zeke
Well-known member
Habs got pounded by the Pens 9-2 in mid december and it seems that was a bit of a turning point. The next game they lost a tight one to league leading winnipeg in winnipeg, and then won 3 in a row vs some middling teams before dropping the last game before xmas.
But since xmas, they've really started to surge. 8-1-1 in 10gms, and that against a very tough schedule - 8 of those games on the road and wins against all of FLA TBL VGK COL VAN WSH DAL. Their only regulation loss during that stretch funnily came againast the worst team in the league the blackhawks. The only weak team on that schedule. This is much different than the hot streak of the blue jackets, for example, which has come all against weak teams.
Are they good or just hot? there's no doubt they're running very hot on the PDO right now, so obviously they can't sustain this, but nobody's sustaining an 8-1-1 pace anyways. They do actually seem to be decent now that Hutson is looking like a difference maker offensively and Carrier has helped shore up their 2nd pairing. Their first line is giving them credible though not high end 1st line production, while they're getting very good depth production from the bottom 6 and the defense. Their nerdies are above average for the most part. Montembault has been a solid goalie for them since he got there and now they have a hot kid in Dobes who has been unbeatable for a few games and obviously a massive upgrade over their previous backup.
Are they legit? I think they might be a legit bubble team, and this year the bottom playoff spots look wide open. Ironically though their roster isn't actually all that young right now and a playoffs surge might stop them from doing the smart thing and selling off most of their older assets.
But regardless, they are red hot right now, so they'll be a tough out. Their adorable fanbase can barely contain themselves and they're already trying to siwng their little dicks around like the cutiepies they are.
But we all know that none of this win streak will matter to them as much as tonight's game, their true Stanley Cup. This game means more to them than anything else that happens this year. A win tonight and their season is a success. A loss tonight and this entire hot streak goes sour and becomes meaningless.
As for our decrepit leafs, well they finally played a legit quality game against a good team last time out. Probably their best game of the season. Can they build on that or do they rest on their laurels after one good outing? don't answer that actually.
Coach decides to mess with the successful lineup by sticking in the fearsome Ryan Reaves because apparently we're scared of Xhekaj or something. I'm sure that will turn out well.
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