Who was wearing 14 Last Night?!

Jonny G · Senior Member

Who was wearing 14 Last Night?!

Jedah · Guru

Yes, I noticed that too. I myself was wondering why Kovalev was wearing Bonk's jersey

superhab · Guru

Jedah wrote:

Yes, I noticed that too. I myself was wondering why Kovalev was wearing Bonk's jersey

The Way Kovalev has been playing sometimes it wouldn't surprise me if they switched. Kovalev had the puck on two, two on ones and fired it wide twice. Does that sound like a 4.5 mill player? Meanwhile Sunny has the puck on one two on one and makes the Flyers eat it with a great pass to Bulis. Sit Kovalev next game and dress Ivananas(SP) at least Rattis will be hustling out there, and maybe he can get back at Chara.

Jedah · Guru

I agree Kovalev was less than spectacular last night, but sit our most talented player? I don't think so. You have to remember that he brings a sense of leadership and energy to the team, and he consistantly wins his battles in the corners. I'd much rather he produced every night instead of only some nights, but taking him out of the lineup is definitely not the answer.

rwp2le · Guru

Bonk can be a very impressive player, maybe BG is putting some confidence back in this guy. He really is an acceptable #2 center. As for Kovalev, I thought he played well last night, Koviu was silent though. Makes it tough on his linemates when he doesnt show up. And did you guys watch the game on TSN last night? Boy do they like Sundstrum.

Desi · Senior Member

Regarding Kovy -- is anyone else bothered by the use of #27 on the point during power plays? I'm not against putting a forward back there in general, especially if he can handle the puck well, but in Kovy's case, it seems like a bad move to me. Kovy works the puck so well down low and along the sideboards. He creates openings, has a quick shot, and draws opposition players to him -- freeing up somebody else. On the point, he mostly just stands there waiting for a pass from the other Hab defenseman, after which he dishes it off to somebody else down low or dumps it in the corner. Move Kovy back up on power plays I say.

Les Canadiens Sont La

Jedah · Guru

Desi wrote:

Regarding Kovy -- is anyone else bothered by the use of #27 on the point during power plays? I'm not against putting a forward back there in general, especially if he can handle the puck well, but in Kovy's case, it seems like a bad move to me. Kovy works the puck so well down low and along the sideboards. He creates openings, has a quick shot, and draws opposition players to him -- freeing up somebody else. On the point, he mostly just stands there waiting for a pass from the other Hab defenseman, after which he dishes it off to somebody else down low or dumps it in the corner. Move Kovy back up on power plays I say.

Les Canadiens Sont La

I have to agree with you here. I like guys like Souray, Rivet, Markov and Streit back there. Defencemen who aren't afraid to shoot. Kovalev's so good with the puck in the corners. He never loses those one on one battles. It would be nice to see him back there. But maybe this is because guys like Souray and Markov are injured.

rwp2le · Guru

I agree, seems like we are taking our best weapon out of the play. We set up on the boards, not the point. I think this will end when Markov is back though, it can work, but we need to change our entire system to make sure AK has the puck, that is when he is at his best.

Jonny G · Senior Member

Desi wrote:

Regarding Kovy -- is anyone else bothered by the use of #27 on the point during power plays? I'm not against putting a forward back there in general, especially if he can handle the puck well, but in Kovy's case, it seems like a bad move to me. Kovy works the puck so well down low and along the sideboards. He creates openings, has a quick shot, and draws opposition players to him -- freeing up somebody else. On the point, he mostly just stands there waiting for a pass from the other Hab defenseman, after which he dishes it off to somebody else down low or dumps it in the corner. Move Kovy back up on power plays I say.

Les Canadiens Sont La

I totally agree, but BG likes to set up the PP from the point as opposed to down low. Lately, most of the PP chances have been coming from the point. With Markov out, I guess he likes having Kovy QB the PP.

24 Rings · Guru

Anyone else think Souray has to shoot more on the PP? This guy has one of the hardest shots in the league and he doesn't use it as much as he should.

Jedah · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

Anyone else think Souray has to shoot more on the PP? This guy has one of the hardest shots in the league and he doesn't use it as much as he should.

For sure he should. When he uses it, he scores a lot. It's a shame he's injured right now, but I really think if Gainey wants to set up on the point and take shots from there, it's a necessity to have Souray as the man taking those shots.

heet_150 · Guru

Jedah wrote:

24 Rings wrote: Anyone else think Souray has to shoot more on the PP? This guy has one of the hardest shots in the league and he doesn't use it as much as he should. For sure he should. When he uses it, he scores a lot. It's a shame he's injured right now, but I really think if Gainey wants to set up on the point and take shots from there, it's a necessity to have Souray as the man taking those shots.

The problem with that plan is that everyone in the league knows he has a booming shot and they seem to come out to the point and challenge him. Now he has to try and thread a shot through the wickets or pass the puck off and hope for a clear shot to the front of the net. I don't care if the puck ricochets off some legs at the net, it's when it hits someone at the blue line and pops out into the neutral zone where the opposition can jump on it for an oddman rush or even breakaway.

24 Rings · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

Jedah wrote: problem with that plan is that everyone in the league knows he has a booming shot and they seem to come out to the point and challenge him. Now he has to try and thread a shot through the wickets or pass the puck off and hope for a clear shot to the front of the net. I don't care if the puck ricochets off some legs at the net, it's when it hits someone at the blue line and pops out into the neutral zone where the opposition can jump on it for an oddman rush or even breakaway.

For sure, but I think the league had woken up to McCabe as well, and he was pumping in goals when he was healthy. Maybe set him up on the top-corner of the circle so has has the angle?

Desi · Senior Member

Heetsy is right about all those shots being blocked at the point. Souray has a hard shot, but he takes a while getting it off. Same goes for Rivet -- and Cube and Streit. If I had a loony for every shot from the point that had been blocked this year, I could buy the Habs Niklas Lidstrom for a Valentine's day present. And if I had another loony for every point shot that went wide, I could throw Matthieu Schneider in along with him!

What we need is to have those defensemen MOVE and cycle around more, so that they're not just standing at the point like statues. Rivet did this beautifully vs. Philly last night and was able to dish the puck off to Bulis for one of his sweet upper-corner goals. The movement creates openings that give forwards room to maneuver, and give the other defensemen a chance to creep in for a closer (and possibly open) shot.

Gainey seems to want his D'men to get into the play more in the offensive zone and that's a good thing. But I think movement is the key.

Les Canadiens sont la

superhab · Guru

Jedah wrote:

I agree Kovalev was less than spectacular last night, but sit our most talented player? I don't think so. You have to remember that he brings a sense of leadership and energy to the team, and he consistantly wins his battles in the corners. I'd much rather he produced every night instead of only some nights, but taking him out of the lineup is definitely not the answer.

he hasn't played well in a long time. Even in Calgary he floated all night then scored a goal. Sure he is the most talented player but he would be much more helpful if he got his head out of his ass and started to play. He can control a game if he wanted to but he doesnt care. Sure he wins some battles but what about his backchecking? Non existent.

As for him on the point i agree he should be in the corner but who to put on the point for last game? SOuray and Markov were out. Striet, BOullion, and Rivet are the only one's that i would give a possibilty out there as for Komi, and Cote both are big bodies that aren't going to score on the PP so its not a terrible idea for now. Did anyone else notice that many shots were not getting threw? they were always going right of the shin pads. maybe a better shot selection is in order.

plouf · Guru

Desi wrote:

Heetsy is right about all those shots being blocked at the point. Souray has a hard shot, but he takes a while getting it off. Same goes for Rivet -- and Cube and Streit. If I had a loony for every shot from the point that had been blocked this year, I could buy the Habs Niklas Lidstrom for a Valentine's day present. And if I had another loony for every point shot that went wide, I could throw Matthieu Schneider in along with him!

What we need is to have those defensemen MOVE and cycle around more, so that they're not just standing at the point like statues. Rivet did this beautifully vs. Philly last night and was able to dish the puck off to Bulis for one of his sweet upper-corner goals. The movement creates openings that give forwards room to maneuver, and give the other defensemen a chance to creep in for a closer (and possibly open) shot.

Gainey seems to want his D'men to get into the play more in the offensive zone and that's a good thing. But I think movement is the key.

Les Canadiens sont la

Bang on analysis. Hear hear. Movement....
Rivet can't skate much, but he's a smart guy. It's pathetic that Rivet of all people is moving the most on the point.

barry33 · Guru

Johnny G was right on the mark. As I said earlier in my coaching comparison, Gainey likes to use the points more than CJ on the PP. CJ liked the guys to work the puck down low and work the puck behind the net. Gainey utilizes the points. Kovalev has a good shot but, more importantly., he can move the puck around back there. Rivet and Souray are not the most mobile guys in the league.