this game had everything except excitment.
i hope ward is ok, but it looks damn serious.
ribs played excellent koivu played horrid ryder couldnt capitalize on anything.
balej looked ok to me to tell you the truth, desaniase played like a fish :[
i like how CJ switched desanias and balej a bit in the third, too bad nothing developed at all.
over all this game sucked bad we played horrible, jersey played there system to the max which cost me to fall asleep fro about 20 minuts in the second.
He goofed up on theElias breakaway/SH goal. Then, just in the 3rd period he must have caughed up the puck unforced 5-6 times.A good team like the Devils really exploits the Habs having small forwards...
Not a good game for the habs, Ryder missed some that he could usually knock in the net in his sleep. It looked like Ward really messed up his shoulder, I hope he is OK. Theodore was amazing in the loss, he kept you guys in it all game, what a save on Pandolfo.
After such a brilliant showing in Philadelphia, the Habs were completely putrid tonight. There are those who will say it was the towering defence and wonderful trapping play of the Devils that was the cause, but I beg to differ. Even open passes were in the skates, or completely behind the intended receiver. There were times when two players stared at each other wondering who was going to have to do the dirty work and get the puck. Heck, there were even points when Hab players blew a tire thus leaving the Devils to the puck uncontested. In short, there was a complete lack of concentration tonight.
The two worst aspects of the whole thing, because in the end Hab fans can probably accept a loss or two here and there, were the pathetic way they lost the game and the fact they lost Ward in the process. It’s one thing to lose, but to lose when you look like you just aren’t there? And just when Ward was really putting his stamp on things, he barrels into the boards and, I’m guessing, pops that shoulder out but good.
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Notes:
Theo: He doesn’t get a free pass tonight because the guy couldn’t handle the puck to save his life. I know neither goal was his fault – though I question if he challenged enough on the Elias break – but pucks were bouncing off him like he was nothing more than a rubber man. Good thing the Devils have a lousy offence. B+
Bouillon: No surprise that he played a typically good game. He’s never going to get caught out playing poorly because he knows if he does, he’s sitting and it could spell the end of his NHL career. B+
Brisebois: Another solid game, though tonight I would have loved to see a little more of the Breezer that makes things happen. At least his passes hit the mark – he was one of the few. B+
Rivet: An old-time Breezie-esque pass through his own zone right up the middle and a complete blowing of the tire on a one-on-one situation tells me he’s not completely around the corner yet. B-
Markov: Welcome back and kindly take that rust off. There were elements of the good Markov’s game in there, but there were equally as many elements of scary Markov as well. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because it’s his first game in three weeks, but… B-
Quintal: Passing lessons for you! Defensively he was fine, but man alive, if he played like that with the puck every game, we’d be watching Dykhuis and not Quintal right now. C+
Souray: Thankfully, they cannot revoke All-Star nominations, because tonight it would have happened. He was fighting the puck all night: jumping off his stick, seriously flubbing pass after pass, bad decisions on and off the puck. Let’s just put this one in the book and forget about it. C
Langdon: Tonight the Habs needed an injection of spirit and it would have been good had he picked a fight. His play on the fourth line was fine, but I think he’s got to take things in hand, mind the pun, more often during games like this. B-
Perreault: Where do you go from here? I mean, had Juneau been able to play, that means Kilger would have been in the press box. But honestly, who is more deserving? Sometimes I have to wonder. D+
Balej: Kudos to Julien for giving him a period on the second line and equal kudos to Balej for playing a pretty good first game in the NHL. Tough when you have to play against the Devils for that inaugural event, but I felt he acquitted himself well. I was particularly impressed by the fact that he’s got a solid two-way game and was quick to get back. The other thing that impressed me to the point of bringing a smile to my face was the speed factor. Three strides and he was going faster than any Devil on the ice at one point. B-
Sundstrom: He made some wonderfully deft plays in the defensive zone to save potential goals. His offensive game was also pretty good in the limited opportunities his line created. B
Ward: That injury is a complete shame because he was probably the best guy out there for the Habs tonight and has been right up there the last couple of games. It looked like a nasty dislocation to me, and I wonder if we might not see him for a few weeks at least. A-
Kilger: Some shifts were excellent, but most were typical Shrug: weak hits if any, indecisive play, perimeter work. If injuries weren’t taking their toll, I’d predict waiver wire again in the within the next week. As it is, we might have to see him a few more times. C-
Dagenais: Honeymoon over, time to produce over the long haul and that means putting your nose to the grindstone every shift, not just when it suits you. There’s a reason for that demotion and I hope you take it personally and work your patootie off to get back. D+
Zednik: A guy with that much power should not be wussing out on hits. Zed is exactly the type of player that has to make things happen in games like this, but for the most part he was nigh on invisible. C-
Ribeiro: He made some good plays, for sure. Deft deke in the first to get the Habs first shot and a few dandy plays on the PP to create things – including two passes to poor Ryder who was unprepared and whiffled both times. These are the games where, if he’s really going to make it in the NHL, he has to step up. Not bad tonight, but still could be better. B+
Bulis: Didn’t use his best asset all night! Where was that speed? He played a solid two-way game, but when you’re on the first line, things have to happen. B-
Ryder: He may have missed those two opportunities, but he doesn’t let it get to him. He took a Koivu feed in the third and marched in alone to challenge Brodeur. I like the fact he never gives up and I like that you notice him every game. Tonight he did a little less hitting, but he was trying to make things happen. B
Koivu: I haven’t seen him struggle with the puck like he did tonight in years. Popping off his stick, passes that were ill-conceived, poor choices, oy! The gaffe on the blueline was tough and a bad decision, but that’s what happens when you play four forwards. Live by the sword… Now, he still played well defensively, but for the first time in a while, he made almost nothing happen. C+
Julien: (By popular request.) Well, let’s be honest, the team didn’t look like it cared tonight, and that has to reflect at least somewhat on the coach. On the other hand, he’s not the one to sit back and let things happen and his line changes – Balej for Dags, was a good sign. Furthermore, he put Markov with Rivet by the end of the night, hoping to spark the two who did so well last year. Didn’t pull the goalie at the end, but that’s a tough call when your team isn’t really looking like it’ll do better with eve nfour extra guys on the ice.
~~
Let’s hope and pray that Juneau finds his back overnight so we can stick him back on the third line and put Kilger back in the stands. I’d like to see Balej given more time on the second line as well, particularly against the Leafs who are not even half the defensive team that the Devils are. But more than anything, I want to see the Habs come out hungry and looking like they want to win. My goal for this tough stretch was three points against Philly, Jersey and the Buds. We have two…
The Leafs will be a tough game, for sure. They’ve got guys who might be coming off the infirmary list (of course others who might be landing there as well) and they’re in first place for a reason. We’ve got the opportunity to play them without Dive-Roll Tucker, so it might be a cleaner game anyhow. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long night for a lot of the boys tonight, though, as they contemplate the way they played. Hopefully Julien can purge their minds of it and have them rolling when the Centre Of The Universe comes to town.
Not a good game for the habs, Ryder missed some that he could usually knock in the net in his sleep. It looked like Ward really messed up his shoulder, I hope he is OK. Theodore was amazing in the loss, he kept you guys in it all game, what a save on Pandolfo.
Good luck vs Toronto
thanks
we're now 1-19-02 i believe against the devils in jersey.
the elias goal changed the tempo of the game.
Langdon: Tonight the Habs needed an injection of spirit and it would have been good had he picked a fight. His play on the fourth line was fine, but I think he’s got to take things in hand, mind the pun, more often during games like this. B-
I agree that Langdon should have started something tonight. I don't know if he's forgotten his role but he's only fought once in the last 15 games and he's been pretty invisible on the enforcer front for a while now. He's got to muck it up a bit more and make his presence felt, a fight could of lit a fire under us tonight, but he didn't even try. Sure he's playing alright hockey on the 4th line, but there's a ton of guys around who could do better.
NJ did have the better of the play, but they did NOT dominate us... we basically gave them the two goals they scored.
They produced ZERO goals themselves.
And Ryder missed FOUR point blank chances... wiffed on 2 great Ribeiro feeds, failed to beat Brodeur from the slot on another Ribeiro feed, then came in alome on Brodeur later in the game and again failed to beat him.
If he scores on just one of those chances, it's whole different game.
The whole game it seemed like the Habs needed that first goal to get going, but it just never came.
It was partly the Habs not being oppotunistic, a big part NJ's defense... Niedermayer is just so smart out there.
We also saw NJ put Madden on Ribeiro, not Koivu... in such instances you want Koivu to be motivated by this and make them pay.
Sadly he was sub-par to put it lightly, Ribeiro was the one setting up just about all the offensive chances.
That play behind the net was just a thing of beauty, if Thornton can't go to the All-Star game we could see Ribs there yet. Although the chances are very slim obviously.
And Brodeur did not outplay Theo, Theo had to play better just to keep the Habs in striking distance.
And the penalty shot was a joke, but actually with 8 minutes left and us losing by two I PREFFERED the penalty shot.
Trust Theo to make the save and you get a little spark and 8 minutes to come back.
I prefer that than to let NJ kill another 2 minutes on the PP... then you've got no spark and only 6 minutes left.
Balej made once nice move on an NJ D man at one point, anyone else catch it?... Just went by him with ease.
If given some time, Balej will be a good one. He might steal Dagenais' job yet. With Ward potentially out a while, Balej might get to stick around a while.
NJ did have the better of the play, but they did NOT dominate us... we basically gave them the two goals they scored.
They produced ZERO goals themselves.
And Ryder missed FOUR point blank chances... wiffed on 2 great Ribeiro feeds, failed to beat Brodeur from the slot on another Ribeiro feed, then came in alome on Brodeur later in the game and again failed to beat him.
If he scores on just one of those chances, it's whole different game.
The whole game it seemed like the Habs needed that first goal to get going, but it just never came.
It was partly the Habs not being oppotunistic, a big part NJ's defense... Niedermayer is just so smart out there.
We also saw NJ put Madden on Ribeiro, not Koivu... in such instances you want Koivu to be motivated by this and make them pay.
Sadly he was sub-par to put it lightly, Ribeiro was the one setting up just about all the offensive chances.
That play behind the net was just a thing of beauty, if Thornton can't go to the All-Star game we could see Ribs there yet. Although the chances are very slim obviously.
And Brodeur did not outplay Theo, Theo had to play better just to keep the Habs in striking distance.
And the penalty shot was a joke, but actually with 8 minutes left and us losing by two I PREFFERED the penalty shot.
Trust Theo to make the save and you get a little spark and 8 minutes to come back.
I prefer that than to let NJ kill another 2 minutes on the PP... then you've got no spark and only 6 minutes left.
Balej made once nice move on an NJ D man at one point, anyone else catch it?... Just went by him with ease.
If given some time, Balej will be a good one. He might steal Dagenais' job yet. With Ward potentially out a while, Balej might get to stick around a while.
I really don't know what game you were watching, NJ dominated for 50 minutes of the game. Montreal did good in bursts. Remember Elias hit the post and Pandolfo messed up an empty netter. It could have been 4 - 0 just as easy.
The special team play that has been largely responsible for the Habs' recent success was nowhere to be seen. Of course not, since both the PP and the PK units were scored upon. Not that the even strength play was so good. Long shotless stretches, turnovers, etc. IMO Guy was too generous in rating a number of players. The score could have been a lot worse if not for Théo. For example, several times the Devils forechecked the Ribeiro line to distraction for almost entire shifts. Koivu had a shaky game. Souray had an outright poor game. There were too many breakaways and odd man rushes. Was letting Marshall in on Théo any better than Koivu's botching the Elias breakaway?
NJ played a solid game but they always do when they have the lead. If th habs would have scored first i could have been different. It was weird the guys were skating hard but nothing seemed to work. All the bounces were going NJ way and Brodeur with his puck handling help the Devils a lot. This team is all about Brodeur when they lost those games he was horrible and th offense was just not abl to pick up. For a first game i loved from what iv seen from Balej. He played well in the corners and his speed and moves are just great, he needs to play with ribs instead of dagenais.
With all those trade talks we need to get a big winger...
Marshall just sucks, you didn't have to worry about him scoring unless he fell head first into theodore lol The guy is trash
i thought that penalty shot call waz pure trash, marshall sould have got a holding the stick call on that play, terible terible call, the refs really sucked tonight.
but hey new jersey is a great team becuase if you give em a chance they'll capatilize and refrain.
but yeah i truely like new jersey's players, but marshall is pure trash indeed
Played very bad. As thjugh sleepy flyes. I'm very much disatisfied. It's necessary to do something very quiqly CJ and BG!!!
dont freek out yet my russian freind the team is still doing more then ok, BG shouldnt rush on any thing right now. tru$$$ him he knows when to act and what to get
Balej made once nice move on an NJ D man at one point, anyone else catch it?... Just went by him with ease.
Unless I missed one, there were three occasions where Balej was one on one with a defenseman: (1) against Colin White, where Balej had an opportunity to go to the outside, but risk White hipchecking him, so he took a weak shot that didn't even hit the net; (2) against Rafalski, where Balej tried to dangle the puck along the offensive blueline, only to have Rafalski punch it out; (3) where Balej used his speed and beat Brown to the outside, only to realize he was behind the goal line and had no where to go, so Brown lightly checked him and Balej shied away.
That's what worries me. He shied away when the opposition played physical with him. He stuck to the perimeter. It was his first game, so I'm not going to rush any judgment, but this has been my concern of Balej for a few years now.
The game as a whole was dominated by New Jersey, I think. You could count the Habs quality scoring chances on one hand. The Devils dominated the transition game and Montreal couldn't keep up with it.
One aspect of the game that Montreal can feel proud about is that they were strong along the boards. NJ beat them in the skating and transition game, but Montreal was able to limit NJ's cycling, and the Habs were able to cycle a good amount themselves. That's one positive the team can take from this game.
Another positive is Markov. He's so smart when it comes to outlet passing and being proactive in intercepting passes. When he's on the ice, there's a dramatic change to Montreal's transition game. It's just too bad he's the only reliable defenseman on the team when it comes to passing.
Really shows why they are in the all star game. Brodeur got his 10th shutout too. Wow.
