Montreal 4 Colorado 2 (Pepsi Center)
Rocket:
What is George Gillett thinking? He’ll take the win. He knows that his team needs one. But Gillette is a smart and successful business guy. He knows that his team got away with one.
The bottom line is that the Canadiens got a win and 2 points. Sports reports will highlight Jaroslav Halak’s 46 saves, Andrei Kostitsyn’s winning goal and Patrice Brisebois ‘fight’ with Darcy Tucker.
Maybe it’s best to leave at that. The Canadiens need to focus on the win for their collective confidence. The city wants to cling to the hope that their team is back! But if you scratch just a little below the surface, and past the facade of a win, fans have to be very concerned about their Montreal Canadiens. George Gillett and Bob Gainey should be terrified.
The Colorado Avalanche is the LAST place team in the Western conference. Coming into tonight’s game, they had won only 2 of their last 10; and lost 4 in a row. As a team, they can’t score. Yet for the last 40 minutes of this game, the Avs dominated the Canadiens; outshooting them 36-9. That’s astounding!
After the Canadiens grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first period, Guy Carbonneau barricaded his team in its own end and let them face the Avs barrage. Even a coach like Tony Granato was able to figure out how to penetrate the 1-4 (sometimes 0-5) system that Carbo was running.
Jaroslav Halak deserves credit for a gutsy performance. Although, at times, Jaro looked like a 8 year old boy learning how to play shortstop. Everything that went into his glove popped back out, and the shots that hit him rebounded in front. Like a young shortstop, Halak just made sure that the puck stayed in front of him. He battled and scrambled and kept the puck out. It helped that he was facing a team who couldn’t shoot straight.
Andre Kostitsyn, like so many Canadiens, was ineffective most of the night. But with 2 minutes and 16 seconds left in the game, Andrei got his first shot on goal. It was a terrific move and proved to be the winning goal. Apparently, one good play would be enough on this very strange night. After all, it was Friday the 13th.
Another player contributing to the mirage was Patrice Brisebois. Brise was left wide open, received a nice pass from Kovalev and scored a power-play goal. But Brisebois showed why he deserves to be in the press box on Colorado’s first goal. He stumbled and didn’t have the legs to get back in the play. Brise watched as Leopold scored for the Avs. There was some comic relief when the always-weasel-like Darcy Tucker decided to exchange sweater tugs with Brisebois. A fight? Well, only according to the scoresheet.
In my opinion, the players who did have a solid game were Saku Koivu, Max Pacioretty, Matt D’Agostini, Mathieu Dandenault, and Chris Higgins. Koivu showed heart and leadership all game. He won important faceoffs, blocked shots, and tallied 2 assists. Pacioretty played a physical game and made a terrific pass to set up Bouillon’s goal. Dandenault and D’Agostini had an assist each. Higgins battled for the puck and blocked 4 shots.
The line combinations and the forecheck system generated few scoring chances for the Canadiens tonight. The Habs will only get their confidence back when they play to win, rather than playing not to lose.
Enjoy this win, Habs fans. But, be careful. There was nothing in this game to suggest that your Canadiens have regained their winning ways yet.
Pre-game:
Starting line-up: Koivi, Kovalev. Kostopoulos, Georges, Bouillon
Jaroslav Halak will start in goal. Peter Budaj for the Avalanche.
O’Byrne and Chipchua scratched.
Latendresse, Tanguay, Lang out with injuries.
Rocket’s 3 stars:
1. Saku Koivu
2. Tyler Arnason
3. Jaroslav Halak
3. Andrei Kostitsyn
(photo credit: AP)
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND, HOW YOU CAN HAVE ANY HAB AHEAD OF HALAK IN THE 3 STARS IS BEYOND ME. DID YOU ACTUALLY WATCH THIS GAME. HALAK WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY STAR FOR THE HABS., AND WITHOUT HIM WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BLOWN OUT ONCE AGAIN. 3 STARS, HALAK #1 ANYBODY ON COLORADO #2 and 3.
I can understand why you are upset. It seems that your CAPS LOCK is stuck. I can imagine how frustrating that can be..especially with trying to enter case-sensitive passwords.
As far as the game, I did watch it…every second. Thanks for asking. It would be clear to those who read the review.
You happen to think Halak was the 1st star last night. I’m happy for you. I didn’t. You must have been really angry about the official 1st star who, believe or not, was Sergei Kostitsyn.
I have already given a great deal of credit to Jaroslav Halak in my review. I really liked the way battled all night. I hope that the win gives him confidence to play better in future games. Because had the Canadiens been facing anyone other than the Avalanche last night, they would have been blown out with that kind of goaltending.
That’s one reason I couldn’t give Halak the first star. There are two more. Far too often Halak could not control the puck. In fact, if he did, I wager that the shot total is reduced by at least a dozen.
The third reason he missed out on the first star is that Colorado’s tying goal was weak…very weak.
Having said all that, I think that far too much attention is beng paid to the Habs goaltending. It is NOT the problem. Let’s spend more time critiquing forecheck schemes, defensive zone coverage, the power-play , line combinations, bench management, ….
These are the root of the losing streak, and if you watched the game last night, you will know that they have not been resolved yet.
Rocket,
Overall, a decent game review, but it seems you have a tendency to cut Carey Price more slack when he struggles badly and loses as opposed to when Jaroslav Halak has a 46 save performance and wins.
When you state:
“Jaroslav Halak deserves credit for a gutsy performance. Although, at times, Jaro looked like a 8 year old boy learning how to play shortstop. Everything that went into his glove popped back out, and the shots that hit him rebounded in front. Like a young shortstop, Halak just made sure that the puck stayed in front of him. He battled and scrambled and kept the puck out. It helped that he was facing a team who couldn’t shoot straight”
Look, the bottom line is that Halak made saves when the Habs had numerous breakdowns (too many to count!!), regardless how pretty it looked. Style points don’t count, victories do. Look at Tim Thomas and how off balanced he can be and yet he still keeps the puck out of the net with the Bruins still winning.
Honestly, Halak stopped three beakaways for godness sake, something Price couldn’t do against Calgary when they had two shorthanded goals on breakaways. You can also add when the puck hit the ref against the Oilers which led to another breakaway goal against Price!!!
I have no doubt Price will get out of this funk he is presently in and be a solid #1 goaltender for years to come.
I’m not suggesting that Halak will be the Habs next #1 goaltender, not a chance, but I do suggest we take a balanced approach to the Canadiens goaltenders, regardless who is manning the net or how “technically” pretty it looks.
Hey Greg,
Thanks for the comment..you made some good points.
I think it's important for Habs fans to temper both the bouquets and brickbats.
While giving credit to Halak for battling through the Colorado game, I am cautious not to raise expectations. Otherwise, this could be a rollercoaster last part of the season.
Not to get too deep into the detail, but you mentioned breakaways. The first breakaway in the Colorado game was by Wojtek Wolski. Wolski hasn't scored in 14 games now. And its not like he is buried in the line-up. He is getting first line minutes with Ryan Smyth & Milan Hedjuk. He hasn't scored because he is struggling that much. On the play, Wolski didn't even get a shot away. He got in too deep and the puck just slid off his stick. Good positioning by Halak? Maybe. But Jaro also had help all night from a Colorado team who just can't score right now.
Overall it seems that some fundamental flaws have crept into Halak's game that weren't apparent last season. Each game he has played too deep in the crease, had trouble controlling rebounds, and displays a weak glove hand.
Halak is not a #1 goalie. Having said that, if Bob Gainey is able to parlay a trade that helps this team by citing the 46 save performance, I'm all for it.
I'm also happy if Jaro gets a boost of confidence out of the last game, and has a few more like it.
As you said, Carey Price is the #1 goaltender on this team and will be for quite some time to come.
The real issue for me, is that it seems that we all have taken Carbonneau's bait and are focussing on goaltending rather than the serious fixable problems that have yet to be addressed by the coaching staff.
We can continue putting our own spin on our arguments, but in the end, both Price and Halak have some serious technical flaws in their game right now.
There are also other issues to consider beyond goaltending: poor game planning, forwards not working hard enough and the defense giving far too much respect/room to incoming forwards…..etc.
Anyway, here’s hoping they can straighten these issues out sooner rather than later, otherwise the Habs will be dead in the water.
It’s clear that we agree that there are serious issues facing this team that must be resolved.
You mention a few of them, and each relates to coaching. After all, vacating the neutral zone and waiting for the opposition is a scheme decided by the coaches.
Here’s some of the other areas that we have been talking about all season and that I listed in my review of the Calgary game:
“Players are not motivated nor performing at their best. Practises are unfocused. Game strategy is weak. In-game adjustments are non-existent. Schemes for forechecking, breakouts and special teams are simple (perhaps juvenile is a better word) and ineffective. Defensive zone coverage is erratic and the power play is pitiful. The team is fragile and plays without confidence. All of these items are within the scope of coaching.”
If the coach’s only answer is to shuffle his line combinations, you are correct, “the Habs will be dead in the water”.
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