Excellent game by you guys, early on if Rask wasn't on his game this could have easily been out of hand like games were a few years back and the Habs murdered the Bruins every time they played.
I am impressed with the Habs this year, going from the bottom of conference to a top team with a couple of youngsters (Galchenyuk/Gallagher) and Markov healthy, and as always Carey Price, your looking up rather then down.
So I was out on the town for the game last night, so I didn't get a chance to talk about the game. Here are some thoughts:
-Rask stole the game, he was lights out. Bruins and Habs both played great, but about 3 mins of us having defensive breakdowns cost us the game.
-It was neck and neck, and we shouldn't be thinking about changing our style, as some pointed out Markov had a bad game. I think he shot too much and didn't vary his attack plan enough. Started to force plays.
-As for Plekanec, yes he screwed up, but its the law of averages. One quality about him is he tends to hit the net alot, and him losing the puck is simply bad luck. Its bound to happen to everyone once in a while.
-I thought we really came on in the 3rd but like I said Rask had played great all night. DD should've finished a few times, and we were missing that final touch on a play, but sometimes you can't finish and its the way she goes. I would feel more frustrated if we couldn't even get chances, so it's a little easier to accept that we were passing well and got shots to the net and couldn't solve Rask.
-2-1 against a contending team isn't a terrible loss, and I think were lucky this game wasn't as physical or taxing as it could've been. I think we'll see a better result tonight.
-Prust and Eller need to swap at this point. Subban needs to go with Gorges. White in for Armstrong.
I have to admit I am spoiled after seeing the Habs lift so many Cups over their heads in the 60's and 70's...winning was everything and they did! The players themselves never excused themselves for losing. And it is true...if a rookie had mouthed something about "getting them next time" to some of those vets they would've had their faces slapped around. That applied to exhibition games, as well. The team now has "No Excuses" on their dressing room wall...what does that mean to them? I am a traditonalist....I am an English Canadian with Scottish/German Jewish ancestry and I believe the Habs need more French flavor. One can argue that the talent in the Q is not what it used to be and that is true. However, since The Habs have so much secondary talent from God knows where, maybe it is time for Bergevin and Co. to start filling those spots with local talent from their own backyard instead searching for it overseas, the USA, Ontarioland, or out West. There have to be kids in the Q who would be incredibly proud to wear the CH.
