Chris Lee Screws The Habs Again
by Robert L on Mar 28, 2010 12:17 AM EDT
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I hate it when something ruins my hockey viewing experience, but I cannot help it. I despise it even more when something happens, and I simply cannot get around it.
It eats at me when a game of hockey is affected by an incident that in normal circumstances and all good reason should never have occurred as it did.
It further rips at my gut when I see the players in the game not exactly getting around it.
I'm not fun to be around at times like this. I turn the air blue with anger.
You have guessed that I am talking about the call by official Chris Lee on Roman Hamrlik for "tripping" Ilya Kovalchuk at 7:31 of the first period that lead to a Devils goal by Patrick Elias on a 4 on 3 powerplay 40 seconds later.
On the play, Hamrlik dove to play the puck on a breaking Kovalchuk, who managed to get a shot off and never fell on the play, which in my eye is kind of the essential to making the call.
Lee is far and away the most incompetant official working in the NHL today. I have come to totally dread the games he works, and I'm far from alone. I'm a Canadiens fan of course, but I am sure that Lee is equally baffled in games that involve the Leafs, Bruins, Sabres, Devils or any of the other 25 clubs.
His decisions are beyond comprehension at times. This one was the last straw for me. I will no longer watch games Lee works, nor will I buy tickets to games he is scheduled to work. As I said, it ruins my experience, to know that the playing out of a game is compromised even before it begins because of this doof.
The NHL must be aware of how "good" Lee is. Entering the 2009-10 season, he had officiated in 444 contests but only four in the post season. Kind of says it all!
No credit to the Habs for their reaction to Jersey scoring the go-ahead goal. The Canadiens totally wilted after almost dominating the first five or so minutes of the game. After the Lee blown call, they seemed sapped. I can understand such a reaction, but still, it is not what we want to see happen.
What angers me more, and I'll climb that high horse again, is that Jacques Martin's response to the Lee boob tends to show agreement with the call. Martin again did squat!
Morose and as good as moribund, Martin and his decided practicality likely insists that once the call is made, right or wrong, it's best to just get over it, move on, and get on with killing the penalty. No use in getting worked up about it something that cannot be changed. Best keep one's emotional factions together and forge on.
Yeah right!
A team, in a moment like this, needs to feel their coach is right there with them. It doesn't hurt to round the troops under the "we been screwed" banner. It motivates. It recharges. It brings everyone along for the cause of the team. Doing nothing, does nothing. Remember Roger Neilson and the waved white flag? Did that reaction spur on the '82 Canucks?
Martin does have the fire, nor the gut instinct to coach the Habs. He's the anti -reactionary. He's Mr. Jones from Bob Dylan's "Ballad Of A Thin Man".
Lee's incompetance and Martin's obliviousness were two nails in the Canadiens coffin. The final and true killer though, was the Habs' gone for dead power play. The unit simply has no focus or focal point.
It was supposed to be that the return of Marc-Andre Bergeron would reinspire the PP, but it has further messed with it. I don't see any cohesion between Bergeron and Andrei Markov at all. They do not work together at all. Instead of quarterbacking, Markov instead wastes too much time pinching, leaving Bergeron alone to fend off the tight coverage he's given. Clue - Bergeron's point blasts are a secret to no one, and neither is the way to defend it. With no space and time, he'd been rendered useless. In order to provide options for him, and Canadiens forward must come out nearer to the point, so that Markov and Bergeron aren't pigeonholed by their own strict rigidity. Such movement restricts effectiveness at the net, where (in this case) the Devils PKers and nice and spread out, pushing the Habs to the perimeter.
Not having Glen Metropolit's right handed shot for the better part of the last two games has not helped, but it had reached a point of inneffectiveness before that time. In my view, better to have a crease pest the likes of Mathieu Darche creating havoc in front the goalie and keeping one defenseman very occupied down low. For you to discuss.
Here's some of what could be called Chris Lee's Greatest Hits....
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45566037703
http://habsinsideout.com/main/25615
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/2009/12/nhl-officiating.html
http://habsinsideout.com/main/25727?page=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV2EgJ6JEEg
http://www.danyrioux.com/blog/en/?p=18
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?p=24323851
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/scott-nichol-speaks-with-referee-chris-lee.php
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?p=22604844
http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/12/11/intent-to-blow-rule-costs-canadiens/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SomYq821hHw&feature=youtube_gdata
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More incompetent than Stephane “No, it’s not a good goal, even though the puck was in the net for four or five seconds before I decided the play was dead, never mind blew my whistle” Auger?
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
That would make this guy Chris “i was too busy sucking to be able to blow my whistle” Lee! This loser essentially pulled the same stunt against the Habs, versus Pittsburgh back in December.
Just once…..“upon further review, the replays shows that I am a completely incompetent idiot, unable to follow the course of the game.”
My patience for Chris Lee was done after he called off the Gomez goal against Pittsburgh.
What I really don’t understand about Martin is that he’s not stupid, his comments after the game about the PP were bang on. The defense were left to fend for themselves as the forwards were far too stationary. But where the hell were the in game adjustments??? I know Muller is the one in charge of the special teams, but is there no communication among the coaching staff? I mean come on!!
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 2:46 AM EDT reply actions
Look, I’m not a Martin fan- I’d like to see him gone over the summer. He’s a transition guy, nothing more. However, the guys gotta bring it in crunch time. Screw the coach- if you can’t beat Buffalo, Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Ottawa then there’s not much hope for the playoffs. The lack of finish this week scared me more than the coaches.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Well I don’t think this week was as doom and gloom worthy as some. As you said the team was playing pretty lazy, yet we still only lost by a single goal to two supposedly elite teams in Buffalo and New Jersey. Of course NJ got the empty netter but it was really a one goal game. If that’s the result when we’re half assing it, getting it together over the next 6 games will make this a very dangerous team!
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I try my best! =)
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Its not just the coaching staff...or the refs...
There’s been a lack of effort for the last 3 games. The game against Buffalo was just brutal in the last 5-6 minutes of the third. Then they got lucky against Florida. Tonight, it was the same story: getting beaten to pucks, not getting offensive pressure, and not clearing the zone fast enough. There’s only so much the coaches can do- at the end of the day, the players have to bring the effort. Getting beaten to pucks is not simply strategy- the guys looked a bit gassed after having a bad week.
There’s a four day break for the boys to get their heads together again. They’ve had a good month, but there’s been two heatbreakers this week (Ott, Buf losses). A big game against the ’Canes is a must.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if perhaps the return of Cammalleri has everyone (except AK46) thinking they can relax a bit. That the pressure of contributing offensively is taken down now that the former top line is reunited. I just noticed that the 3rd and 4th lines have disappeared offensively since Cammalleri came back.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions
I hear you on this one. Everyone seems to wait for AK46, Cammalleri, Markov or Gionta to do something. Gomez is driving me nuts- sometimes he’s fantastic, other times he’s invisible.
I don’t know…I’m also noticing that Spacek and Hammer seem to be wearing down. Am I alone in this?
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:13 AM EDT up reply actions
I definitely notice it, especially in Hamrlik. I think Spacek has been very good defensively all year, especially when Bergeron was brought on board so he wouldn’t have to bear the burden of powerplay quarterback with Markov gone. Luckily for us, our schedule really isn’t that heavy with 6 more games in 14 days as the regular season dies down. Hopefully with a less than heavy workload Hammer and Spacek can recuperate in time for a strong playoff push!
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:16 AM EDT up reply actions
For sure- 4 we should win, a winnable game against Philly and a challenge in Buffalo. Not too bad.
I’ve been a big fan of both D-men all year. They’re gamers once the playoffs start as well.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m just hoping we don’t pull the whole “playing to the level of the opposition” thing that we’ve seen all year. We should easily win 4 of the last 6, and I sure would love to win against Buffalo.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Also I tend to forgive Gomez a bit, because it seems like when the team is struggling to find offense they completely rely on him to gain the zone, no matter what. He’s good at doing it, but when the other team expects him to come in every single time, it’s tough to do anything properly. Some teams check him and Gionta far more effectively. I think Lemaire clearly knew how the two of them play, which is why Gomez’s only point on the game came when Martin shuffled his top two centres.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I think what messes with the team psyche now that everyone is healthy is the sitting of vets like Metropolit and a guy with four year seniority like Lapierre in favour of MAB and Pyatt. Those third and fourth lines that were so pivotal to wins have been sussed out now. The concept of the unit of five has flown out the window. Guy like Markov and Hamrlik and making huge mistakes on play reads but will never be admonished, yet a role player makes some little boob and he’s in the box. You can point to players, but these problems are trickle downs from coaching decisions.
Fair point Robert- the Lapierre benching is a maybe…but the Metro benching makes no sense…especially when the guy has 10 pp goals!
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Martin’s not done anything I’ve seen to help make Lapierre a better player. So now he’ll be worried on every shift. Same for Metropolit. There’s no such worries sitting Pyatt, who’s a rookie, or Bergeron, who’s out of position. Neither would be wracking their brains for answers.
Lapierre seems to have been in the doghouse since day 1, and it hasn’t really mattered when he has improved his game. I love Pyatt, don’t get me wrong. Love his speed and defensive ability, but he’d be better served in Hamilton, along with Maxwell, as Lapierre is a better 4th liner. He’s better physically, and as much as some may disagree, he’s a bigger offensive threat and his agitation DOES hurt other teams.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Lappy’s just having an off year. Half of it is bad luck. Give him a pat on the back, tell him to sit a couple and regroup before the playoffs. At this point, he’s a young veteran and he can handle it.
However, if Martin’s just chirping at him, he’s not helping.
As for Metro, I’m just bloody baffled. The move makes no sense, on any level. The guy’s been pure energy all year.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions
It also has to be remembered that Lapierre has played out of position all year with irregular linemates. Hardly a mandate to achieve consistency.
Hey, I like Lappy man. He’s a solid role player- like I said, just an off year, it happens.
And you’re right about the linemates. He’s played everywhere from the 2nd to the 4th line.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Very true, there hasn’t been much done to help the kid rebound in an off year. Even the little things about his game have been effected, look at his faceoff numbers! Dropping from 53.2% to 48.5%. That’s huge. There has to be something the coaching staff can do to help him out a bit.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Markov is frustrating to watch the last couple games, on the PP anyway. For some reason he refuses to work from the point and keeps pinching low. Maybe it’s overcompensating and trying to put more pressure on defenders because the PP has been so bad? Either way, I think our PP would be much better if guys like Markov and Hammer just calmed down and had more patience like usual.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought they kept them on seperate units earlier in the season…
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions
They seemed to work well when Markov first came back, but maybe that was just beginners luck. I remember the PP was running over 40% for awhile there.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions
It could be looked up, but I’m thinking that it was for no more than two or three gangbuster games against the weak – Isles, Canes, etc.
It also doesn’t help when Metro’s out. He’s been the most consistent threat off the half-boards. Add to that, he’s defensively responsible, so its easy for the point man to switch positions with him for a pinch (ie. he remembers to cover)
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I noticed that the best guy covering in those same instances has been Sergei quite a bit. There’s a guy that played PP point for three years in junior, and an option the Habs have barely explored. The shot might not be there, but the play vision and anticipation surely is.
Martin seems to be unwilling to use a forward on the point, which is clear from his use of Gill there at various times in the season.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Did you see him play for Belarus? The guy was a bloody horse. I think it may be another case of Martin misusing some explosive talent.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions
You might be right about that. Markov’s first few games back were against; NYI, ATL, CAR, TOR, OTT, TBL and FLA.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Fair enough. Martin seems to really stress shift timing, and it screws both Gomez and Pleks up. I’ve seen both players make great rushes, gain the zone, and then realize that they’re help is already on the bench. Martin’s conservative though- he likes having fresh legs on, and defensive positioning comes first with him.
On the other hand, the opposite extreme of taking too long a shift isn’t so hot either.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:23 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s funny that he’s so crazy about shift timing, because he talked earlier in the year about how conditioning was massively important and most players weren’t up to par in his eyes. If the players’ conditioning has become better, I think a few long shifts are risks worth taking over the course of a game if they can create scoring chances. Especially with opportunistic guys like Gionta and AK46.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Martin’s thinking often nips this teams best assets in the bud. The Conservative style or not, speed on the forecheck should not be sacrificed. The first five minutes of the game are how the Habs should play.
Especially at the end of games. I’m sick of watching us in a fire drill every night, and its costing us points. Add to that all the games that have gone to OT and SO. Even when we’ve won, we’ve given rivals points.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s still a .500 hockey team, maybe slightly better. It will need some very thourough off season tinkering in order to not be worse next year.
With the cap in mind. We’ve got a lot of expensive veterans now for a .500 team.
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:41 AM EDT up reply actions
And all the ones we cannot lose, but are in danger of, are in that key age bracket of 22 to 27. The goalie, Pouliot, Pleks….it could be ugly.
Sad to say, but we gotta lose Hammer. At 5.5 per, its way too much.
Gomez is a liability too, but its not his fault Sather handed him that ridiculous contract. That’s 14.5 mil. right there. And its a big reason why I’m unfair about judging Scotty’s play…the number bouncing around in my head…
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s kinda funny, but looking around the league, the only team I see desperate enough for a top 2 center to take on Gomez’s salary is the New York Rangers. Honestly though I’ve really come around on Gomer, I like the way he’s picking it up when the games matter most. And I have a feeling that if he’d had Gionta and Pouliot all year we’d be looking at a 70-80 point season instead of a 55-60 point season.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Its better to plan with him in mind. He’s a good player. Still overpaid, but if you take that away, he’s a helluva good centre.
We’ve got two good lines going into next year…if we can keep Pouliot and Pleks. We’ve also had a ton of injuries this year. And hey, the playoffs aren’t spoken for yet!
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions
I have to think that Hamrlik is gone this offseason in order to accommodate Plekanec and one of the goalies.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions
And a NTC…
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Call the whole team up!
Better yet, call up the coach.
by Robert L on Mar 28, 2010 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Trotter and Desharnais had a couple of nice goals…good to see they’re coming along nicely along with Subban…
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Well boys, this blogger has a hockey game to attend in Kanata at 7:30 EST. Nice running up the comment thread with ya’s. We should do the live game blog thing some night. It could get intelligent!
Have a great night Robert!
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the banter, but I’m done for the day…we’ll have to get the whole band on board for one of these soon…
by westcoasthabs on Mar 28, 2010 3:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks right back at ya! Was nice to be able to talk to some knowledgeable Habs fans late at night instead of the trolls who seem to dominate HIO these days.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Mar 28, 2010 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions
NJ fined??????
NJ should be fined for playing that style of boring hockey. Especially on a Saturday night.
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