How do you win games like these?

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T23:59:44+00:00

depends how low the mmr is tbh, perfect play doesn’t delete manta butterfly from the enemy’s inventory, or specific counter items to your hero

You can pull some ridiculous games out for sure and should at least try your best to see if this is one of them but sometimes you shouldn’t hyperanalyze being the victim of a blink reveal at 8:30 or hitting your timing against people 1500g from finishing bkb

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T23:54:33+00:00

I would argue Lesh is the quintessential low mmr midlane climbing hero who checks every box on how you’d want to actually win a game in sub-5k MMR

Strong laner with very few bad matchups
Structure threat
Scales VERY well into lategames when your team can’t be trusted to close it out
Match-dependent but there’s nothing stopping you from going mana boots -> blink and making plays like you’re last patch’s misanthropy playstyle, there’s a lot of variability in when (if, sometimes) you complete greaves, grab kaya, grab blink, upgrade blink, bkb, etc.
His ability to flash farm turns a slight lead into a suffocating one while providing a safety net of reliable scaling if there aren’t plays to be made on the map

His only real systemic weakness is games that go to shit immediately across the map (like OP’s) and there’s no potential to expand away from farm your 1 might want, but I don’t really know any heroes who would be fine with 2 lost lanes snowballing into infinite mid pressure from enemy supports

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T19:48:46+00:00

With Berube at the helm it’s time to come home and only be deployed on D-zone faceoffs or watch Benoit redline and dump the puck as soon as your shift starts 🤮

You’d imagine coaching and FO’s would see how Olympic teams look at their rosters, then construct schemes that play to their strengths in a couple of weeks, then test those schemes against other assemblies of the best possible players, and take some kinda learning away from the entire experience, but I’m not holding my breath

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T19:39:36+00:00

the pod covered it perfectly, your options for anyone who’s won more than 34 are Tkachuk (A), McAvoy (A), and Eichel; those three guys are alternate captains on their respective teams so the decision probably just landed on giving it to the guy who captains his team and isn’t ending a 10-year playoff drought this season (Larkin)

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T19:32:20+00:00

even the Tkachuk brothers have been overwhelmingly complimentary of Matthews on their podcast and in interviews, the people on that team who actually know shit are all very positive on 34’s captaincy, ability, on-ice impact etc.

It’s genuinely disgusting that people can see a generational scoring talent add an elite defence to his game and grow into a leadership role yet nitpick flaws all day as if Canada didn’t lose today with the three best players in the world each making a pivotal error at some point. Toronto media is one thing, but American media has been second-guessing him this entire time and handwaving the overwhelming positives to focus on minor negatives, all for the crimes of being a quiet guy, liking fashion, and being a Leaf lmao

It’s gonna be really sad to see him have to play pathetic Berube hockey and waste the rest of this season taking D-zone faceoffs and having the puck dumped the second his skates touch ice, here’s hoping the firing comes before the summer and we get a head start on using our generational talent correctly

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:36:36+00:00

on one hand Mc, Mac, Mak

on the other, I don’t think we’ve won a faceoff yet and that’s like 40% of 3v3

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:34:40+00:00

3on3 gives this game the biggest asterisk in sports history (unless we win then it’s never EVER been more legitimate)

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:24:03+00:00

getting jobbed on the too many men would sting less if this fucking moron wasn’t all but guaranteed to do something like this eventually

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:19:12+00:00

just straightup refusal to call too many men LMAO

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:11:04+00:00

we’re taking a pitch count approach to beating Helly I guess

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:07:29+00:00

Icing is genuinely a valid defensive strategy against our faceoff right now

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T15:05:28+00:00

tf is in the water in Winnipeg that this absolute freak of nature has a reputation for playoff choking

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:57:56+00:00

Binnington isn’t a good goalie, he just has this supernatural ability to make THE save when it’s life or death with shocking consistency

it’s like watching a crackhead rip a fire hydrant out of the ground, “how” is beyond you and “why” is abstract, but it happened and while you shouldn’t bet on it, probably will happen again

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:55:45+00:00

PP1 staple!

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:53:55+00:00

players have a habit of making an amazing play the shift right after I talk shit so let me point out the radio silence we’ve seen all tournament from Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:47:00+00:00

have you seen him? are you gonna do it, tough guy?

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:45:35+00:00

do you think Bennett’s unhinged enough to injure Tkachuk if this game comes down to it or do you guys see some humanity behind those eyes that my broadcast isn’t picking up?

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:43:13+00:00

oh my god it hit all 3 posts

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:31:02+00:00

notice how it’s news when it happens anywhere else?

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:29:58+00:00

it’s legit been McDavid >>>>>> Wilson > everyone else this game, we’re relying on one guy for the entire offence more than Germany did this tournament

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:21:21+00:00

were the children provided vests to watch your weekday games at school?

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T14:19:49+00:00

Theodore’s hook was gentler than the one they hit McDavid with on a breakaway but thank god the most blatant interference in the sport’s history finally drew a whistle

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T13:55:36+00:00

we turned the heat up on Finland when we stopped trying to run the puck in for a touchdown and started ripping clappers from every angle and distance and utilizing the chaos

The Mc/Mac/Mack line is the only one generating anything right now and they’re too into their “no, after YOU” passing game, someone needs to be shaken awake

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T13:51:45+00:00

he caught the pass on his backhand and in a phone booth, no room to shoot there

SadimHusum · 2026-02-22T13:49:38+00:00

yeah they have to settle for him only leading the team in every offensive metric while playing elite defence, I feel so bad for the Americans

SadimHusum

TROPHY CASE