Ann 2Game 28 Review: Martin St. Louis & Lecavalier Run Over Canadiens Who Lose Koivu In Lightning's Win
December 15th 2008 21:21
Against the Tampa Bay Lightning, one of the Eastern Conference's worst team, the Montreal Canadiens only had two players to watch to get themselves another two points – local boys Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. However, as it's been the case since the beginning of the season, the Canadiens' performance lacked a considerable amount of focus, leaving the two Quebec-born players roaming freely around Jarroslav Halak's net.
The Habs started the game well. They scored their first (and only) goal six minutes into the game on the powerplay via Patrice Brisebois. However, they let the visitors take the lead in the span of two minutes halfway through the first period when both St. Louis and Lecavalier scored. Despite getting four powerplays in the ensuing minutes (one at the end of the first period, and three in the first half of the second), the Canadiens couldn't get the much needed equalizer. To make matters worse, St. Louis scored his second of the game while the Lightning were shorthanded, giving the visitors a nice two-goal lead cushion. The home side tried to rally in the third period but most of their shots were straight at Olzig, making life easy for the netminder.
Not only was it disappointing to see the Habs lose a game they should've won, the loss of Saku Koivu will certainly have an effect on the team's short-term future. The captain took only one shift in the second period and never came back. One of the most consistent player so far this season, Koivu was also the only center who was thoroughly effective on the offensive zone's faceoffs. With him out of the game, the Habs struggled to keep the puck in the Lightning's zone since every time the play stopped, the visitors won the ensuing faceoff and consequently relieved the pressure they were facing. /with Komisarek, Dandenault, Higgins, and Koivu all out with injuries, the rest of the squad will have to pick themselves up in order to keep up with a very hot Bruins team.
My 3 Stars:
3. Olaf Kolzig
2. Vincent Lecavalier
1. Martin St. Louis
The Habs started the game well. They scored their first (and only) goal six minutes into the game on the powerplay via Patrice Brisebois. However, they let the visitors take the lead in the span of two minutes halfway through the first period when both St. Louis and Lecavalier scored. Despite getting four powerplays in the ensuing minutes (one at the end of the first period, and three in the first half of the second), the Canadiens couldn't get the much needed equalizer. To make matters worse, St. Louis scored his second of the game while the Lightning were shorthanded, giving the visitors a nice two-goal lead cushion. The home side tried to rally in the third period but most of their shots were straight at Olzig, making life easy for the netminder.
Not only was it disappointing to see the Habs lose a game they should've won, the loss of Saku Koivu will certainly have an effect on the team's short-term future. The captain took only one shift in the second period and never came back. One of the most consistent player so far this season, Koivu was also the only center who was thoroughly effective on the offensive zone's faceoffs. With him out of the game, the Habs struggled to keep the puck in the Lightning's zone since every time the play stopped, the visitors won the ensuing faceoff and consequently relieved the pressure they were facing. /with Komisarek, Dandenault, Higgins, and Koivu all out with injuries, the rest of the squad will have to pick themselves up in order to keep up with a very hot Bruins team.
My 3 Stars:
3. Olaf Kolzig
2. Vincent Lecavalier
1. Martin St. Louis
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