Ann 2Game 72 Review: Canadiens Drop To Eighth After Embarrasing 5-2 Defeat Against Leafs (Video Inside)
March 30th 2009 01:48
Leafs players celebrating a goal
The Leafs easily cruised to a 4-0 lead with goals by Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski in the first period and a double by Alexei Ponikarovski in the second. The Canadiens finally got in gear halfway through the second period. Two goals scored in the span of three minutes by Maxim Lapierre brought life back to a crowd that had turned on its own. Against this sudden rush of adversity, the Leafs returned to their mediocre playing and the Habs ended the period on a high.
With the momentum firmly planted on the Canadiens' side, the Bell Centre faithful were probably expecting a memorable comeback to cap off the night, but it was not to be. Just three minutes into the third period, Guillaume Latendresse took a penalty for high-sticking and Jason Blake delivered the fatal blow with a powerplay goal one minute later.
The fifth goal had a crushing effect on the Canadiens already-fragile confidence. Apart for one line, all the players had given up on the game. At least in Ottawa they kept pushing and pushing only to lose 5-4. But here, there was nothing and it's a damn shame considering the game was taking place in Montreal. The Leafs were free to do whatever they wanted on the ice and the Habs didn't bother to take the game to their opponents. Georges Laraque once again showed his uselessness on a speed-based team. Laraque is simply too slow for his linemates and it gets even worse when he has to backcheck. There was a point in the game where his line faced off against Grabovski's line and he was simply left in the dust (or in this case, a shower of ice) as the Leafs went on to score.
With ten games to go, Bob Gainey better right this sinking ship or it'll be a tough spring/summer in Montreal.
My 3 Stars:
3. Maxim Lapierre
2. Mikhail Grabovski
1. Alexei Ponikarovsky
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