Habs without Koivu

JohnM · Guru

Habs without Koivu

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Can the Habs still pull the series off without Koivu? It seems like the team lost a big part of their heart last night when he went down. Also the fans weren't as into it after the injury. Higgins and Ryder looked lossed after his loss. These guys with Bonk were a (-) on the night. It's gonna be tough but we are up and need to take advantage of home ice advantage. The fans and the players need to rally this team to get the next win.-- Edited by JohnM at 08:23, 2006-04-27

John- we will see what this team is made of now. Obviously, on a young team, when something like this happens it is tough to overcome. Higgins and Ryder were lost obviously because their center was plucked out from underneath them in the middle of a game. What scares me now is that BG chose not to address how thin we are up the middle just yet, so now we are left scrambling. Gainey and Carbo have been down this road before and for that., as a habs fan,. I am happy they are behind the bench now instead of CJ. They will be a steadying influence I think.

JohnM · Guru

We can hope. This is gonna be a test of character indeed.

GO HABS GO!!!

beakermania · Senior Member

I know this is gonna sound bad, but I feel more confident that we will win this series now, then before Koivu was hurt. I think the emotional impact of winning this one for him will be enormous.

That said, our small chance at winning a cup this year is definetely decreased without Saku in the lineup. This emotional uplift will last this round and possibly one or two games in round two, but it cannot replace what Saku brings the team for a long playoff run. Once the inspiration wears off, our weakness up the middle will be exposed.

JohnM · Guru

beakermania wrote:

I know this is gonna sound bad, but I feel more confident that we will win this series now, then before Koivu was hurt. I think the emotional impact of winning this one for him will be enormous. That said, our small chance at winning a cup this year is definetely decreased without Saku in the lineup. This emotional uplift will last this round and possibly one or two games in round two, but it cannot replace what Saku brings the team for a long playoff run. Once the inspiration wears off, our weakness up the middle will be exposed.

I like your confidence Beak, nice to see.

beakermania · Senior Member

JohnM wrote:

I like your confidence Beak, nice to see.

I just cannot believe that a team coached by Gainey, Carbo, and Jarvis, and with players like Saku, Begin, Bouillion, Rivet, Kovalev, Souray, Markov, Murray, Higgins, Zednick etc will fold up their tents despite in the face of this adversity. I believe that Gainey and Savard have been adding character guys to the lineup for a while now, and that this character will show through in spades in the next two games.

-- Edited by beakermania at 11:00, 2006-04-27

plouf · Guru

beakermania wrote:

I know this is gonna sound bad, but I feel more confident that we will win this series now, then before Koivu was hurt. I think the emotional impact of winning this one for him will be enormous. That said, our small chance at winning a cup this year is definetely decreased without Saku in the lineup. This emotional uplift will last this round and possibly one or two games in round two, but it cannot replace what Saku brings the team for a long playoff run. Once the inspiration wears off, our weakness up the middle will be exposed.

Yep, very good assessment. Emotion can carry you for a couple games. But tough to sustain momentum after the loss of such a key player.

But hey, here's a chance for our other centres to step it up. They've all had their moments this season, and they've all looked good in the first three games, for the most part. So now's their chance to prove that our centre situation isn't as bad as we all think it is. Now if Bonk could just get it on the !@#$% net! (anyone else notice he's missing gimmies again?)

Jay1982 · Guru

beakermania wrote:

I know this is gonna sound bad, but I feel more confident that we will win this series now, then before Koivu was hurt. I think the emotional impact of winning this one for him will be enormous.
That said, our small chance at winning a cup this year is definetely decreased without Saku in the lineup. This emotional uplift will last this round and possibly one or two games in round two, but it cannot replace what Saku brings the team for a long playoff run. Once the inspiration wears off, our weakness up the middle will be exposed.

same thing happened when Zednik went down in the series against Beantown. The players will give it their all for koivu!

The Kahuna · Guru

I for one am not overly worried. Early reports on Saku offer up hope. If he doesn't come back, they'll work around it. They looked pretty good last night without him, Ward was just on fire. Beleive!!!

edgar · Newbie

Jay1982 wrote:

same thing happened when Zednik went down in the series against Beantown. The players will give it their all for koivu!

I remember that series habs were way down and the ended up winning it. im sure the habs can do it again. Only this tim it will be a lot more work for the habs.

on that note how long is koivu out for? If it's the whole playoffs, then habs are in deep trouble and may not make it to the semi finals... my prdiction about fridays game is that habs will win 4-2.

habhob · Newbie

Adjusting to injury problems is a major part of the game. Git er done! Habs in 6.

plouf · Guru

habhob wrote:

Adjusting to injury problems is a major part of the game. Git er done! Habs in 6.

True enough. And the other 3 Habs centres were already stepping up even before Koivu got the injury, when Koivu was going through a weak patch. I could never have foreseen the Habs surviving the loss of Koivu a month ago, but the way Plekanec and Bonk (and Ribeiro, up to a point) are playing, and with Begin hopefully coming back, I still believe. Plus the injury will inspire the team to win one for the captain.

barry33 · Guru

plouf wrote:

habhob wrote: Adjusting to injury problems is a major part of the game. Git er done! Habs in 6. True enough. And the other 3 Habs centres were already stepping up even before Koivu got the injury, when Koivu was going through a weak patch. I could never have foreseen the Habs surviving the loss of Koivu a month ago, but the way Plekanec and Bonk (and Ribeiro, up to a point) are playing, and with Begin hopefully coming back, I still believe. Plus the injury will inspire the team to win one for the captain.

Call me nuts "Barry yer NUTS"! but I think that Ribs is gonna be the guy who steps up here. I have really been impressed by him in this playoff and I am betting he will step it up.

davidb · Guru

Barry you are so right. Put yourself in their shoes (i mean skates) They just had a serious injury to the heart of their team. Of course you get emotionally drained. It is at that point you want them to get motivated and play with more monemtum, but they cant. Now, Friday is another story. I am sure today they all met, made calls to the Capt and talked about it. I am sure they are all chomping at the bit to get out there with the fans going crazy and win one in a big way. Solid D, solid PP, Solid Offensive zone plays and great goaltending.