How to make a mountain out of molehill. Step 1: Take a hockey team who, despite winning, has problems with discipline, on the powerplay, and in the defensive zone. Step 2: Let a coach who is long on a belief in luck and short on coaching technique dismantle everything whether its working or not.
The result is a team that should be contending for top spot in the conference may have to rely on its goaltending to secure a playoff spot.
If Carbonneau thought that the game against St Louis was the best of the season, he must have been thrilled tonight. Prior to tonight’s game, Carbo explained that the team was struggling due to bad luck and an absence of goals. Carbonneau said “the only thing we have left to do is to score goals”. Oh, is that all?
The Canadiens who already were giving up too many shots per game gave the Hurricanes two games worth of shots at Carey Price. Price was the lone star in white and was simply spectacular. He did all he could to give the team a chance to win. Pierre McGuire said “Carey Price is having a stellar night with awesome rebound control.”
As far as the rest of the Canadiens, Bob McKenzie summed it up saying that “the work ethic is pathetic”. It seems that the players have stopped playing for the coach, perhaps waiting, like he is, for the magical karma to take over and guide their shots to the back of the net.
The Canes who watched the same video (as other Habs’ opponents), created turnovers and scoring opportunities with an aggressive forecheck system. In the first period alone, the Canadiens had committed 7 defensive zone turnovers (by comparison the Hurricanes gave up 1). Carolina sent the tape on to Ottawa for Thursdays game.
Bright spots? Koivu, Kovalev and Lang were able to execute the play that they worked on in practise for a power play goal. The 4th line, Begin, Dandenault and Latendresse had three good shifts to start the game. Ryan O’Byrne played well including time on the penalty kill unit.
It was interesting to see that Peter Laviolette has so much confidence in rookie Brandon Sutter. He played less than 10 minutes but almost half that time was as a penalty killer. And Sutter played well.
The new line combinations aren’t working and while it was clear to most of us last game, don’t be surprised if Carbonneau stubbornly clings to them. Remember he is the guy who likes to prove everyone else wrong.
Pre-game:
Laraque and Lapierre sit. Komisarek still injured.
Rocket’s 3 stars:
1. Carey Price
2. Ray Whitney
3. Cam Ward
(photo credit: Reuters)