Ann 2Game 19 Review: Bruins Defeat Canadiens 3-2 In Shootout On St. Patrick's Night
November 24th 2008 23:42
I don't think anyone can deny that, as an organization, the Montreal Canadiens really know how to make great ceremonies. The only problem is that, as a team, the Habs usually suck on those nights. Last season, they were defeated 4-2 by the Ottawa Senators on Larry Robinson's jersey retirement, and were humiliated 3-0 by the Columbus Blue Jackets when GM Bob Gainey saw his number raised to the rafters. On Saturday, the legendary Patrick Roy got the same honor as his number 33 was retired by the Canadiens. For once in the season, the Habs played with pride and passion, but it wasn't enough to stop a red hot Boston team who walked away with the two points despite playing the night before.
The home team's first three presences on the ice were a bit sluggish to say the least. The players looked like they were still dazed by the pre-game ceremony (the Bruins didn't assist the ceremony by the way). Once Milan Lucic hit the ice though, everything became different. It was obvious that everyone remembered his overreaction after beating Mike Komisarek in the two teams' previous confrontation. That night though, Guy Carbonneau wasn't going to let him run around freely like in the previous game. As soon as he hit the ice, Georges Laraque was sent in to shadow him. The first time it happened, Claude Julien quickly recalled his player to the bench. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to play him. After all, Lucic is a very important piece of the Bruins' attack and keeping him on the bench simply didn't make sense, especially since on the other side, Montreal wasn't really losing anything by having Laraque follow him. In fact, Koivu and Tanguay had all the space in the world to work in since every time it happened, the play basically turned into a 4-on-4 since Lucic turned completely invisible every time the enforcer was close. The result was a tightly contested first period which saw no goal. And for the first time in the season, the Canadiens gave no powerplay to their opponents after twenty minutes.
Montreal then proceeded to take the lead early in the second when Andrei Kostitsyn potted in a rebound for his third of the season. After that, the Habs' intensity decreased considerably. Although the defensemen kept up the physical play along with more aggressivity in the offensive zone, the first period spark was gone somehow. For unexplained reasons, Carbonneau stopped the Laraque-Lucic matchmaking at that point. Put defensemen recklessly entering the offensive zone and a liberated Lucic together and you have the Bruins' equalizing goal. Of course, it didn't help that Ryan O'Byrne completely missed his coverage of Phil Kessel, letting the winger blow past him instead of pushing him towards the corner. At the other side, you can't really expect a disinterested Kovalev to play defense and cover a guy like Lucic even though Kovalev started the game as if he really wanted to get out there.
The Habs picked up the pace in the third after Saku Koivu creamed Dennis Wideman in Boston's zone. The hit was uncharacteristically violent for the 5'10'' captain, and the Bruins weren't too happy with it. Despite better play from the Canadiens, it was the visitors who took the lead via defenseman Matt Hunwick whose shot slipped in between Carey Price's pads. The play started as an odd man rush for the Bruins and the Canadiens forwards' desperate skate back wasn't enough to stop them. Here again the Habs failed to read the play. Indeed, every time the Bruins attacked during the game, they always – ALWAYS – sent the puck back to a supporting player who drifted just inside Montreal's blueline without any player covering him. The home side didn't give up though. They started to pellet Tim Thomas with shots and finally got the equalizer with less than five minutes left to go when Patrice Brisebois' shot/pass deflected on Tom Kostopoulos' stick. The goal was Kostopoulos' second of the season – a great reward for a player who always gives his all on every shift unlike certain players on the Canadiens' roster. The Habs ended the period with an 18-5 shot advantage and had only one goal for all of their effort. In overtime, the trend was reversed. The Bruins had 4 shots while the Canadiens had none. Both teams then proceeded to the shootout – the fifth of the season for the Canadiens. Blake Wheeler was the only one to score as Price stopped both Bergeron and Kessel while Tim Thomas denied all three Canadiens shooters (Kovalev, Markov, Koivu).
In the end, this was probably the Habs' best game intensity-wise. Kovalev started the game well but dropped off as it went on. I was really disappointed by Maxim Lapierre's play. He was shockingly invisible for a guy who just came back from the pressbox. The defense is slowly getting better but Ryan O'Byrne keeps making critical mistakes at crucial points in games. The loss of Hamrlik in the third period brought a frightening sight to the state of Montreal's defense. Komisarek is already on the sidelines for another month. Losing Hamrlik at any point right now could probably lead to a complete meltdown at the back. The Kostitsyn made some encouraging progress during that game. Now let's hope that neither of them gets badly hit because if you lose one, you lose the other. This coming week will probably reveal where the Canadiens stand right now as they will face the Islanders, the Capitals, and the Red Wings. Two of those teams could prove to be a serious challenge for Carbonneau's men.
I'll post the Patrick Roy ceremony as soon as I get my hands on it. I already got some parts so as soon as I find everything, you'll find it on this site as a spotlight post.
My 3 Stars:
3. Tom Kostopoulos
2. Carey Price
1. Tim Thomas
The home team's first three presences on the ice were a bit sluggish to say the least. The players looked like they were still dazed by the pre-game ceremony (the Bruins didn't assist the ceremony by the way). Once Milan Lucic hit the ice though, everything became different. It was obvious that everyone remembered his overreaction after beating Mike Komisarek in the two teams' previous confrontation. That night though, Guy Carbonneau wasn't going to let him run around freely like in the previous game. As soon as he hit the ice, Georges Laraque was sent in to shadow him. The first time it happened, Claude Julien quickly recalled his player to the bench. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to play him. After all, Lucic is a very important piece of the Bruins' attack and keeping him on the bench simply didn't make sense, especially since on the other side, Montreal wasn't really losing anything by having Laraque follow him. In fact, Koivu and Tanguay had all the space in the world to work in since every time it happened, the play basically turned into a 4-on-4 since Lucic turned completely invisible every time the enforcer was close. The result was a tightly contested first period which saw no goal. And for the first time in the season, the Canadiens gave no powerplay to their opponents after twenty minutes.
Montreal then proceeded to take the lead early in the second when Andrei Kostitsyn potted in a rebound for his third of the season. After that, the Habs' intensity decreased considerably. Although the defensemen kept up the physical play along with more aggressivity in the offensive zone, the first period spark was gone somehow. For unexplained reasons, Carbonneau stopped the Laraque-Lucic matchmaking at that point. Put defensemen recklessly entering the offensive zone and a liberated Lucic together and you have the Bruins' equalizing goal. Of course, it didn't help that Ryan O'Byrne completely missed his coverage of Phil Kessel, letting the winger blow past him instead of pushing him towards the corner. At the other side, you can't really expect a disinterested Kovalev to play defense and cover a guy like Lucic even though Kovalev started the game as if he really wanted to get out there.
The Habs picked up the pace in the third after Saku Koivu creamed Dennis Wideman in Boston's zone. The hit was uncharacteristically violent for the 5'10'' captain, and the Bruins weren't too happy with it. Despite better play from the Canadiens, it was the visitors who took the lead via defenseman Matt Hunwick whose shot slipped in between Carey Price's pads. The play started as an odd man rush for the Bruins and the Canadiens forwards' desperate skate back wasn't enough to stop them. Here again the Habs failed to read the play. Indeed, every time the Bruins attacked during the game, they always – ALWAYS – sent the puck back to a supporting player who drifted just inside Montreal's blueline without any player covering him. The home side didn't give up though. They started to pellet Tim Thomas with shots and finally got the equalizer with less than five minutes left to go when Patrice Brisebois' shot/pass deflected on Tom Kostopoulos' stick. The goal was Kostopoulos' second of the season – a great reward for a player who always gives his all on every shift unlike certain players on the Canadiens' roster. The Habs ended the period with an 18-5 shot advantage and had only one goal for all of their effort. In overtime, the trend was reversed. The Bruins had 4 shots while the Canadiens had none. Both teams then proceeded to the shootout – the fifth of the season for the Canadiens. Blake Wheeler was the only one to score as Price stopped both Bergeron and Kessel while Tim Thomas denied all three Canadiens shooters (Kovalev, Markov, Koivu).
In the end, this was probably the Habs' best game intensity-wise. Kovalev started the game well but dropped off as it went on. I was really disappointed by Maxim Lapierre's play. He was shockingly invisible for a guy who just came back from the pressbox. The defense is slowly getting better but Ryan O'Byrne keeps making critical mistakes at crucial points in games. The loss of Hamrlik in the third period brought a frightening sight to the state of Montreal's defense. Komisarek is already on the sidelines for another month. Losing Hamrlik at any point right now could probably lead to a complete meltdown at the back. The Kostitsyn made some encouraging progress during that game. Now let's hope that neither of them gets badly hit because if you lose one, you lose the other. This coming week will probably reveal where the Canadiens stand right now as they will face the Islanders, the Capitals, and the Red Wings. Two of those teams could prove to be a serious challenge for Carbonneau's men.
I'll post the Patrick Roy ceremony as soon as I get my hands on it. I already got some parts so as soon as I find everything, you'll find it on this site as a spotlight post.
My 3 Stars:
3. Tom Kostopoulos
2. Carey Price
1. Tim Thomas
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