Jersey Loss A Moral Win To Build On For Habs
by Robert L on Jan 10, 2010 1:49 PM EST
Email
Print 
Ouch! What a stab, that Zack Parise goal was after a solid Canadiens effort produced a game in which they deserved a better outcome. Is it just me or does Jersey seem to have inherited the old Forum ghosts and employ them in their favour whenever they play in Montreal? I've had a silly theory that somehow Denis Brodeur, Martin's father and former Forum photographer, might have somehow siphoned the spirits of the Habs old haunts into his shutterbug lens at some point and transplanted good omens into his offspring to forever thwart the Canadiens when games get close. How else could you explain the ridiculously lucky save Brodeur pulled off on Mike Cammalleri and that rabbit from a hat goal by Parise? Like since when, in the name of intelligent hockey, does a smart player like Parise, upon losing his stick in a four on four situation, leave the zone to fetch a new stick when his team is outmanned in a next goal wins game? The highly risky play of course left him alone at center ice, tapping his stick as soon as center Travis Zajac won his battle for the puck. Seriously though, these things happen in the game of hockey (Hello, Rob Schremp) and their ain't a damn thing that can be done to prevent it.
And so, the Habs are left with squeezing a positive spin out of another game in a one-too-many string of moral victories. It's about all they can do - list the good things. It all begins with serving up a solid effort against one of the league's elite teams. It continues with having ownership of the puck as much as their opponent did, through an edge in faceoffs, which hasn't been seen in a good while. It is all helped with a scoop of good scoring chances and backed a very commendable performance by Jaroslav Halak, who rebounded after allowing a suspect goal in the first. It begs a question, like a four year-old tugging a millionaires sleeve asking for a quarter. If the Canadiens have the recipe for matching the Devils shift for shift throughout most of sixty minutes, why can't they pull this hot dish out of the oven on a consistent basis. It's interesting to note that in this half season so far, they have put in solid showings (not all wins) against the Penguins, Capitals, Devils, Bruins, Flames, Sabres, Red Wings and Blackhawks. Through 47 contests, the Canadiens have been involved in 26 one goal games, losing 14. In games decided by more than one goal, their record is 10-11. Clearly the Canadiens are in most games. A positive sign should be that if they can duplicate the effort shown in the New Jersey game over a majority of the final 35 games of the schedule they should remain in the fight for one of the three final playoff spots. With a short break upcoming (four days off) and the Olympic break ahead, Montreal has a favorable second half schedule.
7 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I’ve often wondered why players stay out on the ice and play without a stick. I realize that it depends on circumstance and the location of their bench, but many times it just seems plain stupid to me..
Steve, I think just opposite. They only need a stick to handle the puck. If their whole presence is removed, their absence creates greater vision and additional passing lanes. I can see a guy strolling to nearby bench creating a brief 4 on 5, but to do so in OT and creates a 3 on 4 takes either balls, a lack of brains or both.
I think 24 has a good point. The player is only lost for a few seconds. It’s not as drastic as you make it out to be Robert.
I would be with you Rob if I ever saw a player who didn’t look complete out of touch with his former self once the stick was gone. In all the hockey I’ve ever watched, it seems like a few seconds without a player is worth it to avoid a minute of the guy diving around before the goal that very often comes.
I guess you don’t recall the goal earlier this season when the Canadien player went to corner to fetch his stick after merely losing it (not breaking it), and the player being covered stepped straight into his vacated spot and scored. I’m thinking it was either Hamrlik or Spacek, I’m quite sure. It was early this season.
I find it hard to believe Chris that in all your years of watching hockey you’ve never seen “a player who didn’t look completely out of touch with his former self once the stick was gone.”
I’ve seen it in Pee Wee!
For a few years now, the Canadiens have had more talented teams than the Devils. We’ll still lose 19 out of 20 games against them, which proves the value of an organization which knows what they want out of the players, and players who show up to play every shift.
Lucky teams are able to capitalize on any mistakes or breaks because of that.
That being said, it seems that we give Brodeur too much respect almost like Lafleur in his return, where no one dared to touch him, which is why he enjoyed so much success as an opponent of the Canadiens.
It’s time to get in Brodeur’s face. Do something to make his visits unpleasant. He’s the enemy.
The other option, perhaps, is that I have to go to the games in New Jersey. I’ve only seen the Canadiens play the Devils there twice and the Habs won both games. If I recall, the last game was around 2002(?). I bought a Canadiens puck there… I’m almost considering ceremonially burning that puck if it would help.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
