Posts Tagged ‘Jacques Martin’

Montreal vs Florida comments

Jacques Martin’s team managed to do something that they haven’t been doing a whole lot of this season… outshoot their opponents. However, the final shot count was as close as you can get. The Habs edged the Panthers 39-38 in shots.

Jaroslav Halak was the game’s first star as he stopped all 38 of Florida’s shots facing off against former Habs pick Tomas Vokoun who was named the game’s 2nd star.

I certainly wasn’t on the edge of my seat watching the game and to be honest I’m surprised at the high shot totals. Maybe it was just me… but I didn’t find it was a spectacular game.
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Montreal Canadiens vs Atlanta Thrashers – 2009/2010 season 38th game highlights and comments

Here are the game highlights from the Montreal Canadiens vs the Atlanta Thrashers played on December 21th 2009…. but first some comments.

The Canadiens won the game 4-3 in Overtime (which was predicted with little time to play in the 3rd on Twitter by Arpon Basu). It wasn’t the prettiest of games. Montreal were again outshot by a very large margin. Overall team defensive play has to be improved to cut down on the shots that make it to either Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price.

You can’t expect to win very many games in the NHL if your opponent is in your zone firing rubber at your goaltender most of the evening. Although I will say that in the case of the Montreal Canadiens at least Jacques Martin has 2 very capable young goalies to rely upon. But they won’t steal every game.

Jaroslav Halak was, in the end, left to face 53 shots (that made it through to him) stopping 50 of them. Is that not scary? If I was coaching this team that would be one of the most frightening numbers that I would have to face…. never mind they somehow won the game. The last several years the Montreal Canadiens were outshot alot and though this year it seemed that it was getting a bit better early on it’s pretty much back to where it was in terms of these shot totals.
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What’s with all the fuss at 2-5??

Listening to some stuff going on you’d swear it was February and the team was looking like they were going to miss the playoffs.

Not sure why but it almost seems to me that expectation is always so high. When the “new” guys were being signed, I didn’t expect a whole lot to happen during those days… but I must admit that after the summer was over I did feel a certain optimism. There were new players with both offensive and defensive skill.

Going into tonight the Canadiens have lost 5 straight and perhaps it feels a little worse because they started out with 2 wins in a row.

But let me ask a couple of questions…
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Shawn Belle gets the call

As many of us were expecting a swift call up of newly acquired Marc-Andre Bergeron it seems as though the Habs feel he needs more time to get it going.

Shawn Belle was called up yesterday to round out the defense as Yannick Weber had been sent down.

Some might not like this move but I don’t mind it at all.
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Thinking about the team 3 games in

So we’re 3 games into the 2009/2010 NHL season. In these first 3 games there’s been many ups and downs already.

The Canadiens have had 2 big injuries and 1 minor injury in their first 2 games and thankfully last night everyone made it out ok!

Here’s a few thoughts on some ups and some downs so far (in no real particular order).
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2009/2010 and the new Georges Laraque

When I had heard that Gainey had signed Georges Laraque to a 3 year deal last year, I was thrilled.

I had seen the Montreal Canadiens get pushed around a bit too much for my liking and I was sure that Laraque would provide some of the much needed toughness that was plaguing the team the few previous years.

But last season was a disappointment for Laraque, something I’m sure he’s aiming at making better this year.
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Rookie camp 2009 – Martin thinks young players could play key role

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just because I mean it. I’m excited for this upcoming season and it’s great to see the reports coming out of the rookie camps. It satisfies part of my desire to see some Habs hockey.

Watching a report on RDS, it’s interesting to listen to Jacques Martin and the RDS analysts. Martin really seems to leave the door open for any number of young players…. from Chipchura, D’Agostini, Pacioretty.. to Maxwell, Latendress, the Kostitsyns, Lapierre… he goes on to say that any number of these young players could have an important role in the Montreal Canadiens lineup this year.
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Jacques Martin is feeling rejuvenated

Read an article on the RDS website about Jacques Martin and how he’s feeling rejuvenated.

He goes on to say that he finds being the coach of the Montreal Canadiens very exciting where there is such a great passion with the fans, the media and the players.

Hey Jacques, just wait ’till the season starts and you loose 3 in a row… and if your captain doesn’t speak… well never mind. You’ll figure it out.

Matin says that in Price he is impressed by his passion and that he’s highly talented.

He’s also met with Gomez, Cammalleri, Gionta, Mara and Moen.

Read the article “Jacques Martin: Je me sens rajeuni” on RDS.

Big G and the new team

I’ve heard it too… Georges Laraque seems to still have a bad back. That puts some question marks in the minds of some as to how he will be used and how effectively.

Personally, I’m of the attitude of “let’s wait and see”.

I’m still both surprised and pleased at the extent which Gainey has been able to change the face of the team. I simply could not have guessed that none of the UFAs would be back… and that that so many would have signed to play.

Now, back to Laraque.

I was VERY happy when Gainey went out to get him last year. Really, I was. I used to love watching the Oilers (yeah…. well…. I love NHL hockey you know!) when the young Laraque steamrolled through opposing players against the boards to get the puck.

I remember seeing him in an Oilers playoff run some years ago go through 3 Dallas players to grab the puck in the corner. I was impressed.

Last year was a disappointment. It was a disappointment for many fans and I’m quite sure it was a disappointment for George himself. I think he was likely disappointed for 2 reasons.

1 – He was looking forward to coming back to Montreal and playing for the hometown crowd… and seemed to have a great attitude in taking his place with all the media attention the team gets. Injuries took their toll and limited his play through some of the season.

2 – I’m not sure he was placed in a situation where the coach at the time knew how to use him in the lineup.. as sometimes it seemed as though Carbo would try to skate 3 offensive lines.. and really, I’m not sure he fit in that team. He didn’t seem to have a role.

I think he may have a role on the team this year. We still may not be talking major minutes. But I think Martin will know how and when to use Laraque during games. Martin is an experienced coach, and he’s had various “tough” guys in his lineups.

I’m really hoping that Laraque is healthy come training camp. I think he’s got something to give the team if used properly… I also think he’s got value in the dressing room.

I’m cheerin’ for you Georges!