After last night, I've seen several posters voice the opinion that physicality is not a problem for Montreal, using as proof the fact that the hit counter in the game was an even 17-17. However, I'm not convinced by that; as a matter of fact, I see that as a bigger indication that something is wrong with the team's grit.
As a dual fan of both Montreal and Calgary, I know that the Flames usually get up to 25-30 hits per game, and sometimes more. I also know that they get their hits two ways: on the forecheck when pinning another team inside their own zone, and on the defense when the other team attempts to break into the zone. Now, we know that the Flames were hitting the Habs on the forecheck; I don't think that anyone is going to dispute that. That leaves the offensive breakout hits, and therein lies the rub.
It became painfully obvious to me last night that the Canadiens do not respond well to physicality. Other teams, when breaking into the Flames' zone, will take a hit or two in order to make the play and get the puck into the zone. Last night, the Canadiens weren't doing that; on the contrary, they were trying fancy plays at the blueline almost every time in order to AVOID taking hits. That's a good thing if it works, but against teams like Calgary, it's simply not going to.
17 hits recorded by Montreal is a good number, I'll admit that. However, physicality works both ways. You've not only got to throw hits of your own, but you've also got to be able to take the hits that are coming from the other team, and that's where Montreal is lacking.
I don't think it was the physicality they didn't respond well to, so much as the adversity. I think it was losing Souray and falling 2-1 after a deluge of penalties. I think they broke down mentally, rather than physically -- though the heavy forechecking can't have helped.
The Habs have a serious confidence problem lately, IMHO. If the game is going their way they do extremely well. If a couple of occurences cause the game to go against them... they fall into the all-too-familiar pattern of stopping to play as if they were waiting for someone, anyone, to turn things around. Of course, they almost never do. A team like that, trailing, fell right into the Flames' game -- if anything, grinding is their schtick. They weren't taking the hits to make the play, but they also weren't skating -- and skating IS Montreal's schtick. When they don't do it, they lose. When they do it... they might not need to take hits to make plays so much, because they're one step ahead.
They finally woke up a little when Kovalev scored; suddenly they saw a change of fortune. But until then they just played the Flames' game and waited for the momentum to shift by itself. Unsurprisingly, it didn't. Thing is, if they'd played like that all game long (barring the last 30 seconds of disorganization) they might have pulled it back, but they didn't.
It's been the same story ever since the death-spiral began... Hopefully it can be fixed.
I don't think it was the physicality they didn't respond well to, so much as the adversity. I think it was losing Souray and falling 2-1 after a deluge of penalties. I think they broke down mentally, rather than physically -- though the heavy forechecking can't have helped.
The Habs have a serious confidence problem lately, IMHO. If the game is going their way they do extremely well. If a couple of occurences cause the game to go against them... they fall into the all-too-familiar pattern of stopping to play as if they were waiting for someone, anyone, to turn things around. Of course, they almost never do. A team like that, trailing, fell right into the Flames' game -- if anything, grinding is their schtick. They weren't taking the hits to make the play, but they also weren't skating -- and skating IS Montreal's schtick. When they don't do it, they lose. When they do it... they might not need to take hits to make plays so much, because they're one step ahead.
They finally woke up a little when Kovalev scored; suddenly they saw a change of fortune. But until then they just played the Flames' game and waited for the momentum to shift by itself. Unsurprisingly, it didn't. Thing is, if they'd played like that all game long (barring the last 30 seconds of disorganization) they might have pulled it back, but they didn't.
It's been the same story ever since the death-spiral began... Hopefully it can be fixed.
You might say the habs are frontrunners: they're fine if they are setting the play/pace or when they are leading.....(i think that points to a leadership/character issue).
I agree that vs Cal they slumped after all the penalties and couldn't really establish much sustained resistance. BUT, lets also give Calg credit; thats their game: to get a lead and smother the opposition! They bottled mtl up in their zone v well making it very hard to mount any strong opposition.Its hard to skate when theres no room.
It could still be a confidence thing bec in Oct they could always mount a comeback of sorts.
I think the habs still lack some leaders to help them rally around....esp Physical leaders. They have 'offensive' leaders in Kov and Koivu but maybe they need some guys who can lead a grinding/physical style of play WHEN teams like Cal aren't letting them skate....which is mtl's style. (Begin USED to lead this way every game but doesn't have that extra energy that he used to which allowed him to go all out it seemed).
As Dogbert said, physicality dsn't just = hits. I suggest mtl needs players that can outmuscle opponents along the boards not just be energy type hitters....though they have their place for sure. And they need some "grinding leaders".
