Game 8: Ho Hum Habs lose again
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Oct 24, 2011 10:57 PM EDT
in Habs Game Recaps
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PrintA win would be nice.
Alas, fans of the Montreal Canadiens will have to wait a couple more days until that lonely "1" in the win column becomes a "2."
The Florida Panthers came in and stole a pair of points off a team that, for some reason, cannot play a full 60 minutes of hockey. End result, a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
Montreal got onto the scoreboard first, on the power play when a Raphael Diaz shot was tipped in by Erik Cole for his first goal of the season at 3:08. Both Cole and Max Pacioretty were set up perfectly in front to screen Panthers goalie Jacob Markstrom.
The goal will set a media frenzy on Tuesday morning, following Habs coach Martin's chastising of a reporter for her question of why Cole was seeing little power play time. It might have had more steam, had the team won.
The Panthers replied with a power play marker of their own when Tomas Fleischmann's wrist shot trickled out behind the pads of Peter Budaj.
There was no scoring in the second period, but the Panthers dominated, especially on the power play. Nine of Florida's 14 second period shots were uncontested. The Canadiens did mange 13 shots in the period, but many were perimeter.
The visitors from the Sunshine State took the lead, at 5:02 of the third period, when Scottie Upshall worked his way under Hal Gill and tipped a Dmitry Kulikov shot past Budaj. It was Upshall's first goal as a Panther.
The Canadiens had started out with a sluggish third period, but managed a couple late chances. Unfortunately Markstrom is 6'3" and shut down the bottom half of the net on two huge opportunities.The Panthers netminder had 40 saves on the night, and was the game's first star.
Coach Jacques Martin seemed to take the game is stride, noting his team had a 13-7 scoring chance advantage. His comments seem to be more of the same that we hear too often after a loss like this. HabsAddict.com's Kamal Panesar's reply on Twitter: "Someone needs to tell him the house is on fire!"
The Habs remain winless at home, and next face the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Scoring Summary from NHL.com
Max Pacioretty left the game after the second period, holding his arm. The Canadiens winger did not return to the game and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.
Newcomer Petteri Nokelainen was 4-0 in faceoffs, and call-up Mike Blunden had 3 hits and a blocked shot.
For a line that never played together before, the Panthers trio of Mike Santorelli, Marco Sturm and Jack Skille played impressively, more-so in the 3rd period. Maybe it's overrating, considering they were playing the dead-last team in the Eastern Conference.
The Canadiens penalty killers were dominated in their own end, despite allowing 7 shots in three attempts, and just could not clear the puck. The Panthers power play units were able to contain the offensive zone for prolonged periods of time. And Mike Cammalleri on the PK?
Watch the clock!!! Jacques Martin seemed to be in la la land, not watching the seconds ticking away, and failing to call Peter Budaj from his net. Good things he has assistant coaches.
Three Stars: 1. Jacob Markstrom 2. Peter Budaj 3. Dmitry Kulikov
The winning side at Litter Box Cats
Advanced Stats: Shift Charts / Head to Head / Corsi Fenwick
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At least the future forwards are doing well. Eller and Pacioretty are about as nice of 22 year old forwards as the team has had in recent memory.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:07 PM EDT reply actions
Also, watch how those possesion stats just crumble when Subban isn’t on the ice.
I was afraid of the prospect of what would happen to the second pairing if one of Markov or Subban wasn’t in the lineup, I think we’ve got our answer.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:16 PM EDT reply actions
Gill and Diaz are in way over their head right now. It’s not a complete meltdown most nights, but tonight they were the ones behind Nokelainen and Blunden who, IMNSHO, aren’t better than Engqvist and Palushaj. It’s just one game and I’ll be glad if I’m wrong, but getting pounded by Florida’s 4th line is a very bad omen™.
The third line is good enough that the 4th should be a complete non-factor most nights so its really the least of their concerns at this point.
I miss Halpern though. I don’t think it was necessarily crippling losses over the summer but I would have preferred keeping him and Hamrlik.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Goats really needed to add some healthy bodies more than anything. Blunden, I’m assuming, is a temporary move with the ‘big bad’ teams upcoming this week.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 24, 2011 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Being “unable to play 60 minutes of hockey” is pure narrative. They have done that before, as much as a team can be expected to. No team plays a game with zero mistakes throughout.
The problem is that their mistakes results in GA and their massed chances do not result in GF.
1/10th of the season in. They aren’t insurmountably out of it yet but the prospect of finding themselves out of it despite playing decently overall (like New Jersey or Calgary last year) is looming.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Your boys played hard; not an easy victory at all for FLA.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
We’re getting pretty frustrated at them continually playing well yet not wining. They 1-6-1 record doesn’t nearly do them justice. But the hockey gods are having their way with us.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Hahaha it seems like we get a fan of the opposition saying that here after every game.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Oct 24, 2011 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
What Andrew said. Only one team can honestly say they had an easy game vs the Habs this year, and that was the Penguins. Yet here we are, 15th in the East.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 24, 2011 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Olivier has the chances out. Go over and draw your own conclusions. Or not. We’ve seen this movie before.
20-12 wasn’t it?
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by Andrew Berkshire on Oct 24, 2011 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions
13-7 on even strength. At some point they have to be able to put it in on one of those many opportunities close to the net don’t you think?
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
And 13-7 was EXACTLY what Martin quoted after the game. Hmm…
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 24, 2011 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Martin, I think, doesn’t count missed shots as chances. That’s why I’m always over his count.
Anyways, those who want to see the count (shameless plug!), it’s here: http://enattendantlesnordiques.blogspot.com/
Strangely the last two games I’ve heard him make the quote they’ve matched exactly your even strength totals.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Frees time to just doodle on that notepad ;)
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Poor Cole, 34 even strength chances for thus far, I think only 2 of them have gone in. Respectable 58.2% ratio. Pacioretty has been the leading score and he’s been on ice for 32.
Winner of the Scott Gomez award thus far.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 24, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
My biggest concern about this team, after out-chancing opponents for over a year’s worth of games now, and continually struggling to score, when does it stop being luck?
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by Andrew Berkshire on Oct 24, 2011 11:53 PM EDT reply actions
Their shooting % seems to be okay this year. But people are scoring on Price like he’s made of swiss cheese. The maddening thing is, I know nothing about goaltending, but by my eye, Price isn’t bad, the oppositions are mostly making their shots.
I know a little about goaltending and agree. Which once again is a massive source of frustration. Maybe blown coverage by a weak defense is a factor but still.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
For sure they got some great luck there in the playoffs, but enough is enough already. No matter how well they play the scoring stays almost the exact same in results as 2009-10. It’s enraging.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Oct 25, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Continuing on the scoring chances, the best and worst at even strength 1/10th of the way through the season.
Best
Forwards
Kostitsyn:
For: 47, Against: 23, +/- 24, ratio 67.1
Eller:
For: 25, Against: 10, +/- 15, ratio 71.4
Plekanec:
For: 31, Against: 20, +/- 11, ratio 60.8
Darche, Pacioretty and Cole are all doing well by this also.
Defense:
Subban:
For: 39, Against: 25, +/- 14, ratio 60.9
Gorges:
For: 43, Against: 32, +/- 11, ratio 57.3
Worst:
Forwards
Engqvist:
For: 6, Against: 10, +/- -4, ratio 35.3
Gionta:
For: 28, Against: 35, +/- -7, ratio 44.4
Gomez:
For: 19, Against: 22, +/- -3, ratio 46.3
Defense:
Emelin:
For: 28, Against: 32, +/- -4, ratio 46.7
Weber:
For: 28, Against: 30, +/- -2, ratio 48.2
Diaz:
For: 37, Against: 38, +/- -1, ratio 49.3
Spacek*:
For: 3, Against: 8, +/- -5, ratio 27.7
Forgivably small sample.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:10 AM EDT reply actions
The worst...
Are barely under 50%. That’s encouraging.
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions
By a lot of good metrics they’ve been playing pretty solid hockey. They just haven’t won.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Team is 104-94, +10 and 52.5% as a whole.
Which matches the 53.9% shots%, the 52.2% fenwick and the 52.5% corsi
And they’re shooting at a respectable 8.4% too, so we can’t blame that like last year. Its the horrible defence/goalie/luck that’s been killing them.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Score-tied (which is the most reliable) they’re even better
55.4% shots, 52.8% fenwick, 56.6% corsi. 9.0% shooting.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
That and scoring distribution. They scored a lot of goals but always let the other team score one more. The games where he opponent scores 5 goals, they should let him get away with it and keep their sticks loaded for the next game!
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Disclaimer:
I know they can’t keep their sticks loaded. It’s an expression. I noticed leafs fans trolling around here and felt exposed.
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Something crucial seems to fall of the bus each game. When they score the goaltending/defense is bad. When the goaltending is good they don’t score. When the special teams are decent the 5 on 5 falls through. When the 5 on 5 is dominant they suck on special teams.
They’ve found 7 different ways to lose.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Rumoured that Pacioretty has a fracture. If he is hurt I’m probably going to break something.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:16 AM EDT reply actions
He fractured a rib last year and had an assist in the next game.
I think we all know Pacioretty is some kind of Superman. His kryptonite is a broken neck.
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Chara is obviously the escaped criminal from Krypton.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Pacioretty not being able to destroy Boston this weekend would be a travesty.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Oct 25, 2011 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions
They’re saying broken wrist now. That would be so frickin typical at this point.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually, I’ve always wondered if teams with bad starts or teams that need points have a tendency to get more injuries.
As an example, if Max was playing on the Caps, would he have to skate hard into the corner every shift? I’m not exactly sure how to verify that though…
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Brian Wilde is saying it sounds serious. God damn it.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Oct 25, 2011 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
This is beginning to look a lot like 2000. This injury run has been really depressing.
by Chris Boyle on Oct 25, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s really amazing. Montreal has been a salary floor team most of the season.
And really, as soon as someone comes in someone else goes out. Cammy back? Gomez out that same game. Spacek back? MaxPac out that same game.
Don’t forget: Spacek out, Eller in.
And Betts out without ever setting foot on the ice.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 25, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Just wondering.....
From reading all of the above I’m not sure if I got this right or not. Should I be cancelling my tickets to the parade celebration next June?
"It's only through change we learn to grow".
Does Boone intentionally try to rile fans up? The way they misrepresent historical marks irritates the shit out of me.
The "worst start since 1941" theme they used before last night when the Habs had the same amount of points through 7 games TWO YEARS AGO. And now this…
In their entire frequently-glorious history, your Montreal Canadiens have never lost five home games to start a season.
Never … in 102 freakin’ years.
Well, if this was any time between 1918 and 1984 (66 YEARS!!) the Habs wouldn’t have lose five straight at home, their record would have been 0-3-2. Anytime between 1984 and 1998 the Habs would have been 0-4-1 and anytime since then they are 0-3-2.
In the context of what he is representing, 66 years of the 102 needs to be thrown out, leaving the number at 36 years. A HUGE difference.
We wonder why fans get riled up into a mad frenzy of negativity and reactionary nonsense? This type of stuff is exactly why.
Well, Boone is really just a fan with a widely-read tribune. Subtleties and details aren’t really what he works in; he’s very much into the narrative, and into the fatalistic mood of the Habs.
We really need to get a rational quantitative-oriented blog somewhere on a major media site. Even Ladouceur is very subjective and he’s the closest there is (at least he counts scoring chances!).
Yes, but he sets the tone. He posts something like that and it gets picked up all over the place even though it isn’t true. If you go back and find the Habs getting two points in their first 5 home games, you won’t get to 102 years.
You get the year 2000. Now what is more hyperbolic? 102 years or 11 years?
He feeds the culture of panic and then mocks that culture of panic that he created. That isn’t writing, it is fear mongering.
by Chris Boyle on Oct 25, 2011 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t need to read him everyday, but it is interesting to read him to get a pulse on what things are like at ground zero more than anything. Being in Saskatoon and posting on here with a bunch of Ontario based fans and not getting Team 990 I don’t really sense the everyday life of the local fan. lol
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 25, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Living in Toronto, I used to yearn for that. Then the internet made it possible and all it has done is irritate me. I don’t even need to read anything in Montreal to come to the likely conclusions they are making.
by Chris Boyle on Oct 25, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Hearing the everyday banter about the Riders can get irritating enough. 2011 has been a complete gongshow to my fandom in everything.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 25, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Exactly like I said. Yahoo has picked up Boone’s fake fact and reported it as fact.
The Canadiens have lost their first five games at home for the first time in over a century
This is how hyperbolic statements become fact.
Sean Bell wants the coach and GM replaced, with a Pierre McGuire/Patrick Roy tandem. As bloggers, we wholeheartedly endorse this for the sheer copy it would generate, but would it translate into wins?
Ay yi yi.
Anybody who suggests that Pierre McGuire would be an improvement on Pierre Gauthier is a moron of epic proportions.
Worst part is, if this entire mess hadn’t made me superstitious about a curse about the Habs, the way they’ve been carrying the play and outchancing most of their opponents would be a really good omen.
In many ways, they may be playing as well as they ever have in over a decade. O_o
The tide will turn...
The young defense is getting better each game. PK Subban was very involved and was a big part in more than half of their scoring chances.
Even if Paccioretty is injured, others will step up. Cole is playing with heart and has the most hits. Moen is playing with grit and is scoring. Eller is playing better every game. Kostitsyn has played well so far. Gionta, Cammalleri and Plekanec are always reliable. Darch, Desharnai compete every shift.
In goal, Budaj played exceptional and although it is only one game he will be a reliable back-up and there will be no panic when he plays. Price is Price, one of the league’s best.
Despite coach Martin, despite the injuries, this team has a work ethic with only two bad games so far. They will continue to play hard. The Canadiens don’t tank. These players have pride and the team does not accept anything less than a committed effort.
Hey guys
Sorry if its bad to post this here,
but I’m doing project in my communications class on the NHL realignment,
I would really appreciate it if you guys could fill out this survey (its quick)
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZGT3DHY
Thanks!
ps dont worry about your game, habs are going to turn it around soon and you’ll be right back in the mix. its still early.
Gomez, Markhov and Cole = approx $18 Mil in deadwood. I didn’t like the Markhov signing because of the two major knee injuries he’s had over the last 2 years. Cole is totally invisible out there and Gomez has been missing for years. The other problem is the Habs are not big enough or tough enough to handle teams like Boston and Philly (for example). Toronto man handled them all night on Saturday. Subban is the biggest hitter on the team but once he lays a good one out, everyones after him and whose their to protect him? Nobody. Apparently Martin doesn’t like the enforcer type players and this is why he needs to go.
We’re only talking 110 faceoffs overall and only half of those are relevant to the statistic, but Plekanec is rocking a 39% Ozone% right now.
If Gomez suffers a setback and is out longer it won’t be long before we see the “Plekanec fails to produce” articles conjured up by the Fourth Estate.
Perhaps on his road to being just as underrated as David Bolland.
by Stephan Cooper on Oct 25, 2011 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions
No fracture! Is their luck turning?
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 7:07 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
I know. At this point I consider “avoided amputation” to be good news. ;)
But don’t talk about their luck turning, that’s just jinxing.
“Pacioretty not dead. Fans rejoice!”
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 25, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It occurs to me that the comparable from last season for this stretch might be Washington, rather than New Jersey.
The difference being that Washington went from like 12 goals for a game to under 2. Whereas we’re going from 2.25 to 2.24 or something and our GAA is up.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 26, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions
The actual comparable from last season is not as extreme.
It is the Buffalo Sabres.
http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/2011_games.html
The Sabres opened up the season with a win against the Senators, then went home and went 0-3-1. They went back on the road and lost in Chicago and won in Atlanta. They returned home and lost again to the Senators.
Leaving the Sabres at 2-5-1 through 8 games. 0-4-1 at home. 1 point ahead of where the Habs are right now. I know most people are to short sighted to understand that making up 4-6 points with 74 games to go would require them to win 3 extra games then their pre-season expected pace, but I watched Jersey go 23-3-2 after winning 9 of their first 40 games.
Knee jerkers are exactly that, jerkers.
by Chris Boyle on Oct 26, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Max Pac is skating this morning and will try and play tonight. This guy is something else.
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Unfortunately, wrist damage doesn’t affect your legs or skating, but it will alter the strength of shot and release. He could play the rest of the season, but I want the guy who started this season, not a limp wristed version.
by Chris Boyle on Oct 26, 2011 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s his right wrist, and he’s a left-handed shot. I’m no expert on hockey biomechanics, but it strikes me that it would probably less impactful than if it were the other wrist.
Right would imply less accuracy and worse stickhandling. Usually that’s what your top hand is better at controlling.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 26, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Tonight? He’ll play tonight?
The kid is not human. Superman, indeed.
So long as there’s no chance of aggravating his injury. We need him healthy down the line more than we need to win the next few games.
The team is obviously not as 100% on this, given that they called up Palushaj. We’ll see.
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by Bruce Peter on Oct 26, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
We used to call Markov “Wolverine”, too. I hate this whole “he’s a WARRIOR” mentality. He just thorn his wrist, give him 5 days off, dammit. Mathman, you kept harping about your fear of the habs ending up doing something rash… Well, rushing your star forward back might be a lesser form of it.
Well, let’s not complain until MaxPac actually plays; JM calls him a game time decision.
Also, we really have no idea how bad the tear is. It might just be a tiny thing. If there’s no risk of aggravating the injury, then it’s a bit of a moot issue.
I don’t think that they think they need MaxPac so badly for one game that they’ll risk losing him for longer.
You wouldn’t because you don’t have a chance to lose your job. If either JM or PG feels his job is on the line, they might take a decision that’s detrimental to the team as a whole.
by Simon Lamarche on Oct 26, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t really think they are in danger of losing their job.
Just because the media and fans are loud, doesn’t mean that there will be a reactionary response from the organization. Think about the Price/Halak situation. Everybody was sitting fastball and Gauthier threw a change-up.
Now that wasn’t a decision that was made on a whim. They likely knew what they were doing the whole time and were probably giddy that Halak upped his value from a 2nd rounder to Lars Eller.
Just because you are loud, doesn’t mean you have insight.
by Chris Boyle on Oct 26, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
We know JM won’t panic and we know PG won’t panic. Molson, though, is a bit harder for me to get a read on. He strikes me as someone who considers his moves well however (his open letter in response to the MaxPac incident was poetic in the rightness of its tone) so I’m not too worried.
Molson could have demanded they keep Halak. Their is no precedent of them making a panic move since he took over, plus Bob Gainey is still around. Three guys who are very patient, methodical and calculated in their approach.
If this goes on for another 10 games, then Martin’s job may be in danger depending on the circumstance, but I can’t see Gauthier being fired.
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