Notes on the third and OT:
-The Habs need to win this series because I can't bring myself to cheer for the Bruins. Yet, I hate the Pens. So, go Habs, go!
-If Fleury gets another shutout, I'm going to be extremely unhappy.
-The kid's getting a baptism by fire, and the stupid DOG penalty must have really made him feel like crap.
-Credit where it's due: MAB's playing decent defence tonight.
-It's hard for a goalie to steal a game when he gets no goal support. Kostitsyn and Pouliot aren't the wingers this team needs. I thought Pouliot was, but now I see why Minny traded him.
-Has anyone noticed Muller's actually coaching the team? He talks, and Martin just stands there with his arms folded, nodding. I think he's just there for French translation.
-I'm thrilled Cammy got one to break the shutout. Fleury did not deserve that much credit tonight.
-Beautiful. Crosby couldn't nail the coffin shut in the empty net. Even his Tim Horton's millions couldn't buy him a goal.
-Oh well, I guess the Habs will have to take this in seven.
Notes on the second:
-Even Cherry says Guerin dove on the Gorges penalty.
-It's almost not fair that a series can be won on the powerplay. Without their stacked PP, the Habs are beating the Pens in this series.
-Oh, it's tough when you have those kinds of chances to start the period and can't score. That's going to haunt them later.
-I wonder if Halak's been in Malkin's head ever since 2003, when he stoned him in the world under-18 tournament? That was a helluva save on him.
-Ouch. That Gonchar goal hurts. Especially after our guys had so many chances.
-The Habs are trying hard, but it feels like it isn't their night.
-I'm loving the work of the third and fourth lines. They're down to their last dime, and they're putting it in the collection plate.
-I sense years of bitter hatred between Crosby and Subban. We forget they're only two years apart in age and they already can't stand each other.
-You have to give Moore credit. He's not huge, but he wins his battles. He's ferocious.
-If the Habs win this, it'll have to be in OT. Chances are limited and Fleury's playing well.
Notes on the first:
-Uh oh...Russians out, North Americans in for the Pens. I'm expecting lots of dirty crease action. Jaro will have ring-around-the-collar before this is over.
-Bergeron really does look like a curious emu.
-My dad had Martin's tie in the '70s. Now I know what happened to it after we dropped it off at Goodwill.
-I hate to criticize a guy as courageous as Gill, but man, he struggles with the puck!
-The Habs' playoff life flashed before my eyes when Halak went down like that.
-Some good chances, but No Goalov playing for the Habs.
-I'd love it if Gill scored. That would be a triumph of epic proportions, literally and figuratively.
-It's good there's no set "playoff beard" rule this year. I like that the Habs are picking their own thing, from Cammalleri's clean face to Pleks' heavy goatee. It just makes them look so much smarter.
-Damn that call on Gorges! I knew as soon as he went to the box the Pens would score.
-O'Byrne is playing some terrible defence. Soft and slow as a lullaby.
-What I don't understand is why Crosby can corner the refs at the end of every period and yap at them, yet they favour him. You'd think they'd hate his guts for all the whining.
-Lousy break on the PP goal. This game is going to be tough to win.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Calling Female Habs Fans
Hey all...a quick request from CBC Radio in St.John's, Newfoundland. They're looking for a passionate, knowledgeable female Habs fan in Newfoundland (or an ex-pat Newfoundlander living elsewhere) to talk about the Habs playoff run on their morning show on Monday. Anybody fit the bill?
EDIT: Thanks for all the contributions. They've got someone now.
EDIT: Thanks for all the contributions. They've got someone now.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Aftermath: Adversity, Thy Name Is Habs
"The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief." - Othello, Act I, Scene III.
Whenever I'm stuck for words to explain something incomprehensible, I can always depend on the Bard to provide just the right phrase. Last night, the Canadiens were the victims of attempted robbery, but today, they're the ones smiling. Whether that actually takes anything from Eric Furlatt or Paul Devorski is doubtful, but it certainly steals something from the Penguins.
The reffing, I think we can all agree, was atrocious last night. Neither of the Penguins' goals should have happened. On the first one, PK Subban had his legs wiped out from under him, giving the Pens a two-on-one break. On the second, the Second Coming blatantly tripped Roman Hamrlik, with no call. The Pens scored the go-ahead goal seconds later. Those were the two that cost. There were many, many other calls that did not get called, most in favour of the Penguins. Andrei Kostitsyn getting clotheslined at the blueline...no call. Travis Moen chasing a breakway chance on the forecheck getting held up in pursuit of the puck...no call. Two broken Canadiens sticks off Penguins slashes in the third...no call. Tripping Gill on the PK...no call. I don't usually blame the refs, but last night they became one more obstacle Team Adversity was forced to overcome.
To be fair, there was one significant non-call in the Habs favour. On Malkin's breakaway in the third, Gorges could have gone for tripping because he didn't touch the puck before Malkin went down. It might have even been a penalty shot. That would have cost the Habs their slender, hard-earned lead. Still, one break doesn't make up for the countless roadblocks the refs handed out, or didn't hand out, througout the game.
Hal Gill said he "didn't want to be the guy who yells at the refs," although even he was tempted to let loose on them at least once on the ice. He might have had more to say if the Habs hadn't pulled off that vital win. As it is, he's smiling today, and so are the rest of the Canadiens. Despite the refs and Crosby's petulant spoiled attempts to gain the officiating advantage, the Habs found a new set of heroes.
Max Lapierre was inspired all night. I was so glad to see him rewarded with a goal because he provided the emotional spark the team needed to rouse itself from its two-period torpor. He and Tom Pyatt, Dominic Moore and Mathieu Darche dug and clawed and fought for every inch of ice. They did what they weren't able to do in Game Three: take up the slack for the scoring lines that were being squashed by the Pens' third and fourth liners.
Jaro Halak was stellar again. At this point, we're in danger of taking him for granted because he's always there when he's needed most. He's outgoaling Fleury, who looked very, very beatable last night. Brian Gionta was fierce and opportunistic. Andrei Kostitsyn weathered a nasty blow to the face and kept on skating, which is something we don't see from him very often. Maybe he's secretly glad his whiny little brother is banished. Roman Hamrlik has taken his weary carcass and injected it with the serum of youth once again in Andrei Markov's absence. He'll be gone next year if there's a trade to be made for his salary, but he's been immeasurably better in the last two games than he'd been earlier in the playoffs. He's been great about covering for PK Subban too.
Subban obviously took the first Pens' goal hard. Even though he was laid out through no fault of his own and couldn't get back, he seemed to panic a bit afterwards. I hoped the coaches wouldn't punish him...then I realized, they can't. The shorthanded situation on D may be the best thing for both Subban and O'Byrne who will have to get ice time no matter what they do out there. Martin is obliged to play them and can't employ his "make a mistake and you're benched" motivational strategy. Subban was able to shake it off and came back with a strong third, which should give Martin a hint about how to handle him next year when he makes his inevitable rookie errors.
I'm hearing a lot of people dumping on Tomas Plekanec for his lack of offence in this series. One thing I think a lot of critics haven't noticed is that he's being used in tandem with either Gorges or Gill to shut down Sidney Crosby. He's doing a great job defensively, as is evidenced by Crosby's lack of production. The thing is, the Habs can survive if Pleks doesn't score. I'm not sure if the Pens can win if Crosby's off the scoresheet. I'll take that trade. In the meantime, Pleks' great steal off Crosby for the assist on Cammalleri's insurance goal in Game Two is the kind of thing we're more likely to see from him in the role he's currently playing.
If this team has a leadership by committee mentality, it's working. Whatever group of guys stood up and encouraged their mates in the second intermission last night deserve kudos. The team was in a funk, struggling under a stifling Pens checking system. It looked sadly like Game Three, in which the Habs just couldn't get anything going. Team Adversity went into the intermission, reached deep for another gear and came out firing in the third. At this point, it's almost hard to believe everything the Habs have overcome to get this far. Key injuries, tough opposition, and of course, the refs.
I guess, in the end, Hal Gill's right not to cast blame though. As the Duke of Venice put it: "To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on."
Whenever I'm stuck for words to explain something incomprehensible, I can always depend on the Bard to provide just the right phrase. Last night, the Canadiens were the victims of attempted robbery, but today, they're the ones smiling. Whether that actually takes anything from Eric Furlatt or Paul Devorski is doubtful, but it certainly steals something from the Penguins.
The reffing, I think we can all agree, was atrocious last night. Neither of the Penguins' goals should have happened. On the first one, PK Subban had his legs wiped out from under him, giving the Pens a two-on-one break. On the second, the Second Coming blatantly tripped Roman Hamrlik, with no call. The Pens scored the go-ahead goal seconds later. Those were the two that cost. There were many, many other calls that did not get called, most in favour of the Penguins. Andrei Kostitsyn getting clotheslined at the blueline...no call. Travis Moen chasing a breakway chance on the forecheck getting held up in pursuit of the puck...no call. Two broken Canadiens sticks off Penguins slashes in the third...no call. Tripping Gill on the PK...no call. I don't usually blame the refs, but last night they became one more obstacle Team Adversity was forced to overcome.
To be fair, there was one significant non-call in the Habs favour. On Malkin's breakaway in the third, Gorges could have gone for tripping because he didn't touch the puck before Malkin went down. It might have even been a penalty shot. That would have cost the Habs their slender, hard-earned lead. Still, one break doesn't make up for the countless roadblocks the refs handed out, or didn't hand out, througout the game.
Hal Gill said he "didn't want to be the guy who yells at the refs," although even he was tempted to let loose on them at least once on the ice. He might have had more to say if the Habs hadn't pulled off that vital win. As it is, he's smiling today, and so are the rest of the Canadiens. Despite the refs and Crosby's petulant spoiled attempts to gain the officiating advantage, the Habs found a new set of heroes.
Max Lapierre was inspired all night. I was so glad to see him rewarded with a goal because he provided the emotional spark the team needed to rouse itself from its two-period torpor. He and Tom Pyatt, Dominic Moore and Mathieu Darche dug and clawed and fought for every inch of ice. They did what they weren't able to do in Game Three: take up the slack for the scoring lines that were being squashed by the Pens' third and fourth liners.
Jaro Halak was stellar again. At this point, we're in danger of taking him for granted because he's always there when he's needed most. He's outgoaling Fleury, who looked very, very beatable last night. Brian Gionta was fierce and opportunistic. Andrei Kostitsyn weathered a nasty blow to the face and kept on skating, which is something we don't see from him very often. Maybe he's secretly glad his whiny little brother is banished. Roman Hamrlik has taken his weary carcass and injected it with the serum of youth once again in Andrei Markov's absence. He'll be gone next year if there's a trade to be made for his salary, but he's been immeasurably better in the last two games than he'd been earlier in the playoffs. He's been great about covering for PK Subban too.
Subban obviously took the first Pens' goal hard. Even though he was laid out through no fault of his own and couldn't get back, he seemed to panic a bit afterwards. I hoped the coaches wouldn't punish him...then I realized, they can't. The shorthanded situation on D may be the best thing for both Subban and O'Byrne who will have to get ice time no matter what they do out there. Martin is obliged to play them and can't employ his "make a mistake and you're benched" motivational strategy. Subban was able to shake it off and came back with a strong third, which should give Martin a hint about how to handle him next year when he makes his inevitable rookie errors.
I'm hearing a lot of people dumping on Tomas Plekanec for his lack of offence in this series. One thing I think a lot of critics haven't noticed is that he's being used in tandem with either Gorges or Gill to shut down Sidney Crosby. He's doing a great job defensively, as is evidenced by Crosby's lack of production. The thing is, the Habs can survive if Pleks doesn't score. I'm not sure if the Pens can win if Crosby's off the scoresheet. I'll take that trade. In the meantime, Pleks' great steal off Crosby for the assist on Cammalleri's insurance goal in Game Two is the kind of thing we're more likely to see from him in the role he's currently playing.
If this team has a leadership by committee mentality, it's working. Whatever group of guys stood up and encouraged their mates in the second intermission last night deserve kudos. The team was in a funk, struggling under a stifling Pens checking system. It looked sadly like Game Three, in which the Habs just couldn't get anything going. Team Adversity went into the intermission, reached deep for another gear and came out firing in the third. At this point, it's almost hard to believe everything the Habs have overcome to get this far. Key injuries, tough opposition, and of course, the refs.
I guess, in the end, Hal Gill's right not to cast blame though. As the Duke of Venice put it: "To mourn a mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief on."
Pens vs. Habs Game Four: Home Ice Is Supposed To Be Good
Notes on the third:
-If they're going down, I hope they go down swinging.
-I wonder if there's a Hab dirty enough to slash Staal's foot? Probably not.
-See Martin? See what happens when you actually put your Darche on the line?
-Letang! Thanks, man. Your compatriots will stand you a beer later.
-Boarding on Gionta? Seriously? That's like putting down a savage chihuahua.
-I can't believe this one-sided reffing. I just can't.
-Andrei Kostitsyn looks glad his pain-in-the-ass brother has been banished. This is the best he's played since his hat-trick in Washington.
-Lapierre and Darche were channelling the Flying Frenchmen in that period. There are new heroes every night.
-I think I broke a bone in my hand clapping when Jaro cleared it with ten seconds to go.
-It's on now, Bettman.
Notes on the second:
-You know you're the underdog when: MAB is on the PK.
-Is it me, or do Pens powerplays seem to last a really long time? Maybe it's just because there are so many of them.
-Well-timed bump of the net by Gorges. Good thing the ref didn't see that.
-The only thing the Habs PP did was give Malkin two minutes of rest.
-There are a lot of infractions being let go here. Most of them by Penguins. Not that I'm a conspiracy theorist or anything, but this isn't very balanced.
-Completing more than one pass in a row would be really helpful. This is like building a Lego house when all you've got are the single squares.
-In twenty minutes we'll know if the Habs are playing next week or not.
Notes on the first:
-Amazing. You couldn't even hear Halak's name during the introductions. Subban's ovation was almost as loud.
-Testy start. Looks like the Habs are walking a tightrope between guarding against defensive mistakes and trying to jump on offensive chances. It's a tough way to make anything happen.
-Well, if someone's gonna score a craptacular goal like that, I'm really, really glad it's our team. Once again, the eternal truth: Good things happen when you put it on the net.
-Brutal play on the Dupuis goal. Not PK's fault though; he had the legs taken out from under him.
-Gill has GOT to stay out of the box. Apparently, he's the only one who can kill penalties. That PP goal should never have happened, though, if the proper call had been made on the little whining bitch when he tripped Hamrlik. Awful calls, and awful luck.
-Fleury is perfectly protected because the Habs can't even get into his zone at all, never mind with sustained pressure.
-How many times have we seen this game this year? Can't get it out of their own zone, can't get it into the other team's. Sigh.
-Does Gomez EVER score when he finds himself in the clear?
-Wonderful. Gill breaks the whiny little bitch's stick, so he'll sit. PP goal for them coming up to start the second.
-Six shots. Six. They're getting murdered.
-If they're going down, I hope they go down swinging.
-I wonder if there's a Hab dirty enough to slash Staal's foot? Probably not.
-See Martin? See what happens when you actually put your Darche on the line?
-Letang! Thanks, man. Your compatriots will stand you a beer later.
-Boarding on Gionta? Seriously? That's like putting down a savage chihuahua.
-I can't believe this one-sided reffing. I just can't.
-Andrei Kostitsyn looks glad his pain-in-the-ass brother has been banished. This is the best he's played since his hat-trick in Washington.
-Lapierre and Darche were channelling the Flying Frenchmen in that period. There are new heroes every night.
-I think I broke a bone in my hand clapping when Jaro cleared it with ten seconds to go.
-It's on now, Bettman.
Notes on the second:
-You know you're the underdog when: MAB is on the PK.
-Is it me, or do Pens powerplays seem to last a really long time? Maybe it's just because there are so many of them.
-Well-timed bump of the net by Gorges. Good thing the ref didn't see that.
-The only thing the Habs PP did was give Malkin two minutes of rest.
-There are a lot of infractions being let go here. Most of them by Penguins. Not that I'm a conspiracy theorist or anything, but this isn't very balanced.
-Completing more than one pass in a row would be really helpful. This is like building a Lego house when all you've got are the single squares.
-In twenty minutes we'll know if the Habs are playing next week or not.
Notes on the first:
-Amazing. You couldn't even hear Halak's name during the introductions. Subban's ovation was almost as loud.
-Testy start. Looks like the Habs are walking a tightrope between guarding against defensive mistakes and trying to jump on offensive chances. It's a tough way to make anything happen.
-Well, if someone's gonna score a craptacular goal like that, I'm really, really glad it's our team. Once again, the eternal truth: Good things happen when you put it on the net.
-Brutal play on the Dupuis goal. Not PK's fault though; he had the legs taken out from under him.
-Gill has GOT to stay out of the box. Apparently, he's the only one who can kill penalties. That PP goal should never have happened, though, if the proper call had been made on the little whining bitch when he tripped Hamrlik. Awful calls, and awful luck.
-Fleury is perfectly protected because the Habs can't even get into his zone at all, never mind with sustained pressure.
-How many times have we seen this game this year? Can't get it out of their own zone, can't get it into the other team's. Sigh.
-Does Gomez EVER score when he finds himself in the clear?
-Wonderful. Gill breaks the whiny little bitch's stick, so he'll sit. PP goal for them coming up to start the second.
-Six shots. Six. They're getting murdered.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Top Ten Reasons Why Tonight's Game Must Be Won
In the Caps series, I think most of us were just glad for whatever high points we could find. A lot of us secretly thought our team would get beaten badly, even as we tried to put a good face on it. When they won the first game, we were glad it wouldn't be a sweep. When they began the soon-to-be-legendary comeback in Game Five, we started to believe there might be more to this team than appears on paper. Now, here we are in the second round, with the Pens still within beating range. I want a win tonight as much as I wanted Game Seven in the first round. Here's why:
10. The Molsons. The new owners have already taken in four games worth of playoff revenue and will make it five tonight. This is good for the team, because the more playoff money there is, the more the Molsons have to spend on things like dumping a big salary or two in the minors if it can't be traded. Owners making money are happy owners, and that's a positive for the Habs.
9. The NHL. By this, I mean mostly Gary Bettman. We know he's not keen on Canadian-based teams doing much in the playoffs because that doesn't help "grow the game" in his beloved southern markets. I would so love for the Habs to take down both of Bettman's league poster boys.
8. The Bruins. The hated Bs are going to the conference finals, barring a miracle comeback by the Flyers. We know the Habs have a good chance of beating them if they make it past Pittsburgh. It's the best chance the Habs would have had to make the Finals since 1993. This is a huge opportunity for the Canadiens, but they have to win tonight to have a real chance to grab it.
7. The Penguins. The Pens are the epitome of the "tank for glory" philosophy of some NHL teams. They've done it twice now: suck hard for years, grab all the top picks for two or three (or four or five) years and then stomp the rest of the league on their way to a Cup or two. Now, here they are, the NHL's darlings with their smug superstars and their bandwagon fans. Knocking them out with a team the NHL has relegated to mediocrity while it takes Habs' fans' money to support its pet projects would be very, very sweet.
6. The miracles. Tonight is a must-win because a team only gets so many miracles. Coming back against the Caps like that was one of them. Going down 3-1 to the Pens would push the miracle potential to the limit. It's better to just win this one and save any other miracles for later, when they'll be even bigger and more important.
5. The fans. For years now, fans have been selling out the Bell Centre, subscribing to RDS on cable packages that don't include it for free and buying anything with a Habs' logo on it, from Centennial stamps to game-worn jerseys. We love our Habs, and impress everyone else in the league with our passion and volume of support. The team has rewarded us with one playoff win on home ice in the last eight games. The fans deserve better. We also deserve for this not to be the last game at the Bell Centre this year.
4. The future. After the Centennial of Suck, a lot of the famous Canadiens mystique was exposed for what it really is these days: a glorious past with a dumbed-down inglorious present. The Habs image needs a bit of spit and polish from the current team because if the franchise is going to build itself a future, it can't rely on a past fewer and fewer fans have witnessed for themselves.
3. The fun. The playoffs are fun! After a long, sometimes frustrating 82-game regular season, played solely for the right to be in the playoffs in the first place, it's wonderful to watch games that actually mean something. The strategy, the smack-talk, the willingness of players to give a little bit more, the heroics and the upsets...it's all part of the grand pageant of the Stanley Cup playoffs and it's the best hockey we get to see outside the Olympics. We saw a lot of stuff this season that wasn't fun at all, and now that we're finally having some, I'm not ready for it to end.
2. The fairy tale. The upset over Washington got everyone talking about the Canadiens. Everyone, even people who normally hate the Habs, love an underdog and the Habs are the story of the playoffs. It takes a bit of magic to get people pulling for a team they don't normally support, and the Habs seem to have that this year. When we talk about the legacy of the Canadiens, it's really built on those magical, fairy tale playoff runs. It doesn't happen very often these days, and when it does, a team needs to grab it with both hands. We could be looking at another ten years of frustration after this year, so this opportunity is precious. We need them to keep the story going.
1. The team. The group that started the year introducing themselves to each other and learning about the guys sitting next to them have become a real team. Bob Gainey traded for and signed men with a willingness to put their bodies on the line for the sake of winning. They're individuals who have won before and those who want to win more than anything. They're leaders and they're determined. Most importantly, they're on the same page in their goals. They get along because they understand each other, and they all want the same thing. Along the way, they've overcome losing players to injury, bad officiating, demoralizing losses, physical pain, a terrible schedule and low expectations. It's not often you come across a group of players who buy into the team concept like this one does. Without superstars, they're doing it for each other, and I want to see them rewarded for that.
Go Habs! Win it tonight!
10. The Molsons. The new owners have already taken in four games worth of playoff revenue and will make it five tonight. This is good for the team, because the more playoff money there is, the more the Molsons have to spend on things like dumping a big salary or two in the minors if it can't be traded. Owners making money are happy owners, and that's a positive for the Habs.
9. The NHL. By this, I mean mostly Gary Bettman. We know he's not keen on Canadian-based teams doing much in the playoffs because that doesn't help "grow the game" in his beloved southern markets. I would so love for the Habs to take down both of Bettman's league poster boys.
8. The Bruins. The hated Bs are going to the conference finals, barring a miracle comeback by the Flyers. We know the Habs have a good chance of beating them if they make it past Pittsburgh. It's the best chance the Habs would have had to make the Finals since 1993. This is a huge opportunity for the Canadiens, but they have to win tonight to have a real chance to grab it.
7. The Penguins. The Pens are the epitome of the "tank for glory" philosophy of some NHL teams. They've done it twice now: suck hard for years, grab all the top picks for two or three (or four or five) years and then stomp the rest of the league on their way to a Cup or two. Now, here they are, the NHL's darlings with their smug superstars and their bandwagon fans. Knocking them out with a team the NHL has relegated to mediocrity while it takes Habs' fans' money to support its pet projects would be very, very sweet.
6. The miracles. Tonight is a must-win because a team only gets so many miracles. Coming back against the Caps like that was one of them. Going down 3-1 to the Pens would push the miracle potential to the limit. It's better to just win this one and save any other miracles for later, when they'll be even bigger and more important.
5. The fans. For years now, fans have been selling out the Bell Centre, subscribing to RDS on cable packages that don't include it for free and buying anything with a Habs' logo on it, from Centennial stamps to game-worn jerseys. We love our Habs, and impress everyone else in the league with our passion and volume of support. The team has rewarded us with one playoff win on home ice in the last eight games. The fans deserve better. We also deserve for this not to be the last game at the Bell Centre this year.
4. The future. After the Centennial of Suck, a lot of the famous Canadiens mystique was exposed for what it really is these days: a glorious past with a dumbed-down inglorious present. The Habs image needs a bit of spit and polish from the current team because if the franchise is going to build itself a future, it can't rely on a past fewer and fewer fans have witnessed for themselves.
3. The fun. The playoffs are fun! After a long, sometimes frustrating 82-game regular season, played solely for the right to be in the playoffs in the first place, it's wonderful to watch games that actually mean something. The strategy, the smack-talk, the willingness of players to give a little bit more, the heroics and the upsets...it's all part of the grand pageant of the Stanley Cup playoffs and it's the best hockey we get to see outside the Olympics. We saw a lot of stuff this season that wasn't fun at all, and now that we're finally having some, I'm not ready for it to end.
2. The fairy tale. The upset over Washington got everyone talking about the Canadiens. Everyone, even people who normally hate the Habs, love an underdog and the Habs are the story of the playoffs. It takes a bit of magic to get people pulling for a team they don't normally support, and the Habs seem to have that this year. When we talk about the legacy of the Canadiens, it's really built on those magical, fairy tale playoff runs. It doesn't happen very often these days, and when it does, a team needs to grab it with both hands. We could be looking at another ten years of frustration after this year, so this opportunity is precious. We need them to keep the story going.
1. The team. The group that started the year introducing themselves to each other and learning about the guys sitting next to them have become a real team. Bob Gainey traded for and signed men with a willingness to put their bodies on the line for the sake of winning. They're individuals who have won before and those who want to win more than anything. They're leaders and they're determined. Most importantly, they're on the same page in their goals. They get along because they understand each other, and they all want the same thing. Along the way, they've overcome losing players to injury, bad officiating, demoralizing losses, physical pain, a terrible schedule and low expectations. It's not often you come across a group of players who buy into the team concept like this one does. Without superstars, they're doing it for each other, and I want to see them rewarded for that.
Go Habs! Win it tonight!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Aftermath: Falling Short
Sidney Crosby may be unlikeable. He may be a whiner who yaps constantly and looks at the refs in disbelief whenever he thinks he should have drawn a penalty. He may get away with murder, relative to other players who pull the same stunts, and his behaviour may raise the ire of every hockey fan in the world who doesn't cheer for the Penguins or...once every four years...Team Canada. All of those things may be true, but it's also true that Sidney Crosby is not a stupid man.
Crosby knows Hal Gill. He won the Cup with him last season, and he knew last night that if he ragged the puck just enough in Gill's corner, the big guy would eventually get penalized. Gill doesn't hit guys to take them out of the play. He sort of squishes them against the boards and tries to poke the puck away from them. If that kind of play goes on too long, especially if the player being squished appears to be struggling to get his arms free, it's often going to draw a holding penalty. That's what Crosby knew as the second period wound down, and that's exactly what happened. Crosby also knew there was a good chance an end-of-period scrum would end up taking another Hab off the ice with Gill. He was instrumental in stirring up trouble around Halak's net as the siren sounded. Sure enough, the refs decided to hand out out some minutes to cool guys off. It was Crosby's good fortune (surprise, surprise) that the officials picked Gorges to send to the box, instead of Hamrlik. Missing both their best penalty killers, and facing the Penguins heavy artillery with fresh legs in the third, the inevitable happened and the Pens scored the only goal they needed, all because Crosby knows how to work the officials. No, whatever else you can say about him, he's no dummy.
Still, despite the final score, this game proved the Habs can actually win this series. The difference in the outcome last night came down to a near-miss by Cammalleri and a crossbar by Max Lapierre in the first period. It was one of the few times in these playoffs that the Habs' modus operendi: start hard and fast and capitalize with an early goal, didn't work out for them. If either of those close calls had gone in, the game would have had a very different look. It all turned on a stroke of luck, and that says the Habs weren't desperately overwhelmed by a more skilled team. They just didn't get a bounce.
That said, they needed to keep up the level of intensity they showed in the first period for more than just that opening twenty minutes. The only way to score that crucial first goal is to keep pressing. This is what concerns me. The Habs didn't slack off on the forecheck because they stopped trying. They just, simply, ran out of gas. They poured their effort into trying to get that early goal, then they had little left to throw at the Pens when the defending champs pushed back.
As the series wears on, the Canadiens will get tireder, earlier, as they continue to play every game shorthanded. A team like the Habs must use all its available assets if it's going to compete with a balanced Penguins squad. Martin's decision to dress Mathieu Darche, yet again, over Sergei Kostitsyn, then keep Darche on the bench for the entire game was frustrating to watch. I'm the first to agree Kostitsyn is an inconsistent player and you never know if you're going to get the guy who's flying, making brilliant passes and killing penalties, or the one who's giving the puck away at his own blueline and backing off from checks. The thing is, you at least have a chance of getting the good version if he's actually on the ice. Kostitsyn in the pressbox and Darche on the bench does nothing to help the team. It doesn't hurt it, either, but that's typical of Martin's no-risk style of coaching. I'm not sure if he actually can't stand Sergei Kostitsyn to the point where he's willing to wear out his other players just to avoid giving him any ice time, although there's some evidence to that effect. I suspect, though, the issue is more that Martin fears Sergei's blunders will put the team in a hole. At this point, with guys hurt and others tired, the world's most boring coach is going to have to take the risk and hope Sergei can bring something fresh to the lineup. You can't coach afraid in the playoffs.
It's also time for Andrei Kostitsyn to return to the Plekanec line for more than a shift or two. Kostitysn, like his brother, is irritatingly inconsistent. He's one of those players with tremendous skills who doesn't seem to have the smarts to use them properly. He did look alive last night, though, and as a streaky player, the coaches have to keep a close eye on him for signs he's heating up. When that happens, he needs good, offensive-minded linemates to work with. Moen's been playing on the Plekanec line because it's been assigned to shut down Crosby, and AK can't be trusted with a defensive assignment. But without scoring wingers, Plekanec's ability to produce offence is limited as well. It's a delicate give-and-take, and I think Martin's been a bit heavy-handed and hard-headed with managing it.
Among the positives the team can build on for tomorrow are the play of PK Subban, who's taking up Markov's minutes as though he's been doing it for years. The kid got caught a couple of times, but managed to recover in time to avoid damage. He's going to be a great player for the Canadiens and is already a bright light. Jaro Halak showed he can play well even when he's not being mercilessly shelled. That bodes well for the chess-match-on-ice this series is shaping up to be. And the team stuck to the game plan and kept trying all night.
What it's got to do now, though, is tweak the game plan. That will fall to Kirk Muller, who's the real passion behind the Habs bench. It's his job to rally the troops and instruct them about what they need to do on the ice. Martin's job is to manage the strategy as the game goes on...and he's going to have to do a better job at using ALL his players. Tomorrow's game is officially a must-win, because, even for a hard-working team with heart, expecting consecutive recoveries from 3-1 series deficits is asking a bit much. I think the Habs can do it, if they've got anything left to give, and if the coaches improve their asset management.
Of course, a little luck would help too. And they have to remember not to underestimate Sidney Crosby's talent for manipulation.
Crosby knows Hal Gill. He won the Cup with him last season, and he knew last night that if he ragged the puck just enough in Gill's corner, the big guy would eventually get penalized. Gill doesn't hit guys to take them out of the play. He sort of squishes them against the boards and tries to poke the puck away from them. If that kind of play goes on too long, especially if the player being squished appears to be struggling to get his arms free, it's often going to draw a holding penalty. That's what Crosby knew as the second period wound down, and that's exactly what happened. Crosby also knew there was a good chance an end-of-period scrum would end up taking another Hab off the ice with Gill. He was instrumental in stirring up trouble around Halak's net as the siren sounded. Sure enough, the refs decided to hand out out some minutes to cool guys off. It was Crosby's good fortune (surprise, surprise) that the officials picked Gorges to send to the box, instead of Hamrlik. Missing both their best penalty killers, and facing the Penguins heavy artillery with fresh legs in the third, the inevitable happened and the Pens scored the only goal they needed, all because Crosby knows how to work the officials. No, whatever else you can say about him, he's no dummy.
Still, despite the final score, this game proved the Habs can actually win this series. The difference in the outcome last night came down to a near-miss by Cammalleri and a crossbar by Max Lapierre in the first period. It was one of the few times in these playoffs that the Habs' modus operendi: start hard and fast and capitalize with an early goal, didn't work out for them. If either of those close calls had gone in, the game would have had a very different look. It all turned on a stroke of luck, and that says the Habs weren't desperately overwhelmed by a more skilled team. They just didn't get a bounce.
That said, they needed to keep up the level of intensity they showed in the first period for more than just that opening twenty minutes. The only way to score that crucial first goal is to keep pressing. This is what concerns me. The Habs didn't slack off on the forecheck because they stopped trying. They just, simply, ran out of gas. They poured their effort into trying to get that early goal, then they had little left to throw at the Pens when the defending champs pushed back.
As the series wears on, the Canadiens will get tireder, earlier, as they continue to play every game shorthanded. A team like the Habs must use all its available assets if it's going to compete with a balanced Penguins squad. Martin's decision to dress Mathieu Darche, yet again, over Sergei Kostitsyn, then keep Darche on the bench for the entire game was frustrating to watch. I'm the first to agree Kostitsyn is an inconsistent player and you never know if you're going to get the guy who's flying, making brilliant passes and killing penalties, or the one who's giving the puck away at his own blueline and backing off from checks. The thing is, you at least have a chance of getting the good version if he's actually on the ice. Kostitsyn in the pressbox and Darche on the bench does nothing to help the team. It doesn't hurt it, either, but that's typical of Martin's no-risk style of coaching. I'm not sure if he actually can't stand Sergei Kostitsyn to the point where he's willing to wear out his other players just to avoid giving him any ice time, although there's some evidence to that effect. I suspect, though, the issue is more that Martin fears Sergei's blunders will put the team in a hole. At this point, with guys hurt and others tired, the world's most boring coach is going to have to take the risk and hope Sergei can bring something fresh to the lineup. You can't coach afraid in the playoffs.
It's also time for Andrei Kostitsyn to return to the Plekanec line for more than a shift or two. Kostitysn, like his brother, is irritatingly inconsistent. He's one of those players with tremendous skills who doesn't seem to have the smarts to use them properly. He did look alive last night, though, and as a streaky player, the coaches have to keep a close eye on him for signs he's heating up. When that happens, he needs good, offensive-minded linemates to work with. Moen's been playing on the Plekanec line because it's been assigned to shut down Crosby, and AK can't be trusted with a defensive assignment. But without scoring wingers, Plekanec's ability to produce offence is limited as well. It's a delicate give-and-take, and I think Martin's been a bit heavy-handed and hard-headed with managing it.
Among the positives the team can build on for tomorrow are the play of PK Subban, who's taking up Markov's minutes as though he's been doing it for years. The kid got caught a couple of times, but managed to recover in time to avoid damage. He's going to be a great player for the Canadiens and is already a bright light. Jaro Halak showed he can play well even when he's not being mercilessly shelled. That bodes well for the chess-match-on-ice this series is shaping up to be. And the team stuck to the game plan and kept trying all night.
What it's got to do now, though, is tweak the game plan. That will fall to Kirk Muller, who's the real passion behind the Habs bench. It's his job to rally the troops and instruct them about what they need to do on the ice. Martin's job is to manage the strategy as the game goes on...and he's going to have to do a better job at using ALL his players. Tomorrow's game is officially a must-win, because, even for a hard-working team with heart, expecting consecutive recoveries from 3-1 series deficits is asking a bit much. I think the Habs can do it, if they've got anything left to give, and if the coaches improve their asset management.
Of course, a little luck would help too. And they have to remember not to underestimate Sidney Crosby's talent for manipulation.
Pens vs. Habs Game Three: Pivot's a Funny Word
Notes on the third:
-Gill and Gorges in the box to start the third. This is the best Pens chance to get up by one. And they do. Damn!
-Eleven shots halfway through the game isn't going to win you very many hockey games.
-A Fleury shutout looms. Funny how saying that never jinxes the other team's goalie.
-In all the excitement of being where they are, I think the Habs forgot to wonder what might happen if Cammalleri stops scoring.
-Great rush by Subban, and Hammer saves his ass when he gets caught.
-When you look at the capabilities of individual players, it's hard to believe none of them can score a single goal.
-Credit where it's due to Fleury, though. He was playing like dirty socks all playoffs...until tonight. Damn you, French goalies in Montreal!
-I'd rather get blown out than lose one like this. Yuck. If I'm deflated, I can't help thinking what the team must feel like.
-I really, really hate the Penguins.
Notes on the second:
-Now I'm afraid the Pens are doing the rope-a-dope thing and letting Jaro get cold for the first period...only to pepper him in the second.
-You kind of WANT to like Crosby because of the whole Team Canada thing, but he's such a little whining bastard you can't. Dirty little crosscheck on Cammalleri after the play, with no call, of course. I wonder how long before he starts whaling away on some Hab's nuts?
-Suck on that, Cooke! The first breakaway Jaro's stopped in about forever is bigger than Ovechkin's ego.
-O'Byrne needs to talk to Subban about how to get his skates sharpened. The big galoot falls down more than a drunken granny in heels.
-Mario in the pressbox looks worried. I hope he looks more worried when this is over.
-Josh Gorges is my hero. No stick, and he absolutely staples Crosby to the boards to break up the play anyway.
-Kostitsyn has returned to his corporeal body for this game. Nice hit at the blueline.
-Anybody who dumps on Plekanec for not putting up a ton of points this round should be aware he's been assigned to shut Crosby down. And he stripped him for the insurance goal by Cammalleri last game.
-Damn...Gill goes down for holding the little whiner.
-I know it's playing into Crosby's game for the Habs to scrum at the end of the period, risking going down two men to start the third, but Gionta facewashing Malkin made me laugh.
-I'm officially on cardiac watch for the third.
Notes on the first:
-Well, if they lose, it won't be because the crowd wasn't behind them. Wow!
-No pressure at all on Subban. Six NHL games and he's already getting his name chanted at the Bell. Watch out kid. They boo just as lustily.
-I don't like the Pens starting this Letestu kid in Guerin's place. The Habs just love giving up milestone first goals to people.
-CBC isolation on Subban on the replay. Isn't it awesome to have a draft pick who doesn't spend a thousand and twelve years in some US college?
-Great PP, except for the no goals part.
-Pyatt is skating like he's wearing a jetpack.
-It always makes me smile when the goalie clears the puck on the PK by himself.
-I'm afraid this is one of those kinds of games in which the Habs control ninety percent of the play and can't score a goal. Lapierre's post and Cammalleri's near-miss worry me.
-What a period. Keep this up and there's hope!
-Gill and Gorges in the box to start the third. This is the best Pens chance to get up by one. And they do. Damn!
-Eleven shots halfway through the game isn't going to win you very many hockey games.
-A Fleury shutout looms. Funny how saying that never jinxes the other team's goalie.
-In all the excitement of being where they are, I think the Habs forgot to wonder what might happen if Cammalleri stops scoring.
-Great rush by Subban, and Hammer saves his ass when he gets caught.
-When you look at the capabilities of individual players, it's hard to believe none of them can score a single goal.
-Credit where it's due to Fleury, though. He was playing like dirty socks all playoffs...until tonight. Damn you, French goalies in Montreal!
-I'd rather get blown out than lose one like this. Yuck. If I'm deflated, I can't help thinking what the team must feel like.
-I really, really hate the Penguins.
Notes on the second:
-Now I'm afraid the Pens are doing the rope-a-dope thing and letting Jaro get cold for the first period...only to pepper him in the second.
-You kind of WANT to like Crosby because of the whole Team Canada thing, but he's such a little whining bastard you can't. Dirty little crosscheck on Cammalleri after the play, with no call, of course. I wonder how long before he starts whaling away on some Hab's nuts?
-Suck on that, Cooke! The first breakaway Jaro's stopped in about forever is bigger than Ovechkin's ego.
-O'Byrne needs to talk to Subban about how to get his skates sharpened. The big galoot falls down more than a drunken granny in heels.
-Mario in the pressbox looks worried. I hope he looks more worried when this is over.
-Josh Gorges is my hero. No stick, and he absolutely staples Crosby to the boards to break up the play anyway.
-Kostitsyn has returned to his corporeal body for this game. Nice hit at the blueline.
-Anybody who dumps on Plekanec for not putting up a ton of points this round should be aware he's been assigned to shut Crosby down. And he stripped him for the insurance goal by Cammalleri last game.
-Damn...Gill goes down for holding the little whiner.
-I know it's playing into Crosby's game for the Habs to scrum at the end of the period, risking going down two men to start the third, but Gionta facewashing Malkin made me laugh.
-I'm officially on cardiac watch for the third.
Notes on the first:
-Well, if they lose, it won't be because the crowd wasn't behind them. Wow!
-No pressure at all on Subban. Six NHL games and he's already getting his name chanted at the Bell. Watch out kid. They boo just as lustily.
-I don't like the Pens starting this Letestu kid in Guerin's place. The Habs just love giving up milestone first goals to people.
-CBC isolation on Subban on the replay. Isn't it awesome to have a draft pick who doesn't spend a thousand and twelve years in some US college?
-Great PP, except for the no goals part.
-Pyatt is skating like he's wearing a jetpack.
-It always makes me smile when the goalie clears the puck on the PK by himself.
-I'm afraid this is one of those kinds of games in which the Habs control ninety percent of the play and can't score a goal. Lapierre's post and Cammalleri's near-miss worry me.
-What a period. Keep this up and there's hope!
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