Ann 2Game 5 Review: Canadiens' 4-1 Win Over Coyotes Comes With Terrible Cost (Highlights Video Included)
October 20th 2008 00:11
After two average performances against the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins where the Canadiens only showed up for one period in each of those games, the Habs delivered a consistent display against the young Coyotes to easily defeat them 4-1.
Once again, it was Saku Koivu's line that led the show with Alex Tanguay scoring his third of the season halfway through the first period and Koivu adding in his second five minutes later off of a beautiful pass from Markov. Although the Coyotes looked menacing in front, forcing Carey Price to make some nice saves early on, their defense wasn't as impressive as any sustained pressure by Montreal's forecheckers led to a state of panic and disorientation among Phoenix's defensemen.
The Coyotes' poor defending was the cause of Montreal's fourth goal in the second period. Indeed, the Habs had inherited a powerplay that was going nowhere until the visitors made a perfect pass to Robert Lang who easily beat Bryzgalov. However, the high point of the game happened early in the second when Kurt Sauer delivered a bone-crushing hit on Andrei Kostitsyn. Montreal's star winger violently dropped to the ice, and required the help of both his teammates and the doctors to get him off the ice. It was evident that the elder Kostitsyn wouldn't be able to finish the game, and the hit set off a maelstrom of emotions on the Canadiens' bench and in the stands. The first to react was Sergei Kostitsyn who, understandably, became blinded by rage, willing to fight the first white jersey who dared to look at him the wrong way. His conduct led to an unnecessary penalty for roughing, but he was not the only one who violently reacted. Mike Komisarek, who had been silent until then, suddenly started to throw his weight around more often, pissing off Olli Jokinen in the process. The crowd chanted for enforcer Georges Laraque who invited Sauer to dance. The defenseman backed away from the challenge, opting to fight the lighter Tom Kostopoulos instead. Laraque finally got his wish at the end of the second when Todd Fedoruk dropped his gloves against the Montreal native. All of those events overshadowed Tanguay's second goal of the game which came shortly after Kostopoulos' fight. Here's a replay of the hit in the video below:
The third period was a lot less intense with Montreal not wanting to lose another player to injury especially since Alex Kovalev had received a stick in the face shortly after the hit on Andrei Kostitsyn. Carbonneau also had to make some tinkering on his lines since he was missing a forward. Sergei Kostitsyn was assigned to Plekanec's line while Kovalev and Maxim Lapierre often double-shifted. Finally, Shane Doan, who was denied by Price in the first, scored the final goal of the game, depriving his cousin of the shutout.
Personally, I would rather have the Habs lose this one than to get an injury of this magnitude. Granted, it's not Kovalev or Markov who went down. But Kostitsyn was just gaining some confidence in throwing his body around, turning into a real power forward. It took him three years to get where he is. Now, who knows how he'll react once he comes back, especially since he has an history with epilepsy. His absence also forces the return of Christopher Higgins who wasn't at 100% yet even though he got the green light from the doctors. He'll probably play alongside Lang and Kostopoulos while Sergei Kostitsyn moves up alongside Plekanec and Kovalev.
My 3 Stars:
3.Carey Price
2.Alex Tanguay
1.Saku Koivu
Once again, it was Saku Koivu's line that led the show with Alex Tanguay scoring his third of the season halfway through the first period and Koivu adding in his second five minutes later off of a beautiful pass from Markov. Although the Coyotes looked menacing in front, forcing Carey Price to make some nice saves early on, their defense wasn't as impressive as any sustained pressure by Montreal's forecheckers led to a state of panic and disorientation among Phoenix's defensemen.
The Coyotes' poor defending was the cause of Montreal's fourth goal in the second period. Indeed, the Habs had inherited a powerplay that was going nowhere until the visitors made a perfect pass to Robert Lang who easily beat Bryzgalov. However, the high point of the game happened early in the second when Kurt Sauer delivered a bone-crushing hit on Andrei Kostitsyn. Montreal's star winger violently dropped to the ice, and required the help of both his teammates and the doctors to get him off the ice. It was evident that the elder Kostitsyn wouldn't be able to finish the game, and the hit set off a maelstrom of emotions on the Canadiens' bench and in the stands. The first to react was Sergei Kostitsyn who, understandably, became blinded by rage, willing to fight the first white jersey who dared to look at him the wrong way. His conduct led to an unnecessary penalty for roughing, but he was not the only one who violently reacted. Mike Komisarek, who had been silent until then, suddenly started to throw his weight around more often, pissing off Olli Jokinen in the process. The crowd chanted for enforcer Georges Laraque who invited Sauer to dance. The defenseman backed away from the challenge, opting to fight the lighter Tom Kostopoulos instead. Laraque finally got his wish at the end of the second when Todd Fedoruk dropped his gloves against the Montreal native. All of those events overshadowed Tanguay's second goal of the game which came shortly after Kostopoulos' fight. Here's a replay of the hit in the video below:
The third period was a lot less intense with Montreal not wanting to lose another player to injury especially since Alex Kovalev had received a stick in the face shortly after the hit on Andrei Kostitsyn. Carbonneau also had to make some tinkering on his lines since he was missing a forward. Sergei Kostitsyn was assigned to Plekanec's line while Kovalev and Maxim Lapierre often double-shifted. Finally, Shane Doan, who was denied by Price in the first, scored the final goal of the game, depriving his cousin of the shutout.
Personally, I would rather have the Habs lose this one than to get an injury of this magnitude. Granted, it's not Kovalev or Markov who went down. But Kostitsyn was just gaining some confidence in throwing his body around, turning into a real power forward. It took him three years to get where he is. Now, who knows how he'll react once he comes back, especially since he has an history with epilepsy. His absence also forces the return of Christopher Higgins who wasn't at 100% yet even though he got the green light from the doctors. He'll probably play alongside Lang and Kostopoulos while Sergei Kostitsyn moves up alongside Plekanec and Kovalev.
My 3 Stars:
3.Carey Price
2.Alex Tanguay
1.Saku Koivu
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