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Montreal Canadiens Blogger •
Add this one to the one in Edmonton, and the one in Calgary, and that makes three games the Canadiens deserved a better fate in. That being said, they were three games lost on mistakes you can rarely afford to make in the National Hockey League. Mistakes the Canadiens paid dearly for, as they extended a three-game losing streak to four, last night. We’ll get to that in a minute…
If you’re blaming the refs last night, I don’t blame you. If the fact that the Canadiens played the final 15 seconds of the game with 7 players on the ice (without anybody noticing) wasn’t a clear indication of the refs being in another building, I don’t know what is. I don’t agree that they cost the Canadiens the game, but the fans were justifiably irate with the way it was officiated.
Before we walked into the dressing room last night, Brian Wilde of CTV remarked the following: “If this were 2005, that top line of Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri would be dominating on the forecheck.” What Brian was referring to was the commitment the NHL put forth post-lockout in cracking down on interference; a commitment that has fully fallen by the wayside.
What was the biggest complaint from defensemen after the rule changes were made, and old rules were finally being enforced? Easy…they were complaining about not being able to hold up a forechecker at the blueline in order to protect their partner from being forced into turning the puck over, or worse, getting smashed and injured. The purpose of enforcing this rule was to bring the forecheck back to the game of hockey, and force the defensemen to move the puck quicker as opposed to settling it behind their own net and slowing down the pace of the game.
Brian’s right: If Gomez, Gionta, and Cammalleri were free to get in without having to fight through at the blueline, they’d practically be unstoppable. On the flip side, if opposing forecheckers got a full crack at Montreal’s defense…let’s not go there. Either way, the rule isn’t being enforced whatsoever, which would indicate we’re one stride away from the incessant clutching and grabbing that made hockey so unappetizing, before the lockout. And we can all agree that “My New NHL”, as it was conceptualized and practiced in the first year after the lockout, was much more exciting than the current product we’re being fed.
I digress...it’s a game of mistakes, and though the Avalanche made plenty of them last night, the Canadiens didn’t make them pay for it. The missed opportunities on the powerplay in the first period allowing Colorado to stay in this game long enough to get it tied at 1. Two bad bounces cost the Canadiens a 1-0 lead, but their determination allowed them to even the game up in the third period.
The mistake made on the winning goal was inexcusable. Argue all you like about the officiating, but Gomez reversed into a check when he should have been pushing forward, and because his lid flew off, Mara felt it was his responsibility to stand up for his star player who took a tough hit.
“It’s a sticky situation; 2-2 game with five minutes left, and he’s one of our star players…” Mara was so focused on punishing McLoed for his hit on Gomez that he turned his back to the ensuing play. Shawn Belle left the front of the net, and Brian Gionta was stuck flailing aggressively towards the puck on a 2-on-1 in front of Carey Price. With that, the Canadiens lost another game they should have won.
**********
As someone who heavily criticized Tomas Plekanec’s play and attitude regularly, last season, it brings me great joy to commend him for what seems to be a new approach to the game that he’s brought this season. He’s much more aggressive on the boards, much more willing to play in the middle of the ice as opposed to the perimeter, and his hard work is paying dividends.
Andrei Kostitsyn was extremely impressive through most of his shifts, leading up to the game-tying goal in the third period, where he exhibited his exceptional skill in setting up Plekanec. But you know what his best shift of the night was? The one right after the goal he set up. The one where he tumbled full-steam into the boards on the forecheck, then got right back up and stormed Adam Foote on the backcheck. That was the best shift of his game, because he showed more determination in those 30 seconds than he has all season. When he’s going full speed, and he’s the aggressor, he’s nearly unstoppable.
Completing that line for the second half of the game; Mac Pacioretty played his most inspired hockey of the year. He earned an assist on Plekanec’s goal for his efforts.
*****
-Mike Cammalleri has yet to find the back of the net as a Montreal Canadien. But maybe we shouldn’t worry too much about that, because he doesn’t seem worried at all: “We’re losing games by a goal here and there, and I feel like if I could have provided that (scoring) then we’d get some points out of these games. That’s the part that’s not sitting so well with me. I’m confident in the fact that I’m going to score many, many goals with this jersey on, it’s just a matter of: I wish I could have done it in these few games, so we could grab points for our team.”
-How long before Maxim Lapierre gets a serious reprimand from his coach? He’s beyond invisible at this point. He’s playing poorly, with the exception of his prowess in the faceoff circle. Last night, he won 6 draws and lost 2. He also was -1, had more giveaways than hits, and was credited with 2 shots on net (if that’s what you want to call the flutter-pucks that made it to Anderson off Lapierre’s stick.)
-Shawn Belle played reasonably well for his first NHL game in 2 years, but was on the wrong end of some unlucky bounces last night—including being paired with Paul Mara, who played his worst game in a Canadiens uniform, thus far.
********
1. Are you happy with the way the Canadiens have been playing, despite their record?
2. If you could make any changes to the lineup, what would they be?
3. Do you think they’ll beat the Senators on Saturday?
4. Do you think Jacques Martin should consider dressing seven defensemen?
5. Can the Canadiens make the playoffs with their current roster, sans Markov, sans O’Byrne, sans Metropolit?
6. How do you feel about Carey Price’s performance so far?
7. What are you most disappointed with through 6 games?
8. What’s pleased you the most through 6 games?
9. Do you believe Sergei Kostitsyn will be given another chance with the Canadiens this season?
10. How many goals will Cammalleri score against Ottawa on Saturday?
*********
If you’re blaming the refs last night, I don’t blame you. If the fact that the Canadiens played the final 15 seconds of the game with 7 players on the ice (without anybody noticing) wasn’t a clear indication of the refs being in another building, I don’t know what is. I don’t agree that they cost the Canadiens the game, but the fans were justifiably irate with the way it was officiated.
Before we walked into the dressing room last night, Brian Wilde of CTV remarked the following: “If this were 2005, that top line of Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri would be dominating on the forecheck.” What Brian was referring to was the commitment the NHL put forth post-lockout in cracking down on interference; a commitment that has fully fallen by the wayside.
What was the biggest complaint from defensemen after the rule changes were made, and old rules were finally being enforced? Easy…they were complaining about not being able to hold up a forechecker at the blueline in order to protect their partner from being forced into turning the puck over, or worse, getting smashed and injured. The purpose of enforcing this rule was to bring the forecheck back to the game of hockey, and force the defensemen to move the puck quicker as opposed to settling it behind their own net and slowing down the pace of the game.
Brian’s right: If Gomez, Gionta, and Cammalleri were free to get in without having to fight through at the blueline, they’d practically be unstoppable. On the flip side, if opposing forecheckers got a full crack at Montreal’s defense…let’s not go there. Either way, the rule isn’t being enforced whatsoever, which would indicate we’re one stride away from the incessant clutching and grabbing that made hockey so unappetizing, before the lockout. And we can all agree that “My New NHL”, as it was conceptualized and practiced in the first year after the lockout, was much more exciting than the current product we’re being fed.
I digress...it’s a game of mistakes, and though the Avalanche made plenty of them last night, the Canadiens didn’t make them pay for it. The missed opportunities on the powerplay in the first period allowing Colorado to stay in this game long enough to get it tied at 1. Two bad bounces cost the Canadiens a 1-0 lead, but their determination allowed them to even the game up in the third period.
The mistake made on the winning goal was inexcusable. Argue all you like about the officiating, but Gomez reversed into a check when he should have been pushing forward, and because his lid flew off, Mara felt it was his responsibility to stand up for his star player who took a tough hit.
“It’s a sticky situation; 2-2 game with five minutes left, and he’s one of our star players…” Mara was so focused on punishing McLoed for his hit on Gomez that he turned his back to the ensuing play. Shawn Belle left the front of the net, and Brian Gionta was stuck flailing aggressively towards the puck on a 2-on-1 in front of Carey Price. With that, the Canadiens lost another game they should have won.
**********
As someone who heavily criticized Tomas Plekanec’s play and attitude regularly, last season, it brings me great joy to commend him for what seems to be a new approach to the game that he’s brought this season. He’s much more aggressive on the boards, much more willing to play in the middle of the ice as opposed to the perimeter, and his hard work is paying dividends.
Andrei Kostitsyn was extremely impressive through most of his shifts, leading up to the game-tying goal in the third period, where he exhibited his exceptional skill in setting up Plekanec. But you know what his best shift of the night was? The one right after the goal he set up. The one where he tumbled full-steam into the boards on the forecheck, then got right back up and stormed Adam Foote on the backcheck. That was the best shift of his game, because he showed more determination in those 30 seconds than he has all season. When he’s going full speed, and he’s the aggressor, he’s nearly unstoppable.
Completing that line for the second half of the game; Mac Pacioretty played his most inspired hockey of the year. He earned an assist on Plekanec’s goal for his efforts.
*****
-Mike Cammalleri has yet to find the back of the net as a Montreal Canadien. But maybe we shouldn’t worry too much about that, because he doesn’t seem worried at all: “We’re losing games by a goal here and there, and I feel like if I could have provided that (scoring) then we’d get some points out of these games. That’s the part that’s not sitting so well with me. I’m confident in the fact that I’m going to score many, many goals with this jersey on, it’s just a matter of: I wish I could have done it in these few games, so we could grab points for our team.”
-How long before Maxim Lapierre gets a serious reprimand from his coach? He’s beyond invisible at this point. He’s playing poorly, with the exception of his prowess in the faceoff circle. Last night, he won 6 draws and lost 2. He also was -1, had more giveaways than hits, and was credited with 2 shots on net (if that’s what you want to call the flutter-pucks that made it to Anderson off Lapierre’s stick.)
-Shawn Belle played reasonably well for his first NHL game in 2 years, but was on the wrong end of some unlucky bounces last night—including being paired with Paul Mara, who played his worst game in a Canadiens uniform, thus far.
********
1. Are you happy with the way the Canadiens have been playing, despite their record?
2. If you could make any changes to the lineup, what would they be?
3. Do you think they’ll beat the Senators on Saturday?
4. Do you think Jacques Martin should consider dressing seven defensemen?
5. Can the Canadiens make the playoffs with their current roster, sans Markov, sans O’Byrne, sans Metropolit?
6. How do you feel about Carey Price’s performance so far?
7. What are you most disappointed with through 6 games?
8. What’s pleased you the most through 6 games?
9. Do you believe Sergei Kostitsyn will be given another chance with the Canadiens this season?
10. How many goals will Cammalleri score against Ottawa on Saturday?
*********
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