Just prior to Game #7 of the Boston series, I wrote about the Canadiens ‘weakest link’, coach Guy Carbonneau. As the Habs enter game #4, (which feels like a seventh game situation,) I stand by the statements I made.
The media has been all a twitter with the ‘coyness’ of Carbonneau’s goaltender choice for this game. Sometimes, coaches use this technique for a strategic advantage. In this case, there is none. Price will likely start and that will not surprise the Flyers. If Halak does get the call, the Flyers will smell desperation and be pumped up. Halak is no mystery to coach Stevens or Richards and Carter as they faced him in the AHL.
So why is Carbonneau playing these dumb mind games? He answered that question today. Carbo said, “I’ve made my decision and feel strongly about it,” and added “it’s my decision…because I’m the one who’s going to get blamed.” Carbo also said that he knew that his decision would lead to “about 600 articles on whether it was a good or bad decision.”
So, in short, Guy Carbonneau didn’t want to be second-guessed and didn’t want the focus on himself. Instead, he wanted the harsh glare of the Montreal media spotlight on his 20 yr. old rookie goaltender. For all of you Carbo supporters out there, are these the actions of a Jack Adam award nominee?
We have already seen Carbonneau crush the confidence of Carey Price early in the calendar year. Price had done a good job carrying the load while Huet was out with an injury. Upon Huet’s return, Price promptly found himself on the bench for about a dozen straight games. Then Carbo tossed Price into a game with a win or be demoted ultimatum. We all know that Price then found himself in Hamilton for a period of time.
Bob Gainey had to intervene twice this year to right his goaltending situation after Carbonneau’s mishandling. Perhaps, the third time Gainey has to step in, it will be to remove the biggest ego from the dressing room.
I was amused by Patrice Brisebois’ take on the situation. “If it’s Carey we’ll back him up,” Brisebois said. That would be a welcome change given that it has been Price that has bailed out Brisebois on dozens of occasions so far in the playoffs.
Curiously Carbonneau will insert Brisebois in O’Byrne place in tonight’s line-up. O’Byrne played very well the last month of the season, and was a regular team leader in hits and blocked shots while Komisarek was out with an injury.
Brisebois is not very mobile. His slow foot speed has been quite obvious in the playoffs. PB is not physical at all and does not move opposition forwards from the front of the net. Brisebois doesn’t win battles for the puck and moreso, rarely engages in battles for the puck. His play in his own zone is a huge liability as he regularly leads the team in giveaways. At this point in his career, he is not an NHL calibre defenseman.
It’s said that Brisebois makes a good first pass. This is true only if he’s not being pressured. For that matter, I’m sure that Darwin Head could do the same. (Head won TSN’s Million Dollar shootout by accurately firing pucks in a net from the far blue-line…without a forechecker in his face!) But I no more want Brisebois in the line-up than Head. Under pressure, Brisebois turns the puck over.
Another myth is that Brisebois brings playoff experience to the line-up. During the 1st round, I hadn’t noticed the Bruins players discussing Brisebois ‘impressive resume’ on the bench. Instead they were swapping stories about the ease to which they took turns pasting PB into the glass behind the Canadiens net.
And what about the offense Brisebois brings to the power-play. The Canadiens PP was #1 during the season WITHOUT Patrice Brisebois. He has scored only one goal while getting plenty of ice-time each game. Adding Brisebois to the PP is a downgrade because he plants himself at the blue-line and doesn’t move. That is how the Canadiens operated a PP in 1993 but not today. The key is quick puck movement and rotation. You may recall that Andrei Markov had to use hand signals to direct a stationary Brisebois during a power-play in the Boston series.
Carbonneau has made a few good moves in the playoffs and I’ve complimented him when he has done so. But the sum of his performance has been sub-par.
I didn’t think it was possible for Carbonneau (or anyone else) to be outcoached by John Stevens. It hasn’t occurred but that may yet happen.
It’s time for Carbonneau to remember that he is a coach not a player. And he is a rookie playoff coach at that. It’s also time for him to assume the responsibilities of a coach and quit redirecting the attention to his goaltender.
“The weakest link..so far”: