Ask me about us

posted by Mike Boone at 13h29 EST on Jan 29


Alex Kovalev had a request for the horde of cameras, microphones and notebooks surounding him in the winning dressing room.

"Don't ask me about Ovechkin," said the Russian sniper, whose 22nd goal capped a 4-0 Canadiens win.

"Talk about our team. We played great."

He had a point. The Canadiens got a solid effort from all four lines, the defence was outstanding and Cristobal Huet was brilliant, earning his 15th career shutout with 35 saves.

Ovechkin – OK, we have to talk about him a little – had four shots. But he was controlled in one-on-one situations by Mike Komisarek and Josh Gorges, both of whom contributed to a team defensive effort.

"I know he's scored a lot of goals, but we do our job and it doesn't matter who they have on their team," Kovalev said before he declared a moratorium on Ovechkin assessment.

Kovalev was impressed by Canaadiens' effort in the second period, which has tended to be a team weakness this season.

"We're learning from the past," he said. "We had a good second period, played 60 minutes and it paid off."

Kovalev said he may have sustained a broken thumb, but "I still have four fingers left."

Canadiens scored two power-play goals, one shorthanded and another at even strength. Kovalev said the team has taken "a long journey to get to the point where the guys are more confident with the puck."

"Sometimes we have to dump and chase," he added. "But I see a lot more guys who are comfortable, moving the puck around, making passes and making plays.

"When you have to skate hard for 60 minutes, you can get tired annd make mistakes. If you control the puck 60, 70 per cent of the time, it's definitely a lot easier to play the game."

 


3P 0046:

Perfect!

Kovy on the PP, from Pleks

 

4-0 

3P 2:00:

Dare I suggest this is over?

3P 3:18:

We're up to 71 total shots ... and only three goals.

3P 4:42:

Another PP. I'm losing count. And Kovy on first wave.

3P 5:27:

35 saves. Huet's positioning is just great.

3P Break:

Huet 33 saves ... many of them sick!

3P 7:30:

Sergei playing the point withh Hamrlik on the second wave of the PP.

3P 9:00:

Ryder: The unKovalev

3P Break:

Another PP. Washongton is hanging on ... literally. And Kovalev, the old man, is flying through the third period.

3P 10:46:

Save puts an end to shaky defensive shift by Koivu lline. Not the best in their own end.

3P 12:00:

Haven't seen much of Brashear. Not that I'm complaining.

3P Break:

Caps have two shots tis period. Canadiens 6.

3P 14:00:

Shots are 30-30. Crazy.

3P 15:00:

Great puck control on the PP. But ffew shots.

3P 17:00:

Spectacularly hard-working shift by Chris Higgins. And another PP.

3P 19:00:

One forecheck, two back at the blueline, two D back and five red jerseys strung across the blueline when Caps have the puck.

3P 20:00:

Carbo must have told them to tighten this @#$%er up.

Between periods:

This might be Sergei K's best game. I hope the brothers get a shift together during the third period ... Kovalev is the God of the Bell  Centre. The place comes alive every time he touches the puck ... Huet is on pace for 42 stops. Exciting, but not good.

2P 00:00:

Red light went on on a Canadiens' shot.

2P 2:11:

Huet's 27th save ... through a screen.

2P Break:

Christopher Higggins is bbatttling heroically on the PP tonight. That lline has been pretty good.

2P PP:

Sergei on the second wave. But no sustained pressure. 40 shots and counting.

2P 6:16:

Another PP. Delay of game again on Washington.

2P 9:00:

Kovy was icing hhis thumb, but he's back out. And that line is on fire.

Tough crowd:

They booed the Kiss Cam winners

2P Break:

Ages between whistles. Canadiens gettting odd man rushes as Caps open up even more. Shots are 23-19. That's a whole game in Florida or New Jersey.

2P 12:00:

Big hits this period.

2P 14:00:

Kovy is running a one-man Skills Competition

2P 16:00:

Huet: 21 honkin' saves!

2P 17:00:

Lovely set up of Lats by Sergei, whho gets bbetter and better.

2P 18:40:

My mman JG, big game tonight. And Ovechkkin jjust rattled one off the post.

Between periods:

Nyah-nyah! Our Russians are better than their Russians ... so far ... What a great skating and passing exhibbition. This is like the fourth period of the All-Star game ... Canadiens can't give up 15 shots in every period ... Canadiens have 16 hits, Washington 9 ... Max Lapierre is 3-0 on faceoffs, all other centres even ... Ovechkin played seven shifts, 8:14. What a horse!

00:00:

Huet's 15th save was a beauty.

1P 1:35:

Break up the Canadiens!

 

Begin skates it down, feeds Koivu in the slot

 

3-0 

1P 2:30:

Huet clears the puck!

Huet clears the puck! 

Caps PP:

After Sergei low-bridges Semin. And then Steve Bégin takes down Semin and it's a 5-on-3.

 

And then Pleks breaks away with Sergei for a spectacular one.

2-0

Wow! That's a highlight reel special. 

1P 5:39:

I thinks Canadiens D looks for the cross-ice pass too often. And Markov is the only one who hits them on a consistent bbasis.

1P Break:

Huet gets run and his teammmates take umbrage. That happens a lot ... the running part, that is. Umbrage is hit-and-miss.

1P Break:

Huet: six stops, and lookin' good. Canadiens hhave 10 shots on Johnson, and a few good chances. Thatt Backstrom id can play.

First PP:

First wave falters a bit, then gains control and Mark Streit smokes one. Higgins may have distractted Johnson.

 

1-0 

1P Break:

Great shift by the Smo line. Crowd eats it up. Then bbig pressure by KKovy and the game's first PP. Shots, which were 4-1 Caps, are 8-5 Canadiens.

1P 15:00:

Seeing-eye passes by Kovalev and Plekanec set up Hamrlik for hot shots.

1P 15:27:

A little Kovy magic on Jeff Schultz. Wonder  if he gets up for Ovechkin.

1P 16:30:

Nicklas Backstrom is kiling Smolinski on faceoffs.

1P 17:00:

Ryder  on the Koivu line. I thought it would be Sergei.

1P 18:00:

"Ovechkin is the most exciting player since Bobby Orr": Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated

1P 19:00:

Good pinch and hit by Francis Bouillon.

Ovechkin on RDS again again:

Listening to his iPod while suiting up.

Brent Johnson :

starts in nets for the Caps.

1P 20:00:

Seems like ages since Canadiens played here. Crowd should be into it.

The guy from the Washington Post:

Says Huet would look good in a Caps' jersey. Washinngton has some goaltending talent in the system but Olaf Kolzig will be 38 in April and the Caps could use a mentor who'll be good for the next two seasons. Thing is, that may be the situation here.

Watching Ovechkin:

on RDS. All-Star weekend footage. What a pleasure to see a happy, smiling professional athlete. He'd never make it in baseball.

History lesson:

François Gagnon, who's great at mining these nuggets, writes in La Presse that the last time Canadiens were within six points of the conference lead at the All-Star break was in 1998. Alain Vigneault was the coach and Andy Moog was his goaltender. Canadiens ended up in seventh place that season, 20 points south of first. They then won their first playoff series against Pittsburgh before they were eliminated by Buffalo.

 

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Comments

zamboni's picture
"Kovalev said the team has taken "a long journey to get to the point where the guys are more confident with the puck." "Sometimes we have to dump and chase," he added. "But I see a lot more guys who are comfortable, moving the puck around, making passes and making plays. "When you have to skate hard for 60 minutes, you can get tired annd make mistakes. If you control the puck 60, 70 per cent of the time, it's definitely a lot easier to play the game." That is the biggest reason why this team is doing much better, puck possession and control. Now who on this team doesn't fit the mold?

The narrow north-american rink, the dillution of skills du to expansion and the permissive hooking mentality of the pre-NewLNH standard all combined in creating a monster with two heads,... the trap on one side and the dump and shase on the other.... " the greatest game on hearth " !.... absolutely not. Then came the New Regulations,... on one hand it made the trap an innefective and porous strategy with no futur and on the other it allowed more of the skillfull but "undersized" young players to be promoted from the minor to the NHL. CAR and BUFF were the first teams in the East to fully explore the offensive potential of the NewNHL while the CH had remained conservativelly driven,... the re-signing of Pierre Dagenais by Gainey and overuse of old formulas (trap + dump and shase) by Julien are but two examples that can attest to that. Last year despite the change of coaching upon entering our second season in the newNHL,.... our game worsonned while our dysfonctionality when on increasing... were was our speed ? our creativity ? all that was was left of our team towards the end of that season was a bunch of players that had zero confidence with their puck handling habilitys. I think the CH were poised to do better then they did upon entering the newNHL,... they already had the solid creative and skillfull elements with the Koivu's, the Kovalev's, the Ribeiro's and had a pletoria of newNHL approved talents landed to them by the previous organisation (Andre Savard),... Plekanec, Higgins, A.Kostsitsyn, Komisarek, Perezhogin.... I think that our organisation has failed to provide this group of talents all the supportive and strategic elements they needed to shine at a brither light during our first two seasons in the newNHL. Despite the reluctance and the hurdles, our players habilitys and confidence with the puck have managed to progress,.. " a long journey " as said Kovalev,... he went on defiling the 'dump and shase' scenario as a counterproductive stategy and an hindrance against the better alternatives that the passing and the playmaking habilitys is able to provide a team,... this lecture by Kovalev needed be heard.... for the good of hockey and that of our franchise in particular.

teamplayer's picture
on trade topic: glen sather is trying to get rid of malik. whats everybody think of this player, he is a ufa after the season would cost .950 against the cap, good defensive defensemen, great shootout move, but has been scratched a few times this year and is not happy at all in new york. sather is looking to get a top 4 defensemen for him???? which is insane for a ufa whose having a horrible season, just wondering what would you give up to get him or should gainey try to get him next season for how much?

24 Cups's picture
I wondered about Malik too, mainly because of his size. But there is something definitely wrong with this guy and how he's not fitting in with the Rangers, both on and off the ice. And this is with a team that is desperate for some good defensemen. O'Byrne will be back in a few weeks. So the question would become who would you sit to make room for Malik,. Streit? Gorges? Boullion? It won't beO'Byrne because he would have to go back to Hamilton to open up a roster spot for Malik. I think we should pass. The Original 24 Cups

Chorske's picture
Seriously, the camparison with Malakhov made below doesn't stand up. Kovy has been playing his ass of every night. He always shows up. He plays hard, he skates circles, and look at him sticking his upper body in front of that Poti shot. Sacrificing the body for the play and then playing with the pain. I can't begin to say how impressed I am with the total turnaround in attitude, team spirit, and work in general. I don't think this is a one-season thing. Like others have commented before me, it's clear that he's repurposed himself, committed himself. Either way, he is a treat, and I can't blame him for being pissed that the focus is on Ovechkin, rather than the Habs. The Habs don't get much respect: we're below the Leafs loss on the sports page at cbc.ca and not even on the front page at nhl.com- this despite shutting out a streaking, hot, talented team.

Chorske's picture
Sorry about the quadruple post of this yesterday, folks. My computer had issues.

Big Bird's picture
I still have four fingers left. Priceless.

I remember the french media and many fans on this site wanting to expel Kovy last year. I'm sure glad Gainey didnt listen to it and took a more proactive approach. What a masterful turn around by a very talented but sometimes misunderstood player. He is an artist as much as an athlete. TSN Sportscentre tonight started their highlights with the Sens, then the Habs, and third - the Leafs. Gotta love it!

P St. Pierre's picture
Alex Kovalev has been so good this year, both on the ice and in the dressing room with the media. His leadership qualities may have taken a while to develop, but they certainly seem to be shining through this season. When Carbonneau made him the captain versus the Rangers in December, he said that Kovalev "hates to lose more than any other player on the team." That is a very important comment regarding his committment to the franchise and the fans this season. I really hope that his beautiful season continues, not only for the team's sake, but also for his as well. He deserves the limited recognition he's received this season and hopefully he can deliver this team into the playoffs. If they could ever make any kind of run, I know who the Canadiens' playoff MVP would be.

MatttheHabsFan's picture
"I still have four fingers left." HAHAHA ~ This guy is unbelievable. I am so glad that Kovy's back at his best.

Ian G Cobb's picture
Wow ! did Kovalev ever dangle to-night, he looked like big Jean Beleveau dancing with that puck. I posted that we would blow them out before the game. But a shutout also, thats iceing on the cake for sure. Now that Alfredson is out of action, we have the best line in the game to-day. This was the first game that we played 60 min. of first class hockey. And that Georges is the real deal, fantastic poise for a kid and one play in the 2nd made me into an instant fan of him. Just a great game, from start to finish. And another plus, T.O. looses to the Blues. No trades needed here, we have all the horses that we need now thank you very much.!

MatttheHabsFan's picture
No kidding about Gorges eh Ian? shifts against Ovie and the Caps come away with nothing. I have read your posts for quite some time about this team not needing to make trades and i have posted something similar over and over. Dont trade away our future for one "peice" to the puzzle. Let'em play and let's see where they can go!

sidhu's picture
I share your enthusiasm with respect to how well the team as a whole has played, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say that trading a struggling player is out of the question (see e.g., Ryder). If the right trade is there and it will improve our team for little cost, I think BG should do it rather than sit on his hands.

showey47's picture
I agree also, we have 3 lines that are playing well but koivu needs an elite right winger. The team is playing very well but finding that one player who can really compliment saku and higgy would put us over the top.

Ian G Cobb's picture
Nice that we did not send Kovalev packing when he was floating last year. Everyone was calling for his head but management knows these guys inside out.! Wonder where I heard that before.

sidhu's picture
The analogy between Kovalev and Ryder is misleading because Ryder is a UFA at season's end, whereas Kovalev was not a UFA last year. Ryder will be packing his bags anyway when our season is over.

Very good point , Mr. Cobb.

likehoy's picture
kovalev was virtually an immovable object even if they wanted to move him. 4.5 million a year with 2 years left (as of last year when we wqanted him gone)...that's a risk on a fading player. Ryder is different... 2.95 million...only 1/3rd of his contract left and UFA. Easier to move for sure. Markov was supposed to be traded to atlanta years ago for the rights to draft kovalchuk...but he's still here, funny how those things work out...so it won't be for the lack of trying if Ryder is still around town. Ryder has limited future for our hockey club because of his lack of skating ability and defensive polish. Scoring goals is his forte and if he's not doing it...makes it all the easier to part ways with him.

God please resign Kovy to a nice deal. I wanna see him end his career with the CH on his chest. That is what I call leadership!

Agree 100%. After this season, Gainey should tear up Kovalev's contract (one year left) and give him a new one for four years. That way, he'll be with us for three years beyond the length of his current deal. He is a Hab now, wears the CH proudly and should also be wearing the "C." Can't take the "C" away from Koivu, of course, but what about a co-captain arrangement for as long as Koivu is here?

Sharing the "C" out with Kovalev would be an insult to Koivu. Despite Kovalev's turnaround, Koviu remains the heart, soul and face of the franchise. People put far too much stock on putting a letter on the front of somebody's jersey when they play well. Koivu earned his captaincy years ago, and nothing would please me more than the day when that is no longer questioned. Kovalev is playing fantastic and has been a great mentor for the Russians on the team. Higgins seems like he has been a great leader for the younger non-Russian players. Hence they are doing a great job as alternate captains. Add in Komisarek stepping up in the leadership department, both on- and off-ice, as well as the more subtle leadership of Markov and Hamrlik and this team is doing fine in that department.

sidhu's picture
Completely agree - he plays hard in all situations, has an undeniably positive attitude this season, is a great mentor for the youngsters, and is loved by the crowd. Montreal needs a player to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. I think his comments reflect the level of confidence the team has - the team played well regardless of who was on the other end. I'm curious to see what BG does by the trade deadline because I think we're close to making a serious run this year.

The Teacher's picture
Key point. "This season"

doug's picture
this guy is not vlad malakhov. i think he's turned the corner and will be a leader as long as we treat him like one. burying hard feelings from last year is not easy to do - and he did it after his discussion with gainey, etc. both sides were mature and the habs have benefited from a wise g.m. and a coach/star player who are willing to forgive the past.

The Teacher's picture
So far. you must forgive the scepticism.

likehoy's picture
agreed so far lets recap kovalevs 4 seasons with us season 1..3 points in 12 games ==> bad year season 2...65 points in 69 games ==> good year season 3... 47 points in 73 games ==> bad year season 4...on pace for 75 points in 82 games ==> good year season 5...looks like crap on again off again. so if this pattern is any indication...kovy's going to have an off year next year. Trade the guy :) jk don't jump the gun and sign this guy to a huge extension...komisarek and higgins need huge extensions...kovalev needs to be like selanne and dedicate himself to us and re-sign for 1 year deals so he can maintain his level of production. PLUS over 35...if a player retires...his salary counts against the cap NO MATTER WHAT...every single year of his contract.

teamplayer's picture
i dont think your right. if we sign him for 10 yrs and he retires after 1 season, we dont get hit with 9 seasons against our cap. I believe the only way we would get hit for those 9 seasons is if he retired due to an injury p.s. im not saying sign him for 10 yrs cuz thats just ridiculous

likehoy's picture
"When a player aged 35 or older signs a multi-year contract, his average salary is counted against the team's salary cap during every year of the contract, even if the player retires before the contract is up." that's the official rule according to http://proicehockey.about.com/od/thenewnhl/a/salary_cap_expl.htm

Bad call, Likehoy. Your season 1 (12 games) was far too short to pass judgment and he was excellent in the playoffs that year. In season 3 (last year) he played for a rookie coach who mistreated him and, he played hurt all year, yet never used it as an excuse for his lack of production. He is the perfect player/leader to complement our team's youth over the next few seasons.

likehoy's picture
i'm just taking a look at it statistically... season 1 he had an overall point total of 45 points in 78 games... season 3 every single fan was ready to run him out of town...if he gets 45 points we will yet again run him out of town...we are fickle...look at the treatment that half the forum gives koivu...i'm seriously just trying to make a point that anything can happen and we shouldn't just jump on the bandwagon this year then next year say "I told you he would suck."

doug's picture
skepticism - it's spelled with a "k", as in "kovalev", teach ;)

The Teacher's picture
That's what i had it at originally, but the stupid red line made me doubt myself!!! Sceptical skeptical I'm a skeptic about this whole spell-check stuff. AHAHA Red lines, red lines. Mr. Stewart is right, both ways are correct.

teamplayer's picture
where are these red lines for spell check that youre getting?

It can be spelled both ways. ;)

RiverviewCanadien's picture
I'll second that one I hope he didn't break his thumb, oh well, he can still score with the other 9 healthy fingers

Different situation than in NJ, but that was another nice 3rd period.

sidhu's picture
Great overall game - Pleks had another quiet but productive outing, S. Kostitsyn scored a pretty goal and was willing to throw his weight around, Captain K has look more engaged the past few games, the D was solid. Generally, this looks like a very confident team (Ryder perhaps is the most notable exception). I'd like to see what Halak has, but hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Blockbuster trade involving the Sharks! To SJ: Jody Shelley, to CBJ: a 6th round pick in the '09 draft

I really thought they were going to trade Shelley and a minor league goalie for Lecavalier.

MatttheHabsFan's picture
Strong answer to the Ducks getting Selanne

doug's picture
good one!

Komi with 5 hits, 5 blocked shots. Gorges plays 18:15, that's more than usual and blocks 5 shots. People have been on Lats, but he had 4 shots in about 10:00 of ice time.

doug's picture
Latendresse looks slow on an otherwise skating team. don't know if he can keep it up with just hands. ryder, who i've defended all season, does seem to be getting to the point that he needs a change of scenery. send him out west! don't need to see him torture us 4-8 times a year.

MPWRD42's picture
Huge game by Komisaurus again tonight - 5 hits and 5 block shots - a perfect 10! This guy is the unsung hero every night (by unsung I mean he hardly ever gets one of the 3 stars, but we all know how valuable he is!)

The Teacher's picture
Before everyone blows their tops. We have the same amount of wins and losses as do the Phoenix Coyotes.

teamplayer's picture
and phoenix has as many wins as san jose does (2nd place in the western conference) ... and toronto would be dead last if it werent for those overtime loss points. just saying they still count and we dont have a great shootout team

sidhu's picture
We also have one less win but three less losses (according to how you count losses) than the defending Cup Champs.

OTL are not the same as losses.

The Teacher's picture
Yes they are ;)

RH's picture
Are you sure about that?

doug's picture
Who were the three stars tonight? Mine are: 1. Kovalev 2. Huet 3. Plekanec Perhaps in the reverse order. . . couldn't believe how dominating the "second line" was tonight.

P St. Pierre's picture
3 stars were 1. Huet 2. Kovalev 3. Plekanec * *I'd give an honorable mention to Mark Streit, he had a pretty decent game as well.

Y's picture
Huet Kovy Pleks

Moey's picture
Why do I keep having this stranage feeling that I know you from somewhere?

Y's picture
Maybe you do The internet is a vast place ;)

Moey's picture
That's my boy, you had me at hello.

doug's picture
thanks, guys. i guess i agreed with whoever voted! agree that streit was probably fourth. . . begin looked good tonight as well.

P St. Pierre's picture
I agree. Begin could be a star in any of the games he's played since his return. I love the guy.

PattyBoy31's picture
justin.tv/habs31 password: brandy can anyone just tell me if its working so i have something to work with for next time?

working now. Let me know if you do it next game. I'd really appreciate it!

Big Bird's picture
me too please.

PattyBoy31's picture
I will, and I found out the problem with my system, its something to do with flash and my video card needing updating, should be working by then! I'll post in boones blog and i'll probably create a thread at hockeybuzz.com in the habs forums for any games i'm going to be doing

Chorske's picture
Nope

MatttheHabsFan's picture
Important win tonight, especially when you consider that the Sens, Flyers, Canes, Bruins, and Pens also won.

Then again, the Rangers, Islanders and Leafs lost. I'm still worried about making the playoffs, not jockeying for position in the top 8.

RCMP486's picture
Did anyone see Hamrlik seem to angrily push his way out of the celebration crowd? This and Mike's comment froom a couple of weeks ago about him telling someone in the locker room to f' off concerns me. We don't need another locker room cancer. Anyway, great win by the guys tonight! I can't wait to put ourselves to the test vs Ottawa!

P St. Pierre's picture
If Hamerlik did get a stick in the face, that would explain his reaction at the end of the game. This guy has a slight temper (which is good) and he probably was a bit ticked off that Gorges wasn't more careful with his stick. However, I wouldn't worry about this causing a long term problem. He seems like the kind of veteran who would shake the whole thing off within a half hour or so.

MatttheHabsFan's picture
RCMP...get your evidence straight;)

I did see that also.. Looks like josh georges stick hit him in the face .. I love dvr..

doug's picture
Good call - that's all it was. An immediate reaction to getting a stick to the face. . . he was the first guy to the group to congratulate huet then got it in the face and gave the youngster Georges a little "watch your frigging stick!" totally normal reaction.

Chorske's picture
I don't need all 20 guys to like each other. I just want them to win. I'm assuming guys in pro sports tell each other to f*** off all the time.

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