|
A Shot at Redemption, as the Canadiens Storm New York |
|
|
|
|
|
It was just two days before the Habs met their doom in Toronto, last season. April 5th, 2007, Koivu and the boys were put out by the Czechs of New York, as the Rangers were on a turbo boost late in the season, on their way to sweeping the Thrashers in the first round of the playoffs. Just a week before catastrophe struck at Madison Square Garden, the Canadiens ignited the red light 5 times in the second period, coming back from a 2-goal deficit, handing the Rangers a 6-4 beating in the process. The 3-1 loss at Madison Square, at the hands of Jagr, Prucha and Malik, was the end of Montreal’s season. A crushing defeat, brought on by a seemingly lackluster effort was all it took to destroy Montreal’s confidence headed into Toronto. It was also the game that reinforced doubt in Carbonneau’s mind that Halak could win on the road.
The Canadiens have been losing to the Rangers ever since. Three dropped games this year, two of which were ripped away by the Rangers resilience and the Canadiens’ impudence. Tonight is an opportunity to stop the bleeding, and in order to do so; it’s going to take a 60-minute, full-throttle effort.
Keys to the game:
Faceoffs- The Canadiens have been poor in this category all year long, but tonight is a night where they have to dominate the faceoff circle. The Rangers are an excellent puck- possession team, they breakout very well, and they are built to cycle. They have big wingers, and shifty centers in Drury, Gomez, and Dubinsky. It is beyond essential to win faceoffs in your own zone, when guys like Drury are on the ice. If the Canadiens are above 50% in the dot, they win tonight.
Take Away Time and Space- The Canadiens need to ensure that big wingers in Jagr, Avery, Shanahan, and Callahan are not given time with the puck, especially through the neutral zone. These guys can do serious damage if they have the opportunity to beat a defenseman to a deep puck. The Canadiens need to slow the game down in neutral ice, and transition quickly from their own end. Taking away space from New York’s defense is just as essential. All of the Rangers D, are over 6 feet, and 205lbs, and none of them are as mobile as the Canadiens top 6. Roszival and Girardi are both offensive, the others stay back. If the Canadiens use cross-ice dumps, and ramp up their speed, they are going to catch New York’s D stumbling.
Beat Them at Their own Game- After two of the roughest games of the year against Philadelphia, I highly doubt the Canadiens will be intimidated by the shenanigans of Sean Avery and Ryan Hollweg. A lot of people have been complaining about Maxim Lapierre’s willingness to be an ‘edgy’ player, who is unwilling to defend himself after he gets under someone’s skin…that might bode quite well for him tonight. The Canadiens should do everything possible to play on that edge. The third and fourth lines are a huge key to winning this hockey game. Whether it’s Begin, or Kostopoulos, or Lapierre, they are going to have to instigate that edgy style of game, as opposed to letting their counterparts do it to their teammates.
******************
I don’t know how you all feel about it, but I’m expecting big things out of Plekanec, Kovalev, and Kostitsyn tonight. The Canadiens will most likely dress Carey Price, who will face the Rangers for the first time in his career. Hank Lundqvist gets the call for New York, coming off back-to-back victories against the Sharks, and Sabres. Mark Staal is questionable, after missing the last two with the flu, as Peter Prucha will likely miss tonight’s game with a shoulder injury.
The Rangers are thick in a race with Buffalo, Philly, and Boston. They are two points up on Philly, who has a game in hand on them. They are three points up on Buffalo and Boston, who have one and two games in hand on them, respectively. Tonight is an opportunity for the Habs to get some payback. A chance to payback the Rangers, who destroyed their season, eleven months ago. A chance to payback the Rangers who have beaten them three times this year, in games that should’ve been won. A chance to payback Sean Avery who made comments likening Mike Komisarek to some sort of coward. A chance to payback Ryan Hollweg who felt it was necessary to plant Sergei Kostitsyn heavily into the boards from behind, after chucking a failed elbow at Kovalev, before receiving one that put his temper over the boiling point. This game will be tight and intense, and promises to be physical…
Enjoy the Show!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»