After an entertaining and spirit lifting win over the Senators, once the Eastern Conference leader, Saturday brought an even tougher opponent who is on the upside of overtaking the lead of the Eastern Conference. After all the games were decided on a busy NHL day, the Canadiens were one point away from that spot.
The last time I saw that much red at the Staples Center, the Kings were playing Detroit and that near never goes well. Perhaps, it is the color because the matinee on the scoreboard went no better. In what has to become a reality check for other teams, the Kings rarely play like a last place team. Free points don’t exist in Los Angeles on most nights. Teams who fail to show up figure that out. Montreal might have become another sobered opponent but for a second period flurry of goals for the visitors.
For many, myself included, playing the Canadiens open old wounds and bad dreams of an illegal stick and a championship that would make the Ducks’ win easier to live with. Of that 1993 victory, the only remnants in Montreal other than the banner and bragging rights are Patrice Brisebois, now a part-time 37 year old player who dressed after ten games in the press box and their current coach, Guy Carbonneau. The player managed to acquit himself nicely with the first goal of the second rewarding his former teammate with his slice of ice opportunity.
Brisebois on the win and his Cup memories
The Kings started strong and despite no scoring in the first, played the better game. Los Angeles almost opened the scoring but for a waived off power play goal, they might have had the upper hand. The referee nullified the score based upon the call that Halak was interfered with. Replays showed otherwise, but that is spilt milk now.
In the second, the Canadiens actually had far less possession time to the tune of 4:30
total, seven shots and a scary three goals on the first five shots made. In contrast, the Kings had 17 shots, 13 minutes of possession time but thanks to Halak, only one score in the middle period.
In the third, the visitors showed why they stand where they do. With a lead going in, they played solid, shutdown, impressive hockey. The last power play against them, the Kings barely got in the zone they were so solid on the kill. Considering Montreal is coached by a former Selke winner, perhaps my theory that players take on the style of play their coach played when he was in the NHL has legs. It sure felt that way.
I will say that if the Canadiens plan to allow that many shots, that many crashes of their own crease, the playoffs may not bring the Cup that Montreal’s fans have come to expect as the gold standard. There, losing in the Cup Final makes them the first loser, not the winner of their own Conference. That just is and is a burden that scares some free agents away.
Halak followed the norm this year by being a back-up facing the Kings. It was his first start since April 5, 2007. This year he has only had two relief appearances in net. Of course, this was before the surprise Huet trade. Bob Gainey may or may not have known what he had between Price and Halak. He also may have just been lucky. Most teams trying to win their Conference and the Cup do not trade their #1 guy. (Ya think?!)
I read post deadline quotes from Gainey where he explained that since Huet was about to become a UFA, he planned to pull the trigger if he got an offer. Washington’s opportunistic suggestion of a second rounder motivated Gainey to pull the trigger as he planned in advance.
Kings’ fans, including myself, will always question whether or if Lombardi had such an opportunity for Los Angeles’ unrestricted free agents, why he either (1) Failed to pull the trigger; or (2) Gave no trade clauses to players such as Thornton. That choice prevented Lombardi from gaining assets off filler player’s contracts in an organization with holes to fill. That is a question I suspect will come up with season ticket holders on Sunday.
Here is a Montreal article previewing the game and an opportunity to watch firsthand the game highlights:
Halak’s First Start
Game Highlights Watch Here
Here are Patrick O’Sullivan’s take post-game:
“We were down in there in the second period. We had so many chances. I thought we played pretty hard tonight. We battled. They got a lot of chances go in. We made a few mistakes against a team like that, which was the difference.”
On the team’s surge after Blake’s 700th career point and goal:
“It gave us some momentum and with ‘Blakey’ …. 700th point, everyone was pretty happy for him. … I wish we could start games like that. It seems like sometimes we have to get down by a goal or two to really get it going. We were just trying to keep them in their end. If we did that throughout the game, then we made a couple mistakes and they are so good offensively, they took advantage of those.
On the penalty kill:
“They have a good power play for sure. I think the big thing is they move the puck quick. Every guy they have out there is dangerous. It’s difficult. I thought we did fairly well there. Obviously, they had the one goal by Koivu. They had the goal by the guy standing there with the tip. (Kopitar’s skate) They didn’t have a lot of opportunities. I guess that was beneficial for us. We stayed out of the box tonight.”
On out-shooting, out chancing the Canadiens and still losing:
“It is frustrating. It has happened before. Situations like that are going to happen throughout the year. You can get out-shot and end up winning so it goes both ways. It is frustrating. Halak’s a good goalie. I played against him in the minors a couple years ago. He plays real well. He is good off the rebounds. He is pretty square to the shot.”
On playing against the Canadiens:
“It is not very often we get to play against an Original Six team. Any time you get to play against one, it is pretty cool. Obviously in our division, we don’t have any Original Six teams, so we don’t really get to play them all that often. It’s exciting. You look around the rink you have a lot of fans with Montreal jerseys on, chanting and all that other stuff. It is the most storied franchise in the league. It is pretty cool.”
Carla Muller
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