Game Notes: Habs and Flyers
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The Canadiens are in Philly tonight and with a win they can nail down 5 out of a possible 6 road points to start the season.
Guy Carbonneau is giving the call to David Abeischer after his very strong performance in Toronto.
It’s a normal thing to do, give the hot goalie another start. Only in Montreal does it start a mini controversy 3 games in to the season. Nothing more should be said about it, if Abeischer happens to play badly he won’t start the next one. It’s just basic coaching.
Although still early in the year, people want to see something from Kovalev, Plekanec and Samsonov. The pressure is already on them and the longer they go without scoring points the more pressure they’ll be under.
Carbonneau is also opting for Aaron Downey to get his first action of the year replacing Garth Murray. This swap should happen many times over the year. Murray hasn’t played bad but going into big bad Philadelphia Carbo probably wanted a little more size and grit.
5/6 would be great heading back for the home opener on Saturday.
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ShoutBox
- nilan : D'Agostini looked like an NHLer saturday night. Thats more than I can say for the last 2 seasons of latendresse. For what its worth, I think its too soon to talk trades- this is a WAY talented team, but only have a handful of guys playing with heart. Oh, and I like Komisarek on the ice better than behind the bench!
- Habs Blog : flu kicked my ass
- Mats Naslund : *the pros. These players just need to step it up. They did it last year.
- Mats Naslund : I would agree that having Markov as the point shot on the PP has been a failure. He is much more effective as a set up man. The Habs could absolutely use the Souray and Streit type shot on the point (but they couldn't afford to keep those guys). It would be nice if someone from within could fill that spot, be it Tanguay, Lang or Andrei Kostitsyn or whoever. Sergei played that spot on the PP with Kane and Gagner in Junior and lit it up. I'm not sure if he has the velocity to make it happen in t
- habs#1fan : All I was saying is that I myself believe we need those players (the centerman and the D-man) to help us now. I'm no expert by no means, am I wrong? Quite possibly. But that D-man would help our struggling PP. This team is deep in prospects which would make a deal easier to do. But yeah given the team's record so far maybe status quo would be best. GO HABS GO
- Mats Naslund : I think this would be a terrible time to make a trade. We need to see these players handle this adversity. To get value you need to trade value, and right now its a buyers market in Montreal. If there are team needs closer to the playoffs then Gainey will have to make a move, but don't sell the farm in desperation.
- habs#1fan : I know everyone is sick of hearing this including myself, however I do think the time to make a deal would be now. I don't know who is on the block but we still need another center and a PP D-man with a big shot. We have got a lot of good prospects, Max Pac, Chipchura, Maxwell, White, D'Agostini not to mention the junior and college players.
- Senet1 : Well I understand your thinking groundworking, I guess I just choose to look at this team as a team that will build to the playoffs. I do not necessarily see us finishing first in the division but Carbo has to prepare them for the PO. I just hope that I am right!
- groundworking : I hope you're right, Senet, and positive attitudes never hurt. I guess my problem is that I don't see the rough stretch in the win/loss column as the main concern, but also the lack of effort in many of the games that they won early--squeaking out wins against lesser opponents, often in shootouts, and without much help from the PP. The killer instinct and the "something to prove" edge that they had last year just hasn't seemed to be there, with two exceptions: a pre-season against Detroit
- PACTUM SERVA : Dave morissette looks like a monkey lol.
- Senet1 : With due respect groundworking, I think you are jumping the gun. If we are going to panic everytime our team has a bad stretch then we might as well pack it in. This team is better than last years team on paper, they are just struggling right now. Let's stay positive. After a bad performance last night this is a game that the players may have started to doubt themselves. A win is a win and we always have had trouble with Buffalo.
- groundworking : I hate to be negative, but I broke down, watched the game, and I'm still panicked, lol--Buffalo is a weak team, they were 3-6-3 in their last ten, and this was a hard fought game by the Habs, at home, after a bad outing the night before...oh, and S. Kostitsyn took two selfish penalties...and the PP didn't score on a 5-3 for two mins. Sorry to be so negative. I just think they don't have it this year
- Senet1 : If Carbo has lost the dressing room then these guys do not deserve to be in the NHL, he coaches the way he plays and he would not ask anyone to do something that he would not do. The players better get over it. Maybe based on tonight they are starting to get the point??
- Mats Naslund : MUCH better 2nd period tonight. Almost looks like the Canadiens we've been looking for for a month. Great goal by Markov from Koivu. We should always play 4 on 4.
- PACTUM SERVA : GO HABS GO
- groundworking : I expect a decent effort tonight, and then I expect them to choke the next game and possibly the game after that. Someone suggested that Carbo's lost the dressing room. That's a good point. Hard to say. Something's wrong, though. I plan NOT to watch the game, as I've just been getting frustrated this year with their play (unlike the last two years).
- habs#1fan : Carbo demotes the Kostitsyns to the fourth line but yet he leaves Latalentless (to quote Mr Pactum lol) on the second line? Now cmon Guy, I know he's got the same name as you and all but he hasn't done squat to be on the second line. Did that guy even play last night? Then again who really did? Glad to see D'Agostini play maybe bring some energy and fight
- flyinghab : I don't even want to talk about tonite's game ... it can be also be ugly in front of the home crowd. Carbo is becoming a broken record with his speeches now. Has he lost the dressing room ?
- flyinghab : Last year was an extremely lucky year. No injuries, kovy on good year ( 1 outta 4 ), therefore the habs were a bunch of overachievers. This year reality has struck. If we could buy some "heart" Gainey should invest.
- flyinghab : Wow... after watching part of this horrid game, I'm thinking with this team we'll be fortunate to even make the playoffs this year. So sad. Get Bob on the line please.
- PACTUM SERVA : No effort no heart no balls. This team is like watching paint dry. Gutless effort. Maybe their tampons were bothering them tonight.
- Mats Naslund : wow terrible game. i'm not mad right now, i think i'm just revolted. they did nothing for 60 minutes. uninspired, uncoordinated, and unproductive. i didn't even like how carbo coached the game. totally disgusting night.
- VanHab : later
- groundworking : lol agreed -- ill talk to you later
- VanHab : certainly makes for a better Friday night than watching the rest of this horrible game
- groundworking : They've had worse teams, but none that worked less than these guys
- groundworking : I've followed the Habs religiously since 1985, this is the slackest team that they've had since then
- VanHab : lol groundworking
- VanHab : a change has to come and soon
- groundworking : I've stopped watching the game--I posted here to rant and now I'm going to do something I enjoy more, like shovel dog crap off my back lawn
- VanHab : I can't believe we're being shutout by Theodore
- groundworking : Even October when we were winning, the team was just barely squeaking by against some really bad teams
- groundworking : pathetic
- groundworking : no digging for the puck
- VanHab : not the way we've been playing the whole month of November
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October 11, 2006 am31 9:04 am
I was wandering if we actually have anyone who is truly gritty and down right a hard playing enforcer? It seems we have some reserved players and we don’t seem to be physical enough. Apart from that, i am now officialy sick of the whole Huet/Aebischer ranglings. I said it once and i WILL say it again - The name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back. Teamwork wins games plain and simple.
That and a good defence
October 11, 2006 am31 9:15 am
Rofs got a point lets just stop this huet/aby ****. both are great goiles.. I knew tht Carbo is going to use Aron Downey for Biger oponents.. And he plyed good towards the end of last season. But Downey with Begin and Dress im not sure if thts a great line for the guy.. any ways i dont knw what it is but i love watching aron downey play hockey..And about the Kovy-Plek-Samso line give it some time..Kovvy was playing on a weaker line last year with Ribs. Samso gota get use to MC stlye of hockey. And Pleck its a new line and he has never had a big role like this in his career. On the brite side the Koivu line is doing great and so is new comer Mike Johnson..same goes for Ninima as Samso just lets give some time…Its only been 2 we have 80 to go. and we havint been doing bad we cud get 5/6 tht wud b great go habs go
SundinSucks
October 11, 2006 am31 9:16 am
the ribs trade was awsome ninima will wrock wonders
October 11, 2006 am31 9:41 am
True to form, Samsonev got a penalty at the worst time, between Samsonev and Kovalev, they must have a contest going on to see who can get the worst penalty at the worst time….it’s like the old song, “it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to”….
October 11, 2006 am31 3:35 pm
About the Samsonov-Plekanec-Kovalev line: It is certainly not a lack of effort that is the problem. One could say that sometimes they even seem to try too hard. The problem is that they never seem to get set up in the attacking zone (unless on a powerplay). They always try to get in with fancy plays and most of the time the puck gets sent down the ice.
Compare with the Koivu line, they keep things simple, dump the puck in when necessary, and get set up in an attacking position with both Montreal defencemen inside the blue line helping out the attack MUCH more often than the Kovalev line.
Thus, the remedy would be to keep things simple, play basic hockey, get set up, and only when things are going better try those fancy plays where you skate past 3 guys and put it in.
Maybe in part it’s because Higgins, Koivu and Ryder are all good at hustling for the puck in the corner, while the Samsonov line doesn’t hustle that much whenever they decide to dump the puck in. Maybe the line needs a hustler like Latendresse.
As for Kovalev, he hasn’t been doing that great but he is the only Montreal forward with at least a point in each game.
October 11, 2006 am31 4:53 pm
The Kovalev-Samsonov-Plekanec line will take a while to gel. Understand that there is a sophomore center between two wingers who never proceed with the puck in a straight line. They dip, they step back, they curve and cut in, they backpass, deke and then look for a linemate to pass to. The line might just need a Latendresse or Johnson to add some crunch to a wing. Three similar players cannot gel all the time.
As for the Flyers tonight, we’ll get to find out how slow they really have gotten. If Bonk and other centers assigned to cover Forsberg can limit his line yo one goal or less, we have our two points bagged.
I call it 4-2 Habs with the winner by Higgins!
October 11, 2006 am31 6:33 pm
Reality Check:
I just don’t know what to add to what you just said!!!!
We just need to Latendresse to that 2nd line Impretty sure evertyhing will turn perfect… [Dind't Latendresse proved he could even play on the first line???]
I think Carbo is just giving chances to everyone to prove themselves , and as a result he would chose the best players to fit them in the esecond line. As far as i see this team I think that idf he tried Latendresse-Plecks-Kovi we would have one of the best combo in the league!{And by the way* No way Latendresse can reach the 35 goals plateau if he stays in the 4th line}!
October 11, 2006 am31 8:35 pm
CHRISTIPHER HUET NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS BLOKING IN THE TOP RIGHT!!!
October 11, 2006 am31 10:07 pm
What about the Habs? I noticed lots of speed from them tonight. All they have to do now, is stop taking so many penalties!They are taking way too many stupid penalties. It almost cost them tonight. I think they need to get a bit more in sync, and then I think they will score more goals. Kovalev looked better, controlling plays more, and scored a goal, so hopefully he’s back on track. Will Samsanov ever score? I think they should put Latendresse on the 2nd line with kovalev and Plekanac.Bonk needs to go. Never does anything.Begin is much better.
October 11, 2006 am31 10:54 pm
Bonk!! Had a great game from what I saw …he was a defensive force out there.And playing better every game I have seen this esason so far.Jeez I saw a different game then you:=)A lot of the penalties were very very lame…holding the stick..what stick??Ryder for interference…from where he wasn’t even close to the guy.
October 11, 2006 am31 10:59 pm
I agree bonk played great.People need to realize that bonk’s role on this team is not one of a goal scorer (but its nice when he chips in) he is a checker,kills penalties.Niinama had a real solid game i thought too
October 11, 2006 am31 11:55 pm
If you noticed what Forsberg didn’t do, but noticed that the Flyers were 0 for 8 on the PP, then either you aknowledge Bonk’s contribution or you return to hockey school 101.
Wins are not added up the goals and assists columns. When your third line pluggers can shut down the other teams top line, it allows our #1 line to get away from going head to head with their and thus possibly neutralizing our offense.
I am quite surprised by Carbonneau’s coaching so far, given that he has been manoevering well to get his matchups without the last line change.
I was also pleased with Niinimaa’s play, he’s coming along well and the trade looks better each game.
And hey, I wasn’t too far off on my prediction!
October 12, 2006 am31 8:04 am
Was it me or did the reffing in last night’s game almost look like they were trying to give the home team the advantage! I Counted 3 GARBAGE calls, all on montreal ! Especially the one in the last minute where Dandy’s stick was being held by forsberg and he gets called for hauling him down!Ayway, that being said Abs looked *#@^ing amazing (Reminds me a touch of Hasek’s sprawling. Bonk and Johnson looked awesome together,The Koivu line, well, was the Koivu line!! and it seemed that the Kovalev line started to work things out, but I’m not to sure that this is actually a great line, I think that Samsonov and Kovolev are a little too into the pretty playmaking! Maybe switch up the 2nd and 3rd lines! ANY IDEAS?
October 12, 2006 am31 2:33 pm
Was anyone else surprised with the speed that Downey showed last night?
I did not realize he had wheels on him. First line was okay not their usually pests. 2nd line skated well and third line shut em down. My only concern was our lask of urgency clearing the puck out of our zone. When the oppostion clears it in we sem to be ver patient. Rivet especially, why does he have so many problems getting the puck past our blue line. He seems very clumbsy at times. It scares the **** outta me. Komi has speed problems as well but can dominate in the corners so I can live with him. Ninimaa has impressed SO FAR.
October 12, 2006 am31 2:35 pm
When we play fast relentless forechecking teams like Buffalo that is where are lack of mobility on the blueline will hurt us. Thats what Carolina took advantage of last year. This is why Markov is so important to us. I expect abig game Sat from him. Maybe we should sit Rivet and play Streit on Saturday.
Oh and SOuray is playing well but no one gives him credit. Why?