Game #2055 Shots Against; But Price Softens The Blow

Details

Date: 14/11/09
Opponent: Predators
Location: Nashville

Loss: 0-2

Habs Goalie: Price (L)
Opposition Goalie: Rinne (W)

Habs goalscorers: None
Opposition goalscorers: Sullivan (2)

Play of the game

Considering only one player came to play tonight it is fitting that he features in this section. You guessed it; it is Price. Remember that ridiculous save in the 2nd period? The one were he absolutely stoned Dumont? Nashville, on the PP, set this play up perfectly, but Price actually had the last laugh. He proved to me, and to all of us, that sliding across to make a huge save is in him and that it is indeed possible. The puck was passed from right to left and JP one-timed a low, hard shot. Carey, however, was too quick as he came across with a huge pad save.

Dome hockey team

The 6 players we're playing in a no changes, do or die contest in the dome



Forwards

Tomas Plekanec
Not his usual self, but still better than most. Why on earth Martin took Andrei away from him I'll never know though. Was Andrei really playing that bad? Look around you Jacques, there was plenty worse. What I liked most about Pleks tonight was that he tried, he didn't deliver, but he tried.

Glen Metropolit
Good effort by Glen again, but we shouldn't be surprised that he didn't score. A third (sometimes fourth) line guy like him shouldn't be expected to score nor should we expect him to be one of our best players night in, night out. He has been really good till now, but I think relying on him is unfair to him and, overall, it won't do the team well. I'll take this level of play from him for the rest of the year, but I also need to see better players play better than him ALL of the time; not just some of the time.

Andrei Kostitsyn
Man, could we use a goal from our once most touted scoring prospect. Well, the goals aren't coming, but the shots and the attacks are. That is more than I can say for most players on this night. He is doing OK right now, but, let's face it, we need him to be great.

Defencemen

Josh Gorges
It is hard to really say anyone did well in our own end tonight, but I will. That is because I think that Josh played a decent game defensively; there were a couple of plays that stood out to me when he broke up odd-man rushes. He happened to be our most used penalty-killer (5+ mniutes) and wasn't on the ice for any goals.

Marc-Andre Bergeron
Not great in his own end, but not that much worse than the rest. He did, however, give Rinne something to think about as he took 4 pretty decent shots on net. I am still not sure if his offensive upside is worth having him in the line-up each game, but if he gets four shots on net every night it will help to convince me otherwise.

Goaltender

Carey Price - Game Puck
Unbelievable. The only reason this game wasn't a blowout (and I really mean the ONLY) was Carey Price. The Habs surrendered the second most amount of shots in team history (55) and matched that with a pretty invisible offence. This game could have been put out of reach very early on, but Price kept us within one-lucky bounce of actually getting points for a very long time. I am pleased with his play as of late and only wish that the team will start to give him the support that he deserves.

Comments

Not much to say really. I guess this is just another case of one team being way better than the other. It has happened to me and my team this year where we have either been way too good or way too bad for opponents. In these types of games there is little that can be done to alter what seems to be a pre-determined result. Their D was solid, ours lacked structure and conviction. There O was quick, fluid and dangerous, ours seemed lost as passes and shots often went way off target. Their goalie, however, wasn't better than ours, maybe as good, but he wasn't challenged nearly as much. Our lack of ability cost us penalties (6 to their 2) as we just couldn't keep up. I am starting to think that we need some help on offence because maybe, just maybe we aren't as strong as we had hoped. I mean, if only we had a guy who could gain the zone at will, hit puck-sized holes or steal a game single-handedly or maybe a guy with the heart of a lion, the ability to pass to more than one of his wingers or the tenacity to go to the front of the net and stay there. If only.