What's eating Andrei Kostitsyn?

by Myles Dolphin on Apr 19, 2010 10:24 PM EDT

Yes, our Belarussian friend picked the right time to break out of his funk (he only had 3 goals since January 1st) but no, I’m not convinced we’ve got the old Andrei back (see 2007-08 Andrei for reference).

The talented but lethargic winger showed off a wide variety of his skills Saturday night in Washington, but fans (and I’m guessing most of the coaching staff) have been scratching their heads as to why he can’t be a bit more consistent.

It’s not like he can’t hit or score impressive goals: he’s obviously extremely talented. A slick puck handler with great patience, Andrei seems to lack the drive to take his game to another level (like several Montreal players in recent memory). I’m hoping that he doesn’t need a change of scenery to trigger that desire to perform (see Guillaume Latendresse), and that a veteran player can find a way to get a message across to him that he is needed, and badly.

Oddly enough his stats would indicate that he is becoming more involved in games as the years go by: he registered 102 body checks this year in 59 games (1.73 per game) as opposed to 124 in 74 (1.67) last year and 102 in 78 (1.31) the year before. His ice time actually increased this year (he played an average of 16 mins per game as opposed to 15:35 last year and 15:41 the year before). He’s received adequate power play time while playing with the team’s best players. Therefore, the tools for him to succeed are widely available and the entire organization has been extremely patient in regards to his development.

So, what’s wrong? Have the personal problems that plagued him and his younger brother re-surfaced? Or is Andrei just being Andrei, and we have to treat him as a crapshoot who could win a game for us whenever he feels like?

One thing’s for sure: the sniper who only has 6 multiple-goal games in the past 2 years needs to be more consistent if he wants to have a spot in Montreal’s lineup next season. Just like his name and number suggest, AK-46 is a bullet short of emerging into the lethal Kalashnikov we all know he can become.

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Montreal mistakes from the crowd --

Taunting Theo in warm ups when he isnt playing…that really got Varly off his game
Booing the National Anthem….Dont taunt the Red..you will get burned
Ole Ole Ole – what were you celebrating?
Ovie sucks chants – They must not of meant top shelf scorchers
Booing Gianta’s obvious crosscheck call right in front of the ref..(delusion set in)
Leaving with 5 minutes left…(mass exodus)

Ready for game 4 are we?

by SA-Town on Apr 20, 2010 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

Sorry, didn’t realize that the Washington fanbase was more sophisticated than Montreal’s.

The fanbase that averaged 3,000 less than capacity until they got Alexander Ovechkin?

Spare us the nonsense.

by Chris Boyle on Apr 20, 2010 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Honestly, I dont really care….it seems that every building has it’s moments of shame…I just thought you guys were pretty good at it last night.

by SA-Town on Apr 20, 2010 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

There’s always the idiots that boo and hence motivate opposing star players. We can’t have them shot!

by Robert L on Apr 20, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Too bad you can’t have them “disappear”, I could send you some Caps fans that need the same treatment :P

And I liked the Ole Ole chant. Fun stuff.

Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.

by Bman21212 on Apr 20, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

The Ole is chant isn’t necessarily a victory chant by any means. It’s more of a “we are having a great time / we are digging this” show of appreciation to players.

The anthem booing…. gnaws, and the more respectful end of the Habs fanbase is continually apologetic for it.

That’s your nationalist Quebeckers for you. It begins and ends up in end section cheap seats, and the way the games are mic’ed for live game action, it always gets picked up loader than it really is in the buiding. From my perspective, I don’t think it is anti-American at this particular time, but it has been in the past. I think for those doing it, it’s nothing more than a booing of the opposing team’s anthem. In all, it is stupidily sad.

Prior to the singing, respecting the anthems is always called for on the public address.

by Robert L on Apr 20, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

next time, SA-Town, it would be nice if you could actually discuss something relevant to the article…..

by Myles Dolphin on Apr 20, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Robert – hoping you’ll do one of the “Goal Analysis” posts for this game? I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts, and that one in particular.

Thanks,
FD

"You want to start being part of the Rink? Fine, but more’s expected of you than John/Jane Cap Fan. Carry the cause of informed discussion to the unwashed masses and don’t crap in the yards of other SBN sites if you decide to go over there. They’re passionate about their teams too, no need to troll elsewhere and/or be a sore winner." --BP

by fat_daddyo on Apr 20, 2010 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

One should get done sometimes tomorrow, as our schedules permit.

by Robert L on Apr 20, 2010 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes I wonder if we aren’t just having too high expectations for big AK46. The thing with him is, he just doesn’t shoot enough pucks toward the net to score the 30+ goals we think he has the talent for. Is it because he plays with Pleks and thus takes a tonne of defensive zone draws? I don’t know. But I don’t think anymore he can be a 35+ goals threat Cammalleri-style. Maybe a season here and there, but again, he just doesn’t put enough pucks on the net.

That doesn’t make him a useless player in our top-6, far from that.

by Olivier on Apr 20, 2010 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

Like Latendresse, he is playing the wrong wing. Get him to the right with his stick in the middle, double his shots and double his goals.

by Robert L on Apr 20, 2010 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

Whaaa?

Isn’t AKost playing RW to Pleks C and Cammalleri’s LW since the beginning of the season? If I’m not mistaken, that move was done in training camp, no?

by Olivier on Apr 20, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions