Only the Habs can dominate the first period of the game and leave it with a 1-0 lead off a powerplay goal then subsequently shit the bed through the next two periods and overtime and a shootout. And trust me when I say you don't want to go to a shootout with the Sabres. Forget Ryan Miller, it's their SHOOTERS you need to worry about. Vanek might look like a useless bag of pucks on the ice during the game but take away the defence and he's a ridiculous 6-for-6.
Some will say, "yea but our blueline is now all rookies save for 2.5 guys." I counter with, "yea but the BULLDOGS were actually the better defencemen!" Brutal game by Hamr with Price saving his ass way too many times in critical situations. Brutal game by Picard, who paired with Wisniewski, was just a complete and utter disaster. And every time Picard was out, Drew Stafford was out, INCLUDING the penalty kill. The coaching staff dropped the ball right there, as there's no excuse in a home game to allow that matchup to continue. Even Subban couldn't save Picard tonight. That's how bad he was!
You can thank Price for even getting a point tonigh. After going up 2-0 and outshooting the Sabres who had 5'10" 160lbs (probably all in his equipment) Jhonas Enroth in nets, the rest of the team checked out early and got outshot terribly. And with the defensive zone so chaotic, they allowed the Sabres to take control of the game. Rolling lines that made no sense, killing any momentum Desharnais' line created, allowing ridiculous scoring chances that forced Price to make ridiculous quick-strike saves...the movement was at half speed and the effort looked borderline disinterested. For a moment I thought they completely forgot there was another side to this rink. We've seen this so many times before yet they never learn!
A win tonight would have vaulted the Habs to 3rd place, first in the Northeast as the Leafs actually did the Habs a favour and WON a game against Boston. But half these guys can't his the broad side of a barn. Instead, it's a tie for first in the Northeast as the Habs pack their bags and head off to Edmonton.
Anyway, interesting factoid: since the brawl, the Bruins have not won a single game nor managed to get a single point since, while the Habs have taken a point out of each and a full two Saturday against the Leaf. Obviously they played the Red Wings twice but hey we were told that after the bully-fest, the Bruins would crush everyone on their way to the Stanley Cup... Perhaps facing the Red Wings twice was their punishment? Oh did I mention the Bruins are quite healthy while the Habs are patched together and have been patched together with Bulldogs?
It's something people really fail to mention. That the Habs are where they are in the standings with this roster speaks volumes to their prospects and development. And the fact that it's the Bulldogs who are really stepping up in these games rarely gets noticed. It's unfortunate that the veterans on this team aren't matching the play of these rookies... However we're seeing an emergence of who can be an impact player on this team, and how a few veterans are ending up on the "expendable" list.
2 comments:
i absolutely love desharnais' style of play. i was disappointed when he wasn't signed at the beginning of the season, but the fact that he'll be around the rest of the year makes me happy.
Desharnais, when he starts getting points he goes on ridiculous pointstreaks. I do believe he's broken records with the Bulldogs. SO HAPPY to see him up here. I always called him Roadrunner 2.0 (also 'cause he kind of looks like Cournoyer).
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