Jeff Paul: Golden Knights 2 - Canadiens 2: How Did We Get Here? The semifinal series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Montreal Canadiens is not tied 2-2. How did the series get to this point?

The idea of having 2 goalies and paying them both that much is still incredibly stupid to me especially when you see how much this team struggles to create offense. Especially from the forwards. But if you have 2 might as well use them.

The more I think about this, my mind tells me that Lehner is probably the guy to with in the rest of the series and if they somehow make it to the SCF go back to Fleury in game 1 if you're playing TB.

Montreal lacks the elite offensive talent of a Colorado or Tampa Bay team. Lehner is a guy who relies on his size and positioning, as he lacks athleticism/skating, which he can get away with a lot easier against the Habs, but I shudder to think of how he would do if he did play a Tampa or Colorado for a few games. I think MAF's athleticism is the better match up against those teams.

Either way if they fall short of the Stanley Cup again it won't be because of the goalie, just like it wasn't last year. It's going to be back they can't generate offense. Which is what happened to them last year. Maybe if they didn't have 12 mill tied up to goalies and used that money on a forward they wouldn't be struggling so much.

By not playing Reaves in game 4.

The idea of having 2 goalies and paying them both that much is still incredibly stupid to me especially when you see how much this team struggles to create offense. Especially from the forwards. But if you have 2 might as well use them.

The more I think about this, my mind tells me that Lehner is probably the guy to with in the rest of the series and if they somehow make it to the SCF go back to Fleury in game 1 if you're playing TB.

Montreal lacks the elite offensive talent of a Colorado or Tampa Bay team. Lehner is a guy who relies on his size and positioning, as he lacks athleticism/skating, which he can get away with a lot easier against the Habs, but I shudder to think of how he would do if he did play a Tampa or Colorado for a few games. I think MAF's athleticism is the better match up against those teams.

Either way if they fall short of the Stanley Cup again it won't be because of the goalie, just like it wasn't last year. It's going to be back they can't generate offense. Which is what happened to them last year. Maybe if they didn't have 12 mill tied up to goalies and used that money on a forward they wouldn't be struggling so much.
- Yosimar89

Vegas pays their 2 goalies less than Habs pay their two goalies ...

« How did we get here »

I’d say terrible officiating or refs being Vegas sixth player over the last 2 games.

« How did we get here »

I’d say terrible officiating or refs being Vegas sixth player over the last 2 games.
- koarik91

Lol this.

« How did we get here »

I’d say terrible officiating or refs being Vegas sixth player over the last 2 games.
- koarik91

Oh stop. Every fan thinks their team is getting jobbed.

Montreal players do a lot and get away with a lot - especially the D-men. They are no different from other teams.

« How did we get here »

I’d say terrible officiating or refs being Vegas sixth player over the last 2 games.
- koarik91

We should be thanking the refs and you guys should be thanking MAF for handing you game 3

The idea of having 2 goalies and paying them both that much is still incredibly stupid to me especially when you see how much this team struggles to create offense. Especially from the forwards. But if you have 2 might as well use them.

The more I think about this, my mind tells me that Lehner is probably the guy to with in the rest of the series and if they somehow make it to the SCF go back to Fleury in game 1 if you're playing TB.

Montreal lacks the elite offensive talent of a Colorado or Tampa Bay team. Lehner is a guy who relies on his size and positioning, as he lacks athleticism/skating, which he can get away with a lot easier against the Habs, but I shudder to think of how he would do if he did play a Tampa or Colorado for a few games. I think MAF's athleticism is the better match up against those teams.

Either way if they fall short of the Stanley Cup again it won't be because of the goalie, just like it wasn't last year. It's going to be back they can't generate offense. Which is what happened to them last year. Maybe if they didn't have 12 mill tied up to goalies and used that money on a forward they wouldn't be struggling so much.
- Yosimar89

This 100%

I'll take the game 4 win, but this nonsense about "Riding the Hot Hand" with Lehner is ridiculous

He looked slow out there. It's likely he was scored on twice as I am not convinced he got his glove in position before it crossed the line, although it might have been goalie interference regardless. Is he still the "Hot Hand if McNabb doesn't score and they lose 1-0?

To me, he seemed more lucky than good, and injecting a 5 (or 7) million dollar player into the lineup that is struggling with scoring is a much better value than a backup goalie sitting on the bench

This 100%

I'll take the game 4 win, but this nonsense about "Riding the Hot Hand" with Lehner is ridiculous

He looked slow out there. It's likely he was scored on twice as I am not convinced he got his glove in position before it crossed the line, although it might have been goalie interference regardless. Is he still the "Hot Hand if McNabb doesn't score and they lose 1-0?

To me, he seemed more lucky than good, and injecting a 5 (or 7) million dollar player into the lineup that is struggling with scoring is a much better value than a backup goalie sitting on the bench
- TheGame316

Team in front of Lehner played the opposite of game 3 and yet Vegas won. How was he lucky?

Another terrible 1st period and another game where they go down. Good on the Habs for our working them. That penalty kill gave them some momentum and they finished another breakaway chance.

Team in front of Lehner played the opposite of game 3 and yet Vegas won. How was he lucky?
- Nasty_Duck

The team played bad and he got credited with a win?

Vegas needs to work on NOT ALLOWING SO MANY F'N BREAKAWAYS

That’s the first time I’ve heard booing towards VGK by the home fans after that last pathetic power play display. Well earned IMO.

They’re gonna need a miracle to come back in this series.

did i really hear booing last night?

can an entire fan base be labeled entitled? holy freaking cow

That’s the first time I’ve heard booing towards VGK by the home fans after that last pathetic power play display. Well earned IMO.
- Yosimar89

you got gifted with a contender!

omg, i loathe this team (excluding Flower of course)

did i really hear booing last night?

can an entire fan base be labeled entitled? holy freaking cow
- farooge

Exactly what I thought when I heard it. Try going thru some adversity for a season or 10...

Exactly what I thought when I heard it. Try going thru some adversity for a season or 10...

- Team_Teal

maybe it was a bunch of Québécois in town messing with the locals? i mean I doubt it but I wouldn't put it past them either

you got gifted with a contender!

omg, i loathe this team (excluding Flower of course)
- farooge

This is such an incredibly stupid thing to say

They were given nothing. Revisionist history to the max from you and every other fan out there who whines about Vegas being handed a "contender". Almost everybody who's an NHL fan/"expert" was basically laughing at this team when they were done with the expansion draft. I was on here reading all the comments, as well as on other websites. I would say 90% of people thought they would be the worst team in the league or at least in the bottom 4. The consensus was for them to even be competitive let alone make the playoffs was that they were gonna need MAF to stand on his head for the entire season which he basically did. But of course since things haven't gone that way everyone is bitter about this team and how they were "handed" a contender, when they damn well know they didn't think they had a shot of being any good.

The team played bad and he got credited with a win?
- TheGame316

How about Vegas won in spite of how the team in front played.
Lehner had a lot do with the win. Would have started him last night.

did i really hear booing last night?

can an entire fan base be labeled entitled? holy freaking cow
- farooge

When the team goes 0-Fer on the PP and is on the brink of losing, the fans have a right to be upset.

0-Fer on the PP in the series. A lot of that is on the coaching staff not making proper adjustments. But it's brutal.

When the team goes 0-Fer on the PP and is on the brink of losing, the fans have a right to be upset.

0-Fer on the PP in the series. A lot of that is on the coaching staff not making proper adjustments. But it's brutal.
- Nasty_Duck

Apparently you're not allowed to boo until you've suffered for 10 or so years. That's the threshold


Some of the booing was because Habs fans started the "Go Habs Go" chant.

Apparently you're not allowed to boo until you've suffered for 10 or so years. That's the threshold


Some of the booing was because Habs fans started the "Go Habs Go" chant.
- Yosimar89

Still not sure why they went with Fleury after winning previous game with Lehner...

Still not sure why they went with Fleury after winning previous game with Lehner...
- Nasty_Duck

It made no sense to me either. Not that they lost because of Fleury, as frankly they got taken to the woodshed last night.

But that should dispel the myth of them playing better in front of MAF. They played terribly in front of him and they played terribly in front of Lehner.

The whole MAF needed rest as to why Lehner got the nod excuse is an absolute lie. If Fleury doesn't allow that horrible goal in game 3, the game ends 2-1 Vegas. You're telling me he doesn't start game 4?. I don't buy that.

Apparently you're not allowed to boo until you've suffered for 10 or so years. That's the threshold


Some of the booing was because Habs fans started the "Go Habs Go" chant.
- Yosimar89

Fair enough on the Habs chant...that's always salt in the wound in your own barn.

10 years was spit-balling for sure...Hell, five is apropos given the parity of the league these days.

It can't be denied that the team's immediate success doesn't bring about some spoiling of the fans...

I may just be cranky because I'll be there July 5-7 for some R&R, & as a Sharks fan I don't want to see the evil empire's logo every where I go!



I do love that bitter fyuckin rivalry though. They've def supplanted LA as SJ's PE #1.