Rocket:
Major league fantasy camps are very popular. For about $5,000 U.S., an average beer league player can get the ‘chance of a lifetime’ to play alongside the pros. You can get an authentic team uniform personalized with your name and number. Some teams offer DVDs to take home to re-live the experience.
Sitting near the glass at a game, one marvels at just how fast the game of hockey is at the NHL level. Do you ever wonder what it would be like on the ice? If you are having trouble imagining, just ask Patrice Brisebois. It would seem that Brisebois is having the ultimate fantasy experience. Standing still watching the play whiz past him; having a ice-level view of Carey Price making a tremendous save, and then gliding over and tapping Price on the pads. Not a bad way to earn $750,000. (I think that Brise can safely say goodbye to the other $750k in bonus money that is part of the contract. It’s not happening.)
As Bob Cole said in the third period of tonight’s game in his typical ‘articulate’ way “Fast game this hockey, isn’t it?” Yes, it is a fast game. Too fast for Cole and Brisebois, both about 5 years past their best-before date. The game started with a giveaway for #71 on his first shift and it got worse as the game went on. There are just too many times that Brisebois doesn’t take the body, nor block the pass, he is purely a spectator.
Perhaps Patrice should just endorse his full cheque over to Carey Price who is often left to clean-up Brise’s messes. Carey Price was superb tonight. He made several spectacular saves off Elias, Parise and Rolston. Yes, Price gave up a questionable goal to Langenbrunner but more than made up for it with his stellar play especially in last two periods when the Canadiens were outshot 22-13.
It was a strong first period for the Canadiens. The Habs moved the puck well. D’Agostini got his 3rd goal of the season due to some hard work along the boards initially, and then heading for the front of the net where he cashed in the rebound of a shot on net by Markov. Canadiens outshot the Devils 13-7 in the first.
Some familiar problems were the Habs undoing tonight. There were undisciplined penalties by Tanguay, Bouillon and Kovalev. Running around in the defensive zone was also a concern. Time spent chasing a Devil was time the Habs weren’t in the offensive zone. And lastly, there was poor special teams play. As Koivu said afterwards, “Special teams are a big part of the game. It’s a big step from creating chances to scoring on the PP.” The powerplay was 0-5. Robert Lang is not the answer on the point. Neither is Brisebois whose passes were painfully slow trying to set up a one-timer. (The only two who have shown that they can be a compliment to Markov are Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn.) Carbonneau inserting Laraque on the powerplay in the third was moronic tonight.
Alex Kovalev’s streak remains intact, now 16 games without a goal. Andrei Markov has a cut lip, and lost 2 teeth from a shot to the face in the third period. Mathieu Dandenault was injured when he blocked a shot.
Despite a terrific effort, Carey Price was in a grim mood after the game. When asked to explain, Price said “It’s pretty simple. I just don’t like losing.” The Canadiens need more players with that attitude, rather than those, who, like fantasy camp participants, are just happy to be there.
Pre-game:
Line-up remains the same for the Canadiens. Clemmensen in net for the Devils with Brodeur out.
Matt D’Agostini’s parents made the trip from Sault Ste. Marie to watch their son.
Rocket’s 3 stars:
1. Carey Price
2. Zach Parise
3. Patrik Elias
(photo credit: Canadian Press)
The coach loves Breezer and and is ramming him down our throats. A player that no team wanted for the league minimum who stunk up the western conference and was booed out of Colorado AND Montreal. He is only here because Carbo wants him to get his 1000 games. He is less noticeable because he has Hammer watching his back and front. He should not be a top four under any circumstance and we continue to struggle as Carbo is forcing him on us.
Anonymous,
The guy I feel sorry for is Roman Hamrlik who has to deal with Brisebois or O’Byrne’s mistakes on a game to game basis. Can you imagine how much better Hammer would be if had a decent defense partner. He wouldn’t have to cover up their mistakes and could concentrate on his own game.
Habster..
I know that your comment was written to give credit to Hamrlik and on that point, I will agree with you.
However, I think it is too easy to toss Brisebois and O’Byrne in the same pile. Whereas O’Byrne’s every move has been put under a microscope and then reported with great hyperbole, Brisebois has escaped any scrutiny from the mainstream media. Apparently they expect his poor performances and Brise never disappoints. And Brisebois doesn’t suffer any consequences for his terrible play.
The total number of mistakes that O’Byrne has made in the season are equalled on a nightly basis by Brisebois.
It has been a coaching crime that O’Byrne has been in the press box the past few games. Prior to that, O’Byrne defended against two top forwards, Franzen and Ovechkin, in consecutive games, and played very well.
Anonymous..
I agree that there is no rational reason to keep Brisebois on the Canadiens roster based on hockey performance. Therefore, it must be personal.
There is no other team in the NHL that would employ Patrice Brisebois to be a defenseman on their roster.
Rocket,
I agree that Brisebois seems to get a free pass from the press as opposed to O’Byrne.
O’B development isn’t going to get any better from the press box that for sure.
I still think he has a bright future as a solid #5 or #6 on this team whereas Brisebois has no future beyond this season……in other words why aren’t the Canadiens (in particular Carbonneau) concentrating on O’B development?
Let’s throw some possible reasons against the wall and see if they stick:
1. Carbo and Briser played together and are friends off the ice.
2. Brisebois is only 31 games short of 1,000 NHL career games.
3. Bonuses, Bonuses, Bonuses.
Conspiracy theorist???…..maybe I read too many mystery novel but it’s food for thought!!
I actually fear that Breeze is really going to hurt himself out there, he doesn’t have a clue whats going on…the puck goes through his legs, he gets schooled crushed against the boards, he has no upper body strength or lower body strength…its really getting frightening to watch him play.
I don’t know what the reason is that Brisebois continues to be on the ice despite his pathetic play. But all you mentioned are possibilities, Habster.
It is obvious that none of the reasons make sense from a hockey perspective, nor does it benefit the development of Ryan O’Byrne. Lastly, having Brise in the line-up does nothing for the Canadiens; short-term nor long-term.
Anon, some Canadiens fans may say something flip about Brise getting hurt. I would never wish that on anyone. However, given Carbonneau’s irrational stubborness regarding Brisebois, an injury is perhaps the only way to get the best defensive personnel on the ice.
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