Martin Finally Calls Out Scott Gomez
I take it that Canadiens’ Coach Jacques Martin were finally too chapped from kissing Scott Gomez’s backside. In his post-game press conference yesterday, he threw Gomez under the bus for his happy-go-lucky style of play all season. The ripples of doubt are starting to show. There has been trouble in the Habs’ locker room for quite some time, but no one has the guts to say anything about it.
While Martin has been playing his veterans to the max, he has lost all sense of credibility in his own locker room. When players no longer believe in their coach, what’s next? Since the team was blown up two years ago, only the coach can be fired, right? There’s no one dumb enough to take on the Gomez contract, and no one with the intestinal fortitude to send #11 to the AHL at the start of next season.
And while considering the fate of Coach Martin, GM Pierre Gauthier won’t fire his buddy, will he? Ultimately, the only way to right this ship is for team owner Geoff Molson to take out the trash.
186 Minutes of Futility…And Counting
Isn’t it funny how the last guy to score for the Canadiens was sitting in the press box last night? Tom Pyatt scored the last of the eight goal against the Minnesota Wild almost a week ago. So what the problem? Why can’t the Habs put one past anyone lately?
Let’s start with the lack of traffic in front of opposing netminders. With the absence of Max Pacioretty, the only two Habs who have had the gumption to stand in front of the net have been Brian Gionta and David Desharnais, arguably the smallest forwards on the team. Add to that the overall lack of speed and shots, and you have a formula for futility.
Bear in mind, you’re not going to generate anything if you refuse to attack the offensive zone using the middle of the ice, and always getting the few shots you get through from the perimeter. This team was built for transition offense. The defensive “system” used by Coach Martin has all but obliterated that notion. So what now? One can only guess.
No Day Off in Site
After yesterday’s loss, Coach Martin decided to still hold practice on Sunday. You would think that having players in the lineup just coming back from injury, and other with nagging ones, would persuade the coaching staff to give them a day to rest while they try to fix what is wrong.
A day to look over the recent scoreless games, and compare them to games earlier in the season when the Canadiens had success might help. Instead, let’s get the guys back on the ice, work on the useless adjustments we tried against the Capitals, and see if we can muster a better result? The logic is always the same, regardless of the situation. Coach Martin refuses to evolve as a coach, and continues to keep his thinking in the stone age. When will this man realize that he needs to consult his leadership group in order to get his team back on track?
Pairings Shmerings
Since the beginning of his tenure as head coach of the Canadiens, Coach Martin has always accentuated the use of pairing to formulate his lines, as opposed to trios. He insists that with solid pairing, anyone can fill the void to complete a trio. I got news for you, Jack. That thinking is flawed.
Was it pairings that brought you the line of Pouliot, Halpern and Darche? What about Kostitsyn, Eller and White? No, it was necessity. The necessity to fill out your lineup card, and put together combinations you thought might be successful, and the aforementioned line were just that. These line were showing great chemistry until you decided to blow them to smithereens. Try using that logic when putting your lines back in order.
Put Gomez where he belongs, either on the fourth line or the press box. Give Desharnais a chance between Travis Moen and Brian Gionta, two noted finishers. Let Plekanec play with Michael Cammalleri and Ryan White. Try something totally different. If what you’ve been repeating hasn’t helped, what harm could it do?
Why Isn’t Subby-Doo on The Power Play Longer?
Okay, Jacques. The Tomas Plekanec experiment is getting a little old. You originally put him back there to feed puck to James Wisniewski, but that doesn’t work. Primairily because Plek doesn’t switch to his off wing, giving Wiz a chance to one-time the puck from the point. You’re also taking away the down low play making presence Plekanec brings to the table.
Isn’t it time you started showing P.K. a little respect for the body of work he’s done all year? Is it so bad to concede that you have leaned on this kid a whole lot this season, and, other than a few rookie mistakes, he’s delivered? Stop being so stubborn, and give the devil his due. He deserves it.
In Closing
Check out Cowhide and Rubber for my buddy Kyle Roussel’s take on Mark Recchi’s comments.
Check out Capitals Outsider and Thrasher Backer for the opposition’s side of things.
Let me take this chance to welcome HabsChick to A Winning Habit. Her satirical look at all things Bleu-Blanc-Rouge will have you holding your stomach from the laughter.
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @KostaPapoulias
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