Halak Or Price In Game Four?
by Robert L on Apr 20, 2010 10:31 AM EDT
Email
Print
The question on many minds this morning is an obvious one to a fair extent, for no better reason than finding something that will halt the Washington momentum in the series.
When it comes to playoff goaltending, there is the old adage that you dance with the one that brought you. That has been done.
Listening on CKAC this morning, a caller was making the case for Halak on those terms, suggesting that in the Canadiens' realm, Halak is our Brodeur, Miller or Luongo.
Note, those three goalies are coincidentally trailling their respective series' two games to one.
No offence directed at Yann Danis, Patrick Lalime or Andrew Raycroft, but they're not exactly Carey Price in terms of backup plans.
Price fared very well against the Capitals this regular season. No one needs to be reminded that he went 2-1-1 in those game,but it should be recalled that he worked the first two without Andrei Markov in front of him (a 3-2 win and a 4-3 SO loss), lost the thrid game 4-2, the won 6-5 in overtime, wherein the Habs lineup dressed about seven players who started the season in Hamilton.
All good on that end.
Unfortunately for Jaro, he seems rattled. His play in three games has gone from excellent to spotty, and his nervousness has been broadcast and shown continent wide thanks to one worrisome clip. Perhaps it is on Halak's mind, quite naturally, that this is his biggest shot with a new contract due this summer.
The bottom line might well be that the Habs have one last desperate chance to tie this series, and it will place itself in an electric chair heading back to Washington for Game 5 down three games to one.
Price's larger frame as the Capital's get more physical as the game's progress could be helpful. The fact that he has not played much down the stretch is concerning. The thirty minutes played last night may have shook cobwebs, but with Washington concentrating on not blowing their lead, it was from from the ultimate test.
The situation is, that for now it's all they have to go on.
28 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It doesnt matter. At this point, the real issues is how the Habs are going to score 5+ goals to win a game.
by SA-Town on Apr 20, 2010 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Silent as can be when the Caps lost Game 1 and straight to EOTP causing shit because they are up 2 games to 1.
by Chris Boyle on Apr 20, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Pundits like to make big deals out of blowouts but they’re possibly the least informative type of game out there. Much will be made about the 5-1 score, but blowouts do tend to be aberrations — a team failing to capitalize on its scoring chances and another bucking the percentages — so Game 3 is less telling that the score might indicate. The Habs have once been beat by a team 6-2, only to crush them 6-0 the next game.
Franky, I’m not sure the choice of goaltender, agonizing though it will be to the fans, matters all that much. Either is capable of putting in sterling work, so it really boils down to whether Martin feels Halak is rattled or not. The team seems to be a bit fragile, though, so early goals and a few good saves would be very helpful.
Game 4 is a must-win. Win it and everything will look possible. Lose it, and the goose is cooked, basically.
Game 2 looms larger and larger, whether you want to blame it on sitting back, defense, officiating, goaltending, luck, or all of the above…
Deja Vu
Haven’t we seen this scenario before? 2006 – we are outplaying a higher seeded Carolina Hurricanes team and run Martin Gerber into the realm of obscurity. Then Ward comes in, the Habs barely win in OT to go up 2-0. After that we can’t solve him and Carolina goes on to win the cup. I not saying that the same thing is going to happen, but aren’t we all kinda praying in the back of our minds that Varlamov pulls a groin?
by hab a good time on Apr 20, 2010 12:17 PM EDT reply actions
When it comes to playoff goaltending, there is the old adage that you dance with the one that brought you.
As opposed to the Capitals who finished in first overall and have ditched the goaltender who went 20-0-3 down the stretch? How would Carolina have fared in 2006 with this philosophy? The Habs would own 23 Stanley Cups if they had gone with Vachon in 1971 and the 2007 Hamilton Bulldogs would also be missing a Calder Cup.
That adage only holds true when you are talking about a number one who is firmly entrenched. Patrick Roy, Dominik Hasek, Martin Brodeur, Ryan Miller, Cam Ward, Roberto Luongo etc.
Not for a goaltender who has never played 50+ games in his career and has been a number one for 2 months.
This is the perfect storm to put Price in a position to save what has been a frustrating season. If he wins, they are back in the series. If he loses, you go back to Halak and nobody hangs Price out to dry because Halak has already failed.
No brainer as far as I am concerned. You start Price in Game 4.
by Chris Boyle on Apr 20, 2010 12:19 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
You start the #1 if your he is that much better than the #2. Just like Theo vs Varly, there is not a huge gap between Halak and Price.
I would go with Price just to try something different. Yea he wasn’t amazing in relief, but neither was Varly the game before and he was when he started. Coming in cold is hard to do.
Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.
I’d also follow another of Boudreau’s moves after Game 2 which got less press: change up the D pairs. Removing Bergeron for O’Byrne is one thing, but how about give Markov someone that can handle himself?
Markov-Spacek
Gill-Gorges
Hamrlik-O’Byrne
Give Hamrlik-O’B the 3rd and 4th line matchups exclusively. They’re big enough to handle the Fehrs of the world in theory. Hamrlik was brutal last night. I honestly think he’s near the end of the line.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
Actually, I think there is a lot of hockey left in Hamr, but he isn’t as fast as he used to. But the guy again logged in the most minutes on the team this year, against tough comp night in night out. I think he is far from done.
But something needs to be done with Bergy, I agree. Dude is bleeding chances and shots against all over the place, it’s horrible.
That shift under a minute to go was ridiculous.
Price stops the puck behind the net, hands it to Bergeron. He makes a brutal cross ice pass attempt which leads to a scoring chance. Price makes the save, controls the rebound and Bergeron turns the puck over AGAIN. 10 seconds later it is in the back of the net.
The guy is not a defenseman. He is a one trick pony.
Two giveaways in under 4 seconds… Right in front of the net both times. Honestly I think it was amazing that Price stopped 2 of the 3 shots. He looked very sharp last night, he needs to start.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Apr 20, 2010 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Giving Gill – Gorges second pair minutes is a disaster waiting to happen – Hal Gill is just too much of a liability at ES.
Hamrlik and Spacek have had a pretty decent series, to my eye.
You could put Markov with Gorges, but the Gill – O’Byrne/Bergeron pairing is a real problem.
FWIW, Bergeron has slightly better defensive stats, according to BtN
"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
Good points all around. But as for Bergeron’s better +/-, go to that link and select the “Zone Start” report; Bergy gets 55% offensive zone faceoffs, while Markov is at 52%, Gill & Gorges at 46 and Hamr and Spacek at 45.
Also notice the QUALCOMP column. Beregron is as sheltered as can be.
Yeah, I noticed the Zone Start thing, too. IIRC, Bergeron and O’Byrne were relatively equal there?
FWIW, I was anticipating that O’Byrne would get the start over Bergeron, and I think it would be worth a shot to get him in there now. Bergeron has looked shaky back there.
"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
If you'll permit a Caps fan perspective
You’ve got to go with Price here. Changing goalies will give the team a boost, and also give the Capitals, who are looking confident, something to think about.
Martin has to do something to change the tone of the series, and a G change is the easiest way to do that.
Incidentally, I’d also scratch Metropolit.
"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
Metropolit is clearly not ready to be playing, he hadn’t even practiced with the team before Martin threw him in the lineup. I have no idea how that happened, and I’m actually pissed that the Habs medical staff would allow it.
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Apr 20, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Martin loves his veterans. And, seemingly, hates kids. How he got a reputation for nurturing young players I have no idea because he routinely sits them, gives them zero ropes, and generally handles them very poorly. He’s why the Habs ended up trading Latendresse, he sat Sergei Kostitsyn (we’re all hoping it’s an injury, but I think Sergei is just “too young” for the coach)…
I’m not sure how he got that reputation, because he almost ruined Spezza, and he was never able to make Spezza defensively responsible for all his effort. I guess he got very lucky with Thornton, Booth and Bouwmeester in Florida, although maybe those three are just so talented that it shone through his own idiocy. Horton for one, certainly hasn’t lived up to his draft status, so I doubt Martin gets credit for him,
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Apr 20, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
All of which had the reputation of playoff chokers under his leadership…
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
by Andrew Berkshire on Apr 20, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I think guys on either Versus or TSN were talking about how Price may be better suited to handle the net presence and size of the Caps’ forwards like Knuble, Laich, and Fehr.
So I think, as a Caps fan, you should start Halak. As a hockey fan, the Price is more right than the Slav.
Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Capitals Coming: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
GAME 4
MONTREAL 5 WASHINGTON 3 , based on an empty netter late in the 3rd, this will be montreal’s last hoorah for the season , maybe next year , these guys are so ready to go and nurse there bruises ,
No offence directed at Yann Danis, Patrick Lalime or Andrew Raycroft, but they’re not exactly Carey Price in terms of backup plans.
Heheh. Nor are they Valarmov.
I am in an abusive relationship. I think. I keep telling myself it will get better and just when things are seemingly better, my heart happens to get cruelly ripped out once more ... in the playoffs. I am a Caps fan. Need I say more?
Win one. Do it fourteen times.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Habs Eyes On The Prize
Related FanShots on Habs Eyes On The Prize
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.
