Souray is a damn PYLON

nietche · Veteran Member

Souray is a damn PYLON

JohnM · Guru

Souray was only -1. He did not play that poorly tonight. If you want to look at (-)'s, then take a look at the Pleks line. We might be in trouble if this is the output they will bring.

Who said Pleks is ready for the 2nd line or possibly first line role? He was 29% in the faceoff circle. Also note, Kovy was -3 and the other two were -2...

I hope that this turns around and am pretty sure it will. It's only the first game.

-- Edited by JohnM at 22:36, 2006-10-06

Fatherhab · Senior Member

I have to agree with you Nietch on Souray. Why would we have a slow footed pairing like those 2 out there in the last minute. My choice would have been Markov and Komi before those 2. Great game other than that.

nietche · Veteran Member

I have now checked the box score and Souray was only -1. However, he was on the ice for Buffalo Goals #3 and #4. On #3, he failed to protect the puck in the neutral zone, and then couldnt catch Briere (because hes damn slow). And on #4, he was way off to the side of the net and Afi just waltzed in. Now, I could live with Souray being slow if he would use his body and play physically, but when was the last time he ever leveled a skilled opponent with a massive check? And case in point, Afi went to the net for #4 UNMOLESTED by SOuray.

HE SUCKS.

I predict that Souray becomes the whipping boy now that Ribs is gone.

And yes, the #2 line did play poorly, but the habs didn't lose the game because of their performance. They weren't on the ice for #4 (actually, Kovy was, with Koivu)

Which raises another point ... they got out coached. Carbo called a late time out (bad choice), and then iced Kovy (who was -2 at that point) and Souray who is of course a damn pylon. Carbo's got a lot to learn. And what was with his picks for the SO? Come on, Ryder is not a breakaway scoring threat (he's a one-timer guy). Kovy is not a bad choice for SO.

And

AB Habman · Guru

Unfortunately we don't have much speed on D. Markov and Dandy are the only two that can use speed effectively. For now, we have to depend on Souray...he'll get better because he cares!

nietche · Veteran Member

Souray won't get better. He's useless.

Can anyone recall how he was undressed last year by Spezza? And a few games later again by someone I can't remember.

Souray is the weakest link on the habs D. We;re going into TO tomorrow night, and its a must win game (if you don't think it is, better check that you aren't sleeping with Leaf bedsheets) and I say Carbo should make the switch from Souray to Streit (who actually played well in preseason)

Dandy - Ninima

Rivet - Markov

Komi - Streit

-- Edited by nietche at 22:58, 2006-10-06

AB Habman · Guru

nietche wrote:

Souray won't get better. He's useless.

Can anyone recall how he was undressed last year by Spezza? And a few games later again by someone I can't remember.

Souray is the weakest link on the habs D. We;re going into TO tomorrow night, and its a must win game (if you don't think it is, better check that you aren't sleeping with Leaf bedsheets) and I say Carbo should make the switch from Souray to Streit (who actually played well in preseason)

Dandy - Ninima

Rivet - Markov

Komi - Streit

-- Edited by nietche at 22:58, 2006-10-06

I disagree. It's a little early for must win games. There's lots of hockey to play. Souray is big and tough and can handle the long grind.

Also did you not notice how many times Niniima coughed up the puck?

We're really thin on D. Take Souray away and we're even thinner. We need his leadership back there also. When Begin got pounded by Peters...Souray let him know that he won't get away with it. We need that kind of player.

I wish Souray would body check more than stick check also but he makes up for it with other intangibles like his slap shot and somewhat the enforcer roll. Is he great?...no, but on this team pretty good!

Hkydude_77 · Member

I thought Souray played fine...sure he got beat wide once, but Buffalo is quick they are going to exploit lot's of dmen this year.

Desi · Senior Member

I'm in total agreement with the martini man here. Souray needs to be benched immediately. Nobody with as many games under his belt as Souray should have made the mistakes he made tonight. Getting caught flatfooted by Briere coming out of the box is a rookie move (and you'd have to be a pretty bad rookie at that). That was bad enough. But to let the new Habs nemesis Its-in-again-ov stand there at the post in the last 15 seconds completely uncovered is unforgiveable. Souray, as he did so many times last season, was standing there like a statue covered in pigeon guano just watching the play, while the guy he should've been covering was getting ready to jam it in the net and send the game to OT. I'm sick of it. Souray did it all season last year, as did Bouillon and Streit (who, by the way, would only be worse I'm afraid if he did step in tomorrow night).

Nonetheless, Carbo needs to send a clear message to this whole team that nobody is above being benched when they SUCK. And Gainey had better get serious about shoring up this team's defense or we're going to be seeing a lot more of the same.

The team scored four goals. We had this game won. But we got shot and killed by a 44.

Les Canadiens sont la

AB Habman · Guru

Remember guys, it's a loooooong season with a thin defense!

Next night Niniima, Streit or whoever is playing may look like the goat!

Sabres may be the fastest team in the NHL. This game may not be a good measuring stick for the rest of the season. Many team will get beat by them. If you bench a defensemen for every mediocre game, we won't have any playing. We just don't have an elite guy back there.

Desi · Senior Member

No argument about the length of the season or the speed of the Swords. But Souray's mistakes in the last four minutes were stupid, mental mistakes -- not physical ones where Souray was trying his best to make the right plays and just came up short.

Given our obvious dearth of good D-men, I feel that the only way we'll get these guys to step up and actually improve their mediocre play is let them know from the get-go that bonehead plays won't be tolerated.

I don't for a minute believe that Souray will get better "because he cares" as you said in your earlier post, AB. It's great that he cares, and I don't doubt that he does. I like the guy, and I know that he tries hard, works hard and would probably rather slit his wrists than lose. But none of that was enough to help him tonight -- and it won't be next time either unless a fire is lit under him and every other defenseman on this team to PAY ATTENTION AND NOT MAKE STUPID PLAYS.

If I were Carbo, I'd tell Souray to visit the press box tomorrow night, get some rest, and take some notes.

Les Canadiens sont la

plouf · Guru

Sadly Souray is often an on-ice liability in the "new NHL"...he seems a bit slow of thought and foot to handle the new pace. Komisarek already looks better than him, and does anyone remember the horrendous first half (or really first two-thirds) Souray had last year?

But...Souray is a useful guy. He helps out in lots of little ways, and is a solid character player. He provides a lot of things that balance out his defensive deficiencies. Maybe he'll never be better than a #4, and that's a letdown after what he looked like he was going to be. But he's still a key contributor.

Rivet and Souray does seem like a crappy pairing though. Could we not see Dandenault with one of the slow guys, and the other one with Niiniimaa or Streit? Dandenault has speed and moves the puck fairly well, but he needs help physically and with positioning. A perfect partner for a bigger slower guy.

nietche · Veteran Member

I can't believe that someone with the handle "Habman" doesn't think that tonights game in TO is a must win.

I guess the "AB" in the handle means Habman is really an Albertan, not a Quebecois Pure Laine.

Anyhow, for all the true Hab fans out there, Let's agree that tonights "affaire Toronto" is a must win!

Pablo Honey · Veteran Member

JohnM wrote:

Who said Pleks is ready for the 2nd line or possibly first line role?
-- Edited by JohnM at 22:36, 2006-10-06

I believe they consisted of mostly Ribs-bashers, but I could be wrong.

Regardless, it's interesting to see the trends early on in the season. With Ribs out of town, who will be the new whipping boy for the overly critical fans and media?

Souray has come out to an early lead, but Kovy isn't that far behind. Maybe Ninny will make a stab at it too. Or will we see Samsonov wallow in mediocrity for the rest of the season and take a ton of flack?

God I love hockey season.

AB Habman · Guru

nietche wrote:

I can't believe that someone with the handle "Habman" doesn't think that tonights game in TO is a must win.

I guess the "AB" in the handle means Habman is really an Albertan, not a Quebecois Pure Laine.

Anyhow, for all the true Hab fans out there, Let's agree that tonights "affaire Toronto" is a must win!

Don't assume I don't want to win every game because I'm from AB and not Quebec. My point was that it's a long season and I would rather they get the kinks out now than later. Lets get better as the season wears down rather than peaking now and falling apart later.

Some players had a bad or average game but it's a long season.

-- Edited by AB Habman at 15:25, 2006-10-07

JohnM · Guru

Optimism from AB, gotta love it! It has to be the beginning of the year.

GO HABS GO!!!

AB Habman · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Optimism from AB, gotta love it! It has to be the beginning of the year.

GO HABS GO!!!

I'm happy with our start

Diehardhabsfan · Veteran Member

nietche wrote:

I can't believe that someone with the handle "Habman" doesn't think that tonights game in TO is a must win.

I guess the "AB" in the handle means Habman is really an Albertan, not a Quebecois Pure Laine.

Anyhow, for all the true Hab fans out there, Let's agree that tonights "affaire Toronto" is a must win!

I agree with AB, it is to early for this to be a must win game, it is only the 2nd game.

ps- nietche, we are all true habs fans, that's why we are here

Key Lime · Guru

I disagree and please tell me what you put in your Martini, I'm sure it ain't Vodka or Gin.

Souray is a PYLON. Souray is useless. "Bartender, can I have the usual?"

MC Girl · Guru

Sheldon "the pylon" Souray did his job tonight. Without his goal... we'd of had another loss.

Good for you Sheldon

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

Souray was only -1. He did not play that poorly tonight. If you want to look at (-)'s, then take a look at the Pleks line. We might be in trouble if this is the output they will bring.

Who said Pleks is ready for the 2nd line or possibly first line role? He was 29% in the faceoff circle. Also note, Kovy was -3 and the other two were -2...

I hope that this turns around and am pretty sure it will. It's only the first game.

-- Edited by JohnM at 22:36, 2006-10-06

Bob Gainey and Carbonneau said he was ready when they traded Ribs.

barry33 · Guru

Game number 2 of a 84 game season is a "must win game"?!???? Gonna be a lonnggg year then lol

MC Girl · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Game number 2 of a 84 game season is a "must win game"?!???? Gonna be a lonnggg year then lol

It's always a lonnggg year on Gohabs lol

Key Lime · Guru

That's why we need periodic vacations form gohabs.com. We can actually watch the games just to watch the games...for the sheer enjoyment.

habgirl · Guru

nietche wrote:

I guess the "AB" in the handle means Habman is really an Albertan, not a Quebecois Pure Laine.

Anyhow, for all the true Hab fans out there, Let's agree that tonights "affaire Toronto" is a must win!

Whoa back, that was WAY out of line. I was born in Ontario, live in BC and there couldn't be a more true Habs fan than me. (and AB, and Barry, and MC and Rip and Johab and Brooky and Nil and And-O and Normie and Mrs. Hab and West Coast Habs Fan and Ray-and on and on, you get the drift). Yes, I have family and roots in Montreal, but that's besides the point. You seem to be saying that if you're not a born and raised Quebecois that you're not a true fan. If that was truly the case, why does the phone booth sell out??? Why are there so many Habs fans in, say, Toronto???

Uncalled for, Nietche.

-- Edited by habgirl at 10:48, 2006-10-08

nietche · Veteran Member

If you call yourself a habs fan, and think that any game against the leafs is not a must win, well, perhaps you should start rooting for the NY Islanders, cause their fans don't get too worked up for a tilt with the leafs either.

I grew up in Quebec, and I played shinny hockey with the kids in my neighborhood before leafs / habs game, and we taunted our unfortunate friends who received leafs jerseys from some distant relative in Ontario. Its part of our genetic makeup to loath the Toronto maple leafs. Perhaps other fans -- who did not grow up in such an environment -- can't understand why its so important to beat the buds.

MC Girl · Guru

nietche wrote:

If you call yourself a habs fan, and think that any game against the leafs is not a must win, well, perhaps you should start rooting for the NY Islanders, cause their fans don't get too worked up for a tilt with the leafs either....

Absolutely uncalled for.

Yes the Toronto/Montreal rival is still around... I live in Ontario & am a Habs fan & have to deal with big mouthed Leaf fans on a daily basis. But to say someone is less of a Habs fan because they aren't in the "middle of it all" is out of line. If you moved from Quebec... would you be less of a fan???

-- Edited by MC Girl at 12:45, 2006-10-08

Key Lime · Guru

Shaken not stirred right?

plouf · Guru

MC Girl wrote:

nietche wrote:

If you call yourself a habs fan, and think that any game against the leafs is not a must win, well, perhaps you should start rooting for the NY Islanders, cause their fans don't get too worked up for a tilt with the leafs either....

Absolutely uncalled for.

Yes the Toronto/Montreal rival is still around... I live in Ontario & am a Habs fan & have to deal with big mouthed Leaf fans on a daily basis. But to say someone is less of a Habs fan because they aren't in the "middle of it all" is out of line. If you moved from Quebec... would you be less of a fan???

-- Edited by MC Girl at 12:45, 2006-10-08

And besides,
if anything it's worse being a Habs fan in Leaf country. It's easy to be a Habs fan in Quebec, where everyone else is too.

habgirl · Guru

nietche wrote:

If you call yourself a habs fan, and think that any game against the leafs is not a must win, well, perhaps you should start rooting for the NY Islanders, cause their fans don't get too worked up for a tilt with the leafs either.

I grew up in Quebec, and I played shinny hockey with the kids in my neighborhood before leafs / habs game, and we taunted our unfortunate friends who received leafs jerseys from some distant relative in Ontario. Its part of our genetic makeup to loath the Toronto maple leafs. Perhaps other fans -- who did not grow up in such an environment -- can't understand why its so important to beat the buds.

Hey bud, guess what? I didn't grow up in Quebec, but have been a Habs fan since I was born - by osmosis. I live in Victoria, among Canucks fans galore - but still a Habs fan. I grew up two hours away from Toronto - but still a Habs fan.

There is nobody who hates the Laffs more than me, but my boyfriend is right up there - he grew up 5000 miles away from Toronto and STILL hates them.

It was GAME 2 for god's sakes - and yes, we won it. You are confusing must-win games with hatred. In my opinion, every game against the laffs, senators, bruins, or anybody in the conference is a must-win, but it ain't logical.

There will be no other NHL team I will ever cheer for. Don't ever doubt "true" Habs fans.