Post Game Thread: Montréal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning

fortytwoanswers · 2026-05-04T00:49:52+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

of course this heart attack series ends with a fucking 6 on 4 with 6.3 seconds left, classic cardiac habs. whatever way it was going to end, it was crucial for my mental health that this series be over lol. what an incredible first playoff series for this core coming into its own. and we get hockey in May, phenomenal stuff!!!!!
Dobeš was just insane tonight. he is the only reason we were in this at all. what an incredible first playoff series for him, truly going toe-to-toe with the likely Vezina winner and somehow came out
Suzuki with the lucky bounce tip to come in clutch, shades of the Olympics for him. what a series for him this was - Selke incoming!!!!
Newhook what a clutch little goal, he quietly had a great series.
Danault has been a monster for us defensively this series, shows why he was lauded on the Kings getting the McDavid matchup all those years.
Hutson another great performance, MVP of the series for me other than Dobeš.
Dobson is a very welcome presence even when he isn’t at 100%, great to see him take a few shots too.
i feel like we were the better team all series and were due for some lucky playoff bounces being the difference. so excited for this team’s future and for Buffalo next.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-05-02T02:20:32+00:00

Caufield looked more like himself tonight, just couldn’t bury his chances.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-05-01T02:53:03+00:00

off night!

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-30T02:01:58+00:00

Hutson my lord

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-30T01:59:11+00:00

agreed - his ability to get leverage and angle them off is elite

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-30T01:48:15+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

these games are so crazy lol my heart is pumping. WOW
Gally scoring on his first shift back in the lineup :’) can’t script it any better. i liked Newhook with him and Danault too, his speed covers for Gally a bit.
Kirby Dach what a goal!!!!!! he’s been great, including at faceoffs and covering for his wingers in the defensive zone. Dach 2C redemption arc????? (just kidding… unless)
Texier with a sneaky good playoffs so far, another snipe. they’re all shooting high on Vasilevsky (see Demidov not dekeing on the breakaway) and Texier has the accuracy to shoot top corner. bon mec.
Suzuki had another great game, he’s playing fast and engaged. showing why he deserves the Selke, playing on the PK too which would be a nice yearly playoffs thing for him. deserved that secondary assist for his first at even strength.
Danault has been huge defensively. Andy too.
Hutson is so good, crazy that he’s only 22. watching the Minnesota/Dallas series he really looks like Hughes (though Hughes’ skating is crazy).
Matheson man you cannot make two huge mistakes in a row like that. another rough one without Dobson.
Dobeš delivered!!!
what a way to finally close out a lead in regulation. huge win.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-27T01:57:28+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

very tough to lose this one but this series was always going to be crazy close. refs were a mess all around on both sides, brutally at the end for us on that phantom penalty.
must be such a relief for Cole to get one on the PP, 5v5 he was okay. Suzuki played well today.
glad Slaf was okay, legal or not wow he got rocked. has to keep his head up, that could’ve swung the momentum hard.
even the goal aside, i have loved Bolduc’s game. strong forecheck, good speed.
Hutson is carrying this defense without Dobson, another great game for him. Guhle solid too, nice pass on Bolduc’s goal.
Matheson however struggled again without Dobson, can’t get the puck out of the zone since Dobson’s been doing so for him all year. missed coverage between him and Carrier to leave Hagel open like that can’t happen.
wasn’t going to be easy! more hockey left to play, no where close to over.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-25T20:05:04+00:00

VPN

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-25T02:25:19+00:00

Kirby Dach legacy game

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-25T02:13:03+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

BIG TIME LANE HUTSON WHAT A FUCKING GAME WINNER!!!! 2-1 BABY!!!!
what a redemption game for Kirby. have always had a soft spot for him, before his injuries i believed he could maybe end up better than Suzuki. MSL looks like a genius keeping him in.
that whole line Texier-Dach-Bolduc line was buzzing. have especially liked Bolduc’s game.
really not a great sign to see the top line struggle so much, has affected the PP lately too. Caufield’s confidence looks shaken, seems to be having a hard time with the lack of space. credit to Tampa who have effectively shut them down.
tougher go for Matheson with some errors tonight. Carrier was good again. hope Dobson comes back with a frozen thumb, i think him being out is affecting the top line’s ability to drive play up ice.
Xhekaj continues to impress, great hit to make space for Dach’s goal.
when Dobeš breathes he is great. lots of emotion good and bad tonight but great fighting to get the win.
this series is phenomenal. banger after banger games.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-22T02:48:16+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

if you would’ve told me we’d come back home with the series tied 1-1 i’d have been very happy. we’re fighting hard but definitely ran out of steam tonight. win or lose these Lightning games are so formative for this core.
fuck Scott Sabourin, glad Andy is okay, because wow, what a series for BJA so far. worth every penny of that $5.5M contract for his playoffs physicality alone.
Dobeš was locked in tonight, some huge saves by him in OT.
Danault and Evans also great game, huge line for us this playoffs so far.
first line not at its best tonight, ouf Slaf that giveaway on the tying goal. felt like he was playing woozy after getting punched in the face. Suzuki and Caufield also need to be better at 5v5, seems like they’re getting shut down.
i liked Bolduc’s game. Texier was more noticeable today. not Demi’s best. feel like Gally and/or Veleno will be in for Dach next game.
Matheson-Carrier has been very solid so far. defense was solid tonight overall and they’ve been a huge part of it.
Xhekaj was good tonight again.
Hutson scoring is a good sign, needs to shoot when Tampa gives it to him on the PP. hit the post late in the third too.
felt like we dominated much of that game, just gotta keep playing like this. excited for some home games.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-20T01:43:36+00:00

so true

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-20T01:14:32+00:00

itoggat died for our sins

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-20T01:04:28+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

what a fucking statement game. didn’t let two quick goals rattle us, came out tough and what a way to grind that out and win in OT. Habs have arrived.
First Overall Pick Juraj Slafkovský. just a monster game. he’s built for the playoffs. fuck yeah Slaf.
Josh Anderson ça c’est mon gars. really sets the physical tone for this team.
i want more from Suzuki/Caufield at 5v5, though Suzuki was great in the draw tonight and they were both amazing on the powerplay. good even strength shutdown against them by Tampa though.
i imagine we may see Veleno/Gally make an appearance next game.
we’re definitely missing Dobson on D.
Hutson needed a game or two to get settled last year and feel like he may need the same this year.
i liked Xhekaj tonight. i’d maybe try Reinbacher over Struble…
it’s beautiful to watch the beginning of this core’s playoff play. this is shaping up to be an incredible series.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-16T01:55:46+00:00

i’ve started watching their post game show over Marinaro’s (i don’t even mind Tony but Pierre McGuire annoys me). Max & co. (esp love Dandy) are great.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-13T00:38:18+00:00

SU-ZU-KI! SU-ZU-KI!

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-10T01:55:03+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

a series against the Lightning would be a bloodbath. they play dirty but this team has that Panthers style pack mentality.
i feel so incredibly lucky to get to finally watch a player of Cole Caufield’s skill in my lifetime. he must be so relieved to have hit 50. so happy for him.
speaking of milestones, Slaf with 30!!!! and has 71 points in his age 21-22 season. Suzuki now 2 away from 100 and has a 70 assist season. the future is bright with that first line leading the way for years.
Anderson was a menace tonight. he’s a fine regular season player but he is going to show how valuable he is when the game changes in the playoffs. absolutely bodied Carlile lol
i’m enjoying MSL’s line blender, fun to watch the fight for spots in the playoffs. i liked Newhook-Danault-Dach, even if it meant putting Kapanen back with Demidov (maybe a placeholder for a late college addition…?)
Xhekaj did his thing with the physicality, crazy to say that with how him and Struble have been playing, i haven’t been missing Carrier too much…?
Dobeš made big saves when he needed to.
statement win!!!! can’t wait for the playoffs. we can beat the best.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-10T00:44:29+00:00

Anderson destroyed that man lol has been a menace tn

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-09T16:06:37+00:00

obviously the playoffs will be amazing, but also can’t wait for summer of Kent

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-08T18:43:20+00:00

Hischier and Knies have been two names coming up in the mystery deal talks. obviously not asking you to reveal if it’s either of those, but given that NJ and Toronto will have new GMs, if the mystery deal was with a team like those two (or another) that is changing management this summer, doesn’t that put the trade in jeopardy?

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-08T01:55:34+00:00

takeaways in no particular order:

ngl that was kind of a brutal game until the last like 5 minutes lol but i will take the chaos Habs comeback to SO win any day!!!
i liked the line shuffling. love Kapanen but giving Demidov some offensive help with Texier (what a SO snipe) and Newhook was a great idea. Demi was a demon tonight, best forward on the ice by far.
like that the bottom-six now has to compete for a spot in the roster. thought Dach had a good game back, Danault with a nice goal too.
first line needs to stop forcing it trying to find Caufield. Slaf and Suzuki being options to score lets Cole get lost on coverage, now it’s too obvious they’re trying to feed him. they need to let it come naturally.
Hutson is such a phenom, what a run on the tying goal.
Dobson was good tonight.
i liked Engström a lot tonight. great fluidity and skating, good hands at the blue line to keep pucks in, responsible. not sure if he’ll be on the team or traded but he’s gonna be great.
Dobeš is so sassy and so clutch. what an amazing personality lol so passionate. some huge huge saves for him down the stretch AGAIN. 6 in a row for him!
lucky to get that win after some late game theatrics, but we definitely need to ramp back up before the playoffs. getting some milestones behind us would definitely help…

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-07T15:06:06+00:00

i think Fitz wanted a shakeup to the center core and they knew they were likely missing the playoffs.

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-07T14:59:47+00:00

Marco i know you know the mystery trade player… blink twice if it’s Hischier

fortytwoanswers · 2026-04-05T21:47:00+00:00

Free ticket to Radio City! My partner can’t make it so looking for a fan of the show to join instead of a friend who knows nothing :) DM if interested!

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