Don't look now but your Montreal Canadiens are on a winning streak, albeit a modest two-game streak. But considering it's been a month since they last won back-to-back games (November 10 and 12th) they'll take it.
It was mostly a boring game in which the Habs helped the hapless Isles look a lot better than they are.
Despite being
dominated for the majority of the game, Montreal was able to take a first period lead, largely due to the ineptitude of Isles goalie, Al Montoya.
Montreal scored five goals on the night, four with the goaltender in the net, and at least two (if not three) of them were extremely weak.
But, again, they'll take the mercy!
Final score: Habs 5 - Isles 3
Game Notes
The Kaberle Effect - Poise. That's the biggest thing that Tomas Kaberle brings to the Canadiens lineup.
I won't rehash the
potential pitfalls of Montreal picking up Kaberle today. That's already been covered.
That being said, contract aside, Kaberle brings a lot of skills to Montreal's backend that they have been missing for far too long. He's smooth skating and patient and his experience is evident when he handles to puck. Moreover, it seems like he never panics and always takes his time with the play.
And that is something we haven't seen since Andrei Markov last played for the Habs.
It's pretty amazing how you forget how much the Habs miss Markov on the team. And while Kaberle is without a doubt on the back nine of his career, he still possesses some skills that should serve the Habs well.
Oh, and he assisted on the first three goals the Habs scored since they acquired him. Also, Montreal has scored one powerplay goal in both of the games Kaberle has played, and they won both games.
Coincidence?
The Good, The Bad, The Subban - P.K. Subban had the biggest giveaway of the night last night leading to the Isles first goal.
With the play in the corner, Subban just threw the puck out front, without looking, rather than putting it along the boards. Fortunately for the Isles, P.A. Parenteau was standing in the high slot waiting for the biscuit, and dished it to a streaking Matt Moulson who put it past Carey Price for a 1-0 lead.
Subban, who has struggled pretty mightily this season, has got to do better than that. I thought you learn not to clear the zone up the middle in house league?
Far too often this season, Subban looks lost or is making complete bonehead plays. But, alas, he is young and clearly suffering through a sophomore slump.
I recently wrote a piece for PowerScout Hockey talking about
who the most efficient passing defenseman in the league were. Their system shows that assists are most important for defenseman. You can read the article for the details but suffice it to say that he needs to work on his first pass.
Subban simply can't be throwing the puck out front like that.
Oh, and aren't there any coaches on this team? Why is Subban still taking that windmill-like windup on his shots? Also, why are his shots constantly shoulder to head height? Shouldn't someone explain to him that the best way for a defenseman's shot to be effective is if it is one foot off the ice and on net?
Sigh.
Subban did make a beautiful slap-pass to David Desharnais who dished to Erik Cole for a tic-tac-toe goal. So you know he's got it in him!
Andrei the Bull - What an excellent season Andrei Kostitsyn is having. It seems like every time he steps on the ice he is making things happen.
Last night, he was once again engaged on every shift and one of Montreal's best forwards. Hitting, shooting, and driving to the net with conviction, Kostitsyn is a force to be reckoned with when he plays this way.
He scored his ninth goal of the season last night, putting him third on the team behind Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole—both have 11 goals. The kicker is that Kostitsyn's nine goals have come in 21 games while Pacioretty has played 28 and Cole 31.
The best part of it all is that Kostitsyn seems to have finally found that elusive consistency that has dogged him his entire career.
Pierre Gauthier will surely have his hands full trying to figure out what to do with the impending UFA. He currently makes $3.5 million per season but, as a third-liner, can you justify paying him upwards of $4.0 million a year?
Gauthier has pooped the bed on this one and must shovel his way out.
Cammalleri on the PK - Why, JM, why?
That is all.
Attaboy Skillsy! - With the Habs holding on to a one-goal lead, the Isles goaltender on the bench for an extra attacker and the net empty, Hal Gill did something he hasn't done since last season.
Score.
He flipped the puck down the ice and it went straight into the gaping net for his first of the year. And man was he ever happy. Not only that, but his teammates, who mauled him at the bench, were grinning ear-to-ear.
Gill couldn't stop grinning for the next five minutes and good on him! He's a good guy and doesn't often get on the scoreboard.
With that goal Gill surpassed Gomez for total goals this season.
I'm just saying...
Stat of the night - Five. That is the number of times P.K. Subban and Carey Price have done a triple-low-five at home this season. It's also the number of home victories the Canadiens have on the year.
Their 5-5-6 home record is one of the lowest home win total in the league. This is an area Montreal must improve on if they hope to make he playoffs.
Question of the night - Why was Alexei Emelin scratched in favour of Yannick Weber on the fourth line?
Or, more importantly, will it happen again or will Emelin be back next game?
Why not go with 11 forwards and seven D with Weber in the pressbox and Emelin on the ice? I don't get it, do you?
Up Next - I hope the Habs built up some confidence by beating the lowly Isles because they next task is monumental. They have the day off today before welcoming the juggernaut that is the Philadelphia Flyers to the Bell Centre on Thurday.
Philly is 8-2-0 in their last ten games and has won six straight games and with 41 points in the standings, are first overall in the East and second in the league.
So you think Emelin will be back in the lineup against the rough-and-tumble Flyers? Something tells me the answer is yes.
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Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and featured columnist on PowerScoutHockey.com. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny on TSN Radio 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 9 - 10 AM. Listen live at http://www.tsn.ca/montreal/
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(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)
