SAINT-LAZARE, QC — For this game, some didn’t know what to expect. Certain odds makers gave an advantage to the Florida Panthers, who had just gone through some major changes after the trade deadline. With a depleted blue line and lackluster talent up front, the Cats gave the Habs all they could handle. Stellar netminding by Carey Price, as well as non-existent goaltending by the tandem of Tomas Vokoun and Scott Clemenssen, allowed the Canadiens to leave Sunrise with a 4-0 victory, in front of a partisan Canadiens crowd.
While the Canadiens’ top six forwards took the night off, it was the third and fourth line grinders who stole the show. It started with the first goal of the season by Hal Gill, early in the first period. Following that were goals by Andrei Kostitsyn, who has a five game point streak since leaving Scott Gomez’s side, along with David Desharnais and Lars Eller.
With 30 shots on goal, the Panthers tried to make a game of it, but were thwarted every step of the way by Carey Price. Price has stopped 70 of 71 shots faced so far below the Mason-Dixie line. There were, however, a few issues that irked me as the game progressed.
The worst of which was the motionless and effortless play of Benoit Pouliot. With the talent he possesses, it bewilders even the most staunch critics of the Canadiens why he continues to play over ten minutes a game, while not giving a sustained effort. He often misses the net when shooting, or makes lousy reads, giving the puck away on rushes that look dangerous originally. The St-Isodore, Ontario native needs to be better. On a team that is looking for someone to step up into the last spot among the top six forwards, he certainly has more offensive talent than Jeff Halpern to do the job.
While the coaching staff may be happy with the two points, allowing the Habs to further solidify their hold on sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, the next four games will certainly be much tougher than the last two in Atlanta and Florida. With games against the offensively gifted Tampa Bay Lightening, as well as the big, bad Boston Bruins, the St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins, next week will be difficult. While the Blues have languished of late, and the Penguins are minus Sydney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin, they’re all still formidable opponents. They always bring their best against the Canadiens, injuries or otherwise. All four boast more offensive firepower than the Habs, but only the Lightening are weak defensively.
Tomorrow night’s tilt in Tampa will be crucial for the Canadiens. Given their opposition next week, they will be hard pressed to get points in the next week. And while riding a 3-game winning streak, it is certain that all streaks come to an end. Hopefully, for Jacques Martin and his queries, the streak ends later rather than sooner.
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