I totaly agree with jonny5, Zed has to pass the biscuit more if not he is going to be the second coming of Berezin. He is too selfish sometimes and it does hurt the team in getting a better shot on net, sure Zed is a scorer but you can't score every time you shoot. Look at Ryder, Saku and Ribs. They could have way more goals but they aren't selfish and are more than willing to pass the puck to a player with a better shot opportunity, CJ or Charron should address this.
under any other situation then that 2-0 breakaway yes he should pass.. but on the breakaway he shouldnt, thats all im saying..
he did the right thing on the breakaway.. he drove to the net and made a good move and was beat.. if you noticed, the rebound went straight to juneau but hopped over his stick (so yeah not STRAIGHT to him or whatever but very nearly did) if it hadnt he wouldve had a golden opportunity to bury the puck in the net (till chara put the net on st. catherines with that body of his.. holy hell is that guy huge )
yup people are truely underestimating the power of the CUBE
he plays everygame like his life is on the line.
i like him
I like the effort he gives too. But he is too small. Not in hitting because next to Souray he might be the best hitter on the team. But in reach and definitely in moving the trees away from the front of the net. Plus he ends up watching the play from the front of the net instead of picking up the man. He had a great view of the Sundin game winning goal on Sat and a couple of weeks ago he had ring side seats to watch Vinnie and Brad score a couple of tap ins as well.
I don’t think there’ll be too many who disagree with me when I say that, if we continue to play much as we did tonight against the Senators, we’re going to put ourselves in good position to make it to the playoffs. The kind of intensity shown tonight was impressive, though it was equalled with the commitment the players gave to the system.
I think that’s the key to this game, and to our chances for the rest of the year. When we play a solid defence, like we did tonight, and supplement that with an effective counter-attack type game, then we’re probably going to be more successful than not. We don’t have the elements to play a more offensive style game, so the patience we displayed tonight is critical.
Something else that people need to consider: the Habs had the 7th man completely on their side tonight. As the game wore on, the crowd was louder and louder and it gave one the impression that it was a playoff encounter. *This* is where Hab fans are above and beyond in a lot of respects; not when we’re in-fighting over nonsense like that which the media trotted out to us over the last few weeks. I’ve no doubt that the passion of the crowd inspired the team as much as the team spurred the crowd. Keep that in mind when you feel like booing…
~~
Notes:
Theo: Stand-up game. He could do nothing about the two goals against him; the first came off of Quintal’s skate and the second had Quintal acting like a door in front of him. Poor Theo still hasn’t seen that second enter the net, I don’t think. His rebound control was excellent (critical against a team like the Sens) and his lateral movements (also critical with a puck moving team like Ottawa) was also spot on. A-
Bouillon: I think they were generous when they gave the Cube first star, quite honestly. He made a few errors with the puck tonight, and coughed one up deep in the zone that almost cost the team, if not for a great play by his partner of the moment (Rivet). This was one of those game, and he has them now and again, where he over-handles the puck and gets himself in all sorts of trouble. The lightning fast Sens almost made him pay a few times. B-
Brisebois: I’ll not complain about his defensive game since it was, as has become standard this year, very solid. He was particularly good positionally down low and stopped a lot of plays not with a big hit, but by putting his body in the way of movement. His big problem was his decision-making with the puck. Numerous time he had passes picked off, and that’s something he’s got to be very aware of. The chip off the boards should be his safety net in games like this. B
The pair: Tough to mark any defensive pairings tonight because there was a lot of mix and match, however when these two were paired, I felt there were a few communication gaffes. The “you take it” “No, you take it” syndrome. Perhaps a lot of the problem had to do with the fact neither was great with the puck tonight, but they can’t let the other team take over, they still have to take charge. C+
Quintal: Despite being mentioned in the two goals against, I felt he played his second excellent game in a row. As I’ve mentioned before, if you attack him with speed, he’s dead in the water, but Ottawa only managed to do that on one occasion (Havlat winging one off the post). Positionally he was sound and he used his body very well down low to limit movement and angle plays out. B+
Dykhuis: Certainly there’s going to be a lot of up-in-arms after his two giveaways, one resulting in a goal. However, we have to remember that this is an AHL-quality defender who’s up here to cover in an injury situation, and if you consider that usually he took his man out well and did the correct things with the puck, I don’t think anyone should be too disappointed. I honestly don’t think we can expect that much more from him. B-
The pair: Here, more than anywhere, we had problems. These two seemed to avoid talking together tonight and there were a couple of times I was thinking the Ottawa boys were just going to attack between these two and go for goal. That kind of play should never be allowed. C
Komisarek: The learning curve continues, though tonight it was another difficult night. His first couple of shifts were not great, and after that he didn’t see a lot of ice. However, and this is key for Hab fans, what you should know about those later shifts is that he was barely noticeable – and for a defender that’s a pretty good thing. When you notice a defender it means they’re either making a brilliant play, or screwing up. Since we don’t expect the former from him much yet, then it’s good it wasn’t the latter. Something else I’ve noticed, particularly down low, when he hits, he hits to knock people on their butts. While ostensibly this seems a good idea, in reality it means he’s throwing too much of himself into the hit and is therefore knocking himself off balance and taking himself out of the play. Physicality is required from him, but it must be controlled. C-
Rivet: Saved Bouillon’s bacon a couple of times, which was good. Tonight, though, I felt he was doing a little of the Cube thing and hanging onto the puck for much too long. It was getting him, and by extension the team, into trouble far too often. Positionally he was good, and in front of the net I feel he’s getting better and better, but like Cube (and Komi for that matter) he’s got to get rid of that puck quicker. B
The pair: Interestingly, I don’t think Komi had much time with anyone but Rivet, which should tell you a lot about what they think of Rivet’s play these days. I’m very satisfied with the way Rivet is bringing along his second protégé (Markov being the first) and over time, I think this could become a pretty good pairing. Tonight they were good, but they weren’t out there much. N/A
Langdon: Please suh, may I play a little more? N/A
Begin: I’d like to start seeing a platoon situation develop with him and Juneau. I’m no longer convinced that Joe deserves to have entire games on that third line, but neither am I convinced that he should be edited out of the play. Begin is such an energy guy that he makes things happen no matter where he is, and he’s defensively responsible enough to play that third line effectively. Tonight he scored his seventh because he worked his butt off, went to the net, paid the price, and whacked it home. B+
Ward: There’s no doubt that his defensive game has come a long, long way. He no longer over-pursues pucks thus throwing himself out of position, instead he’s usually in just the right place and has a knack for cutting out passes. His offensive game, however, rankles. Perhaps it’s good in the AHL, but not up here. B-
The trio: Obviously with Langdon playing just over four minutes the three didn’t get to play much, so there’s not a whole lot to say. In fact, I think the other two go more of their time on special teams than they did at five on five. N/A
Sundstrom: All those wonderful hip checks from yesterday were right out the window; I guess that’s too much physical activity in 24 hours. No question his defence was up to snuff tonight: he worked the Hossa line, but other than the final moments, he didn’t have a great offensive game. B-
Dackell: Let’s just talk about his intelligence for a moment. 99 times out of a hundred when a player gets a shot, they rifle it. Not Dax. Very often, he keeps his head up, waits until someone is there, or a screen is about to fly by, then puts it on net with precision. It’s this kind of thinking that I love. Now, take a look at the empty net goal and the work he did there. Instead of rushing things, he took his time, made a few deft moves, then…..continued to be patient. Instead of throwing the puck away, he killed the clock and was brilliant. These are the types of plays he does consistently. Now, add to that the fact that Hossa was specifically his man and managed a grand total of 0 shots…. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, he’s totally underrated and underappreciated. A-
Juneau: Oh it pains me to watch him offensively. He dumps it in and stays at the blueline half the time. Than again, there’s no doubting his defensive play. B
The trio: They didn’t create much offensively until the empty net goal, however defensively they shut down one of the better lines in the game today. ‘Nuff said. B+
Dagenais: I hate to say he’s going on a bit of a downward slide, but…. he’s going on a bit of a downward slide. The first game back after the benching was great, but since then he’s shown less and less each game. Not to say that he played particularly poorly, because he didn’t, but he didn’t throw himself into it like he had. That’s disappointing. C+
Ryder: My best friend is an Isles fan (no snickering) and he and I talk quite a bit about Hunter and Ryder. I know, through him, that Hunter has been pretty much the go-to guy on that club. He’s not entirely convinced when I tell him that Ryder’s been bordering on incredible here. Seems when we need a goal, or a timely play, or a timely hit, Ryder’s been there. Now, I still agree that Hunter or Raycroft should win that Calder, but I feel the gap is closing constantly. The kid is just an all-round player. Who’d have thought we’d have a rookie with 18!!! goals at this point – or even at all? A-
Ribeiro: Sometimes, those dipsy-doodle moves are great. Sometimes they almost cost us. Fortunately, Ribs has learned to play harder and harder and tonight when he blundered against Redden, he was the one who made it back to make that wonderful defensive play. *This* is the kind of two-way hard work I want to see from him. He may not have got any points tonight, but it’s this kind of hard work that will, in the end, net him far more in the future. Now, it wasn’t all roses tonight, because I thought he was a little worse for wear in the second, however he came back strong to finish the game, and that’s a very positive sign. Especially in a playoff intensity game! B+
The trio: More and more, despite all Ribeiro’s natural talents, I feel that Ryder is making this line his own and is carrying it. He’s the one who makes those hustle plays and works the puck out in the corners. He makes great passes to start things, and he makes great rushes to create offence when needed. And you know what, that’s perfect for Ribs because it’ll give him far more room to work. B
Perreault: You’d think being put on the first line would be incentive to put together a great game. If you thought that, you thought wrong. He was as invisible as ever and his errant passes were a source of constant aggravation. If Gainey can find a way to get this guy out, the sooner the better. F
Zednik: He’s got an open net on the backhand, yet switches it over to his forehand and has the puck saved. He’s got an open net because of a great cross-ice pass, yet fires it off the face of the moon because he’s holding his stick like it’s a lifeline. Confidence. He’s not scoring for lack of effort or being in the right place, or even of getting the chances. He not scoring because he’s thinking about it, instead of playing the game. He played really well tonight, created an abundant number of plays, was strong on and off the puck, and was robbed. B+
Koivu: He set the tone for the rest of the game when he came out on the first shift and hit everything that moved. He was all over the ice and got the crowd into it early with his feisty play, and that’s the sign of a great on-ice leader. (I’m not interested in the captain debate, only pointing out how he leads on the ice.) He played an very good offensive game, and his work on the point in the powerplay was extremely important on this night. Even better, and probably much overlooked, is that his line was matched with Alfredsson’s line, and the only goal scored against them was the Dykhuis blunder. Since the nonsense last week, I feel he’s put together some really solid outings and has elevated his game. A-
The trio: Well, call it a duo since Perreault wasn’t much more than a space holder. Zed and Sax created multiple chances, played an effective and strong defensive game, and carried the play most of the time while they were on the ice. Can’t ask too much more than that when you’re playing the Sens. B+
Julien: *Key* for the night was when he subbed in Begin for Dagenais at the end of the night to give that line a little more defensive responsibility. Suddenly, I doubt that many mind seeing Ribs in the final minute, and even better, the substitution resulted in the winning goal – and who can argue with that. His matchups worked well on this night, and I think he can be satisfied with the preparedness of the team.
~~
You could tell this game meant a pile to the players when, on the winning goal, Ribeiro and Begin both started shouting like crazy men and running to the point to congratulate Bouillon. Fun that Begin did it when he knew he was the one that scored the goal anyhow – that’s good team play. It’s all in the little things….
Oh, and Ribby? Can you wipe that dirt off the bottom of your bottom lip? There’s just a little, right in the middle…… (Great granny on a trampoline can someone tell me why THAT’S the facial hair he’s chosen? I’m not sure if I should laugh or tie him down and shave him!)
Next up against the Bruins who, tonight, got to play on concrete instead of ice. We’ll see how well they come out of it, but I think it’s safe to assume that, since the game is in Boston, we’re in for another tough match. If we can play like we did tonight, then we give ourselves a fighting chance. The key against those Bruins, other than playing solidly, is getting Raycroft moving side-to-side. When a goalie is on his game, you have to make him move to score the goals. Last time against them we didn’t, and they won.
Habs fans must realize what they have : Micheal Ryder . This guy will be incredible years after years . He's the story of the game imo , he's money like Guy! said often when we need somthing Ryder is the guy who shine and makes it happen . Whoop Go Ryder !!!
4pts in 2 days ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by RE-HABS
Ryder, Ryder, Ryder!!!
Last edited by Team_Spirit: 02-24-2004 at 11:04 PM.
Habs fans must realize what they have : Micheal Ryder . This guy will be incredible years after years . He's the story of the game imo , he's money like Guy! said often when we need somthing Ryder is the guy who shine and makes it happen . Whoop Go Ryder !!!
4pts in 2 days ...
Youre right on that. Ryder is going to be a star in the not so long future. In my opinion hes just going to get better with time. This was a great win for all habs fan. The way they staid close all game and not give up againts a team like Ottawa.
Komisarek: ... Something else I’ve noticed, particularly down low, when he hits, he hits to knock people on their butts. While ostensibly this seems a good idea, in reality it means he’s throwing too much of himself into the hit and is therefore knocking himself off balance and taking himself out of the play. Physicality is required from him, but it must be controlled. C-
Couldn't agree more, and my opinion on this is he's trying to impress the coaching staff and prove them he belongs. But a young kid trying to impress often ends up trying to do too much. Can't fault him on his work and dedication, as he's the opposite of our other American prospect in that departement, but I think the fact he's "only" playing sporadically and when veterans get injured must not help him feel a part of the team. Once we truly make room for him (which should come next year with the hopeful departure of Q), I think he'll settle down a bit and gain confidence, leading to more consistent and smart play.
Bouillon: I think they were generous when they gave the Cube first star, quite honestly. He made a few errors with the puck tonight, and coughed one up deep in the zone that almost cost the team, if not for a great play by his partner of the moment (Rivet). This was one of those game, and he has them now and again, where he over-handles the puck and gets himself in all sorts of trouble. The lightning fast Sens almost made him pay a few times. B-
Personally, I like when Bouillon handles the puck. I used to get frustrated with him earlier in the season, when he didn't seem to know what to do with it at all. He's the closest thing we have to rushing defenseman, and he can get it through the neutral zone all by himself. That comes in handy when we're trying to eat up the clock.
He was pretty bad earlier this season, and I bashed him as mercilessly as anyone, but I think he's brought his game around over the last couple of months. I thought he was particularly good tonight, having perhaps his best game in a Hab uniform. He was very good at neutralizing Ottawa's forwards against the boards, using his strength to pin them there so they couldn't dance out and make havoc in front of the net. I think by doing so he may have scuttled 4-5 scoring chances before they even got off the ground, and that is key when playing the Sens.
Yup. Good ol' typical Dykhuis. Panics and turns it over. Maybe he's not ready yet. I say let him "develop" in the AHL for a few more months... Then buy him out.
Well some people DO say that defenseman take longer to develop...
Personally, I like when Bouillon handles the puck. I used to get frustrated with him earlier in the season, when he didn't seem to know what to do with it at all. He's the closest thing we have to rushing defenseman, and he can get it through the neutral zone all by himself. That comes in handy when we're trying to eat up the clock.
He was pretty bad earlier this season, and I bashed him as mercilessly as anyone, but I think he's brought his game around over the last couple of months. I thought he was particularly good tonight, having perhaps his best game in a Hab uniform. He was very good at neutralizing Ottawa's forwards against the boards, using his strength to pin them there so they couldn't dance out and make havoc in front of the net. I think by doing so he may have scuttled 4-5 scoring chances before they even got off the ground, and that is key when playing the Sens.
I'd give him an A-
I'm not a big Bouillon fan but I gotta second that ! He also used the poke check and broke some of Hossa's rushes very effectively, caused offsides at our blueline with smart moves. I think it's Bouillon's best game this season.
Great game by the Habs. For one the very few times this season, I was fully entertained for 60 minutes.
Just curious: did anyone else notice Koivu on this one play where he weaved his way through a couple of Ottawa players in the Habs zone and then carried the puck at full speed all the way to the Ott. zone? Weren't people saying that Koivu's slow? He seemed pretty darn fast to me on the play!
Great game by the Habs. For one the very few times this season, I was fully entertained for 60 minutes.
Just curious: did anyone else notice Koivu on this one play where he weaved his way through a couple of Ottawa players in the Habs zone and then carried the puck at full speed all the way to the Ott. zone? Weren't people saying that Koivu's slow? He seemed pretty darn fast to me on the play!
Yeah I remember that play and actually thought the same thing He flew by Spezza ....
Wonder if Habsolument saw that... I think he's the biggest advocate of Koivu's lack of speed , no?
Well, let's just hold the phone a second...
Spezza's one major flaw is the fact that his speed rivals Ribeiro. Koivu is not a fast skater; he's not slow, by any stretch, but he's no speedster. What Sax has is fast feet - his agility, particularly in traffic is awesome. Spezza is smooth, has wonderful agility, but his speed? You ever watch F1? Think Cavelier against the Ferrari F1 car. LOL
Spezza's one major flaw is the fact that his speed rivals Ribeiro. Koivu is not a fast skater; he's not slow, by any stretch, but he's no speedster. What Sax has is fast feet - his agility, particularly in traffic is awesome. Spezza is smooth, has wonderful agility, but his speed? You ever watch F1? Think Cavelier against the Ferrari F1 car. LOL
ACF
Sax seemed to be going pretty fast on that whole shift, when he skated the length of the ice, and not just when he went by Spezza. I didn't even know that Spezza was one of the players Sax zoomed by.
I was sitting with a friend and we both commented on that play and were impressed by the speed Koivu showed. I just felt like posting about it here because I don't remember many occasions where I've seen Koivu skate the length of the ice at (what seemed like) full speed, and I got the impression he wasn't as slow as people on the board make him out to be.
So to make a long story short, I was comparing Sax to everyone else on the ice, and not just Spezza. :p
Sax seemed to be going pretty fast on that whole shift, when he skated the length of the ice, and not just when he went by Spezza. I didn't even know that Spezza was one of the players Sax zoomed by.
I was sitting with a friend and we both commented on that play and were impressed by the speed Koivu showed. I just felt like posting about it here because I don't remember many occasions where I've seen Koivu skate the length of the ice at (what seemed like) full speed, and I got the impression he wasn't as slow as people on the board make him out to be.
So to make a long story short, I was comparing Sax to everyone else on the ice, and not just Spezza. :p
As I watched that play (where nothing happened unfortunately) I saw Saku and thought "torpedo." Very impressed myself
saku didnt play faster last night he just played with alote more intensity which gave a nice illusion to us all, he's sure stepped up his game as of late.
Couple of things I noticed. We've all discussed the difficulty of a RD playing on the left and Rivet has done the team a service by giving the team needed minutes there. Is it more difficult for Komi to play with a right shot to his left ? He seems to be more methodical before making a cross ice pass. It shouldn't make a difference but who knows ?
Ribeiro in the last 20 games is showing that he can step it up when the game is on the line, and that can be a huge factor in predicting his future.
I don't think Perreault is lazy, I think he has lost it. Maybe he has 1 more of his streaks in him but I'm not optimistic.
Having 2 shooters playing with Ribeiro means that they are a dangerous line that can score at any time, even against lines that can dominate them.
Do hockey fans still go to the Bell Center ?
A healthy Ottawa team has a scary ammount of talent.
Is there any point to matching lines with Ottawa, there's a clone quality to their lines.
Bouillon and Brisebois seem to have a good sense of each other when paired together, esp. offensively. I've seldom seen more point to point passes in 5 on 5.
Quintal showed a lot of character tonight.
It's fun to see guys like Ryder and Ribeiro growing up on the ice game to game.
Ever notice that when Koivu can dominate an early shift, it seems to set the tone for the night ?
Noticed a couple things that kinda bothered me in the game, but that sweet, sweet goal by Ryder and then that sweet, sweet, sweet, goal by Begin has made me forget everything bad, habs wise.
This team's character, which was one aspect I really questioned the past couple of season's, imo, is turning from a major weakness to a strength.
Sorry about the late reply but I ran into computer problems when I was just about to post it yesterday. Anyway, here it is:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guy!
I think that’s the key to this game, and to our chances for the rest of the year. When we play a
solid defence, like we did tonight, and supplement that with an effective counter-attack type
game, then we’re probably going to be more successful than not. We don’t have the elements to
play a more offensive style game, so the patience we displayed tonight is critical.
Guy!, another very good report!...I think you're right on the money with the above points...In
order for this team to win they're gonna have to stick to the system and as you say, supplement it
with an "effective counter-attack type game".
Something else that people need to consider: the Habs had the 7th man completely on their side
tonight. As the game wore on, the crowd was louder and louder and it gave one the impression
that it was a playoff encounter. *This* is where Hab fans are above and beyond in a lot of
respects; not when we’re in-fighting over nonsense like that which the media trotted out to us
over the last few weeks. I’ve no doubt that the passion of the crowd inspired the team as much as
the team spurred the crowd. Keep that in mind when you feel like booing…
This is so true...the Montreal fans have always been a factor in helping the Canadiens win. It
seems like they have put all of the negative incidents, of the past couple of weeks, behind them.
Of course, a great team effort like last night can go a long way in turning around fan support.
Nonetheless, I think the fans of the booing type and the fans that hold up signs with the message
"Trade Koivu" written on them are among a very small minority. The problem is though that these
TV images and sounds grossly over exaggerate the real situation and convey a false perception to
the general public.
Bouillon: I think they were generous when they gave the Cube first star, quite honestly. He made
a few errors with the puck tonight, and coughed one up deep in the zone that almost cost the
team, if not for a great play by his partner of the moment (Rivet). This was one of those game,
and he has them now and again, where he over-handles the puck and gets himself in all sorts of
trouble. The lightning fast Sens almost made him pay a few times. B-
I agree with everthing you say here about Bouillon...Although he had a decent game (certainly in
terms of effort), he by no means deserved 1st star over Ryder.
Not that star selections are any big deal as the fans can decide for themselves who the real stars
are...But I'm the kind of person who likes to see credit given where its due.
Brisebois: His big problem was his decision-making with the puck. Numerous time he had passes
picked off, and that’s something he’s got to be very aware of. The chip off the boards should be
his safety net in games like this. B
This aspect of Brisebois' game also really stood out to me. He really has to improve on this or
else we'll be doomed in the playoffs, i.e. if we do make it to post season play.
Dykhuis: Certainly there’s going to be a lot of up-in-arms after his two giveaways, one resulting
in a goal. However, we have to remember that this is an AHL-quality defender who’s up here to
cover in an injury situation, and if you consider that usually he took his man out well and did the
correct things with the puck, I don’t think anyone should be too disappointed. I honestly don’t
think we can expect that much more from him. B-
I think your grade here is pretty fair as he did look to be trying very hard. The problem with
Dykhuis is that even without any mistakes in his game he couldn't possibly receive any more than
a B grade.
Komisarek: The learning curve continues, though tonight it was another difficult night. His first
couple of shifts were not great, and after that he didn’t see a lot of ice. However, and this is key
for Hab fans, what you should know about those later shifts is that he was barely noticeable – and
for a defender that’s a pretty good thing. When you notice a defender it means they’re either
making a brilliant play, or screwing up. Since we don’t expect the former from him much yet,
then it’s good it wasn’t the latter. Something else I’ve noticed, particularly down low, when he
hits, he hits to knock people on their butts. While ostensibly this seems a good idea, in reality it
means he’s throwing too much of himself into the hit and is therefore knocking himself off
balance and taking himself out of the play. Physicality is required from him, but it must be
controlled. C-
I think it's clear that Komisarek still has a alot of learning/development to do, and I think it will
eventually happen.
Sundstrom: All those wonderful hip checks from yesterday were right out the window; I guess
that’s too much physical activity in 24 hours. No question his defence was up to snuff tonight:
he worked the Hossa line, but other than the final moments, he didn’t have a great offensive
game. B-
I think that Sundstrom has some decent talent but he has to play with some intensity to be
effective and I'm afraid it's just not there on a consistent basis.
Dagenais: I hate to say he’s going on a bit of a downward slide, but…. he’s going on a bit of a
downward slide. The first game back after the benching was great, but since then he’s shown
less and less each game. Not to say that he played particularly poorly, because he didn’t, but he
didn’t throw himself into it like he had. That’s disappointing. C+
I think that if we do make atrade for a forward it has to be to replace Dagenais on the second line.
Ryder: My best friend is an Isles fan (no snickering) and he and I talk quite a bit about Hunter
and Ryder. I know, through him, that Hunter has been pretty much the go-to guy on that club.
He’s not entirely convinced when I tell him that Ryder’s been bordering on incredible here.
Seems when we need a goal, or a timely play, or a timely hit, Ryder’s been there. Now, I still
agree that Hunter or Raycroft should win that Calder, but I feel the gap is closing constantly. The
kid is just an all-round player. Who’d have thought we’d have a rookie with 18!!! goals at this
point – or even at all? A-
Well, what can I say about Ryder that hasn't already been said either here or in numerous other
newspaper/TV articles/features. I simply love the kid. Hasn't it been just awesome and a whole
lot of fun to watch him blossom into an outstanding all-round player this year?? There have been
a number of Canadien success stories this year including Ribeiro, Souray, Julien and Gainey, but
IMHO, Ryder's story is definitely the biggest. I'll let his stats and play on the ice speak for itself.
Well, there's been all this talk about Hunter being the go-to guy on the Isles (and I'm not
disputing this) but what about Ryder?...Last night he did it big time, not once but twice, when he
scored he scored the key tying goals in the 1st and 3rd periods. What a beauty his 2nd goal
was!!!...A neat little fake took Alfredson completely out of the play and then he finished it off
with a picture perfect shot!!Furthermore, even though he didn't get an official assist on the
winning goal, he was a key contributor on the play. Going further back to Saturday night, and not
withstanding the great play of his team mates, I think his goal with less than a minute remaining
was the turning point to get the team out of its 4 game losing streak. He nearly put an end to the
slump when he almost tied the game on a shot that grazed the goal post with just a few seconds
on the clock. It dosen't really matter to Ryder (and he's said that himself) whether he wins the
calder or not. All that he's concerned about is playing the best that he can, and hopefully in the
process, help the team win and make it to the playoffs. Ryder knows that he has no control over
how well someone else plays, so why waste your energy in concerning yourself about such
things. To illustrate my point further let's assume this was Bobby Orr's rookie season...There's
absolutely no way that neither Ryder, Raycroft nor Hunter is going to win the calder trophy.
Ribeiro: Sometimes, those dipsy-doodle moves are great. Sometimes they almost cost us.
Fortunately, Ribs has learned to play harder and harder and tonight when he blundered against
Redden, he was the one who made it back to make that wonderful defensive play. *This* is the
kind of two-way hard work I want to see from him. He may not have got any points tonight, but
it’s this kind of hard work that will, in the end, net him far more in the future. Now, it wasn’t all
roses tonight, because I thought he was a little worse for wear in the second, however he came
back strong to finish the game, and that’s a very positive sign. Especially in a playoff intensity
game! B+
Basically agree with your Ribs comments.
Zednik: He’s got an open net on the backhand, yet switches it over to his forehand and has the
puck saved. He’s got an open net because of a great cross-ice pass, yet fires it off the face of the
moon because he’s holding his stick like it’s a lifeline. Confidence. He’s not scoring for lack of
effort or being in the right place, or even of getting the chances. He not scoring because he’s
thinking about it, instead of playing the game. He played really well tonight, created an abundant
number of plays, was strong on and off the puck, and was robbed. B+
Agree, but there are times in just about every game where passing is definitely a better play for
him. He either learns this or eventually he gets traded.
)
He flew by Spezza ....
