However, the Canadiens seemed to find an offensive spark in Game 7 against the Bruins when coach Guy Charbonneau teamed captain Saku Koivu with sniper Alex Kovalev on the top line. The pair combined for three points and Charbonneau plans to keep them together, at least for Game One.
"That's great," said Koivu.
"With the talent [Kovalev] has, it's a lot of fun . hopefully we can stick together until the end of the playoffs."
They have always looked good together in the short stints they've had. I think now we have enough offensive depth that we don't have to keep them seperated to "balance" our attack. This could be a huge boost for the Habs' offensive attack going forward.
However, the Canadiens seemed to find an offensive spark in Game 7 against the Bruins when coach Guy Charbonneau teamed captain Saku Koivu with sniper Alex Kovalev on the top line. The pair combined for three points and Charbonneau plans to keep them together, at least for Game One.
"That's great," said Koivu.
"With the talent [Kovalev] has, it's a lot of fun . hopefully we can stick together until the end of the playoffs."
They have always looked good together in the short stints they've had. I think now we have enough offensive depth that we don't have to keep them seperated to "balance" our attack. This could be a huge boost for the Habs' offensive attack going forward.
However, the Canadiens seemed to find an offensive spark in Game 7 against the Bruins when coach Guy Charbonneau teamed captain Saku Koivu with sniper Alex Kovalev on the top line. The pair combined for three points and Charbonneau plans to keep them together, at least for Game One.
"That's great," said Koivu.
"With the talent [Kovalev] has, it's a lot of fun . hopefully we can stick together until the end of the playoffs."
They have always looked good together in the short stints they've had. I think now we have enough offensive depth that we don't have to keep them seperated to "balance" our attack. This could be a huge boost for the Habs' offensive attack going forward.
Go Habs Go
That should end the non-sense. I think the fans are even more exciting about the fact that the two brothers are playing togheter now. The potential of these two lines is something ive been waiting to see for a while now.
Didn't you guys see them high fiving eachother in the first period of the other game... it wasn't even a goal or a fantastic play.
I remember this play, but personally I thought of it as Saku telling Kovy not to bother retaliating on the play. Saku dumped somebody into the post at the end of the scramble, and then another d-man from Boston came and gave Saku a physical shove - Saku skated away as Kovy looked like he was coming to give that d-man a shove back, so Saku sort of said "Don't bother...."
Either way, I don't think they have a problem with each other.
I remember this play, but personally I thought of it as Saku telling Kovy not to bother retaliating on the play. Saku dumped somebody into the post at the end of the scramble, and then another d-man from Boston came and gave Saku a physical shove - Saku skated away as Kovy looked like he was coming to give that d-man a shove back, so Saku sort of said "Don't bother...."
Either way, I don't think they have a problem with each other.
I thought exactly the same too, but the results is the same aswell. Kovy saw Koivu being roughed and was coming to defend the captain and Koivu didnt want it to go further and stop Kovy. That was nice to see our two leaders act like that.
I came up with a long rant to explain this connection, but I just can't type it out without bursting into hysterical laughter at work. So, instead, I'll just say this...
Saku and Alex are like the MegaPowers from the WWF. They are an unstoppable team, but best used in moderation, as it is putting a lot of starpower together. Plus, when they are together, there's always the chance of the MegaPowers exploding (remember Wrestlemania V). I've quickly put together an MS Paint picture to demonstrate... I couldn't put much work into it because I was laughing too hard.
I don't care if Koivu and Kovalev are buddies or not. We had the most points in the East, so some chemistry must be there. It's game 90 of the season, why doubt it now?
It's about time that these two play together with Higgins on LW. Finally a real NHL first line !
Last edited by CanadienErrant*: 04-24-2008 at 11:53 AM.
It's about time that these two play together with Higgins on LW. Finally a real NHL first line !
The new second line isn't bad and proved they can score. The only relatively weak one is the fourth, with Lapierre centering Streit and Dandenault. The players on the third line (Bégin-Smolinski-Kostopoulos) definitely earned their pay against the Bruins. Strange that the Bruins fans didn't rag on them they way they did against "the Kostitsyn sisters," who laughed it off and put 5 pucks behind Timmah.
That should end the non-sense. I think the fans are even more exciting about the fact that the two brothers are playing togheter now. The potential of these two lines is something ive been waiting to see for a while now.
I think having the 2 vets, each anchoring a line can stabilize things when the momentum is going against them. I think we talked about this in another thread didn't we ? Hope it's not a weird dream, like the one I had about Daryl Sittler the other night.
I like the free flow sort of play les freres and Plekanec had, but at times, the old guy has to take control, esp. defensively. We don't 100% agree but I think these lines are a good idea but can/will be easily changed at some point.
They are 6 good forwards and it's just a matter of getting them all going at he same time.
I think having the 2 vets, each anchoring a line can stabilize things when the momentum is going against them. I think we talked about this in another thread didn't we ? Hope it's not a weird dream, like the one I had about Daryl Sittler the other night.
I like the free flow sort of play les freres and Plekanec had, but at times, the old guy has to take control, esp. defensively. We don't 100% agree but I think these lines are a good idea but can/will be easily changed at some point.
They are 6 good forwards and it's just a matter of getting them all going at he same time.
If experience is your argument i agree but as for defensive awareness, Skosts is as reliable as Kovy and is not the type to panic even with pressure so theres no real drop off. Offensively, these two lines have more potential than what weve had all season long so its worth trying.
If experience is your argument i agree but as for defensive awareness, Skosts is as reliable as Kovy and is not the type to panic even with pressure so theres no real drop off. Offensively, these two lines have more potential than what weve had all season long so its worth trying.
I can't argue awareness, S.Kost is good, Plekanec can be very good, if not always consistent and AK is improving, it's just that at times, Kovalev can just take over, and muscle the puck out, as he's more of a pure presence, or Koivu having a good sense of positioning.
So, I guess I am arguing about positioning. I forget if I posted it yesterday but I think S.Kost has something to learn about playing in the neutral zone, and again, it's more of a youth thing.
Really the lines worked over the season because AK and Pleks weren't intimadted playing with Kovalev and Kovy in turn used them well. It seemed to change against Boston, so the switch obviously was a good thing.
I think even more importantly the Kostytsin bros. exploded last game when playing together and why don't we give this a shot until it doesnt work. The three games previous to game 7 our goal scoring was impotent.
I agree with what you are saying, expect for the bolded part, you truly believe that scoring 4 goals in a game (game 6) can be qualified as impotent???
I've read articles from around the league (not from Mtl) that claim PlexKost(bis) is now the #1 line or the most important line to shut down for the Flyers??
It's about time that these two play together with Higgins on LW. Finally a real NHL first line !
Yeah, as if the first line of Kosty-Plex-Kovy wasn't a REAL NHL first line, when they finished top10 among first lines for the number of goals.... (90 goals)
It's been said before, Kovalev tried to do to much for his line.
It seems he felt the obligation to carry the line by himself.
We've heard a lot of reports on Kovy during the season. To me, it has become clear that this guy wants to be liked/loved by others. Therefore, he often tries to do to much (on and off the ice). That is how he is.
I remember a blog entry by SRC journalist Alain Gravel after he visited Kovalev during last summer. He told a story about how Kovy offered to bring him at the airport for Gravel's Flight back home. But, he was also asked to attend some community event (I can't recall). Wanting to pleased everyone, they got late and Kovy had to drive Gravel at highspeed through heavy traffic to make sure that Gravel (it seems it was quite scary) could catch his plane. Gravel mentioned the anecdote because he thought it revealed something about the guy.
That sums up the guy's attitude toward others and I think this same attitude caused him to play differently with his two regular linemates against the Bruins.
Knowing this, it seems the analysis explaining how playing with Higgins and Koivu is rather liberating for Kovalev because he knows he can share the burden.
you truly believe that scoring 4 goals in a game (game 6) can be qualified as impotent???
My god that is awesome! That pic will soon become my new desktop wallpaper!
