Log in & Sign up
You are not logged in.
About last night ...
posted by Mike Boone at 8h15 EST on Apr 20
As you saw on the main site, Canadiens will not practice today. I presume Guy Carbonneau knows what he's doing, but Mike Keenan would have held a practice – and Iron Mike would bag skate Alex Kovalev for an hour.
The Canadiens' leading scorer played his worst game of the series last night. His attempt to clear the zone with a lazy backhand started the sequence that led to the winning goal. Zdeno Chara, Kovalev's nemesis in the series, easily intercepted the clearing attempt, fed it back in and the Bruins went after the puck like starving wolves chasing a scared rabbit. It's how they've played through most of the series, and Canadiens have responded by tucking their long ears under their helmets and their tails between their legs.
Several Habs I/O regulars have posted the worst aspect of this: Don Cherry said Canadiens were too soft to win in the playoffs, and this series is proving him right.
Props to Claude Julien for motivating his guys. The Bruins have trailed in the series. They've trailed in every game except one. They trailed 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 last night. Like the small island country that beat Germany twice, Boston never surrenders.
Props to Julien for masterful personnel decisions. He sits Phil Kessel for three games, and now the first-round draft choice with a bad rep for being unable to play in north-south games is flying around the Canadiens' end like his hair is on fire. Do you think Michael Ryder, Guillaume Latendresse and Ryan O'Byrne will come roaring out of the pressbox to lead Canadiens to glory tomorrow night? No, me neither.
Props to assistant coach Craig Ramsey. He's a former Selke award winner who I'm sure has designed the defensive scheme that has frustrated the highest-scoring team in the NHL.
Props to whichever coach came up with the two-man forechecking system that has overwhelmed the Canadiens D: Roman Hamrlik was minus-2 and had one hit last night, Patrice Brisebois was minus-2, Josh Gorges minus-1 and no hits. The Bruins consistetly won puck battles and created havoc in the offensive zone. Canadiens, meanwhile, forecheck one and the Bruins clear their zone with ease and hit the Canadiens' blueline at speed
And props to the Bruins pro scouts, who must have offered Julien a two-word formula for beating the Canadiens: "Pound Kovalev."
This they have done. Mostly Chara, but occasionally Aaron Ward. They've overplayed Kovalev when he has the puck. They've hit him every chance they get.
The result: Since the highlight reel goal that electrified the Bell Centre in Game 5, Kovy has been invisible – never more so than last night, when his centre, Tomas Plekanec, played his best game of the series.
Because the Bruins have solved Kovalev and Mark Streit's body is being inhabited by the ghost of Peter Popovic, the NHL's most potent power play ranks 15th in the playoffs. Canadiens are just ahead of Ottawa in PP efficiency – and they'd better pad their lead tomorrow or they'll be joining the Senators at the first tee.
Canadiens should have seen this coming. In the last two regular-season games against Boston – a back-to-back set in March, Canadiens winning 4-2 and 3-2 – the power play was 0-for-6.
Carey Price is getting a bit of stick. Four third-period goals allowed in the last two games. I thought Price made some amazing saves last night. His teammates let the Bruins buzz all around the kid. Maybe he could have made more miraculous stops, but Boston was fill value for five goals – and the Bruins hit the post twice.
So what does Guy Carbonneau do?
He played Saku Koivu and Francis Bouillon last night. The captain was brilliant, setting up Christopher Higgins for two goals, winning 15 of 21 faceoffs. Bouillon bit on a fake and was fooled for Kessel's first goal but later scored to give Canadiens a 3-2 lead that I thought they'd be able to protect.
Carbo's hat is running out of rabbits. What does he do tomorrow? Wear the psychedelic tie and dress Greg Stewart?
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
HABS WILL WIN!!!! I love it when you predict they'll lose Mike because it always means they win. GO HABS GO!!!!!
Personally I'm pumped for this game, hands down this will be the most exciting hockey game we have watched all season. I work at night so I listen to CJAD(I have said it before and I'll say it again I love Rick Moffat but he gets way to excited sometimes), but every monday and tuesdays I get to watch. I'm so psyched.
The Habs are going to past this test, they have to, not for their fans or for the city or any of the plethora of charities they have attached themselves to. They have to pass this test because this game is the game that will matter most in this season and for a lot of them, this is the most important hockey game of their nascent careers. Determination is all they need, everything else will follow.
Game 7 baby!!!! Crunch time!!!! For all the pessimists out there, remember that adversity is a stepping stone to greatness. Challenges have come and the Canadiens have overcome each and everyone of them. The playoffs are a battle that tests the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of each player. You have to step up your game or go home for the summer. Our Habs will have their greatest test tomorrow but it won't be there last. Have faith Habs fans and rally behind our team.
lol! double post. no really check the times and theme of the posts :)
My hope for the lines tomorrow night:
Higgins-Koivu-SK74
AK46-Pleks-Kovy
Begin-Smolinski-Kosto
Stewart-Lapierre-Ryder
Markov-Komo
Hammer-OB
Cube-Gorges
Top line played very well yesterday, no reason to break them up. Second line can be dangerous if Kovy shows up - if he doesn't show up then his line will be ineffective no matter who is on it. Third line has been our most consistent. Kosto deserves tons of respect for his play. Fourth line, a mix of grit and offensive potential. Stewart has the fresh legs and energy that we need - plus the home crowd loves him. Ryder has the ability to score, but more importantly he finishes his checks. He also shows up in big games (he got a hat trick in our final game against TO last year). I'd sit Streit - he is lost in the playoffs and his poor play has been a major part of our PP's woes. Breezer had the GWG, but he is soft and Cube hits anything that moves. OB can also help mitigate Lucic, who was a force last night. I'd also sit Lats, he is a big body but hasn't produced and his skating is a liability in the up-tempo playoffs. I'd sit Dandy, he only had one hit and one shot last night, that doesn't justify a spot.
Go Habs Go!
o'byrne will not play. size or not, he's played what? an average 10 minutes a game and doesn't see time during the third period. In quite possibly the ultimate game of the season, we're not going to risk playing o'byrne more than 10 minutes...It's too late to try new things and carbo's an old dog that doesn't learn fast.
Same goes for stewart. He's played one game and as physical as he may be, the likelihood of him making an impact is as likely as this series going in 8 games. I loved him in the game against the leafs, but he won't be the answer to our prayers...
obyrne has been the teams best dman plus/minus wise since he returned from his thumb injury. I feel that the rhino should of been in this series, probably more than gorges.
I have to agree with you, although Stewart would be a bit of a risky move and I don't see Carbo throwing in a rookie with one game of NHL experience into a game 7. We could use his energy, but at this point, a rookie would be so freaked out that he may just over-exert himself.
Streit needs to be healthy to play, and he isn't. He hasn't done anything for the powerplay, he can't skate cause of his hip, so there is no point in playing him. We'll definitly need him later on if we manage to beat Boston, but for now he is more of a liability then an asset.
Only thing I'd change is having Lats in for Stewart, just because he has more experience. We need his size...if Lats does one thing, it should be to follow around Lucic and hurt him.
OB is needed...and Breezer has to sit.
Good post.
I'd say its a toss up between Gorges and Brisebois (rather call him the lumberjack or something, if you take the literal translation wood breaker, note that he uses his trusty sherwood and he looks like one...), reason being is that gorges seems to be a bit intimidated I'd see a more calm defensemen in the lumberjack...
anyway I like your lineup sidhu, though I would expect to see Lats instead of Stewart and Dandy instead of Ryder. Feels like Ryder has gotten the short end of the stick, I like him, even if hes a bit slow. Anyway, expect lats in for sure with the message, either show up for this game or show up to the minors next year. So yeah, expect him to show up for this one.
If I'm Guy Carbonneau, I'm whipping out the tape of the last game of the year against the leafs in 06-07 and forcing the team to re-live the heartbreak.
Great idea
well i think it is about time carbo tried something new, he has moved around all lines but one, and now the one that hasnt been move is the one that is the least productive.... what if he were to switch them around again maybe put kovy koivu and higgins on the same line and have sergei put on the pleks line, that can split the talent and have a play maker on both lines... koivu would be a great help for kovy.
lets see some good line ideas
Game 7 victory is the only way the Habs have a chance of doing anything these playoffs. The team that's been dressed in these series is entirely different than the one I watched during the regular season, and the only thing that can change this team is some real fear of losing.
I won't grieve for a Montreal Canadiens team that loses tomorrow, I'll grieve for the team that played an outstanding regular season that somehow died between the regular and post season.
On a lighter note, how much of a 60's child was Boone? I mean I read about acid valium and spliffs, but did the habs in those years really go hand in hand with acid? And if so, feel free to get down to some 1960's Hunter S. Thompson style GONZO journalism for this next game.
I hear Julien has a weak spot for LSD...
...Although on second thought, maybe it's Carbo that needs it...
(Transplanted from boone's big trouble blog, where conversation is dead)
Born in 1948, entered McGill in 1965.
Years in university: 5.
Days straight during those years: 3.
Hockey games watched while totally buzzed: 240.
Price of an ounce in those years: $20.
Tab of acid: $5
Blown brain cells and fond memories of a misspent youth: Priceless.
20$ an ounce? Wow. An ounce of spliff fodder goes for like 120-140 these days.
Today is four twenty, and it happens to fall on the first tams of the year. It is the second biggest hinderance to my history essay, the first being the fact that we're playing tomorrow night. I think the NHL and it's hundred year history is all just an elaborate scheme to get me to fail.
"Game 7 victory is the only chance..."
You think? I dont know, maybe we could take it in 8 or 9?
I agree, I think the key to the playoffs is winning game 7. Otherwise it's going to be really tough to bounce back.
What I'm trying to illustrate is that if we'd have won earlier, we would not have had the shake up that is required to get this team going. The team needs to be be woken up so that they don't continue to play passively in the future rounds, and the only way to have this shake up is to face elimination. In this sense, the game 7 victory (in face of losing) is the only chance to bring the life back to the habs, as opposed to a game 6 or game 5 victory, which would have produced a sloppy 2nd round performance.
The wit is appreciated though.
I was just trying to make a joke.
We're all frustrated here.
Just trying to lighten the mood.
Yeah, well I meant that sincerely, appreciating the wit.
Even if we win tomorrow the Bruins have exposed our weakness.
Too many soft players and not enough truly tough ones.
Gone for next year:
Streit
Dandy
Breezer (I'd prefer he would retire)
Ryder
Four guys who couldnt or wouldnt hurt a fly. These are not NHL calibre players. (yes Ryder hits but has never in junior or pro ever dropped his
gloves)
Keep if Cheap or Trade if Someone will take them:
Gorges
Lapierre
There should be some draft picks available or could be packaged for a player. Neither player has the size necessary to play in their respective slots.
One More Year then Out:
Latendress. Gui has size and skill but lacks fire and intensity. He still seems to be playing at being a pro. 20 Games in Hamilton to start the year might light his fire.
My take for next year: 1) do not resign Ryder, Smoke, Brisebois, or Streit; 2) trade or somehow move Dandy and Cube;
Higgy-Koivu-[Power FWD RW]
AK46-Pleks-Kovy
Lats-Chipchura-SK74
Begin-Lapierre-Kosto
Markov-Komo
Hammer-OB
[Big top 4 D]-Gorges
Stewart makes the club as a reserve
Lapierre will be a good third-line player. Gorges will be an affordable fifth or sixth defenceman. Gui! is developing slowly, not unusual among big guys not named Lucic.
Thats why I listed them as keep if cheap.
I dont know.. seems a bit drastic.
Historically (82 games versus 6 playoff ones) these guys have fit in pretty well. I wouldn't mind if brisebois hung them up but I don't think we're in any position to make such a drastic statement based on the fact that we don't know how this could change the chemistry of the team, which statistically (82 games versus 6 playoff ones) has been very good.
I'm not disagreeing, I'm just trying to say that the implications of getting rid of these guys go much deeper than the somewhat ignorant "outside looking in" state that is fan speculation.
Considering that Streit, Breezer, and Ryder are UFA's as of July...
They arent going to be at or near the top of the free agent class thats for sure. Streit's play in the post season has seriously compromised his value and Ryder was never sticking around, Carbo has no use for him.
Dandy is expensive and overpaid as a depth player. Buyout or waived.
Gorges is too small for full time sixth or seventh Dman. Lapierre skates like crazy and accomplishes little. Chipchura will be an upgrade over him.
My main idea is that our skill players will be better with a tougher supporting cast. Beyond Komisarek we dont have any players that worry other teams in terms of tough.
Maybe having some desperation in there minds will push our boys to play better. Kovalev for me, while he played an awful game last night, was not the one who should be blamed for our current situation. The one who has really hurt is Markov. He has either been awful or invisible. If he does not step up, our pp is nothing, and we are dead in the water.
Is there anything more embarrassing, on top of everything else, than our diving for calls?
Agree with you Doug. But the bruins are doing it too. Murray did a flop coming out from behind the net and it cost us the tying goal in game five.
If they don't score that goal...who knows. I stated last night that the biggest impression I got of the younger Kostitsyn in the game was two bad dives. I don't like it when either team does it,and in my opinion our guys probably started it first, but make no mistake about it, both teams are guilty.
GO HABS.
Blaaah.
5 penalties in the 2-3 games prior.....Blaaahhhhh what is this?
Soccer? (and I like soccer)
The whole diving penalty thing for the most part doesn't make sense to me. They pretty much always give the diving penalty along with the other team's penalty. What are the refs saying by doing this? Are they saying "I was going to give that guy a hooking penalty, but since you tried to sell it you're getting a penalty also"?
I think a diving penalty should be given when there was no original infraction to start with and some player tries to sell somthing that wasn't even there.