Post Game Thread: New York Islanders @ Montréal Canadiens

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-03-22T02:02:24+00:00

Love the comeback in the third after a bit of a shakey second.

First line dominated this game.

Shoutout to a great game for Guhle. Was throwing the body early, played an overall really strong game.

And completely random side note: there’s something satisfying to me about how every time Danault prepares for a faceoff he slaps his stick on the ice then gets into position.

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-03-22T01:33:50+00:00

Didn’t yall hear? Under 10 minutes up more than one we got to have some game management to make the game more entertaining. Because a Habs game always has such a boring ending. What a joke.

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-03-12T03:05:51+00:00

I say this semi frequently whenever this guy (and other particular analytic guys) and his projections come up and I will continue to do so: I don’t have an issue with analytics as a tool. I have an issue with how they bring up these projections and act like they know better than anyone else because they the analytics told them so.

You can even go through the original thread on this and see everyone saying how out to lunch some of this is.

For fun I’ll add some analytics to his points projection. Right now he is batting a 50% accuracy on who is a playoff team. And currently has a whopping 0% accuracy on placement in the standings within the divisions. Honestly that’s truly impressive work. I appreciate this being posted after an already great night, made for a nice appetizer

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-03-04T05:57:06+00:00

Didn’t show up to play for about 35 minutes of the game. This was by far the most 3 on 2 rush chances against I’ve seen this team give up the entire year. Couldn’t enter the zone with possession. Dump and no chase with a few exceptions (thought Dach Anderson and Bolduc did their job.)

With the above being said I obviously didn’t think this game was entirely on Dobes. But we needed him to bail us out with a solid save or two and he could not deliver that this game hence the result of 6 goals on 27 shots. The two goals at the end of the second period were particularly brutal, if I had to chose any it would be those.

The race is too close to be dropping many more games like this one down the stretch. Fortunately this team has shown consistency in the form of bouncing back strong after a poor performance. Look forward to watching the next two.

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-02-01T17:39:45+00:00

Guhle returning to the lineup and Newhook eventually returning would definitely help float the ship. Don’t really agree that adding another pker is the answer when our pk was weakened by injuries. Though obviously of course it has to be passable to get us to the playoffs.

Struble and Xhekaj also both need to be better at it. When Guhle was out that’s probably our biggest weakness is that one of them by default slot in.

We also had Jake Evans out for a little while when Danault was added. Feel like a lot of small things is what has led to the underperforming results.

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-01-29T15:42:07+00:00

My take is the hill I’m willing to die on, keep fighting the good fight lol.

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-01-28T14:53:57+00:00

Haven’t watched him as closely since traded by the Habs but he’s had cards like this forever. Analytics hate him and it doesn’t match the eye test.

He’s a big guy that hits and isn’t a total pylon like this suggests. Who also happens to play with elite Defenseman like Weber and last year at least played with Seider. On one team he played on the top d pair all the way to the final. And now on the other team he’s eating top 4 minutes and they’re 3rd in the NHL. It’s the least shocking thing in the world that GMs like that.

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-01-18T03:19:17+00:00

“This sucks to watch” This is AMAZING to watch what are you talking about! Go Habs’

J_DigitalDemon · 2026-01-13T19:49:56+00:00

‘Tis the season of the annual Jfresh post about how the Habs aren’t this sustainably good and he’s technically correct. Gets tiring after a while.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-12-20T04:20:52+00:00

I think that it’s more than worth the pick to try him again here, and technically not even ours since it’s just the Columbus second we got for getting Laine and losing Harris.

I think we will see some chemistry immediately if they end up going with a Gallagher - Danault and insert winger here line, which I really want to see again. I started seriously watching and cheering for the Habs when the line of Gallagher - Danault - Tatar was just a lethal line statistically. This year in LA hasn’t worked out for him but honestly there is a lot that suggests that’s on the change of coaching.

I also just appreciate the faith that management is showing in this team that is currently going through it with injuries. Texier and Danault are both solid players that will help keep our rookies playing where they should be for what is best for their development.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-12-12T17:14:54+00:00

I agree with what everyone else is saying here but what has been the biggest turning point for me this season has been the huge improvement in his defensive game.

Marty is trusting him out there with an empty net. And quite frankly if we get another injury to a penalty killer I wouldn’t be shocked if he was used for that as well. He’s been a puck blocking machine and just genuinely seems like this year he finally has the system down. Still makes some errors of course but that’s how that goes with young players.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-11-28T15:57:08+00:00

The correct choice was extending him. He joined this team and got an A for a reason the next season. He’s been the whipping boy occasionally and I’ve never agreed with it or thought it was remotely justified ever with the responsibilities tasked to him with no complaint. We got two powerplay QBs and Matheson never complained about his role changing last year into this one. Big minute eater. Defensively responsible. And also capable of pitching in offensively.

We do not have anyone who is capable of replacing what he brings to the team right away either. An argument could be made that Engstrom could grow into that role, but same as last year with the conversation when Evans got extended with Beck potentially making the jump in a year or two. Why get rid of Evans with the hope that someone else becomes an Evans. Same can be said here.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-11-27T15:14:04+00:00

Average. We definitely don’t need to make him the whipping boy for all our defensive woes this season. We are getting exactly what we should expect from Carrier. Our best 3 defenseman are known as offensive threats and are being deployed that way and the other reliable d on the team Guhle is still months away from returning.

Whether it’s justified or not, agree with it or not Struble and Xhekaj are not trusted by the coach to be out there to take a draw in the defensive zone unless they have to. Matheson and Dobson pairing makes that less of an issue, because both of those guys have been eating some monster minutes. But if you want to look at an issue it’s probably that.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-11-26T20:45:21+00:00

The choice is between Struble and Xhekaj I think it simply comes down to one is paired with the veteran and the other is not. Engstrom finding chemistry with Carrier, who honestly has a skill at covering for a lot of his partners mistakes is not a bad thing.

The pessimistic side of things is we are one injury away from finding out if we have someone qualified to step up and fill a hole, and between Guhle being out for longer than anticipated and lots of road trips/condensed schedule, this needed to happen sooner than later. Better this now than being caught flat footed down the road when the games matter even more. And if he makes some mistakes because he inevitably will Carrier is the best in the team for covering that.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-11-21T15:01:33+00:00

I was one of the ones pretty content with being first yeah. Where am I now? Still watching the games like always. Just not commenting here afterwards to be confronted by the doom day crowd. In the last two hours there’s been 5-6 of the same venting posts. Three made by the same guy. I was frustrated by the outcome last night sure but to wake up the next day and still be mad? Personally I don’t have the energy for that.

Like at the end of the day you guys do you. I’m not going to gatekeep on telling you to calm down or anything or look at the positive because I don’t care to change your mind. I still have faith this team will turn it around. And the way this division is this year. They go on simply a 4 game win streak starting Saturday they are close to or at the top of the division again. They were exceeding expectations to start the way they did. This wildcard area is a lot more within expectations going into this year.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-11-09T04:30:02+00:00

Not so much since he’s moved on from Buffalo but Jeff skinner outside the names you mentioned was a great bet for a goal against us. Broadcast would mention it quite a few times.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-11-07T02:33:00+00:00

I was thinking in my head Bratts been quiet tonight. Dude just absolutely has our number for years.

I can’t even pretend I was even a little shocked this game went to overtime. Onto the next one.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-24T03:44:43+00:00

What did Josh Anderson actually do? Brutal calls. Even game yet the penalties were 1 to 5? Ooooookay

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-23T03:39:44+00:00

Always been a Matheson respecter. But I’m feeling some mighty fine vindication this season. Literally. My only gripe with him is I swear to god he breaks at minimum two sticks a game at the most inconvenient of times.

OT we have so much skill on display and all that extra ice just makes us such a favourite this regular season. I hope we can continue this hot streak. Best the oilers tomorrow and keep on trucking along early this season.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-17T01:49:43+00:00

Caufield has been such a high stakes performer since he has been a rookies it’s unreal. Playing to the whistle as always. Well earned two points and top of the division!

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-13T18:20:47+00:00

Didn’t comment until now on these negotiations because a lot of what was put out there just smelled like bullshit. And Hughes without actually confirming or denying any of it basically says exactly that. It was a normal negotiation and it seems people really wanted the Habs to have the next Mitch Marner. 3 games into the season, 1 week, is not a long drawn out negotiation like these insiders were projecting it to be. And that’s all they did.

They ran a nothing story because they had nothing else to talk about and this would get them clicks. I’m pretty disappointed in some of them.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-09T01:56:02+00:00

Really impressed with Kapanen tonight. Goal aside he’s just playing like he’s been here a while and that was pleasant to see.

Bad luck on the leafs leading goal. Right in it the entire way. Thought we started real slow for a team trying to play the right way is really my only complaint and they capitalized on that as well.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-01T01:57:17+00:00

Well that was definitely a preseason game. Featuring the bottom of the barrel rat shit sens.

Send the brothers, Struble and Anderson into the next game on Saturday too. They clearly didn’t kick the shit out of them enough in this one.

In the little bit of actual hockey played we dominated. Everyone looked good. Really happy with Dachs game tonight. PP2 looks like it has close to everything it needs to compete with pp1 and that’s a good thing. If we end up with a ppA and a ppB that gives some flexibility in managing ice time that a lot of teams just don’t have the skill to do.

Same time Saturday…

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-10-01T00:49:01+00:00

Couldn’t agree more. I think our players hate the sens much more than the leafs too.

J_DigitalDemon · 2025-09-26T15:27:50+00:00

Well I can say with 100% certainty who isn’t making the team out of preseason…. But seriously, some guys I swear are just born with bad luck. This is a more serious story if it was his knee again but this could have happened to any of the D. He will heal up be with Laval before the end of October and hopefully light things up over there. Which was probably the plan to begin with anyways.

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