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Bell Centre Bore, Trade Talk, Reconvene the Competition Committee |
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1) If that game's a harbinger of what's to come, entertainment value will be at an all time low at the Bell Centre from here to the end of the season. Obviously, execution was lacking, and Michel Therrien pointed to that several times in his post-game comments. He also mentioned that he was impressed with Alex Galchenyuk's game, which begs the question everyone wanted to ask but didn't; why couldn't he get a shift in overtime, especially at 3-on-3?
A direct second guess is tough to put out there after an overtime loss to a divisional rival, and it's not as if the answer would've been revelatory. Therrien's actions speak louder than words, and his actions suggest he still believes Galchenyuk doesn't have the composure for overtime.
Are Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges better options at 3-on-3? This question's rhetorical.
2) One player that was enjoyable to watch last night was David Desharnais, especially at three-on-three. Another was P.K. Subban. Andrei Markov was engaged, Ryan White was engaged, Jarred Tinordi was engaged too.
It wasn't exactly smooth sailing for Daniel Briere and Lars Eller, though the former did assist on Gionta's last minute heroics.
I thought the break would be excellent for Eller, but he looked as lost last night as he had for the couple of months leading up to the break. It's just my inclination, but I really think Eller has no clue what his role is on the team. Seems his focus has changed from trying to provoke some offense to accepting some offense as a secondary part of his defensive game. All that aside, he couldn't make a play last night.
3) Another player's struggle was plainly obvious: Alexei Emelin. Through the first two periods, he was a complete mess. He was getting beat in most of his one-on-one battles, losing coverage--clearly lapsing on communication with his partner, and even the pucks he seemed to win got immediately turned over.
Emelin's comeback, without much sheltering from the coaching staff (he sees a top six matchup almost exclusively) combined with not having a break for the Olympics begs the question as to whether or not he'll find consistency again this season. He really needs another full off-season to get his game back to where it was before he got injured. He has the work ethic, and we know what he can do at this level. Right now, it's clear that he's limited.
4) Speaking of obvious: Today's NHL is flat out boring. It's not just the Canadiens. Obstruction acceptance is at an all time high since 2006, and it's seemingly only sliding more towards the kind of hockey we despised from 1998-2004.
The defensive systems are so tight, the structure is so rigid, and the allowance of such blatant interference is just ruining the game.
And no, the answer is not making the nets bigger. The answer is rigidly cracking down on the interference, hooking and holding infractions. Some would posit that the NHL's slowly moved off this to avoid the high speed collisions that were causing scary injuries. This is hockey we're talking about; the sport where bare-knuckled boxing is subject to a five minute penalty.
Even with all the obstruction, you aren't going to avoid ugly injuries. The defensive structure forces players to dangerous parts of the ice if they want to win, so injuries are a natural consequence of that.
On the Canadiens powerplay last night, a puck slipped by P.K. Subban that would've given speedy Darren Helm a breakaway from his own zone, but Subban took him out of the play without penalty. This is the kind of play the NHL needs to come down hard on.
With the defensive structure of teams, most of them force you to dump the puck in, and you don't have a chance of retrieving it if you're held up at the line after you dump it. This was an automatic call that the NHL hasn't removed from the rulebook, but the referees have been instructed to allow to avoid a defensemen getting run at full speed. THIS IS HOCKEY. Players get hit at full speed. Calling this penalty regularly puts a premium on having players in your lineup that can skate.
What happened to the competition committee? Time for another summit...
5) Peter Budaj was real good against the Red Wings. Not that the Wings--despite out-shooting the Habs and completely outworking them in the second period, particularly--were given so many opportunities to bury the biscuit.
He was good enough to have Therrien consider starting him again, tonight in Pittsburgh.
But maybe, just maybe, this would be the perfect time to see what Dustin Tokarski can offer you. Tokarski's been Hamilton's best player this year, and he could be an ex-factor for the Canadiens tonight against a Penguins team that you might expect to be dominant.
6) The Habs have a chance tonight if...
If they score first. If they jump on Pittsburgh right away, taking advantage of whatever Olympic rust the Penguins may have in their first game back.
Otherwise...
7) Speaking with an unnamed team's head pro scout in attendance at last night's game, here are a few things I picked up:
-Ryan Callahan must be certain that Buffalo is going to pay him what he's currently asking for (upwards of $7M/season). Otherwise, if he thinks he's worth more than Ryan Kesler, David Backes, and Joe Pavelski--just to name a few of his USA teammates, he's out of his mind.
-The general consensus in management circles around the league regarding the possibility of Andrei Markov being traded: They'd be shocked. You just don't trade a core player at the deadline when you're well entrenched in a playoff spot, roughly a week from that deadline.
-How many years can Andrei Markov net on the free market? A bunch of teams would happily give him three if he makes it to July 1st, and the Edmonton Oilers would probably give him four.
-There's a chance certain teams would want Daniel Briere at the deadline, but the extra year on his contract would likely necessitate the Canadiens retaining some salary in the deal.
-Out of the three defensemen Montreal might want to move to make some room for Tinordi and Beaulieu, Doug Murray actually holds some pretty decent value. Cheap contract to pick up, and Therrien's insistence on playing him has helped his value.
Another observation on Murray: When the Canadiens came into Boston in January and beat the Bruins 4-1, scouts weren't just impressed with the performance from the team. They noticed that the Habs were able to play the game without being pushed around, because Parros dressed, Murray dressed, Prust dressed, and Moen dressed. When Pittsburgh went out last year and got Murray, Iginla, Morrow, they were setting themselves up for the eventuality that they'd have to face Boston in the playoffs to get the Finals. We know how that all went, but it won't dissuade teams from trying to add toughness and depth to their lineup.
This test for Tinordi right now is pretty important. He needs to pass it, and pass it with some physicality. Moving Murray will be the best option to free up a spot for Tinordi in the lineup, and yet, moving him might be tough if Emelin doesn't find some comfort zone in his game.
-As you know, Travis Moen could be an upgrade on depth players for some of the contenders out there. He's got winning experience, he's played very well this season, and he's a known commodity. While it hurts the Canadiens that he's signed for another two seasons at $1.85M, that's the kind of contract teams are more likely willing to offer up a precious second round pick for, rather than just a rental. Not sure Moen could fetch more, but it is possible.
8) Best play in last night's game, other than the two goals Detroit scored, was Markov breaking up a 2-on-1; a sliding pokecheck at 3-on-3, on a Pavel Datsyuk setup that would've for sure found the back of the net.
9) Easily ignored in last night's storyline, the Habs have collected points in five of their last six, with three wins and two overtime losses. Pretty valuable considering the schedule in front of them.
10) Last night marked the first of 23 games in 46 nights. In Pittsburgh tonight, back for the Leafs on Saturday, on the road for Los Angeles, Anaheim, Phoenix and San Jose. First game back against Boston, and then they welcome Ottawa. The whole season rides on this stretch of games.
There's a chance (probably a minute one at this point) that Carey Price is ready come Saturday. Pray hard, Habs fans....
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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