Game 9: Habs/Isles

After a win you should be able to talk about what is right with the team. You should be able to talk about what you’re doing well. You should be able to say things like: “if we keep it up, we’ll be in good shape”.

I can’t say that. This is Montreal we’re talking about.

Tonight is an other critical game for the Canadiens. They’re all critical when you’re on the outside of a playoff spot. 2 points tonight would get us there. It would also go a long way to making the 5 game losing streak an unfond-but-mercifully-distant memory. The Islanders are a young team that Montreal can jump on. Intuition tells methat Marty Biron will make the start. If history has taught me anything, it is to expect him to play big in Montreal.

PS. What do you guys think about the Eric Engles’ Frolov/Kostitsyn’s trade? Swap one team’s trouble for the other?

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11 Comments

#1 guyatforum says:
October 22, 2009 at 11:05 pm

But tonite we saw a new fear – a team that knew they needed to play. It was great seeing and hearing the fans appreciate the game of hockey, and the effort forward. It is just a start – be great if they can keep it for the next two home games. Hopefully Price can get some sport psychologist that is good, and remember that he can and will be awesome.

#2 Mats Naslund says:
October 23, 2009 at 12:08 am

Alright I`ll say it. “If we keep it up, we’ll be in good shape.”

I’m not going to say one bad word about tonight’s game. It was a solid win with another fantastic performance by the smurfs, a solid and confidence building effort for the defense, and a stand-up job done by Jaro in net.

Ok, I will say that it was only the Islanders who were coming off of an emotionaly draining shootout victory in the previous night, and looked excruciatingly tired and lazy out there. Still… for the Habs, a 5-1 win is huge, no matter what the circumstances.

#3 habknot says:
October 23, 2009 at 8:05 pm

Lots of good last night but….
We have to execute the zone clearances better, and it can’t be always along the boards. Yes it is safest that way, but not to the point where it is so predictable teams can just leave their d on the point. Even two or three stretch passes (when the D has good position) a period will make a huge difference, especially with last nights lines, we have lots of team speed.
We will be vunerable to intimidation without BGL or Stewart there. Unless Gill wants to tangle. I thought someone had to send Sutton a message last night, he really went after our guys a couple of times.

I didn’t think Lapierre was great on the wing.I’d rather Lats as a top 6, and Laps as energy or checking center/wing. Can’t complain about the result.
Chipchura looked real good (the fight was also needed). Is he getting some speed back or are his instincts (especially on D) getting sharp? He made everyone on the ice with him better last night.
Halak was very solid. That goal was perfect for team and him. A lesson that cost zero points, just the shutout.
Smurfs rock, Plekanec is getting better all the time. PAX was also going all night, even D’Ags threw a hit! I didn’t think our team would be better with Metropolit back, I was wrong. He was solid 2 ways last night. Not easy to play against.
Here comes the cup!!!! OK, breathe easy, take a seat

#4 habknot says:
October 23, 2009 at 8:07 pm

BTW, Bergeron makes me nervous every time he touches the puck. He needs a very resposible partner.

#5 Senet1 says:
October 23, 2009 at 10:03 pm

I could see this trade taking place but we would have to clear some cap space because right now Sergie is not in our loop and Frolov is a salary hit of $2.9M, so we would need to open some more space. That may mean a two or three player deal in order to pull off the trade. Not sure it is doable.

#6 Senet1 says:
October 23, 2009 at 11:08 pm

Ok, lets say we need to clear enough cap space so we can sign a top 6 forward to help the second line, either that or bring Sergei up and see what he can do on that line. But let’s say Sergie is going to be traded, how do we clear say 3M in cap space in order to achieve a trade?

#7 Mats Naslund says:
October 24, 2009 at 12:08 am

I think Engels’ point was to trade both bros Kostitsyn for Frolov and change. I’m not huge on the idea, as I think a lot of times we think the grass is greener when it really isn’t (remind me how many goals that monster french centre in florida has this year?). I still think there is huge upside for the Kosts., if they can keep their noses clean.

#8 habknot says:
October 24, 2009 at 9:38 am

If neither Lats nor Dags are top six forwards, then trading one top six for another doesn’t really help, but it doesn’t really hurt either. Frolov is bigger and more responsible defensively than Kots. He’s a bit like Kovalev in that he disappears sometimes. Would he respond to the pressure here to perform every day?

I’d give this group more time to solidify in their roles. We need more on the second line. Dags seems best qualified but with Plek and Kots makes a small, timid line. Maybe give Metro, Maxpax, Moen and Lats, Laps, and Chipchura more icetime, have our fourth line a small, offensive line?
I guess its moot now, Martin will come back with the same lines tonite. I just think Lapierre is better suited to energy instigator than to feeder/scorer on a big line.
We’ll see.

#9 habknot says:
October 24, 2009 at 9:40 am

And I agree the Kots have potential. But its potential to be Gomez/Gionta and those guys are locked up here for five years. Unless, as i said above, our 4th line breaks with tradition and is a quick, small offensive line.

#10 Senet1 says:
October 24, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Well I am not sold on trading AK46 for Frolov. But I do see reason to look at moving Moen or Metropolit up to the second land. Or from a trade standpoint, Frolov may play better here than in LA. Only thing is he is UFA next year so you could trade someone and then end up loosing him next year.

There are a few other teams looking to make changes so maybe we can do something with them?

#11 Senet1 says:
October 24, 2009 at 12:17 pm

If Sergie p[lays well for Hamilton in the next two games I say call him up and puthim on the second line and see if he wants to be here. If he shows well then forget about the trade talk if not then he is at least an active roster player and not a minor leaguer that you are trading. Nashville and LA and Tampa and a few more are looking for players to fill some holes some due to injuries. So lets try that if we cannot get that second line going this weekend.

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Senet1 : Actually I agree it was a good move for them to play a shorter season and get the experience. He could not have played in the minors this year he would have had to play junior or the NHL. However, he now has a year under him and knows what to expect next year and hopefully take a bigger responsibility on the team. Did you see those two goals in the bronze game? Wow.
muller93 : Good move by the Habs not having Galchenyuk play in the minors. Now Galchenyuk has 1 year in the NHL and playoff experience this is going to pay off big time come next year.
Senet1 : Galchenyuk scores to back to back goals in shoot out to help USA win Bronze metal. I did not see the second goal but the first was a beauty.
Senet1 : So we could pick anywhere from 25th to 23rd depending on who wins these quarter final series.
Senet1 : First, is the 14 teams in the lottery. Then there are 12 teams that did not make the semi finals in the order of the seasonal finish, Then there are the four teams in the semi final the first two eliminated pick in the order of the regular season points total and the last two based on who wins and who loses the cup. So as it stand now if say Detroit beats Chicago then Detroit moves up to pick after us. Boston or NYR will move up and pick after us. LA or San Jose will move up and pick after us
Senet1 : Basically, I was wrong about the draft pick situation. There are three groups of drafting teams within the 30 teams.
Senet1 : seriously ready to challenge for the cup. He will us win games but he will not be the difference between winning the cup and not winning the cup. You pick up players like that once you have the team ready to challenge,.
Senet1 : I am looking at the players to draft and there are a lot of big 6'3-6'5 forwards available ion the draft this year. If we could draft 3-4 big young players in the 2nd and 3rd round why would you want to give that up for a roster player who may have 2-3 years at best. If we are going to build a winner to have to build it with bigger players and there are a lot of good big players available this year. So you sign Ott and he is with us for the short run, but probably not when we are seriously re
Senet1 : Boullion is a great mentor for the young D-men
muller93 : Boullion is one of MBs great additions--Boull ion is a definite Keeper.
muller93 : Getting rid of Kaberle frees up a lot of cash. Boullion is small but is reliable and doesn't back down from anyone.
muller93 : Exactly Goalie any thoughts on a punishing D-man?
goalie : They;re showing determination adn skill vs Ducks and Blackhawks.
goalie : REd Wings could turn out to be the surprise team of this year's playoffs!
goalie : WE need to rid our team of Kaberle and Webber. Step two would be to then move Diaz. If we get that big d-man I believe that would push Boullion to # 7 on the chart. We'd then go with Georges, PK,Markov (to continue mentoring Ememlin) Tinordi as our starting six . THEN I'd be excited about our chances. We could then work on getting bigger forwards.
goalie : I too would gladly give up a 3rd round pick for Ott- the type of player we sadly lack. AND if we could get one more rugged, expeienced defenceman it would help immensely.
muller93 : Senet what you are saying makes sense but if we can get Ott for a 3rd round I'll take that all day.
muller93 : MB should be looking at a big D-man first, even though I like our blue line with the addition of Tinordi. We need that insurance just in case one gets injured. Also I'm a firm believer in starting with the goalie first then-defense-for wards-and we already have good goalie. We have all noticed when we have the lead Price is tough to beat.
Senet1 : So sometimes you have to sacrifice for one year or two to build that team in the draft. then add the finishing touches through FA and trades.
Senet1 : Muller, Detroit is another good example. They have been in the hunt every year with good well balanced teams yet only one or two cups to show for it. However, they have built a team that has a chance every years for the last 10+ years. That is what I think we have a chance to do this year with a good draft. It reminds me of the habs teams of the mid 80 and 90's we built a team then with sold draft picks and won the cup twice during that time period. So sometimes you have to sacrifice a one
muller93 : Very true Senet, you do need luck and we haven't had any luck it seems since the habs moved to the Bell Center. We had an incredible run in 2010 with some crazy goal tending from Halak. With Galchenyuk-Tinor di-Gallagher all in 1 year--not too bad, even with an early exit in the playoffs.
Senet1 : Muller I guess we all have our own ideas, but there has never been too many times that were successful when they traded their draft picks away. We have a chance to build this team so we have a shot at winning the cup over the next 10 years. Even as good as Pittsburgh has been they have only won the cup once since Crosby and Malkin have been with the team. That is because you not only need great players but you need luck to win, but one thing about Pittsburgh they have a chance every year. The
muller93 : Good point on Torres, he might be a liability. Torres has to tone it down a bit, but that's his game-very aggressive.
goalie : Though I don't condone what Raffi Torres did - thos shows you how repeat offenders or near offenders are going to be treated. His hit was NOT illegal BUT what the rap sheet adn reputation Torres has he got severly punished. Lesson to be learned by OTHER players because Torres dopesn't learn fromk his mistakes.
muller93 : Senet normally I would agree with you on not trading draft picks but we are not in a rebuilding stage. Sometimes draft picks can be a roll of the dice and it can take up to 3 years to be NHL ready. We have a good team and I agree with Stuo players like Clowe-Torres-Ott -Scott will make a big difference. Somebody has to protect Gallagher, he can't keep getting hit the way does--we need a tough forward so they think twice before going after Gallagher.
Senet1 : Really a heathly Habs team would probably win more games against the Pens that we did against the Sens. Reason they Pens would not play as physical against us as against the Sens. If we get good goaltending we win at least two games.
zpezada4ok : hello all «link»
stuo11 : hes a tougher big guy too! Just a minor adjustment but will help a bit
stuo11 : hes better than markov, and hes french who was in mention for defenceman of the year
goalie : Markov for Beauchemin - an injury prone d-man for an ;old timer'd-man. Beauchemin is NOT what the Habs need in my opinion. He is a HUGE defensive liability.
goalie : Stuo 11 I'd make that trade with Oilers fast BUT I doubt the Oilers will make that. Two marginal d-men at the best for a switch of first round picks - not a chance .
stuo11 : markov for beachemin?
stuo11 : let moen go
stuo11 : maybe try and get steve begin back
stuo11 : we wouldve kicked out all other teams but pens, sens,