Thanks to Bozo at another site for translating the article!
Kovalev with Dowd
One noted at practice that Julien does not plan to deconstruct the lines of Saku Koivu, with Jan Bulis and Richard Zednik, and Mike Ribeiro, with Michael Ryder and Pierre Dagenais. What that means is that Alex Kovalev should skate with Jim Dowd and Niklas Sundstrom, if the Swede is ready to play. Sundstrom left the session after 20 minutes to nurse his ankle injury. Yanic Perreault replaced him.
"We will see whether Niklas can play, but the presence of Yanic in his place would give us a third offensive line", commented the coach, reminding us that the composition of the lines is not set in stone.
The principal defensive trio was formed by Joé Juneau, Steve Bégin and Jason Ward. In addition to Perreault, Andreas Dackell and Darren Langdon were extra forwards.
The Canadiens piled up 11 points less than their rivals, but Julien doesn't see a disadvantage in being viewed as under-dogs by observers.
"That does not affect our confidence at all", he answered. "The two teams have similar statistics. The principal difference is that the Bruins totaled more tie games than us."
Sundstrom/Perreault, Dowd, Kovalev as a third line.
Much better than having Juneau at C. Im a little bit more relaxed now. Kovalev played very well with sundstrom when the rangers won the cup, so maybe they will rekindle their majic. If sunny's not ready, then i wont be too happy with that line. Atleast sundstrom can play D, unlike Perreault.
Thanks to Bozo at another site for translating the article!
Kovalev with Dowd
... Sundstrom/Perreault, Dowd, Kovalev as a third line.
Much better than having Juneau at C. Im a little bit more relaxed now. Kovalev played very well with sundstrom when the rangers won the cup, so maybe they will rekindle their majic. If sunny's not ready, then i wont be too happy with that line. Atleast sundstrom can play D, unlike Perreault.
Me too. I like Langdon in there game one to set the tone, and if need be we can put a more talented player in there. I'm still not sold on Dags, but the guy keeps scoring despite his weaknesses (defense can be taught, but rookies are usually risky business in the playoffs). I think you have the wings mixed on the second lines, but I know Ryder can play left (whether he prefers it or not, I've seen some impressive rushes from him on the left side). I'm okay with Perreault playing with Kovalev and Dowd. Dowd offers the defensive ability, and Perreault needs a more talented player like Kovi in order to produce. Best of both worlds if we have to use that 3rd line.
That article leave us with the impression that Juneau will probably play between Bégin and Ward. It doesn't say that he'll be left out. Besides I think Juneau tends to play well against his former teams. I for one would like his experience on the ice for the playoffs.
That article leave us with the impression that Juneau will probably play between Bégin and Ward. It doesn't say that he'll be left out. Besides I think Juneau tends to play well against his former teams. I for one would like his experience on the ice for the playoffs.
I think that if Begin is going to be our prime agitator, he'll have to get more icetime than a Langdon-Begin-Ward line would allow. That line would be in a lot of trouble against the B's, due to Langdon's inability to log quality icetime. So it has to be Juneau there. Begin-Juneau-Ward forms an effective defensive line. There simply is no room for a player like Langdon at this time of the year.
Kudos to CJ for recognising that. It shows he's recognising that we aren't going to beat the B's at their own game, we'll have to play our game. Now if he can just recognise that Komisarek deserves a spot on the blueline, we're all set...
That article leave us with the impression that Juneau will probably play between Bégin and Ward. It doesn't say that he'll be left out. Besides I think Juneau tends to play well against his former teams. I for one would like his experience on the ice for the playoffs.
I think that if Begin is going to be our prime agitator, he'll have to get more icetime than a Langdon-Begin-Ward line would allow. That line would be in a lot of trouble against the B's, due to Langdon's inability to log quality icetime. So it has to be Juneau there. Begin-Juneau-Ward forms an effective defensive line. There simply is no room for a player like Langdon at this time of the year.
Kudos to CJ for recognising that. It shows he's recognising that we aren't going to beat the B's at their own game, we'll have to play our game. Now if he can just recognise that Komisarek deserves a spot on the blueline, we're all set...
Very good post I agree
Juneau should be on the line up against the B's... He really shows up against them, and figuratively, this is the old horses potential last run. Juneau has that veteran savvy, and has been well rested as of late... He has been on 2 cinderella run teams. With 2 firecrackers like Begin and Ward... Juneau can give us his story. No player likes to go out like a shrinking violet If he is contemplating retirement... I figure he'll go out like the savvy vet he is, and leave everything on the ice. If Sunny gets hurt, I'd honestly think about moving Joey up there to play with Kovalev and Dowd, I like this line cause offensively... Kovy is a breed of his own... And with smart players like Sunny and Dowd, IMO he'll produce. I never realized that Sunny & Kovalev had history (in NY)... It makes a lot of sense because the intriguing thing about Sunny is that he's world class.. He's one of the smartest guys in the game. Dowd also wants to hang around, and his veteran savvy and good speed will complement his wingers... I think Dowd will be hardpressed to have ever said he played with wingers as talented as Sunny/Kovalev... IMHO They'll make their cases to stay this offseason.
That being said, If Sunny's hurt... IMO, I'd move Juneau to the left wing... He has the X-factor in him. I'd even consider Yanic would be the first guy in over Langdon right now... His face-off ability is IMHO too crucial to ignore, as well as the capability to chip in on offense. Yanic has performed well in the last quarter...
Another bonus Im really liking is that this team has been well rested this time around... This team locked up the play-off spot, and rested until the last game... I foresee a very fired up squad on Wednesday
Juneau should be on the line up against the B's... He really shows up against them, and figuratively, this is the old horses potential last run. Juneau has that veteran savvy, and has been well rested as of late... He has been on 2 cinderella run teams. With 2 firecrackers like Begin and Ward... Juneau can give us his story. No player likes to go out like a shrinking violet If he is contemplating retirement... I figure he'll go out like the savvy vet he is, and leave everything on the ice. If Sunny gets hurt, I'd honestly think about moving Joey up there to play with Kovalev and Dowd, I like this line cause offensively... Kovy is a breed of his own... And with smart players like Sunny and Dowd, IMO he'll produce. I never realized that Sunny & Kovalev had history (in NY)... It makes a lot of sense because the intriguing thing about Sunny is that he's world class.. He's one of the smartest guys in the game. Dowd also wants to hang around, and his veteran savvy and good speed will complement his wingers... I think Dowd will be hardpressed to have ever said he played with wingers as talented as Sunny/Kovalev... IMHO They'll make their cases to stay this offseason.
That being said, If Sunny's hurt... IMO, I'd move Juneau to the left wing... He has the X-factor in him. I'd even consider Yanic would be the first guy in over Langdon right now... His face-off ability is IMHO too crucial to ignore, as well as the capability to chip in on offense. Yanic has performed well in the last quarter...
Another bonus Im really liking is that this team has been well rested this time around... This team locked up the play-off spot, and rested until the last game... I foresee a very fired up squad on Wednesday
They better come out on fire. I think they will, but we have seen them in that past, have "rest" ,and come out flatter than a dead snail.
Why is it the Habs after a rest, come out flat??? when you think they are rested and are gonna come out firing they end up laying an egg? Hopefully this time around CJ will not let this happen!
Why is it the Habs after a rest, come out flat??? when you think they are rested and are gonna come out firing they end up laying an egg? Hopefully this time around CJ will not let this happen!
Ive noticed it through out this season with a few teams... They'll play great, then they'll go flat (good teams as we are this year... the highs are long, and the lows are not too bad)... But we had a good first quarter (mostly) a weak second... We turned it on in the third, and it lasted a good chunk of the fourth.. But after that playoff spot was all but locked up, the team's second efforts went away (that was what I noticed on this previous slump) not a single second effort was given for the puck. Until the last game of the year (when we clinched 7th down)... I think I saw far too many times players halting on the blue line cause the pass was not right at their stick... (Zed was guilty of it in the Buffallo game a few times)... And THN made mention that good teams do this to avoid starting the playoffs on a bad note (with doubts)...
IMO the habs did this about 6 games ago... I mean, the big streak they went on, they were a completely different team... They had fire, intensity, speed, and tenacity (they had possession of the puck for long stretches)... Then it all went away, only to come back for a big game... Andy Moog spoke about it in his last season as a hab... I recall him saying there were some games that are mailed in in terms of effort, the season is very long... And there are definate benefits for having done as such (they're not going to be walking in to crunch time with walking wounded)... All the regular season glories are fine, but that silver cup is worth more than all of it combined
The reason I completely buy in to the theory that we're going to be fired up is because we have quite a few playoff performers on this team... It gives our team a different element come playoff time (and just to add, Adding Kovalev to a very intelligent couple of players will have a good chance of waking a third line that can bite... IMO a scoring third line is very useful come this time, as it balances out time had against oppositions lines, and gives more oppurtunity).
If he is contemplating retirement... I figure he'll go out like the savvy vet he is, and leave everything on the ice. If Sunny gets hurt, I'd honestly think about moving Joey up there to play with Kovalev and Dowd, I like this line cause offensively... Kovy is a breed of his own... And with smart players like Sunny and Dowd, IMO he'll produce. I never realized that Sunny & Kovalev had history (in NY)... It makes a lot of sense because the intriguing thing about Sunny is that he's world class.. He's one of the smartest guys in the game. Dowd also wants to hang around, and his veteran savvy and good speed will complement his wingers... I think Dowd will be hardpressed to have ever said he played with wingers as talented as Sunny/Kovalev... IMHO They'll make their cases to stay this offseason. 
