I feel like this game started 3 months ago. Seriously, everyone else in the NHL were finished with their games when we were barely exiting the 2nd period! There were at least 50 faceoffs, the Lightning moved at a snails pace for 40 minutes, apply that to an incredibly high amount of stupid penalties caused mostly by a guy who really can't skate (sorry about your Dad and all, Petiot, nice article this morning in the paper on you, but get some skating lessons), Ramo freezing the puck every 5 seconds because it was either shot right at him or tipped right at him from his own guys (I think his own teammates were the more dangerous for him tonight), and yea... Sucks Price didn't get his shutout KOMISAURUS thanks to people interferring with him but whatever. If the Bolts can score while the Habs screw Price over then the Habs can score with the Bolts screwing Ramo over.
Bottom line is there were TWO points given to the good guys
- Today's flu victim was Andrei Kostitsyn. Maybe that's why he was half asleep for a few games.
- I only tuned in to the game when I got home. Like, I closed my car just as they announced "and Dandenault is spun around" (penalty). I get inside and Kovy scores. Woo 20 goals!
- For the longest time shots were 24-8...FOR THE CANADIENS! *shock* I think Price had to pinch himself to make sure the shot clock was right.
- The Bolts were playing so slowly it was annoying the Habs and their timing, who were flying or maybe it just seemed like that because the Bolts were so slow...
- Good team effort for the whole game until the ref didn't call a blatant penalty (guess he was tired of calling them) and the Habs gave the Bolts the benefit of the doubt and allowed them to run around their end for a bit. Hint: they scored twice while doing that, both goals thanks to a Hab being a dolt. (Komo in the crease while Price was stuck between a bunch of his guys and Schneider deflecting the puck in) You could see the angry cloud forming over Price's head.
- Artyukhin was his usual self but the Habs didn't like him knocking Price around. He tried starting things with Gui! who was busy playing hockey. Then the Russian Truck tries to hit Komisaurus, who steps aside and BOOM the RT hurts himself. Sorry but I must lol at that one...
- Habs were on their best behavior tonight, but didn't think twice about crowding someone doing nefarious deeds.
- Markov was on the ice for nearly 30 minutes.
- Gui!Gui!Gui! with the wrap around. He made a whole end of the rink look silly.
- He also gave RT a lovely open-ice hit.
- RDS needs to stop wetting themselves over Vince... Bouchard says TB should trade him and get a whole bunch of players. There was a poll asking if people think he'll really come here next season (not on that contract, and thankfully a higher percentage of people had that same thought on their minds to vote NO). Honestly, why would they trade him for more players? He is their team. They'd end up in a worse hole, like we did when we traded Roy...
- I'd rather have St.Louis anyway even if he appears to attract things with his face.
- Besides the 2nd powerplay that Kovy scored on, the rest were passer plays and then a hit off the post or what felt like 50 Bolts players on the ice getting in the way.
- Must be annoying for Dagger, Sergei, and Higgy. All ready to score and then a stick gets shoved up your ass. Either way, good moves had by all.
- I love the way Metro steams over the blueline.
- Mon Capitaiiiiiiiiine! If Kovy isn't clutch, we can always count on Koivu.
- Lapierre was hilarious in the victory pileup, happily shaking Kovy.
Conclusion: Good long 60 minutes and two lovely points dans la banque. A loss would have been devastating and you guys almost screwed it up after playing so perfectly for so long. Maybe it was a bit too perfect, but either way it was great. Habs tend to have problems winning games on rainy days so it's nice to beat the norm for a change.
Bulldogs Report!
Ben Maxwell was named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for all the work he's done in the Hamilton community, particularily with the school programs and stressing education and pursuing your goals. He's now one of the 29 finalists for the AHL's 2008-2009 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award. Congrats Ben!
Keeping up with the Joneses:
- Rags lost...in a shootout! To Atlanta! After blowing a 4-1 Lead! End of the fucking world!!! Well Valiquette was also in nets tonight, and Atlanta switched goalies though I've no idea who replaced who. Todd White was the only one who scored in the shootout. Rags +1pt
- Anderson stopped staring at ice girls and decided to stop pucks for once though I'm not happy that the Panthers won 4-2. On one hand it halted the Flyers a bit, but now Panthers +2pts (Good thing Habs won)
- *double-take* What?! Blues pulled a win jacket over the Canucks' eyes? It was 1-0 last I saw and now it's a 4-2 win. Proof that powerplays can help.
- Yet another weird regulation win for the Preds over the big scary Sharks. Three unanswered goals in the second period and then shut down city.
- Calgary is blanked again...badly. Worse than the Pens because it's a team from their side of the League. Then again, it's Steve Mason. Instead of 4 goals, Rick Nash woah had 4 assists. But I did watch a bit of the Pens blanking them yesterday and other than MAF being very lucky a few squeaked by him and didn't go in, the Flames were quite lame.
- Stars and Kings are 0-0 after 60+ minutes. Shootout city and the Kings win it. That's gotta suck. Stars +1pt
- I just paid my welcome tax... It wasn't very welcoming. -1000pts