The final score has no meaning tonight, though it does to some fans, but not to me. The number is raised! Justice is served! The hero of my generation has returned home! And the torch? Oh it has been passed. What better way to honour Patrick Roy than to bring a game to overtime and stand on your head for a team struggling offensively (would help not to shoot at the goalie and to you know, pick those rebounds, but I digress). And despite the loss, the boys came out flying like it was a playoff game in November. Now just compliment your goalie with some goals please.
They got highlights:
- He came through the front door, walked down the hallways by the concessions, didn't pick up a pack of fries, shook hands with some lucky fans that were waiting around, and came through a door by the lower level bowl which lead to the players bench. A few words to Beliveau and a hug, and then there he was: Patrick Roy
- Like when Koivu returned from his battle with cancer, the crowd would not allow anyone to get a word in.
- Koivu, Halak, and Price aided him at pinning up the number and posing for the picture. Price looked like he didn't want to let go of Roy.
- The Bruins were not there for the ceremony...
- Tanguay and Breezer were like two chatty girls by the bench the entire time. They were loving it.
- Roy nearly crying as he looked up at his number slowly hoisting up to the ceiling. I'm going to try and snap a picture of it on Monday (and my seat is near his wall in the Ring of Honor too).
- The game! Carbo must have read my mind: it worked before during the playoffs, so why not all the time. Starts the 4th line against the Booins, get the energy going. Sergei looks like he's having fun with them, but it's too bad none of them seem capable of utilizing his beautiful passes. At least he tries to get goals too.
- The hits! They're everywhere! But they're mostly coming from red sweaters! And this is disturbing the Booins a bit, like it did in Game 1 and 7.
- The Priceberg holds the fort on a few key chances that would normally soar over most heads.
- Andrei Kostitsyn and his wristers.
- The shadow of Big Georges is long and strong and it was all over Lucic, completely messing with his game and his number 1 line. And that was the plan. Everyone knew he'd never fight Laraque anyway. And the one time Laraque wasn't on the ice with him was when he scored. Keep this in your notebook, Carbo.
- Big Georges' smile is both frightening and lovely.
- Koivu throwing the hits on Wideman, and also gets a roughing penalty on an after-whistle hugfest.
- How many times is Breezer going to fake a shot and think about making a move on the powerplay? One, two, three, four, five...
- Tom Kostopoulos rocks. No seriously. This is what it means when they say "work and it will pay off". Third star of the evening.
- Right now, I'd switch Stewart for Lapierre. If only Stewart could win faceoffs. (Might not have to, Begin seems to be doing fine with those).
- O'Byrne, you did some good, but you did bad as well. Hamilton is just over there... Hello Shawn Belle? Ring ring.
- I'll trade you one Higgins for a D'Agostini.
- I think Ryder freaks out everytime he thinks about scoring on Price. He's a non-factor at the moment.
- Ya the powerplay did indeed eat up it's quota. Perhaps it's time to put Big Georges in front of the net for screens and deflections. Could probably get a few garbage goals there. No one is capable of moving him once he's parked. (Hey, the NHL is BUILT around garbage goals now).
- Markov...it's overtime and there was no one around you, Tiny Tim was totally on his way down when you slowed to shoot, that would have gone in right over his head. But you just had to try and pass it to...no one. Merci!
- I don't even think Wheeler knew what the hell he was doing on that shootout move, but whatever.
- Hey Carbo, about those shootout choices... You may want to throw Tanguay out instead of Markov. Even AK46 might have been better than Kovy. Hell, throw out Kostopoulos! No on expects him to score, he probably would have done the job.
Overall: Offense still in November-mode, but this time you can't really say that was a stolen point. They were playing hard through their funk and having some fun hitting things.
Questions with Patrick Roy sent in from viewers on RDS where one asked if he had the choice of any player in the league to build his team around who would it be, Roy picked Price. He would build from the net out, even if Crosby were available, and believes him to be an exceptional player. Then said Ovechkin might be available in the 2nd.
Bulldogs!
They were awesome tonight. They destroyed the Blues AHL team, the Peoria Rivermen, 7-4 scoring 5 goals in the 3rd period. Marc Denis faced 47 shots while Ben Bishop only faced 22. Greg Stewart opened the scoring, Ryan White got the second. Third Period Bonanza came courtesy of D'Agostini, Trotter, Chipchura, and White again with a shorthanded goal. Chipchura also got the empty net at 19:59. Seriously, Shawn Belle is currently a +14 (+4 tonight). Alex Henry would be good too, but he's gotta go through waivers...
Elsewheres...
- Moustaches everywhere! Wendel Clark is honored, but not retired. Hawks beat them in overtime 5-4.
- Morrow is gone on injury for most of the season dammit! But the Stars bring it to a shootout and lose 2-1 to the Ducks.
- This could suck? Luongo does something and pulls his groin on the first shot on goal five minutes into the game and is dragged off the ice. Even though the Canucks beat the Penguinos (still without Fleury) 3-1, the Captain was limping something awful later... Not a very high shooting game either, as each team got 18 shots on goal.
- Ottawa wins 4-1 against the Rangers because of Jarkko Ruutu being Jarkko Ruutu. And the Rangers kind of stink. It's way too quiet in that building without Habs fans...
- Islanders beat the Buffaslugs 4-2. Lalime isn't really known for consistency. But Habs better beat those fishsticks Monday or I'll be mighty unhappy. (And I'll be there too).
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