Pre-season: Montreal 2 Ottawa 1 (Bell Centre)
It’s pre-season. I’m not going to do a full game-by-game analysis just yet. But you missed hockey, and so did we at All Habs.
It’s tempting to over-analyze pre-season games and offer predictions. We’ll try to keep that in check. But based on observations of training camp and the first two games, there are some encouraging signs.
Its obvious that the 2009-10 Canadiens are a different team in terms of personnel, but there also seems to be a different attitude among the players and atmosphere in the locker room. We’ll look back on the summer activities and whats ahead for the Habs this season (watch for habsbloggergirl’s series) in preparation for the opener on October 1st. But for now, a quick look at tonight’s game versus Ottawa.
This was not an exciting game to watch. For now, let’s chalk it up to pre-season and the fact that five regulars were in the line-up for the Canadiens. But, if fans have to watch this style of play come November, Jacques Martin will not be a popular guy.
Brian Gionta, deservedly, was the first star of the game. Gionta had six shots on net, the winning goal and was effective at both ends of the ice. The line of Gionta, Plekanec and Pacioretty played well with obvious chemistry.
Ben Maxwell showed patience and scored a pretty goal to tie the game in the second period. Maxwell’s development is bad news for Kyle Chipchura and may put pressure on Max Lapierre.
Eric Neilson did his best to impress with two deserved fighting majors (with a bonus third major for being tackled). Two non-staged fights for Neilson is precisely two more than Georges Laraques had all last season. Let’s hope that Laraques’ strategy to pre-arrange meaningless sideshow tilts will be dropped this season.
Its not a surprise that Hal Gill is slow of foot but balance was a problem tonight too. Let’s hope he stays back and clears the front of the net. Shawn Belle skates well and has size but his inconsistent positional play means he is not ready for the big club. Paul Mara had four shots and led the team in time-on-ice.
The stat sheet will show that the Canadiens scored a power-play goal but the PP definitely needs work. Yannick Weber’s cannon from the point was definitely under-utilized.
It was a good showing for Curtis Sanford. Let’s just say that after a strong start, it was a forgettable game for Jaroslav Halak. He was fortunate that the Senators hit the post four times or the result could have been very different. Lateral movement is still a concern.
For two games in a row, newcomers (Gionta, Cammalleri and Gomez) have led the Canadiens to victory. Is it enough to win over Bob Gainey haters? Time will tell.
Pre-game
“A”‘s on the sweaters of: Brian Gionta, Hal Gill, Glen Metropolit
Official three stars:
1. Brian Gionta
2. Tomas Plekanec
3. Jason Spezza
(photo credit: AP)