I just can't figure out some of the decisions that are made but they have to try something. It looks like Martin is trying to pull a rabbit of the hat. Who knows... it might work but if Ovechkin ever puts the shoulder into MAB it will the end of that experiment.
I think I finally see what JM has been doing. All season long, he made the habs suck and play a disastrous passive system in a daring attempt to lower our opponents's guard come playoff time. Now, he's going to go all out on offense by inserting MAB on D (!) and let him throw his lazers all game long while hoping that Markov's awesomeness will cover the mistakes he may make in the defensive zone
I still perfer this then then the other way, because it gives another crashing body on the third and fourth lines, just adds another dimension to the game
Michael Cammalleri - Tomas Plekanec - Andrei Kostitsyn
Benoît Pouliot - Scott Gomez - Brian Gionta
Travis Moen - Dominic Moore - Sergei Kostitsyn
Mathieu Darche - Maxim Lapierre - Marc-André Bergeron
Andrei Markov - Josh Gorges
Roman Hamrlik - Jaroslav Spacek
Hal Gill - Ryan O'Byrne
O'Byrne can't make a breakout pass, so its obvious that Martin is trying to go with a transition game against the Caps, Bergeron will help in that regard. Bergeron weakens the 4th line majorly, and having a 4th line is key in this series because Washington has better bottom 6 depth than we have. Bergeron isn't a downgrade from O'Byrne defensively really so it makes it an easier choice than you think.
The key is to cause turnovers and have a good breakout, Washington is beatable if you have a good counter attack.
O'Byrne can't make a breakout pass, so its obvious that Martin is trying to go with a transition game against the Caps, Bergeron will help in that regard. Bergeron weakens the 4th line majorly, and having a 4th line is key in this series because Washington has better bottom 6 depth than we have. Bergeron isn't a downgrade from O'Byrne defensively really so it makes it an easier choice than you think.
The key is to cause turnovers and have a good breakout, Washington is beatable if you have a good counter attack.
that's the only way we can beat them with a good PP and great goaltending
He did well vs Toronto, as he didnt have to switch back and forth between offensive line and blue line
Yeah but it was the Leafs.
The Caps is a completely different beast and the fact that he's paired with Markov means that he will face some of the Caps top guys. On the bright side Markov will probably cover for him but i'm not sure it will be enough. , especially if matched against the Ovechkin , Semin , Backstrom ect of this world.
Anyway , i shouldn't be so pessimist and hope for the best but the though of MAB on D always scare the **** out of me and i can't help it.
i feel you, mtl is facing the most offensive team in the NHL and we bench our 2nd biggest D man who has been playing really well this season, Martin
He may be our 2nd biggest defenceman, but he is arguably one of our weakest defensive defenceman so i don't think its that big of a deal.
At this point i think i'd probably go with 11 forwards and 7 defenceman for game 1. Bergeron and O'Byrne can both play with Markov...then depending on how the games going maybe play one more than the other.
I am against playing MAB at forward...i think we are better off going with Lapierre and one of Darche/Pyatt and rotate in different forwards for their 6-8 minutes of ice time.
I like this move, Bergeron brings so much more offense than O'Byrne and is not a huge downgrade defensively. Physically MAB is a downgrade but his puck moving capabilities and shot are necessary in this series where some games will be goal fests imo.
Glad SKost is back as well, I liked that third line.
Having Bergeron in the lineup is a must, considering that Montreal has had offensive success against the Caps this season. All JM has to do is COACH and prevent any Ovi-MAB match up.
Besides, it's only game one. A lot can happen.
Don't forget that Washington will have the last change-up for games 1 & 2 since they will be at home.
i don't understand what martin is thinking taking out our most physical defenseman against the league's most offensive team, and replacing him with our most vulnerable defenseman and weakest link.
I think we should have our Pouliot-Gomez-Gionta line go up against Ovy's because I don't think AK can handle the speed and grit that Ovy would dish out.
Our lineup makes Washington's game plan pretty obvious: Pound, pound, pound.
Having said that, I don't mind having MAB in ahead of O'Byrne to start. As much as I like O'Byrne, he definitely struggled vs. Washington this year. He seemed over-matched, tentative and nervous.
I think this is Martin going with experience over inexperience more than anything.
Yes, the puck-moving, point shot, etc. are all key positives as much as size and defensive lapses are key negatives for MAB. But Martin is selecting a playoff-hardened 30-year-old guy over a young guy.
Look at our 6 D. Find one that isn't playoff tested. That's JM's thinking.
that's the only way we can beat them with a good PP and great goaltending
I don't think our PP is going to be much of a factor, it has stunk for a month now, even if the Caps PK is brutal.
They have to play smart, disciplined and great team defense. Everyone thinks the Caps are going to bury the Habs with goals, I don't think that's going to be the case. A smart and patient game by the Habs will frustrate the Caps, I have seen it before with the Rangers. Goaltending will be huge, but it will come down to how well this team plays together defensively, and breakouts on transition that win this series, not all the frills and gimmicks people seem to think.
