On dirait que Struble et Kapanen sont présents, tandis que Xhekaj et Veleno sont absents.
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Effective-Goose-7835
@Canadiens de Montréal
On dirait que Struble et Kapanen sont présents, tandis que Xhekaj et Veleno sont absents.
—
Effective-Goose-7835
39 Comments
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source : [https://x.com/EricEngels/status/2057486830161756337](https://x.com/EricEngels/status/2057486830161756337)
Feels a bit to back to norm lineup, last series was a bit shaky so I feel this is Marty’s way to get back to our rhythm
They want to play hockey then.
Insert Laine into the line-up finally. Even if only for the PP.
Struble / Xhekaj never were expected to play more than 10 mins a game. Get on the ice, don’t mess anything up, protect dobes and lay some hits. I like xhekaj more but trust Marty supremely in the decision making.
Veleno outside of game 2/3 was invisible. 1 fewer guy for the pk but I’m fine with it. Kapanen can likely find a goal or 2 more likely than Veleno, hope the defensive drop off isn’t too big.
Go Habs!
While I’m a person who sees a lot of value in Xhekaj, Struble could be better for this series to rotate the pairings more evenly. Carolina doesn’t have as many dynamic defensemen as Tampa and Buffalo.
We will need to go to the net to score in this series and Kapanen will provide more of that as well.
Struble makes sense. They can’t be playing Xhekaj 2 minutes per game. Got to spread those defenceman minutes around more, especially given how tired and banged up they must be already.
Yes!!
Dach – Kap – Bolduc probably then?
It makes sense, Xhekaj’s ice time has been trending down and only played 1:52 in game 7 vs the Sabres. They don’t have enough trust in him, might as well put in Struble since either one will be barely on the ice anyway.
https://preview.redd.it/l483p36fji2h1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5a607df9cd41fe9a26182fe02e9246375e61ef9
Would’ve preferred to see Veleno in for Kapanen, and Gally in for Anderson
Kapanen only played 4 minutes in game 7 so not sure what’s the point in dressing him. As for Anderson I just think he needs a game off to rest & repair
Thanks Marty
Against a team like Carolina, bringing back Struble makes sense.
Could just be rotating guys out who are hurt
Hopefully they actually play kapanen tonight. veleno was playing 10 mins a game and kap got 4 mins last game. If Marty doesnt trust him right now why is he taking a spot on the bench? Veleno hits and can pk if needed, I feel like he brings more at this point.
I don’t think there’s like a right or wrong choice. Everyone has on and off days and serve a purpose. It’s nice to have a rotating set of reliable players if things don’t pan out on the ice.
Going for mobile over brawler seems like a good call right now.
Excited for Kap. Don’t really care about the others either way lol. I have a soft spot for X but we don’t need his type of play right this minute. Struble and him are like 1:1 swaps in my eyes so it’s whatever.
Best choices for the moment imo. Needs will change likely as the series moves along. Although unless he out and out fails I don’t see a situation where Kapanen should sit for Veleno.
Make sense. They’ll have to watch how Hurricanes play.
I can see why the changes.
Struble is better at handling the puck and skating and the Canes have a pressure heavy forecheck. I am not sure but I feel Canes are not going to be as rough and Xhekaj not needed… plus we gave Struble the entire series off with Sabres, so it’s the right time after a 7 game series to put in a fresh guy even though Xhekaj probably not tired…
Kapanen, I trust MSL, he will know more about where his head is at, you essentially your mates battle through two grueling 7 game series, I hope he comes out with a lot more urgency and perseverance… felt in Tampa he got pushed around and baited into penalties…
I was puzzled when Veleno got slotted in for Sabres… and then I saw he got the wolf cap that game, … so ultimately…in MSL we trust
I don’t mind these changes at all. Struble will likely play some more minutes than Arber. Kapanen will likely play more minutes as well.
Makes sense to me.
Have to wonder if we see more of a 4 line approach similar to the Stanley Cup Final run in 2021. Big minutes for the top line which has failed to produce 5-on-5 and much less of a presence from the bottom 6 apart from PK time. Understandable that it’s playoffs and you need to rely on your big options, but it seemed to really wear on the team finishing out a second 7 game series
I think this is a good move. Carolina isn’t a big team and struble will be able to keep pace better but still add toughness.
Most of Marty’s changes have worked well to date. I know many – including my cousin – will be PUMPED for Gally.
Edit: Misread that. Gally isn’t in.
we’ll miss xhekaj’s 2 minutes
Xhekaj has become one of my fave players on the team lol this makes me sad
It’s funny because I think Xhekaj and Struble have been at their best when playing together. Hard to get them both in when the other 5 guys are healthy.
Im a Winnipeger anda jets fan aswell. But my original allegiance is with the habs as the contrarian of my mostly maple leaf cheering family. Xhekaj makes me think of what the jets wished Stanley was last years playoffs
I slightly prefer Xhekaj to Struble, but (1) it’s more important that we have a 6th defenseman the coach trusts with more than minimal minutes, and clearly MSL trusts Struble more than X; and (2) I’m kind of done second-guessing MSL at this point. I might have sat Dach after Game 2 against Tampa, and I might have pulled Dobes in Game Five against Buffalo, so clearly his judgment is superior to mine!
I don’t mind Struble over Xhekaj at times right now, I just really hope Arber is the one that’s with this team long term.
I’m hoping they team up Slaf with Demidov and Kapenan.
Throw Newhook up on the top line.
Habs need to be rolling six d men against carolina.
Marty has talked about using different players in the line up based on how the other team plays. Both Kapanen and Struble have points in 2 of the 3 games they played against Carolina. Where Veleno and Xhekaj had none (if they played). So it makes sense to have Kap and Strubes start.
I like Xhekaj over Struble most of the time but am fine with the switch. Carolina is not known for the rough stuff and Struble probably has the edge on puck movement which will be critical against the Canes. Would rather see Gally over Kap or Veleno though. If we are bringing in a guy to play low minutes in a minor role then why not the veteran who can maybe give the team a boost from the bench.
This is alright, I wasn’t entirely happy with Kapanen’s Game 7 performance – during his final shift, he got totally lost in the defensive zone, lost his assignment, and it resulted in the Sabres generating two high-danger scoring opportunities – so I’m a little surprised he’d get a game 1 start given the coaching staff essentially yanked him in the middle of game 7.
Xhekaj not playing makes sense – in retrospect, it was a huge error including him on the game 7 roster – at 1:52 ice time, the Habs might as well have dressed a 13th forward. And his frame and abilities don’t match up well against the ‘Canes depth advantages. I don’t expect to see much of him this series.
I was hoping for this. We’re fatigued, so alleviate it as much as possible with fresh legs