Game 4 GDT: Abolish the Senators!

[E.L.]

FINISH THEM

[RW]

I can see no reason why the Canadiens wont finish off the Sens tonight.

[scratchham]

When you go up 3-0, especially on the road, there's something very underwhelming about Game 4 from a fan point of view. When you're down 0-3, you're just hoping they save some face. Hopefully the Habs don't think like fans do and just go for it.

[E.L.]

Ottawanna see a game five

[youtube]Ga9UPYNfpqM[/youtube]

[BCG]

While frustrating at time, the Habs seem to be almost machine-like in their approach to games. Grind. Use the boards. Never quit defensively. I'm hoping that leads to a sweep. If they do that again, and I can't see Ottawa playing much better, then I win my bet at work tonight.

[BCG]

The PP... yep, that would count against the frustration I have for this team. The only positive I can draw is that the Booins had a crap PP when they won the Cup.

[E.L.]

Freaking powerplay. If it were half decent this thing would be over.

[scratchham]

The first PP was awful, the second they got set and setup a sure goal if not for Markov failing to get his stick on the deflected pass.

They moved DSP off the unit. He had that one good game on the PP, getting chances but showing no finish, but hasn't shown anything other than that.

[E.L.]

DSP needs to be on the PP. It's the one area where speed doesn't matter.

[scratchham]

DSP needs to be on the PP. It's the one area where speed doesn't matter.

If his hands are stone then his net presence isn't much good. More Gallagher is usually a good thing for the Habs.

Price with an easy glove vs Stone on a 3 on 2.

[scratchham]

I kind of feel Price will be the reason the Habs win Game 4 if they do that. He hasn't had to be the reason, although he's been very good, the team has generally won the games fair and square in front of him.

[BCG]

DSP needs to be on the PP. It's the one area where speed doesn't matter.

Yeah - the Habs have zero net presence on the PP. So there's no screening, no lucky bounce-of-the-butt, less rebounding, less agitation to the goalie, etc.

And the status quo is clearly not working.

[BCG]

I kind of feel Price will be the reason the Habs win Game 4 if they do that. He hasn't had to be the reason, although he's been very good, the team has generally won the games fair and square in front of him.

Been a weird game in terms of feel. Not an all-out-push for either team.

[E.L.]

Back and forth so far but the Sens strike first. Ten mins left.

[scratchham]

Lousy game by the Habs. Looks like the extra day off worked for the Sens.

[E.L.]

If I had told you at the start of the series the Habs were going to sweep, you would not have believed me.

I didn't think the Habs were all that bad, or the Sens all that good. Both sides had chances, the Habs missed their opportunity to go up early on the power play, and even at the start of the third was one break from taking the lead.

Habs have played the series tight, so there was bound to be one game were the bounces didn't go their way.

That being said the Habs looked bad in the third, while the Sens, who haven't had much success beyond the first periods of each game, got their act together late.

See you boys Friday.

[Stinky]

Who is this new member?

j/k

[Logical Progression]

Lousy game by the Habs. Looks like the extra day off worked for the Sens.

Hopefully that was just a momentary brain fart.

[Bosc]

DSP needs to be on the PP. It's the one area where speed doesn't matter.

Yeah - the Habs have zero net presence on the PP. So there's no screening, no lucky bounce-of-the-butt, less rebounding, less agitation to the goalie, etc.

And the status quo is clearly not working.

I saw one PP and was thinking "Did the Habs forget to put the 5th guy out?" He was deep in the opposite corner of where the puck was and nobody was close to the net.

[scratchham]

The Habs PP has been shit since Gallant left. Much like our 'invest in goalie coaches' theory, special teams needs a top coach dedicated to it. The PK is fine for the Habs, the PP isn't.

Habs refusing to even try Eller on a regular unit doesn't help. Guys don't have the threat of being taken off the PP at all.

But in general, the Habs have a lot of the ice they aren't willing to use in all situations. The front of their own net is a no go on breakouts and it's maddening. The one goal against was the result of just repeated off the glass and out philosophy biting them. Gilbert even had a passing option on the boards. His feet were stationery. He tried to get it around his own teammate as well as the Ottawa player behind him.

Count the amount of times the Habs either use the middle of the ice for breakouts or for a zone entry (non shoot-in). They only like the middle of the ice in the offensive zone, where it's most contested by the other team. They cede that part of the ice to their opposition (save their own zone) all the time as well.

My biggest issue with the Habs: THEY DON'T USE THE ENTIRE ICE SURFACE! These are elite athletes at the highest level of the sport, at some point you've gotta trust them in those areas of the ice.

I get the strategy: keep every game to a one goal game and with Price in the nets you're bound to win more than you lose. It's just phenomenally boring and we don't get to see the talent a lot of these guys actually do possess.