We have a schedule, we have game times (mostly), we have TV info, those of us with tickets have access to Games 1 and 2 … and we finally have an opponent. Montreal … come on down. Literally. It’s freaking hot here in the South and drier than your great uncle’s scalp. It’ll be grand, don’t worry.
So … Game 1 on Thursday gives the Canadiens one day to ice up and one day to prep before they get back on the horse. St Louis shortened his bench in Game 7, which won’t help with the fatigue. I’d expect them to keep it pretty basic for Game 1 and then try to get the split in Game 2 if they can. Meanwhile the Canes will probably also try to keep it pretty basic in Game 10 to knock off the rust. They've usually looked pretty good coming off of extended breaks, and Freddie got his battery pack recharged, so … yeah. It’s fine.
Matchup-wise for Carolina this is a whole different challenge. I mean, start with the power play and you’ll see that. They played two absolutely dreadful power play teams in the first two rounds and the Canadiens ain’t that. So maybe it would be a good idea to not take 500 penalties like they did in the first two series. It’s one thing to be confident in your PK and another to just be stupid. The system matchup is a lot more interesting this time, since Montreal doesn’t just hunker down and try to trap out of a soft forecheck. That should yield games with more flow, if the refs choose to not insert themselves quite so much. We’ll see about that.
I’ve gotta go do paying work, so … we can get into more later.
So … Game 1 on Thursday gives the Canadiens one day to ice up and one day to prep before they get back on the horse. St Louis shortened his bench in Game 7, which won’t help with the fatigue. I’d expect them to keep it pretty basic for Game 1 and then try to get the split in Game 2 if they can. Meanwhile the Canes will probably also try to keep it pretty basic in Game 10 to knock off the rust. They've usually looked pretty good coming off of extended breaks, and Freddie got his battery pack recharged, so … yeah. It’s fine.
Matchup-wise for Carolina this is a whole different challenge. I mean, start with the power play and you’ll see that. They played two absolutely dreadful power play teams in the first two rounds and the Canadiens ain’t that. So maybe it would be a good idea to not take 500 penalties like they did in the first two series. It’s one thing to be confident in your PK and another to just be stupid. The system matchup is a lot more interesting this time, since Montreal doesn’t just hunker down and try to trap out of a soft forecheck. That should yield games with more flow, if the refs choose to not insert themselves quite so much. We’ll see about that.
I’ve gotta go do paying work, so … we can get into more later.
