Pure trap hockey, if you can deal with this sort of stuff. One trap (the more exciting Habs one) trying to overcome the other trap (the choking Devils one). And though the puck was bouncing like a bouncy ball, and I'm sure he'd love that one that dribbled through him in the second to tie it back (hey, it was a damn good shot), the team needs to thank Carey Price for bringing them to overtime and giving them that one point.
Because people annoy me, I will take a stand
- First period was all Habs, second was a toss up, third was all Devils. But neither teams could convert on their powerplays (until the overtime thing).
- Matt D'Agostini! His family was watching, and he scores the first goal. If anyone else on the team had paid attention and copied his move, we'd have had 3 more goals like that because I saw Clemmer juggle the exact same rebound to the exact same area with the exact same opening ready.
- My brother on D'ag: I knew it! He's got a family member named Vinny! (His dad).
- Clemmer reads the play well enough and is definitely making a case to steal Weekes' job. But right now he's doing a good enough job to keep the Devils alive.
- Powerplay just couldn't do anything though they had a very good chance on the second wave in the first but Clemmer had the final word on it.
- Price earns this first star for sure. As the game waned on, I think the team just gradually got annoyed with how the Devils were playing and really couldn't do much in the 3rd.
- When the Habs did hold the offensive zone, they were absolutely incredible even if the puck had a tendency to trickle out to...no one.
- Kovy gets called for tripping with 30 seconds left and that was a very weak call. I mean, really. They don't call the early holdings Kovy had to deal with but he puts his stick down to hit the puck forward along the boards and a player falls over it, and he's off.
- Devils defense consists of holding, hooking, and general choking.
- Super Pleky! He was just everywhere doing everything! He just never ceases to amaze me.
- Laraque almost did a backhander that cashed in. Almost!
- We had some casualties that added to the problems. Dandy blocked a shot with his foot and was off for a bit, but he came back near the end. Markov caught a puck with his face in the 3rd and ran off the ice. With him gone, victory would have been very hard to grab and the powerplays completely fell apart.
- Price took a shot off the mask that stunned him for a few seconds but thankfully he's ok!
- Guh Breezer. He's really slow these days eh? But what the hell was with that giveaway that nearly opened the scoring for the Devils?! Even Rhino wouldn't think to pass to an opponent skating into the slot!
- Price's only home ice regulation loss came after he relieved Halak in that Ducks game. Pretty amazing. And the last time we faced the Devils, it was his second shutout of his rookie year. Looks like he's back to facing his sweater number in shots eh?
- Koivu has now passed one of my favourites, Mats Naslund, in points (613) for his assist on D'ag's goal.
- We need some help on the powerplay. I know Weber isn't ready defensively but he could maybe help. I do know if we bring Belle up he may not be able to be sent down without passing waivers so you'd have to hope if he does come up that he does well enough to stay. (At least, I think that's how it would work with him but I'm not sure as the waivers crap is so confusing). On the plus side, he's extremely fast and would be an improvement over a certain slow man we have back there, and he can't be any worse! But the guys just gotta shoot! And they need more guys near the net. I do believe Laraque was standing out there on a few powerplay attempts, actually.
- This is the type of game I think Sergei would have been helpful in. He had a lot of points against New Jersey last year in terms of assists, afterall. He just seems to have a knack for finding those lanes or finding the open man. But ya live and learn eh.
In conclusion: It's a trap! What else can I say? Playing the Devils is like betting on which side the coin will flip to. Next!
Bulldogs!
As I wrote this, Captain Chipper scored on the Grand Rapids Griffins, right inside the far goal post, interrupting their play-by-play guy on his advertising call. So it's 3rd period and 5-2 for the Dogs. Chris Chelios is playing with the Griffins right now (conditioning stint, he'll be back in the NHL soon now that his leg is healed). Desjardins is in nets, as Denis has been struggling lately. Chelios gave Pacioretty his autograph as he ran into him in a Starbucks near the hotel they were staying. I miss Chelios... would rather have that old man as our token veteran on defense than Breezer, that's for sure.
Chipper scored 2 goals and got the first start of their night. Desharnais was the second star and had the game winning goal that gave them the lead they didn't relinquish. Aubin and White scored the other two goals. Five goals and ten assists in total! And this with old man Chelios on the ice. Good job, boys!