Time For Max And Guillaume To Get It Going

by Robert L on Nov 2, 2009 10:41 PM EST

One thing that we have all learned about Jacques Martin so far is that he goes with a winning hand. A goalie wins and he stays put. The team wins and the line combos that produce remain unchanged.

After the all eggs in one basket combo of the Giant Mexican Squid Line (copyright FHF), secondary scoring becomes a concern. The top 4 forwards are easily identified, but the consistent Tomas Plekanec’s flank changes game by game. Against Toronto, things seemed to finally start clicking with Maxim Lapierre and Guillaume Latendresse. It is an interesting trio.

Max and Guillaume have shown in the past that they have a certain cohesiveness and the ability to feed off one another. Gelling them with Plekanec, who’s arguably been the Canadiens’ best player this season might be an idea deserving of more than a one game trial.

Plekanec has had everyone on his wing thus far this season, but he has never had this much grit to shore him up. How he’s managed to remain consistent is a mystery, and it’s thought that if his line were to stabilize, nothing but good things would come from it.

One thing is certain, Lapierre and Latendresse will never get a better shot, with a more compatible center, at becoming top six forwards. With Plekanec, at pivot who plays to his wings’ strengths, it’s up to them to seize the moment.

The flipside of this story is that Andrei Kostitsyn is bound to be pissed. You can practically hear it in his barely audible English interview from Habs Inside Out. He is not happy. This could either motivate him or further confuse him in terms of instruction. The trouble is, he has made no argument in his defense with a coach would sticks with what works.

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LOL. AK was pissed.

“Why do you ask me that question?”

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by Wamsley on Nov 2, 2009 10:51 PM EST reply actions

Off-topic, but Bruce at Copper & Blue wrote a good tribute post to Jacques Plante yesterday, if you’re interested.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Nov 3, 2009 9:37 AM EST reply actions

Meanwhile, Mathieu Carle will become defenceman #11 to play for the Habs this year when he suits up in place of Hal Gill, who injured his foot in practice.

I think AK46 should still get PP time, even if he’s playing 5 on 5 with Chipchura or Metropolit. I think it’s ridiculous to play him 7-8 minutes only at 5 on 5 with grinders. There’s no possible way for him to break out doing that.

That Plante article was quite good at C&B. Completely different perspective on the guy.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Nov 3, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions

It’s easy as Habs fans to focus on his time in Montreal — certainly, it’s easy for hockey fans in general to, since that’s where he made his name — but the second half of his career was pretty impressive, too. He had the first win and first shutout in the history of Northlands Coliseum, if I remember correctly, and he was almost as old as Chelios.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Nov 3, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

An interesting idea but I’m not sure that there is enough offensive punch there to justify being called a 2nd line. They might be better suited as a 3rd line with Metro this year, or Maxwell next season. But I do hear what you are saying and thinking. We’re a player short with limited options and cap space to address it this year. I’m sure that Gainey was counting on one of the kids to step up and take the spot. We may have to just take our lumps and see it through. Young players will sometimes hit their stride part way through the season. We’ll be in a world of trouble if the K brothers and MaxPac can’t develop into top 6 forwards during the next few years.

by 24 Cups on Nov 3, 2009 10:52 AM EST reply actions