Post Game Thread: Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens – 21 Feb 2024

35 comments

1. Grumble grumble

2. the worst kind of loss with no top-line points

3. Tough ending to the game (Matheson needs to pass to the wide open Slaf instead of taking two slappers), and sad to see Slaf and Suzuki’s point streaks end with it, but it was bound to happen eventually. Roy was obviously the clear standout of this game though — love that when Slaf/Suzuki didn’t produce he gets his first multi-point game of his career. He deserves to stay up permanently imo (other than maybe for Laval’s playoff run). He’s an absolute menace on the forecheck and his pass to Xhekaj on his goal (who also had a great game) was a perfect example of that. Even if we don’t get a top-six forward through a trade, Roy-Dach-Newhook could be a very effective line next year.

4. not the Slaf-trick I was hoping for

5. There goes Streak Suzuki and Juraj Streakovský 🙁

6. Slaf ending his streak with what his easily his worst performance since mid November is poetry i guess

7. What a terribly sloppy game. The powerplay is infinitely worse when Matheson only uses one side of the ice.

   Great tank game for those who celebrate.

8. Best loss of the year and an excellent learning point for Slaf. First time I see the guy having fire in his eyes, he’ll learn to fiddle the line between hard work and penalty just like Arber did.

9. Not the kind of hat trick I want to see from Slaf.

   Some defensive mistakes cost them. On to the next game.

10. Caufield just played his worst game as a Montreal Canadiens.
    Slaf brutal night with 3 penalties.
    We kind of got goalie’d

    Otherwise great game for the fans but I’m so tired of seeing this team losing since 2022…

11. Few players get my jimmies rustled like Matheson can.

    It’s not even 1 particular play it’s just him.

12. Kind of a bad game but not for the tank! If only Ottawa and Arizona can pass us in the standings and we’re good. No pt but Suzuki looked good at least. Slaf will have to learn to balance his intensity that’s okay

13. *BAD*

    – Burn that tape from this one Slaf. Way too many penalties.

    – Caufield at fault for the shorty. Three turnover on the one shift he seemed a bit, off tonight hopefully nothing bugging him because if so he should sit out.

    – defensive zone coverage. A lot of space for the Sabres.

    – Matheson a bit fumbly tonight.

    – Really getting into the dog days of the season. Team is going to the basement and losses likely will keep going here. Will be tough to watch down the stretch I’d say.

    – Just so weak at forward. Need guys there and badly an overpay in the off-season would not upset me given how stacked with young d habs are.

    – Jeff skinner lol

    *GOOD*

    – Xhekaj excellent. The goal and nailed some kids out there. Why of all the bubble d this team he is involved in hypothetical trades, maybe cuz he has value I get it, but he brings something nobody else really does… toughness, great game.

    – Suzuki lost his point streak but was the epitome of a perfect 2 way player tonight.

    – Struble goal.

    – Guys were physical.

    – Liked Josh Roy. Nice assist.

14. Suzuki was very good, Monty, Evans and Xhekaj had decent games. Everyone else sucked

15. Good:
    We have a better pick at the deadline

    Bad: Those final minutes made sure I overcooked my pizza and now its burnt 🙁

16. roy and xhekaj played great tonight, ylonen is not an nhl player, anderson is making me sadder by the day. suzuki played great and deserved a point. oh well, another L for the tank

17. Tonight is a prime example of why we so desperately need Dach back. Can’t expect your top line to produce every night, and having a second line that has Dach and Newhook should help produce secondary scoring.

    Not much positive to really take from that game. Xhekaj and Roy looked good, Suzuki had some great hustle plays, but overall a really tough game.

18. I’m ok with losing. Roy, Xhekaj & Struble are still developing, hard to see Slafs 3 penalties as he was double & sometimes triple teamed & its no surprise he fought back.

19. their worst game since pre all star break. caufield really lost it for us on that penalty kill. hopefuly not his shoulder acting up on him

20. Bro…

21. This team is cookin, the flavours are there but need to keep simmerin

    Which means we’ll have to endure these frustrating games for a while yet.

22. Suzuki and Xhekaj were the standouts for me. Suzuki was creating chances all night and made some amazing plays at both ends. Xhekaj played his best game as a Hab with a goal, crisp breakouts and massive hits. Roy and Struble also looked good.

    Unfortunately, we were undisciplined and made some boneheaded plays leading to ugly turnovers. Oh well, good for the tank.

23. Trash Matheson at the end. I thought he was playing decent lately, but the real Matheson came back tonight.

    6vs4 and he goes for the shitty low percentage shot… twice. Low IQ and greedy play.

24. Xhekaj hit comp from tonight was posted on r/NHL and it just warms my heart to see every other fan base beg to have this guy on their team.

25. I continue to be impressed by the maturity of Struble

    Evans playing well of late all over the ice but lacks the iq to play with armia who brought the energy at times but needs more to work with on that line

    Roy and Gignac doing a decent enough job

    Suzuki spellbinding as always

    Xhekaj bringing the energy tonight from the get go

    Luukonen on a good run this yr unfortunately otherwise could have been a different end

    Two teams trying to make lemonade instead scrambled eggs on ice

26. eeesh three minor penalties for Slaf and last one killing any chance of a comeback. He’ll learn, weird game, we controlled possession and won a ton of faceoffs but some odd breakdowns and a lot of bobbled pucks and missed passes. Timing and execution just weren’t there.reat game by Roy though!

27. Two brutal giveaways, Habs just looked sloppy. Roy was a bright spot and Arber rocking in

28. Important game for the Tanque. Commanders Matheson, Armia and Pearson got the job done.

29. Please trade Armia for a sack of beans. They don’t have to be magic. They can just be in a can at this point.

30. Vive Le Roy!! ÇA SENT LA COUPE 25!!!

31. Matheson taking all the shots when everyone was open lol why

32. 

33. MSL: Suzuki played better tonight than some games where he had two points.

    I love this man.

34. We have a 3 point lead on Ottawa but they have 3 games in hand. We probably can’t sink to the bottom 3, but we can def squeeze into the bottom 5.

    Please dear God let us draft Cayden Lindstrom

35. Worst Slaf game of the year, but he’s forgiven since he rocks