Wow that was too close for a crummy team like Boston. Critical 2 points, but I wasn't thrilled with the way the Habs played for the 2nd game in a row

Boy, that game sums up the whole season, doesn't it?

Anyway, some random observations:

Simpson displayed some toughness, but boy is he a lousy hockey player. He was SO slow on the PK and terrible with the puck it was maddening. And between him and Komi and Rivet, I have to say the defense was a joke trying to get out of their own end. Komisarek was back to the uncertainty I remember from early this season. And Souray, though he was a force in some ways, was sometimes making totally baffling decisions. Markov and Dandenault were probably the best 2 d's tonight, maybe just because I don't remember too many mistakes by them. Markov was probably the only defensemen who made me feel confident when he had the puck. I really miss Bouillon, because he's so good at getting the puck out of the zone.

In fact I thought the defense was terrible as a whole tonight, including the forwards. Souray got undressed yet again. Watching Ribeiro trying to deal with Bergeron was truly painful. And Koivu also had a bad lapse in the last minute behind the Habs net, again against Bergeron. Bonk and Plekanec were no saints either.

The top line stank it up, in my view. But, and this is the first time I've said this all season, tonight Koivu was let down by his linemates, at least in the offensive end. He was very average defensively tonight. But how many times did Koivu wait, wait, wait with the puck, then thread it perfectly to Higgins or Ryder in the slot or crease, only for them to fan on it or miss the net completely? Higgins did not look sharp with the puck tonight, and Ryder...wow, he really has some decision-making problems at times, especially when carrying it into the offensive zone.

Second line was excellent. Ribeiro was terrible defensively, but otherwise all three of them showed spark, Ribeiro was feisty (the announcers on NESN kept bashing him all night), and Bulis and Kovalev were on fire.

Third line was also good, but again pretty much only on offense. Perezhogin looked dangerous for once, and Zednik was playing well. It's great to see him back in form. This line's speed is awesome to watch. They were first to every puck.

Fourth line was mediocre, for me. Begin is sorely missed.

Aebischer was ok...sometimes brilliant, sometimes scary. And the defense was horrible! Really, do they expect to beat good teams? I'll chalk it up to tiredness, but it was awful watching normally solid guys like Rivet and Souray just get flat out beat late in the game. Rivet's poor play was particularly disturbing, since he's been so solid all year.

Bench Simpson, please. Give me Streit even, over that guy, fights and all. Now I understand why Downey was playing regularly.

After all that negativity, I have to say the guys looked brilliant at times, especially when they were cycling the puck in the offensive zone. There were long stretches of total offensive domination where Thomas had to stand on his head (obviously playing the bruins helped, but still). It was such an up and down game it was hard to take. You can really see the potential there, but then it just disappears into smoke.

I hope Kovy is like that in the playoffs!

-- Edited by plouf at 01:10, 2006-04-14

Tired in the 3rd period????

Well they better get use to it becauise in the p;layoffs you play every other noght at a much higher intensity.  Every shift is under a microspcope especially if you play at the Bell Centre.

I think, Habtastic, you are hitting the nail on the head with what i think is the team's biggest worry, and that is conditioning.   Koivu is lagging out there and he needs to find his legs, "AGAIN!!!".

I say let;s focus away from the goaltending controversy because Bob gainey is using an old scotty bowman trick and that is leave nothing to be expectd and keep everyone guessing.   He has a game plan all along.