Don’t trust the scoresheet

It may have ended up with a score of 5-4 but don’t trust this a second to get a good idea of how the game played. The Canadiens played a solid game for about 54 minutes and if it wasn’t for a brain fart in third period, this game would have ended 3-0 or 4-0 like it should have. But let’s go back to the beginning of the game.

The Bleu-Blanc-Rouge started the game in force, controlling the opening minutes until a penalty gave some legs to an Atlanta team that seemed more interesting in watching the Habs than opposing them. But even with this added fuel the Thrashers trashed nothing. They were dumping the puck without any good forecheck and were letting the team do pretty much what they wanted. It was mere minutes before Kostitsyn took a lose puck and tried for a wraparound that failed but D’Agostini was well placed to take the rebound. I hope Guillaume had a good view of this one.

Then Gorges and Kovalev joined their effort to give the puck deep to Thomas Plekanec who zipped one right through Hedberg who played a hell of a game tonight. If it wasn’t for him, the Thrashers would have been trailing by 6 goals in the second intermission. And then finally the powerplay scored when Markov took a fat rebound from a Lang wrist point shot. After two periods the Habs seemed like they were dominating.

And then the brain fart. Let me break down the play for you: Lang, Higgins and Kovalev are on the ice and are trying to make a line change. Both wingers come back as Lang is waiting to changeup later. The fourth line is asked to go on the ice and only Steve Begin answers the call. Lapierre, the center, has to wait for Lang to come back. The right winger is missing. Guess who is the fourth line right winger? Here’s a hint: he’s big, slow and useless. yep, Big Georges himself. Laraque sent a message I hope Carbo will hear loud and clear: “Coach, I don’t want ice time.” To me this is as dumb a play as shooting in your own net. The difference being one is a veteran who should be a lot more aware and the other is a sophomore who did a mistake he’ll never do again. The Habs playing 4 on 5 “just for fun” allowed a goal to Ron Hainsey and the tide turned.

After a Kostopoulos hooking penalty Ron Hainsey makes his old team pay with his second of the night. I’m already kind of scared. And to make matters worse on the following faceoff both Brisebois and Hamerlik play slightly offset which leads to Hamerlik no checking his man Thorburn who receives a great pass from Marty Reasoner for an easy goal. The Habs made it a game by sleeping 1 minute and 1 second. They allowed three goals in that minute.

Then Andrei Kostitsyn showed his coach he really wanted to stay on the first line by breaking the tie. That goal also allowed Saku Koivu to tie Mats Naslund for highest European on the Montreal Canadiens all-time scoring list. Kovalev or Lang scored the last Habs goal in an empty net but the Thrashers answered after Lapierre, Begin and Koivu are caught too deep in the zone trying to get another empty net goal. Too gourmand if you ask me.

But the thing I want you guys to remember is that the Habs were playing a very good hockey game most of the night. I didn’t even mention that one goal was refused to Tanguay because Lapierre was obstructing the goalies work and one Atlanta goal was a close decision that needed review. Atlanta clearly wasn’t in the game up until the weird 4 on 5 and if it wasn’t for that goal, they would have probably ended the game like they were playing the first 46 minutes: lifeless. But give a ray of hope to a team like that and you’ll wake them up. It was a chain reaction that you can clearly see starting from there.

Carey Price was solid most of the game as was Johan Hedberg who was spectacular at times, especially in third period. All four lines played decently with the Koivu line being a clear notch over the rest. As for defensemen, again Gorges was very good ad Markov is back to a form we haven’t seen in some time. His pass to Kovalev for a one timer was perfect and was bringing back memories of last year. The only player I really wasn’t happy with was Bouillon who was cruising along multiple times instead of skating hard for the puck. One blatant example was when he decided to go help his teammate in the offensive zone, Tanguay left him the puck in the corner and Francis was barely gliding and then decided to go back without putting any pressure. I have one thing to say: make up your mind! Either put pressure offensively or stay at the blue line but don’t half ass something like that.

Anyway, outside of Bouillon and Laraque, everybody played a solid game with few mistakes and good scoring opportunities. I was simply glad to see the Habs ready to play against a sub-par opponent, something they haven’t done often this year. Another thing they haven’t done often is put three good performances in a row.

Now bring on New York and see what they’ll do.