Habster:
Cristobal Huet was wearing the “goat horns” after the 9:02 mark of the third period when he wandered out of his net to “help” settle the puck for Roman Hamrlik and got tangled up with a Thrashers player which led to the puck sliding out to Pascal Dupuis who buried the puck into the net to tie the game at 2-2. Huet was also very weak on Atlanta’s first goal when Hossa made a cross crease pass which banked off Huet’s pad and into the net.
To his credit, Huet did come up big by making two big stops against Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov in the shootout while Andrei Kostitsyn and Saku Koivu scored on their shootout chances to give the Canadiens the victory with a much needed extra point in the standing.
For the most part, the Canadiens were the better team on this night, holding a 29-24 shot advantage (including a 16-7 shot margin in the second period). They kept the Thrashers to the outside, clogging the center ice area and skated with them throughout the game.
The road warriors continue their strong play away from the Bell Centre and return home with three victories and 6 of a possible 8 points………priceless……pardon the pun, folks!!!!
Game Points:
- Canadiens fans haven’t had a line as exciting as the KPK line since the Shutt-Lemaire-Lafleur line from the great 70’s Canadiens teams. They are becoming one of the more fun lines to watch in the NHL with great passing, wonderful creativity and jump out of your seat moves/up ice rushes……highlight stuff!!!!
- I motion that we change Andrei Kostitsyn’s nickname from Big ‘Tits to: The Magical Belarusian or Andrei “The Highlight Reel” Kostitsyn or better yet, ‘Tits With The Great Mits”……..Andrei is here to stay, Habs fans!!!! What a move on the first goal of the game…..WOW!!! If he was helmet less, you’d swear he was the reincarnation of Guy Lafleur with the slick moves and the long golden blond hair flowing in the air as he rushes up the ice……we can only hope that young Mr. Kostitsyn has half the career that the Flower had. Check out his highlight goal: http://www.nhl.tv/team/launch.htm?hlg=20072008,2,692&event=ATL282
- Equipment manager Pierre Gervais has to develop or install a bungee cord onto the back of Cristobal Huet’s jersey which in turn would be attached to his goal posts/crossbar so as to keep him from wandering out of his goal crease area……it’s an adventure every time he leaves the net!!!! In general, if you’re not very good at something, you tend to avoid doing it…….someone please tell Huet this philosophy!!!
- I like what I saw of the Kostitsyn/Koivu/Higgins line. They didn’t score but were buzzing around the net all night. The line had 7 shots on net and if Line Shuffler Carbonneau can leave them alone for a few games then maybe we can get more production from another line not called KPK.
- I also liked the work of the Ryder/Smolinski/Latendresse line. They looked good all night especially on the Habs second goal by Michael Ryder after a pretty three way passing play. Bryan Smolinski has played his two best games in a Canadiens uniform since returning from his injury and hopefully will only get better with more ice time.
- If only we had a solid #4 defenseman to play with Roman Hamrlik, maybe an Adam Foote or Rob Blake to name a few. Ryan O’Byrne could be the answer but he’s still young and inexperienced. I know Mark Streit prefers playing defense but he is more effective as a forward with powerplay duties at the point. Sorry Mark but you’re just not strong enough along the boards and in front of the net. I do love your quick, precise breakout passes from the back end but………
- Wouldn’t Marian Hossa look good in a Habs uniform lined up next to Saku Koivu and Christopher Higgins……..we can dream can’t we??? It would take 1 or 2 roster players and a combination of prospects plus draft choices to get Hossa, similar to what Nashville gave up for Peter Forberg and probably more!!! Don Waddell could still sign Hossa to a contract as they are still negotiating and exchanging numbers….time will tell.