Game #81Meaningless Game Has Exciting Finish

Details

Date: 7/4/2011
Opponent: Senators
Location: Ottawa

Loss:2-3 (OT)

Habs Goalie: Auld (L)
Opposition Goalie: Anderson (W)

Habs goalscorers: Gionta, Cammalleri
Opposition goalscorers: Spezza, Butler, Kuba

Play of the game

Kostitsyn made a great play to keep the play alive towards the end of the game. Had he not raced over to support the puck the game would have been over. Instead it got to Pleks behind the net who went to Wiz at the point. Then, all of a sudden, it was back on Andrei's stick. He then made a brilliant pass to Cammalleri who tied the game up with a perfect shot.

Dome hockey team

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

Forwards

Mike Cammalleri
Mike is hot and he showed that with another great goal. It was a very typical game, however, for him as there were some bad passes and bad moments in there with all of the good stuff. This is what we need and expect though and I am happy with that.

Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrei was our best forward tonight and it was never more evident than on the tying goal. That play shows why he has gone from no PP time to a lock to be on the ice in tight situtations. His 6 shots led the team as he played the closest to the way I want our forwards to play next week.

Brian Gionta
I felt that a lot of the players didn't go too hard tonight. Gomez's line had their moments, but overall they can and must be better. Gionta was the best of the lot though and still had a stronger game than the rest of the forward group.

Defencemen

PK Subban
Boos for PK? I hate that good players get booed - it happens in Montreal and apparently happens elsewhere. But, at least we know that he gets them because he is good - it is a way for other fans to acknowledge good play. Tonight he played a good game and looks ready for the playoffs.

James Wisniewski - Game Puck
James carried the load tonight for his team. He played over 25 minutes of reliable hockey and finished at +1. His 2 points are good, but just made him that much more expensive as he now has over 50 (51) points. He has got the job done all year and I am excited to see him play in the playoffs; we'll worry about next season in the summer.

Goaltender

Alex Auld
3 goals on 32 shots isn't bad, more like average. This wasn't his best game, but he got a point and allowed Carey to rest, so it wasn't all that bad. Hopefully that will be the last time we see Auld for a long time, because if that is the case it will mean that Price is playing well and at this point that is what we'll need to go anywhere.

Comments

I made the trip down to Kanata tonight with a few friends and what we saw was what one may expect to see from 2 teams that are presently certain of where they will be next week. Montreal played a smart, conservative game in which they were more interested in staying out of trouble than winning. Ottawa had their moments, but you could tell that the players wouldn't have minded had they lost. The Canadiens, I thought, outplayed Ottawa early, but there were bad passes and sloppy plays over the place. What they got was what they wanted I think, though - 1 point and a chance to leave the arena as healthy as they came.

They walk away from Ottawa as a team that didn't give too much effort, but with a better hold on 6th place. In fact, a win on Saturday would clinch us 6th and would give us an impressive 96 points. I think, however, the main goal has to be to stay safe and to stay relatively rested. A win against Toronto, though, in Toronto would be a good way to end ours and especially their season. I can't believe that we have already played 81 games and that the playoffs are just around the corner. Our team has come together and seems ready, though. Markov, Gorges and Pacioretty are all dearly missed, but I think that the rest of the guys are good enough to do what last year's team did. That doesn't mean that I think they will go as far as they did and I would be surprised and very happy if they did, but I do think that we have enough of the right pieces to compete this spring. It all starts with Price and the D, as it does every year, and we have one game to get ready for the real deal and to iron out any kinks.