Game #46Habs Get the Better of Thrashers in Shootout

The Canadiens Game in Review

Date: Thursday January 17th, 2008
Opponent: Atlanta Thrashers
Venue: Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA


Team Stripes


Final Score: 3-2 (SO) - Win

Habs starting goalie: Cristobal Huet (W)
Opposition starting goalie: Kari Lehtonen (SO)

Habs goalscorers: Andrei Kostitsyn (1, SO), Michael Ryder, (Saku Koivu - SO)
Opposition goalscorers: Marian Hossa, Pascal Dupuis



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 Win After Trailing After the First Period
1st Win Against Atlanta This Year (1-0-2)



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

Go and see this goal - it will not be hard to find. Simply turn on your TV today or tomorrow, find a sports show and you will see one of the Habs' (and NHL's) top goals of the season.

Andrei Kostitsyn took a nice pass from Plekanec in the neutral zone and then went to work. He quickly made a meal of one Thrasher at the blue line and headed into their zone. There he split 2 veteran defencemen (Zhitnik and Klee) with a superb move. Then, alone with Lehtonen, he made a fantastic move left to right, dropped the goalie and roofed a backhand - what a fabulous goal.



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

Saku Koivu

Saku was reunited with Higgins for a full game for the first time in over a month and it worked. He was held off the official scoresheet, but was the one who ended it in the shootout with a nice, low, accurate shot. He was at the height of his form all game and Carbo obviously recognized this rewarding him with 21+ minutes of ice time. His -1 rating is not a good representation at all of his great defensive play tonight as he was used, effectively, in all situations.



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

Saku Koivu
- Looked great tonight and scored a fantastic winner in the shootout. His line was our most dangerous which should come as no real surprise considering he is now back to playing with an NHL top-2 line winger. Worked hard in the offensive zone creating chance after chance for both himself and his line-mates

Andrei Kostitsyn
- His goal is reason enough to put him into the dome, but otherwise he played a very good game. Looked very confident all night handling the puck as he is less and less hesitant to try new things - most evident with his super-goal

Tom Kostopoulos
- Tom played one of his best games as a Hab even though his stats may look quite bare. His fore-checking was effective, and although he was used sparingly I felt he set the tone for the Habs early in the game and the rest of the team fed off that. There were a few times in the defensive zone when I thought Komisarek had made a fabulous play only to realize that I had mistaken Komi's #8 for Kostopoulos' #6

Defencemen

Josh Gorges
- This player has come a long way, or maybe I should say that Carbo's faith in this player has come a long way. He was always meant to be good and in my eyes always was, but it seems that the Habs are only just now recognizing this. Played great in his own end as I continue to notice the amount of smart, intelligent plays he makes. He jumped up into the offence a little more tonight which is always good to see

Andrei Markov
- It isn't very often that 37 goal-scorer Kovalchuk is held goal-less or pointless (13 times all year and not once in his previous 10 games), but for a third time, in as many games against Atlanta, the Habs did just that. There is not one player we can thank more for this complete shutdown of the league's best than Markov. Defensively he was outstanding tonight and, huge surprise, he also was offensively

Goaltender

Cristobal Huet
- He made my heart rate go up for about 20 minutes, but apart from handing Atlanta one point I would say that he completely redeemed himself. He made a horrible play in the corner putting the puck into the no-goalie zone with no defencemen around. With an open puck and a goalie 20' from the net the Thrashers had no problem tying the game up. This is just another example of why he MUST STAY IN HIS NET. There are 2 types of goalies - goalies that should play absolutely every puck (Brodeur, DiPietro and absolutely no one else) and those (the rest of the league) who should only come out when they 100% sure it is safe. We have seen clear examples all year of why our goalies should not wander and if they keep it up it will surely cost us a lot more than 1 point to Atlanta. Otherwise Huet played a great game, made incredible saves after his gaffe and was brilliant in the shootout - stopping both Kozlov and Hossa



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

Kovy played a good game, but wasn't really the cause of anything spectacular, but was also never at the root of a major problem. The PP looked good when it got set-up with Kovy running it very well. He got a little unlucky that some of his passes, which were great, weren't converted by his teammates, otherwise he could have had a multiple point night. Kovalev was chosen as the 3rd shooter to shoot in the shootout, but because we scored our first two and they didn't he didn't need to shoot. He, along with Saku (no offence to Kostitsyn at all who made a great play to score his penalty-shot) are our 2 best shooters and should be 1 and 2 in the shootout. The order amongst the top two is not important, just that your best two shoot first and second. After that, starting with the third shooter, you should put your players in order of descending talent. This way you are guaranteed that you won't be left wondering what could have been if only Kovy had his chance. I am upset that we don't realize this strategy yet, but am sure glad that Atlanta doesn't understand it either - Kovalchuk never took his shot as he was to shoot third.

If Kovalev is having a great season we can't help but recognize that a big reason for that is his centre-man, Plekanec. Kovy would be the first to admit that a winger needs a good centre to excel and in Plekanec he has that player. A little less than four years ago, when we traded for Kovy, we gave the Rangers the option of one of the following players in return for the Russian Superstar; Jozef Balej, Ron Hainsey, Marcel Hossa or Tomas Plekanec. The Rangers chose Balej who is the only one not currently in the NHL. Thanks to the Rangers to the relief of this Habs fan and to the everlasting delight of Kovalev we still have Plekanec. Sometimes things just work out, this time they just didn't work out for New York.

Kovalev's Assessment - Good



Overall Comments

We outplayed Atlanta for most of this game, but thanks to good goaltending from Lehtonen and a gift from Huet it was a surprisingly close game. The win puts an end to a very succesful road trip in which we won 3 of 4 games. We now have a 16-7-3 road record which is good for 2nd in the NHL. Since December 20, a usual hard time of the year for the Habs, we are 8-2-3 bagging 19 of a possible 26 points (a .731 winning %). Tonight marked the first time that the Habs have come back from a first period deficit to win a game this season(1-9-1). That stat may seem like bad news and although it isn't good news, it is not as bad as it seems. The stat that stares out at me here is that in 46 games the Habs have only been trailing after 1 period in 11 games - now that is quite a fantastic stat when you think about it.

Huet's play in the shootout was very nice to see as it is usually (especially against Atlanta) a weak part of his game. He stayed with the shooters, allowed them to make the first move, but most of all made himself big and took away most of the net. This strategy is obviously far superior to that of Lehtonen. Kari slid into the net on both goals, so even had he saved the puck the goal would have counted. The Habs must have known this about him as they put both of their shots low, towards his pads, for what seems like would always be a guaranteed goal.

Our team is looking good and although many believe we are being led by our offence I will offer a different perspective. We all know that in Huet we have one of the league's best goalies, but have we ever considered our defence as an elite corps? I think that we should. Led by Markov I think that we may have the best group of 7 in the league right now. Hamrlik, Komisarek, Streit, Bouillon, Gorges and O'Byrne have all proven themselves as quality D-men and apart from the injured O'Byrne are currently all playing near the best hockey of their careers. Our veteran core of Streit, Bou, Marky and Hammer is complimented very well with 3 excellent youngsters that will carry the torch for years to come - Komi, Gorges, O'B. This is an exciting time for the team, but let's stay focused and for goodness sake let's make Montreal a very hard city for other teams to even think about getting a win in; like it always was.

Experiment 71: When will the Canadiens admit this is going nowhere?

To win you need many different types of players. Let's look at defensemen. In general, you need someone who can:


1. Break up the opponent's plays and retrieve the puck
2. Carry the puck or make a pass once the puck is retrieved
3. Block shots
4. Make sure opposing players don't obscure the goalie's view
5. Play the point on the powerplay
6. Play more minutes when the game calls for it
7. Hold possession
8. Anticipate plays and join in
9. Anticipate plays and when not to join in
10. Skate backwards

If you look through the Canadiens lineup, you can find a number of defensemen that meet one or more of the criteria. Markov comes out on top with 9/10 criteria, as he's not really a player you would rely on to clear the front of the net. Hamrlik can do it all, though is not the PP point man some of the others are. Komisarek ticks all the defensive boxes and can pass if needed to.

The next group the corps can realistically all do about 5-7 of the above with ease. Streit anticipates, passes and plays the PP point well. Bouillon takes more defensive focus. Gorges and O'Byrne give us a mix of average defense and decent enough passing/offensive instincts to pass as 6th defensemen.

Finally, we have Brisebois, who's profile would include could do better (or needs improvement) beside each task on the list above – including skating backwards. It was said in the summer and it can be said again now: Brisebois does not bring anything unique to this team. Nothing.


Now, it's clear that we here, as well as other bloggers are not Brisebois fans. Not in the least. However, I think we have been extremely restrained and polite as a group about this spare part. In writing this piece, I am declaring the time for unusual tolerance of this experiment to come to an end, and soon.

With that out of the way, we can now reveal that the Habs are a better team without Brisebois playing – not just more enjoyable to watch.

Prior to his injury, the Habs won all 4 of the games in which Brisebois was resting. When he was in the lineup, the record was 10-11-4.

While he was injured, the Canadiens had their most successful road trip in years, compiling a record of 7-2-3 over the month. This was a timely turn in form, as it allowed the Habs to re-establish their position near the fore of the conference playoff rivals.

After his comeback, he did help get us a win, but also played in that loss to NYR, going 1-1-0, before his frail (unsuitable for professional hockey) frame took another hit.

He sits for a game, and bingo, we win. In what turned out to be a defensive jewel for us – in which our defensive stinginess saved us while we missed chances up front. Defensive stinginess? It definitely sounds like he wasn't involved with that...

So, in sum, with Brisebois:

11-12-5


and without:

12-2-3



I'm not suggesting that all of the losses were the Breezer's fault. You just can't blame the 6th defenseman for losses. It's not their job to carry the team. I just look at the stats and wonder, that's all.

I wonder whether goalies play differently when other defensemen are out there. I wonder whether forwards spring further up the ice in anticipation of a pass actually making it to them. I wonder if Hamrlik can focus on playing for one.

Most of all, I get back to wondering what, if anything, Brisebois offers to this team.

Veteran leadership? Apparently not needed as they have shown they can win quite handily without him.

Powerplay point man? I think Markov, Streit, Kovalev and co. have that well under control at the top of the league, thanks Patrice.

A quote for the media? I'll give him this one. But really? Is this what the organisation has come to?


As far as I can tell, when he plays it means a) prospects O'Byrne and Gorges can't play or b) Streit has to play forward, where though he excels, he ends up costing his own development as a defenseman (where we have less organisational depth) and costing one of our forwards a chance to play.

I admire the Canadiens for wanting to do right by Brisebois. wanting to send him off the right way. But, let's suggest they just buy him a nice vintage race car and have done with it shall we?

Game #45What Losing Streak? Habs Win on the Island

The Canadiens Game in Review

Date: Tuesday January 15th, 2008
Opponent: New York Islanders
Venue: Nassau Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY


Team Stripes


Final Score: 3-1 - Win

Habs starting goalie: Cristobal Huet (W)
Opposition starting goalie: Rick DiPietro (L)

Habs goalscorers: Tomas Plekanec (2), Alexei Kovalev
Opposition goalscorers: Richard Park



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 Period in which we only conceded 1 shot of the season (1st)
1st Game in which we only had 1 penalty against us (2 PIM)



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

Early in the second period, with the score at 1-0 the Islanders were on the verge of getting right back in the game. We were on the PK and the Isles PP was working the puck around really well tiring our penalty-killers out as they couldn't get off the ice. The Islanders had two fabulous chances on this PP, both within about a second of each other, but somehow Huet was able to make successive great saves and keep the puck out of the net. Seconds later we went and scored a shorthanded goal courtesy of Plekanec. Huet gave the Habs the chance to go up by two rather than having New York tie it up at one.



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

Cristobal Huet

He may not have been hounded with too many shots all night, but don't let the total number of shots fool you into thinking that New York didn't have their chances. Despite a meager sum of 18 shots the Islanders actually managed a fair number of quality scoring chances and it was Huet who refused to letthem get into the game at all.



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

Tomas Plekanec
- It was a big game for Tomas, he had 2 goals and ended +3. He has been on fire during the Habs latest winning stretch and is a big reason for the Habs' and Kovalev's success. All aspects of his game looked great tonight, he was even effective in the face-off circle again

Bryan Smolinski
- This was Bryan's best game (of 3) since coming back from injury. He showed that he is actually an offensive centre with some talent to show for himself. It was quite obvious tonight that his speed is not what it once was, but all game I noticed that he still has great vision and can still make a great pass

Alexei Kovalev
- Alex played a great game bagging yet another 2 points and he also finished an impressive +3. This wasn't a game I felt he dominated, but he was still a big reason we won. It is nice when a player doen't need to play too much above his average to have a huge impact on the game. He was pretty much on for our entire PK and along with Plekanec he was highly effective

Defencemen

Mike Komisarek
- Mike played a great defensive game tonight. He wasn't called upon to shutdown one or two superstars (because New York doesn't have any), but instead basically shutdown the entire Islander offence. Whenever Mike was on the ice the Isles didn't look threatening. He also excelled in his two favorite areas again - shot blocks and hits

Francis Bouillon
- Bou had another great game playing alongside the young Josh Gorges. He played the man very well tonight and only threw his weight around when he had to. He is very good at not getting caught out of position and although he may play a 'simple' game he sure plays an effective game on the blue-line

Goaltender

Cristobal Huet
- Huet was yet again one unlucky break away from a shutout. He was unable to control a rebound, which 9 times out of 10 would have been cleared away, that led to New York's only goal. His lateral movement and positioning tonight looked very sharp. I was actually quite surprised that he did let in a goal because his body language and focus had me believing he was unbeatable. The confidence he showed tonight allowed the team to do what they had to do for the win knowing that he would take care of the rest



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

The season continues. He now has 20 goals and 43 points, but more importantly has played good or better in almost all of the Canadiens' games this year. He made a smart play at the end of the game when he had a 3 - on - 1 with Pleks and Kostitsyn. The net was empty and he could have dropped the puck to Plekanec at the blue-line to give him a chance at the hat-trick, but instead he took it in and scored himself. Had he left it for Tom at the line it may not have been a sure goal and had the Isles gotten the puck it could have been a 5 - on - 2 the other way. Win first hat-tricks and shutouts second. The Habs have been playing smart hockey all year, thanks in big part to the constant attention to detail by #27.

Kovalev's Assessment - Very Good



Overall Comments

This game was your typical Habs-Isles game - low-speed, low-excitement and low-scoring. The bottom line is that when we hold the Islanders to this self-imposed game-plan it often means 2 points for us. This is a team that has a hard time scoring and that was very obvious tonight. Their goaltending is solid, but is indeed quite beatable. If Huet outplays DiPietro in these games we can be confident that 2 points will be in the bag. There wasn't much rough stuff at all which for the Habs is never a bad thing. I view these games (especially when we score first) as games that we must spend as little energy as possible, grab the win, avoid giving them one point and quickly get out of town.

Latendresse gets more chances than any other Hab, but as we saw again tonight can't put in gimmes when it counts. He has had the luxury of quality passing for the past 3 weeks courtesy of his captain, but not finding the back of the net has cost him his job on the 1st line. In all, I am guessing he has missed 5-10 sure-bet goals over that time period, costing Saku that many sure-bet assists. The good news is though, Latendresse plays his best when on the third line as he has never been a pressure-driven player. Another piece of good news is that this now means that Higgins is back up with Saku, a move that will surely help both of those players in getting back on the scoresheet.

All I can think of when I think of last year's Habs are wasted opportunities. So far this year we have been seizing every chance we are given and we have ridden that good fortune all the way to 4th spot in the Eastern Conference (points-wise). We are only 1 point out of the second best record in the East and only 8 points behind perennial leaders Ottawa. Ottawa lost tonight, yet again, to Washington giving the Caps 4 wins in as many games against the cream of the East. That loss gives me hope; if a team like the Caps can beat Ottawa, does that mean we can? The 'New' NHL has allowed crazy things like that to happen which makes me wonder if something as crazy as the Habs winning the conference could happen? With 5 games left against Ottawa things could change in a hurry (in the other way too of course). At some point we are going to have to learn how to beat that team and I say better now than later. If this is truly a league where anything can happen then it is a league where we can win the East. It is also a league where we, with more or less the same team, can miss the playoffs by one point to New York. But, best of all, it also means that it is a league where we could win the cup. The first step is making the playoffs and we'll see what happens from there. All I know is that, as of now, we stand a very good chance of having that happen.

Hillary Week: Montreal Canadiens January 8 - January 14

The week that was
A good week for the Habs, but for me the week was more memorable for the headlines involving the Hillarys. Sir Edmund and Mrs. Clinton, of course.

The Habs post of the past week would have to be the one on Four Habs Fans recapping the Blackhawks game. I have to admit, I wasn't sure if the quotes were fact or fiction, but whatever the case, it does drive home the point that sometimes there are more important things than hockey going on. Personally, American politics are not my cup of tea. But, even I can appreciate how momentous it would be to have a party running an African-American or a female candidate. Truly great.

As for Sir Edmund Hilary, I have nothing but the utmost respect. As with many great men from before my time, it is from the eulogising that I learn how much I should have admired them during their lifetimes. From accounts of Hillary's taking the Everest summit in full stride, to his treatment of Tenzing Norquay and his homage to his expedition-mates, I think Sir Edmund was class through and through. If Hillary Clinton set the example for a Habs comeback, then I hope Sir Edmund Hillary will be a model for Canadiens players (and others) to strive for. Excellence, ambition, perseverance and modesty all combined with grace. A truly great man.

Of course, the Canadiens didn't do too badly this past week either. Again, they answered my call for 4 points, so I can hardly be disappointed with the result. The loss, while freshest in our memory, was no big deal on its own – just one of many this good (not yet great) bunch of players will subject us to.

I suppose the reaction to the loss was a topic that got my attention. At the end of the day, I like an exciting hockey game. But, a loss is a loss and a win is a win for me. The manner in which the players do one or the other is rarely more than a passing concern – I'm over it within a few hours.

The other highlight of the week for me was the class the organisation showed by getting Locke up while the injured were still injured to fit in the game he was due. I think that this was a really nice move and was probably not lost on Locke – who will remember his first NHL game for the rest of his life.






Quote of the week
On not having to play with Duncan Keith, DiPietro and other undeserving all-stars:

"I would have liked to have been selected. But, it's not too important. For me, the Canadiens are my all-star team. It's great to be a part of it."

Coming off a week where two prize prospects bubbles were burst...

... what might Rejean Houle do?

Tells Carbonneau to start Halak in 5 of the next 7 games, so he can trade him quick for that enforcer we need.



... what might Sam Pollock do?

Has a 3-hour meeting with Don Lever to discuss how the players being shuttled upand down should be dealt with. He emphasises focusing on how players who have performed have been called up.




The week upcoming

No teams from the Northeast division, but still a tough enough week. Once again, this is one of those weeks that the playoff teams seize and the sidelined teams stumble over. Tobalev told me he thought 3 or 4 out of the 6 points this week. I agree. Another 4 this week would be a strong result.


Tuesday night: New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Colisseum.

The Islanders just don't go away lately. Last season, they were written off and nipped us to the post. This year, they were written off and are right in the thick of it again. That being said, they do have weaknesses and they can be inconsistent. As they're coming off wins in Ottawa and Calgary, let's hope the inconsistency kicks in tonight.

A lot of focus on Komisarek and Higgins again for their homecoming. Personally, I expect the Kovalev line to outshine the Lapierre one, and don't think Higgins will be the game story on this night. A vulnerable defense corps told me so...

Isles to watch: Marc-Andre Bergeron and Mike Comrie – Bergeron scored twice against the Sens, though his season has been up and down, Comrie is the leading scorer by a country mile over Bill Guerin, but that's not saying as much as it used to.


Thursday night: Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.

These guys are all over the map. So much so, that the players talk about the team that way. I think it shows Atlanta is easily rattled. So, let's rattle em early. Points to be had if the effort comes from the Habs here.

Thrashers to watch: who else? Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk – Hossa is an undeserving all-star, but a talent to watch nonetheless, Kovalchuk is the goalscorer par-excellence in the NHL right now, and with his speed and skills puts on a good show each time I've seen him play.


Saturday night: Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre.

The hottest team in the NHL. Every time you think Sidney Crosby is overrated, January comes. In the Q, he put up a slow start one year only to destroy the league in the last months of the season. As an NHL rookie, Ovechkin made him look like a boy (he was) for 3 months, until Sid decided that the New Year would mean he would become the best player in the NHL. Crosby has done the same again, and saved Therrien another time. We may yet thank Crosby, if we have to face a Penguins coach in the playoffs.

Pens to watch: Sidney Crosby and Ty Conklin – see above, Crosby is just amazing once the calendars change, Conklin probably wasn't the Penguin ending in "in" that we expected to be writing in here, but he has had an incredible resurgence on the back of the young upstarts. He shouldn't get too excited. Penguins goalies have always loved streaks...





News from the Habswagon:

People were stunned to see 568 people jump from the wagon as it sped towards its destination, following the announcement of a Canadiens meltdown. Many of the jumpers, who admit to overreaction, asked to be bused to the next depot when they learned the meltdown only meant 2 points lost.



[The subjective look at the week that was and the week ahead in Montreal Canadiens Week is supplemented by the objective analysis following every fifth game]

Habs losing – Overreacting for the cause

Canadiens uber-captain Saku Koivu has gained quite a bit of wisdom over a long NHL career so far. He's been the regular season scoring leader at times, playoff scoring leader at times, Olympic scoring leader at times, played on lines with 40 goalscorers, played on lines with defensemen, missed seasons, missed playoffs.

Anyway, he's got a lot of experience, both winning and losing, success and disappointment. So, I put a lot of weight on what he says. On the last game, Koivu had this to say:

"You can look at it two different ways. You have time to regroup and regain the focus but, after a poor game like (the one in New York), you'd like to get an opportunity right away tomorrow to bounce back."

While he said you can look at it two ways, his quote only actually gives us one way to see matters – the positive position.

The negative position, left unsaid, is the backlash that the team received from everyone, including us here (guilty), about that loss on Saturday night. With a day to cool, I find myself on the same wavelength as our captain – sometimes a loss can be a good thing – the important thing is the way you respond.

In my opinion, a blowout is a better way to lose than a close battle. Why? Because after a blowout, players need to really question the way they do things, make real adjustments, listen to their coaches. There is no consoling yourself after a blowout, no palatable excuses. That doesn't mean everything should be changed. Far from it. Only that the game should be analysed, errors considered and ideas generated to take things forward.


Then, there's the media response.

We (Tobalev and I) have always maintained that the Habs will be losing a lot of games this year. There was never any inkling that this would be a record-breaking regular season. So, we try not to overdo the headlines after a loss (like some of the meltdown headers I've been seeing). I do, however, have a new theory as to why others do:

The writers (press, etc.), actually get bored of winning and the headlines that go with it.

As such, I think if the Habs lose after points in 10 games in a row, the people following the team are absolutely bursting to use terms like meltdown, disaster, no-show, etc. After all, there is much more to write about when the team loses. We can write about changes, about what we think is going wrong, about Brisebois.

My initial response is to call the response an overreaction, because that's what it is sometimes. But then I thought, it's not necessarily a bad thing at all. In fact, in many ways, I think it will compound the effect of what may have otherwise been a forgivable loss. The media can contribute to the loop and ensure that the self-analysis happens throughout the roster. Overreaction for the cause, so to speak.


I for one, am willing to accept the challenge of finding things to write about through the winning. I don't need the losing for material (you may all have a different opinion on that...). And, now I am anxious to see what the Habs will do next game and whether I will have to write a thank you to the media for creating an impetus for 2 points.

Based on what Koivu has said, I predict that the response from the players will be noticeable to us watching when they take to the ice vs. the Islanders.

Game #44Rangers Too Much For Habs on the Slush in New York

The Canadiens Game in Review

Date: Saturday January 12th, 2008
Opponent: New York Rangers
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY


Team Stripes


Final Score: 1-4 - Loss

Habs starting goalie: Cristobal Huet (L), Jaroslav Halak
Opposition starting goalie: Henrik Lunqvist (W)

Habs goalscorers: Sergei Kostitsyn
Opposition goalscorers: Chris Drury, Martin Straka, Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes



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 Kostitsyn to Kostitsyn Goal
1st Road Appearance for Halak since last April in the same building



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

The play of the game could simply be called the play tonight because it was the only good moment for the Habs all game. It was during a third period power-play, the score was 0-4 and we managed to score a goal

Markov, working the point on the PP and gave a pass to the half-boards on the right (Kovy's office). Andrei Kostitsyn was playing this position and was out there with Pleks and his bro as Carbo was experimenting. Andrei waited and the then fired a perfect pass right to his brother at the far post. The puck was just out of Lunqvist's reach and all Sergei had to do was tap it in.



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

Tomas Plekanec

Pleks played better in the 2nd and 3rd when Sergei Kostitsyn replaced Kovalev on his line. Plekanec didn't really play well at all, but of all the Habs I'll say that he played the least bad. He was on the ice for our goal and none of New York's, he played almost 19 minutes, took 2 shots and was an impressive 7/10 in the face-off circle.



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

Sergei Kostitsyn
- He scored a goal and that is about it. He didn't do too much to hurt the Habs tonight and considering he netted his 3rd career goal he gets in the dome

Andrei Kostitsyn
- Great assist on his brother's goal. Showed some good speed and shooting tonight, but I felt he was used in a lot of the wrong circumstances. Proved he can play well when out of Kovalev's shadow

Tomas Plekanec
- Don't look for this trio of domers to be a line for the Habs in their next game. Plekanec played a decent game and showed, like Kostitsyn, he doesn't need Kovalev to play well. If Koivu won't be given the gift of a Finnish winger (Selanne) he may just get a Russian one. Koivu has a hard time getting a slow and unskilled Latendresse to score so maybe the best solution is the first one they ever tried 4 years ago; Koivu-Kovalev. Plekanec will be able to carry a line himself now and I am sure he will stick with Andrei Kostitsyn for some time

Defencemen

Mike Komisarek
- He was the only defenceman tonight that didn't look like he was playing defence for the first time. The other 5 were absolutely atrocious, but Mike had a decent game. He hit when he had to and got rough when no one else would. Unfortunately 1 stay-at-home defenceman couldn't win us the game

Andrei Markov
- Defensively he was bad, but as he happened to be the guy to pass it to the guy who passed it to the guy who scored I'll put him in here. On an ordinary night he would not deserve this honour, but thanks to 4 very lazy other guys he sneaks in

Goaltender

Jaroslav Halak
- Came into the game and stopped all 13 shots he faced. It is probably about time he got a shot to start a game. His last start (last year in NY) may have cost us the playoffs, but then again so did a 2 month stretch where we actually let Aebischer play. Looked alright in his 20 minutes and will hopefully be ready to start one this week



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

Like his last stint with the Rangers, Kovalev didn't play great at MSG tonight. He looked sub-par on the PP failing to put one in when he had to. He was on the ice for 7 1/2 minutes worth of PP time and couldn't make anything happen. His PK time was well spent though as he continues to be the Habs best penalty-killing forward. This won't be a game that the Habs or Kovalev will look back fondly on.

Kovalev's Assessment - Average


Overall Comments

The Habs played their worst game in at least a month, but I will give the Rangers credit as they played a decent game. New York's penalty-killing was better than anything we have seen of late as they did not allow Kovalev a half-second with the puck. The ice was an absolute joke and it is every time we play at MSG (the boxing, basketball, music, circus, hockey, indoor football, soccer, wrestling centre of New York). Sure other teams play in multi-purpose buildings, but few host 2 other events on the same day as an NHL game. I have never seen more Habs fall, miss passes, skate slow or mishandle the puck in my life. Everyone knows that MSG is the league's worst ice and that they all just have to live with it. The problem is that the Rangers get 39 more games/year to get used to the melted-lake conditions.

The Habs had two 5 on 3s tonight and failed to score on either. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on during the second of the two when I saw Smolinski and Brisebois out there for well over a minute with some of the usuals. First of all Smolinski just isn't a good hockey player or at least not the way he is being used with Habs. Montreal is unable to offer him the wingers he got to play with in places like Ottawa and Pittsburgh and instead asks him to play on the 4th line. Naturally this will mean a huge drop in points from what we hoped, but I am not surprised one bit. He has been reduced to a 'defensive' forward, but unlike his current coach or GM Smolinski doesn't possess very many good defensive qualities. It is sad that the Canadiens just assume bad forwards will make good defensive forwards. Anyway, he was the wrong guy to have on a must-score 5 on 3 and, big surprise, we of course didn't score. Having Brisebois out on the point instead of Streit or Hamrlik when we need a goal is utter stupidity. I guarantee he won't be scoring another 40 mph 'slapper' anytime soon and seeing as he can't shoot much harder I would say he is maxed out offensively for the season (keeping in mind that he was maxed out defensively in 1984). These 2 players turned a 1:41 5 on 3 into a very painful 3 on 3.

This loss is just that, a loss, a single loss. We are bound to lose games and we were actually due for a road loss anyway. The good news is we certainly didn't waste any energy tonight, so we should be ready to go on Tuesday. Of course I am assuming that the Habs have a certain amount of energy to use all season - the sad thing is I think most players believe this too. With 2 games left on this 4 game trip I still think we have a chance to make it a good one. The Islanders and Thrashers are both teams that we can beat and we have had moderate success against both of them over the past few years. Our goal at this point on the trip should be 2-3 more points - very doable as long as we don't play anything like we did tonight.

What's right for Price?

While Carey Price's name is much more fun to use in headlines and such, I just cannot understand why every columnist, analyst and blogger I have read has refused to look at the recent changes from the other perspective – that is: "Halak recalled". I could say the same about Locke/Chipchura, but the overwhelming focus on Price from the blogosphere has led me to focus on that story.


Want to know what I mean? Have a look at some of these headlines, quotes and links (if you haven't already):

A Pricely demotion – Chipchura and Price feel it in their wallet, but can develop down on the farm (John Kernaghan)
January 10 – The Hamilton Spectator

This demotion is the first downward blip on Price's performance graph. He has excelled at all levels, the world juniors, the AHL and impressed early in his rookie NHL season.

Ça fait partie de l'apprentissage (Benoit Brunet)
January 9 – RDS

Mais si à un certain moment, la direction du Canadien trouvait que sa progression ralentissait, c’est une bonne idée de lui permettre de jouer la plupart des parties à Hamilton.

Breaking News from the WTF?!? Department (Panger 76)
January 9 – Four Habs Fans

Ostensibly it's because the Habs have few back-to-back games plus the All-Star breat in January, but it could also be motivated by TFS's less than stellar performance against Washington. Or, it could be a showcase for Halak in hopes of garnering some interest in a deadline deal.

Carey Takes His Lumps (Robert L)
January 10 – Eyes On The Prize

This demotion, if one chooses to see it as such, could either be seen as a present lack of faith in Price, or simply as a careful handling of a precious jewel.

After first questioning the move as harsh, I considered the big picture.The Canadiens can ill afford to mess up on the best propect to come into the organization in eons. I'd rather they take cautious chances with him, over risky ones. The Habs organization surely knows Price better than anyone, and knows and understands what is needed by him in this trying time.

Price: à manipuler avec soin (Bertrand Raymond)
January 9 – Journal de Montreal

Price est tellement important pour l'avenir de l'organisation qu'il faut prendre le temps de lui expliquer ce qu'on tente de faire avec lui. Durant son stage à Hamilton, il faudra lui parler fréquemment, sonder ses états d'âme et vérifier l'état de son moral.

Many articles on this topic mention Halak once or twice. Panger concedes Price may have been demoted to make room for Halak, but only so he can be traded (a possibility of course). Brunet and Robert L don't mention Jaroslav at all! If I hadn't already used the title, I might have called this piece: "Halak of respect".

Look. Halak is good. Very good. It is premature to write him off, just as it is premature to call Price the saviour of the franchise.

In a very good career so far, Carey Price's crowning achievements were afforded to him by virtue of a) being Canadian and getting to play on the best junior team in the world and b) Jaroslav Halak playing so well he was called up to the Canadiens and then to the Slovakian National team.

Is it conceivable then, that Halak could turn out to be better than Price?

Maybe you should ask the Blackhawks how sticking with first rounder and WJC super goalie Jimmy Waite turned out for them. Who was that other guy anyway?

I would wager that if Price were the 9th round pick and Halak the first rounder, we'd have different headlines. All stats remaining the same, I'd even go so far as saying that if Halak were 6'3" from Western Canada and Price 5'11" from Eastern Europe, the press would be singing Hallelujahs for the long awaited promotion.

Consider a similar set of Habs players for a minute:

– one large American offensive defender picked in the first round
– the other a relatively small, Eastern European 6th rounder

Pundits and analysts around the team lauded the first round selection of a defender at the time, and continued to tout the prospect as he progressed impressively through the minors. The other player quietly made his way over to North America, played well in the minors and earned a call up one day to the NHL.

Andrei Markov never really looked back, overcoming his small stature, language barrier and low draft position to blossom into the best defenseman on the team and the Eastern Conference (some young superstars would say the league). Ron Hainsey never stuck with the Habs, was left unprotected and while doing an admirable job at growing into a very good offensive defenseman, would never be confused with the best in the league.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that this promotion had nothing to do with Price. But it is Price relative to Halak that led to the decision. And, as untenable an idea as it may be to some, the Habs may have a plan for someone other than Carey Price, maybe even lowly Halak has a plan sketched out for him. Watching Gainey and his staff make their moves, others' opinions be damned, makes me certain that they operate this way. If not, Chipchura would have just been benched for a game and Locke would not have received a reward he was promised. In so far as the Canadiens goaltending docket, they seem to be making decisions in stages (as well they should).

When you consider our goaltending in the future, dream of a solid man back there, for certain. But, before you see 31 instead of 41, also try to picture what it would be like if some night in February, Hainsey and the Canadiens were trying to kill off a penalty against the Andrei Markov orchestrated Blue Jackets powerplay.