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Post Info TOPIC: Best Offense is a Good Defense
Desi


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Best Offense is a Good Defense
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Tonight's game isn't over, but clearly it's over. It's not the end of the world, though. I didn't expect much from Les Dudes tonight after a week at the spa, and having seen the Duckies play so tough against Buffalo the other night, a blowout like this seemed eminently possible. Maybe they're rusty, maybe they miss the Brothers K more than we know. But one thing's for sure --

Our D sucks.

The old truism that the best defense is a good offense is certainly true. The Sens give up a lot of goals and still win by three. But in our case, one of the problems with our offense is that our defensive guys (with the possible exception of Markov on a good night) can't skate and can't pass -- so the puck never gets out of our zone in a way that gives the forwards much to work with. The passes come to them at bad angles. Or the passes are behind them. Or the passes are intercepted and never get to our forwards. The only time the Habs give their opponets a tough time is when our forwards somehow manage to get it in low and cycle it. And even then, god forbid the puck ever gets back to the point. That's a sure sign that Souray or somebody is going to get a shot blocked and allow play to head the other way toute de suite.

As bad as our d-men are offensively, though, they're even worse defensively -- and that goes for the entire unit. They're flatfooted, they play the puck rather than the man, and when they try to take the body, they do so awkwardly and take themselves out of the play more often than they derail the other team's forwards.

They stink!

And that's why they end up taking so many penalties. When you're two steps slower than the guy you're up against, and when you're out of position either from lack of skill or lack of intelligence, you gotta cheat. You hook, you hold, you trip -- whatever it takes to try to keep their guys from scoring yet another tap-in.

The Duckies have taken 33 shots on goal to get their five markers in the first two periods tonight. And they're not even a very skilled team! Good thing Theo's playing pretty well or they'd be in double digits by now.

It's not a matter of work ethic, either, I don't think. Our guys hustled once they woke up in the second period tonight. They just don't have what it takes. Until BG gets on the horn and shores up the blueline, this kind of play will continue. Even with the Brothers K around, we're lucky to get three goals a game. We have GOT to have a better defensive corps (including the goaltending). Otherwise, we'll be lucky to make the playoffs.

I'll still watch the guys no matter who's wearing the uni, and I'll always root for them, because they're my team and always will be. It's just a shame to see such a lucky start to the season getting wasted.

Les Canadiens Sont La

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barry33


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Great post D! I agree with you. Our D are terribly slow footed. And it shows.  Th ereason we take penalties is because we get beat in our own end and clutch and grab Not the refs. Refs called a good game tonite.

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Karim


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Let's not build another team built on defensive defensemen or defensive forwards.  It creates for boring hockey.  I for one am willing to have the team finish last and draft high.  Please no more boring hockey.  The game against Anaheim was a classic boring habs game to watch.  Over the last 10 years, the habs have not had a very exciting team to watch.  If we have to rebuild, let's do it with Offense with players like Kovalev. 


I think addition of 1 or 2 more players can inject some life back into the habs.


C.J. is a good coach but some of the players need a wake up call .


 


 


 



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Desi


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For this team, or any Montreal team, to finish last would be a crime. To me, losing 9 of 12 games is what gets boring. I think we have the offensive players to make for lots of exciting hockey -- especially in the "new NHL." But until we have a defense that can do a better job at both ends of the ice, those exciting forwards will be working in vain.

Les Canadiens Sont La

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Jax


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I agree with you D.


We need a good D to support our forwards. Make a good first pass, skate fast, play the body AND the puck on one-on-one. Markov is by far our best D and the "new NHL" is good for Markov. He can make incredible passes, on the tape, 2 blue lines away...I've seen it more than once coming from him. Now Souray, on the other is (what I like to cal him) the "master dumper"...He gets the puck, either passes it to the other D man, or, skates to the red line and dumps it...When, rarely, he tries to make a good transition and support the attack by making a "bomb pass" or a pass ever so slightly longer that one zone, he misses it, his aim is WAY off.


Rivet is a good assett though. He's not the best of the best, but does the job and doesn't complain.


GO HABS GO!



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