Habs 3, Wild 4: Coaching a loss

Hey coach. I know you like those fourth line guys and all, but not noticing the pattern pretty much cost you the game. They're on the ice, they get scored on. You benched them after the 2nd goal, then allowed them back out in the 3rd just as your team was rolling fine with 3 lines and boom, another goal against. That one was particularly terrible because of the terrible lack of attempt to backcheck on Parros' part and the statue-like attempt by Murray on the passer.

And then we get to watch Frankie Bubbles just stand around while the puck bounces to an open Pominville. C'est pathetique.

- Lars Eller, Alex Galchenyuk, and Brendan Gallagher are just so beautiful.
- With Markov and Subban, we're talking glorious.
- Too bad they can't play all game...
- NO ONE LIKES YOU POMINVILLE. POPULATION 1.
- Seriously fucking cherry picker.
- I can't wait for Briere to return so Leblanc can go back to Hamilton, SAID NO ONE EVER.
- Just look at him! You can't tell me this team is better with Briere.
- Though at this rate, maybe he can also just replace Desharnais...
- Bournival is also fantastic. All he missed was a goal tonight.
- PK goal? Big Karl on my TV!
- Seeing the dads all up in the stands watching their boys was just great. Too bad the coach had to fuck it all up.
- I have a suggestion: Play Douglas Murray at home, play Greg Pateryn on the road.
- Do it.
- JJD's stupid "fronting" defence is what happened on the winning goal. It was equally dumb because the puck could have just as easily bounced off Bubbles and in.
- What makes it worse is it was right after a killer shift by Markov showing WHY he should be a Hab for life. Even falling on his butt he still made an amazing play.
- The game needed more TV time of the dads. PapaPK, PapaGallagher, PapaGionta, and PapaBournival got some TV though.
- Let's go Wi~ld!
- Dudes, your team's name is one syllable. What is that chant?
- PK protecting that empty net because he's such a defensive liability guys!

Josh Harding is probably the best story in hockey. That said the Habs deserved better tonight. If not for their own inept coaching decisions, they probably would have taken this game. And tomorrow it's off to Denver to dance dizzying with Patrick Roy. I hear Pacioretty might be back. I'm also taking my family out for dinner. Thinking I'll enjoy that way more...

Don't Panic! Everything is totally under control

At least we think so.

If there was any attempt to make sense from the summer acquisitions, it was based on what went on behind closed doors and what happens when the Habs lose Markov. Obviously the first kneejerking reaction is tears and booze. Lots of booze. The second reaction is to jump off a bridge. HOWEVER! I would like to remind you this is only game 1 out of 82 in October, and not April.

Also, Czech out the new pairing: it's Head Pigeon and his childhood friend Hammer.

Yea, I know Hammer and Spacek are getting older, and neither can fully replace the abilities and minutes of General Markov... But this was Spacek's role in Buffalo, so it's nothing new for him. HC Martin's new experiment will be to see if these new guys coupled with the regulars can share the wealth of Markov's minutes. It's also an opportunity not only for the guys to step up, but maybe we'll see a Bulldog come in and assert himself in lineup. Maybe (and most likely) Weber will be called up, who was one of the few bright spots in last years playoffs. Maybe Subban will get a little taste. Maybe Carle will dip his toe in the waters of real hockey (and hopefully not get concussed).

I'm a pretty optimistic girl. Frankly if you sit on your hands hemming and hawing at the problems, you'll just get old fast. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it. So here's my plus/minus on the situation!

PLUS
- No Olympics for Markov. I appologize to Team Russia, but the Habs come first. He'll be coming back just in time for the Olympic break which means he'll be fresh and ready to get in shape for the final sprint.
- Josh Gorges. Last year when Komisarek was knocked out of the lineup, Gorges took over his spot and got to learn first hand what Markov does. That goal last night, from the setup to following Cammy for the rebound, was pure Markov.
- It's not about one guy. Yes it's hard to replace a guy like Markov, but there are 6 other defensemen that need to step up. It's an opportunity for others to prove themselves. Plus there are two goalies more than capable to do the job, with Price being a 3rd defenseman as he likes to involve himself with the play.
- Hello Pittsburgh! Yes we don't have a Malkin, nor a Crosby, but Gonchar was knocked out way longer last year and the Pens were fairly crap for a long stretch. Their season didn't end so badly, I think...
- Gionta. He won't allow the team to sulk. Why, I get perky just watching him play. There's a reason he's one of the guys with an A pinned to his shirt. Last year's team always appeared to sulk and play beaten when scored upon. I don't really see this mentality this year, and he's a big factor in that.

MINUS
- Call for the collapse! The adjustments might not be instant, and the panic button may be pushed too soon. Already I'm hearing "fans" saying we should just tank our way to the lottery pick. Hogwash.
- Media fodder! Oh lord it's going to be annoying to hear this new "question" put to the room. What? Tired of the captaincy issue? Size issue? Hal Gill's foot speed issue?
- Fantasy Teams. I'm really sorry for all those who picked Markov, as he's usually a solid batch of points. Maybe he'll tear the League a new one when he returns to compensate?
- Breezer. Apparently in the wake of this problem, there is word that Breezer has offered his services for cheap. Yes Breezer we know you're a great and lovable team player, but dude, no, you just retired. Suck up those tears and get yourself Nascar ready. Also I'm thinking Dandy might be better for an emergency veteran pick up on D... My brother said Chelibot is still available and I nearly spit up my dinner. MAYBE IF I HAD A TIME MACHINE AND GOT THE YOUNGER VERSION!!!
- Other Malarkey. Apparently some droogs in Leafs Nation claim this is retribution for TK's hit on Mike Made-of-Glass Van Ryn. Really, and I mean this in the fairest and truest sense of a rival fan: fuck off. That guy would get injured in a slight breeze...

A team builds character through adversity. It's still early enough in the season to work around this little setback. As fans, the best we can do is shine the #79 beacon high off Place-Ville-Marie and hope for a speedy recovery. After all, victory is never a given, even with your number 1 player healthy, and that mantra over the rink door isn't for show.

Walk the line: Habs 1, Rags 3

Eh. What can you expect from a team that got to town at 2am after playing the night before? Barely time to sleep, no morning skate, Price back after a vicious flu and little time to get back into shape, and still no Markov or Schneider though they'd probably be tired today too if they were out there.

Riding this 7th place...
- They were REALLY tired out there. Despite that, not a bad first period. But you know you're in trouble when Dandy is the only one to score. Sign number 1 of a tired team: your 4th line designation "shut down" is the only one to score.
- I don't get it. Avery purposedly crosschecks Lapierre after a whistle by the bench and it's not called but that one on TK the other night was? Headlocks Kovy after a whistle and gets nothing? Nearly blinds D'Agostini with his stick and nope, nothing? But some weaksauce hooking penalties by Komo and Janik or Hammer clearing the crease, ooooh gotta call those!
- Not that it mattered, power play only managed something late in the game but most of the shots got blocked. Not that the Rags could score on their power plays either, mind. Habs play better when short handed, really. They had better chances then and more control.
- Sign number 2 of a tired team: PING! Lundqvist's posts had a higher save percentage tonight. Dunno why he got the second star though...
- Shakey start, but what do you expect from the kid? He hadn't played since last Tuesday, was ravaged by the flu and couldn't practice, and comes back in time to backstop a horde of zombies on skates minus two studs in the cog. And without Gorges sleeping while the puck bounced off his skate to the open net, it would only be 2-1. (And what exactly were they doing anyway? Take your time to get there guys... by the time help arrived, Price was swarmed by Rangers). He was unreal in the third period though. Save of the year candidates twice, with assistance by Komisaurus on the second. Makes me eager for Thursday.
- The old guys were tired, and this was where the young guys really needed to work it...
- Shots per period were 10, 15, 19 for the Rags and 11, 4, 10 for the Habs.
- SWAAAAAAAAARM it was the Pleky line with Andrei and Dagger and the Rags were sweating. Just our luck none of them could hit a net. And what a slapper by Dagger after nearly getting blinded. He got Kovy-angry there.
- See Komisaurus? THAT'S what we want you to do more of. Open ice hit on Avery as he came to the net with the puck. Perfectly legal hit, no call on the guy who cross-checked Komo after, and led to a good play for the Habs.
- Sign number 3 of a tired team: beautiful steals in the o-zone, but no one can finish. Wait...they do that normally. Nevermind.
- Benoit Brunet must be stopped.
- Markov, please, just put a knee brace on or something... Breezer plays with a giant knee brace... If Antrofuckingpov can play shaking off a knee injury, c'mon Markie. They neeeeed you!
- Never thought I'd say Gomez has class but he does. Shot down the stupid questions totally egging on Price's obvious rust and the team's obvious tiredness with pure class and respect.
- L'Antichambre thinks Kostitsyn is going to pull a Perezhogin. Fuck off and go coach the Nordiques you twat. OH RIGHT, they're gone now. I wish they were back so these douchnozzles could find something else to stomp on.

Conclusion: Go get some sleep, some practice, and come flying out Thursday. It's the Bruins baby, and you're still in seventh.

End of the road...
- Devils continue on their mysterious play of absolute suck, and lost 4-1 to the Leafs. Who's missing? I don't get it? Fucking Grabovski scored. Though I'll give a congratulations to Chris Hanson for his first NHL goal. Want suck? Brodeur only faced 18 shots, which is surprising since the Leafs have this uncanny ability to launch over 40 any given night.
- Eric Staal continues to take advantage of weak teams and pad his stats. It's what he's notorious for. Another hat trick, yawn... Islanders have officially waved the white flag with a 9-0 loss. Shots were 57-12 and you can guess who had the 12... Danis was pulled after 3 goals and Joey Mac suffered the rest. Easiest night of Cam Ward's life.
- Weird game for Pittsburgh... Blew a 4-0 lead in the 3rd and won 6-4 in 20 minutes. We call that scramble.
- Ottawa beat Boston. The number 1 team by a mile doesn't give a damn right now though.
- Flyers actually helped for a change and put the strain on the Panthers playoff hopes. Um thanks I guess. Now you can smack around the Rags for two games right? Riiiight.
- My poor Dallas is dead dead dead. Maybe they should start drafting some players this year?