Yeah, Theo was a bit shaky, he was often making the first move which costed us at least two goals. At some times he was brilliant though.. We should rest him a bit!
ouch.. Martin St Louis made me pay for commention on him getting a starter position in the all-star game. I expected a loss, but I had hoped for a better effort.
Komisarek had by far his worst game of the season. Aside from constantly being out of position he opened his yap and got a 4 minute penalty instead of a 2.
Anyone awake out there? THe Habs have a problem on their hands because it wasn't just tonight's game that was without passion, it was also the last two periods against the Sabres. That's a trend that has to cause some concern amongst the Hab brass. Tonight we were almost never first to the puck; we played with almost no passion or intensity; indeed at times it looked like we were preferring to watch the game rather than play it.
What this game proved, ultimately, is that if our best players aren't playing good games, this team doesn't have a chance no matter how good our filler is. Because let's be honest here, it wasn't like the Daganais' and Dackell's played much different than usual, it was the big guns who were out to lunch. Personally, I would have pulled Theo at the end of the second and allowed Garon to take that third period as it probably would have been a good wake up call and Theo had really struggled to that point.
I'm not sure why Julien rolls his lines much better when the Habs are losing. Tonight, the fourth line got regular shifts when we needed to try and pull the game back, whereas on nights when we're winning, he tends to shorten that bench and leave the Langdon's of the team to pick out splinters for much of the night. Before I make a judgement I'd love to hear an explanation of sorts - even if it's as simple as him just not seeing anything worth playing from everyone else - because to me, it's a really odd decision.
~~
Notes:
Theo: Don't take too deep a whiff, you might get sick from the noxious smell. Three goals were ones that Theo would have had on most other nights. Like I said, I'm shocked he stayed in for so long. His rebound control - that which I was so pleased with in recent days, was horrendous. C-
Bouillon: At least he'd fairly consistent. I don't think he played a particularly poor game, in fact I like the way he handled himself when he was against LeCavalier. He's a player that doesn't get intimidated by talent and that's a good thing to see from a player like him. On a game like this where most stunk, he was even for the night. B+
Rivet: Turned the corner, perhaps not. Turning the corner, absolutely. Again, another player who was even tonight and despite getting caught running around a couple of times, despite a couple of nasty passes, he looked pretty good out there. Again, though, it's a case of the lower players being consistent, and this team can't afford that. B+
Brisebois: I'm starting to get a little concerned about his game now. That's three in a row where's he's made a few boneheaded plays. Back to the simple game, Breezer, or the boo-birds might make a re-appearence. C+
Komisarek: For someone who spent most of the night on his off-side, I don't think he played that poorly. He's made some good adjustments in his game and is looking better, and getting more ice time as a result. If you compare he and Souray, you can see the differences and his deficiencies boldly: tentative, slower, more prone to panic. However, for his age and maturity level, he's not doing badly. Then again, I'll be interested to see if he plays next game if Markov is back. C+
Quintal: For one of the rare occasions it was Quintal bailing out Souray a few times. All night he was consistent in his play and like any good defensive defender, you rarely noticed him. I particularly love the way he uses his experience to tie up sticks when he's about to be beaten. B+
Souray: Take a deep breath Hab fans and pray that this game was an aberration. He made rookie-type mistakes and just didn't look good at all out there tonight. There was no fire to his game - other than the revenge fire that he showed to some Bolts which was more borne out of frustration in his game than it was in something they did. C
Langdon: While I'm not overly pleased to see him out there when the Habs are down later in games, I think he played a pretty good one tonight. Once again I found myself smiling at his actual hockey and thinking it was way better than I expected when we first acquired him. B
Ward: WHen he was put on the first line late in the game, I just about choked. With apologies to Wardo fans, that was a bit of a joke. He certainly didn't have a great game and while he works hard, he doesn't even have the offensive skill Bulis has when the latter's confidence is low. B
Perreault: I thought one play late in the game was pretty much typical of his night. Someone won the puck along the boards and passed it out to Yannick....who was skating slowly the other way not paying even a lick of attention. D
Kilger: Three in a row. Who'd a thunk he would have really taken that message to heart. He's my first star for the Habs in tonight's game. Hits, shots, solid play everywhere....intensity! With those ingredients, he stays. A-
Juneau: Perhaps that half game off helped because Joe had some good jump tonight. I was quite pleased to see him back in the lineup and even more pleased when his game was so good. He was probably one of the better Habs all night in both ends of the rink. B+
Dackell: Another typical Dackell game. He did his job effectively all over the ice, and you can't really expect more. Now, tonight he was a little less effective than he usually is, but I think that was just along the vein of the team. B-
Dagenais: Dags lovers rejoice, he scored again. Right place, right time - and that's something you can't teach anyone. Of course, hockey lovers should be cringing about now, because other than that one play, he was dismal all night. C-
Zednik: While most of the rest of the team turns south, Zed looks to be getting a little more jump in his skates. Instead of going the long way around, he's going to the net more. He's making those plays - the little ones - which will untimately make him a more successful player in the end. Look for him beside Saz with Ryder on Saturday. B+
Ribeiro: After such a great game two nights ago....... Ribs should have stayed home, he was putrid. There was almost a complete lack of effort tonight, his shifts were again too long, and he was just about the most AHL-looking player I've seen in the NHL in a while. And that INCLUDES Dags and Ward. His line was dominated almost every shift, and much of that was on him in the defensive zone as he continually failed to put in his work. F
Bulis: Not his best effort tonight, unfortunately. He was skating well and on the PK he was good, but overall he just didn't seem to be where he needed to be. B
Ryder: Are we about to see another benching for the uber-rookie? This was one of the worst games I've seen him play all year. He got a real chewing-out when he totally left his position to hit someone on the other side of the rink. Hopefully he comes back with a much better effort Saturday. D+
Koivu: Again, just not all there tonight. Sax just didn't have the zip he's had for the last 10 or so games. That said, he still created more in the offensive zone than anyone else tonight and was also really good defensively - particularly when matched against LeCavalier, but it was just not a top-notch night for the Captain. B
~~
Let's just put this one out of our heads and hope things look better on Saturday. I'm sure there will be a few choice words from the coaching staff over the next couple of days and I would suspect there will be a few lineup changes as well. Don't be surprised if Garon gets the start - and I really believe he should have had it tonight.
Pittsburgh it is - the team that shocked the Devils 4-2, so we can't take them lightly at all. Sets your alarms because it's an early game, starting at 1:00 in the afternoon. No Mario doesn't mean win, it just means that everyone else on that team works a little harder. An effort like today from the Habs will give us another loss, and some real soul-searching to do.
I didn't saw the game but from CKAC's point of view, nobody wearing Habs shirt showed up tonite. No Zed, no Sax, no Ribs, no Sunny, no Theo, no Bullie, no Sourry, no Breezy, none of them. Niet, zilch, nada, no, non, nein, nitch, niott !!
Forget this game. CJ will kick their @__ and they will play a hell of a game next one. Listen to ron Fournier's show at CKAC instead. He's on fire, he makes his best shows when habs don't show up like tonight. He just sang the wedding song in slow tempo, like a funeral march. Very funny. I love when he improvises, he's very awake, he's making a show, let's say he's entertaining, to say the least.
Man that was a terrible game. We just plain got outworked right from the first shift to the end of the game. It's hard to point out who had bad games cause pretty much everyone did.
I just hope this is a wakeup call and they come out flying against Pittsburgh. Theo should have been rested tonight and I would imagine he'll sit on Saturday, that's 7 in a row for him and it's obvious he needs a rest.
I hope we'll see a lineup change or two as well. There's some guys out there that are getting way too complacent. Maybe call Balej up for the weekend and give him a shot at the second line.
Yep. Hell froze over. Kilger outplayed the other 18 Habs players on the ice tonight. What a shame...
No need to say more, this was a 4 point game the Habs never had any intention to fight for.
Worse players tonight: Ribs and Theodore. Time to give a rest to Theo. And time to kick Ribs' butt.
Putrid. I stoped watching after two.
Ha, my thoughts as well. I've never seen Koivu play so poorly, or the defence fail to make adjustments.
However, I'm not sure why all the Kilger bashing tonight. He played well, probably the most effective player on the ice.
I'm often perplexed as to why the media, and some fans, get down on Kilger's lack of physical play, when not many others share the load.
Ribs has no work ethic, and refuses to go into the corners. Ward is invisible 99% of the time. I mean really, has anyone noticed he has returned from injury? He's now a third line checking center, with no physical impact at all.
Perhaps Chad is singled out, because he is the only forward with the size to do so, and this isn't really fair. Dagenais will never give a hit, nor will Ryder or many of our other players.
The bad habits continue to build, but sooner or later, the holes in this team will become apparent. The demanding schedule, and a small group of forwards, will catch up.
There has to be a point where you give Tampa credit as well. They played very well, came into our barn, and had their way with us. They played an excellent road game, and their best players played just that.
While its not time to hit the panic button, I'm not sure if the team's shortcomings will not become apparent in the next 6-7 games.
Perhaps Chad is singled out, because he is the only forward with the size to do so [throw a hit], and this isn't really fair. Dagenais will never give a hit, nor will Ryder or many of our other players.
I don't really agree with what you're saying. OK, so maybe Dagenais is a big softie, but let's look at why Kilger is not alone in the hitting department:
Ryder (I have no idea why you would say he doesn't hit), Ward, Langdon, Bégin, Koivu, Zednik, Quintal, Souray, Komisarek, Bouillon
I didn't saw the game but from CKAC's point of view, nobody wearing Habs shirt showed up tonite. No Zed, no Sax, no Ribs, no Sunny, no Theo, no Bullie, no Sourry, no Breezy, none of them. Niet, zilch, nada, no, non, nein, nitch, niott !!
Forget this game. CJ will kick their @__ and they will play a hell of a game next one. Listen to ron Fournier's show at CKAC instead. He's on fire, he makes his best shows when habs don't show up like tonight. He just sang the wedding song in slow tempo, like a funeral march. Very funny. I love when he improvises, he's very awake, he's making a show, let's say he's entertaining, to say the least.
well if you follow the trend, Théodore in net against Pittsburgh, Garon in net against Detroit. Théodore in net against Carolina, then Garon Philly.
So, I guess Théodore against Pittsburgh and Garon against St. Louis
Actually that trend makes sense in a strange way. You put your best guy in for the games you need to win, and your backup in the games you would be lucky to win with or without your starter.
To make the playoffs you only need to win a few games against the better teams, but you absolutely need to beat the lesser teams.
Kilger wasen't that good , he was trying hard but was never able to do something good oubivious that his hockey sense is weak.... Ward was the best Hab on the ice . Boring game overall , the Habs have to be better at home . Begin would have been really usefull tonight .
I guess the 1 hit wonder is back to normal, stuffing his five hole with vachon cakes.
:p
Actually, there were no 5-hole goals, so you weren't watching the game. But anyway, you've had to wait a long, long time to make that post because Théodore was allowing very, very few goals. I suggest you compare the goals against of ther Bruins and Habs to get an accurate poicture of who is allowing those goals.
I don't really agree with what you're saying. OK, so maybe Dagenais is a big softie, but let's look at why Kilger is not alone in the hitting department:
Ryder (I have no idea why you would say he doesn't hit), Ward, Langdon, Bégin, Koivu, Zednik, Quintal, Souray, Komisarek, Bouillon
Ryder isn't a physical forward, that's not his style. Ward isn't much of a hitter, because he doesn't find the open ice that often. He just doesn't have the wheels. Koivu isn't exactly a big hitter, nor is Zednik. Langdon is the only other forward who comes close to Kilger's size, and will throw a hit. However, Darren's ice time is pretty limited.
I'm only speaking of forwards, and not defence. However, Quintal rarely throws a hit and Komisarek is a scratch more often than not.
this game was so funny !!
