2009 Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: Game 4
Montreal 1 Boston 4 (Bell Centre)
Posted by: Rocket
AllHabs.blogspot.com
“Let’s play. We want to play. We got another game. We earned our chance to play today.”
Those were the words of Bob Gainey prior to the game said as if to emphasize that despite being down 3-0 in the series, that the Canadiens intended to give their best effort. Perhaps it was also a reminder that there are a number of teams who would have be glad to be in the playoffs who didn’t make it.
The game couldn’t have started any better for the Canadiens. Only 39 seconds into the game, Andrei Kostitsyn wristed a shot into the top corner past Tim Thomas and the Habs had an early 1-0 lead. The goal was set up on a nice play by Saku Koivu who carried the puck into the zone, dished to Kostitsyn and then drove to the net taking a defenseman with him.
The first period was dominated by the Canadiens. The Habs outshot the Bruins 16-7. Glen Metropolit and Chris Higgins were terrific.
There were some tense moments. On a Bruins power-play, after Max Lapierre failed on a chance to clear, Marc Savard rang the puck off the post.
But it wasn’t until the last three minutes of the period that the Bruins took the lead with two quick goals. Both resulted from defensive miscues by the Habs.
The Bruins pressured the Canadiens in the second period. Carey Price made several big stops including a glove save on Phil Kessel who was all alone.
With just over 11 minutes left in the second and the Habs trailing by one, the Bell Centre boobirds were heard. With more than half the game to play, some fans were turning on the team. It was surprising.
After Kessel took a penalty for slashing, and the Canadiens power play began its shift, the booing by the ‘fans’ had intensified. The players had no patience. They seemed to be rushing.
As the power-play ended, Kessel received a breakway pass while coming out of the penalty box. He scored after going in all alone.
Replays would show that the play was clearly offside, but to no avail. Just another botched call. It was the point of no return for the Canadiens and for the mood of the fans.
Shortly after, the Lapierre line were caught in the offensive zone which gave the Bruins a 3 on 2 break. Michael Ryder made the score 4-1. The Habs were outshot 14-4 in the period.
Carey Price was left defenseless on all four Boston goals. Yet as he made a routine save at the end of the period, the Bell Centre fans mock cheered him. It was distasteful and undeserved.
After the game Bob Gainey said, “I suppose he (Price) could have kept his cool and not made any kind of gesture, but on the other hand, when you’re being bullied, if you don’t stand up for yourself, who is going to?” said Gainey. “He had two or three breakaways to stop, as well as some open scoring chances, so what’s the basis of the jeering?”
Gainey continued, “He reacted. You can read into it whatever you want. The people were rude. The people were unfair. So he stood up for himself? What’s wrong with that?”
It was refreshing to hear a Montreal coach who was defending his player rather than throwing them under the bus.
With a hostile Bell Centre crowd and the Bruins in shutdown mode, the Canadiens looked defeated in the third period. Kudos to Metropolit who skated hard on every shift to the end. Credit also goes to Price who ignored the fans and made several good saves in the period.
The first star for the Bruins was a former Canadien who was stripped of his confidence by the coach, and run out of Montreal by the media and some fans.
The Habs may have been beat by the Bruins but were skewered by their fans. It was shameful.
The Canadiens were bitterly disappointed that they couldn’t mount a better attack against the Bruins but they were without Markov, Schneider, Tanguay and Lang. It’s unclear how many of the players on the current roster will be back. They deserved a better sendoff.
Koivu chose to speak about Price after the game, “I said it before the season and I still believe it. I have a lot of confidence. The kid is going to win a Stanley Cup one day. Hopefully, I will be with him when that happens.”
It was a special moment. Koivu, who has given everything to his team, yet been subjected to unwarranted criticism, was empathizing with his young goaltender. And he was looking towards a future where #11 and #31 would be hoisting a Cup together.
It is a vision that I hope is realized.
Pre-game
Even though PA announcer Michel Lacroix emphasized respect for the anthems, there was scattered booing during the U.S. anthem.
Starting lineup: Plekanec, Stewart, D’Agostini, Komisarek, Hamrlik
Carey Price and Tim Thomas started in goal.
Brisebois and Sergei Kostitsyn were scratched from the line-up. Markov, Schneider, Bouillon and Tanguay were out with injuries. Lang is on injured reserve.
Lines:
Koivu-Kovalev-Andrei Kostitsyn
Plekanec-Stewart-D’Agostini
Lapierre-Latendresse-Kostopoulos
Metropolit-Laraque-Higgins
Defense:
Hamrlik-Komisarek
Dandenault-Gorges
Weber-O’Byrne
Rocket’s three stars:
1. Michael Ryder
2. David Krejci
3. Glen Metropolit
(photo credit: AP)
As a Habs fans I am disgusted with some of the fans at these past 2 playoff games.
Booing of Carey Price was uncalled for.
Throwing debris onto the ice after the game is shameful.
And booing of a nation’s national anthem is pathetic.
The Canadiens are a class organization. It’s too bad some of their so called fans don’t follow suit.
“They deserved a better sendoff.”That one line sums up the whole season. The Habs had their share of problems throughout the season but managed to secure a playoff spot despite that that. To have it come to an abrupt end with the fans turning on them like that is just… sad. The team and the real fans deserve better.
It was a well played game and a very entertaining series. I am glad the Bruins were finally able to get past their rival. The players on the Habs deserved a better reception from the fans than they got. In my mind (and alot of other peoples as well) this is the best rivalry in the NHL.
See you next season.
vince_m
For me, it just seems that the fans at the game, or at least a significant portion of them, refuse to accept mediocrity. If you go with friends or family to a high priced restaurant (for an anniversary)and are served limp, lukewarm, undersized portions of food, by a bored waiter picking his nose, do you smile and thank the staff on the way out or register your dissatisfaction?
If you have any balls, and any consideration for customers of the restaurant in future, you let the staff know (in no uncertain terms) what you think of their product. At least you can take that satisfaction away with you at the end of the evening.
On the brighter side, it looks like Habs might draft at the #17 overall spot, where the latest ISS rankings have Landon Ferraro slotted. He is the real sleeper of this draft, in a similar situation to Mike Green back in 2004, as the best player by far on a very bad WHL team.
But Timmins managed to screw that one up, and given the opportunity will probably do the same this June. My nightmare scenario would have them taking a dumb stiff like Simon Despres. I could see them drafting Olivier Roy, if they are looking to sign Luongo and trade Price and Halak. A lot probably depends on what happens with the team and the management situation in the next couple of months.
What about Gainey pairing Komisarek and O’Byrne in the last couple games? That was as bizarre as putting Laraque on the top line. Two big, slow footed, right handed defensemen who handle the puck like it was a live hand grenade. Obviously they will complement each other perfectly, leaving a couple of undersized, sometime forwards like Gorges and Dandeneault to play together. Gainey is only 53, but I think he should go in for some Alzheimer’s tests.
I have to agree Rob, Gainey made some shady decisions this series. I think he knew the habs had no chance though, and that a few players will be leaving in the offseason. I would too, if I were booed off the ice at the end of the season.
As a Bruins fan who has enjoyed the sights, architecture and resturaunts in Montreal, I only ask you dont burn the whole damn city down!
I mean, habs fans have to “riot”? Let me tell you all something….rioting is a 3rd world country mentality. Perfect for you Rob, and i bet you enjoy throwing chairs through windows, and tossing gas bombs on cars. I bet you did monumental damage to your city last night! Scumbag.
Come out of the bushes, ‘mouse, so we can see who you are.
I don’t live in Montreal, I live in Vancouver where the fans did some damage after the team WON. Seems a bit more serious than Habs fans booing because their team lost.
Regardless, I hate snipers who hide behind a mask. Graffiti punks who spray garbage under the cover of darkness. Weirdos who smear their own feces on the walls of public washrooms just because they can.
That is you, cowardly little
Any ol mouse.
This booing is disgraceful but the fans have a right to be frustrated with this team. How many times has Price let us down this season? He deserves no mercy.
Oh yes, “Rob” is so much less “anonymous”. You’re a moron.
All, Out of respect to the work of "Rocket" and the rest of the All Habs staff as well as what I assume are the few REAL Habs fans on this blog. I'll try and keep my true feelings and personal comments brief on this one but all in all the fact of the matter is that the Bruins at least for this season are the better team and really do look to be in much better shape heading into the near future given obvious disarray that the Habs organization is in and the fact that there's now some serious, serious doubts wheter or not Carey Price can rebound from this whole sub par season and this specific series and be able to even play in Montreal any longer (Are we seeing a "Roy II" here…?)
As an observer from the enemy side, I have to think you're all down right GIDDY to be RID of that FRAUD Mike Komisaresk who's departure from the series & Centre Bell mirrored the way many of the Habs so called "Fans" in attendance did, that is without ANY CLASS whatsoever.
Which seeing it come from what many consider the "jewel" organization within the NHL has to be a complete embarresment to the club and the great City of Montreal! That was totally WEAK showing of any sportsmanship and respect to either team's efforts.
As much as I'm a non-beliver in the "second coming" aka Carey Price, the booing and ridicule that he was subjected to was downright crude and PAINFUL even for me to hear given the build up that this kid has gotten from your fans and organization since he was first drafted a few seasons. God, he's still only 21 years old for Price's Sake… Ugh!
Despite all that B.S. though I was impressed with Big George Laraque believe it or not who despite being my more MYTH than actual player at this point, handled the post game hand shake in a very professional and even warm way which really struck me that despite all the back and forth nonsense that goes on between our two teams & cities sometimes, shows that there really is a mutual respect between the two clubs and that sometimes that's the 2nd most important take away we should get from these events outside enjoying the beauty of game itself…
In the end a sincere "Great job" to everyone at All Habs & believe me when I say we know your current pain all to well but that we rather enjoy it being you guys feeling it this time around! :-)
Until we inevitably we again, keep well & Go Bruins Go eh'!
LOL, unKynch that knot around your noggin, a bit pal. WAY too tightly wound. In the interest of good physical, mental, and emotional health. No need for nutbars.
Yeah, we’ll be glad to see the last of that “goon” Komisarek (imagine him feeding poo lil Looch a taste of his own medicine. Tewwwibbbew…tewwwibbew!) Hard to beleive that Mike grew up in a tony Long Island suberb like West Islip, came up through the prestigious USNTDP system and was recruited to the University of Michigan where he was a top student and All American for two years. You’d think he came from some crime ridden slum like East Burnaby where the locals break into your house to steal your momentos and trophies. Where the local ethnic gangs are killing each other off on a regular basis.
You’d think that he dropped out of school at 16 to ride the busses through the badlands of Alberta in the wintertime in order to fight legally and get paid for it. Oh wait, that is “Looch”, not Komisarek. Looch following in the footsteps of his buddy “Lurch” who played his junior hockey in the crime capital of Western Canada, Prince George.
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