- Habs being way too careful in this OT so far. Just finish it, guys.
- And there you have it. Desharnais a pass/shot that's completely flubbed by Emery. Follows up the rebound and backhands it in for the win. You just knew that was coming.
- Hey, are we in first place in the East yet?
THIRD PERIOD:
- Desharnais great speed on the wing, beats the sluggish Flyers defense, zooms in on Emery and somehow ... doesn't get a shot on goal.
- Habs be stormin' early here.
- Flyers look like the Habs have looked like for most of this season. Getting slapped around, but somehow, someway, maintaining a ridiculously low scoring lead.
- More fearless Subban stopping slap shots by Flyers forwards. That's helping them hang on.
- Corsi is going to be eye-poppingly one sided at the buzzer, if this keeps up.
- Dale Weise played the entire two minutes of the Habs powerplay 6 minutes into the 3rd. What?
- Finally. Finally. Plekanec. Emery couldn't cover the loose puck. That's Emery. Tie game. Finally.
- Sekac and Galchenyuk just don't do the dump and chase Therrien hockey, do they?
- Subban has been blocked 7 times tonight. That's ridiculous.
- Ice conditions look pretty nasty in the Flyers zone, with the puck bouncing all over the place. For real, it's probably because most of the play this period has been in front of Emery.
- Overtime. Will the Flyers take another page from the Habs book and steal a game they have no business being in, in overtime?
FIRST/SECOND PERIOD:
- Joining in late tonight, but caught some of the first period without the aid of a computer nearby. In any case, the Read goal on Price is a little concerning - again Carey is beaten high glove side, which I am almost certainly convinced has become the book on Price. Really watch to see how many times opposing forwards take aim for that area of the net.
- Period itself was pretty listless, both directions. Emery, whom we made fun of earlier today, really didn't have much of any tough scoring chance to stop, and the one that came closest, a Desharnais backhander, actually beat Emery but not the post.
- I don't care what the scoreboard says, the lack of scoring opportunities is making Emery look way better than he actually is. Habs need to just keep firing on net. Something should get through.
- Full credit to anyone who throws his body in front of Subban slapper, Flyers included.
- Puzzling play by Subban. Perfect cross-ice pass, open net, nobody to block, dishes back to the point.
- Decent late period powerplay, passes were on target, but shots just weren't registered on target. It's kind of been that kind of the night.
- Dale Weise seems to know where to go, but can't finish. Lots of work being done by his mates, but it's ... well ... we've talked about this topic endlessly.
- Decent period, Habs looked much better as the period progressed, they seemed to be clicking with zone passing, but entries are still struggling. If they can get the later figured out in combination with the former, they still have a good chance of coming back in the 3rd.
GAMEDAY GAME PREVIEW:
HEY. How 'bout that weekend? First, a solid thumping of the Devils (yeah, okay, it's New Jersey), and then more-or-less routine win 24 hours later over the (not very good??) Boston Bruins. All of a sudden, we're happy again!
And like those Bruins, the Habs aim to sweep another season series, tonight it's Philadelphia. Now ask yourself, when was the last time the Canadiens won every single regular season game against Philadelphia? 19 freakin' 77. For the calculator disabled, that's 38 years.
So we got some history to write tonight! Flyers are in tough - really tough, not just because the Habs are coming off two pretty impressive back-to-back wins, but because Philly lost the services of their starting netminder, Steve Mason, who was injured Sunday afternoon in a game against the Caps.
So who'll start tonight? Why it's none other than Ray Emery. Yup, that Ray Emery. He who couldn't keep his job with the Hawks last year, but somehow managed to latch on with the Flyers this season because, you know. It's Philadelphia. They have all the terrible goaltenders.
Anyway, good ol' Ray hasn't played in a month, and that start was truly atrocious, letting in 3 soft goals on 15 shots against the Canucks, before getting pulled. Emery's line rises slightly below mediocre - 2.7 GAA, .905 SV%. He's just not very good. So yay for us!
Line 1: Schenn/Giroux/Voracek
Line 2: Read/Couturier/Simmonds
Line 3: Umberger/Laughton/White
Line 4: Vandevelde/Bellmare/Levacalier
- Streit/Schultz
- Del Zotto/Schenn
- Grossman/Macdonald
- Ray Emery
Even though Philadelphia is almost certainly not going to make the post-season, they haven't been playing half-bad of late. Undefeated in regulation their past 6, the Flyers biggest weapon is probably their powerplay, which is 3rd ranked in the League. Otherwise, they're just another organization in transition, hoping to find a way in the near future to rejoin the post-season conversation.
Meanwhile in Habsland, the Canadiens first line is producing points like crazy, and that's with Dale Weise on the left side. Even Weise has found the back of the net of late, potting 3 goals over the weekend. So ... I guess we'll take it, even though it remains a crime that Michel Therrien steadfastly refuses to put more able and dangerous wingers alongside their best forward, Max Pacioretty.
- He's had a fine game, Gonchar with a point wrister redeflected by Parenteau with his second of the night, and the ship is righted a bit with a two goal lead reestablished. In any case, Gonchar looks like an excellent pickup - at least tonight.
- Flyers defense looks really sluggish right now. Habs might score one or two more before this night is done.
- Incredible scrum around Price, the Flyers Reed somehow retrieves a puck that's never frozen and snaps it past Price. The puck luck has kept Philly in this game.
- Ofdicials with a quick whistle denying Gallagher a goal, only moments later. The irony and poor officiating is strong.
- Win or lose, Habs defense hasn't been assertive tonight protecting its goaltender. Hopefully the line gets a talking to after this one is done.
- Habs doing a lot of chasing in their zone. Tying goal might be moments away.
- Well that'll help. Emery lets a softie in off a Weise wrister, and surely ... surely that will wrap this one up.
SECOND PERIOD:
- Lecavalier in his younger years, would have buried one of his two PP scoring chances. He's just lost too much of a step.
- Strange penalty calls tonight. No rhyme or reason other than taking turns. One on Habs, one on Flyers.
- Parenteau and Desharnais getting cute again on the powerplay. Already they've forgotten the can't-miss lessen for success in the first period.
- Well nevermind. Plecks-Gally-Subban-bam-3-0. Third powerplay goal. And counting. When it rains it pours. Again the Flyers unit just too slow footed and physically soft to stop anything.
- If Habs continue to score by carrying the puck in, even Therrien will have relent on the dump-and-chase.
- For no real good reason Prust drops his gloves and proceeds to hurt his elbow. He won the fight, but up three goals, who cares?
- Game slowing up as Habs start to sit. At the halfway mark of the second period. Wayyyy to early.
- Yup. Sitting on it, Schenn wrists one past Price and it's 3-1. Habs forwards just taking too much time to cover their zone.
- Plekanac makes it 4-1, official signals goal, but then calls Gallagher for a hold, taking away a goal. I'm fit to be tied to understand the calls tonight.
- And .... another call. Oy. Flyers set to make it 3-2.
- Tentative, overly conservative play (tuttuling) has cost the Habs a comfortable lead through two periods. Yes, it should have been 4-1, but blown calls aside, this team started to sit far too early, wrongly thinking the Flyers had nothing in the tank. Well, now they'll have to battle to earn two points. Unnecessarily so.
FIRST PERIOD:
- Habs off to a good first period start?? My eyes must deceive me.
- DRINK. POWERPLAY.
- That's more like it. Quick shots on goal (Pacioretty), rebound prone Emery, Paranteau cashes in. POWERPLAY GOAL.
- POWERPLAY. DRINK AGAIN.
- Guess who gets the quick shot away? Paxioretty. Desharnais the easy deposit. 2-0. Flyers PK utterly incompetent (that helps a bit).
- Wasn't exactly star-struck by what I saw from Gonchar on Thursday, but he's looking a heckova lot more involved and mobile tonight.
- Silly roughing call on Gallagher. Officials trying to "even" things up, I suspect.
- Subban letting forwards get past him undetected. Too many times this season.
- Habs totally outskating and outmuscling the Flyers in Philly's zone - reflective of a thin Flyers defense, and given they played last night, perhaps tired legs.
- The very first time this season the Habs clearly outplayed their opponent in the first period. It took 18 games to reach that milestone.
GAMEDAY GAME PREVIEW:
WHO'S NUMBER ONE IN THE LEAGUE? WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE LEAGUE.
Really, dammed if I know how we've arrived at the top of the heap nearly one quarter through the regular season schedule? Productive offense? Naw. Miserly defense? Uh, no. Powerplay production? Hah ... uh, yeah. Dumb luck? I'm starting to wonder. We all have since the team got off to a 7-1 start that maybe, just maybe, the hockey gods have been overly generous this year. Maybe it's a make-up for the 10 years we fans were subjected to the horrors of Rejan Houle and Mario Tremblay.
Oh, Mario. Did ya hear today? Apparently the genius never-to-coach-again ex-coach says the reason why P.K. Subban hasn't been producing this year is that he's out of shape. HAHA ... makes you wonder, does Tremblay even use his eyes. I mean, geez louise, have you seen P.K. Subban? In person? I have. The man is a rock of muscle and athleticism.
The reason why P.K. hasn't scored a ton this year is pretty simple. The team's powerplay unit is a complete disaster ... on pace to score 13 ... that's right, 13 extra man goals this season. Second big reason? P.K. has too much Therrien in his head. He's not carrying the puck through the neutral zone, he's rarely, if ever pinching from the line, he's doing everything you're not supposed to do if you're an offensive defenseman. The culprit here isn't Subban, its the guys telling Subban how he's to play.
Anyway, tonight. The Flyers. Up three goals late in the 3rd period back in mid November, Philadelphia somehow found a way to be on the losing end of a 4-3 score to the Habs. The Flyers, as many expected, have slowly but surely sunk their way down their division, and conference standings - the almost certainly won't be making a post-season appearance next spring, and might not be a playoff presence for some time to come, as they go through a rebuilding process.
So even with the iffy offense, the wobbly defense, and the god-awful powerplay, the Habs should be in pretty good shape to extend (this sounds crazy) their first play lead in the NHL standings.
But then, we thought the Oilers were going to be a piece of cake, and we all know how that turned out.
Puck drops at 7:10 EST. On local cable CITY TV (good grief), if you can stand it.
- After staying in Montreal to deal with what was called a "personal situation", Brian Gionta has arrived in Calgary, and will play tomorrow night.
- No word out yet on Max Pacioretty's status, he is with team and did practice this morning at the Saddledome (see picture above).
-Non-Habs related news, Tim Thomas! He starts tonight for the Panthers as they take on the Flyers. Good luck Tim! Looking forward this season to hearing more of those crazy, crazy thoughts that bounce around your head.
AND ... in the meantime in case you missed it, Johnathan Quick:
News 'n' Notes:
- Lars Eller has been named the League's 2nd star of the week (behind Alex Ovechkin). Not really a shocker, as Eller's first two games this season were pretty much spectacular. Two goals, three assists, a 90% shooting percentage, a +10, 66.7% fenwick, +15, 61.5% corsi. He's skyrocketed himself right to the very top of the Habs red line depth chart, supplanting Thomas Plekanec as the team's #1 center. Way to go Lars!
Monday Notes:
Happy Monday?? Yeah. It's the lamest day of the year. The first Monday after the start of the regular season, making getting out of bed is extra un-fun.
Oh well. It could be worse. You could be Pete Laviolette, coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, who was unceremoniously ashcanned by Philly this morning because Paul Holgrem doesn't know what the heck he's doing. Holgrem blows the Flyers budget this summer luring a high profile centre that they really didn't need - certainly not as much as they needed a qualified defensemen. Or perhaps a goaltender. Oh yeah. They had one of those in Sergei Bobrovsky, whom as you'll recall, Holgrem shipped out of town for three lower draft picks. The Jackets said thank-you-very-much, and Bobrovsky went on to claim the Venzina Trophy.
So take heart Pete, you were on a ship that was headed to the bottom of the swamp better known as the Philadelphia Flyers.
Speaking of bad Monday mornings, I wonder how Zach Borosian is feeling right about now after doing this last night:
About Last Night ...
So, just how resounding was the Habs win last night? Check this out:
Pretty
much total dominance. Yeah, it was the Flyers are a lousy shooting team
who aren't going anywhere except near the bottom of the Conference, but
if the Habs continue to dominate puck control and shot quality the way
they have the first two games, they're going to be a very difficult team
to beat over an 82 game schedule.
The usual suspects, both good and bad. Plekanec line put up some decent numbers, but the big glaring deficiency were both Briere and Desharnais. Their first two games have been AWFUL.
>As always, this doesn't presuppose injuries, or that we're just 120 minutes into the regular season. Still, the first two games have been pretty impressive.
And oh yeah. Lars Eller for the Hart.
FINAL SCORE HABS 4, FLYERS 1
Third Period:
- Should we be shocked that it's Eller who finally puts the Habs up 2-0?
- Danny Briere. Another silly penalty as a result of his inability to keep pace with the play.
- And it's (guess who?) Eller to the PK rescue, working like a devil in the Flyers zone, eventually drawing a Flyers penalty for holding. Brilliant.
- Flyers nabbed for rare faceoff violation penalty, and Habs go to 5-on-3.
- Did Subban fire that puck through the mesh? Wow. He did. 21,000 including yours truly thought that went in.
- There's number three for sure. It all started by a massive drive from Subban that Emery couldn't control, Gallagher finishing it off. Habs in full control.
- At what point do we finally refer to the Habs' number 3 line as its number 1?
- No idea how Price could have seen those high hard shots from the line, much less stop them.
- Bouillon out of position for Flyers rebound, Lecavilier (it figures) and it's 3-1.
- Same linesman (Derek Nansen)who tossed Pkekanec out of the circle for no reason blows an offside call. Not cool.
- Bournival with a sloppy turnover at centre leads to good Flyers chance. The kid won't endear himself to the coaches' heart with more plays like that.
- Bourque hits the goal scoring sheet as icing is applied to tonight's victorious cake.
- Excellent effort by the Habs tonight, they really turned the defensive boat in the right direction after sinking badly Tuesday night. Price was very solid. Eller and his line were again the best on the ice. Briere didn't have much, Desharnais yet again was invisible. Worrying sign for the Habs is just how much they're relaying on the EGG line, who have scored 11 of the Habs 16 offensive points so far. This is supposedly a team with three scoring lines, but right now only one is producing, another is treading water (Plekanec) and the third is pretty much a zero (Desharnais).
Habs now hit the road for a very though western road swing which has been very unkind to this franchise for many, many years. It'll be a stiff, early test to this team's season.
Second Period:
- First period 5-on-5,11-6 Fenwick, 12-9 Corsi both in Habs advantage. That's pretty decent.
- Diaz gets another penalty, "forcing" Therrien to use Subban on the PK, which he executes pretty much perfectly. Why isn't Therrien adjusting beyond what's absolutely necessary?
- That Subban PP cannon shot can only generate three results. A miss, a massive rebound or a goal. Nearly impossible to save and secure.
- If the Flyers come back in this one, Habs may look back at this point of the game as opportunity lost.
- So not getting the way goaltending interference is caled anymore. If you're pushed into the crease and into the netminder, that's a violation?
- Sans the muffed hold on a routine shot in the first that arguably ought to have been a Flyers goal, Price has quietly registered a very solid game. Rebounds have been kept to a bare minimum.
- 3 shifts in the first, 1 lousy 27 second shift in the second period so far for Bournival. Why bother even calling him up?
- Briere had clear passing lane leading a rush to Desharnais, threw the puck at his feet. These two are oil and water while playing together.
- Love the way the Habs stalwarts on defense aren't afraid to crash the zone to keep the puck and possession alive. Habs have one of the most mobile defenses in the League and they aren't afraid to leverage their advantages.
- So many quality chances for Monteal offense this period, so many near misses. You just know this is gonna bite this on the team's butt. Waiting for that shoe to drop.
- Habs defense has made considerable strides since Tuesday night, but it's the offense that's failed to deliver tonight. The PP continues to struggle.
- Late period PP just a mess. No flow, no possession, one shot on Emery, but little else.
- Bouillon on the man advantage, this must stop. Nearly surrenders a break (again) because of poor judgement and positioning.
- Habs had plenty of chances in that second, Emery giving up a few juicy rebounds, but nothing buried. One of these games the Habs can easily lose even though they've controlled most of the pace, especially in the defensive zone. Habs fans be nervous.
First Period:
- Ray Emery gets the start for Phily.
- The injury bugs has left Therrien with little option but to shift Prust from the 4th to the 1st line. Wonder if this also means he'll get some PP time.
- Flyers PK unit all went puck chasing to one side of the rink leaving Markov completely unmarked and a clear path in on Emery. Hits the post.
- Eller line keeps making things happen. Draws a penalty, Habs brief 5-on-3.
- Markov's buzzing. Don't for a second believe he doesn't know he stunk up the joint on Tuesday night. Some pride on the line here.
- Habs really crashing Emery, who's not giving up much, rebound-wise.
- Therrien, just say no to Bouillion on the PP, please??
- Winning faceoffs and driving the net are strategies that invariably pay off. Bourque feeds the puck in front, Gionta drives it home. Flyers thin defense having loads of issues protecting its crease.
- Lecavalier gets the predictable boos on the Philly man advantage. Price with two excellent stops.
- Subban got PK time. That actually happened.
- Briere with a lazy hook, made even worse since he does it whle on Habs PP. And so it goes ...
- Would love to know if Plekanec is the most tossed centre in the NHL. The Flyers then win the faceoff and seemingly score after Price fails to secure a wrist shot. Luckily waved off by the official.
- Not sure if Moen is the solution to the Desharnais/Briere early season drought-in-the making, but he seems to be the guy Therrien is hoping will spark some offense.
- Pretty solid period, Eller looks excellent as usual, good to see Gionta get a goal this early in the year. Deshairnas and Briere mildly less invisible, which isn't saying much. Prust didn't get 3 minutes in the frame, and was getting subbed out by Moen last 5 minutes, which is ... odd? Wonder if something has happened.
Oh yeah, Bournival got a couple of shifts, looked alright. No gaffes, which means mission accomplished. Hoping Therrien will give him more opportunity in the 2nd.
Afternoon Updates:
- Not exactly hot off the wires at this point, but Max Pacioretty is out for tonight with that wrist injury. Which means that it's very likely Ryan White and Michael Bournival will get starts, the later his first ever regular season NHL game.
So with Patches out, I'm guessing Therrien will move Prust up to play alongside Desharnais and Briere, who were both ineffective Tuesday night against the Leafs.
Gameday Game Preview:
Mark Streit, who was pulled out of Swiss League obscurity by a defense-starved Habs team wayyyy back in 2005, returns to his NHL birthplace tonight as the once-good but now kinda crappy Philadelphia Flyers take on the WINLESS Canadiens.
'Course, nobody is going to give two figs about Streit, as all eyes will be focused on Vincient Lecavalier, who spurned Mark Bergevin's advances this summer and signed a grotesque contract with Philly. Given that Vinney had already made about twenty sixteen gazillion dollars while playing in Tampa, the conventional wisdom this summer was that Vinney was focused on picking a team that was championship contending. Heck, some of us thought that Vinney was pining to finally play in front of the home town folk. How silly we were!! Instead, Lecavalier went for the cash, and now he finds himself on a team that has relatively little hope of competing for anything in the foreseeable future.
So boo on Lecavalier. He'll certainly get plenty of those tonight courtesy the Bell Centre attendees.
SO ... tonight, Carey Price in the pipes, For the Flyers it's ... who knows? Mason? Emery? The dressing room attendant? When was the last time this organization had its netminding figured out? I think it was the Reagan Administration. Anyway, the Flyers are in rebuilding mode, and ought to be ripe for the picking. Anything less than a resounding Habs win tonight will be extremely disappointing.
