A Montreal Canadiens fan blog
Posts tagged Andrei Kostitsyn
Players not in practice
Oct 22nd
At today’s practice 4 players were missing.
1. Andrei Kostitsyn is still sitting out (not surprising)
2. Carey Price
3. Andrei Markov
4. Chris Higgins
I don’t mean to sound paranoid or anything… but I’m starting to feel a little weird about Higgins. Especially because he was announced as being in the lineup a couple of games ago… only to have his status changed again later that day… and he still hasn’t played and is missing practice.
Couple that with all those trade rumours for Gaborik… and you’ve got all kinds of people speculating that something is going down.
I guess one thing that leads to all this speculation is that we’re left in the dark to the exact nature of what Higgins injury is…. which might explain why he continues to be absent.
Halak gets the call and A. Kostitsyn
Oct 19th
Jaroslav Halak gets the call in goal monday night vs the Florida Panthers.
So far I really like the tandem of Price and Halak in goal even though their young…. Price has been amazing and Halak has looked good too in the little time he’s had.
Amidst some of the present trade rumours and future trade rumours, I’m sure his name will continue to be thrown around… in any event, I think he’s gonna be a very good goaltender for years to come.
Looks like Andrei Kostitsyn’s injury is not looking too serious…. which is a huge relief. According to an RDS article, a few hours after the hit he was already feeling much much better. Carbo figures about a week off and he (Andrei) will be back in the lineup on Saturday.
Christopher Higgins will be in the lineup on Monday, his first game of the season. He’ll be on a line with Robert Lang and Tom Kostopoulos… I think that Higgins might work out on that line… Lang will most certainly find him.
Habs over Coyotes and loose Andrei Kostitsyn
Oct 19th
First off, I was stunned by that hit last night on Andrei Kostitsyn and as they replayed the hit over and over again as the night went on I was horrified at every showing…
As I saw the hit, I thought that Sauer’s arms were definately high.. hitting Andrei in the head. Although I really don’t think it was intended to be quite as malicious as the results of the hit were….
The sport of pro hockey is VERY hard hitting, the guys are so big, so strong…. and the game is so fast…. it can happen so fast.
I hate seeing anyone get hurt. I really feel for both Kostitsyns…. I can’t imagine what Sergei felt as he helped escort his brother off the ice.
The loss of Kostitsyn could definately slow down the Hab’s offense… although I still believe that there is lot’s of skill to compensate.
Of the other things that stood out in the game..
The Koivu-Tanguay-Latendress line seems to be clicking very well. Tanguay is really starting to show what he can bring and Koivu is showing some of the talent he’s always shown. As for Latendress, this a golden opportunity to show what he can do and so far he’s shown lot’s of great hard work, strength on the boards, physical play that really gives good balance along side Koivu and Tanguay… I’m impressed with this line.
Kovalev is truely a magician.. every now and then he “fumbles” the puck… but he always makes up for it. He’s got eyes all around his head and while not going 100 MPH he just twists, turns and dekes through everyone….
I still really love Tom Kostopoulos…. the guy just plain out always plays hard. He usually picks off the puck from the opposition just because of his work ethic.
Robert Lang is great in a Habs uniform. He just looks like he belongs… he’s showing that he’s got that real hockey smarts, good vision. I’m very very happy with the acquisition (as with Tanguay and Laraque).
Last night, Laraque also showed his worth. After the hit stuff started getting a little nastier… Sergei Kostitsyn took on all of the Coyotes line (not sure which line it was) after his bro went down… like how Sergei K plays… he’s got a little jam…. When Laraque came out and went into a skirmish of players… everyone backed off. It happened a couple of times. He demands so much respect. Seems like his presence really calms the “bad vibes” down… because no one really wants to face him. Sauer turned away from Laraque but decided to take on Tom K instead…. which may cosmetic value for Sauer.
Later on, Laraque schooled Fedoruk who could barely get a swing in.
Laraque’s presence makes every Hab 1-2 inchs taller and several pounds heavier.
Carey Price… he’s amazing. And I think he’ll get better as the season goes on. He’s confident.
As for the Coyotes… I think they would have had a shot, if Gretzky could have put his skates on to help his young guns….. I’m sure part of him still wishes he was playing and not coaching.
Habs posts of the day:
by Jonathan Releo
by Robert L
par Roby St-Gelais
by canadiens.com
by Robert L
by Dennis Kane
by Arpon Basu
by T.C. Denault
Over the Sabres
Nov 30th
Posted by Yves in Game comments
Comments
I thought at times the pace of last night’s game was great and the guys who continue to show up are this team’s “4th” liners (at least we’ll call ‘em that while Carbo changes the lines up)…
Bégin, Tom K, Lapierre…. those guys bring the hustle every night. The Habs need that…. actually every team needs that…. they need the Grinders…. the guys who hit, bring energy and get in the other team’s face on D….
Last night Lapierre made a beautiful pass for a one timer by Bégin…. I’m really glad Bégin is back in the lineup. He’s certainly responded.
There were chances last night… right around Lalime’s net but it seemed pretty hard to finish.. it’s been said before that it’s tough for small forwards to get a handle on the puck right in the goaltender’s face and put it in…. while dealing with D-Men trying to take you out of the play. I’d love to see a little more of George Laraque (when in the lineup) in front of the net…. throw him out there every now in then with a couple of puck moving forwards and shoot on net…. see if Big G can put it in… he was used in that role occasionally in Edmonton.
Andrei Kostitsyn showed some moves last night…. really nice play to put the puck in.
I thought D’Agostini played well.. admittedly I missed the last few minutes of the second and the start of the third….
Sergei Kostitsyn got a little too agressive and took a couple of bad penalties… I really like what Sergei can bring… hope it balances out for him.
Here’s some recent habs articles..
Andrei answers the bell
http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=395223
Carey Price And The Grinders Come Up Big
http://dennis-kane.com/carey-price-and-the-grinders-come-up-big/
La contribution de Steve Bégin
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/264439.html
One Kostitsyn rising, one falling
http://dailyhab-it.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-kostitsyn-rising-one-falling.html
Lapierre plus confiant offensivement
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/264484.html