For the third game in a row, Montreal went past regulation time, this time falling to the Sabres in a shootout.
Montreal was the better team for 40 minutes but, predictably, sat on their lead and tried to weather a third period onslaught by the Sabres.
There were a lot of positives for Montreal on the night but, at the end of the day, this is a game they should have won. Especially when you consider that they had six powerplays.
At the end of the day, the Habs rescued defeat from the jaws of victory.
Hooray. Hooray for that.
Final Score: Sabres 3 - Habs 2 (SO)
Cole continues to impress - Just under three minutes into the game, the puck squeezed through the neutral zone with Robin Regher and Jordan Leopold in hot pursuit. Erik Cole was a step behind the Sabres' defenders but turned on the after burners to catch up.
Not only did he catch up but he was able to split the defenders and drive to the net with the puck. The result was that Leopold had no choice but to slash Cole, helping to break up what was a sure scoring chance and handing the Habs a powerplay.
16 games in, I am still surprised at how fast Cole is. You don't expect that kind of quickness from a big man but I guess that's what makes him such an effective player.
Speaking of being effective, Cole scored his fourth goal of the season, had an assist on the Habs second goal, took five shots on net, had one hit and 19:28 of ice time, to go along with 5:29 on the PP.
It's good to see the coaches using him more and more effectively.
Here's Cole's thoughts on the game:
Now that's a kill! - Prior to tonight's game, the Habs had let in one goal in the last 23 short-handed situations, for a 99.95 percent success rate.
That's a pretty sick stat.
After shutting down the Sabres on four PP chances, Montreal has now allowed one goal against in the last 27 short-handed situations. Amazing and the main reason for their recent turnaround—they've won six of their last nine games.
Moreover, Montreal has the seventh best PK with a 87.5 percent efficiency rate.
Smart plays by Subban - OK, I know Subban's defensive zone turnover led to the tying goal by Buffalo. I also know that he hasn't been having the best start to the season.
That aside, Subban seems to be settling into a groove of sorts.
While we still haven't seen a goal from the Habs star rearguard, he has been much more defensively solid this season. Perhaps playing with Josh Gorges has helped, but he is certainly making some smart defensive plays.
On the offensive side of the puck, Subban has started to show a more generous side to his game.
Against the Preds, it was on the game winning goal where Subban skated to the high slot, in overtime, with the puck. Instead of unloading one of his patented howitzers he dished to a wide open Pacioretty for the winner.
Tonight, Subban did the same thing on the Habs first goal, attracting everyone's attention as he pinched down low before passing to Cole who's one-timer went straight into the gaping net.
Could it be that P.K. is learning to be more of a team player?
Holy Max! - Speaking of second-year players, how freakin' good does Max Pacioretty look right about now?
Eight goals, six assists, plus-3, 63 hits (6th overall in the league)?
I picked Pacioretty as my breakout player of the year on the Sunday Shinny, even though some argued that he broke out last year. My thinking was that while he was starting to break out last year, he would have had a true coming out party if he had played in the playoffs.
That said, right now he is picking up where he left off last year and then some.
Strong, fast, physical and always going to or around the net, this guy is en route to becoming a star.
Against the Sabres, his line—with David Desharnais and Erik Cole—were absolutely dominant. The trio was in on both Habs goals and finished the game with five points (2G, 3A).
For his part, Max had two points (1G, 1A), a plus-1, had 3 hits and saw 20:12 of icetime. He is currently tied, with Tomas Plekanec, for the team lead with 14 points.
Not bad for a guy who's neck was broken a few short months ago.
On to the bad news - Despite all of the good things Montreal did, including taking a 2-0 lead into the third, they lost the game.
Why?
"The system" reared it's ugly head in the third, like it always does, meaning that Montreal sat back and let the Sabres come at them. The result was two third period markers by Buffalo and a shootout loss.
At risk of sounding like a broken record, Jacques Martin and his system are ridiculously frustrating to watch more often than not.
Montreal was the aggressor over the first 40 minutes, controlling the pace and taking the game to the Sabres. That they abandoned any form of attack in favour of pure passivity, and that it cost them the win, is absolutely criminal.
That should have been two points in the bank after the second period and not a shootout loss.
How bad was the third period for Montreal? They managed a measly four shots in the third. Four of 27 on the night.
Weak.
Stat of the night - 16.6 percent.
That was the success rate for the Habs powerplay against Buffalo. Montreal scored only once out of six opportunities and that, ladies and gentleman, is the real reason why they lost the game.
Montreal is currently 26th in the league with a 12.3 percent success rate on the PP.
Question of the Day - Will Jacques Martin and co. ever stop playing Tomas Plekanec on the point on the PP?
They've been doing it all season and it has been an unmitigated disaster. Plekanec doesn't have a shot to speak of and his vision and playmaking abilities are best used down low.
So why do they insist on keeping him back there?
The definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing but expecting a different result.
'Nuff said.
Up Next - Montreal has the day off before taking on the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday at the Bell Centre.
This will be the first time Erik Cole is facing his former team, in a Habs uniform.
You think he'll be motivated to score?
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Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com and Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.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)
4 comments:
Good recap of the game Kamal. I agree Pleky on the pt is painful to watch. But I think JM is overusing him. He looks like he is nursing an injury so why on earth would he play him so much when we have Eller playing only 11mins yesterday. Even Gomez on the 4th line got 18. I could sum up JM's system in two words when the Habs are protecting the lead. It sucks....way too passive.
@anon: You make a great point about Pleky being overused.
I know it's early in the season but he often looks tired.
I think there is no player who will be more relieved when Markov comes back, than Plekanec!
It seems that year after year they overuse Plekanec and he doesn't have much left come playoff time.
But such is the JM way!
I'd like to point out something obvious here. When Pleks was centering the top unit on the PP we had one of the top 5 PP's in the league for what three or four years? Now with him on the point we have allowed 4 shorties against.
Here's a newsflash for you Jake Martin......put Pleks where he is comfortable and remove Darche from a forward unit.
If we need a point guy put Spacek there until Markov is ready or try Emelin. Kid has a booming shot, give him a chance.
@Bryan: Too true! I honestly don't get why most supporters of the Habs see these problems but, for whatever reason, the coaching staff doesn't seem too.
The Habs NEED two defenseman WITH shots, manning the point on the PP. Plek has no shot and, as such, opposition can overplay Weber.
Figure it out guys!
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