Rocket:

Some words from the analysts to begin tonight’s game review. Pierre McGuire said that the Canadiens practise wasn’t very focused or productive today. Bob McKenzie said that the Canadiens have been struggling due to their work ethic.

I may be wrong but don’t those two statements refer to coaching? If the coach has poor work ethic, doesn’t that rub off on the players? If the practices are sloppy, disorganized and without an objective, then why would we expect the team to look any different during the game?

Guy Carbonneau made some line-up decisions and changes to the line combinations again as his preparation for tonight’s game? Haven’t we seen this before? My crude combinatorial analysis suggests that he is close to being out of new combinations. So what’s next?

I’m not a fan of everything John Tortorella does or says, but he said something interesting tonight. When a player is not meeting expectations, Tortorella said that the coach must bear some of the burden. It is their responsibility to figure out how to get a player going. And each player may have a different trigger.

Listening to JT, for those of us who have done any coaching, we were shaking our heads, yes. For Guy Carbonneau, what Tortorella said must be a alien concept. I have never heard him take any responsibility for motivating a player. I haven’t heard him admit that players respond differently to actions and that a variety of motivational coaching techniques are required.

So Sergei Kostitsyn, who has a maturity problem, and Guillaume Latendresse, who has an underachieving problem, and Ryan O’Byrne, who essentially has an image problem, all sat in the press box.

OK, enough of coaching 101. I included it because it seems that Carbo missed this class. That happens when you aren’t a career coach and make decisions based on your gut. Also, Carbonneau said that he listens to sports radio, watches sports TV and reads sports blogs. (In fact, he said that’s how he knew who to sit in the press box tonight.) So Guy, consider this as your free lesson from All Habs.

Not a bad start to the game but only a slightly better forecheck. Tonight Carbonneau was utilizing a 1-4. Really? Isn’t Atlanta tied for last place in the league? Aren’t they winless in their last 7? It’s the equivalent of the Tennessee Titans employing a prevent defense against the Detroit Lions on the first series of the game! (If you watched the Thanksgiving Day game, you know that the Titans won 47-10.)

Early in the game it was Kovalchuk setting up Reasoner for a great chance. The Bell Centre crowd was into it with chants of CA-REY, CA-REY! Later Andrei Kostitsyn used his speed on a wrap around attempt. Matt D’Agostini is right at the top of the crease and out muscled Todd White to score his first NHL goal. I hope that #84 is taking notes.

A good first period by the Canadiens. Carey Price was perfect in the goal and good out of the net too, playing the puck 8 times in the first period.

In the second period the fans were into the game too, except this time they were booing the Canadiens power play. Patrice Brisebois had a horrible shift with 4 giveaways. Robert Lang had some power play time on the right point. McGuire thought it was a bizarre experiment. Lang doesn’t have a big shot and is more likely to pass. Andrei Kostitsyn seemed a much better fit last game in that position. Sergei has looked very good on the right point too (but alas, he wasn’t playing).

Plekanec created a turnover and sent a shot under the right arm of Johan Hedberg. It was his only soft goal of the night. A short time later Alex Tanguay’s goal was waived off due to goalie interference by Max Lapierre. The replay showed that Hedberg held Max’s leg with a scissor pad lock. Speaking of Lapierre, he had 5 missed shots in two periods.

Josh Georges struggled at times tonight. He seemed to be fighting the puck. When Slater ran Price, Georges should have done more than scowl at him.

Andrei Markov got a power play goal at the end of the second period.

A Gorges giveaway and a bad Canadien line change led to the first Thrashers goal early in the third. The Habs only had 4 players on the ice. Hainsey scored his second of the night 52 seconds later on the power play (Atlanta has the worst power play in the league). Gorges couldn’t handle the Thrashers forwards. And 7 seconds after that, Brisebois, being out of position could only wave his stick at Reasoner who set up Thorburn for the third Atlanta goal.

Andrei Kostitsyn banked a shot off Enstrom to give the Candiens a 4-3 lead. Hedberg was caught leaning as D’Agostini was going hard to the net. Robert Lang got an empty-netter and Jason Williams a late goal to make the final 5-4 for the Canadiens.

A win but an inconsistent effort against one of the league’s worst. Nonetheless, coach ‘K’ is 2-0.

Pre-game:

Condolences to the family of Doug Jarvis. His father, Richard, age 93, passed away this morning.
Mike Komisarek will be behind the bench again.

Guillaume Latendresse, Sergei Kostitsyn and Ryan O’Byrne are scratched.

Part of the longest home stand in franchise history.

planned line combinations:
Lang — Kovalev — Higgins
Koivu — Andrei Kostitsyn — D’Agostini
Plekanec — Tanguay — Kostopoulos
Lapierre — Begin — Laraque

Rocket’s 3 stars:

1. Andrei Kostitsyn
2. Ron Hainsey
3. Andrei Markov

(photo credit: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)