I guess we’ll have to stay positive about it. It wasn’t as bad as last Thursday. Not even close to the humiliation against the Maple Leafs. At least I have positive comments for about half the team. The Habs, as a team, worked well in the first period and most of the third but the second period sunk the team.
Of course, I don’t have insider’s information, I am not in the dressing room and I haven’t seen any practice but I can guess that the coaching staff asks for one of two things from their players. To use their speed to open the defense and create odd man rushes. This is done by having one or two players going full speed toward the offensive zone and having quick passes to take the defense off balance. If you look at Ottawa’s game, they did it all night long. The second option is to dump the puck deep into the zone, preferably as a player is already skating towards the offensive zone, thus using your speed to get the puck back. None of those strategies will work every times but it sure as hell beat trying to take the offensive zone holding on to the puck as three players are stationed on the blue line. The only player who can make this work is Kovalev, because he scares defensemen enough that they treat him differently. He can then center the puck to a player the defense usually forgot because they didn’t want to look bad to Kovy.
Lang was ugly to watch. Bad decisions combined with bad passes and a worst in team 4 out of 10 in the faceoff circle made him a hindrance tonight. O’Bryne is not ready to play 18 minutes a game. He was shaky, was off balance more than once and was too often immobile.
There is no reason to panic. Most of the team are playing well. Saku is inspired and inspiring. Latendresse is proving to everyone he is ready for a new step in the NHL. Andrei Kostitsyn is progressing nicely and while Plekanec isn’t producing up to last year standard, I see him work hard. Lapierre is playing so well, I’d put him on the third line with Sergei and Higgins, just to see what would happen (and to shake up Lang). As long as his teammates work hard, Tanguay will produce. Kovalev look hurt, but he’s a warrior. He’ll bounce back. The fourth line will keep giving everything they have and will benefit from Kostopoulos return.
And hey, with a 9-4-2 record, the Canadiens can take back the first place in their division by only winning their games in hand. And it had to start tomorrow against the Blues.
THE GAME IS AT 6PM. Don’t forget.
Hey Big Brother,
Good game review!! The only thing that I have to say is when you say:
“Markov was on the ice and didn’t do anything either to stop Jeff Carter from going all alone in front of Jaroslav”
Unfortunately, Hamrlik went to the bench before realizing that his teammates turnovered the puck and poor Markov had just jumped off the bench and was out of the play so it wasn’t really his fault…..bad line change!!
I also didn’t think Robert Lang played that badly with the exception being his work in the face-off circle.I thought the Lats/Lang/SK-74 line showed some chemistry tonight
I have to agree with Habster. I’m not always enthused with the play of Lang, but he, Sergei and Lats were showing some good chemistry until they were broken up in the 3rd period. Sergei is definitely injured but I didn’t think he showed it tonight.
Max is playing with enthusiasm but this isn’t a pep rally. I’m ready to see what Chipchura can do in his position.
I re-watched the goal and… yes, it was a bad line change more than bad covering. Although my point remain the same: You can’t blame solely O’Byrne on that goal. Hey, even I can give the guy a break, right?
And Lang was, to me, sloppy. Wasn’t moving his feet. Some bad decisions. He also lost the puck a couple of times (although, not sure if they can be called giveaways) in neutral zone. Lang is a smarter player than that.
And I really can’t see why bringing Chipchura would help anything? Do we REALLY need another 4th liner? Like we don’t have enough? What we need is Lapierre and Kostopoulos reminding players on other lines that icetime is earned… and can be lost.
Oh and we need Laraque to pull a groin or something.
I agree that getting Kostopoulos back will help improve the 4th lines play, but the Habs need the KPK line to come alive………the best players have to be the best players…..tiresome to say or hear but very true!!
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