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About last night ...
posted by Mike Boone at 5h56 EST on Oct 11
• Carey Price was flat-out brilliant: 35 stops, many of them
difficult. Looked confident. Consistently well-positioned, handled the puck (mostly) well, and the new, skinny Price is very
quick. Maintained his composure despite being crowded by net-crashing
Sabres on a few occasions.
• Robert Lang: Mats Who? The newest
Canadien was the best forward on the ice. In addition to scoring the
team's only goal, Lang delivered shift after shift of smart, puck-savvy
hockey. He's got a long reach, he's strong and he knows how to play the
game. Lang is the kind of cerebral European who's probably never taken a double-minor in a 1-1 game through his whole career. He, SK74 and Someone-better-than-Kostopoulos give the team what
it lacked last season: a third line that can score.
• The PK: The Sabres went 0-for-6, including four minutes while Steve Bégin sat. It starts with goaltending, of course, but the D and, especially, the forwards – including Lang, Kovalev and Sergei – were outstanding. Active sticks, fast, aggressive and pressured the point (like Don Cherry says they should).
• Five of the defencemen: Chalk Mike Komisarek's costly mistake up to really bad ice. Andrei Markov played almost 29 minutes and was vintage Markov on the PK and in the late minutes and OT. Some posters didn't like use of Marky at the right point on the PP, pointing out thatit takes away his playmaking and penetration. But I'll withhold judgment until I've seen more of Alex Tanguay on the other side. Roman Hamrlik blocked six shots. Ryan O'Byrne had some shaky moments and some brilliance. Look, defence is a hard position to play, and big galoots take a while to develop. O'B is not the next Larry Robinson or Rod Langway, but I think he's going to be a solid NHLer – like Josh Gorges, who played a quietly efficient (or should that be efficiently quiet: he pitched a shutout on the stats sheet) 17 minutes and did a very good job of handling the Sabres' forecheck.The D will be better when Bouillon is back, and better still when Yannick Weber leads the wave of gifted kids.
• The power play: 0-for-3, but hints of great nights to come. Guy Carbonneau can use two dangerous waves, and Tanguay wil be a huge addition once his teammates figure out his passing. Did you love that sequence ending OT, when Saku won the faceoff cleanly and the PP started ripping? Give them 20 more seconds and the game was over.
• Alex Tanguay: No shots on goal, little chemistry with his linemates and he'll never win the Selke Trophy. But the talent is there. Tanguay is a smart player, and once he and the Captain find their mojo it's going to be fun to watch. Christopher Higgins will complement them better than Guillaume Latendresse, but I liked Gui!'s hustle last night (nothing but positivity here!)
• Fourth-line energy: Carbo played them double-digit minutes (except Dandenault), and they did what they had to do: throw some hits, make life miserable for the opposing D, pester the goalie. It would be nice of they could score occasionally, and Bégin has to be more disciplined while still being Bégin.
• Entertaining game: Not bad at all for this early in the season. Pat Hickey is right about the Sabres. They'll surprise some people.
On to Toronto.
Tonight should be interesting.
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I swear I just logged on here to post that joke! I've been sitting on it for a week and thought it would make for a good Turkey Day laugh... A day late and a dollar short. Story of my life. hahaha! GO HABS GO! Happy Thanksgiving all.
Mike thanks so much for using the word galoot in your post. I think it's the first time I have ever seen it in print. Do you think you could work in, 'long-haired galoot' sometime? Maybe in reference to Lang. Man, that would make my day.
Preview : Habs at laffs .. by Chemmy .. Pension Plan Puppets ..... http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2008/10/11/632867/preview-habs-at-leaf...
I just realized something: if big Georges was there last night that open ice hit on A.Kostitsyn would not have gone unpunished. too bad.
I disagree that Price was brilliant. Once again I see him searching for the puck on an easy shot as though he cannot see under his visor when the puck is right in front of him. What is wrong with his visor or his vision? Is he newly skinny? Maybe he is too skinny and can't fill in his net? Finally, on the shoot out, he should have stopped those two shots. And yes...the Habs need to shoot more. Price is not a one-man band. In the first Period at one point we were out shot 10 to 4. That's not Habs hockey. We can play a stronger game. We know this.
Okay, the leaves are on the ground, the air's getting a little more crisp, but I know it's Fall because "About Last Night" is finally back!!
So after the first game of the season I'm not going to complain about the point-for-a-loss system.
Considering that Ottawa is 1-0-1 with 3 points, Buffalo is 1-0-0 with 2 points, Toronto (!) is 1-0-0 with 2 points, Boston is 1-0-0 with 2 points and the Habs are 0-0-1 with 1 point? I'll take it.
The temptation here is to make a rush to judgment and figure out how it will all play out over the next 81 games, give or take. I'll resist the urge to give in to that temptation and hope that after the first 10 games, this was not a biggie and that the Toronto Maple Leafs won't be beating the league's elite teams on a regular basis.
As for the Sabres game itself - crappy ice, Rivet pumped up playing against his old team and fellow captain friend and more than 12 hours since the last pre-season game (that's about how often they played those things right?)?
The Canadiens of two years ago would have surely lost tonight's game against the Leafs. That's how they rolled.
The "About Last Night" of two years ago would have thought the same.
Let's see how it plays out this year.
/\\ike
GO HABS GO!
Lots of good comments out here and obviously some different views of the game. I would add and subtract a couple of players myself but I don't have that option. I was impressed with Lang's line (Kostopolous held his own) and not so pleased with Koivu's (Lats does not compliment this line). Breezy probably wouldn't be in there if Boullion was healthy and that's okay with me. I really wish the PP would have scored just so they can have the right mindset about being a top PP team again. We will need a surprise on the point this year as we had last year with Streit. Tonight will be a big game already. The nice thing is that Carbo will have some great options when Higgins and Laraque come back.
Bruin's Chuck Kobasew out indefinitely with fractured leg .. by Fluto Shinzawa .. boston.com ..... http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/2008/10/ko... ................................................ Sad move last night by Donald Brashear as he baits and fights 18 year old Zach Bogosian in his 1st NHL game , where's the code .. you tube ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ybtRwAcZI
Thanks for the update on Kobasew. Good thing I found out, or else he'd be in my fantasy hockey lineup today, taking up a spot!
Watch the video and you will see that it was clearly an unnecessary, goon play by Butthead Brashear. Definitely calls for a suspension.
Going for the Brass Ring - 25 Cups in 100 Years
Agreed - no class on that play.
On the other hand, check out the Bernier-Phaneuf fight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhr-dWNE5V8
There were many mistakes on the blueline last night, but none more costly in my view than the needless penalty Breezer took in the first that totally killed the momentum that the Habs built after Lang's goal. I can't wait for Cube to come back, or for Weber to get that call in Hamilton.
Higgins will definitely help the Koivu and Tanguay-duo. 11 and 13 seemed to be pretty slow, and Higgins' speed should help balance the line.
Kudos to Lats though, he skated hard, back-checked (look at him on the Sabres goal), and I thought the penalty called on him was very light. Roy and the Sabre Lats allegedly interfered greatly embellished the calls.
Go Habs Go!
I couldn't agree more with your first point... he didn'taiting him suckitup for the team and the bad timing of it made it even worst.
I miss Higgins too, specially within the new line context awaiting him.
I thought Kostopoulos actually played a very good game. TTB did what he does best- crashing the net, players, refs, - pretty much anything and everything. He may not have the finishing touch we all wish for him, but he definetly made room for SK74 and Lang by going deep into the corners. When Higgy gets back, I'm hoping Latendresse can kick it into next gear because that line can be downright dangerous.
I always think Dandy is making a case for himself, whether here or elsewhere. He played well during preseason and was relentless last night. The poor guy didn't even break 10 minutes of icetime either.
All in all, it was one game, but i'm all smiles (except for that shootout, what the hellll?)
Thanks for positive Dandy comments, :58 of ice time in the first and he still had 2 shots on net, that's 2 more than Tanguay. This team is one injury away from Breezer as a starter, how scary is that.
Agree with you on TTB - he held his own and didn't look out of place with the vastly more talented SK74 and Lang.
Lang won over a lot of Habs fans last night. F Mats!
For a first game it was ok, if this was game 82, it would be time to panic, thank goodness it isn't. I thought the defense played poorly overall, getting Frankie the Bull back in the line-up will be a big boost, mainly addition by subtraction.
Kovalev, Plekanec and AK46 need to be better, mainly they need to cash in on their chances, Kovalev had the game on his stick a couple of times and didn't bang it home, he will more times than not.
Plekanec is a treat to watch ever night, what an amazing hockey player he has turned out to be. I'd be surprised if he doesn't win a Selke before he is done and also manage to be a point a game player. He just keeps getting better.
AK46 is the Habs superstar in waiting, this kid has it all and once Kovalev is done, AK46 will be the Habs marquee player. He wasn't great last night but I'm guessing he easily tops 30 and has 70+ points. Soon, he will be hanging out with the big boys, as he establishes himself as a top 20 scorer year after year.
Lang was good, as was SK74. Tanguay looked a little off, he will be better, this guy can play. Begin needs to sit and get his head out of his ass. He's a good hockey player but the stupid penalties have to end or his time in the press box needs to begin.
Should be a good game tonight
Earl - key word in your statement about AK46 is the term "waiting". Begin certainly brings something to the 4th line and is a Carbo favourite but these penalities are worse than Koivu's offensive end hooking fouls. Not to mention the timing of the infractions. Besides, TTB, who else do we have to play LW on the checking line? Maybe Chipchura but he had a flat training camp and doesn't skate much better than Lats.
As I stated in another thread, it's great to see you back. I realize that you can't come to the Summit (due to geographic location) but do feel free to leave your VISA number at the hotel bar (Hotel DE Fort) so Brian and I can indulge in a few cocktails. Mike Boone already owes me two so I'm already off to a good start!
Going for the Brass Ring - 25 Cups in 100 Years
Steve, I just forwarded my Visa # to the hotel as requested, you and NM49 can have as many cocktails on me as the two of you need, for you to become a Robert Lang fan and for Bryan to jump on the Gui! bandwagon. Not sure there is enough alcohol in Montreal for that to happen but hey give it your best shot :)
Begin is a favorite of mine but he needs to sit. Koivu has taken some dumb penalties but he certainly has the production to make up for the occasional gaffe. Begin's lack of offensive touch, to put it nicely, makes him a huge liability if he's going to take penalties like that. Kostpoulos and he will be battling for ice-time all season, after last night Kosto has a huge edge.
Steve Earl - Together again , i don't know whether to talk Rock or Hockey with you guys but i appreciate Earl's Visa. I wish that Lats will have a great game tonight, he usually plays decent against weak teams, so i can get back on my Carbo agenda and BTW he coached a good game last night IMO , you heard it first. Now , after saying that , i better go check my medication cuz something gotta be wrong.
Earl - Nice post and good to see you back.
thanks, summer vacation is over, hope you had a good summer
i've always been big on the sabres...but i wasn't expecting a tight game with them...both our teams are skilled and fast so i was expecting something more wide open.
we've just gotta bounce back and beat the leafs.
The game was pretty good...and looking at all the games which were played in the past two nights, this a very tight-games...and without Price, it wouldn't have been possible!
The other teams have scores of
6-4 (Canes-Panthers)
5-2 (Blues-Predators)
5-4 (Blue Jackets-Stars)
4-2 (Rangers-Blackhawks)
7-4 (Thrashers-Caps) NO SIGN OF OVECHKIN'S GREATNESS YET! HUET WAS BAD! HE LOOKED SOO DEFEATED AND HUNG HIS HEAD AFTER THE 3rd GOAL.
This proves that goaltending is becoming an issue. If all these teams let in so many goals, Price proves to be very poised and ready. Even though younger than many of the goalis of these teams, he's doing an awesome job! Now let'S wait and see how Jaro plays!
theodore?
Speaking of Theo, I'll be at the Caps home opener against Huet and the Hawks tonight...
Huet?
oops..sry the huet comment was for the blackhawks......
Great game to watch but frustrating that we should of come out with 2 points. Lang and sergei were great together, can't wait for them to get another winger with skill and hockey sense. Tanguay and koivu looked shaky together but i wouldn't be too concerned as someone posted earlier neither had much of a training camp, i would expect both of them to be better tonight. The kovy line showed some late game magic just couldn't finish it off.
How begin even saw ice time after the double idiotic penalty is beyond me, all heart but no brains. I don't know if halak should be starting tonight, its tough to put carey on the bench after that kind of performance. I know halak needs starts to but its the beginning of the season and there will be plenty of oppurtunity for starts for him. Besides carey owns the laffs
My thoughts - Lang best on the ice. play of the game, O'B breaking up the three on one. Still don't know what the penalty was that nullified the winning goal late in the third.