Ann 2Games 79 & 80 Review: Canadiens Hanging On After Losses Against Senators & Rangers (Vids Included)
April 13th 2009 03:53
The Montreal Canadiens needed only one win out of their two games in the beginning of the week to clinch a playoffs spot. However, without Markov and Schneider working up the point on the powerplay, they suffered two defeats instead including a costly loss against the eighth-placed New York Rangers on Tuesday which put the Blueshirts only one point behind the Canadiens.
The Habs' meltdown all started at the Bell Centre on Monday against the already-eliminated Ottawa Senators. After a scoreless period during which the Canadiens killed off a double-minor penalty for high-sticking and Christopher Higgins failed to capitalize on a penalty shot (while the Sens were on said powerplay), Chris Campoli finally broke the deadlock halfway through the second period on the visitors' fourth powerplay of the night. Alex Kovalev equalized two minutes later, then Mathieu Dandenault put Montreal in front with four seconds left to go.
The Canadiens missed the opportunity to add to their lead when they failed to capitalize on their fourth powerplay of the game early in the third period. With that chance gone, they started their old ineffective habit of dropping back to protect their lead (You would think that by now they would have learned their lesson). Dany Heatley needed only 38 seconds to reverse the situation scoring both the equalizer and the Sens' third goal in that timespan, and that was all that she wrote.
Twenty-four hours later, the Canadiens made their way to Madison Square Garden to face a desperate Rangers team who needed a win to breathe easier in the playoffs race. Their task was made a lot easier by the fact that the Habs had played the night before in Montreal and had to travel down to New York right after their game against the Senators. Furthermore, the prolonged absence of Markov and Schneider took the bite out of any powerplay opportunities the Habs would get. That's where the game was played in my mind. The Canadiens failed to score on three powerplays and the TKK line seemed completely out of gas by the second period.
Mathieu Dandenault was the only Hab to beat Lundqvist three minutes after Chris Drury had opened the score for the Rangers. The Blueshirts added two more goals in the second period and the Habs never recovered.
After seeing the Canadiens' powerplay go completely dry in these two games, one has to wonder why Bob Gainey didn't recall Yannick Weber from the Hamilton Bulldogs to man the point. Seeing Mike Komisarek, Roman Hamrlik, and Mathieu Dandenault all taking turns on the blueline during the Habs' powerplays felt simply wrong as none of them have elaborate playmaking abilities except for “shoot on net and we'll see what happens.” Gainey's non-decision was even more questionable when it was Doug Janik who was recalled, a slow, stay-at-home defenseman that doesn't bring much offensively which is where the Habs' had the most need.
So, now the Canadiens have to grab at last a point against Boston or Pittsburgh to clinch their playoffs spot. The Bruins won't hand them a win on a silver platter even though Claude Julien's men are sitting comfortably atop of the Conference, having secured the championship on Saturday. If anything, they'll want to push the Habs out. As for the Penguins, anything can happen against Crosby & Co., so it should be entertaining.
The Habs' meltdown all started at the Bell Centre on Monday against the already-eliminated Ottawa Senators. After a scoreless period during which the Canadiens killed off a double-minor penalty for high-sticking and Christopher Higgins failed to capitalize on a penalty shot (while the Sens were on said powerplay), Chris Campoli finally broke the deadlock halfway through the second period on the visitors' fourth powerplay of the night. Alex Kovalev equalized two minutes later, then Mathieu Dandenault put Montreal in front with four seconds left to go.
The Canadiens missed the opportunity to add to their lead when they failed to capitalize on their fourth powerplay of the game early in the third period. With that chance gone, they started their old ineffective habit of dropping back to protect their lead (You would think that by now they would have learned their lesson). Dany Heatley needed only 38 seconds to reverse the situation scoring both the equalizer and the Sens' third goal in that timespan, and that was all that she wrote.
Twenty-four hours later, the Canadiens made their way to Madison Square Garden to face a desperate Rangers team who needed a win to breathe easier in the playoffs race. Their task was made a lot easier by the fact that the Habs had played the night before in Montreal and had to travel down to New York right after their game against the Senators. Furthermore, the prolonged absence of Markov and Schneider took the bite out of any powerplay opportunities the Habs would get. That's where the game was played in my mind. The Canadiens failed to score on three powerplays and the TKK line seemed completely out of gas by the second period.
Mathieu Dandenault was the only Hab to beat Lundqvist three minutes after Chris Drury had opened the score for the Rangers. The Blueshirts added two more goals in the second period and the Habs never recovered.
After seeing the Canadiens' powerplay go completely dry in these two games, one has to wonder why Bob Gainey didn't recall Yannick Weber from the Hamilton Bulldogs to man the point. Seeing Mike Komisarek, Roman Hamrlik, and Mathieu Dandenault all taking turns on the blueline during the Habs' powerplays felt simply wrong as none of them have elaborate playmaking abilities except for “shoot on net and we'll see what happens.” Gainey's non-decision was even more questionable when it was Doug Janik who was recalled, a slow, stay-at-home defenseman that doesn't bring much offensively which is where the Habs' had the most need.
So, now the Canadiens have to grab at last a point against Boston or Pittsburgh to clinch their playoffs spot. The Bruins won't hand them a win on a silver platter even though Claude Julien's men are sitting comfortably atop of the Conference, having secured the championship on Saturday. If anything, they'll want to push the Habs out. As for the Penguins, anything can happen against Crosby & Co., so it should be entertaining.
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