Canadiens Running Out of Gas? Carolina Hurricanes Push Montreal to the Brink ft. Marco D'Amico | OTR

[00:00:00]I think you're upset of how excited I am about how the game went yesterday for the Habs and Carolina because you know what would be rough starting the first period down three nothing. And to join us now is Marco Demo of co-host of Star De Mo friend of the show. Always happy to have you here buddy.

[00:00:14]>> Good to have you back.

[00:00:15]>> Thanks for having me.

[00:00:16]>> Okay.

[00:00:17]>> Good morning sir.

[00:00:18]>> Canadians lose four straight home games in a single postseason for the first time in franchise history. Terrible first period and well they never picked it up. Tell me, my friend, what happened?

[00:00:32]>> Uh, Carolina just pressed on the gas, didn't put the brakes on, and the Canadians had no answer to that. Um, you know, the Canadians tried to change their game up a little bit, try to be a little bit more aggressive in the offensive zone. They got caught twice with the puck going back the other way.

[00:00:48]You're down three nothing, you know, before the end of the first period. And then Carolina just shut the game down.

[00:00:54]And Keandre Miller had himself another massive game. Jacob Slavven had another massive game. Uh Chatfield again, fantastic and being able to box the Canadians out. And you have to give Carolina credit, right? This is a team that didn't used to play this style before and has really kind of come in and played that smothering defensive style. For a team that used to be really like an up like a north south kind of team constantly, they still do that. But when they need to shut the game down after that, that that's the difference between this Carolina Hurricanes and what we've seen over the last five years. And when you're a team like Montreal that's gone through seven two seven game series and are now facing a well-rested but absolute machine of a team when it comes to how they skate and how they play with pace. That's when, you know, you get to game four, you get to game five, that's when you start seeing the legs get pulled from under you. I think that contributes to what I'm going to bring up to you right now.

[00:01:49]That the Canadian set a Stanley Cup playoff record for the fewest shots on goal over a three-game span of a playoff series with 43. You could hear the fans chanting in the third period, shoot the puck when they're being outshot 14- nothing.

[00:02:03]>> I guess just basically why aren't they shooting more?

[00:02:08]Um, hesitancy I think is one of the big things like having to take two to three seconds to take a shot off when you have clear lanes. Um, you know, especially from the point, the Canadians getting shots from the point has been an adventure in this series because Carolina's uh pressure at the blue line is so strong. Like they come at you so quickly that you have to make decisions, you know, in a in a split second. Well, the Canadians are a fast team with their execution, but they're not that fast, or at least not yet. And so, there's a lot of hesitancy. They're not putting pucks where soft ice is. Players aren't in movement, and possession is lost immediately. So, you can't shoot if you're not in positions to shoot. And then when they are in positions to shoot, they hesitate or they try to make the extra pass. And that to me is the re is is the sobering reality of this right now is that Carol like Montreal as a team prefer quality shots over you know a volume shot kind of strategy but that also means that they overpass the puck a lot and that's the reason why the fans started chanting shoot the puck because there were multiple great a chances that could have been shots in the third period that were simply just passed off again. uh and and then the puck was lost and then Carolina went back the other way. So part of it is Carolina just smothering the play, not giving the Canadians anything in the high danger area. And the other aspect of it is, you know, potentially being a little too cute with the puck and trying to go for the perfect play when you're in the Eastern Conference Finals and sometimes the garbage goal is the right goal.

[00:03:46]>> Yeah. And there's uh I mean Carolina right now is having a it feels like Montreal is having to question everything that they do to get here. uh Carolina is making them question that and it's it's so tough when a team is as aggressive as Carolina is and and I'm sure Marty St. Louis is looking at the looking at the ice from the bench. She's like, "You just got to make one or two passes and then we got a threeon two or a two-on-one going the other way because they're ultraaggressive." And we saw that play out a lot in the first few games of this series where Montreal didn't have a ton of shots, but they were converting because the chances Carolina does give you when you're able to play through their pressure, they give you gradea a chances. And that's the thing Montreal has just not been able to find as much in these last two games.

[00:04:27]>> Yeah. Yeah, it's the team that gave up the most amount of breakaways in the season and the most amount of oddman rushes in the season is the Carolina Hurricanes. And you you said it, it's it's the it's because they play such an aggressive forche. I mean, at some point last game, they had a threeman for check going at the high blue line. I I I've rarely ever seen that. I think the only time I've ever seen that recently was like the epitome of the Martro New Jersey Devils, like that that level of trap. And so absolutely when you have such an aggressive forch check that leaves open ice. What the Canadians did well in game one is that they took advantage of that open ice. But you can't take advantage of that open ice if you're a not playing with pace and speed and b not being so predictable in your skate patterns through the neutral zone.

[00:05:13]Because that's really what it is. It it it became so predictable that if you're a guy like Keandre Miller who can take up, you know, 10 square 100 square feet basically on the ice with his reach and his size, well, you simply just have to slide on over to the boards and it will stop anybody from streaking in on the opposite side of their forche, even if you're able to squeak that puck through that the the three-man block. And if you're the Canadians, they weren't playing close enough together like they were in game one or like they have against the Buffalo Sabres or the Tampa Bay Lightning to be able to enter the zone with possession and pressure that would force the Carolina Hurricanes defense to back up. And I think when that happens, when you don't impose a level of pressure on the defense and they can just wait for you at the blue, poke the puck away or remove you from the play, it's impossible to get a a string of shifts going from a momentum perspective. And that was the game last night.

[00:06:08]>> I uh I feel like I'm hearing a lot of uh well, Montreal is is got to be fatigued.

[00:06:13]You know, they had the two seven game series before this one whereas Carolina just played, you know, they they swept their first two rounds. they might had a much easier path to this conference final than than Montreal did. Um, but at the same time, you know, like Carolina is the better team. They had the second best record in the league this year.

[00:06:31]They're healthier. They're they're more fresh. You know, you start stacking all of those factors together and and you can see why Carolina's maybe getting stronger as this series goes on.

[00:06:42]>> Yeah. You know, obviously I think that the the two seven game series weighs on this team, right? Like I'm sure that when we do a locker clean out, whenever that is, we're going to have ourselves a laundry list of injuries and you know, everyone's going to be like, "Ah, now I understand." But at the same time, you know, a lot of the players on this team have played upwards of 100 games this season. You know, Nick Suzuki, when you factor in the Olympics, your iceky, same thing. Like, this is a team that perhaps doesn't have the physical maturity yet to be able to go on these kinds of runs, especially when you when each series goes to seven games. And even in that seventh game, overtime, you know, that that weighs on a team. And we talked about the the the rest versus rust factor at the beginning of the series. I thought it would impact the series early, but I thought the the the the rest factor, especially with the way that Carolina plays, that that fast-paced, suffocating style, was going to come and be an advantage by game three. Uh they were able to take advantage by game two, and that's where the series has gone because Montreal doesn't have the legs right now to keep up. And it's interesting because it it requires you to have to think about the roster and have to think about strategically where this is going.

[00:07:53]Similarly to the way that Carolina had to think about it when they were playing Florida the last two playoff runs, right? And they made really good adjustments this summer going to get Nick Eers. The money trade of going to get Keandre Miller has paid off incredibly for them and I that's why they've looked like a different team this year. So kudos to them. They've taken advantage of the opportunities.

[00:08:13]Have they had an easier path? Yeah, I think you could easily argue that the Metropolitan Division isn't on the same level as the Atlantic division, but they've taken their opportunities. And if Montreal were better at closing out series, maybe they'd be a little bit less tired because they had an opportunity in each of their previous two to finish it at six and instead push to seven.

[00:08:34]>> Uh Marco, good morning, sir. Uh Kabie here. Yeah, Kandre Miller has been awesome. That that that goal that he uh set up uh Jordan Stall was pretty impressive. Um in the second period out of frustration or whatever um Josh Anderson pops Jaylen Chatfield after a scrum and he gets he gets a roughing call actually against Nick Eers. Was that understandable or how surprised uh were you that Montreal was maybe uncharacteristically undisiplined with six penalties in uh in game four?

[00:09:08]>> Oh man. Uh, I think there was a game against Tampa in Montreal where there were like 19 penalties called. So, I'm no longer surprised uh at the undisiplined when it 19 is honestly okay. Yeah, >> I have never seen that. There was more uh special teams played than than five on five. I' I've rarely seen that in a playoff game, but I digress. When it comes to the Canadians discipline, I mean, they're pissed, Gabby. like the like it was in the dressing room after the game like uncharacteristic amount of of profanity in terms of how they felt that they were playing and >> okay >> it's not by chance man it's it's Carolina is a team that will frustrate you it's a team that really kind of makes you question and second guess yourself hence the hesitancy that they have in their execution in the offensive zone and in transition because you're always second guessing you're always like if I if if I'm going to go and get a puck along the S if I turn around, do I have one guy but right behind me and one guy at the boards ready to to to to box me in like what's my next move?

[00:10:10]You're going to turn the puck over and then you're chasing the puck back the other way. Well, if that happens to you shift after shift after shift, you start getting annoyed and you you start taking undisiplined penalties. And you know, to his credit, Josh Anderson has been a warrior for the Canadians, but he has been the poster boy of showing the Montreal's emotional litmus test on the ice. He's he's the kind of guy that if the Canadians are in control, he won't get involved. The Canadians are chasing a game emotionally, he's one of the first to try and impose, you know, to to to exert that emotion onto the opposition. He's done so throughout most of the season. Uh but again, you live and die with heart and soul players like that. Even Phil Deno, Lane Hudson, those guys were angry yesterday and rightfully so because when you play a team like Carolina that gives you absolutely nothing. Yeah, it's absolutely it's very frustrating when you can't find a solution to that.

[00:11:00]>> Yeah, I I can imagine, bro. It just And these guys are, you know, 25 humans.

[00:11:04]They're just like they just got shut out on their on their home ice. I I do want to give credit. You mentioned the special teams. Montreal killing off a five on three and then a five on four penalty in the second se second. Like that was >> You want a crazy stat, Kabby?

[00:11:18]>> Yes. Yes, I do.

[00:11:19]>> There hasn't been one five on three 5v3 goal scored in the playoffs so far.

[00:11:25]>> What?

[00:11:25]>> Wait, entire in the entire playoffs?

[00:11:29]>> Mhm.

[00:11:29]>> What?

[00:11:30]>> Not one team has scored on a five on three.

[00:11:32]>> Crazy.

[00:11:33]>> Yeah. Holy cow. Uh jeez. I I don't know what that's about. Um, and maybe so, so my question isn't about that, but I do want to give the Canadians a little bit of props uh for for that the special teams on in that particular situation.

[00:11:47]Can you explain this to me, Marco? Um, Montreal's record at home is 2 and6 in the playoffs. Montreal's record on the road is 7 and3. How do you explain that discrepancy if you can, bro?

[00:12:04]Honestly, three of those three of those eight games went to overtime. So, that's anybody's anybody's real like guess at that point. You do what you can. Um, two of those eight were game sixes where the Canadians were facing or or were able to eliminate another team. So, part of it is Killer Instinct to me in in being able to close out series uh on home ice.

[00:12:28]I think that they got significant push back and they've been better on the road all season. Uh have the Montreal Canadiens. So part of it is circumstantial, part of it is luck when it comes to overtime. Um but I I do feel like it's been the theme of these playoffs in the East that the road record is always better than the home record. And we've seen this uh uh you know with Tampa, they were a road team as well. But we saw with Buffalo, they were a road team as well. Um so much so that those two teams didn't go home for game seven. Even though they were at home, they decided to go to hotels to emulate being on the road because they also had a home record issue. So it's it's been the story of the playoffs for me that home ice advantage doesn't really mean much. Uh, and usually when you have a team like Montreal where the fans are chanting at 115 to 120 dB uh between between plays, it's a lot and it should give you energy. And the Canadians have gotten energy from them.

[00:13:31]They've won some convincing games at home, but unfortunately, like I said, they haven't been able to to string them along with consistency. And you have a game you you have these series now against Carolina. home ice advantage doesn't mean much because they play so so quickly that they're able to cycle in and out lines on the rush while maintaining offensive zone pressure. So you can't really have a matchup game against them unless you slow the game down. Canadians haven't been able to do that. A >> and a quick note, Carolina is 6 and0 on the road in the playoffs. So, just to your point, that home ice advantage isn't as much as a factor in this particular 2026 uh playoff season uh as it has been in the past.

[00:14:12]>> Yeah, >> we're talking about energy here and no matter which team advances, most likely it's going to be Carolina. They won't be as well rested as the Vegas Golden Knights. And Michael Boué, yes, the award-winning singer was in Toronto yesterday because he's promoting a new show he has coming up about the Vancouver Giants. He is one of the owners. It's a hockey f focus show kind of what happens behind the scenes. But I asked him like, "Hey, as also Vancouver Canucks fans, we know pretty much every other fan base likes to see when Toronto Maple Leafs fans suffer because of course, let's make it about the Leafs."

[00:14:42]I said, "Which would you hate more or love more for Leafs fans to suffer through? Mitch Marner in the Vegas Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup trophy or final rather or the Habs winning?" And here's what he had to say.

[00:14:57]And I want your guys' take on how he kind of spun this question.

[00:15:01]>> I don't enjoy it at all for I mean I'm not a I'm just I not a big fan of the Vegas Golden Knights. Uh not a big fan of the fact that we keep seeing Stanley Cups where teams are in come from cities that their their tax benefits. And I think at some point, even though I know that the people that run hockey don't want to talk about it and say it's not real, at some point some point it's real. So it I I love Mitch. I I'm a big Mitch fan, like as a person. Great guy.

[00:15:33]>> So the Mitch thing, but just your >> You can tell he's a real hockey fan if he's making that comment.

[00:15:38]>> Yeah. So he will run hockey, but just any of you want to comment on his take about Vegas again being in the Stanley Cup finals.

[00:15:44]>> Well, go ahead, Marco. I think I think Vegas is, you know, yes, there is the no tax situation, but again, like I I won't get into specifics, but uh and obviously I'm not about to promote tax evasion, but there is ways there are ways around the system. There are ways around the system, especially, you know, for Americanborn players like Austin. Go and look at Austin Matthews contract. Look at all those signing bonuses versus actual salary. There's a reason for that. uh as a uh as an Arizona native that he does that where you get around uh the the the notion of taxes. To me, the the Vegas Golden Knights have just been ruthlessly aggressive in their player acquisition strategy. And whenever they found a player that they wanted to go and get, they've not only gone out and get them, but they've been able to extend him long term. And the only questionable acquisition that they've made was Mitch Marner. you know, whether or not, you know, the the discussion of potential tampering was involved and then that tra that sign and trade with the Leafs, like that's the only one where you're like, what just happened here? But other than that, you know, what has Nashville won a cup because of the no tax thing? Is Seattle any better because of the no tax situation? Um, is Dallas a more, you know, dangerous team because of the no tax or is Jim Nil just that good of a GM? you know, the Florida teams. Yeah.

[00:17:04]To me, I'll say it this way. The no tax situation, I think, helps keep salaries lower on on an on an average, but I think it was ever more apparent during a flat cap era. Now that the salary cap is going up by 8 to N million every summer, it's going to be more about how you manage your core and how effective you are in your acquisition, be it via draft, via via trade that's going to make it happen. Because the Carolina Hurricanes are in the Eastern Conference final basically every year for the last three, four years. Um, you know, I don't think it's because of a no tax thing.

[00:17:39]It's because of how strong they are in player acquisition.

[00:17:43]>> I needed to FaceTime you and I was talking to Boué. I got 90 seconds with him on the red carpet. So next time I'm calling you. We're going to make a pack.

[00:17:49]But I appreciate your time today. We will probably talk to you after well the series is probably going to wrap in the next game. So we appreciate you today, Marco.

[00:17:58]>> Always a pleasure. And I would never say anything about a uh being the Canadians being down 3-1. Uh good things about depending on the team.

[00:18:06]>> Lindsay, you walked right into you walked right into that. It was it was Lindsay.

[00:18:15]I do agree with you though that unfortunately this is it does look like the Canadians uh are out of gas at this point. But again uh looking forward to being able to talk about the series and what's next for this team with you guys uh at the next opportunity. Thank you so much for having me.

[00:18:29]>> Hope you enjoyed this video. If you want more off the roster content, make sure to like and hype this video and subscribe to the Nation Network YouTube channel.