IMO the biggest problem with this team is Scott *** Gomez. He has no business playing professional hockey if he doesn't honor or at least pretend to honor his contract.
People are overreacting to the loss. If the Habs were really as "intimidated" as the Bruins fans would like you to believe, then they wouldn't have scored 6 goals. The Habs played a crappy game, but hung in there until late in the 3rd. I'm not blaming him at all, but if Price had a better game, the Habs probably win. People need to relax, its one game in February.
People think our team was intimidated by the Bruins?
Habs are not intimidated by the Bruins. Anyone who thinks that, clearly didn't see the match. The Bruins might have been stronger than us physically, but we were not intimidated by them.
I'm not too worried. First lost against Boston this year in 4 games. Cammalleri comes back and Gomez and Andrei wake up and this game is completely different.
For the record, I thought AK's performance was pretty shameful tonight. I might be biased, but I didn't think Gomez was as bad as AK, who floated around at the point aimlessly while the wingers crashed the slot.
Gomez was pretty bad tonight, but I'm sure he'll have a good game tomorrow night. He holds himself accountable. Kostitsyn? Not so sure.
Next time we load up the team with goons, just ****ing tear them up, spears, beat them up , elbows, I don't give a **** anymore. Time to return the favor. Savard them up and listen to them *****. This is pathetic. Scarey thing is the Habs did much better than Dallas did against them a few days ago.
What you do here is sign four career minor leaguers a la oggy ogglethorpe add link gaetz to the mix for the last regular season game of the year v the bruins.
Throw them onto the ice and have them spit; gouge; kick; punch; poke; spear; two-hand; and head-butt the crap out of the starting line-up. Then when the dust is settled and the extra blood is scraped off of the ice, we'll have traded 5 goons for 6 skilled players and the game can resume.
Oh please. This happened all the time with Laraque on the bench. It'll happen no matter how many goons we sign. It's hockey.
The worst part about tonight is that I knew I'd come on HF and see people clamoring for more team toughness and grit and fighters and goons, completely ignoring the fact that we beat this same Boston team 3 times already this year...and no matter how stupid the score got, we still lost this one by 2, and didn't look intimidated at any point in the game.
I wouldn't mind some team toughness (namely guys who can play hockey too, not just goons who play 3 mins a game) but it's pointless to go completely over the top and suggest we need to rehaul the entire roster. We've beat this Bruins team before many times, and we'll beat them again. Stop getting so hung up on who wins the fights and worry about who wins the games.
Quoted for the truth.
The sky is falling because we lost one game against Boston of the 4 we've played this year. We lost 8-6 with our second line being Desharnais, Darche and Pouliot.
Pacioretty made his own bed when he started with the captain of the Bruins. No one to blame but himself, I'd be ashamed if the Habs didn't go after someone for being cheap on Gionta....
We had Laraque 2 years ago running after Lucic all over the ice and we still lost. In fact didn't Lucic score the game winning goal?
That doesn't mean its not a good idea to have a guy to protect your players. Bruins had the top team that year as well. And Laraque was an enforcer who couldnt play hockey. And Im not even sure he was an enforcer. I mean, he was technically one of the best fighters, but he would go up behind a player, tap him on the shoulder and hand em a gold embossed invitation to fight.
Laraque was not an effective enforcer. To say that enforcers are unneffective based on that is like saying that because we once had a goalie who couldnt stop a beachball goalies are useless.
Why is Eller still up? WHY. I like the kid and I think he will be a player for us in the future. But hes CLEARLY not ready. I thought they turned a corner when they realized their prospects need more seasoning in the ahl. Guess not. Hes not helping the club right now. A guy like White would be far better for our third line.
Habs should really look at getting players like David Clarkson. A guy that can play and who is tough.
Yea wouldn't mind him at all.
But our most pressing need at forward is still a guy who can replace AK.
I seriously like the guy's package but AK's hockey sense is extremely questionable as is his effort. We need a guy that can give his all there. I'm not convinced that Clarkson can play top 6 minutes.
I think it's about time Eller went down to the AHL. He's learned a bit here in the NHL but he needs to regain his confidence down there and play in an environment where making mistakes is not viewed as a disaster but a learning opportunity.
Things learnt:
Eller should be sent down
AKost should pack his bags (and this is coming from a guy who's mostly defended him)
When Subban is bad, he's BAD
We need a real 4th line.
Max Pacioretty is a baller.
