I'm pleased to see that Ribeiro and company managed to actually have a good game tonight. On the other hand, one has to wonder about the chip on his shoulder, or whatever his problem is, that he can't perform like this when Koivu is in the lineup. Consistency is the most important thing in any athelete's game, and Ribeiro has none of it. I can only hope that Gainey used this game as a showcase and we can get something good for the guy in a trade.

Stupid mistakes. No one likes to see them, and tonight it cost us two points. Stupid penalties, specifically, are the reason we go home with one point and not two. What the heck was Zedder thinking wrapping his arms around someone? I know he wasn't actually holding the guy, but in the heat of action, just the intent is penalized - it has been all year. And we just won't wonder what Bonk was thinking.

~~

Notes:

Theodore: Simple mistakes. Like allowing a zero angle shot to go in the net. The word is out, shoot high on Theo and chances are it's in the net. He struggled badly at times with rebound control and that Drury goal was abysmal. I wish he's stay in his net and not play the puck either. It has to be at least 70% of the time that he gives it away. B-

Streit: I don't really care what others are saying, he was, once again, fairly solid tonight. Sure, there's no mistaking him for a top-level NHL defender, but I'll take him as a #5/6 guy. He makes some mistakes, but in general keeps his game simple and works hard. I thought this was his best defensive game yet. B

Cote: Not much time out there. After all, he's a rookie. N/A

Dandenault: A typical, satisfactory performance. He's still not making anything happen up front, but his defensive responsibility is good. B

Bouillon: Excellent game. He very rarely puts his team in trouble, and he plays positionally well - particularly against fast teams when others might get a little lost. B+

Souray: At times I was kind of wishing he was still injured. He's still trying to do way too much, and while the opposition gives him more time out of respect for what he can do, sooner or later they'll figure out he's not doing it and it'll cost us. C+

Rivet: Solid and steady. Can't ask for anything more. B+

Kostitsyn: Honestly, what was the point in calling him up for one shift? Where's the logic in bringing up a kid to the NHL when the team needs offence and that's what he's able to give, when all you're going to do is allow him to hit the ice and then bench him for the rest of the game. What does that do to a kid's confidence anyhow? I've had it up to here with Julien's use of our rookies. Sure, he had a disorganized first shift, but IT WAS HIS FIRST SHIFT EVER in the NHL, was he supposed to be Mario Lemieux? "You make mistakes, you sit forever." That seems to be the motto of this coach towards his kids.

Perezhogin: Again, why bother having him up here with the big club playing 5-10 minutes a night when he could be on the farm playing with Kosty and getting a solid rapport with someone he could be working with for years to come. Instead, we have him in the NHL where, as I see it, we may actually be stunting his development. I don't want 20+ minutes for him unless he deserves it, of course. But these kids HAVE to play. Prezzie has little confidence as it is. C

Begin: Excellent. He looks more and more like he's recovering from that sickness. He hit far more tonight and looked similar to when he was at his most energetic. B+

Sundstrom: He did a decent enough job shutting down the opponents, but even then he was more mistake prone again tonight. I don't see him making the extra efforts anymore. B-

Higgins: Another rookie who's struggling. Now, ask yourself why. Is it because he's just not working hard enough? As I see it, he worked as hard tonight as he has all season. No, I think the problem for him is a lack of consistency. He has no clue where he's going to play from night to night. There's no allowing the kids to get established, the coach just shuffles them around all over the place and it's no surprise they can't keep up at this point. B-

Bonk: Find this guy a walker because he just looks like an old man out there. D

Dagenais: Crashed the net, worked the boards, skated hard. I'm fed up with this guy who plays like this three times in 25 games. Unacceptable as a player, and unacceptable for the franchise to keep this kind of inconsistency on the ice when others should be getting more. B+

Ryder: Flashes of his old self, but again tonight he looked lethargic at times. Heck, he made Dagenais look good on a couple of shifts, and that's never great. In order to be on, Ryder has to be working his butt off. C+

Ribeiro: As I asked before, I have to wonder what his problem is that he can really only play well when Koivu is out of the lineup. I hope Gainey takes advantage of this to get something good while he can. I, for one, am sick of this guy on the ice. A-

Zednik: A more selfish player you'll probably never come across. His lazy penalty was atrocious and I don't remember him passing the puck once tonight. C

Bulis: Great speed, no offensive skills. Defensively he looked better than he has in a while, but up front, he skates aimlessly in circles at times. He doesn't seem to know where to go or what to do. B

Plekanec: A solid performance filling in for Koivu. He worked hard at both ends of the rink and, while he couldn't create like Sax can, he was the bright spot on that line. I'd prefer to see him back with Ryder on the second, however. B+

Julien: His (mis) use of the kids is driving me insane. No wonder no kids ever succeed in Montreal, he doesn't use any of them very well. For a 'youth' coach, he really doesn't like the youth. I say, at this point, the watch has been started on Julien. Not necessarily because of the team's state, but more because he doesn't seem to be able to integrate the elements he's been provided into a more consistent unit - namely the rookies.

PP: We have yet to score five-on-three. 'Nuff said.

PK: Passive to the point of being comatose. The opposition is allowed to pass the puck around without opposition lately.

~~

There was one solid sign that I'd like to point out tonight: the gap between the forwards and the defence in our own zone was significantly smaller, thus assisting the team defensively and aiding our transitional game. Furthermore, I think we won more battles than we lost on the boards, particularly in our own end. Small victories, but you take them where you can when things are low like they are.

High-flying LA comes to town Saturday night, and that's going to be a tough game. We're going to have to concentrate on defensive play like tonight to have a chance, and then take advantage of our offensive opportunities. Otherwise, this rather lengthy slide will continue.