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So Dags shows up to practice on an optional skate, but is a healthy scratch..
Meanwhile BGL, who contributed nothing in Ottawa, and took the morning off, goes in.. Makes sense.
Key to being a good backup: be reade to play anytime anywhere and give your team a chance to win regardless of if you're last game was 2 nights ago or 2 months ago. Give your team a chance, that is all.
I think its a great idea to start Halak in this game...
In fact, I told a friend last night after the game that Halak should start tonight. Starting the backup after a win shows him that the team still has confidence in his abilities and tells the starter that his ice time is not dependent on his performance. Plus, if you wait for Price to falter to start Halak, and Halak plays really well, then you have a goalie controversy on your hands. This way both goalies are given the best opportunity to play well under the best conditions and build their confidence with neither feeling that their ice time is dependent on a single loss of bad performance.
The reality is that both goalies are playing very well last night. The Habs should do everything possible to cultivate that and to go into the rest of the season with two hot netminders. What could it hurt? And its great in the event that the team wants top make a trade at the deadline.
Maxwell's House
TO YOU FROM FAILING HANDS WE PASS THE TORCH. BE IT YOURS TO HOLD HIGH
I remember Martin's "Win your in" system there for a while....
Good to give Price a break, lots of games this week. We'll need him to play well against Pittsburgh. I would like to see Halak control more of his rebounds. He gave up way too many against Buffalo. His defense does need to clear them out more often but he still needs to be way sharper.
Ottawa is not exactly a power house, maybe Halak will pull in a win for them.
They call me Shane
I like this, Price playing back to back is what affected his hot streak last time. Halak will be way better tonight than he was in Buffalo. Good call by JM.
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http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
Halak played just fine against Buffalo, he was hung out to dry on each and every goal.
------------------------"Let this be a reminder that this organization will not tolerate failure." Dr. Evil
Need to put your glasses on when watching hockey games...
You are delusional. D zone coverage may not have been fantastic, but at least three goals were a direct result of his complete inability to control rebounds, or even safely cover the puck. He was downright terrrible. That game was definitely the worst display by a canadiens goalie this year.
your defence is supposed to clear rebounds and not get beat to the net; if those rebounds are cleared by teh D you're not talking about them right now. had the same thing happened to Price people would be like oh man defense let him down... You still would love to see a few of those shots get covered up but it's a team sport and the defense has to help the goalie out. the team overal has been playing better defense and it's viewable in Price's numbers as well.
Ya but the goalie is suppose to absorb those hard shot. I realise the defence is suppose to help. You look at Price at the start when he was on a slide, everything that hit him bounced back out. Look at him now very little to none. I played goalie for over 20 years and you can prevent big rebounds if you’re on the ball.
well just an 80mph shot to the pads can createa huge rebounds. goalies just try their best to push or kick the rebounds to the corner(easier said than doen depending on where the shot is taken from). halak has to do a better job but so does the D. Price has been guilty of rebounds too this year even on his hot streak but a D that can clear pucks and play defense is a goalie's best friend as you very well know playing as a goalie.
also i think alot of you should realize that halak was playing very well earlier in the season, so don't hate on him for one sub par game.... as i re-call price had numerous bad games this year(the D didn't help him out too much either though)
ask mr brodeur about how a defensive system can help a goalie...
I concurr his rebound control was terrible, but that was to be expected after not playing for 3 weeks.....
So we fiannly got some momentum going ...... and JM is changing goalies ???? I don't like . I'd give Price the next 2 games then rest him a game or 2 ...guess that's why I'm here and JM is there !
Can't wait Price go head - to - head with Fluery ..since Fluery is the # 3 goalie on Oylmpic team
I'm assuming Price is starting against the Pens regardless of Halak's performance tonite
Don't get me wrong, I love Halak> I just think we should stay with Price! He's playing great right now. No more big rebounds! The kids doing good leave him alone. Go with him till the holidays. Lets see if he can take the pressure. Go Habs Go!
No need to get halak all rusty, put him in once and awhile, And i think it was price against OTT last time we played, maybe Kovy has his number. Who knows
GO HABS GO
“Well, he’s a thoroughbred, and maybe your wife doesn’t recognize that, but then again, I can’t bake bread all that well. We all have different skills.” ...Bob Gainey "Classic"
I agree that Halak needs to play given the schedule madness of December, but I'd hope that Price would have Kovalev's number... remember the All Star game?
I agree with this and hope that Halak bounces back and plays well. He needs to, and should be, playing approx 20 games a year...which means playing every 4-5 games. Any less than that and you will get smoked every time you play as you will be too rusty. And, with so many games in Dec, it is good to keep Price a little more fresh....Price can still play 3 games this week with Halak getting a start.
No no no, we don't want any BOUNCING. That screwed us the last time he was in net.
REBOUND better have been working on his rebound control over the past few days...
That's ok, Kovalev usually skates away after his shot - he doesn't know what a rebound is.
Part of me doesent like this. Price got his day off 2 games ago, and hes started back to back games before this year against much tougher opponents. Hes 22 years old, he doesent need this much rest. Halak was absolutely murdered last time out, the habs need to win games, and the sens are a tough opponent. He finally has the support of the fans and media that he rightfully deserves because of his recent play and he needs to stay in his groove. The flyers may be playing badly, but a team win carter, richards, pronger, hartnell and van riemsdyk is still a good team that can explode on any night. if halak plays well, martin will play him again, and again, and again.
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"31. It's not a number, it's a lifestyle choice."
habs were murdered 2 games in a row... and i don't think price had a great game against toronto either...
team sport guys stop picking on the goalies
Price seems to play very well when rested and not so well when he is overplayed. He can play back to backers, but isn't the same goalie when he does.
Halak will always get destroyed if he only gets every 10th start. Martin knows that a winning team needs two goalies in game shape, and that it's doubly silly to let Halak rust on the bench while Price tires himself out.
Actually success seems to come from teams with older goalies who suddenly get injured in the playoffs, allowing their younger backups to magically start playing like Patrick Roy and come close to the cup. It's happened so many times.
Of course both of our goalies are young, with the younger being the starter....
It has happened, but I wouldn't bet he farm on it! :) I'd much rather have two goalies who get enough rest to keep them strong and enough playing time to keep them sharp.
I agree. Price is in great shape. He is very capable of playing 10 straight games in a row including back to backs....
Back ups are that. "BACKUPS" They know there role & have to be ready when called up on. Rust should not be an excuse....
May be Halak was murdered because he sat too long on the bench. Price has been fantastic no doubt but it's a long season, we've been playing very good defensively and either Halak or Price can get the job done. I see nothing wrong going with Jaro.
based on the other teams in the east the habs have a good chance for playoffs..goaltending is solid and the d is very good also...once gion and markov come back that will really help...the pk has been very good and does not hurt that plecks is taking less face offs in key situations(practice,practice practice)...hopefully we will get more pp chances...we could even make a bigger jump if one of our non scoring forwards after the first 30 games has a break out 30 game stretch...just think a guy like moulson with the islanders has more goals (14) than 8 of our forwards combined(12 gomez,ak74,ak46,maxpac,dags,laps,bgl,pyatt) ..if even combined these 8 score 14 more goals next 30 games than prev 30 we can be in top 3-4.
Anyone else worried like me about MAB relegated to defensive again? He was god-awful last night after Mara went down.
Halak needs to bring his "A" game and we need good back-checking to beat this team. There are laden with talent.
------------------------"Let this be a reminder that this organization will not tolerate failure." Dr. Evil
yes. i am definitely worried. please come back soon, Paul !!!
i'm okay with Halak in nets tonight but i would have loved a Kovalev/Price matchup :)
Not worried at all. Considering he's our best offensive defensemen!
They call me Shane
...and our worst defensive defenseman. he's also -2 and can be spun as quickly as you want him to :) leave him up front and bring him on the point for the PP. that's where i'm most comfortable having him if we're keeping him on the team. (Paul, Markov, come back.)
btw, Hamrlik is our steadiest offensive D. and a solid case could also be made for Spacek. MAB's goals help us but not enough for me to turn a blind eye to his defective defensive play.
there should be an MAB stat for this: blue line shots on directly on skates from 2 feet away that result in quick turnovers.
If you're upset at Bergeron being -2, then how do you feel about Mara being -13?
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http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
You're crazy. MAB didn't do anything "terrible" last night. The team gave up almost no shots and no chances in the last 2 periods and he had one giveaway in the game. How was he terrible?. I take MAB over Mara anyday of the week and twice on Sundays. You're one of those guys that exaggerate how bad a player is, when they become obsessively critical of them. Like the Breezer Bashers.
Whatever happened to Leach?
By who?
------------------------"Let this be a reminder that this organization will not tolerate failure." Dr. Evil
San Jose -- I guess Bob figured Carle or Belle could fill in if someone got hurt.
Really?
MAB played two periods on defence with zero goals against...
Yeah, he's scary and a little flimsy, but he gets most of the job done.
Zero goals doesn't imply stout defense on HIS part. We blocked 20 some odd shots. He coughed the puck up many times in our own zone when we were only up by one. He doesn't have the wherewithal to find an available outlet, Although there was some improvement last night in his game. Offense is a no-brainer, we need his PP shot to have success with the man-advantage.
------------------------"Let this be a reminder that this organization will not tolerate failure." Dr. Evil
Everyone makes mistakes, Gomez gave it up in our own zone almost leading to a goal. Pacioretty gives it up many times when he makes one more move than he should. I think people just notice Bergeron more because we EXPECT him to screw up then jump all over him when he does. Let's cut the guy some slack.
Most people probably are, but what else can you do on such short notice??
He'll keep scoring to make up for it.
I saw Gomez and his bald head today on Champlain Bridge. I was wondering did he skip his practice? I guess he went shopping ALONE. lol
14
No problem with it. December will be a tough schedule. Back to back games with one day off between the next game on Thursday.. good call.
No problem with it. December will be a tough schedule. Back to back games with one day off between the next game on Thursday.. good call.
Smart move -- Pricey needs to rest up for the Pens, and Halak needs to get into the mix or else he'll get rusty.
Go Cammy Go!
Is this a 7 or 7:30 start?
Jacques Derriere
Hopeful Hannah
"When I was a baby I wish my first word had been "QUOTE", then right before I die I could say "UNQUOTE" - Stephen Wright
7:30
Good, plenty of time to bath the kids and get them to bed.
Jacques Derriere
Hopeful Hannah
"When I was a baby I wish my first word had been "QUOTE", then right before I die I could say "UNQUOTE" - Stephen Wright
My youngest (19 months) now wants his "baba" with "ockey" before bed....we were out later than usual shopping last night and when we got home he pointed at the tv and said "ockey, baba" ....the last few nights I have been letting him watch hockey with me while he has his bottle before bed....talk about words to make a Dad proud! lol
Makes sense to me. Save Price for the Pittsburgh game on Thursday.
True, but Price really didn't have to "play" last night. He just hung out at the rink for a few hours. Probably broke more of a sweat in warm up than he did during entire the game. I'd have played him tonight and against Pitts. I like Halak but Price is playing very well lately. He's young and should be able to handle the workload. Especially with how easy the game last night was. Just my opinion though. Don't really care who's in net if a W is aquired.
I heard he was cold because he wasn't doing much work.
Seriously.
My whole point was that it wasn't a busy night and he shouldn't be that tired today. Also that he is young and should have no problem playing tonight and Thursday. No need to get all "seriously" on me. Jeepers.
i agree with you 100%...... i was just stating what i heard.
honestly. wasn't meaning it to be rude or anything.
Never having played hockey (never learned to skate) Does it really matter how many shots actually get to the goalie as far as how much work they do? They still have to react as if shots are going to get thru or be on net, and it wasn't as if we spent most of the game in the offensive zone.
Franklin the Beagle, 7/1/2002-7/13/2009
Well I think it does matter somewhat. And he is young. He should be able to handle the workload easily. Plenty of goalies in the league play almost all of their teams games. And most of them would be older than Price. I just think he's on a roll. Keep him rolling.
I don't have a problem either way with who starts, just curious about shots versus work involved.
Franklin the Beagle, 7/1/2002-7/13/2009
Roger that.