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About last night ...
posted by Mike Boone at 0h16 EST on Oct 23
The well-traveled veteran was great at everything he was asked to do. Metropolit had two assists and went 5-2 on faceoffs. He was excellent on the PP and the PK.
The Canadiens are his seventh NHL team. Metropolit also has played in Finland and Switzerland. Jacques Martin saw him play in Europe and liked what he saw.
Montrealers saw Metropolit for 21 games last season. He was one of the very few who did not suck against Boston in the playoffs.
You have to love a hard-working overachiever with an interesting back story. Metropolit grew up in the tough Regent Park area of Toronto. His brother is in prison.
And he's in Montreal, playing his heart out on every shift and centring a third line that looked like it might be together for a while. Metropolit's savvy and the grittiness of Travis Moen just might be the combination Max Pacioretty needs to get going.
Max-Pac, who hadn't scored since January and had bounced from the first line down to the fourth in early-season configurations, got a goal on five shots and used his speed to great advantage. By playing with Moen (how come the Gainey-bashers don't whine about THAT signing), Max-Pac will learn how to use his size to advantage.
The kid NHL speed and he can score. If Max-Pac's game comes together, we're in for a treat ... and Gu! might be on the fourth line for a while.
I thought all four centres played really well. You expect it from Gomez – another huge night for the big line – and Plekanec, who had two assists and helped set up new winger Maxim Lapierre's first of the season.
But the play of Metropolit and, to a lesser but not insignificant degree, Kyle Chipchura, gave the Canadiens balance they're going to need on nights when the big lien is stifled.
(And Chipchura won another fight. Who needs BGL?)
Almost lost in a 5-1 laugher – the Canadiens' first regulation-time win in 16 games, stretching back to last season – was the excellence of the defence corps.
Marc-André Bergeron deserved a star for a spectacular PP goal that was one of the lasers he's reputed for. And his good quotes in the room delighted the long-suffering francophone media. He's going to be a Bell Centre favourite.
But the real heroes on D were Roman Hamrlik, Jaro Spacek, Josh Gorges and Paul Mara. Great positional play, superb offensive support, control of the corners and good housekeeping in the slot: all the key elements of the new system were there last night. Hal Gill's wingspan helped on the PK, and he actually belted someone along the boards, kinda like that future captain used to do before he went off to Toronto to inhale donket flatulence.
The D corps is slowly but surely recovering from the loss of Andrei Markov and learning a Jacques Martin-Perry Pearn system that minimizes opponents' quality scoring chances. That's five in a row in which the Canadiens have had the shot advantage, and the nights of 40-shot bombardments seem to be history ... at least until they play Washington or Pittsburgh.
Jaro Halak has been very good. But you have to wonder how Carey Price might have fared behind a D that bottled up Atlanta and the Islanders.
Halak's inept puckhandling led to the Islanders' goal. He should just never touch the biscuit at all.
Have you heard about this deal that has ran shipping enriched uranium to Rudssia for processing? I wouldn't want Jaro handling the shipments.
Before we start scouting good seats for the parade, let's remember the Canadiens haven't racked up their two Ws against the Penguins and Blackhawks.
But points are points. And one of the marks of a playoff-calibre team is the ability to win consistently against inferior opposition.
The Canadiens have taken six points from the Leafs, Thrashers and Islanders. That is as it should be.
The Rangers will be tougher.
As to which goaltender will be facing that stern test ...
There's the incllnation _ and I think Martin will follow it _ to ride the hot hand and play Halak until he loses.
But sitting The Franchise three in a row?
In his RFA season?
That's why coaches – and, in this case I'm sure, general managers – get the big bucks.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
Boy with all the goalie bashing here it will be up to Martin who plays Sat...........We are not paid to make that decision no matter what the outcome will be.......I am disappointed on the bashing on the smurfs already????????? nice to have them on our team...making a difference but lets run them out of town like a few others with the terrible comments on some of the blogs here If you can not say something nice about someone say nothing at all. We have a better teams this year give it a chance & give bashing a rest & also GIVE VINNIE A REST TOO I AM SICK OF HEARING ABOUT HIM> HE DOES NOT WANT TO COME HERE so Vinnie stick it GO HABS GO!!!!!!! play 60 min. & you will make it, great game last nite keep it up. Guys we don't need Vinnie we are doing fine
OK. All this talk of the "little big line" made me remember a pretty funny joke:
What do you call a psychic midget who's escaped from jail?
Answer: A small medium at large!
Now that we are all happy and lovey,dove with our defense corps, I pose this question for debate: On march 2nd, in Boston after the Olympics and everyone is healthy and ready for the stretch-run to the play-offs (whisper that last word), who are the 6 defensemen in our line-up?
Why is that an issue? Once markov is back we can bench Gill.
how about OB? He played pretty well for a game and a half. I agree Gill should be eating hotdogs.
Halak plays until he loses...
Reasoning - Price in nets is not good while Halak is winning, too much pressure after coming off the bench for him to keep the momentum going. Play Jaro until he loses (gaining valuable points, hopefully), and then throw Price in nets. Give him the pressure of getting the team back on track, that will be good for him.
"As to which goaltender will be facing that stern test ...
There's the incllnation _ and I think Martin will follow it _ to ride the hot hand and play Halak until he loses.
But sitting The Franchise three in a row?"
To me, it's a no-brainer: Jaro gets to try to keep his streak alive versus the Rangers, and Carey gets his turn against the powder-puff Isles Monday -- no matter what happens Sat. night. And Martin should announce it right away so that controversy isn't allowed to brew. Simply a reward to Jaro for good performances, and a chance for Carey to get back in the win column against the same team Jaro nearly shut out. Simple, rational, fair, and transparent.
Exactly. It works wonders for Halak's game doesn't it?
Article on Bulldog's coach Guy Boucher and Sergei Kostitsyn - Taming Habs' talented enfant terrible
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/moose/taming-habs-talente...
Interesting line:
"I like his style," Kostitsyn told the Free Press. "He plays my style of hockey. And I feel comfortable. I'd rather be in the NHL, sure, but he's a good coach.He's a very smart coach. It shows."
Of course this article makes us ask WHY was he starting shite a second time, getting suspended and coming back? If he has respect and wants to make ammends....why would he do this? Sounds like a contradiction to me.
i think if andrei has epilepsy, sergie has schizophrenia.
- we need a MARKOV.
OH MY! The HIO Mods throwing their weight around again.... LMAO at U all....Make U feel important eh!!!
Seriously mods, just get rid of him completely. He's a cancer on these boards and brings absolutely no value to the community.
got your ego stroked a little did you?
luckily i know how to block out avatars that 'belittle' the Habs. Consider your avatar 'clubbed'. Seeing anme with no pic makes my job easier when i come here to read posts and reply as i choose.
have a great day.
HABS_ADDICT_69, habsrsmurfs and nunacanadien are all competing for the "who's the biggest HIO douche" award.
They're not even in the top 4
Oh really? Can I count on your vote? Thanks.
Thank U HIO for this Award. I would like to thank.........
that's fairly obvious HH
habs-prof won that award last year.
- we need a MARKOV.
Don't insult your town by using it as your name!
People with a knowledge of hockey know this is Bobby's (the other #4) town. And it always will be. The only thing in this town that relates to me is that there is now a large Habs flag hainging right over the stool i sit at to watch the game. I wear the CH with pride and the folks here respect that, regardless of the fact that they might be Leaf fans or for the most part Bruins fans. I was even pulled over in town for wearing my CH. Turns out the cop just wanted to have a laugh with me.
You sir, lack credibility in my eyes.
U think Sir, that I will lose sleep over me lacking credibility with U?
I really like the new Habs. Smart GM & coaching. Lots of heart and teamsmanship on the ice. Some exceptionally talented players, whose combined skill and intensity levels exceed that of the players they replaced.Two excellent young goalies who will only get better as they push each other and mature. Heck, I even like the play of Hal Gill who has been unfairly targeted IMHO. He's not a great player, but he's steady and his large wingspan more than makes up for his slowness. Now, if only Jacques could get Lats and AK46 on track. Then this team would really be set to rock. The Habs may not win the division or conference title this year, but Gainey is busy assembling a team that will be capable of going deep in the playoffs with Markov back in the lineup. Despite the inauspicious start, I'm really bullish on this team. Boy, they're working so hard, it's hard to feel bad when they lose. I can't recall feeling those emotions last year.
My problem will Gill is his boardwork. The man is HUGE. Why can't he use that size to capture the puck? He goes in slow motion instead of just passing it right away. Even Laraque has better boardwork and passes.
I am feeling better with this year's losses, so far at any rate, than I felt with many of last year's wins!!
Couldn't agree more.
good post Will
Ok guys just wanted to let you know - Gionta will be named captain soon. How do I know? I bought a Gionta jersey. My luck stinks so I just know it will happen just to force me to go buy a 'c' and have someone stitch it on. Would have been free if I knew.
I'm too chicken to have them put it on anyway...haha
It doesn't have iron on letters & # does it?
No, it doesn't. Stitched.
Good Man!
Shout out to Mr. Kerley.
Just remembered to check out that Calloway vid clip....hilarious and ty.
I know a few fella's that are gonna have a good laugh this afternoon.
Considering Halak's excellent record at home during the course of his career, and Price's inclination to let the Bell Centre's fans get to him if he lets in a bad goal or two,I think the best solution for now...in order to give both goalies a sufficient workload,is to start Halk at home and Price on the road.
LOL Its like the Roy/Hayward era only in reverse!
Price needs to learn to deal with the home fans, good or bad. I'd be ok with rotating unless one of them has an outstanding game.
Go Habs Go!! "I can't hear what Jeremy (Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
fair statistically...but how will price feel when his adoring fans don't get a chance to cheer for him?
- we need a MARKOV.
The air downtown is always a little crisper the morning after a big W
:)
You will always be a Canadien in my eyes, Saku
OFF TOPIC BUT:
TORONTO - Pamela Anderson is launching a new ad campaign against the Canadian seal hunt outside the Ontario legislature in Toronto.
The Canadian actress and activist is one of several celebrities who are part of the PETA campaign calling for an end to the annual seal hunt. Anderson, wearing a summer-like dress despite the rain and chilly weather outside the legislature, says it's terrible that hundreds of thousands of seals are killed in the hunt.
The former "Baywatch" star says, as a Canadian, it's a really important cause for her and they're doing the best they can to make the seal hunt stop.
Anderson was joined at the launch by members of PETA, including a protester dressed as a seal.
PETA says the ads will appear in entertainment magazines and on blogs and will be tweeted in many languages starting this fall, to keep pressure on the government year-round instead of just during the spring when protests are expected.
Since BGL did not play last night maybe he will be in T.O. today!
BGL doesn't know a thing about Hockey & Pamela doesn't know anything about anything!
But, BGL would look rather cute dressed as a Seal flopping around the sidewalk...LOL...
Pamela Anderson is such a hypocrite! All this PETA stuff and animal rights BS yet she's been causing guys to choke their chickens for years!
never mind the countless times she allowed her own beaver to be abused.
Not to mention that she opposes stuffing animals.
LMAO...ha.
way way way off topic and rediculous too.
you just wasted my time. the bill is in the mail.
your post shows you know even less about hockey than you do about the seal hunt or the state of our atlantic fisheries crisis due to the overpopulation of the seals.
why am I even bothering.
From what in his post do you draw the conclusion that he knows little about hockey? The post isn't about hockey.
Thanks for bothering enumerating just a few reasons as to why this post stink.
"your post shows you know even less about hockey than you do about the seal hunt or the state of our atlantic fisheries crisis due to the overpopulation of the seals."
Going way off topic here, but Mother Nature was able to regulate these things quite easily before humans got clever and managed to figure out how to fish with trawlers and such. I'm not a big believer that the seals are crippling the fisheries.
I understand overfishing and trawling etc. Yet the seal population has balloon to critical proportions making the recovery of the fishery a crisis situation.
On the Pacific coast most notably in the Washington St. and BC coast the salmon fisheries were in jeopary due to the overpopulation of sea otters.
as for the guy who called me an @$$hole. He's entitled to say what he wants i guess. But, I do have some idea of whats going on in these areas.
Perhaps his post would be best left on Pam Andersons blog and not on HIO. This is a Habs hockey site and the last time I looked the Seals no longer are in the NHL.
Peace
"This is a Habs hockey site and the last time I looked the Seals no longer are in the NHL."
That one actually made me laugh...great line! ;)
I don't disagree that the fisheries might be easier to recover in the absence of sea otters or seals, but I do disagree with any notion that excuses human behaviour, which was and is the dominant culprit, with all other issues ranking far, far behind. We caused the issue, not the wildlife that are doing what they have always done.
By culling populations of other species to try to fix our first mistake, we potentially create new issues down the road (reduced biodiversity resulting in increased risk to diseases that can wipe out another species). I don't know what the solutions are...these problems are far too complex for my mind. I do hope we figure them out though. It would be a shame to see even more species disappearing for our children's generation.
Somebody should club Pamala as far as Im concerned.
Losers Even After Forty two Seasons
she used to get clubbed by Tommy Lee. I saw it with my own eyes...lol
i'm pretty sure laraque can run circles around all of us at the game of hockey...(except the few that may have played professionally).
- we need a MARKOV.
I like both goalies, we are pretty lucky. But it's known that Price is our #1 and Halak our #2. This is the way it should be. But Price is young and having some competition is always a good thing. But Price's 114 vs Halak's 63 shows who is number 1. Both young and you never know what is going to happen. BUT, Halak has been with the team longer and still played less games. It's ok, he is a GREAT backup, and you never know when the backup will be the #1... Look at Varlamov in Wash DC. But right now Price is our number 1. Personally I think he will be a great goalie. And right now he is a better one than Halak.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey...
I agree Price is our # 1. I think there is no doubt about that, BUT....things can change. He needs to step up and play consistently. He's been very good and good so far this season. I don't feel he's really played a bad game. The Vancouver game would have turned out pretty much the same no matter who played in nets.
I say Price is back in tomorrow, and he must have a great game to solidify his claim to the # 1 spot.
Go Habs Go!! "I can't hear what Jeremy (Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
A few posters kept being negative and never saw anything good from this team. I've been saying since day 1 that it will take about 15 games for us to be able to judge this team. I already like what I'm seeing, but I still say it will get better. The big 3 are doing well, but their are still timing issues. Once the secondary scoring really gets going, this team is going to be hard to beat. Add to that a solid blueline corp and 2 very good goalies, and we'll be in the top 4 of the conference....then Markov will come back, and we'll be as good as anybody.
Habs coloured glasses....or realist? Time will tell.
Go Habs Go!! "I can't hear what Jeremy (Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
I see a lot of positives for the Habs of late. But a top 4 in the conference team? Haven't seen that yet. The next week will give us a much better idea of what we are dealing with...how they play (don't really care about records, to be honest) against the Rangers, Penguins and Black Hawks will go a long way toward indicating what Martin has got on his hands.
Yeah, I'm probably exagerrating a little. These next few games will tell us a few things, but again, we're a few games away from that magic 15-20 that I think we actually need to judge the team. If we're 6th or 7th when Markov comes back (tall order I know), we will be in excellent shape.
Go Habs Go!! "I can't hear what Jeremy (Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
my head... damn you work functions and after function drinking. Ouch.
Saw the highlights. Finally they had a decisive win against a weaker opponent. These are the games they must win. Can't comment on anything else though since TSN's highlights of this game were brutal.
Hope all had fun. I am going to talk to that bottle of Tylenol now.
And possibly talk to the toilet as well??? lol
Losers Even After Forty two Seasons
Nope... I don't mix my drinks hence I never have that need. Just a bloody headache.
There were many players that played very well last night. I won't mention all of them now. But I would like to mention a few things that stood out for me.
Metropolit was a huge difference in the roster. More proof of a smaller man but with the bigger heart.
We have two # 1 goaltenders that will push each other all year. But the blunder by Halak last night, might just cost him the start tomorrow night against the Rangers.
We played a young and a poorer team last night, but it was fun for all of us to play well for 60 minutes.
A Kostinsin does not fit into J. Martin's system very well as yet, if things don't change in his game, look for him to be moved out.
Tomas Plekanec is playing with much more confidence this year and as he settles in with two steady wingers with him, we will have a second solid line to work with.
We are not there yet, but as Jacques Martin gets a better feel for who can do what in his system and who works best with who, this team will come together quite nicely over the next two months.
This is before last nights game.!!
The 3 stats in order of importance how we are positioned in a 30 team league.
Goals Against--25--we are in 17th place.
Total Points---- 6--we are in 24th place.
Goals For-------17--we are in 27th place.
I will be posting this every Monday as we improve our position in the league every week.
The Rangers game Saturday will be a better test to show where we are at in our development as far as chemistry and team play is concerned.
In my opinion goals against is a team stat, not a goal tenders stat. If we are going to compete at the top one third of this league we must have goals against down big time. We have now started down that road, only giving up 2 goals in the past 2 games.
Nice post Ian. but if those are your monday stats and you have them tagged in then please lose it. and just enter it on mondays.
I woke up to 8 points today and I plan to wake up to 10 on sunday followed by 12 on tuesday.
I don't want to see 6 points when we are at 8.
Is filling that out and posting it on a monday for the whole day not enough?
Everyone wants to play the hot hand i agree BUT its to bad Carey wasnt given that same chance after his first two brilliant games ....... this teams record would only still be 2-5 if it wasn't for him. Both goalies on this team are fantastic tho !! ....... and each year they are both only going to get better and better
2-7
With the exception of 3 games (Leafs, Sabres and Canucks) we've outshot the opponents. In all of our loses the goalies have had a SV% better than 0.930.
This team is better than its record.
Brian Burke = Overrated Loud Mouth POS
I think that yaro comment is really extreme, he normally plays the puck well, and makes better and more confident plays than price. It was a bad mistake but fortunately it came in a 3-0 game and not a 1-1 game. In fact most people would be wondering why he didn't play the puck on that one if he had let it go.
Great game last night but I see some people somehow saw something out of Chips last night....did I miss something?....I thought it was much of the same old same old from him (too slow on the pk,out of position, and invisible unless it was a bad thing).......I think that he was our weakest link with BGL out of the lineup .....his foot speed is scary bad and he was again caught out of postiion in our end a few times but fortunately the Isles have noone that could do any damage. He only played 11 minutes, he was even on the night and was 3 and 8 on faceoffs. It was nice that his line wasn't slowed to a standstill with the 260 pound anchor but still? If that was a good game by him then...yikes? And the fight? he won? really? if he wasn't wearing a visor he would probably have been knocked out cold.......yeah he battled back and props to him for that and again dropping the gloves but seriously.....he got corked......he landed one so so punch and got hit with a ko punch. At some point very early this season he needs to eleveate his game (last night was not elevating anything) or he will lose his job to that Pyatt kid or Maxwell. The only reason he is with the club right now is the whole waiver thing and the fact we invested so much in him......let's be more realistic and less Chipper on the Chipper front
Anyways now that I have that out of my system as it is one of my huge pet peeves (the infatuation with Chips leftover from his World Junior days...I hope he gets better but it hasn't happened yet) that was puck possession at its finest...opponent wasn't the finest though but we have demonstrated an ability to decrease the chances against and create chances against better teams (potting the actual goals has been the issue in a few of the games). Like most I was once again impressed with our dmen.....there were a few glitches as there always are, the token call gainst Hal Gill that will be a once a game thing deserved or not (another pet peeve). The guys seem to have bought into the system very early and without BGl in the lineup it allowed our speed to be more integral. BGL still has a place with this team...like in Toronto or against the Bruins,etc...but he should not be regular in the lineup....I guess we've been saying that since he arrived though. Halak had little action again but stopped what he needed to but seriously folks Andre Racicot would have won that game. I really don't care who is in nets as I find them both capable and I haven't seen either guy playing poorly yet so flip a coin Jacques.
The little three are very impressive but I still feel that Gomez and Gionta are a duo and that Cammallerri is almost wasted there...every now and then a great play happens as there are three little wizards out there but for the most part it is Gio and Gomez who essentially play together and Cammallerri seems to be trying to do things on his own or is left out. I think this team is going to be getting better and better as the season goes on and roles are more clearly defined and the coaches get a chance to gauge and assess everyone and how they compliment each other. I have been encouraged since the tail end of the Western swing.....that is when we started to show signs of hope and although we lost to the Avs and Sens I thought there were positives to be taken from each game. We appear to be building on the positives and slowly correcting the inconsistencies like 60 min efforts, second chance reduction, less turnover or at least less dangerous ones, getting to the net (all lines), moving the puck around on the pp, etc. I am still holding to my belief that we are a playoff team....not based on last nights game but based on the upward swing and the fact that I can only see us getting better given our situation.
The little three however could stand to shoot more pucks low....especially Gionta...he has a laser beam but most goals are scored 18 inches or lower and rebounds are created...he tends to rip em high quite often and given that lines willingness to go to then net I think they would benefit from keeping the puck down from the outside. Pleks is ...well he's Pleks...a coaches dream and one of those guys who just plays hockey and works his tail off...always has despite the fact some got on his case....he is the model of consistency to me on the ice (that doesn't always translate to the scoresheet ) and his effort has never been lacking ...at low confidence times he may work too hard and less efficiently but if that is a guys problem? I can live with a guy who handles adversity by trying too hard far easier than guys who drift into oblivion.
Metro.......wow.....what an inspired effort.....we'll see how game number two off an injury goes as adrenalin usually gets a guy through his first game back offf a layoff but he was a monster and Mcguire was right to point out a solid game by Mara but Metro was the monster hands down. I am not too sure how I feel about him on the pp but I do know that he is intellectually approaching genius on the hockey front....he plays a near flawless game and while his skills are not the graeatest he use of the skills he has is the epitomy of resource maximization....I like this guy and I don't mind him on the pp....not because I think he creates or even deserves to be there but he doesn't deflate...he makes smart, safe plays , doesn't force things and plays. While it doesn't excite me when he is out there in anticipation of a magical play...I am not concerned about a momentum sucking turnover because he just won't screw up moer than a handful of times all year. Metro to me if he had more tenure with the team would be a shoe in for the C ...Gionta is the flashier and perhaps more deserving based on hockey's code ethics 9better palyer, longer contract)but Metro played the part of a captain last night and for that matter has since his arrival and I was not in his camp from the get go.
First wave pp......Bergeron? I know Spacek is here to play that role as well and that he is paired with Hammer even at regular strength but I would like to see Bergeron get an opportunity to play the first wave......I do think he needs to move more laterally along the blueline to get himself open more and be greedier with his shot opportunities but he still appears to be tiring quickly and likely is not really be in that great of physical condition still.
Large d presence and attention to detail in our end .....we are great on the rush this year at keeping teams to the outside and therefore limiting second chances , our size is helping as is a willingness to compete in both ends by our forwards and guys like Moen, Gionta, Gomez, Pleks, Laps have the kids all buying hard into the importance of backchecking. We still seem scattered when teh paly slows in our end but I guess most teams do but we are doing a fantastic job of not letting teams ever even set up shop in our end......that is a major improvement over last year and the last couple of years. We have trouble breaking out once we get the puck from these hemmed in situations but again most teams do (Detroit was awesome at this)> We have our best players all playing the system and playing equally hard in both ends of the ice and that is extremely encouraging.....Koivu always did it and that was about it.
Even Andrei K is backchecking and that call on him was just bad luck (the replay showed he wasn;t looking at taking the guys legs out he was trying to chip the puck past him because he would have been off to the races.....the guys apprently were yelling at him according to Mcguire teling him to work but after seeing the replay he had breakaway on his mind....nothing wrong with that...he just missed. Getting in passing lanes is a huuuuuge strength for this team.....all of our "diminutive" forwards happen to be among our smartest players and seem to be forcing turnover after turnover with their focus on directing the opposition into awkward positions and then knowing when to support the play defensively....it is quite refreshing to see that sort of defensive intellect when not watching the Devils or Red Wings. We are going to frustrate the hell out of some teams that aren't used to the Montreal Red Devils.
Travis Moen......what can't you say about his guy......this guy is Kosto's heart in a bigger, more skiled and smarter frame......this guy is a hockey players hockey player and I can't remember the last time we had someone like him. When we signed him I had no idea that he could kill penalties like he does, I had no idea he had the wheels he does and I especially had no idea that he had the smarts to match is brawn......if only he didn't bang his hands up over the years off peoples skulls .......oh well......Moen and Metro are the poster children for the kids on the finge right now and playing 3rd line and fourth line minutes. They play to their strengths, bring 110 percent every shift and would take a bullet for a teammate......I just hope the kids are smart enough to take advantage of the opportunity that is before them with respect to those guys. If you could get Ak, Pacioretty, Dags, Sergei (if we can keep him), Chips, Lats, Laps all maximizing their potential through efficency and dedication we will be sitting very pretty over he next couple of years.
We may not have iced a team that should win the cup this year but I think we have iced a team that will lay the foundation moving forward.....this organization is no longer going to tolerate Malakhovs, Samsonovs and Kovalevs......you want to be a Canadien you will have to bring an honest effort.....every night ....the results? don't know but I will be happy watching games like the last few as long as guys continue to work like they are.....how about the bench getting on guys to keep pushing even when we were up? that is what we need......and we might finally have it. At the very least I can have my kid watch a game and say repeatedly throughout it (not just during Koivus shifts) "that is how you play hockey son".
War And Peace...
Rob - I think 10 paragraghs breaks the HI/O record! Please try and include some detail and researched information to help back up your points. They tend to be a little skimpy:-)
How are things at headquarters, Steve? Or should I call you 'OOL'.(pronounced: 'double oh ell')
Is this the reconnaissance portion of your day? ;o)
A long post that hardly mention anything about goaltending has to be a good post.... good read..... I like the Montreal Red Devils allusion..... thats what Martin had in mind all along and I am very pleased about seing hockey being played that way in Montreal..... the way it should be played.
Long post but a decent read nevertheless.
One item I'd like to comment on though >> Travis Moen, IMNSHO, is the quintessential Bob Gainey clone with a little bit of a nastier edge.
Good take Habits...... P. McGuire perceived Pacioretty to be somewhat Mike McPhee like .... not shure about that one.
As much as I liked Mike McPhee I hope and think Pacioretty can be a more impactful player offensively, when his development is complete.
I think it's another case of McGuire merely filling the air.
Thats what I'm hoping too about Pac..... McPhee was a good one but too square.... never cared about the moustache either :(
McGuire was running out of things to talk about. He was 'sucking pond water' at that moment.
Nice post, Rob. I am one of those that see more and more from Chipchura. I think he has actually been improving by quite a bit. I know it's an excuse, but he's not just adjusting to making the jump from AHL speed to NHL speed. He's also trying to do it while working the rust out of his game, as he wasn't cleared for contact for most of training camp. He's a month behind everybody else, but catching up fast.
I also like the team's ability to generate turnovers...that is a very nice change from previous years, and one that reflects the exceptional defensive awareness of many of our new players.
And I very much agree regarding Cammalleri: he's the odd man out on the Gomez-Gionta line. I remember reading somewhere long ago that right wingers have historically been higher scorers because most centers are left-handed and naturally look to their right wing for passing, as it is a forehand pass on a rush as opposed to a back-handed pass. Maybe they should try Cammalleri on the RW and move AK46 back to LW with Plekanec...AK46 isn't much of a one-timer player, and Cammalleri very much is.
i agree about chipchura...it looks like he's turned the corner after a slow start the season with very limited chances to prepare for the season.
- we need a MARKOV.
I agree with Rob and you about Cammy being the third wheel. Which begs the question; is he really a scoring centre?
Oh, and nice post, Rob.
I think that is an ace up our sleeve for this season......if the lines really falter for a long stretch the optionof moving Cammy to center is always there.....We appear to have exhausted most of he combos but with Laps playing winga nd us knowing that Cammy can play center it sure opens up a lot more possibilities....and with the addition of another winger and the emergence of one of the kids as a little more of an offensive threat? We could theortically end up 3 scoring capable lines deep after all.......I like the way Martin is feeling things out and trying new things but Cammallerri is a wildcard for us. The other interesting use for him that hasn't been tried yet his him on the right point on the pp.....he has scored several pp goals playing the point in his career because he has a hard accurate one timer. We have just touched the surface with this teams possibilities but where my concern and frustration has lied and still does is with our scoring depth.....the inflated contracts we have have left us one top winger short as we all know and I can't help but keep thinking about it every time I see Pleks work his tail off for nothing.
What about trying Pleks on Cammy's left wing? Get Lapierre to do the things he did last night with Gomez/Gionta and have A. Kost with the other two.
It might spark the scoring from the second line.
that is interesting but is it then minimizing Pleks value? he is so smart in the middle....then again he can shoot the puck a lot better than most centers....som many optiions actually available now that we know Martin is open to new ideas. I was thinking more of a focus on duos.......gio-gomez-Laps(I think with how often these guys create goalmouth scrambles Laps could end up being our Alex Burrows short erm if we needed an injection) camm-dags-andrei (the shotting gallery-all crazy shooters) pleks-sergei-lats metro-pacioretty-moen Let's just consider the speed of this lineup........scary. I think as long as you kind of go the duo route there are countelss options that sound laughable at first glance but when you really start to consider things could work out nicely. You can shuffle so many guys around but just think of the possibilites if we could add one more scoringthreat...endless I tell you.
No doubt about it. Which brings us back to yesterdays' topic. Lats and Carle/pick(3rd) for Frolov(with a one year extension). Drop the Carle/pick option to a 4th if he won't sign right off the bat. Put him on the wing with Cammy at centre. Let Frolov see what dissipline and expectations are about and watch him straighten out with the example of the rest.
????? ROB! ???????
Hmm...that's a good possibility, if I'm reading your comment correctly. But then we have three smallish centers and even less depth on the wing.
You are reading me right. At the very least, trying him there could see us as having great depth at centre all of a sudden.
It seems to me that in addition to his big shot, he is a creative guy out there and I think he has the smarts and the instinct to be leading the play more.
Your right on the size issue though, but Martin already conceded some off that with his Lapierre wing-trial.
Great summary. Just wanted to acknowledge that I noticed the, as you said, token call against Hal Gill every game. It's almost as if the refs just notice him being slow and immobile out there, and are looking for something to call, instead of waiting for something to actually happen. The call on him against Tavares was a perfect example. Big slow Hal Gill against the wonder kid Tavares. How could Gill not take a penalty? Well, he did - but it was not deserving. Gill had his stick on Tavares stick, but they decided to give him the phantom hooking penalty.
i need another coffee.
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"We will win the Cup one day only with a mature Carey Price in the nets"
IMO Price will mature long before Mikey does.