Lightning @ Leafs - Apr. 4th, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[BermudaBudsFan]

A couple of observations:-

Marner is playoff ready.
I liked Freddy?s game tonight.
We somehow need the fourth line not to spend all night in their own end.
Gardiner looked OK for being out over a month.
Marleau was a bit better tonight but Babcock may have a difficult decision to make there at some point in round one.

 

[azzurri63]

Let's hope Saturdays game is an important one for the Habs and we come out with a full team and kick their ass. That alone would make the season for me.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think Petan gets the Montreal game.

Who sits? Ennis, Moore? I like Moore, more.

 

[Zee]

I've been giving it to Bab's tonight so why not continue. How about calling a timeout so you can get Matthews back out there with the empty net? Hyman and Johnsson over Matthews? I did like them putting Rosen out there tho.

This kind of stuff, the deployment of the 4th line in situations where 30 other coaches never would ... he's sandbagging the entire league.  34/91/16 are all getting over 20 minutes a night once the Big Square Dance commences.

But in Babcock's coaching history he usually doesn't increase ice time in the playoffs. Still plays the real gud pros a lot in the playoffs. If he does what you suggest it would be the biggest coaching rope-a-dope ever

 

[Zee]

Let's hope Saturdays game is an important one for the Habs and we come out with a full team and kick their ass. That alone would make the season for me.

If Columbus wins tomorrow Habs are eliminated.

Actually Columbus only needs to beat one of Rangers or Sens to get in. If they miss now they're a bunch of losers

 

[Guilt Trip]

Let's hope Saturdays game is an important one for the Habs and we come out with a full team and kick their ass. That alone would make the season for me.

If Columbus wins tomorrow night it's all over. Habs are out.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I've been giving it to Bab's tonight so why not continue. How about calling a timeout so you can get Matthews back out there with the empty net? Hyman and Johnsson over Matthews? I did like them putting Rosen out there tho.

This kind of stuff, the deployment of the 4th line in situations where 30 other coaches never would ... he's sandbagging the entire league.  34/91/16 are all getting over 20 minutes a night once the Big Square Dance commences.

But in Babcock's coaching history he usually doesn't increase ice time in the playoffs. Still plays the real gud pros a lot in the playoffs. If he does what you suggest it would be the biggest coaching rope-a-dope ever

I don't see Babs changing anything. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[BermudaBudsFan]

I've been giving it to Bab's tonight so why not continue. How about calling a timeout so you can get Matthews back out there with the empty net? Hyman and Johnsson over Matthews? I did like them putting Rosen out there tho.

This kind of stuff, the deployment of the 4th line in situations where 30 other coaches never would ... he's sandbagging the entire league.  34/91/16 are all getting over 20 minutes a night once the Big Square Dance commences.

But in Babcock's coaching history he usually doesn't increase ice time in the playoffs. Still plays the real gud pros a lot in the playoffs. If he does what you suggest it would be the biggest coaching rope-a-dope ever

I don't see Babs changing anything. I hope I'm wrong.

I agree.  He should play his best players more but he won?t.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Side note I liked Rosen's game tonight. Thought he played well and such an upgrade over Marincin, Holl and  Oz. And Gardiner looked good too!

 

[ZBBM]

I've been giving it to Bab's tonight so why not continue. How about calling a timeout so you can get Matthews back out there with the empty net? Hyman and Johnsson over Matthews? I did like them putting Rosen out there tho.

This kind of stuff, the deployment of the 4th line in situations where 30 other coaches never would ... he's sandbagging the entire league.  34/91/16 are all getting over 20 minutes a night once the Big Square Dance commences.

But in Babcock's coaching history he usually doesn't increase ice time in the playoffs. Still plays the real gud pros a lot in the playoffs. If he does what you suggest it would be the biggest coaching rope-a-dope ever

My post was an uneasy mixture of sarcasm and wishful thinking.  But I do believe their icetime will go up.

 

[BrownRolo]

Played well in a meaningless game. One.more to go.

 

[herman]

It was a meaningless game, hence the boosted 4th line minutes. Once you clinch it?s basically preseason 2.0 to see who is going be in the line up. Moore and Rosen had good showings.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

This kind of stuff, the deployment of the 4th line in situations where 30 other coaches never would.

I'm going to take a minor issue with this. Not to defend how Babcock uses the 4th line, but I don't think it's really out of line with how the 30 other head coaches use them. Even the whole 'using them after a goal' thing is pretty common throughout the league.

I mean we all talk about how Barry Trotz is some sort of genius head coach, but the guy matched up his 4th line (which is admittedly better than ours if only because of their 4C, but it's still a 4th line) against the Tavares line the other day. Like, willingly.

 

[Highlander]

Did you know that Bruin rhymes with Ruin?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I missed the game but I feel like I've caught up on the essentials:

https://twitter.com/TheFlintor/status/1113961939036540928

 

[ZBBM]

This kind of stuff, the deployment of the 4th line in situations where 30 other coaches never would.

I'm going to take a minor issue with this. Not to defend how Babcock uses the 4th line, but I don't think it's really out of line with how the 30 other head coaches use them. Even the whole 'using them after a goal' thing is pretty common throughout the league.

I mean we all talk about how Barry Trotz is some sort of genius head coach, but the guy matched up his 4th line (which is admittedly better than ours if only because of their 4C, but it's still a 4th line) against the Tavares line the other day. Like, willingly.

Get your facts out of my face.

 

[disco]

Only one pre-season game left!