After the game, everyone talked about patience.
Both teams played carefully, as evidenced by no goals and 26 shots, 16 by Pittsburgh, through the first 40 minutes.
The Canadiens don’t have much choice in playing a conservative style.
Missing their best defenceman, matched against an explosive opponent and, let’s not forget, coached by a man one might charitably describe as risk-averse, the Canadiens were not about to play run-and-gun against the Stanley Cup champs.
But while hermetic defence frustrated the mighty Washington Capitals in the opening series, it was the not-so-mighty Canadiens who were stifled by Pittsburgh’s mastery of the kind of mistake-free style that wins more often than not in the playoffs.
What loses, more often than not, is 18 shots on goal – 11 over the final two periods of a tight game.
Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said his team expected the Canadiens to come out aggressive, spurred by frenzied fans in their own building. But after weathering a first period in which they were outshot 7-3, the Penguuins setled into a safe, grinding style that wore the home team down and produced a 22-11 shot advantage over the last 40 minutes.
“We played a patient game,” Bylsma said. “We weren’t trying to score on every rush.”
Instead, as the game progressed, Pittsburgh worked to prevent the Canadiens from scoring on every rush. The best way to do that is to minimize rushes, and the best way to do THAT is by getting pucks behind the D and working down low.
Bylsma mentioned the effort of Sudney Crosby.
Pointless and with only one shot to show for his 22 minutes and change of ToI, Crosby got into a puck battkle with Hal Gill late in the second period. Giving away pounds and inches, the league’s best player worked the puck until Gill drew a holding penalty.
After Josh Gorges and Kris Letang got into a tussle that resulted in roughing minors at the end of the second period, the Canadiens began the third with their two best penalty-killers – Gill and Gorges – in the penalty box.
That left Roman Hamrlik and P.K. Subban to cope with a Pittsbugh power play that patiently – there’s that virtue again – worked to set up the Geno Malkin laser that won the game.
Marc-André Fleury, making his first playoff start at the Bell Centre, was full value for the shutout. Fleury didn’t have a lot of work, but was sharp throughout – notably with a right-pad save on Tomas Plekanec.
Another element of Pittsburgh’s textbook road game was discipline.
Notwithstanding several scrums and much chirping, the Penguins took only minors for tripping. And while the Canadiens exhibited good Markov-less puck control on their power plays, Fleury and the Penguins’ PK did not yield any high-percentage chances.
Jacques Martin called it an “excellent” hockey game.
I wouldn’t go that far. There were long stretches when not much happened, little sutained pressure in either offensive zone, no odd man rushes or dazzling displays of individual skill.
It was grind-it-out playoff hockey, and Pittsburgh – playing with the patience and quiet confidence of defending champs – did a better job of grinding.
Not much gloom and doom in the Canadiens’ room.
The players had been through a battle – Gorges was sporting a fat lip – but the game was not a one-sided stomping.
No one had an egregiously bad outing.
Andrei Kostitsyn skated, hit and won some ice time on the Tomas Plekanec line and on the PP.
MAB played 20:46. He teamed with Ryan O’Byrne, and while the pairing reminded no one of Serge Savard and Larry Robinson, they weren’t embarrassed by the Penguins.
The Canadiens have done a good job, through the first two games of containing Crosby. But Malkin’s seeing-eye goal and his seven shots are an ominous indicator that Geno has stirred from his slumber and could be a major problem for the Canadiens through the rest of the series.
• • •
Brian Gionta had seven shots and Mike Cammalleri four of the Canadiens’ total of 18.
Held shotless were Glen Metropolit, Travis Moen, Dominic Moore, AK46 and Tom Pyatt.
Despite playing with Gomez and Gionta most of the game, Benny Pouliot managed only one shot and had a couple blocked.
• • •
A playoff first: Mathieu Darche dressed but didn’t set foot on the ice.
Man, Sergei is buried so deep on this team you coul;dn’t find him with truffle pig.
• • •
“I don’t want to sound cynical,” said a veteran Pittsburgh beat writer, “but all these fans booing Crosby should try to get a decent quote of him in an interview.
“Then they’d really have something to boo.”
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I don’t think the future is quite as bleak as you make out. We have good goaltending from young goalies: the d-corps has held the lauded pens to 1 goal/game in the last 2 and the caps to 1 goal per game in the last 3 of that series. Obviously much of that has to do with the briolliance of Halak but the d have kept the rebounds cleared and the 2 “Gods of Hockey” have really done f–k all in the last few weeks vs the habs. We have a top-notch scorer in Cammy and Gio and Gomez and have played very well in the play-offs and they are all under contract for the next 5 years.
More size up front would be good, obviously. And a couple capable role players for the 3-4 lines. It would be good to move some swollen contracrts to make this happen, or we can hope the cap increases dramatically. I think Price will be traded and I think Chi will pay BIG when they finally realize that lack of goaltending will cost them the Cup. Bufflin as part of a package? Otherwise I am optimistic that this team can build on what they have. They do have heart, one thing we all thought was missing just 1 month ago.
I missed the game as I had a previous engagement.
I noticed we didn’t score any goals so I guess that pretty well sums it up. I also have to question why Martin would dress a player (Darche) and not even give him one shift. That’s a needless and unnecessary insult to an honest hockey player. What was the point? Did he get hurt or something?
Some posters have mentioned that maybe it’s time to dress SK74 and let him play on a line with Metro and Andrei (fat chance of that happening). Hey, what the hell, it can’t hurt. It’s starting to feel like it’s time to roll the dice.
I have to agree. I don’t understand how SK went from being one of the team’s most reliable PK guys to an over-night lazy defensive liability. The play looks bad, but watch any similar play for any winger in that situation and you will see that they stick with the point man to ensure there is no point shot. People get all upset and fall back on xenophobic drivel about Russians. Its crap. Sure Sergei could do more to help himself out, but Montreal is loosing out on a very useful winger in favor of completely bag-skating 3 lines.
I also thought faceoffs were a weak point. I agree, a fairly evenly matched game that could’ve gone either way.
Hey, I wish I could’ve gotten more Habs tickets when I lived in Montreal, they won the last 4 times I saw the team before I moved out to Brantford.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Pens adjusted. Habs got adjusted. JM, despite having home ice advnatadge, got badly outcoached.
But he’s actually a pretty weak coach, so it’s not all that surprising. It’s a good thing (for him) he has a focussed, disciplined squad that can make him look good.
You need to follow the Habs and attend all their games, perhaps you will give them some luck since the ghosts are not giving them luck at the Bell Centre tonight.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
They need to win 2 on the road so I can go see them for Game 6, I’m 4-0-0 at Copps so far, including the series-clinching Game 6 against the Moose. Much like the Boone Reverse Jinx, I must choose my visits with care.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
I little bad luck and terrible passing cost this oen IMO. Laps made a good move and hit the crossbar, cammy hit the post, all-world save by Fleury late in the 3rd. Passing by the D coming out oif the zone killed many break-outs. There is no flow or tempo when you have to retreat every time to get the puck or start back-checking. Put it on the tape boys!
They played well, not great, and could just as easily won this game as lost it. Need to win on Thursday, though. I agree with the poster below, coming back from 3-1 again might be just too tall an order. The fake spinarama (Subi-do!) from PK in the 3rd was awesome! I am glad we all petitioned for his promotion on this site last week nad forced PG to call him up. ( this is a tongue-in -cheek comment, just the last sentence)
Bulldogs leading 3-2 in Abbotsford with 10 minutes remaining in the third period in game 3 of the series (series tied 1-1)
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Excellent post HardHabits.
I;ve been saying all along that the future looks bleak (yikes) for this franchise.
I really don’t know if many Habs fans can accept the reality of where we are heading but I;m prepared for it to get worse before it ges better for this club.
We might as well cherish the most we have for this playoff stretch run, I don;t see any miracles performed by the club next year at this time.
Fans may call me a cynic but fans have got to really see that we really need help up front with bigger skilled forwards, and at the D and it will be hard to fill the voids in these positions.
Sometimes big is better in the long term.
What I want to know is does Price demand a trade in the off season or do we trade Halak?
I would rather keep Halak IMO.
Off the record but I am looking for a Ford car Habs flag that they were given out to fans at the Habs Fan Jam throught out the City of Montreal the past 3 weeks or so, if anyone can help me, please PM and we’ll discuss price and shipping and handling costs.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Sergei Kostitsyn — Selected by Montreal Canadiens round 7 #200 overall 2005 NHL Entry Draft
However bad picking SK was, picking AK was 1000 times worse.
He was a 7th-round pick! You draft a 7th-rounder you’re generally happy if the guy can make your farm team and not as the towel guy, chill out, if anything be upset over the drafting of Andrei at 10th overall but seriously, we didn’t exactly spend a Top 5 pick on the kid.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Finally the players and fans are starting to see the day of light on little Sergei, trade the SOB, we don’t need whiners on this team or anyone with no character. Kudos for Martin sitting the baby in the press box.
Bye bye little Sergei, your butty boy broher Andre will be following you real soon.
Like I have commented many tines on this site, little Sergei is nothing but another overrated draft pick and a bust in my books.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Depth next year will be better, with SK/AK out the door (not that I like it), JM will have PG bring in guys he likes and won’t bench over long periods. Andreas Engqvist may become a Canadien next season after his good year in the SEL and the team looking for cap relief by slipping him into the lineup. Add the entry-level contracts of likely forwards Pyatt, White and our star prospect Subban next season and you have further cap relief. Free agent D Brendon Nash adds a size element to our defensive farming and a year in A after 4 years of NCAA hockey may have him ready to join the big club as well.
Alex Avtsin may sign a contract to play in the A next year and I’m betting in another year, Kristo and Leblanc will sign pro contracts to get their likely year of AHL action in. Team has some depth options and we haven’t even addressed the 2010 draft yet, or any more signings that may occur from development camp.
Agree the Cup will likely go West this year and right now, it looks like VAN will have it.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Fantasy time is over. No way Habs come back from 3-1 again. Next game is a MUST win. I doubt it can be done with 3 lines though.
Face it. This whole playoff run is 65% Halak. The other 35% is Gionta, Gomez and Cammy. The sad thing is the Habs’ll be against the cap with little room to move and few if any prospects coming up. I mean this is all good for the Molson’s coffers but the bottom line is the team looks like they’ll just get weaker in the upcoming seasons.
I knew rolling 3 lines would kill this team. Sooner than I thought though. They looked gassed. They need to play a road game next one. But seriously, how much rope-and-dope until they become punched out.
I am still a firm believer that a team needs to built via the draft. We’ll see but I’d pretty surprised to see them get out of this round. The only good news is that the Pens will not make much noise after this series either.
The Cup goes to the Western Conference this year.
Hey for a seat at ice level? I’d fill the water bottles, hand out the towels and sit there in full Habs gear waiting for a call to play that’s not going to happen.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Why couldn’t they dress me instead of darche? surely I would do just as well :p
The torch be yours to hold it high!
I think Sergei plays next game. Maybe not a lot, but they need his talent.
I’m not sure I want to know, but what alleged events occured at practice? I usually only read the newspaper articles, and haven’t come across anything about SK74 from practice except a picture of him trying a trick shot (a picture that could have been taken of every player probably at the end of practice…I have yet to meet a hockey player that didn’t like to play around with some trick shots at the end of practice).
Like I said, I was watching the wingers very carefully last night for how they covered the points. Gionta was no more engaged on that 5-on-5 shift than Sergei was.
I don’t dispute the notion that Sergei had been in a fog in his few appearances lately…that is a fair argument. I just thought the video “evidence” that was jumped on by so many was a mountain out of a mole hill as you see that type of shift from every player on every team in the NHL.
You KNOW I am going to talk about the future. But I’m with you right now…I’m enjoying the ride while it lasts.
I appreciate your level headed response and I generally deserve the odd ‘bite me’ now and again. I just can’t imagine the Habs coming back from another 3-1 deficit. Not twice in the same playoff run, back-to-back at that against both the Caps and then the Pens. That’s why next game is so crucial. If the Habs lose game 4 I predict Pens in 5. I also predicted Caps in 6 so what do I know about crystal balls.
The glory days are over but a team can still build a contender. A lot depends on how the team deals with Halak and Price. I can assure you that Allan Walsh is more interested in garnering a fat bonus for Halak more than he cares about the Habs and their glorious past.
When I look at Boston getting 2nd over-all for their 5th pick plus another 1st rounder AND a 2nd pick it just blows my mind to think that the Habs are jittery when it comes to trading players for picks or trying to really develop up and comers. PK Subban is certainly a revelation but he needs a supporting cast. Habs still need another 3-4 players of PK’s ability coming up from the minors. SeriousHabsFan09 points out that there are some potential players that could fill roster spots.
Honestly, I am just grumbly because the Pens beat us at our own game last night and that’s the deepest cut yet this playoffs.
Dick & Danny were the best Hockey T, V, announcing crew of all time.
Well, I didn’t see it that way. That being said, I’d still play SK next game. It’s getting close to desperation time anyway. I like the SK-Metro-AK idea that’s been floated here. SK for 2:00 has gotta be better than Darche for 0:00. I think it would be dumb to punish SK for just this one play. But I’m sure that’s not the case. Given the alleged events at yesterday’s practice, things look pretty ugly. They say we’re trying to run the brothers out of town, and no doubt, that element does exist. But they sure don’t do themselves any favours (especially 74).
I see.
So you’re happy with Andrei Kostitsyn even though there are about six to eight players drafted after him that would make an immediate impact on the team right now?
Nice veiled shot at Carey Price. The fact that Andre Savard and Timmins thought some head case with epilepsy from Belarus was a good gamble shows you why Savard was shoved out and why Timmins needs to be replaced.
I agree, Steve. I’m pissed for Darche. What an insult to dress and not skate for even one shift. Darche is the victim stuck in between this SK and Martin feud… Martin would probably like to play SK because of his skills but won’t because of his attitude. So instead, he dresses Darche but doesn’t use him. I bet they’re both giving each other the silent treatment now too.
Jacques, Sergei – grow up and get over it.
Yeah true enough. People here are so quick to forget the Houle/Tremblay disaster years. That put us in a deep deep hole. Now anybody could argue that whoever replaced that regime could have done a better job just by not burning down the Forum. But Gainey did it and it wasn’t easy. Especially since the lockout, it’s so much more difficult to build a winner. Every day I curse the salary cap.
sergei had the point…in a 40 second sequence, no pass was made to his pointman. he eliminated the pointman and made it a 4 on 4 which the rest of the habs botched.
- What if Jaro Halak’s hand was indeed shaking? What if you took the CHOKE out of Ovechkin? — History Will Be Made
Its weird to talk to myself! (Nice avatar!)
In my opinion, Sergei is an upgrade over Pyatt, Maxwell and Darche. Those guys bring nothing offensively. Sergei was excellent on the PK through March, so I agree that his defensive responsibilty being the issue is a red herring.
Martin has decided he has no use for Sergei. Fair enough…that is his prerogative as coach. My pregorative as a fan is to question the intelligence of that decision.
Gio was engaged and in the play. He had the point man. Sergei just stood there watching with his skates stuck in the ice. He didn’t have the point at all. I expected the puck to pop out and past him for a one-timer.
Dick is easily my favourite TV colour man and radio play-by-play man of all time.
_____________________________________
Cheer for the crest on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
Well, hold on there pardner….my references to farm team, coaching/managment refer to the not so distant and dismal past, not present day or more recent years. This team’s decline started a long time ago and we’re taking baby steps, stumbling along trying to get back to the glory days. I always look at this team with my blue, white and red glasses on, preferring to think the best of them but they are struggling to overcome years of mediocrity and mismanagement and still have a ways to go.
Good Lord, I bleed for this team. I cheer like a frigging madman when we’re winning and I cry in despair when we lose but I never lose faith that someday……
I want my kids to witness the glory days that I saw when I was a kid and young adult, not the perennial 8th place finishers that we have now.
Glass half full? Oh hell yes….
“Without the strength of the past, the team may face a choice – to win, or to be French-Canadian?” — Ken Dryden
Had my second cup of joe. Go read my response to Doug (above). That will serve as my response to your post as well. Come back and talk to me about the future when the series are over.
One of the great moments last night was when D*** Irvin pointed-out that Don F Cherry had played in just one NHL game.
To his face. On National Television.
Priceless.
1. a bad farm team, 2. garbage coaching/management and 3. a lousy scouting system
1. Wrong – Dogs cannot be called bad. 2. Boucher is not garbage. Even Martin has showed he can coach. Ya gotta love Muller and Pearn has his hands full and I think he’s doing pretty well considering. In the big picture, I still don’t like Martin but he’s showed that he’s not as bad as I originally thought. 3. Well yeah, I’ll give ya that one. But the glass is half full brother. Teleport back to October and tell me ya wouldn’t have been encouraged by what we’ve managed to do this year.
Habs hockey = Smart hockey we work as a team, and we win as a team. we play 5 man defence – not just 2. we play with energy, we play with Subban in Markov’s place (for now) – Pk could have been with us since the Olympics, but nevermind that
if the Habs had won the game 1-0, which easily could have happened, you would not have posted this.
are you a Habs fan?
if yes, then your team is in the middle of a battle against the defending cup champions, and you can’t even enjoy it.
what’s the use in spending your time posting on this site, if you can’t enjoy a playoff run like we are in right now?
sure the Habs team needs some work. they are missing some size of front and some more skill / mobility in the back end,
but so what?
now is the not the time to bring this up.
now is the time to enjoy being a fan.
at least that’s the way I see things – and I have been extremely critical all year long.
As Savard did to Carcillo in the playoffs, “Bite me saskhabfan, bite me”
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Holy hell… why dress a guy that you don’t have plans on using? If that’s the case, use the spot for an extra defenseman to take some of the pressure off of the rest of the D corps.
_____________________________________
Cheer for the crest on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
One of the main advantages that Pittsburgh has over us in this series is their superior depth up front. Martin compounded the problem by consciously playing one man under the NHL limit for an entire game.
Totally insane.
HH – My first reaction to this post was a hearty ‘bite me’ but ya know, you’re not far from the truth, hurt as it may.
Watching Dick Irvin last night between periods brought back so many great memories of former powerful Canadien teams. Teams that would have pounded the Penguins mercilessly on their way to a 4 – 0 series victory but alas, we are stuck with the hand we have been dealt from years of finishing in the middle of the pack, a bad farm team, garbage coaching/management and a lousy scouting system. So be it.
This team isn’t bad but it’s not great and they’re winning games they shouldn’t by shear guts and determination. (and mind numbing goal tending)
Dick said last night (and I paraphrase) “Fans used to get upset when the Canadiens finished second. Now, we’re satisfied with eighth” (or something like that)….sad but true.
I still think we can win this series. For an ‘elite’ team, the Pens should be using us as a speed bump, much like Washington but they’re not. It’s only 2 – 1 and anything can happen…..
You never know!
“Without the strength of the past, the team may face a choice – to win, or to be French-Canadian?” — Ken Dryden
Don’t know where to start with this one HH. So I think I’ll just make another strong cup of java and try to get up to your level of caffeine OD before tackling it. (Just don’t get me started on the K Bros, alright?)
The problem is the Habs played a home game and should’ve played a road game. They pressed and pressed in the 1st, essentially dominating play and came up emtpy handed. It was a matter of time before the Pens rolled out the effort and tilted the ice in their favour.
Any body who thinks the Habs can win rolling 3 lines for much longer hasn’t got a clue about what it takes to win the Stanley Cup. In ’93 the Habs rolled 5 lines. Granted the Habs don’t have the luxury of being able to insert players in and out of the line-up like they did back then but last night’s game was evidence that the team is cracking. If the Habs lose next game it’s Pens in 5.
People say Gainey is a genius for bringing in Cammy, Gio and Gomez. I like them all individually and also for their leadership and gritty determination, their scoring panache without being defensive liabilities. This team was supposed to be led by Price though and it’s almost as if Halak rose to the top of the heap despite Gainey’s intentions with Price.
I still think the Habs have missed the boat on too many quality picks and have a piss poor record when it comes to developing players and building a contender. The only goal it seems is making the playoffs and not going deep in them. We’ll see what the next few years bring but I wont be holding my breath. If you ask me Boston will be a major conender in 3-4 years and the Habs’ll be stuck in 8th scratching and clawing their way into the playoffs.
Don’t forget this team started the season with Dags, Chips, MaxPax, BGL, and Lats in the line-up. Where are they now? MaxPax hopefully will be back but how many goals will he score in a season in the NHL? 10 maybe?
In order to compensate for shorty, shrimpy and tiny the Habs need to stock up on some bruisers and size otherwise for all their effort the Habs will just get either pummeled or spent in the playoffs year in and year out.
I don’t think Martin is that good of a coach either. The Kostitsyns, especially Sergei, are a case of not knowing how to get the most out a player. I have no doubt that Sergei will light it up somewhere else. AK not so much. Worse pick since Wickenheiser.
“Hal Gill will make Sidney Crosby cry, drawing an emotional roughing
penalty.”
At least this one was funny.
It’s a MAB MAB world.
A 4th line of metro + kosts bros sounds good to me. agree on darche if he’s not going to play him at all might as well not even dress him.
• SK74 will return
if AK can do it SK can, then again maybe he is strung out on crack anybody even seen him?
• The coaches will design some offensive
sets for PK Subban and the youngster will score a highlight-reel goal.
He’s already on his way, put him on with Gomer & Cammi on the PP again
•
Benoit Pouliot will discover that he’s been fanning on shots because a
prankster sawed an inch off his stick. He will get a replacement and
finally score a goal.
that would be something, I am kind of atisfied with him if he just keeps hitting. He could get in from of the net more too..
• Hal Gill will make Sidney Crosby cry,
drawing an emotional roughing penalty.
hahah but seriously did you see that dive at the end of the second?
• Jaro Halak will be
sensational in goal again.
we can only pray
• Montreal will declare Markov out for
the playoffs and use their emergency call-up to add Brock Trotter to
the roster. Trotter will score his first NHL goal in a 5-1 Montreal
win.
Well they have, the first part, I wouldn’t mind seeing Alex Henry. But I would like to suggest one more •
• MAB scores one goal on 3:23 TOI (used only on the PP)
maybe another
•PP lines (Gomer, Gio, Cammy, PK, Hamr) (Moen, Metro, Plex, Gorges, MAB)
“Hal Gill will make Sidney Crosby cry, drawing an emotional roughing
penalty” good one LOL….
- The camera quickly pans to Mario who is seen wiping a tear and mouthing “those bastards, what are they doing to my baby….?”
“Without the strength of the past, the team may face a choice – to win, or to be French-Canadian?” — Ken Dryden
The last prediction is wishful thinking. As I understand it, the league would not permit Montreal to use any emergency call-up on a forward because Georges Laraque is still on the roster.
Minnesota, the year they got to the western final, came back twice from 3-1 deficits. First against the Canucks, then I think against Colorado (or maybe it was the other way round).
Tough loss, but no one said it would be a cakewalk. The Habs have to pull out all the stops on Thursday to avoid going into another 3 games to one hole. (Has any team every come back twice from a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs?)
Canadiens played a very solid today but Fleury and a stingy Pens defense kept them off the scoresheet.
Fearless predictions for Thursday:
• SK74 will return to the lineup and play a disciplined game, ending up +2 with 2 assists.
• The coaches will design some offensive sets for PK Subban and the youngster will score a highlight-reel goal.
• Benoit Pouliot will discover that he’s been fanning on shots because a prankster sawed an inch off his stick. He will get a replacement and finally score a goal.
• Hal Gill will make Sidney Crosby cry, drawing an emotional roughing penalty.
• Jaro Halak will be sensational in goal again.
• Montreal will declare Markov out for the playoffs and use their emergency call-up to add Brock Trotter to the roster. Trotter will score his first NHL goal in a 5-1 Montreal win.
By the way, while watching the game last night, I was focussing on the Habs wingers while covering the point men in the defensive zone. There was a good minute long shift in the second period where Brian Gionta, who will never be confused with laziness, had the EXACT same type of shift as the one that everybody was blasting Sergei Kostitsyn for. About a minute in duration, Gionta was basically not moving, doing little pivots in a circle about 8 feet wide, while the Habs were being dominated down low. Whenever the puck came near him, a half-hearted stab at it then back to his point-man. The only difference was that Ovechkin scored while the Pens did not.
Was Gionta being lazy? No. He was doing his job…the puck never came to his guy, and while he did miss a chance to clear by not being as hard on the puck as he could have been, that happens all the time on those board plays.
I wish people would remember context when they try to pick out individual plays as examples of a player’s laziness.
This league runs according to Cindy Crybaby. The little puke cries and whines to the refs after almost every play. WTF was the fall down on the ice thing in the third period? Looked like he was decapitated. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, not a bad idea
)
We will not go quietly. This will be a 6 or 7 game series and I’m hoping (praying) we will come out on top.
During and after the first period, I had that deja vu feeling all over again. Come out like gang busters but unable to score and then….well, you know the story.
PK ‘Slicer’ Subban, welcome to your new home. Send someone to pack up your stuff in Hamilton ’cause you ain’t going back there.
Nice to see AK show up in a game.
Sad for Halak who was great for 99% of the game but ain’t no goalie gonna stop that one by Gina.
JM – Sit Darche out the next one and put the brothers together on a line with Metro…..please.
“Without the strength of the past, the team may face a choice – to win, or to be French-Canadian?” — Ken Dryden
There was also the stick-swing high stick in the third period by Cammalleri that missed the puck but caught Kris Letang. Again, it was accidental but could easily have been called.
Agree with you about Crosby, but I think he’s earned that as well with the amount of abuse he gets.
Crosby is not the first superstar, nor will he be the last, that gets the benefit of the doubt from the referees. Given the amount of abuse those guys take in a game that the refs let go (and it is far higher than your average player), I have no problem with them crossing the line themselves every once in a while.
The only problem with that scrum was that they took Gorges instead of Hamrlik. But on the flip side, had they taken Hamrlik instead, the Habs would have been down both of their penalty-killing left defencemen, so it is not clear to me that the switch would have changed anything.
i think the ref saw it was cooke, and figured it was likely a dive or he was faking. I thnk sidney gets the benefit of the doubt more than other players, but not the penguins as a whole
“I’ll take potent potables for 500, Alex” JB
can anyone tell me why crosby was not penalized after the second period, because he sarted the whole damn thing with a slash. i think the reffing was ok last night, except that crosby can do or say anything. even on the gill penalty, crosby was holding onto gills arm!
“I’ll take potent potables for 500, Alex” JB
The Habs were out of gas…as simple as that. No sense over-analyzing it.
And I’m not so certain that Martin is better than Bylsma. I think Bylsma is one of the best young coaches in the NHL. People think it is easy to coach a team of superstars, but Bylsma took a team that was known for soft play and a country club feel and turned them into one of the top-hitting teams in the NHL.
Yeah, the MAB one is a good one. He is a designated hitter for sure.
Retro is a bitter whiner. He’s just mad we made the playoffs and are doing better then he “predicted”. He actually posted that he hopes we missed the playoffs so his predictions would be correct. Great fan eh,a person who would put his own preferences and ego ahead of the team he apparently cheers for. Yet,he bashes sergei for doing the same thing. Obvious he hasn’t played any team sports and if he did,he was always the last guy picked.
Leafstv “telling their fans they deserve to win for over 40 years”
The refs actually handled that scrum well. No PP came out of it, so no sense complaing about it.
Cooke got highsticked (inadvertently, to be fair) by P.K. Subban right next to the Habs net while battling for position with the referee right on top of it.
There are missed/bad calls for both teams in every NHL game. Fans only remember the ones that go against their own team.
If this is the way the Penguins are going to play the rest of the series, we’ll have a tough time. We stuck to our game plan, protecting the front of the net, keeping them to the outside, giving up very few second chances, doing everything right except scoring. Our failure to score in the first period, when we dominated play and had some excellent chances, especially Lapierre’s crossbar, was for me the turning point, since it’s a pattern we’ve seen many times this season. From that point, the Penguins started taking over the game, and a powerplay on what seemed to me a dubious call, with our two best penalty-killers in the box, gave them all the chance they needed. Next game, we’ll have to get a couple past Fleury early. Until last night, he’s been very beatable.
AK46 played well. I’d like to see him paired with his brother, who surely would be more useful playing a few minutes than Mathieu Darche spending the whole game on the bench.
Overall, we played a very solid game, just didn’t get the result we wanted. But I don’t think we can affort to go down 3-1 against the Penguins and hope to come back, so next game is a must-win.
You agreed with hardhabits,by your own past posts doesn’t this make you a brown noser or looking for brownie points,or so they say?
Leafstv “telling their fans they deserve to win for over 40 years”
I didn’t say it at the end of the first last night because everyone was pumped and I didn’t want to be as negative nellie, but I was thinking that “These are exactly the kind of games we usuallyto lose: dominating in the first but not scoring.” It’s too bad, but it happens a lot. We’ve seen time and agan that they cannot sustain that kind of play.
That’s the reality of it in Buttman’s league dude. I agree with you. It made my blood boil to see the Pens pukes get away with all those non-calls and then Gill shoves Sidny and gets a penalty……unreal!
The Habs are just going to have to work harder and beat them to spite the officials and that slug Buttman…just as we did Washington. Go Habs Go!!!!
Is it just me, or against anyone else but little Sid, would that penalty to Gill ever been called?
Questionable call at best and Crosby got away with slashing, and whining the whole game.
Good strategy though by the Penguins getting Josh Gorges off the ice to deprive the Habs of their top PK defeneseman to kill Gill’s penalty. Looks like the Habs will have to dig deeper, the refs are going to let Sid and his cronies get away with everything and we have to follow the rules.
Fleury played well, but he is mortal, Halak played well and deserved a better fate.
We’ll come out hard on Thursday and tie this series.
Gotta Believe! GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, bleak means 4 more seasons of Gomez, Gionta and Cammy providing CHaracter and leadership.It means many more seasons of O’Byrne, Subban developing. It means Halak traded away, I guess.
Most of those teams with the Size Factor you mention are watching the playoffs on tv. Size, schmize.
As far as your “miracles” comment goes; pretty much everyone (including the self-proclaimed “experts” on this site) thought the Habs would be done in 4 or 5 playoff games. Game 11 is tomorrow night. Why not enjoy the run instead of being hyper-critical of a team that’s shown way more character and passion for the game than we’ve seen for 15 years?
It’s the playoffs. Get off the Cap Soapbox for the playoffs, would ya? We know what you think about the lack of cap space because you’ve only written it a thousand times already. Enjoy hockey in May. Geez.
When you boil this game down, the difference was that Malkin- a bonafide star- didn’t miss, and Lapierre-hard working grinder- hit the crossbar.
Both goalies were excellent and both teams set a defensive tone for 50 minutes. The Habs owned the first 10, but didn’t finish. Can’t wait until Thursday.
When push comes to shove, the calls always go Pittsburgh’s way. I never once seen that team get screwed by the refs.
It depends how you define bleak. In this age, teams can change a lot from year to year, even the worst teams are fairly middle of the pack now.
… Dogs win in Abbotsford to take series lead
By Garry McKay
HAMILTON SPECTATOR
http://thespec.com/Sports/article/763374
Gabriel Dumont and Olivier Fortier scored their first goals as professionals as the Hamilton Bulldogs scored a come from behind 3-2 win over the Abbotsford Heat at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on Tuesday.
“Right now we can’t really just count on the guys who were here (all year) or we’re cooked,” said Hamilton coach Guy Boucher. “We couldn’t continue to do what we were doing because (Ryan) White was out in the first period so I played those guys on every line.”
Boucher said White, who took a puck to the face in Sunday’s game which left him with huge gash that required more than 20 stitches, hadn’t been able to eat or sleep in two days and was totally dehydrated.
Tonight, I hate hockey. Yet, I still have vacation days planned for the end of May, beginning of June (like I do every year) just in case. I want to punch something hard. Thanks to my HI/O family for letting me vent.
Go Habs.
-Dustin-
“The good thing about drinking during games is if they lose, you’re too drunk to care during and too hungover to care after.” – J.T.
“To be honest, as much of a fan of JM as I am, I KNOW he’s a better coach then the one behind the bench in Pittsburgh.”
You know?!?! Dan Bylsma has been a coach for just over one season in the NHL. He has won the Stanley Cup. He’s never lost a playoff series. He had a comeback series in defeating the mighty Detroit Red Wings to again, win the Stanley Cup.
Jacques Martin has this team playing incredible defense with an amazing commitment, but the Canadiens puck management is brutal as they have no problems with throwing it away and sitting back no matter what the score. I think JM needs to add more aggression to his teams play. That is what his very talented Senators team from a few years ago lacked…. and goaltending
Things are very difficult without Markov, but I remain proud of the heart this team has shown
You think he’s some sort of chimp that just sits back and let’s the game unfold. There is a lot more coaching going on then you would think.
They must have gotten the note from the “Minister for Canadian Heritage and Official Languages” demanding they tone it done and wait for Canada’s team the Canucks to be on every night!
“The three stars as selected by Red Fisher of the Montreal Star:
1st star: Henri Richard
2nd Star: Doug Harvey
3rd Star: Jacques Plante
Final score Detroit Red Wings 5 Montreal Canadiens 3″
They’ve been critical of Crosby in the sense that they’ve pointed out the obvious – that Crosby’s been pretty much a non-factor the past couple of games, especially in game 2.
What gets me is the constant pointing out of what Pittsburgh needs to do to get their game going – Fleury needs to get his 2009 form back, Malkin needs to do this, Crosby needs to do that, etc. This is what you would expect to hear from Milbury on NESN during a Bruins game. Or how excited Cole gets when Pittsburgh gets some pressure in Montreal’s end, vs. the “ho-hum” when Mtl dominated the play during the first period (albeit a somewhat non-exciting period).
As for what Healy, Hrudey, MacLean, or Cherry have to say in between periods – I have to admit I miss most of that. I’m so tense by the end of a period (nothing to do with the CBC
, that I usually walk away from the TV for 20 minutes to catch my breath and chill out a bit. Nice to hear, though, that the guys behind the scenes are a little more balanced.
CBC has been very critical of Crosby over the last two games, in case you haven’t been watching…even Don Cherry has been all about PK Subban and nothing about the Pens. Bob Cole has been in love with Cammy. And Glen Healy has been all about Hal Gill. Some fans need to wake up and see that CBC’s coverage in this series has NOT been biased, and your own biased opinion about the Habs clouds your perspective.
That’s pretty much how I saw it too…if any bias was shown, it was for the Habs, not against.
__________________________
“Peoples will only be truly free when the last king is strangled by the bowels of the last priest” Francois Laignelot
Hmm, perhaps the reason Crosby played like absolute crap for two games is because of the way the Canadiens contained him. In fact, I rather think that was the reason.
Although, the only reason we are in this series is because Crosby has played like absolute crap for 2 games. I mean, if he played exactly like he did for the last two games, only he played for the Habs and his name was Kostitsyn, he’d be getting less than 10 minutes a game.
Ok, so we have a split in games on the road and
a split at home, no big deal. I hope people didn’t think we were going
to take them in 5 games. Great series so far and I am having fun
watching.
This is just a comment not a complaint. I can’t for the life of me understand Jacques thinking behind the bench.
First
of all he has a fantastic fore check going in the 1st period. Why not
keep it going in the second. Instead he abandons that style of play to
play the dump in game with a 1,2,2 defensive trap in the second,
letting Pittsburgh off the ropes.
We took two stupid penalties
late in the 2nd because of fatigue to playing only 2 lines mostly and
the 3rd line very seldom with no 4th line at all.
In the 3rd our
best players had fried legs and could not muster up enough. 18 shots is
not nearly enough pressure to win in this league. Defensively we played
a great game, but when the time came to turn on the offence, our legs
were done like dinner. Needs to play the whole bench or leave them all
in the press box.
He has done well to date, but if Martin wins
this series playing this style, I will be surprised, but I will be one
of his biggest backers if he can pull it off.
Great post Ian. The problem with JM is he coaches according to his personality ……..dull, dry and conservative.
He loves players like Pyatt, Maxwell and Darche because he KNOWS exactly what they bring there are NO surprises. He knows they are defensively responsible and will make few mistakes on the ice. JM loves players who don’t surprise him…..he must HATE PK Suban.
The PROBLEM is that these players also can’t change a game with creativity or by scoring a goal through skill and the unexpected move. Great in a game you are LEADING but death when you are behind. An SK or AK is a player that can play well defensively but is a risk because you don’t know for sure if they will bring it. JM HATES THAT. BUT, the huge upside is that he can bring it and has the skills to score a goal when you need one. JM will never be the type of coach who will take a risk in order to WIN.
“Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.”
Not to worry,HFO, he will be ready for the next round.!
If Markov has the surgery he is gone for the playoffs. If he puts it off he can come back once the swelling goes down although with a lot of pain.
“Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.”
Have the Habs officially stated that Markov is out for the season? If not, what are they waiting for?
You don’t win many games scoring zero goals. 1-0 or 5-0 the operative chiffre is the goose egg the Habs laid. Just cutting it against the champs isn’t enough IMHO. The team looks like it’s running on empty. It doesn’t leave me confident especially since they have only one home win in like the past 10 home playoff games.
My major point of interogation is this, are the Habs a good team that’s going to be getting better or are they a mediocre team relying far too much on goaltending that’s getting worse? Sorry for being a cup half empty dude today but I see the latter as being the trend and not the former.
Prove me wrong Habs management. I am still thinking about what changes are going to happen over the summer. My gut tells me this playoff run is coming to a quick and brutal end.
The Habs are extremely lucky to be where they are given the Kostitsyn enigmas and given the lack of depth the team has, and the fact the JM has decided to shorten his bench and burn out his beset players. Deep teams don’t roll 3 lines and play 4 D.
Boone – your about last night’s are increasingly becoming “about who won last night”: if we win it’s an open celebration of what we did right and if we lose it’s unabashed worship of our more celebrated opponents.
The fact is, two teams played a similar style and whoever scored first would have won the game. “Stanley Cup champs” or not, they were no better than us, they just got ONE goal and that decided the team’s fate. Had it been turned around we would be talking only about the Habs amazing ability to frustrate opponents and play shutdown hockey. As for “the game’s best player”, he was most notable for his defensive excellence and was a total non-factor in the offensive zone. While I would hardly compare him to the frustrating Andrei Kostitsyn, he is bashed when he just plays hard and uses the body because he should be scoring: don’t think Crosby would be a Hart candidate were he to be effectively shut down every night like we have done to him. “The game’s best player” has been far less of a factor through the first three game’s of this series than was that guy who’s best day’s apparently are suddenly deemed to be behind him in Washington.
The Habs, down their best player, played the “Stanely Cup champs” (enter cliche here about how that’s how they get it done and why they’re better than us) on completely even terms. Had we won, odds are we’d be returning to Pittsburgh with a 3-1 series lead. Malkin, the Pens more talented but just as enigmatic and defensively frustrating Slavic forward, potted one goal on a PP. Whoopie.
The game is played on the ice, not on the paper. The Habs have stopped bowing to their opponents as being from some different league in terms of talent. I would suggest that after beating the Capitals in 7 and playing the Penguins evenly last night, losing game 1 largely due to sheer exhaustion, and managing to beat them in their building only 40 hours later, that we begin to accept that this is an evenly matched series. It’s tempting to bow to our opponents, but Crosby has largely been a non-factor, Malkin has played well in 11% of all periods played, and they beat us 1-0 with the same formula that we’ve used to beat other teams. I think that’s more of an homage to US than any indication of our fear of THEM.
Is this the best you’ve got, Pittsburgh? Really? Call me underwhelmed. Go get ‘em, Habs.
It’s interesting that so far in these playoffs the oft-cited weaknesses of lack of size, poor drafting, weak player development, bad coaching, lousy management and no CAP space hasn’t stopped this team from playing well and winning. Certainly there are issues within many of those categories but the here and now is this: trailing 2-1 going into game 4 of the second round against the Cup champs. Who would ever have predicted that? I couldn’t more proud of this team for the way they have performed, all season, with my two favorite attributes; heart and soul. This series is a long way from over.
Excellent post Doug – and Punkster, enjoyed yours too! Couldn’t have said it better!
………..
“Thank you Cammy for making my day even more amazing!”
I STILL BELIEVE. I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE.
Random thoughts:
OK, I’m not feeling too down after last night’s game. Which may be a bad sign in itself! Montreal is playing great. If PIttsburgh wins, hats off to them. They know they’ve got to work hard to overcome the locked-in Canadiens.
The playoffs are all about adjustments. The Habs will adjust and rev up the offense in Game 4. Maybe I’m wrong, but the team seems to be playing with confidence I didn’t see in the regular season.
I read somewhere that the Pens have scored only 3 even-strength goals in this series. That’s amazing.
I’m really starting to dislike Sidney Crosby again. He’s a cry-baby massaged by the media because he’s the poster boy for the league.
If Markov has been declared out for duration, why haven’t the Habs called up a player yet? Maybe they’re trying to sort out the Laraque issue before they can make the move?
The Habs are not allowed anymore callups. BGL is taking up a roster spot, if you could see the lineup sheet you would see him as a healthy scratch. Thank BOB for that massive screwup.
“Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.”
Kovalchuk is going to LA and Pleks will likely sign in Toronto to setup Kessel. Imagine the magic with Pleks and Kessel?
“Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.”
True. And they have a ton of cap space. Wish we had that much room.
Not to mention a perfect, second-line centre role for Plekanec. With Kopitar and Stoll in place on the 1st and 3rd lines, they Kings are in good shape. And it also gives Oscar Moller some time to develop.
Plekanec to L.A. makes so much sense, which is why it will never happen in the weird and crazy NHL.
The mistake was the call-up of Ben Maxwell over Ryan White by PG/JM after the trade deadline. White could do all the proper things an energy line player needs to do, at the very least he could soak up some PK shifts from Pleks, Gio and Gomez so they have something for the 3rd period.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Are you sure about that? I understood that they are allowed an emergency call-up.
I would expect that they would not be allowed to call up a forward.
Does anyone know for sure?
You are completely correct in that White is the superior player. But he does not fit the system because he has skill and sometimes goes on the offensive and dares to venture below the opposition goal line.
Maxwell is dull and will always play defense first….the perfect JM player. Does not allow an offensive play to happen on our goal but never dictates one on the opposition either. JM’s perfect game is a 0-0 tie.
“Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.”
Unfortunately White took a puck to the face last game with the Dogs and needed 20 stitches and may miss a few games if not more.
Unless there’s an eye injury or a broken bone, I’m betting White would want in for Game 4 for the Bulldogs. Remember when he scrapped with Guerin on his last call-up? Just seems like another Kostopolous/Moen type to add to the lineup next season.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
why hockey players don’t wear visors is beyond me..
——————
“I like what I’m seeing right now,” assessed Markov. “We’re not perfect, but we’re trying to be.”
He was wearing one. AHL rules have mandatory visors after a player lost one of his eyes to a puck hitting him in the past, but I guess the puck hit below the visor. That puck ended that guy’s career and only then did the rule come in, insane, players have to be crippled before they’ll protect them.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
You should thank BGL for that MASSIVE screw-up. Why is it his attitude and CODE is somehow different this year, than in recent years? 141 penalty minutes in Pittsburgh an average of 1 penalty every game. Then he comes here and this season he has 28 he averaged 1 penalty every 2 games.
You go out and you bring in a UFA, well you expect a PROFESSIONAL hockey player to do his job. If it depends on scoring and points production, well you cant ALWAYS do anything about that. But when it comes to hitting and enforcing……YOU CAN.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
You have that completely backwards. White has never been thought of as more than a third line checking centre. Maxwell is the one with offensive gifts.
You’re right. Lots of key decsions will have to be made this summer and how the team and individual players fare during the post-season will factor into the decision-making.
Habs margin for error is razor thin and if your goalie let’s in one goal and you lose the game, it’s because you have some offensive problems. For the Habs to be successful they HAVE TO capitalize on the few scoring chances that they get.
If they can’t, like last night, they lose. They need to get more bodies to the net and pick up on secondary scoring chances. They had almsot none last night and need to have people picking up the rebounds.
I’m still not impressed by the Pens. They are VERY beatable! Go Habs Go!
http://www.habsaddict.com/2010/05/canadiens-penguins-fleury-earns-shutout.html
Habs Addict.com http://www.HabsAddict.com, on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Habs-Addict/293450486615, on Twitter: http://twitter.com/HabsAddict, on Hockeybuzz.com: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blogger_archive.php?blogger_id=137
Dave, I was about to write a long post about why it’s difficult to get down on the team following last night’s loss, but yours summed it up perfectly for me. Add to that the fact that they’re now without Markov and Spacek.
This season’s Habs are the equivalent of one of those bottom-heavy punching bags: you keep hitting it, but it still keeps getting up.
_____________________________________
Cheer for the crest on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
It’s funny – I never bought into the poor drafting thing but I’m beginning to think of that element in the broader sense of poor player assessment and development. They didn’t seem attuned to the psychological aspects of the game, which is why Boucher is so enormously important to the organization. Prior to drafting, however, thees things are equally important. Guys like the Kostitsyns and Pouliot are well known for their psychological issues as opposed to their talent (different issues, but the prior two are headstrong in the wrong way and the latter just isn’t as driven as others if you read about his background and the importance of his father in getting him to where he got), while free agents like Samsonov and Laraque had “knowable heart and soul issues” that might have precluded their signing. The player development is but an extension of the lack of emphasis on these issues: wherever Price may end up, he was mismanaged and – given Gainey’s decision to make him the man early – he should have been put up with an older player like other organizations in much less tempting cities than Montreal have done.
The Cap issue is a totally different one, though, Dave. You’ve oft-cited that you don’t care about that issue, as have others who say they’re fine with different signings. This is not a problem for one year, however, this is a gift – or problem in our case – that keeps on giving. No matter how good your player development, you can’t sign them when they’re UFAs. Similarly, when the Marleaus of the world show up as free agents, you can’t go after them, either. That is an issue that leaves us more or less tied to a version of this team next year and perhaps one more beyond that, given Halak’s raise and the need to fill in other cheap players. It’s all really come down to Gomez, though: he’s about $3M overpaid and at this point it’s acceptable – we can diurese out the Hamrlik contract next year and everything else is affordable. Certainly, the picture on this front is also not as dire as I had predicted and feared all season long.
Overall, I’m feeling a sense of optimism I hadn’t felt since the middle part of last season. I agree that these little guys can compete and that they are winners. If we can get rid of both Kostitsyns, saving $ with the elder, sign Plekanec and Halak, and find an affordable top 6 forward with what we have left we should be fine. I would keep Moore at this point as well.
Not much to add except in the last paragraph. The top 6 forward will hopefully be large and I’d add another solid D (over and above Subban), again size large. And I will NOT discuss goalies!
CROSBY OUT FOR GAME 4!!!
TSN is reporting that Sydney Crosby is most likely out for game 4 of the semi-finals against montreal, due to what the Penguins medical staff is calling a “Lower body injury” Sources close to the penguins are saying the injury although not serious is sometimes referred to as Diaper Rash.
Well played sir, well played….
“Without the strength of the past, the team may face a choice – to win, or to be French-Canadian?” — Ken Dryden
Do you have a link to that story Captain Morgan?
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Players coming of age in this series: Josh Georges — although he’s been good the last three years — is turning into a top 2 defenseman. And is grossly underpaid, which presents another problem for PG. Tom Pyatt — although not a scorer — is a useful, hardworking forward and not bad for a throw-in. Jaroslav Halak has erased all questions about his ability. PK Subban, we’re all high on. Ryan O’Byrne. This year’s experience will help his development tremendously. The guy has responded.
Players who have let the team down: The K bros. All that talent. If there were just a little desire we would be up 2-1 in this series.
Players who need more time: Benoit Pouliot. If he only had the skating balance of PK……
Players not worth 6 million/year: Tomas Plekanec. Although he does so many things well, he is a 2nd line center at best and someone will give him the money [my prediction is he winds up with the Rangers if he doesn't sign with the Habs].
My bet for Plekanec is the LA Kings if he doesn’t sign with the Habs. That is an exciting team on the cusp of good things. PERFECT place for a two-way young veteran like Plekanec.
Ok, he’s a good player. But Jesus, Boone, lay off the man love. This isn’t Crosby Inside/Out. This guy is a bitchy whiner, he got the call he wanted on Gill, that’s the sad part… he didn’t work, it as SOOO acting and letting Gill manhandle him… if they win the cup, I’ll have zero respect for them.
K7 – Let’s park all our Hab hats for just a second. Sidney Crosby is the best player in the NHL and probably will be for the next ten years. He has a Cup ring and is well on his way to helping his team go to a third straight Cup final. Not to mention that he won a gold medal for Canada. And he’s just 23 years of age. He may be a bit of a cry baby but this guy always shows up when the game is on the line.
Any true hockey fan can see what this guy is doing for our game and the role and responsibilty that he readily accepts.
The torch has been passed and Crosby has willingly picked it up. Mike Boone is just stating the obvious.
AK, welcome to the second round. Finishing checks, getting involved on the forecheck, backchecking, wow. It took you about 10 games to get here but thanks for coming.
Good game last night boys. No glaring errors except breakaway to Cooke and not realizing that the whining antics of the superstar will always win over the ptiy of the refs.
Gomez, great facewash on the kid. I hope those were the same gloves you used all season fermenting in you bag. You’ll get em next time boys.
Habs won’t lose another game this series.
actually it’s the opposite. habs won’t win another game.
hard to win games when you can’t even win a game at home. yes, winning 1 game out of 4 games at home won’t cut ity, especially when AK, Pouliot and Pleks are asleep at the wheel. don’t you find it embarrassing when you’re shutout at home??????
That’s the last game I watch on CBC, the camera was on Sid trying to fix his skates while the was a team scuffle on the ice! that and I think the camera men are drop out art majors, enough with the extreme close ups please.
It’s disgusting, really. Just a gigantic CBC/Crosby/Penguins love-in.
You forgot Crosby putting on a command acting performance along with Cooke Boone.
Call out your boy for once, you had your fun dumping on Ovechkin, but he was much more of a professional in his on-ice conduct than Crosby’s been so far.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Come chat with me after game six.
Puh-lease. You’ve been one of the biggest pessimists all season. Now all of a sudden the Habs are going to win 3 straight? I called Pens in 6. It’s looking like that right now. Next game is THE biggest game of the Habs season and I suspect a major blow-out in the Pens favour. The team is getting gassed. Halak has one of his patented bad outings and it’ll be too late to play Price for Halak’s bounce back after the yank. The Habs have all the depth of a wading pool. An empty wading pool.
I just can’t stand all this false hope. The team just doesn’t have any scoring depth. They do this all the time. Spend all their energy on a fruitless 1st period to watch the game slowly slip from their grips. If the Dogs got ousted maybe the Habs’d have a chance but not with a 4th line getting bench warming duties.
…BIG Difference between da Capz & da Waddlers
…Coaching, DEFENCE & Team Play + a Malkin when a Crosby is shut-down
…We played too offensively passive
…Letang, Gonchar, Orpik, et al …mobile and strong defensively
…da Waddlers have little of the same defensive vulnerability as Washington
…Our only hope IMO is that Fleury returns to play like he has the most of 2010, rather than 2009
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Funniest part of the night was watching Cooke bitch at the refs after every perceived slight. I guess the dumb ass doesn’t realize he’s a third rate thug whose marked by the NHL for his crap.
The lack of decent passing is what’s doing us in.
Goalies in Montreal have two roles, netminder and scapegoat.
MAB and OB by themselves in our zone, MAB blows passing to OB what, at least 5 times? Easiest pass in the world a junior D could make and he blows it over and over.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Poor Darche, I wondered if he was even dressed. I really feel for the guy!
Last night’s game was definitely well-played, never seen one mistake the whole game… although there may be a few.
Habs played a great game, but they get such a major loss though. They definitely could pull that off if there were many scoring chances, and man did Marc-Andre F. Fleury save some of those amazing Habs rebounds and one-timers.
I hope tomorrow’s game should be the same, they should play the way they played last night, and may I suggest that if I’ll be coach for the night, I would tell the Habs to stay on the dirty area (Pens nets) and one should go close to Fleury. If Fleury tend to push out one Hab, that’s where the other Hab takes the shot to the nets, distracting Fleury for the goal.
Hope for the split again!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but judging from some of the posts on HIO you would think the Habs lost four straight to a vastly inferior team and fans of the team have a dismal future to look forward to. IMO, the Habs have an excellent group of core players including:
1. One of the top 5 D in the league in Markov;
2. One of the top young D prospects in the league in Subban;
3. One of the best pure goal scorers in the league in Cammy;
4. Three of the top set-up men in the league in Markov, Gomez and Pleks;
5. Two of the top shut down D in the league in Gill and Gorges;
6. Excellent leaders in Gorges, Gionta and Moen, with Gionta making timely contributions on offence and Moen doing the same in the physical department.
The Habs also have some excellent players in their farm system and elsewhere. Danny Kristo could be a great player. Pacioretty could eventually fulfill his early promise.Maybe one of the Hab’s Russian picks will finally pan out.
I think the so called experts are underestimating the Habs. This team has the make-up to push back and win the series against the Pens. And even if they eventually succumb to the Pens-Zebra coalition, the team has a bright future ahead.
I agree with the gist of your post, but you ARE counting your chickens before they are hatched. For example, there is no guarantee that Plekanec will still be here next fall. Nor is there any guarantee that Markov can return to his excellent form…two serious leg injuries to a guy that relies on his skating is at the very least a minor concern.
The Habs have some tough decisions ahead of them over the next two seasons…the decisions that Gauthier makes this summer and heading into the 2011 trade deadline will go a LONG way to determining how bright a future the Habs’ core group has.
That being said, those decisons don’t need to start being made until after the playoffs, so I am going to enjoy the ride until then.
Not sure if this was already mentioned, but the TSN panel brought up a point I mentioned to my friend while watching the game, that being that there is no way that Malkin should have been anywhere but the penalty box after that scrum to end the second. Heck, Sid and Gomez should have received minors as well, but I can understand them picking a few players from the heap, happens all the time. However when a player drops his gloves it has to be a minimum two minute penalty. The fact that he was on the ice to score the winning goal after dropping his gloves when Gionta did not is the most obvious blown call of the playoffs. If even the leaf loving TSN boys brought it up in their broadcast, that shows what kind of error it was. The team needs to speak up on such matters. That was the most clear example of an official influencing the outcome of the game I’ve seen in quite some time. There’s no excuse for this, not like the play was out of view considering all four officials were there separating players.