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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Mar 27, 2024 18:24:34 GMT -4
Im on record as saying Moose will lose in 2nd round, but the real equation is this.
Play more extra games you wear down and lose. They don't have much margin here. They don't score enough and sometimes get behind. That catches up with you in the playoff grind. Taking 6 or 7 games in round one accrues against any team in later rounds.
Last year Quebec ran the table for the first 3 rounds. And the 3rd round was a tough opponent. They never lost on the road.
In the Memorial Cup it made them look way fresher than the other teams. Funny their loss was to the Petes who basically went the limit every series as underdogs.
The Furlong loss only compounds it for the Moose. I do not buy that they were "on cruise control" down the stretch. They have not looked sharp this season except for a couple of road trips with b2b2b games. It's who they are. They will not sweep round 1. And it will catch up with them. Opponents get harder.
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Post by jordo999 on Mar 28, 2024 8:59:56 GMT -4
toss lough on Furlong...sad to hear
I think the key to this series for the Moose is baiting penalties. This Titan squad is very undisciplined at times and take poor penalties, with our special teams not being great either.
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Post by fabi1309 on Mar 28, 2024 12:27:59 GMT -4
I just came across this video:
Do you notice how the team seems more energetic? There is pride and happiness after every goal. This season has been lacking that, every time Cataford or Vidicek score, they fist bump each other and that's it. I wonder what has changed and what causes this shift in motivation (from last season to this season). I know people don't believe it - neither do I really - but if we get the team to play with heart, pride and dedication, we can get real far. We have the skill and Rousseau can steal games. Our first two lines (arguably first three lines) should have plenty of scoring depth and skill.
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Post by howitzer on Mar 28, 2024 16:45:14 GMT -4
The is the first Moosehead team I can remember, where I wouldn't be surprised if they go to the finals, and won't be surprised if they're upset in Rd 1.
A successful season in terms of wins and losses, but a truely odd season in a lot of ways, capped off in the end with Dumais' distraction, and losing Furlong. I honestly have no idea what to expect tmrw night. Bathurst has talent, and some young guys who are playing loose, fearless and with zero pressure. Keller has been one of the best goalies in the last month or so. They can absolutely win this series.
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Post by Citris on Mar 28, 2024 17:51:09 GMT -4
I just came across this video: Do you notice how the team seems more energetic? There is pride and happiness after every goal. This season has been lacking that, every time Cataford or Vidicek score, they fist bump each other and that's it. I wonder what has changed and what causes this shift in motivation (from last season to this season). I know people don't believe it - neither do I really - but if we get the team to play with heart, pride and dedication, we can get real far. We have the skill and Rousseau can steal games. Our first two lines (arguably first three lines) should have plenty of scoring depth and skill. To be fair, this is the first time since the 2013-14 squad where we made the finals and returned a good portion of the roster the year after, and for that team, they had won the year before so, it's a little different. The regular season for the vast majority of the team has been "unfinished buisness", the regular season doesn't mean much, it's the playoffs that matter. I'm not saying that's necessarily a good mentality to have, but most of these guys have nothing to prove in the regular season, and the ones that did (Levesque, Crosby, Todd, for example) play with a lot more overt excitement. Even LFD and Reynolds, they're new adds but both are champions in their own right, they've been here before. But, they both have a bit of unfinished business too, as LFD never won the Memorial Cup and Reynolds never won the league championship. I think we'll have a better idea of what this team is really made of by this time next week. Maybe they are what they played like all season, a team that would be a coinflip to make the 3rd round. Or, maybe they're a contender. The one advantage these guys do have is that it has been next man up for them all season long. Losing Furlong SUCKS, but every one of the top 5 teams is missing a Major piece on the blueline for the playoffs, that can't be an excuse.
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Post by fabi1309 on Mar 28, 2024 18:37:21 GMT -4
You know what I keep forgetting? We’re getting Dumais back on Saturday (at least that’s the most we know). Even if he plays offensively at 40% of his capacity, he can outwork all of the titan. He can really change (at least) this series. Tho, his impact may become less and less with more and more rounds.
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Post by Reesor on Mar 28, 2024 19:59:31 GMT -4
You're probably going to see a lot of media personalities predicting an upset in this series. One thing about predicting upsets is it's fun to do. Nobody remembers if you're wrong but you look like a genius if you're right.
This series is too simple to predict an upset in. From key injuries to play style to inconsistencies to Bathurst's recent track record, all the puzzle pieces are there for an upset. But Halifax is still the better team, with the better top players, better overall defense and better goaltending. They should win this series.
Losing would be a massive disappointment. But I'd be the most disappointed if they lost because they got out-worked. I haven't defended the coaching staff, but I have given other reasons why this roster has struggled. If Halifax gets out-worked in this series, after the season they've had, after the recent games they've played against Bathurst, and after having all this time to prepare for playoff hockey, I'll gladly be the first on here to say "You all were right, this coaching staff did not prepare these guys to play". The players have to buy in as well, but us armchair coaches know what the formula is to beat Bathurst, so I expect our top players to be ready. If they aren't, well this wasn't going to work out from the start.
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Post by davo1997 on Mar 29, 2024 7:00:12 GMT -4
Today is the day good luck moosehead fans! May the worst team on paper win. Go Titan Go!
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greyowl
Blue-Chip Prospect
Posts: 348
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Post by greyowl on Mar 29, 2024 8:22:13 GMT -4
You know what I keep forgetting? We’re getting Dumais back on Saturday (at least that’s the most we know). Even if he plays offensively at 40% of his capacity, he can outwork all of the titan. He can really change (at least) this series. Tho, his impact may become less and less with more and more rounds. Dumais is not practicing with the team. Can't see him playing till he does.
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Post by robichaud on Mar 29, 2024 12:10:34 GMT -4
You know what I keep forgetting? We’re getting Dumais back on Saturday (at least that’s the most we know). Even if he plays offensively at 40% of his capacity, he can outwork all of the titan. He can really change (at least) this series. Tho, his impact may become less and less with more and more rounds. Columbus woudn't give the ok if this was the case. Of what I'm hearing, they are the one's deciding when Dumais is coming back to play.
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Post by fabi1309 on Mar 29, 2024 12:41:09 GMT -4
You know what I keep forgetting? We’re getting Dumais back on Saturday (at least that’s the most we know). Even if he plays offensively at 40% of his capacity, he can outwork all of the titan. He can really change (at least) this series. Tho, his impact may become less and less with more and more rounds. Columbus woudn't give the ok if this was the case. Of what I'm hearing, they are the one's deciding when Dumais is coming back to play. Nah, I meant that he is fully healthy and CAN play at 100% capacity but just won't bc he is done with junior leagues in his mind.
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Mar 29, 2024 14:03:28 GMT -4
You know what I keep forgetting? We’re getting Dumais back on Saturday (at least that’s the most we know). Even if he plays offensively at 40% of his capacity, he can outwork all of the titan. He can really change (at least) this series. Tho, his impact may become less and less with more and more rounds. And this is just not true...if he plays at 40% he will not be able to outwork all the Titan. Even if you give them little respect it's the playoffs and nobody wants to be humiliated by a player hardly contributing. Frankly players that give less than 50% are always not as good as the replacement who would take their spot. They also more than not end up injured or liability especially defensively. This may have been said in jest but it's always better to expect the best of the opponent especially in playoffs. Respect them a little more than that.
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Post by hfxfan2002 on Mar 29, 2024 15:06:06 GMT -4
As expected the lines did some slight juggling.
Cataford-Vidicek-Crosby Reynolds-Denis-Sprynar Kilfoil-MacPhee-Levesque Welsh-Todd-McPhee
Moravec-MacKinnon Schultz-Phillips Martin-MacKenzie
Rousseau
Welcome back to the lineup Braedan! Looks like they’ve liked what they’ve seen from Luke McPhee because he draws in over Moser.
I like the lines except the Martin/MacKenzie combo really makes me nervous, Furlong is a huge blow.
I think Bathurst takes Game 1 by a score of 4-2. Hope I’m wrong. Go Moose Go.
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Post by Herd Fan on Mar 29, 2024 16:35:02 GMT -4
I kind of like the lines. McPhee is a little bit of a surprise, but I am okay with it. Love having Macphee back in the lineup. His energy is contagious.
I am like others and do not see a big blow to our defense because Furlong is not here. We are too deep on D. Agreed though, anyone with Mackenzie scares me a bit. Surprised they don't pair Mackenzie with one of the older guys but then they would probably have to play less. I see it both ways. I liked Doyle last week for D too. Surprised Mackenzie made it over him really.
Rousseau is just too good when it matters.
I still think we take this one. Hope the coaches have the boys hyped!!!
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Post by fabi1309 on Mar 29, 2024 16:38:45 GMT -4
Love the lines. We should take this one. Actually the whole series. Anyways, any word on the captain? It’s not on the game sheet!
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