tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885109449780622333.post3905804768135439105..comments2023-07-27T11:30:08.579-04:00Comments on Lions in Winter: Game #26Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157334079663330151noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885109449780622333.post-81589056041105078832007-12-04T12:51:00.000-05:002007-12-04T12:51:00.000-05:00Fair enough that they shouldn't change their whole...Fair enough that they shouldn't change their whole game around and be so defensive. At the same time, I'd expect them to use the opportunities that do open up. And by opportunities I mean shots on goal. It's not the best stat, but it does indicate when a team is creating scoring chances. In the third period, the Canadiens had all of FIVE shots on goal compared to Nashville's 20. If you ignore OT shots then Nashville had double the shots on goal than Montreal. Sure, one team was trying to catch up to the other, one was playing more defensively, etc. Still, they let the momentum of the game slip away and were pretty incompetent in the last 10 minutes.CheGorditohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692712275320903448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885109449780622333.post-47198374742594510332007-12-02T17:31:00.000-05:002007-12-02T17:31:00.000-05:00I agree Tobalev. Criticising goalies sucks. But th...I agree Tobalev. Criticising goalies sucks. But they inevitably are at fault some of the time. Trying to limit shots to 25 means bringing more forwards back, and thus they can't get up into the play in time. <BR/><BR/>See Habs 2000-2004 for examples of this tactic.Tophamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14157334079663330151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885109449780622333.post-79285670088384872332007-12-02T12:09:00.000-05:002007-12-02T12:09:00.000-05:00I don't like to blame goalies either, but at some ...I don't like to blame goalies either, but at some point you have to realize it may be their fault. The first goal was a lazy play by Huet and it gave Nashville a chance to get back in it. After that point, yes the D let us down too, but Huet did look weak. Not only did he let in 4 and another 2 in the shootout, he also had 3 posts, all were shots where he was clearly beat. <BR/><BR/>I have no problem with a goalie letting in 6 goals and another 3 behind him if the team can anticipate that. I blame Huet for this loss simply because he isn't the type of goalie (all-star) that should be doing this. The team have come to expect his saves to win and he didn't deliver. A team that can trust their goalie is a team that can let up shots and don't worry - as this generally leads to the Habs getting more chances of their own. To me this is no different than blaming Ryder for not scoring (and winning us games), as that is what he his paid to do.<BR/><BR/>Huet has played like the starter he is all season, but last night was a bad night for him, a night where he didn't step up. If we have to play a defensive style where we won't allow more than 25 shots/game you can say goodbye to any goals for us. We need our goalies to keep us in these ones.Tobalevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17101687862175596590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-885109449780622333.post-45641072759365258112007-12-02T11:24:00.000-05:002007-12-02T11:24:00.000-05:00Confidence - exactly what I thought watching last ...Confidence - exactly what I thought watching last nights' game (and at one point I thought this game was exactly what was needed to boost the flagging confidence). But I don't agree at all that Huet was the reason for the loss. This team has to stop playing as if the goalie will save the game for them every night. The goalie will do his best and save quite a few games at first, but eventually that pressure can destroy the goalie. Huet stopped at least his first 30-odd shots tonight (some of it luck, no doubt), but ended up saving only 40/44 (or around there). The problem isn't that he let in 4 of the last 15 shots, the problem is that the rest of the team let 44 shots come at him. Not too long ago, the Canadiens were celebrating getting 50+ shots on goal. Well, Nashville wasn't too far off that tonight, and blaming the goalie is just scapegoating.CheGorditohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10692712275320903448noreply@blogger.com