The Canadiens returned home from Washington on Thursday after losing the first two games of their first-round playoff series against the Capitals.
Do the Canadiens have any chance of coming back and winning this series?
That’s the main question answered on this week’s Hockey Inside/Out Show as The Gazette’s Stu Cowan is joined by former Canadiens teammates and 1986 Stanley Cup champions Chris Nilan and Rick Green.
32 Comments
St.Louis needs to take some responsibility here with the media and make a change. It isnt that their losing, its a young team with no expectations. Its how they are losing. let's start with Arber Xhekaj, the main issue with fans. It's not just about the physicality he brings which is the main area Montreal is losing now. He is better at defense than Savard. His defensive metrics with Struble are top 50% in the league. Both Struble and Xhekajs numbers when paired with Savard go down to the bottom 50% in the league. To not make that change while both struggling defensively and lacking physicality (especially because our defense is being overwhelmed by large Washington forecheckers) is objectively a bad coaching call. Then you double down in game two, and it got worse. The powerplay which once was rocking has lost its identity. Depth scoring has gone down and it's largely because he has messed with the lines and our third and fourth lines have lost their identities. We only have one established line, the Suzuki line, and it's playoffs.
If they do they need to get a win before protas comes back
SIMULATED paid off washington Referees . THE FANS KNOW IT AND NEED TO DISQUALIFY THE TEAM , rules are not NHL; NHL RULES only apply for them to steal opportunities of power playing, WRONG PUNISHMENT OF CALLING ARE THE VERY patterns of WHL WASHINGTON HOCKEY LEAGUE ONLY. IT'S A LOWERING OF SHOW OFFS, IT'S cowardly BEHAVIOR, THEY DON'T RESPECT. They are cowards TRYING TO HARM PLAYERS, PLAYING. WASHINGTON IS SCARED AND TIRED OUT, BY THIRD and it's very difficult for fun, when it's a cheated win. WASHINGTON APPLYING NHL RULES ARE MISUSING SHOWS IT'S SIMULATION OF TAKING THEM AWAY FROM MONTREAL PLAYERS. IT'S NOT UNIVERSAL RULES. THEY DON'T VIBE!
MONTREAL VIBES HOCKEY!!!!
Of course, they have a chance.
Savard doesn’t have enough left to finish this series
That goal off his skate was preventable
get in front of him after that first shot
Don’t stand there.
Love Knuckles on this channel. The f bombs, the vulgarity, calling refs donkeys, etc. THIS is how hockey should be reviewed, and how I understand it. 👌
We needed Logan m. Let's face it we have no offense
I loved Knuckles in this one. There are so many sycophants in Canadiens media , it’s refreshing to hear someone speak their mind and also not pretend that referees are always out there trying their best without bias.
Chris everything absolute all in my mind and how i seen 1st 2games is exactly the same 100%.
Refs always against canadien teams in playoffs Gary b hates canadien teams in playoffs
If the refs put the whistles away then they need to be consistent about it. Thanks guys.
brendan gallagher broke his jaw last playoffs, and is just open season for face contact.
washington cant buy a penalty, at the start of the first game gule got jumped with a charging where i think wilson s skates were a foot and a half of the ice and no call….same for the reminder of those two games. send laine to pastures
habs should open up speed and quit trying to figure what to do,just pass quickly and skate…pucks on net…
You do not put a lightweight, even a middleweight against a heavyweight … it does not happen. The Habs are lightweights despite their talent. This is good experience but there need to be some additions to absorb and return the pummeling. Xhekaj is just one man, yes put him in but a couple of fights and bodychecks are not going to win games. Great observations about Demidov and playoffs Chris. One last thing, "expletive" the refs!
great SHOW. WHY DID MSL BENCH HEIMEN.HE WAS PLAYINH GOOD
not scoring 1 or 2 goals a game they don't, too many passengers
Knuckles, long-time Habs fan since '65'. I was lucky to be at the Gardens in December 86 when you pummeled, cement-head, Semenko. Cement head slashed you and f#@&k were you mad. He got the best of you off the start, and then you destroyed him once you both got back up to your feet for round two.
Thanks for that memory, Knuckles.
"Donkey refs" – it's why I love Knuckles.
Laine, press box. He has a very poor scoring record for the past several weeks.
Great show…love Chris's emotion.
Officials are corrupt. 4 crosschecks to the faces of habs players, not one called. Disgusting!
I'm so sorry Stu, can't believe I was not subscribe before today, yet I watch and love your videos here.
I get pestered by YouTube with tons of small channel trying to comment and talk about the Habs, but they are mostly just angry fans.
Having Knuckles and Rick Green on most videos is also very impressive. They know hockey.
Keep up the great videos and don't be afraid to ask viewers to subscribe.
Brilliant as usual thanks Stu, Chris and Rick for another great analysis and for your insights. Cheers.
Sorry to say, the HABS don't have the size and grit to get through the playoffs.
Washington in 5 unfortunately.
Chris Nilan 100 % as usual! 👍
If they sit Laine out, then they have a chance.
The lollipop kids lmaoooo
Anderson and Gally are warriors. Laine is a European, as Grapes would say. He's finished, get it, finished. Demidov has no business there without a year's experience. He's lost. MSL is an in progress coach, half baked coaching.
Savard looks slow and tired. Laine is an empty shell. Both will not be part of the future. Put in Kapanen if he is going to be part of the future. They have been getting manhandled in all areas of the ice. Xhekaj needs to be there! He can help the smaller guys be insulated from needless harassment.
Where are Guhle and Stuble, I thought they were supposed to be tough. Have never seen a body check from them yet. This Habs team will never win a Stanley Cup until they realize that you have to play like Bob Gainey – ALways Finish The Check ! Part of winning playoff games is wearing down opponents physically, just watch Florida ! Team should be ashamed of themselves when only Anderson demonstrated the courage it takes to win playoff hockey. Xhekai should be playing
Knuckles you always hit the nail on the head