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU KICK!

tks Hugo!

a few notes,

They were playing at home, inside a jam packed Bell Centre that has solidified its reputation as one of, if not the best crowd in the NHL since the 4 nations tournament.

that has solidified its reputation of the best crowd in the NHL. period.

I’m personally a big fan of entering the playoffs “by the big door”, winning the games you need to win and not waiting for the other teams to fail.

every team play 82 games, the ones with the best record at the end get in the playoffs. doesn't matter if you won in October or in April. Habs could lose tomorrow and would still enter by the big door.

tks Hugo!

a few notes,

They were playing at home, inside a jam packed Bell Centre that has solidified its reputation as one of, if not the best crowd in the NHL since the 4 nations tournament.

that has solidified its reputation of the best crowd in the NHL. period.

I’m personally a big fan of entering the playoffs “by the big door”, winning the games you need to win and not waiting for the other teams to fail.


every team play 82 games, the ones with the best record at the end get in the playoffs. doesn't matter if you won in October or in April. Habs could lose tomorrow and would still enter by the big door.
- fidopro

Pretty sure they enter by a side entrance to avoid the crowd.

Feels like it can't hurt!

WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU KICK!
- Scabeh

i will try my best!

hugo, it really is a great blog.

tks Hugo!

a few notes,

They were playing at home, inside a jam packed Bell Centre that has solidified its reputation as one of, if not the best crowd in the NHL since the 4 nations tournament.

that has solidified its reputation of the best crowd in the NHL. period.

I’m personally a big fan of entering the playoffs “by the big door”, winning the games you need to win and not waiting for the other teams to fail.

every team play 82 games, the ones with the best record at the end get in the playoffs. doesn't matter if you won in October or in April. Habs could lose tomorrow and would still enter by the big door.
- fidopro

I hear you about the Bell Centre, but I do feel that since the 4 nations, it's been talked about more and more around the NHL of how amazing the atmosphere is in that building.

Of course if you make the playoffs after 82 games, you're deserving and I get what you're saying, but I do feel there's a big difference between entering the playoffs on a winning streak after fighting for your life than making it after 4 straight losses because the other team tumbled at the finish line.

You're still deserving, you've still won the race, just not kicking the door down saying you've arrived.

hugo, it really is a great blog.
- kicksave856

Thanks man. Little different from usual since I was at the Bell Centre yesterday so you get a different feeling to the game. Glad you liked it.

Lucky bastard was at the game

Really nice blog Hugo. The only thing I will add is that while the Hawks haven't been playing for the playoffs, they dressed 11 skaters 23 or younger - many of which were just signed after their college seasons ended in the last 2-3 weeks.

As opposed to playing for "pride" like some teams do in this situation, the Hawks are simply trying to start building an identity of (finally) playing fast aggressive hockey. They make plenty of mistakes, but they are playing a completely different brand of hockey than they have for most of the season. So while technically nothing to play for, it's not like they were going to be sleep-walking through this game.

Cheers, and I'm pulling for the Habs to get in!

Thanks man. Little different from usual since I was at the Bell Centre yesterday so you get a different feeling to the game. Glad you liked it.

- Scabeh

i thought about you when he scored. must have been an amazing feeling being there going nuts with like 20,000 people all feeling the same way.

Really nice blog Hugo. The only thing I will add is that while the Hawks haven't been playing for the playoffs, they dressed 11 skaters 23 or younger - many of which were just signed after their college seasons ended in the last 2-3 weeks.

As opposed to playing for "pride" like some teams do in this situation, the Hawks are simply trying to start building an identity of (finally) playing fast aggressive hockey. They make plenty of mistakes, but they are playing a completely different brand of hockey than they have for most of the season. So while technically nothing to play for, it's not like they were going to be sleep-walking through this game.

Cheers, and I'm pulling for the Habs to get in!
- Chunk

chunk, hello.

chunk, hello.
- kicksave856

loved these back in the day.

Will only read the blog if the Habs clinch a playoff spot.

Really nice blog Hugo. The only thing I will add is that while the Hawks haven't been playing for the playoffs, they dressed 11 skaters 23 or younger - many of which were just signed after their college seasons ended in the last 2-3 weeks.

As opposed to playing for "pride" like some teams do in this situation, the Hawks are simply trying to start building an identity of (finally) playing fast aggressive hockey. They make plenty of mistakes, but they are playing a completely different brand of hockey than they have for most of the season. So while technically nothing to play for, it's not like they were going to be sleep-walking through this game.

Cheers, and I'm pulling for the Habs to get in!
- Chunk

Well that certainly explains why they had more jump to their game than you'd expect from a team ending their season at the bottom of the standings.

Great showing by many of the Hawks young players really. Felt like Nazar was everyone on the ice.

Also liked Levshunov's game. Nothing flashy but solid all around. He's gonna be a first pairing guy for the Hawks defense for a long time imho.

Well that certainly explains why they had more jump to their game than you'd expect from a team ending their season at the bottom of the standings.

Great showing by many of the Hawks young players really. Felt like Nazar was everyone on the ice.

Also liked Levshunov's game. Nothing flashy but solid all around. He's gonna be a first pairing guy for the Hawks defense for a long time imho.
- Scabeh

So Nazar is a shapeshifter?

So Nazar is a shapeshifter?
- MortChicken

Between that and making the puck disappear in the shootout, certainly a practioner of the dark arts.

loved these back in the day.

Will only read the blog if the Habs clinch a playoff spot.
- AGalchenyuk27

we didn't have those.

we're right next to each other, why are so many things different?!

Between that and making the puck disappear in the shootout, certainly a practioner of the dark arts.
- Scabeh

That was really funny, I saw it go in the first line, I was confused as (frank) when Gallagher started yelling at the refs.

What were they arguing? That Laine should redo his shot or that the call on the ice should stand?

That was really funny, I saw it go in the first line, I was confused as (frank) when Gallagher started yelling at the refs.

What were they arguing? That Laine should redo his shot or that the call on the ice should stand?
- MortChicken

No idea. The puck went in, they even managed to dislodge it before the Hawks second shot.

There was nothing to argue about.

Well that certainly explains why they had more jump to their game than you'd expect from a team ending their season at the bottom of the standings.

Great showing by many of the Hawks young players really. Felt like Nazar was everyone on the ice.

Also liked Levshunov's game. Nothing flashy but solid all around. He's gonna be a first pairing guy for the Hawks defense for a long time imho.
- Scabeh

I'm a big fan of Levshunov (and Demidov as well for that matter). I keep telling people on the Chicago board not to get tricked by his demeanor on the ice. There are times where it looks like he is disengaged and "doesn't care". It's simply the fact that his skating is effortless and it's like he can just pivot and get to the spot he wants. He needs to clean up some of his reads and get a better understanding of his teammates around him, but I think he'll be great.

The funny thing is that with all the shiny new objects on the team, many are ignoring or even discounting Bedard. He's had some ups and downs for sure, but he's almost caught in the wash.

Getting back to the Habs, I'm really impressed with how strong Slafkovsky is, and obviously can't say enough about Hutson. It sure is a fun team to watch.

Do you all view Dach going down as a major blow, or was he viewed as relatively easy to replace?

chunk, hello.
- kicksave856

Sup.

I'm a big fan of Levshunov (and Demidov as well for that matter). I keep telling people on the Chicago board not to get tricked by his demeanor on the ice. There are times where it looks like he is disengaged and "doesn't care". It's simply the fact that his skating is effortless and it's like he can just pivot and get to the spot he wants. He needs to clean up some of his reads and get a better understanding of his teammates around him, but I think he'll be great.

The funny thing is that with all the shiny new objects on the team, many are ignoring or even discounting Bedard. He's had some ups and downs for sure, but he's almost caught in the wash.

Getting back to the Habs, I'm really impressed with how strong Slafkovsky is, and obviously can't say enough about Hutson. It sure is a fun team to watch.

Do you all view Dach going down as a major blow, or was he viewed as relatively easy to replace?
- Chunk

The version of Kirby Dach we got this season is easy to replace. Newhook has slotted in and isn't looking any worse.

I think the real major blow is realizing Dach is likely not the 2nd line centre we needed him to be. He could still turn things around and I'm cheering for him but it's been a really disappointing season by him, even considering his long term injury last year.

One more year on his contract to prove he can be part of the solution moving forward, until then, Habs management will look for a guy to play on that 2nd line instead of Dach.

The version of Kirby Dach we got this season is easy to replace. Newhook has slotted in and isn't looking any worse.

I think the real major blow is realizing Dach is likely not the 2nd line centre we needed him to be. He could still turn things around and I'm cheering for him but it's been a really disappointing season by him, even considering his long term injury last year.

One more year on his contract to prove he can be part of the solution moving forward, until then, Habs management will look for a guy to play on that 2nd line instead of Dach.
- Scabeh

It's Malkin until Hage is ready

It's Malkin until Hage is ready
- MortChicken

Could be it.

Even if Malkin has lost many, many steps.