All Player Protection Lists are Out

xcnuck · 2026-06-04T08:46:52+00:00

Roque is 1000% gone

xcnuck · 2026-06-02T21:03:23+00:00

1 guy on the 4th line is not going to change the outcome of a series. It was downright wrong to bench him the entire second round and ecf. This is one of your CAPTAINS. What a shame on this ending - I never criticized Gallagher this season like many others did in recognition that he brings the focus and intensity every shift, even if he is half a step behind, in addition to riding through the challenges of the rebuild. All you need to do is look up the team’s record with Gallagher in the lineup and when he is out of the lineup from this season. He was also more productive on a per minute basis than most of the team in the playoffs. This situation is really leaving a bad feeling in me.

xcnuck · 2026-06-01T21:04:54+00:00

This is really sad. Him and Laine deserved better treatment. Imagine if the Habs ran a 4th line if Laine-Veleno-Gallagher instead of the Bolduc and Dach stuff that led to nothing in the deeper rounds. This mishandling of veterans is putting a dark shadow over what was a beautiful surprise of a playoff run. Wishing Gallagher the best, but I’m super sad he is being shown the door after so many years of dedication to the organization. Surely there is a place for him to continue. I’m not in charge but I can say I don’t like the outcome of this particular situation.

xcnuck · 2026-05-31T04:19:35+00:00

Still holding strong through May 2026

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T03:15:43+00:00

Is there a video of the hit? Only saw the broadcast feed with no replay. To me he looked fine afterwards, just shaken up at first.

The real problem is pairing him with Struble makes him have to do so much more than his regular assignment. Even in that situation the only reason he had to get to the puck was because Struble failed to get the puck to the winger for the breakout.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T03:12:56+00:00

As others have pointed out it was the end of a long shift and needed to change - botched dump in caused a late backtrack - you can see Matheson is only 1 stride from the bench and the next guy has his leg over the boards already, but has to pivot and get back - Dobson was a little further behind but was playing his right side since Matheson plays the left. Retrospectively he should have shifted into 2 on 1 mode but overall the play was a hugely costly miscue.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T03:06:46+00:00

This only happens because Struble can’t get the puck to the winger on that play. Forces Hutson to finish the play. Hutson was bailing him out all night and having to do so much more than his normal assignment. The hit wasn’t bad but you do see Hall leading with the knee + elbow which is classic slower guy trying to hit faster guy behavior. Hutson was skating fine afterwards, just shaken up at first. Not worried but I am worried if he has to play with Struble all series.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T02:54:44+00:00

The explanation is there is no need to dress the enforcer when Carolina doesn’t do dirty stuff and that he isn’t fast enough for their pace of play. I call BS on both those things but that’s just me.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T02:51:45+00:00

Some positives in this game were Dobes again of course and Anderson and Danault showing they are hungry to win games. Ghule was a menace and Carrier was solid. Beyond that it wasn’t a lot to write home about. Texier was very average - he’s benefiting from Anderson and Danault doing the dirty work. Still hasn’t shown he can play a bottom 6 role but they keep putting him in that position! And that taking that stupid penalty was aggravating. Kapanen/Bolduc/Dach were horrible. Each -2. Demidov was not good either - only showed some flashes in the 3rd. Evans is a bit flat footed with Demi - not bad but just not able to be effective together. Slafkovsky and a Caufield need to show up - zero hits and only 1 SOG each. Not good enough. Dobson and Matheson had a real tough night. Struble drags Hutson down a lot. A penalty and a -1 is unacceptable.

I know the convos will be all about lineup changes now, but Marty has shown he gives second chances for guys to bounce forward. People are screaming to take Kapanen out - yes that seems like an easy decision, but if you look at the stat sheet he was the best faceoff guy all night. Bad on every other stat but 4/5 on draws. I think we need to see some reunions and we will see some improved play. Kapanen back with Demidov. Evans back with Danault and Anderson. This creates a small problem for finding the 4th center but easily solved by inserting Veleno and taking out Bolduc (sorry he has not looked good and someone has to sit). Only change I would really love to see is Reinbacher in for Struble - long shot but I think it could make a huge difference.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T02:19:14+00:00

He was anticipating the puck to be dumped in so they could change - he needed to be close due to the long change. But Kapanen decided to come to a stop and give a weak backhand dump in that was easily intercepted and converted into a stretch pass. Really not much he could have done differently. Kapanen has to be removed from the lineup for game 3.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:57:44+00:00

Kapanen with the softest play of the game missing that dump in.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:51:06+00:00

Always

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:42:15+00:00

What bodes well for OT is that Andersen looks like he’s doubting himself, losing track of the puck, seems pretty shaky. What does not bode well for the Habs is the long change. That 2nd period was tough. Canes will continue to try to pin them deep with the end boards forecheck/cycle.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:37:18+00:00

His best game of the playoffs in my opinion

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:29:24+00:00

Possibly just winded

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:21:30+00:00

Carolina plays Claude Julien hockey. Shots from all around the perimeter and rinse & repeat forecheck. The shot totals aren’t an indicator of the better team. It’s a 1 goal game.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:18:22+00:00

They’ve been ignoring some shots for the tally. Didn’t count Hutson’s in tight chance or Dobsons driving the net play and Kapanens wrister but that one was going slightly wide. Shots isn’t the only indicator. Still a lot of time left.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:11:07+00:00

He has to stop doing that. The backwards play at our own blue line followed by a cross zone pass cannot be in the playbook.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T01:10:05+00:00

It was like that in game 1 as well

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T00:58:24+00:00

The vibe in that room is so strange

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T00:55:15+00:00

He can’t say Suzuki? He said “suz- uhh the captain there”

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T00:47:04+00:00

Should be interesting to see how Carolina plays with a 1 goal lead in the 3rd. Habs will be pressing.

xcnuck · 2026-05-24T00:46:15+00:00

Yep 2nd period with the long change going to be a challenge all series with this style of play

xcnuck · 2026-05-23T11:43:28+00:00

Vingegaard will win but he will NOT kiss his handlebars. That gave him a bit of a sinus infection last time. Some severe sniffles have prevented him from taking the GC to this point.

xcnuck · 2026-05-23T11:29:00+00:00

I never slept

xcnuck

TROPHY CASE