Habs leave St. Louis singin' the blue and yet again find a way to lose

Date: 09/01/2016
Opponent: St. Louis
Location: St. Louis
Loss: 4-3(OT)

Habs Goalie: Condon (L)
Opposition Goalie: Elliot (W)

Habs goalscorers: Subban, Pacioretty, Plekanec
Opposition goalscorers: Fabbri, Stastny, Rattie, Lehtera

Game #68Emotional Couple of Days Ends in Loss to an Old Friend

Details

Date: 10/3/2011
Opponent: Blues
Location: St. Louis

Loss: 1-4

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

Habs goalscorers: Halpern
Opposition goalscorers: Backes, McDonald, D'Agostini, Oshie

Play of the game

We worked very hard for our only goal, all five players did. In fact, I think that it was our best burst of effort all game. Cammalleri got the ball rolling by controlling the puck very well in the Blues' end. Pleks then took over and did a good job to get in to Mara. Paul quickly got the puck to the pinching Picard. Alex then skated in and instead of shooting made an amazing pass to a wide-open Halpern who merely had to re-direct the puck in the open side.

Dome hockey team

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

Forwards

Mike Cammalleri
Montreal didn't look too strong in this one so it is a hard dome to choose. I did, however, like Mike's effort on the goal and thought that he did an OK job the rest of the way. With Patches out we really need him to pick it up as I doubt anyone from the 3rd or 4th lines is going to score at a higher rate than they have. To me, he is a player that we must focus on in the last 14 games.

Jeff Halpern
He was our only goal-scorer tonight and that has to count for something. Any goal, in fact, from him seems like a bonus as he isn't the one you would expect to be scoring. He was also OK in our own end and on the PK.

David Desharnais
David played a good game, but I felt that we didn't use him enough tonight. Just because he is on the 4th line isn't reason enough for him to get the least amount of ice-time. I am not asking for him to be used 15+ minutes a game, but when he is on relative to the rest of the group this must be recognized.

Defencemen

Roman Hamrlik - Game Puck
This wasn't the best game that Roman has played this season, not even the best in the past few weeks, but I did feel that he was there to compete. He made quite a few very solid plays in his own end that stood out to me and likely saved the Habs a few goals-against. He had the most ice-time on the team which I think is encouraging as we need him to be on his game now more than ever and we need him to be ready to play big minutes down the stretch.

Alexandre Picard
Alex stayed out of trouble in his own end and made up a decent first-time partnership with Mara. Those two would likely be the two I would sit if given the choice, but it is nice to know that they are ready and capable. His pass to Halpern on the goal was fantastic and was another reminder that he indeed has some decent offence in him.

Goaltender

Carey Price
Carey started with some great saves and kept the Habs within striking distance for most of the game. The third goal was very nice and confirmed the loss that we were all expecting. It was a slow, unemotional and somewhat dull game, but Price was there, as usual, to give his team a chance.

Comments

I think that the players, like me, found it hard to get into this game. We have all spent 48 hours worrying about Pacioretty and questioning our faith in this league and this game. To then have to travel halfway across the continent and face a good team and good goalie is a tall task. We certainly had our chances and could have won, but I think on this night the better, more focused team won. I can, however, live with this loss as it is a no consequence game really. My focus really has shifted away from results over the past few hours and I still need a few days to start thinking that they really matter. I am happy with our spot in the standings and feel that we should make the playoffs. I do expect that my interest and the players' passion and energy level will return, though as it can only go up from here. This game, however, did offer one bright spot as it was a chance to see Halak again. Jaro played a solid game and deserved the win. His season, and the Blues', isn't what he had hoped for, but I think that that team will improve over the next few years and it will be interesting to see if he'll do for them what none of us can forget he did for us.

Halak Stats That Will Surprise You

Halak's coming home.

We're not finished discussing Pacioretty and the NHL, but I thought you might still like to see some wacky stats.

What the mainstream journalists will tell you is that Halak is having a bad season (we accept that being below average is being below average this year) with a 0.907 save percentage and a pretty high GAA.

What they'll tell you is how far he and Carey Price are apart in form and stature.

It's all verifiable. But remember there's many ways to get to a 0.907 save percentage, just as there are many to get to a 0.939 save percentage. Because of that the two players actually have some numbers that bear quite a resemblance, and these are the fun ones to consider:

1) First period stats

Price (up to game 66): 2.13, 0.929
Halak: 2.02, 0.921

Both pretty good. You wouldn't turn either set away.


2) Shorthanded numbers

Price (up to game 66): 6.44, 0.877
Halak: 6.56, 0.877

Couldn't be much closer, both meshing well with their PK units.


3) Starting games

Price (up to game 66): 12.02 saves before the first goal, 23:26 before first goal
Halak: 11.58 saves before the first goal, 24:42 before first goal

Both have been excellent at starting games and in being prepared for games. This is a continuation of a trend for Halak and is the single biggest turnaround for Price.


INteresting to see where they converge. Halak has been largely as good as Carey to start games. This should point to a goaltending duel that lasts until the ice is cracked about 5 minutes into the second (on average).


Where they diverge most:

1) Third period stats

Price (up to game 66): 2.20, 0.917
Halak: 2.85, 0.896


2) Even strength numbers

Price (up to game 66): 2.03, 0.931
Halak: 2.40, 0.915

Halak is OK (actually below what you'd want) to Price's excellent here.


3) Finishing games

Price (up to game 66): 0.922 after he has been scored on in a game
Halak: 0.902 after he has been scored on in a game

I think this is Halak's biggest drop off. he used to be like clockwork with his save percentage, same all the time, any situation. Now he seems to melt under pressure. Haven't watched him, but this number speaks to that. Price as we can see is Mr. Steady now.

Habs Management Get Fleeced in Unnecessary Trade

So we can put an end to discussions of RFA goaltending dilemmas. Today, Pierre Gauthier traded save percentage ace Jaroslav Halak for 2 St. Louis prospects in a move more reminiscent of the Montreal Expos than anything from the more illustrious periods of Canadiens history.

No explanations have been disclosed, but one must assume there was something in the contract talks that made this move necessary. Perhaps the young goalie was asking the moon.

But as much as I like Plekanec and all the other free agents, Halak's contract should have been the first one onto the books this summer. Adjustments should have been made afterwards.

It would even make sense in terms of trading, as a young star with a contract will most often fetch more than a young star without one (witness return on this trade).

More worrying, perhaps is that the team did not get a goaltender in return (though we still have months for that) as entrusting the full starting load to Carey Price at the moment is a gamble at best.


The return

Lars Eller is a forward from Denmark who once had his touts, but whose name hasn't been heard in these parts for some time. He's already been slotted in on the Canadiens page on Hockey's Future, with the discouraging rank of "Other Notable"

Here's what the scout said on him there:

Eller has decent size, is a good skater with very good technical skills. He also works hard and is in general very well-rounded as a player. His scoring touch is pretty good, but Eller is much more noticeable as a playmaker. He has really good hockey sense and has that special ability to find openings that few other players can. A team player, he plays a good two-way game, but could still use some fine-tuning in his defensive game and play without the puck.

Eller is projected to become a two-way forward, second line, in the NHL one day.

Blah.


Ian Schultz is even less exciting, and to be honest, this is the first time I've ever heard his name.

Hockey's Future has a line on him too:

Schultz gets noticed for his physical play more than for his offensive skill. Schultz could eventually become a power forward, but he may also develop into a solid grinding winger.

Not a great return. Not considering Halak's save percentage had been over 0.920 for near 8 months and his career record in the NHL suggests he might flirt with those numbers again.

Game #51Habs Mount Interesting Comeback; Secure A Single Point

Details

Date: 20/01/10
Opponent: Blues
Location: Montreal

Loss: 3-4 (OT)

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

Habs goalscorers: Pouliot (2), Cammalleri
Opposition goalscorers: Perron, Kariya, Steen, McDonald

Play of the game

The Habs needed a spark after a bad 1st and horrible 2nd. Luckily there was one group of players (our good ones) who were trying to make things happen. So, with 10 to play and down by a pair it didn't surprise me when Gomez forced a turn-over in the Blues' end. He then very casually tapped the puck against the grain and turned his defender right around. That simple, yet smart, play created a 2 (pretty much 3) on 1. He then quickly got the puck across to the hottest Hab of all, Pouliot, who fired a sweet one-timer past a stunned St. Louis goalie.

Dome hockey team

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


Forwards

Scott Gomez
Scott was integral in the comeback tonight as he not only created our 2nd goal, but was also very much in the mix on the tying one by creating traffic in front of Conklin. I am really happy that he seems to have as much chemistry with Pouliot as he does with Gomez. That type of chem. was unheard of for him in NY and is the very reason he has become one of more valuable players.

Benoit Pouliot - Game Puck
When we got rid of Latendresse I was happy to get something, anything in return. I was then happier that we would have an NHL-ready player to insert in the line-up thinking that it couldn't possibly be worse than what we had. Then, after seeing Gui explode, I was surprised to see us get an equal explosion (maybe not quite in quantity of points yet, but certainly as much in the unexpected department) and now can't imagine what we would do without that punch on the second line. He has come in and has become one of our best players and shooters and has given us a player that we were sorely missing earlier this year. His 2 goals tonight, +2 rating and 7 shots are all fine examples of what talent this young man possesses and is finally being able to show.

Tomas Plekanec
Pleks has a great assist early on in the game on Pouliot's first. That play, however, almost got wiped out as the Blues looked like certain winners for most of the game. It was, however, thanks to the play of Tom, amongst others, that allowed us to comeback. How about 17-7 on face-offs (many of them at key times and in key places) and 21 minutes of competent hockey.

Defencemen

Andrei Markov
Now, I can't hide the fact that our D wasn't great tonight, but one thing that was encouraging amongst all the confusion was the fact that Markov was the best of the bunch. He managed to get very involved offensively (he almost won it in OT) and played as well as anyone in his own end. It would have been nice if he would have been a bit stronger on McDonald in OT, but you can't blame a guy who just gave you your best chance at 2 points (he had just been robbed). His ice-time was back up tonight (27+) and that is a good sign as generally a good Markov means a good result.

Jaroslav Spacek
Hearing Brunet call Spacek our #4 tonight was almost as hard to take as when he called Hammer our #3. Gorges is good, folks, but the Czech brothers (tight slacks?) have been very, very good for us all year. In my mind they spent most of the year at #1, #2 and now are fitting in very nicely to the #2 and #3 spots. Tonight it was Jaro's one-timer that found the back of the net to tie it up and for that reason alone I think we need to see him on the PP more and we need to see him get off more shots. He has a great shot, but he also is becoming our best at blocking them - tonight he led the game with 3.

Goaltender

Jaroslav Halak
To me Jaro had to start this game as I am getting a bit tired of the lose, you're out plan of attack. Clearly it isn't working and I think the time for games like that must come to an end. Halak has proven, all year (and last) that he is our best chance at winning. Maybe that is because the team scores more for him, maybe because he faces easier shots or maybe because he is better, but at the end of the day he simply wins a higher percentage of games (12.5% higher winning % over the past 2 seasons - that is huge - 1 win/8 games). I just know that the time for trying to prove Price is the future is getting very tiring to sit through as the time for winning is certainly now. Now, for the game itself. Price let in a softy early and looked shaky most of the night, but what did it for me was the wrist-shot in OT. We need those shots to be stopped and the bottom line is I believe we have a goalie that can do that. Losing in OT, on a weak goal, may be an accomplishment against a Western team during the season, but when it matters most we'll need the win instead.

Comments

Let's get one thing straight, right off the bat - we played poorly tonight. Our forwards, for the most part were lazy, out of gas and simply bad, our D was its usual disastrous self and Price didn't really inspire back there. It wasn't, however, any one player's fault, it wasn't even the coaches' fault, no, it was everybody's fault. Would Halak have made a difference tonight? Probably not, but why not give it our best shot more than 1/3 of the time? I am not saying that Price is bad, not even saying that Halak is that good, just simply that Halak wins more games and that is what we need. The bottom line, however, is that neither goalie can score when we need a goal, play defence instead of joining in on the run-around or maintain pressure in the offensive zone. We need a full team effort here, we need Gainey to ice a team with more than 10 NHLers on it and less than 8 defenceman, we need Martin to use his legendary 'young-player' skills and get some guys going and most of all we need our players to play like regular, talented, rich, exciting hockey players. St. Louis is not the type of team that in January should be able to come into our arena and have us on our heels. We have one injury of any significance and I still hear that as an excuse. I need to see some forward thinking from all personnel instead of the usual band-aid fixes if we are ever going to do anything with this season. We have the talent, the brains and the passion to be better than this and that is why I'll never lose faith, it would just be nice to see a few of the players, maybe even all of them, share in this belief...maybe even for 60 minutes in a row.

Game #16Thoughts With Bou as Habs Get 2 Points

The Canadiens Game in Review

Date: Sunday November 16th, 2008
Opponent: St. Louis Blues
Venue: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO

Team Stripes

Final Score: 3-2 - Win (SO)

Habs starting goalie: Carey Price (W)
Opposition starting goalie: Manny Legace (L)

Habs goalscorers: Andrei Kostitsyn, Robert Lang, (Alexei Kovalev - SO)
Opposition goalscorers: Steve Regier (2)

Play of the game
The play you're straining to see on the press catwalk monitor...

The Habs needed a win, so I was willing to give the play-of-the-game to any player who would single-handedly deliver me those 2 points. A big save, a defensive play or goal would all be considered. Tonight Price made 3 straight saves in the shootout (1 actually missed the net) which allowed Kovy the opportunity to have the game on his stick. He went in fast towards Legace and it looked promising. A fake shot to the right was followed swiftly by pulling the puck to his backhand and then literally roofing it over a kneeling goalie. There was no major reaction from Kovy who knows he can do better, but I think he at least deserved this honour.

Game puck
Trophies are for the end of the year, play well in the game, you get a lovely puck...

Andrei Kostitsyn
Kostitsyn was not only the most maligned player on RDS tonight (Zednik, Samsonov, Perezoghin - style), but was also, for a 2nd time in 3 games, our best player. It seemed like he was everywhere in this one. Not everything that he did was pretty, but there were no major mistakes, and boy did he see a lot of the puck. He increased his season totals by 50% as he added a goal and an assist to his point totals.



Dome hockey team
We're going into the last minute with these 6 (and they're attached to the ice, so they're not coming off)...

Forwards

Robert Lang
Lang bounced back from a very poor performance against the Flyers last night with a solid outing tonight. He scored a very nice goal, from his knees, and was clicking with the Kostitsyns. At 59% he was our best centre in the face-off circle.

Alexei Kovalev
Kovy played an average game (by his standards), but when we needed him the most he came through. Tonight he was playing with Saku and Tangs who themselves didn't have the best of games. The potential of that line is incredible, but I wonder if we are better off to spread those guys around a bit? I say that, but how can I forget the magic that Kovy and Saku had together when Alex first joined the team - at this point I am open to anything.

Andrei Kostitsyn
His goal was exactly what we needed; a fast, end-to-end rush, but more importantly it was a player taking the responsibility himself. Too many times this season have I seen passes at the wrong time, slow rushes or a very low level of conviction from our stars - that goal was perfect. His assist on Lang's goal was pure genius, he could have shot, but instead found a wide open Lang who was left with nothing more to do than lift the puck.

Defencemen

Roman Hamrlik
This was a very nice, calm game from Roman. Yes, he was on the ice for both Blues goals, but you'd be hard-pressed to blame them on him. He is playing better and better with O'Byrne as their trust with each other continues to grow.

Andrei Markov
Our PP is hurting, but it is no fault of Markov's. He continues to be our best player with the extra-man, his 9+ minutes of PP time were good evidence of that. Defensively he was very strong as Blues players simply could not find ways around him.

Goaltender

Carey Price
Extra, Extra! Price lets in weak, early goal and doesn't fall apart. Of everything that happened tonight I am most pleased by this. I haven't seen Carey rebound from a weak goal like that one in a long time. He went on to play a very solid game and was especially strong in OT and in the shootout, where he made 3 saves. His puck-handling nearly cost him in the first period and after that he didn't come out too much. Let's hope he scared himself from leaving his crease, it may be just what we needed.



Eye-Openers
In this new section we are going to try and shed some light on certain plays or events that would otherwise go unnoticed

At 0/10 I think it is safe to say our PP is in a bit of trouble. All night long we approached the power-play in a very bad way, at least that was the way it appeared to me. Things aren't happening quick enough and there is absolutely no desperation. I think that this can be attributed to a couple of things. The first is that we are lacking good passes which would enable us to be quick. It seems that every pass is obvious and when it isn't it is very awkward. The receiving player is having a lot of trouble taking a pass and doing something with it quickly (let's face it though, Tanguay and Brisebois aren't Streit). The second reason I think that we aren't doing well is that we aren't trying anything new. We are doing the same thing every time and it is becoming increasingly easy for the opposition to counter this. Creativity, in my opinion, is the key to scoring, and in particular, the key to a successful PP, as of now we are not doing anything creative, we are just going through the man-up motions.

Overall Comments

The game and result, for me, were overshadowed by what happened to Bouillon. In OT he took a puck to the throat and immediately raced off the ice, down the tunnel. As of now I have no idea how bad his injuries are and I can only hope that he will be OK. It was eerily reminiscent of the event which took place involving then Hab Trent McCleary. A puck to his throat ended his career and nearly ended his life. At that point the game, the result, the season even didn't matter at all to me, I was only worried for Frank. Let's hope he is alright and that he is back on our blue-line soon doing what he does best.

The game itself wasn't all that exciting. Sloppy play from both teams ensured that it was really a game (and points) that the Habs could and should grab. St. Louis are not a very deep team and given our talent you'd have to think it would be a walk. Well, it wasn't, but 2 points is, alas, 2 points. The team's main problems tonight, aside from the PP, were lack of speed and poor passes (both execution and planning). I am glad we got the win, but until we play tight hockey I think this is how we will garner our wins. Close games all year will burn us out, so we'd better get better, fast. If we have to fight every night from now till April the playoffs may be very, very short.

Scott's family wants Cup: Part II

For the second time in recent years, the biggest signing of the off-season chose his team based on family ties. For the second time, he's called Scott. The first time, for the Niedermayers, it worked, and it just could again (well soon, anyway).


I hope Chicago understand what they've gone and done here. They've gone and acquired the single most successful living hockey brain anywhere. They have made the biggest and most important move of the NHL offseason. It's making their recruitment of Stan Bowman look like a stroke of genius...

Sidney Crosby may be right in some of his assertions regarding Marian Hossa, but he is wrong if he thinks Detroit has not changed this offseason. Losing Bowman has traditionally been as devastating to dynasties as losing their star player in recent times, just ask the 1980 Canadiens and the 1993 Penguins.

But it's not what happens to teams on Bowman's departure that is most impressive, but rather what tends to happen once he steps through the door.

Scotty's pedigree
Scotty Bowman was brought into the Canadiens organisation following his attenuated playing career with the Baby Habs. From the mid-50s to the mid-60s, he was the on-and-off-again coach of the Baby Habs himself, overseeing the Canadiens most valued possessions (their young signings) and tutoring them in the ways of the organisation and the champion.

When the NHL expanded, the ambitious Bowman moved away from his hometown and the Canadiens to take control of the coaching duties for the St. Louis Blues. In what was no small feat, he brought the fledgling franchise to the Stanley Cup finals in each of its first three seasons – losing twice to his some of his wards from the Canadiens and once to Bobby Orr and the Bruins. What is worthy of note here is that Scotty was cutting his teeth in the Stanley Cup finals (as a coach) as a mere 34 year-old.

When he left the Blues, the Canadiens and Sam Pollock (never one to miss out on a quick way to improve his team) welcomed Scotty back into the fold. He didn't win the Cup in his first season, but as his team's record will attest, that was probably more to do with Esposito and Orr than any deficiencies of his own. The following season, the Canadiens would win the championship, and we all remember the 4 in a row to end Bowman's tenure. His acrimonious exit would coincide with the end of the Canadiens dynasty.

Following the Habs, Bowman had a relatively quiet decade. Critics of his would certainly pick on his tenure with the Buffalo Sabres as a sign that Bowman is not always a magician. This is certainly true. But, to coach any team in the era of the Islanders and Oilers was a monumental task. Even in the absence of Cups, his Sabres enjoyed mild success. They would have 2 100-point seasons and have their winningest period in team history to that point.

His next foray into NHL action was with the Pittsburgh Penguins. First as an advisor, then as head coach, he helped guide the talent-heavy Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups. You get the feeling, he might have also had some say in that prophetic draft pick of Jaromir Jagr in 1990 and the important trade for Ron Francis, as well. Whatever you may say about Bowman and the Pens, one thing is clear: they won with him there and not when he wasn't. It is this knack for coaxing the best from stars like Jacques Plante, Guy Lafleur, Mario Lemieux and Sergei Fedorov that was so important.

Speaking of Fedorov, Bowman's latest association with the Red Wings has resulted in the only uninterrupted and unquestioned streak of championship success in the modern game. As with the Penguins, he provided a catalyst for success for a squad that had to that point been underachieving based on their talent. The latest feather in his cap, his ninth Stanley Cup this spring, was testament to all the work he and his team of managers have done. The Red Wings completely outclassed the league this season in play and results. Their team, developed from within, mostly during Scotty's time in Detroit is a marvel and a model.


All this is why the move to sign up Scotty Bowman is a wonderful coup for the Hawks. I'll be watching with interest as he once again advises on the progress of young hotshots on the cusp of something more. If nothing else, you get the feeling Scotty is excited, and for the rest of the league, that is a dangerous thing...

Finally getting to work with his son is great. But for Canadiens fans, Scotty finally getting to work with Denis Savard (a fellow Verdun boy and Baby Hab alumnus) will be interesting too. For me, it harks back to one terrible decision in team history (Grundman over Bowman for GM) which was shortly followed by another (overlooking Denis Savard). Who knows, Scotty might have done things differently for us in the 1980 draft.

Game #74Habs Fall in Shootout to Blues as Halak Loses 1st in Montreal

The Canadiens Game in Review

Date: Tuesday March 19th, 2008
Opponent: St. Louis Blues
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC


Team Stripes


Final Score: 3-4 (SO) - Loss

Habs starting goalie: Jaroslav Halak (SO)
Opposition starting goalie: Emmanuel Legace (W)

Habs goalscorers: Christopher Higgins, Saku Koivu, Mikhail Grabovski
Opposition goalscorers: Keith Tkachuk, Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes (1, SO)



2007/08 first
There's a first time for everything, so they say. What they didn't tell you is that every game, something happens for the first time, you just have to look harder in March...

1st Career Loss for Halak at the Bell Centre
1st Game for the Blues in Montreal since January 2004



Play of the game
The play you're straining to see on the press catwalk monitor...

The play of the game was our third goal of the night, a goal that essentially earned us a crucial one point in the standings.

The Habs had just seen their 5th Power-Play of the night expire, making it look like a comeback was not in our midst. After the man-advantage Carbo sent our 3rd line out there to try and keep some of the momentum. Right away, it seemed, the Habs gave up the puck and into our zone came the Blues. Grabo, using his excellent speed, made a great play to come back and help the defence as he stole the puck at our own blue-line. Mikhail then quickly sent a pass to the equally speedy Sergei Kostitsyn who was joined on a 2-on-2 with Latendresse. Grabovski, showing more great hustle and speed joined the attack as the 3rd man in on a 3-on-2. Sergei took a good look at Legace and then at Latendresse and finally at the incoming Grabo. A perfect pass was made and before I knew it the game was tied at 3 on Grabovski's 2nd career goal. The shot was a far-side, top-corner wrist shot - it was quite amazing.



Game puck
Trophies are for the end of the year, play well in the game, you get a lovely puck...

Mikhail Grabovski

He may just be the fastest player I have seen in a Habs uniform in the past 10 years. Images of Oleg Petrov, Russ Courtnall and Guy Lafleur come rushing back every time I see him with the puck. His goal and assist tonight were his 6th and 7th points of the season, with 5 of those coming in his last 6 games. He was our most explosive forward tonight and was constantly buzzing around the offensive zone.



Dome hockey team
We're going into the last minute with these 6 (and they're attached to the ice, so they're not coming off)...

Forwards

Mikhail Grabovski
- It looks as though we have found room for this youngster in the line-up after all. He fits very nicely onto our third line as he played another solid game alongside Sergei Kostitsyn and Chris Higgins. He offers us a lot more offensively than Lapierre, Begin, Smolinski or Chipchura, but still has a lot to learn about face-offs and play in our own end

Christopher Higgins
- Higgins had another 2 point game tonight bringing his season total to 47. I think we can all admit that this isn't the season we had hoped for based on his occasional spurts of dominance. But, let's hold on just a minute and remember that we had very little expectation for this player 3 years ago and the fact that he will have a 50+ point season is bonus enough for me. He was good on the fore-check tonight, played very well in the low slot, right in front of Legace

Sergei Kostitsyn
- Kostitsyn now has 25 points and 10 in his last 13 games. Tonight was another great example of how he is in no way intimidated by the NHL or by other NHL players. His former linemates from London (Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner) are both also having great seasons and it just goes to show the importance of learning to win and being successful at a young age, prior to the NHL. He had 2 very good passes tonight as his line was clearly our best in this one

Defencemen

Andrei Markov
- He was unlucky to be on the ice for St.Louis' 3rd goal - he has Komi to thank for that one. Aside from that one blemish he played a good game defensively. I thought he was very good running the PP tonight. Kovalev and Streit weren't at their best tonight in that department and it was Markov's play at the blue-line that kept the unit together

Josh Gorges
- This was yet another solid game for Gorges at the back. Carbo rewarded him for his solid play with the 3rd most ice-time among defencemen, behind only Marky and Hammer. His skating was very smooth as was his passing. He did not make any mistakes all night and is proving to everyone he be counted on in all situations

Goaltender

Jaroslav Halak
- After Saturday's gem I am not that surprised that he came back down to earth so to speak. He was solid tonight, but wasn't anything exceptional. He proved that he deserves his shot in the Habs net, but this performance was not enough to consider continuing the great goalie debate. He looked a little too casual at times tonight as he mishandled the puck behind his own net, juggled rebounds and was caught napping on Boyes' goal. Despite all of that he brought us very close to the win and should be recognized for that



Eyes on Kovalev
Did he flit and float? Someone ought to keep track...

He had the chance to prolong the game in the shootout, but he came away empty-handed. Let's face it, we need him to score in those types of situations and we have now come to expect it from him. He isn't to be blamed for the loss as he did play a pretty decent game, but unfortunately he didn't steal us another point. The passing between his line was off tonight as everyone seemed a little out of sync with each other - let's hope that it was a one game occurrence.

Kovalev's Assessment - Good


Overall Comments

The first 2 periods didn't quite go the Habs' way. After we took the lead on Koivu's goal we seemed to stop playing. I thought that the St.Louis goal that put them up 3-2 (as well as the 2-2 goal) was a direct result of our goal. Momentum can be funny like that, it could have been 1-1, but instead we saw ourselves down by a goal. The third period was a better period for us as we dominated them and even came very close to winning it before OT. In the extra-frame we were the better team coming ever so close a number of times. We got a bit unlucky in the shootout as Boyes' shot went off the post and in and Koivu's went off the post and out. I can't really complain though as I feel we have been luckier than not all year long. Coming out of this game with a single point isn't that satisfying especially considering we all thought 2 was highly likely, but it is one more point in the bank and that means only 6 to go.

The week will end with 2 straight games against our favorite rival: the Boston Bruins. We have owned this team all year beating them in all 6 of our meetings and outscoring them by near to 20 goals. This is exactly the situation we want to be in at this point of the season, but exactly the situation that we should be wary of. The Bruins are desperate to get into the playoffs themselves and are likely not very interested in being swept by the Habs this year. These will be 2 hard-fought games and they should not be taken lightly. All we have to do, however, is play the same way we always play against them - fast, intense and non-stop. We may very well end up meeting these same Bruins in the playoffs and what better way to set-up a series than to go into it on a 10-game winning streak.