Last year, the western road trip broke Carey Price, and the rest of the team -- something like 12 goals in 2 games, a desperate win in Dallas, and then Carbo was fired. Jose Theodore got broke the same way, and was later traded by Gainey because he never recovered.
Well, new team - new rituals - new play... 11 GAA in 2 games. Granted, the loss in Calgary was actually a really entertaining, close game. And perhaps a little justice in losing a game like that after stealing 2 points in Toronto and Buffalo. But getting crushed by Vancouver... again?!?
I only saw (some) of the highlights, and I gotta say not all of the goals were Price's fault (of course not). But my problem is this: where is Jacques new system? Did he not know that GM Place is a bad place for the Habs? Did he not scout the Canucks well enough?
You know Vigneault was ready. You know Vancouver is desperate for a win. You know Luongo is gonna be on. It was a high paced energetic game in Calgary... Jacques has to have his team prepped. Vancouver, although stoked for the win, was fragile. Frustrate them early and keep it close, Vancouver might just flop on itself...
Ah who knows. I'm frustrated. I'm sick of getting spanked out west, and having the team shredded. I'm sure the Habs will recover this time, but still. I think next year the Habs go out west I'll cut my cable or something so I don't have to watch.
And really, I'm waiting to see something from Jacques, beside his "play my best players the most" technique, which he learned from Pat Quinn. No way Jacques has lost the room so early on, so let's see some damn coaching.
Price will be fine, so long as he keeps playing like he has in his first few games.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Game 2 summary: Habs win in OT again 2-1
Well, I seemed to have predicted right: except I over estimated Buffalo's scoring talent I guess. Or under-estimated Price.
We won 2-1 in OT, and the 2 goals could not be more different. Whereas Moen basically forced the puck into the net with his body, forgoing his stick entirely and instead taking the puck, goalie and net with him in what has to be the cheesiest goal I have ever seen (but it was a goal - Miller kicked it over the line before he was crushed) -- Gionta's goal was pure heads up talent - drop pass, drive the net, excellent anticipation and hand-eye co-ordination to tap it in from out of the air at the side of the net.
But the game was very similar to Toronto: the Habs were once again disorganised, and spent most of the first period behind their own hashmarks (nevermind blue line). 6 power plays, nothing to show for it. 34-15 the shots for Buffalo. I'm sure the Gazette can give you a nice recap.
A word on Gomez: the kid has vision. The kid has heart. He skates like a superstar. He also gives away the puck a lot on "creative" passes that no one but Gionta can see coming. Everytime he dishes the puck to Mara, for example, Mara looks like someone just threw him a surprise birthday party. Gomez isn't a bad choice to build a team around, but the team had better step up their mental game to make Gomez affective. Instead of a turnover monkey. (This is opposed to Kovalev, who would simply skate into a crowd and lose it.)
A word on Price: what a difference a summer can make. Stoic, poised, prepared, grounded. He's not getting upset at what gets by him. He's not over-committing on shots. He's using his size, so that if he does miss the shot, it ends up going wide. Its really a site to see: I hope he can keep it up.
The dreaded Western Road Trip that broke Theodore years ago, and Price last year, is coming up. Lets hope Martin can get his team going so that the only shining star, Price, doesn't get snuffed.
And let's hope Moen keeps on making sure the Habs are in a position to win at the end of the game :)
We won 2-1 in OT, and the 2 goals could not be more different. Whereas Moen basically forced the puck into the net with his body, forgoing his stick entirely and instead taking the puck, goalie and net with him in what has to be the cheesiest goal I have ever seen (but it was a goal - Miller kicked it over the line before he was crushed) -- Gionta's goal was pure heads up talent - drop pass, drive the net, excellent anticipation and hand-eye co-ordination to tap it in from out of the air at the side of the net.
But the game was very similar to Toronto: the Habs were once again disorganised, and spent most of the first period behind their own hashmarks (nevermind blue line). 6 power plays, nothing to show for it. 34-15 the shots for Buffalo. I'm sure the Gazette can give you a nice recap.
A word on Gomez: the kid has vision. The kid has heart. He skates like a superstar. He also gives away the puck a lot on "creative" passes that no one but Gionta can see coming. Everytime he dishes the puck to Mara, for example, Mara looks like someone just threw him a surprise birthday party. Gomez isn't a bad choice to build a team around, but the team had better step up their mental game to make Gomez affective. Instead of a turnover monkey. (This is opposed to Kovalev, who would simply skate into a crowd and lose it.)
A word on Price: what a difference a summer can make. Stoic, poised, prepared, grounded. He's not getting upset at what gets by him. He's not over-committing on shots. He's using his size, so that if he does miss the shot, it ends up going wide. Its really a site to see: I hope he can keep it up.
The dreaded Western Road Trip that broke Theodore years ago, and Price last year, is coming up. Lets hope Martin can get his team going so that the only shining star, Price, doesn't get snuffed.
And let's hope Moen keeps on making sure the Habs are in a position to win at the end of the game :)
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Game 2: Habs v Sabres -- predictions - L 5-2
I don't have much more to say today, so I'll keep this short.
Buffalo wins 5-2.
Ruff always has an organized team, and they have kept their speed. I think the Sabres will finish where the Leafs could not, and the pylon line that is the current defence will get ripped to pieces.
Also, you can't count on the 4th line to score 2 goals and keep you in the game -- these guys get less than 10 goals a year. Unless Moen becomes the unlikely Bertuzzi for Gomez and Gionta ;)
Anyhow, see you at 7pm for the tweets.
Buffalo wins 5-2.
Ruff always has an organized team, and they have kept their speed. I think the Sabres will finish where the Leafs could not, and the pylon line that is the current defence will get ripped to pieces.
Also, you can't count on the 4th line to score 2 goals and keep you in the game -- these guys get less than 10 goals a year. Unless Moen becomes the unlikely Bertuzzi for Gomez and Gionta ;)
Anyhow, see you at 7pm for the tweets.
Markov Gone 4 months: the purge is complete
Well, certainly not part of Gainey's design, but the 2008/2009 Montreal Canadiens are almost certainly wiped clean off the roster now. All the stars from years past are no longer playing, and Mighty Markov was the last to go. Whereas I called the 2007/08 team "a bunch of rookies and Russians," I now call the team "a bunch of rookies and I don't even know what."
All the "star" and favorite players from last year are gone, except Carey Price, and I'm watching a bunch of players I barely know.
So, are we ruined? Doomed? No Markov, fold up shop and go home?
No.
Whereas Lang's injury was crucial last year (it poked the hole in the balloon, which just took some time to burst) it came at a vital time in the season: the post all-star playoff rush.
Markov's injury is no less severe: but its not as bad a blow. He will be back in January/February, providing they don't rush him, and will be a huge bonus to the team. Like Sergei Gonchar was for the Pens. This also provides valuable development time for the (as mentioned before) completely disjoint team to gel. Spacek and Mara or whoever are going to have to figure out how to make the power play work. Hamerlik is going to have to learn to play like a first line D-man again. This vacuum of talent that Markov leaves is not a bad thing, this early.
If the Habs can stay .500 until January, allow some of the new acquisitions to start to grow into their colours (Blue Blanc Rouge!) and work together as a team, then when Markov comes back, the team will be in great shape.
Markov -- I love you, I'll miss you, and I can't wait to get you back. But really, there is no better learning ground for this crappy defence core to figure itself out then to lose their top guy.
I still wish Markov was playing: I'm not a complete Ridiculous! But where last year we saw Max Laps and Gui-LaTender really step up as the rest of the team faltered, so now is a chance for all our new defencemen to get into this team.
Good luck lads, you'll need it!
All the "star" and favorite players from last year are gone, except Carey Price, and I'm watching a bunch of players I barely know.
So, are we ruined? Doomed? No Markov, fold up shop and go home?
No.
Whereas Lang's injury was crucial last year (it poked the hole in the balloon, which just took some time to burst) it came at a vital time in the season: the post all-star playoff rush.
Markov's injury is no less severe: but its not as bad a blow. He will be back in January/February, providing they don't rush him, and will be a huge bonus to the team. Like Sergei Gonchar was for the Pens. This also provides valuable development time for the (as mentioned before) completely disjoint team to gel. Spacek and Mara or whoever are going to have to figure out how to make the power play work. Hamerlik is going to have to learn to play like a first line D-man again. This vacuum of talent that Markov leaves is not a bad thing, this early.
If the Habs can stay .500 until January, allow some of the new acquisitions to start to grow into their colours (Blue Blanc Rouge!) and work together as a team, then when Markov comes back, the team will be in great shape.
Markov -- I love you, I'll miss you, and I can't wait to get you back. But really, there is no better learning ground for this crappy defence core to figure itself out then to lose their top guy.
I still wish Markov was playing: I'm not a complete Ridiculous! But where last year we saw Max Laps and Gui-LaTender really step up as the rest of the team faltered, so now is a chance for all our new defencemen to get into this team.
Good luck lads, you'll need it!
Thoughts after game 1 2009/2010
Well, The Habs were able to pull off a most unlikely upset against the Maple Leafs -- and I'm pretty sure Bob Gainey slept well Thursday night.
What I saw was very interesting: a completely disjoint set of talented players, unsure of their roles, their plays, and their positioning. I saw terribly slow and often absent defencive coverage, and I saw a lot of individual efforts. And I saw Carey Price play a great game.
Toronto looked like a dangerous offensive team on Thursday. They were able to penetrate with speed, get open in the slot, and showed great composure and puck control. This was evident in the shot totals. Thing is, the Leafs aren't supposed to have any offence! They are supposed to be a crimpled bunch of hacks desperately waiting for Kessle to show up, and Burke to shed part of his D-roster to bring in some more firepower! And they almost get 50 shots!
The new Habs, on the other side, could barely clear the zone; they seemed to always be searching for passes instead of being ready for them. They seemed completely disjoint, on every line. Even Markov looked confused out there -- and he is supposed to be the main setup guy! (More on him later).
I was assured by Habs pundits we wouldn't see the top 3 newbies out there together - and although Jacques was juggling his lines, it didn't take long for Gionta - Gomez - Camilleri to get lined up together. Like, in the first period. And sure enough, you got 4 lines who were pretty lost out there.
It wasn't until the third, when Gomez and Gionta could smell a win despite being down a goal, that they got trucking. Plekanec did what he was told to do in the off-season: use his speed and take those shots! But in doing so, he never became the setup man for Kostitsyn, who showed he has a killer shot, but never really got into the game (despite his usual dirty play). Lapierre and Latendress, who by the end of last season where the main horses for the Habs, seemed confused as to their role -- not uncommitted, as they skated hard and generated a few chances, but almost like: "coach, should we be playing the trap or forechecking the hell out of this team?"
The fourth line scored 2 goals -- one on the power play! Encouraging? Kinda, but they had shifts where they might as well have been on my beer league team. Lost in their own end, no coverage, and letting the Leafs sachet around them.
And the D, did I mention, was terrible? Their "power play" setup might have worked on Thursday, because the Leafs were probably expecting something organised, precise, and vicious. They kept waiting for the power play to get a flow -- instead, we caught them by surprise. "Surprise! We're making this up as we go along!"
In short, the Habs look like a bunch of guys who can play hockey, but have no idea how to play hockey together. Jacques had to rely on his new talent to pull off an unlikely victory -- would you rather have that now, the first game of the season? Or in June? Jacques was supposed to provide structure, traps, discipline... and I saw a NHL Maple Leafs team shred their way through a Sunday morning shinny group.
Of course, I also saw the Maple Leafs loose, so it wasn't all bad.
Anyhow, I fear any good team is gonna rip the Habs apart. And if Jacques burns out his best players in October / November, its gonna be a quiet May/June on St Catherines street.
What I saw was very interesting: a completely disjoint set of talented players, unsure of their roles, their plays, and their positioning. I saw terribly slow and often absent defencive coverage, and I saw a lot of individual efforts. And I saw Carey Price play a great game.
Toronto looked like a dangerous offensive team on Thursday. They were able to penetrate with speed, get open in the slot, and showed great composure and puck control. This was evident in the shot totals. Thing is, the Leafs aren't supposed to have any offence! They are supposed to be a crimpled bunch of hacks desperately waiting for Kessle to show up, and Burke to shed part of his D-roster to bring in some more firepower! And they almost get 50 shots!
The new Habs, on the other side, could barely clear the zone; they seemed to always be searching for passes instead of being ready for them. They seemed completely disjoint, on every line. Even Markov looked confused out there -- and he is supposed to be the main setup guy! (More on him later).
I was assured by Habs pundits we wouldn't see the top 3 newbies out there together - and although Jacques was juggling his lines, it didn't take long for Gionta - Gomez - Camilleri to get lined up together. Like, in the first period. And sure enough, you got 4 lines who were pretty lost out there.
It wasn't until the third, when Gomez and Gionta could smell a win despite being down a goal, that they got trucking. Plekanec did what he was told to do in the off-season: use his speed and take those shots! But in doing so, he never became the setup man for Kostitsyn, who showed he has a killer shot, but never really got into the game (despite his usual dirty play). Lapierre and Latendress, who by the end of last season where the main horses for the Habs, seemed confused as to their role -- not uncommitted, as they skated hard and generated a few chances, but almost like: "coach, should we be playing the trap or forechecking the hell out of this team?"
The fourth line scored 2 goals -- one on the power play! Encouraging? Kinda, but they had shifts where they might as well have been on my beer league team. Lost in their own end, no coverage, and letting the Leafs sachet around them.
And the D, did I mention, was terrible? Their "power play" setup might have worked on Thursday, because the Leafs were probably expecting something organised, precise, and vicious. They kept waiting for the power play to get a flow -- instead, we caught them by surprise. "Surprise! We're making this up as we go along!"
In short, the Habs look like a bunch of guys who can play hockey, but have no idea how to play hockey together. Jacques had to rely on his new talent to pull off an unlikely victory -- would you rather have that now, the first game of the season? Or in June? Jacques was supposed to provide structure, traps, discipline... and I saw a NHL Maple Leafs team shred their way through a Sunday morning shinny group.
Of course, I also saw the Maple Leafs loose, so it wasn't all bad.
Anyhow, I fear any good team is gonna rip the Habs apart. And if Jacques burns out his best players in October / November, its gonna be a quiet May/June on St Catherines street.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Back on the Air: Oct 1
Hey everyone!
Just a quick word to reassure my adoring fans that I will be tweeting all the games I can once again this season! With any luck, in RDS HD!
A word of warning for those that have made the wise choice to follow the @habstwit -- you will get a flood of play-by-play. I am gonna try post more summary type information, but sometimes I get all caught up and can't stop sputtering; 140 chars at a time :)
To the other tweet-a-holics, I'll see you online!
I haven't made any comments or predictions about this year's team. I absolutely have no idea how they are gonna do -- some guys have looked really good in preseason. Some players look refreshed, reset... but so much change means its going to be difficult to have any real chemistry. And judging how I drafted my fantasy hockey team, I know nothing about the sport.
Well, let's watch some hockey!
MV
Just a quick word to reassure my adoring fans that I will be tweeting all the games I can once again this season! With any luck, in RDS HD!
A word of warning for those that have made the wise choice to follow the @habstwit -- you will get a flood of play-by-play. I am gonna try post more summary type information, but sometimes I get all caught up and can't stop sputtering; 140 chars at a time :)
To the other tweet-a-holics, I'll see you online!
I haven't made any comments or predictions about this year's team. I absolutely have no idea how they are gonna do -- some guys have looked really good in preseason. Some players look refreshed, reset... but so much change means its going to be difficult to have any real chemistry. And judging how I drafted my fantasy hockey team, I know nothing about the sport.
Well, let's watch some hockey!
MV
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Of Kovy and Demers
So Kovy has stated he would like to retire in Mtl, but is now playing for the Sens. Sens fans might think this a slight on them, but quite the opposite. He will always be respected and admired in Mtl. Dude had a lot of fans here... But you bet he is gonna play well for the Sens. No big Montreal pressure, but still an intense hockey town, Kovy is gonna light it up for the Sens. Mtl is 2 hrs down the road, with only 1/2 the bullshit Mtl players have to deal with. He's gona be fine...
Ok, and Demerse a Canadian Senator? Double-u tee eff. I don't hate him as a Coach, and he's pretty good on the TV, but someone I want as a Parliamentary watchdog, no thanks. When did Demerse ever show some sort of savvy for the welfare of the populous, or a nation? I've never met the man, but his public profile certainly doesn't portray a guy with a stable head on his shoulders. He's always seemed reactionary and emotional, neither of which I want to see in my senate. I think of him as a Pierre McGuire: awesome hockey dude, tops. But Polotics ain't hockey.
Update: there seems to be some solid support for Demerse as a senator: Steve Yzerman being quoted as saying Demerse is already a great politician. That is, people who know him outside his TV personality seem to really like the guy and credit his character. So, good luck Jacques. I'll miss you on RDS.
Ok, and Demerse a Canadian Senator? Double-u tee eff. I don't hate him as a Coach, and he's pretty good on the TV, but someone I want as a Parliamentary watchdog, no thanks. When did Demerse ever show some sort of savvy for the welfare of the populous, or a nation? I've never met the man, but his public profile certainly doesn't portray a guy with a stable head on his shoulders. He's always seemed reactionary and emotional, neither of which I want to see in my senate. I think of him as a Pierre McGuire: awesome hockey dude, tops. But Polotics ain't hockey.
Update: there seems to be some solid support for Demerse as a senator: Steve Yzerman being quoted as saying Demerse is already a great politician. That is, people who know him outside his TV personality seem to really like the guy and credit his character. So, good luck Jacques. I'll miss you on RDS.
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