What needs to Change

barry33 · Guru

What needs to Change

Cleghorn · Veteran Member

In suppport of your comments Barry - if the Habs would just get out from in front of Huet and get in front of Ward!!

JohnM · Guru

Someone needs to show some leadership out there and show this team that's it's worth the extra effort. There has been no heart or leadership in the last 3 games.

Souray and Markov are prime examples of why this team is down 2-3. Dumb penalties and no heart or desire to win. Bulis is the Habs worst forward and that's not a compliment to Ribs.

The Kahuna · Guru

Agreed Barry, run and gun and crash the net, we have nothing to lose by trying it!

Nil d · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Get to the net. Huet has had to deal with being run over (Brindamour finally got called last night..refs are 1-30 on goalie interference calls) snow sprayed in his face, Still man and his fat ass blocking his view (BOTH Canes goals last night Huet has still not seen unless Stillman has a plasma tv glued to his ass) , etc. How many times has Ward had to deal with ANY of that? For Gods sake boys, your playoff lives are at stake here..GO TO THE NET AND MAKE WARD's LIFE MISERABLE!!!!!!!!!

This is the one that gets me the most (as most of you know by now). Many of the 'Canes goals have been screen jobs - but only partially by the 'Canes' forwards; much of the screening has been by the Habs' defense. Either block the shot or get out of the way!

At the other end, many of the Hab goals this series have also been on long shots, yet they continue to try for the fancy play. The worst offender in this regard is the fancy boy himself, who shall go nameless (but his initials are MR). If he has a shot, he should use it. And the Habs' fat asses should be parked in Ward's face too, which they have not been enough, in my view, especially on the "power play". (I use quotation marks, since the Habs PP was anything but powerful last night .)

Saku11 · Senior Member

I think our players need to be in better shape. They look tired midway thru the second every game and that causes brain farts. Guilty of the charges are Souray, Bonk, Markov, Ribeiro and sometimes other players as well. Carolina is just all over montreal and we are lucky we are down one game!

plouf · Guru

I agree with all of this criticism, but I have to point out a few exaggerations and memory-lapses that are cropping up in light of the last two pitiful games:

1)Montreal did not get outplayed in game 3. That was the ONE game in this series that was stolen by a goalie, Cam Ward, (AND, if you recall, by the referees).

2)Montreal did not put in poor efforts in any of the first three games (although there was a great deal of sloppiness in game 2. Sure the shot count was in the 'Canes favour in those games, but we won the shots on goal count last night, and does anybody honestly think we played better than the Canes? Shots on goal can be deceiving.

3)"We are lucky we are down one game": I think we are unlucky. We've played even up with one of the best teams in the NHL, but the refs in game 3 and the loss of our captain have been horrible strokes of bad luck.

Key Lime · Guru

plouf wrote:

I agree with all of this criticism, but I have to point out a few exaggerations and memory-lapses that are cropping up in light of the last two pitiful games: 1)Montreal did not get outplayed in game 3. That was the ONE game in this series that was stolen by a goalie, Cam Ward, (AND, if you recall, by the referees). 2)Montreal did not put in poor efforts in any of the first three games (although there was a great deal of sloppiness in game 2. Sure the shot count was in the 'Canes favour in those games, but we won the shots on goal count last night, and does anybody honestly think we played better than the Canes? Shots on goal can be deceiving. 3)"We are lucky we are down one game": I think we are unlucky. We've played even up with one of the best teams in the NHL, but the refs in game 3 and the loss of our captain have been horrible strokes of bad luck.

Point 2 and 3 sum it all for me thus far Plouf. However, you only mentioned their play until game 3. It's games 4 and 5 that have put us in this position. They had a to win 1 out of the last three to be in the driver's seat tomorrow night at the Bell Centre. Now they are in a do or die situation. How quick the tides have turned...

rwp2le · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Someone needs to show some leadership out there and show this team that's it's worth the extra effort. There has been no heart or leadership in the last 3 games. Souray and Markov are prime examples of why this team is down 2-3. Dumb penalties and no heart or desire to win. Bulis is the Habs worst forward and that's not a compliment to Ribs.

No leadership????? Did you watch? Kovalev on one leg was by far our best player last night. He has shown why he is a leader. The only way the Habs got back into the game last night is because he started seeing double duty. I think the real problem is, Kovy has stepped up, now who is behind him? No-one. The real problem is the lack of a real first line left winger, and a solid #1 defenseman. This problem would have been solved if it wasn't for the Opendoor's 5.5 million dollar contract. A decent center would help too. I think the habs played well last night, for what they have. But on a really positive note, with the exception of Staal, what youngester does a team like the Canes have? We look great for the future, a team filled with youngsters, and a few great leaders like Koviu, Kovy, Rivet and Souray. Plus, hopefully solid goaltending from Huet. My god, I have never seen anyone I want to see Gainey resign more than Huet. He is a world class goaltender.

Sorry if this is a bit rantish, but I have been taking crap from Leaf fans all day long.

Fatherhab · Senior Member

Barry- you forgot to change one other thing---its about time that we put Markov, Souray and Rivet on the powerplay as forwards, so they can plant their _sses in Ward's face like they've been doing to Huet throughout this series.

AB Habman · Guru

The Habs should be blocking shots high zone and the D taking out guys and providing a sight line low zone.

I can't stand seeing a goal go in when the D missed the shot block plus didn't take their man.

Also, to respond to John. It's very frustrating when the leaders don't perform up to snuff. I have been critical of Saks for this most of the season and now I agree that Souray and Rivet have to step it up when it counts. It's one thing to lead in the dressing room but they need to step it up on the ice and be an example. Actually feel bad for criticizing Rivet as he has been so steady all season but now we need him to step up.

barry33 · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

The Habs should be blocking shots high zone and the D taking out guys and providing a sight line low zone. I can't stand seeing a goal go in when the D missed the shot block plus didn't take their man. Also, to respond to John. It's very frustrating when the leaders don't perform up to snuff. I have been critical of Saks for this most of the season and now I agree that Souray and Rivet have to step it up when it counts. It's one thing to lead in the dressing room but they need to step it up on the ice and be an example. Actually feel bad for criticizing Rivet as he has been so steady all season but now we need him to step up.

In fairness to Rivet, he and Saks are pretty close and perhaps this whole thing with his friend's eye took alot out of him (not making an excuse, simply throwing a theory out there). Look guys..bottom line is this...the work ethic has got to be there. We need to bang and crash everything in white tomorrow and make Cam Ward wish he had stayed on the bench. Stop being so goddamn nice for God's sake boys!!! Just because your coach is lackimg emotion does not mean you have to be!! Make these guys wish they never heard of the Bell Center tomorrow!!

plouf · Guru

Key Lime wrote:

plouf wrote: I agree with all of this criticism, but I have to point out a few exaggerations and memory-lapses that are cropping up in light of the last two pitiful games: 1)Montreal did not get outplayed in game 3. That was the ONE game in this series that was stolen by a goalie, Cam Ward, (AND, if you recall, by the referees). 2)Montreal did not put in poor efforts in any of the first three games (although there was a great deal of sloppiness in game 2. Sure the shot count was in the 'Canes favour in those games, but we won the shots on goal count last night, and does anybody honestly think we played better than the Canes? Shots on goal can be deceiving. 3)"We are lucky we are down one game": I think we are unlucky. We've played even up with one of the best teams in the NHL, but the refs in game 3 and the loss of our captain have been horrible strokes of bad luck. Point 2 and 3 sum it all for me thus far Plouf. However, you only mentioned their play until game 3. It's games 4 and 5 that have put us in this position. They had a to win 1 out of the last three to be in the driver's seat tomorrow night at the Bell Centre. Now they are in a do or die situation. How quick the tides have turned...

I only mentioned the play up to game 3 because after that it's been mostly unmentionable. NO emotion, everything tentative, everyone getting pushed around. Barry pretty much has it summed up in the last post.

We have too many guys on this team who are (often low-key) supporting-cast type players who can be very useful but don't lead the way (Bulis, Ribeiro, Bonk, Ryder, Zednik, Downey, Sundstrom) or young guys just learning (Perezhogin, Plekanec, Higgins, Murray) ....we need more fiery veterans out there looking to control the game: (Kovalev, Begin, Koivu...for me those are our 3 most die-hard forwards, and they are all fighting or out with some sort of injury. It's killing the Habs.)

As for the defense corps, as I mentioned in another post, they are actually doing what they can in a bad situation. Our forwards are really weak right now. When Plekanec, a rookie, and an undersized one at that, is looking like our most committed player (exc. maybe the hurt guys, Kovalev and Begin), things are tough! Not to say I don't want to see more out of the defense...they need to hammer someone and stop being so tentative and backing in. Hey Komi! You're a big boy. Let's crush some Canes ok?