Rocket:
The Blue Jackets got it. The Canadiens didn’t. …goaltending, that is. The loss shouldn’t be pinned 100% on Jaroslav Halak but good goaltending can hide a lot of sins. Tonight, the familiar ones, poor defensive zone coverage and lack of discipline were exposed due to another weak performance by Halak.
Jaro had a difficulty with rebound control most of the night and struggled with positioning…seemingly losing his place relative to the net. Halak’s glove hand has been shaky all season and tonight was no exception.
At the opposite end, Steve Mason, not too far removed from the London Knights and Kitchener Rangers, had the best game of his short NHL career. Mason stopped 34 shots and was perfect in the shootout (although not severely tested by Tanguay and AK-46).
Three of four lines actually played well for the Canadiens. All three Canadien goals came with players parked at the top of the crease. Credit to Higgins, Plekanec, and both Kostitsyns. Tanguay, Koivu and Higgins seem to be the dominant unit right now. They were also left intact for powerplays with the addition of Markov and Lang.
Powerplay was better tonight. All three Canadien goals were scored with an extra man (third goal with Halak on the bench).
The KPK line also played well with Andrei Kostitsyn having his strongest effort since the Phoenix game. AK-46 received his third headshot this season after a vicious elbow by Commodore. (If Bettman is serious about reducing concussions, such blows have to receive more than a two minute minor.)
The 4th line cycled the puck well. Laraque played his best game so far although Dandenault is still an upgrade. Kostopoulos was all over the ice and had 4 shots in the first period alone. As well as they played, the Lapierre line had no business being on the ice with six minutes left in the third period and the Habs down by a goal.
Some ups and downs for the defensive corps. Bouillon and Georges struggled to defend Rick Nash who was a force in front of the net all night. Patrice Brisebois fans had reason to cheer as his point shot found the net on the powerplay. Brise can thank Plekanec and AK-46 who were stationed in front of the net (acting as a screen and perhaps ‘sweepers’ on Breezer’s in-turn). The fan club joy was short-lived as a Brisebois gaffe in his own end left Modin alone for Columbus’ third goal.
Even though RJ Umberger continued his reputation as a Canadiens’ killer, the opposition player to watch was Rick Nash. Can’t wait to see him and Getzlaf play for Team Canada in 2010.
Classy move by Ken Hitchcock and his staff to wear poppies even though the game was in Columbus.
Five of six points so far on the road trip is a measure of success. But discipline and defensive coverage must improve for the Canadiens to be considered one of the top teams in the NHL.
Pre-game:
O’Byrne, Dandenault and Begin will sit out tonight.
La Presse, Quebec’s version of Weekly World News, manufactured a story about the ‘potential sale of the Canadiens’. Yeah..and mutant, alien zombies on page 3.
Rocket’s 3 stars:
1. Steve Mason
2. Andrei Kostitsyn
3. Rick Nash
(photo credit: AP photo)