The Habs are 2-1, not 22-10.
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Showing posts with label positive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label positive. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2013
Monday, April 07, 2008
The World Through Rose-Tint
The Canadiens win the East.
8 wins against their first-round opponent already and a some wins to finish the season have people in Montreal a pretty positive state of mind. And, why not? After all, the Canadiens have played very well. they have finally learned ways to hang on to leads and beat teams they couldn't undo for years.
Mike Boone, in particular, is Mr. Positive. He calls the Canadiens last 3 games flawless.
Apparently the crown jewel was the Ottawa shutout where we held them to 27 shots. We let them take 32 on the night, but what's 5 shots once the rose-coloured glasses go on? It was also news to me (and Carey Price) that the Habs are now a defensive fortress thanks to Selke-winning coaches:
I'm probably being a bit of a stickler, but it's been my role and duty all season to keep heads level when they are going too far one way or the other.
For the record, prior to their sub-30 shot last 3 games (of which one was actually over 30 shots), the Habs let up more than 35 shots in 5 straight contests. In March, they let opponents shoot on Price and Halak more than 35 times in 10 out of 14 games. That was then, but it was also now 3 games ago.
It's alright to be positive, but let's not kid ourselves: we won many more games due to offensive outburst and PP dominance than by holding opponents in some kind of shotless purgatory.
As it applies to Round 1
This lesson is important, and I hope the Habs know that. If the Canadiens suddenly fancy themselves defensive shutdown specialists, they will be playing into the hands of teams who can't run and gun, like say the Bruins. In my opinion, it will be critical the Habs press home their PP and offensive advantages and not slip into a playoff defensive cliche.
As you've heard, and worked out, the Bruins won a lot of games this year – more against teams not called the Canadiens than the Habs managed against teams not from Boston. Well, how did they do that? Not scoring. No 30-goal men here. Two 20+ goalscorers – one called Kobasew. Their goaltending has been stellar at times and has won them many games, but they let up the identical number of goals against that we did. What's the key then?
Well, something I would call caginess. This team has found ways to stay in games and win some tough ones, got points out of 13 losses too.
Always beware a cagey team. Habs fans should know this better than anyone. When we've met the Bruins in series past, with the situation reversed, we emerged with victory due to caginess of our own.
I'll leave with this as some food for thought ahead of Thursday:
In games after losses to the Canadiens:
- the Bruins got points in every game
- went 7-0-1 (the OTL was against the Habs)
- cranked up their D, only allowing 14 goals in 8 contests
- cranked up their O, 27 goals in 8 games
In contrast, the Habs went 4-4-0, allowing 31 goals in 8 games.
Also consider the only time we played the Bruins in back-to-back games, they got points from us.
If you've read this far, please know that I am positive. I like the Habs offense and defense better than the Bruins. If the Habs play their game, they are superior.
I would really guard, though, against changing style of play from the the formula for success thus far, and most all against wearing rose-coloured glasses...
8 wins against their first-round opponent already and a some wins to finish the season have people in Montreal a pretty positive state of mind. And, why not? After all, the Canadiens have played very well. they have finally learned ways to hang on to leads and beat teams they couldn't undo for years.
Mike Boone, in particular, is Mr. Positive. He calls the Canadiens last 3 games flawless.
Apparently the crown jewel was the Ottawa shutout where we held them to 27 shots. We let them take 32 on the night, but what's 5 shots once the rose-coloured glasses go on? It was also news to me (and Carey Price) that the Habs are now a defensive fortress thanks to Selke-winning coaches:
Ottawa was held to 27 shots and shut out. Buffalo and Toronto each scored once on 27 shots.
Earlier in the season, Canadiens routinely surrendered 35 to 40 shots a game.
That was then. This is now.
With a team assembled by Bob Gainey and coached by Guy Carbonneau – seven Selke Trophys between them, and Doug Jarvis won another – the Canadiens are stifling opponents.
I'm probably being a bit of a stickler, but it's been my role and duty all season to keep heads level when they are going too far one way or the other.
For the record, prior to their sub-30 shot last 3 games (of which one was actually over 30 shots), the Habs let up more than 35 shots in 5 straight contests. In March, they let opponents shoot on Price and Halak more than 35 times in 10 out of 14 games. That was then, but it was also now 3 games ago.
It's alright to be positive, but let's not kid ourselves: we won many more games due to offensive outburst and PP dominance than by holding opponents in some kind of shotless purgatory.
As it applies to Round 1
This lesson is important, and I hope the Habs know that. If the Canadiens suddenly fancy themselves defensive shutdown specialists, they will be playing into the hands of teams who can't run and gun, like say the Bruins. In my opinion, it will be critical the Habs press home their PP and offensive advantages and not slip into a playoff defensive cliche.
As you've heard, and worked out, the Bruins won a lot of games this year – more against teams not called the Canadiens than the Habs managed against teams not from Boston. Well, how did they do that? Not scoring. No 30-goal men here. Two 20+ goalscorers – one called Kobasew. Their goaltending has been stellar at times and has won them many games, but they let up the identical number of goals against that we did. What's the key then?
Well, something I would call caginess. This team has found ways to stay in games and win some tough ones, got points out of 13 losses too.
Always beware a cagey team. Habs fans should know this better than anyone. When we've met the Bruins in series past, with the situation reversed, we emerged with victory due to caginess of our own.
I'll leave with this as some food for thought ahead of Thursday:
In games after losses to the Canadiens:
- the Bruins got points in every game
- went 7-0-1 (the OTL was against the Habs)
- cranked up their D, only allowing 14 goals in 8 contests
- cranked up their O, 27 goals in 8 games
In contrast, the Habs went 4-4-0, allowing 31 goals in 8 games.
Also consider the only time we played the Bruins in back-to-back games, they got points from us.
If you've read this far, please know that I am positive. I like the Habs offense and defense better than the Bruins. If the Habs play their game, they are superior.
I would really guard, though, against changing style of play from the the formula for success thus far, and most all against wearing rose-coloured glasses...
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Positivity in the Face of Losing
Two losses in a row. People starting to get jittery. Mike Boone wants to give up on trying to win the conference now.
Well, I can't say I didn't think this was coming. Things were starting to stack in the Sens favour:
a) People writing them off (usually they go on to Cup finals in the face of that sort of thing)
b) Heatley coming back
c) Alfredsson (no less than league scoring leader when he got injured) coming back
d) The Habs beating them less than 5 days ago
e) No team takes being pushed to OT by Florida as a good thing
The good news is for the Habs, that we aren't playing the Snes in our next game and that it would be unlucky to face another team with so many things pointing towards win as there were this night - particularly 2 superstar players just coming back at home.
As for the drive for first place, perhaps hope is not gone yet. There are lots of reasons to be positive after this week:
1) Though it was a bad week, it is the first week since mid-December where we have got less than a point a game
2) We have somehow managed to miraculously awaken the Toronto Maple Leafs (they beat Detroit now). Not only will this make life harder for the other teams of the East, If the losing stops, Leafs fans won't have the stomach for rebuilding - and so the cycle continues
3) We are actually better than the Senators against other teams in the league. So, as long as we don't play them, we may outpace them
4) The time that players realise they need to get a few more wins to make the playoffs is almost upon us. A slump in January seems to escape them for relevance, while one in March when games to play are dwindling hits home
5) The players who have been good are still good: Markov, Komisarek, Hamrlik, Streit, Huet, Kovalev, Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Koivu - we have not been riding a false wave of Berezins, Dackells and other fourth liners this year. Although a few more surprises from the Begins, Dandenaults and Smolinskis of this team might be nice
6) We signed the chief scout of that team who just thrashed us - looking like a good signing after watching the Sens again
7) We have Bob Gainey - while the media call for big (and often desperate) trades, he makes little moves that make this team better right under their noses - trying to find the next Mark Streit or Cristobal Huet without giving anything away
8) Finally, we can stop being CBC darlings after losing on Hockey Day in Canada. CBC darlings never win in the final...
Well, I can't say I didn't think this was coming. Things were starting to stack in the Sens favour:
a) People writing them off (usually they go on to Cup finals in the face of that sort of thing)
b) Heatley coming back
c) Alfredsson (no less than league scoring leader when he got injured) coming back
d) The Habs beating them less than 5 days ago
e) No team takes being pushed to OT by Florida as a good thing
The good news is for the Habs, that we aren't playing the Snes in our next game and that it would be unlucky to face another team with so many things pointing towards win as there were this night - particularly 2 superstar players just coming back at home.
As for the drive for first place, perhaps hope is not gone yet. There are lots of reasons to be positive after this week:
1) Though it was a bad week, it is the first week since mid-December where we have got less than a point a game
2) We have somehow managed to miraculously awaken the Toronto Maple Leafs (they beat Detroit now). Not only will this make life harder for the other teams of the East, If the losing stops, Leafs fans won't have the stomach for rebuilding - and so the cycle continues
3) We are actually better than the Senators against other teams in the league. So, as long as we don't play them, we may outpace them
4) The time that players realise they need to get a few more wins to make the playoffs is almost upon us. A slump in January seems to escape them for relevance, while one in March when games to play are dwindling hits home
5) The players who have been good are still good: Markov, Komisarek, Hamrlik, Streit, Huet, Kovalev, Plekanec, Kostitsyn, Koivu - we have not been riding a false wave of Berezins, Dackells and other fourth liners this year. Although a few more surprises from the Begins, Dandenaults and Smolinskis of this team might be nice
6) We signed the chief scout of that team who just thrashed us - looking like a good signing after watching the Sens again
7) We have Bob Gainey - while the media call for big (and often desperate) trades, he makes little moves that make this team better right under their noses - trying to find the next Mark Streit or Cristobal Huet without giving anything away
8) Finally, we can stop being CBC darlings after losing on Hockey Day in Canada. CBC darlings never win in the final...
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