10 Habs Notes:
-If I could chose one word to describe the last two games for the Montreal Canadiens, it would be:
Progressive.
-If that wasn't a dismal performance by the Senators...I mean, if they can actually play worse than they did last night...well, let's just say it'll be a long season in Ottawa.
The Senators registered 8 shots in the second half of the game, and scored on their first two of the second period.
And you think Jacques Martin's team is the only one with the propensity to sit on a 2-goal lead?
To make matters worse, as the Sens managed to stay in the game at 3-3 Jarkko Ruutu took a brutal penalty on Brian Gionta in the third period giving the Canadiens all the momentum they needed to eventually cash in at even strength.
-Alex Kovalev was finally booed in Montreal last night--ceremoniously. Not sure where it all came from though; was it the Canadiens fans or the Senators fans giving Kovy the royal treatment?
-Noted on twitter last night: The Senators either have a terrible powerplay coach, or they just aren't listening to him.
A five-on-three opportunity for nearly a minute allowed the Senators a chance to put Alfredsson, Gonchar and Kovalev in one-timer positions, and for some reason Mike Fisher felt it was his role to shoot the puck... He may have their only powerplay marker of the season, but it's hard to argue he's a better shooting option than the guns they've put in position.
Michalek and Spezza are both better shooting options than Fisher.
-Can't say the Canadiens' powerplay has been much better. Both teams have only managed 1 goal on the season, with the Sens having enjoyed (or not enjoyed) 3 more opportunities than the Canadiens.
One problem with the Canadiens PP: They don't seem to be looking for a down-low option or a backdoor play-- everything is a cross-slot or cross-point one-timer without much of a net presence.
Another problem, Andrei Kostitsyn is not a bang-away at rebounds kind of guy. He's not a screen-guy either. Therefore his presence in front of the net on the powerplay is somewhat obsolete.
Gionta's a step up in that regard, but a foot down in terms of size...
-Andrei may not be a net presence on the powerplay, but he's done everything else effectively this season. His play in the defensive zone is as impressive as his point production, and there's no doubt how much stronger the Canadiens are with him consistently threatening at both ends.
-Not so threatening: the play of Jaroslav Spacek.
It's a reality that Spacek may need some time to get going. I can understand the missed or blocked shots on the powerplay (as frustrating as that is to watch) and the lack of rhythm previous to Hamrlik's return.
I can't understand his unconventional play on standard 2-on-1s and 1-on1s.
Against the Lightning, Spacek lunges for Martin St. Louis on a 2-on-1, giving Steven Stamkos a free shot at Price. Luckily, Price got a piece of it--crisis averted.
If Spacek needs to re-learn how to play a 2-on-1 all he needed to absorb was how P.K. Subban played one with Peter Regin and Ryan Shannon skating in on him and Price.
Very simple equation: Subban's role is to take away the pass, something he did well enough for Price to not even worry about Shannon. Subban left Price with the shot, and Price ended up looking like a genius on Regin (he'd tell you it was an easy save).
Last night, Spacek's only job on a 1-on-1 with Milan Michalek is to angle the talented winger to the outside. Instead, Spacek attempts an aggressive play and gets walked by Michalek to make the score 3-1 for the Sens.
That was after Spacek's brutal giveaway that led to the Senators second goal of the night.
Perhaps those mistakes will be limited once Andrei Markov's presence reduces Spacek's ice-time.
-It didn't take a perfect performance from Price to win his first game at the Bell Centre since February. That's what was so sweet about it. He allowed the Senators to take a 3-1 advance when the game really should've been 2-1, and the Habs bailed him out. Nice to see it happen for once.
-The Canadiens are 3-1-1 without Andrei Markov. That's about as well as anyone would expect, considering all their goals have come at even strength, except for 1 on the powerplay.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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