The Team That Wanted It Got It: Habs Fall to Sabres 3-1
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Jan 31, 2012 10:25 PM EST
in Habs Game Recaps
Email
PrintDespite being a struggling team in the 2011-12 NHL season, the Buffalo Sabres best asset could still be head coach Lindy Ruff.
Ruff is arguably one of the best game coaches in the NHL, when it comes to reading and adjusting to a game situation, as it progresses.
Another example was demonstrated tonight with the Sabres 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, but it wasn't as difficult a night for Ruff as usual. The Sabres bench boss quickly adapted to Randy Cunneyworth's two-man fore-check system, and practically nullified any offense in the process.
It was easier for the Sabres that the Canadiens players, with the exception of a small group, seemed to be doing a lot of watching, and not as much skating as the game wore on.
The Sabres dominated the game for 60 minutes, with the Canadiens relying on Carey Price to keep it close. The Habs goaltender, back from the All-Star break, began a bit shaky but finished the night with 37 saves.
In a situation where the Canadiens need every point available to even consider a playoff spot, a win tonight against the Sabres was a must win. They didn't get it.
The Canadiens were out-shot 11-8 in the first period, but were able to get on the board first. After being hit from behind on the boards just moments earlier, Max Pacioretty got some revenge on a breakaway. The Habs forward got two chances on Ryan Mller, cashing the rebound for this 18th goal of the season at 4:09.
Ville Leino, often scrutinized for his ridiculous contract with Buffalo, tied the game at 4:01 of the second period off an odd-man rush.
Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban took a tripping call shortly after, that could easily be deemed as a slew foot. The Habs rearguard was fined $2500 for a similar incident already this season against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
You could see the Canadiens slowing down more and more, and Paul Gaustad's go-ahead marker, at 6:17 of the third period, was an excellent example of the glue coming undone. The Sabres were openly allowed to skate around and in front of the Canadiens net unattended, allowing Brad Boyes to find Gaustad in front of the crease.
Patrick Kaleta added an empty net goal at 19:08 to close out the scoring.
To add salt to the wound, the Sabres pulled off the win after losing their top player, Thomas Vanek to an upper-body injury in the first period. Vanek was caught in a crunch from Pacioretty and Erik Cole, while making a move to the front of the Montreal net..
The key to tonight's loss for the Canadiens will be how they respond Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils, and perhaps give us a foresight as to what direction they wish to take the rest of the way.
Maybe the timing of the All-Star break knocked the wind out of their sails, where they went 2-0-1 just prior to last weekend. A loss in their first game back, against a team in just as bad a shape as they are, will not be an easy pill to swallow.
Three Stars: 1. Carey Price 2. Paul Gaustad 3. Erik Cole
Advanced Stats: Shift Charts / Head to Head / Corsi & Fenwick
Winning side talk from SBN partner Die By The Blade
13 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Preparations for......
….. aa “Sellers Market”. This team is like a roller-coaster going up and down. If we catch you on a down night we’ll take advantage of you. However, if you bring any part of your “A” game with you then we’ll probably fold our tent at some point in the process.
If PG hasn’t determined that we should be active sellers this winter then we are in big trouble. The winning goal was a typical example of just what we need. A tough , strong stay at home punishing defensemen that takes no prisoners in and around our net. Gill is big and soft has melted butter. PG has started on the “Smurfing-out” process up front but he has yet to address our glaring need on the blueline. Emelin is only going to play 18 mins. a night. We need to find a supply of more tanks that are efficient as noted above and can handle the puck out of our end via first pass or carry out. Lastly, somebody needs to get upside PK’s head about this “slewfooting” business. I was appalled by that BS tonite that he pulled. The man nneds to learn how to properly hit another player…he doesn’t know the 1st thing about applying a proper bodycheck. His penalties reflect laziness/sloppiness in the way he goes about his job. He’s better than that. No wonder he has a reputation of a “punk” because he take short-cuts instead of doing his job properly.
Get the Big Bird in to school this kid for next year before he does become a problem for us.
"It's only through change we learn to grow".
I think it’s an interesting time for the team. Is Randy just going to throw the same lineup (well, Engqvist seems to have gone back in Hamilton) repeatedly at the wall until it sticks?
Personally, I wanna know if Eller can take toughs between MaxPac and Cole. I dunno, seems like the answer to that might decide a lot of my off-season strategy, especially regarding Gomez.
Considering the steps forward that Desharnais has taken, what are the odds that he can manage a 3rd line without Cole and Pacioretty insulating him? I’d like to see.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 1, 2012 12:59 PM EST up reply actions
It’s worth doing. The season is lost so why not experiment a bit to see what we have.
Kostitsyn – Desharnais – Leblanc might be a nice 3rd line.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 1, 2012 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
Yes….that would be a nice line combo but I don’t see it happening until Ryan White gets back. Also, if RC will decide to return him to the 3rd line…..what does he do with Moen when he returns? yes it could be a short return but then again….where to the replacement if it’s a player. I just have a feeling he could end up being here for a short stay again. Why he wasn’t immediately brought up when NoKo was placed on IR is another mind boggling indecision be PG? or RC & PG?
"It's only through change we learn to grow".
They wanted to give Engqvist a chance after he was tearing up the AHL. Nothing mind boggling about that.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 2:56 AM EST up reply actions
Desharnais has not dropped below .540 in offensive zone starts all season.
If you want 30 tweets a day, don't follow me. @ChrisBoyle33
Yes but his quality of competition has increase, no?
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 1, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
Possibly. I haven’t looked into it. Under Martin he was getting close to 60% offensive zone starts, it has dropped under Cunneyworth to around 55% overall. Since Cunneyworth took over it is just under 50%.
Pretty significant decrease.
If you want 30 tweets a day, don't follow me. @ChrisBoyle33
I’d really like to see him with Kostitsyn and Leblanc getting back up to 60% offensive zone starts. I’m curious as to how well they could do.
Co-editor of Eyes on the Prize
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/andrewberkshire
by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 1, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
Yes although he manages to remain in the 6-9 range of the regular forwards on the year.
Writer for http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/
by Stephan Cooper on Feb 1, 2012 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Habs Eyes On The Prize
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
