Montreal Canadiens vs New Jersey Devils
December 16, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles
Musings and In-Game Scribbles
My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).
Montreal Canadiens (15-16-3) visit New Jersey Devils (22-8-1)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Game Thirty-Five (score posted following scribbles)
Musings and In-Game Scribbles are a “live blogging” of the game that are compiled (typed, actually) during the game and edited and posted shortly after the game.
Martin Brodeur. And Carey Price. These are your goalies for the evening.
A thought from others these past few days; Jaroslav Halak was given the start on Monday because Gainey is shopping him around. Who knows.
First Period
Plekanec, Cammalleri and Andrei Kostitsyn start the game. You want systems, here is a team that knows systems. Expect Martin Brodeur to be the plug in the sink. Montreal is in town.
Carey Price makes a low-temperature save.
Moen’s neutral-zone drop-pass (drop-pass?) to Lapierre is unexpected and Lapierre sees it go past him.
Price extends quickly for a save seconds later. Full extension. Looked like a great one but from this perspective, it’s possible the puck didn’t even hit him.
Gomez is on with Cammalleri and D’Agostini now. They’re in the middle of some line change. Not the usual combo.
Montreal dumps it in. Bergeron keeps it in. Laraque, Pyatt and Metropolit are on a line together with O’Byrne and Bergeron as the defensive pairing.
Injured star Andrei Markov, whom Red Fisher referred to this week as “the best player on the Canadiens without question”, is skating with the team in practice and expected back well ahead of the initially projected January or February dates.
The Devils make it look like late-nineties hockey by letting Montreal jab and dance. Their defenders are always skating in synch. They absorb and then parry with quick lead passes from failed offensive entries.
Whistle goes and Houde think it’s too many men on the ice. After a commercial, this is confirmed. Brunet singles out D’Agostini.
Plekanec and Moen are the first pairing and they go against Patrick Elias and Vladimir Zharkov (with three other Devs, of course).
Moen goes and gets it from the boards and carries it over his blue line. Can’t outrun the Devils and he dumps it deep.
Devils next push is to the corner to the right of Price and O’Byrne is called for … I don’t know what. The replay looks like he just shoved a forward down. Shaq-type penalty. Big man optics. Larger players sometimes get called unfairly because what they do physically looks so unjust. This call, I disagree with.
Five-on-three.
Jamie Langenbrunner, Zach Parise and Elias as forwards and Brian Rolston and Travis Zajac on the blue line. Zajac is normally a forward. Could be a weird line change remnant.
First penalty ends.
Devils win the faceoff. Good passing with plenty of return passes to Rolston on the blue line. Two good chances from long-shot rebounds but Price stops both.
Passing resumes. Devils control it well with fairly quick passes.
Thirty seconds left in the penalty. Hamrlik fires it down. Devils enter for a last try with just four seconds left.
Penalty ends and the Canadiens take an accidental icing.
Jacques Lemaire is behind the Devil bench. It’s as if nothing has changed. The Devil’s in the details. The Devil wears a suit.
I admire Jacques Lemaire. Montreal nearly signed him as their coach this off-season. Guy Carbonneau quasi-confirmed it.
Yann Danis is New Jersey’s backup goalie. Good one-two.
Just over eight minutes in the first period.
Gill looks like a bubble gum boy (a tall one) as he stands and smiles, disappointed with the penalty call against him. He keeps looking up at the scoreboard screen for the replay. He needs to decide how he really feels. Montreal will go to the penalty-kill without one of their first-pairing defenders. Gill has been getting a lot of PK responsibility.
First possession is tepid.
Second one; faceoff won by New Jersey.
Moen gets it. Skates down. Two-on-one. I expect nothing. He elects to keep and shoot. Backhander. In.
No shutout, [expletive deleted]!
Montreal 1, New Jersey 0.
Remainder of the penalty is inconclusive for New Jersey.
They are missing some creative gene. Gomez and Gionta come to mind (both former Devils). Gionta is still injured and Gomez is taking a backhand as I type this. Gomez was given some space and forgiveness by Brunet early in the telecast. He said that the numbers aren’t there (he needs more points) but the effort and play from the highest-paid Canadien is laudable.
Commercials. Brain pollution. Is that good for our kids? Your kids? Having kids doesn’t invest you with any special authority.
Four and a half minutes left in the first.
Crowd is the usual New Jersey chess match, sweater and pipe people. Many seats noticeably empty.
Crowd boos slightly when Gomez touches it and clears it in. Houde notices and remarks on it calmly.
Laraque and Metropolit work at it behind the net. One Devil. Metropolit gets it. Starts stick-handling very quickly back and forth. Passes it for Laraque. The big forward is off-balance in the slot and can’t get his stick on it.
Action moves the other way. It’s like a hockey clinic. Everybody is demonstrating technique and effort with no malice.
Price makes a puck stop. Off the back boards. So it’s not a save.
Moments later Price gets called for being a foot out of his zone of restriction. There’s an area behind the end line on both sides of the net that goalies are no longer permitted to play the puck. It’s a two-minute penalty.
Gomez steals it. Works against three Devils in the neutral zone. Leans, keeps the puck, accelerates, turns and then loses the puck.
The enigmatic Kelly Morgan has been a Devil fan for a very long, long time. Since the club moved from Kansas City (Scouts) in 1982, he might vouch. It’s something that occurs to me every time Montreal plays New Jersey. Morgan is a mysterious western Canadian who makes his home in much warmer climes nowadays. Or so I am told.
Period ends.
Shots on goal are eight to seven in favour of New Jersey. Typical NJ numerics. It feels as if Montreal is down 2-0 and playing gamely.
First Intermission
Montreal 1, New Jersey 0
Chronique. Alain Crete’s sky-blue tie on sky-blue dress-shirt with a charcoal suit is worth noting. I’ve never thought about sky-blue on sky-blue before. Very interesting concept.
Francois Gagnon says that the Devils have their usual puck-on-glass guys, defenders who won’t score a lot but who always find a way to win using a defensive system. We see lists of obscure blue collar players. And the last list shows some of the team’s personnel losses in recent years. Last season Scott Gomez was New Jersey’s leading scorer with 60 points.
He’s a good fit for les Canadiens as he won’t balk at having to play the defensive style required of a Montreal centre.
Joel Bouchard asks why the team doesn’t sign Plekanec now rather than waiting for June. He acknowledges Gainey’s strategy of waiting til the off-season before making commitments (in general that has been the style) but emphasizes Plekanec’ good work this season. Demers agrees and adds that Plekanec is playing on the power-play, the penalty-kill and doing very well. Crete adds that Plekanec is approaching the top twenty of NHL scorers if he isn’t there already (entering this game, Plekanec is 18th with 34 points).
Renaud Lavoie keeps calling Travis Moen Tray-viss throughout the short interview prior to the second period. Lavoie has a pleading eyes-to-the-camera expression that reminds me of our buddy George. The retired big house guy.
Moen says the team needs to address the penalties.
Second Period
Montreal 1, New Jersey 0
Early whistle.
Elias has an inconclusive faceoff result against Andrei outside the Montreal blue line. Tomas was chased from the circle.
Montreal dumps it in after some keepaway in their own zone. They get the line change they want. And a subsequent faceoff just outside the New Jersey zone.
Another whistle. Puck flips out of play in their zone. Faceoff is outside the Montreal zone. We get a shot of Mario Tremblay. He looks displeased and Brunet notices. Houde and Brunet chuckle over this for a few seconds.
Long pass from Johnny Oduya misses everyone and results in icing. What a great name. Say it a few times. It’s got a Tarzan-from-the-vines feel that I admire.
Kostitsyn gets a semi-long pass and gets over the New Jersey line. Looks dangerous. He slows, mini-curls quickly and loses the puck. Then the puck goes out of play in the neutral zone.
Another puck goes out of play less than a minute later. New Jersey ricochet.
Montreal wins this faceoff. To the left of Price. Hamrlik launches the attack. Pace is up. Players are tired of all the waiting.
Just over fifteen minutes left. Spacek takes a penalty. Slash. His stick broke. It was a fair call. Spacek shakes his head like a cartoon pig. Sitting in the box.
New Jersey runs a very efficient perimeter passing game. How can so much care and precision look so boring?
Whistle after a one-shot merry-go-around by NJ.
Elias controls on the hash after the next faceoff.
Rolston’s long shot form the point goes wide and Rob Neidermayer is called for hooking (Plekanec) moments later. Neidermayer is finally separated from his brother who stayed behind in Anaheim (Scott).
Four-on-four.
Montreal gets their first control on Devil ice in several minutes. Brodeur makes a stop in front of Plekanec. No shutout, son.
Montreal gets about a minute on the power-play. Plekanec is on with Cammalleri. The former Flame turns into the circle, left of Brodeur, and shoots. Stick breaks. Devils clear.
Montreal works hard just to get capture the puck. They can’t until Metropolit exerts himself on the game. And now he gets a shot from the slot. Stopped.
We see a replay of the New Jersey shot earlier. Zach Parise on the backhand. More boredom.
Just under twelve minutes in the second period.
The pace is fairly brisk. Crowd is nearly silent. I can hear the puck and the yelling from players on the bench, rattling of the boards, the looseness of the glass around the net areas.
Devil coverage is too strong for medium to long passes. Bergeron’s attempt is intercepted and sent back.
Some boos now as Gomez gets over the line for a shot.
Elias sends it in for Rolston to chase. Elias joins him but Spacek beats them both to the disc. Sends it along. And it flows back.
Kostitsyn tries to send in Hamrlik on the left side. Too far.
Brodeur has lost his stick. Montreal starts shooting. Bergeron. Then Pacioretty. Devils struggle to control the disc. Lapierre is causing problems for the home team.
Now Gomez is on with Sergei. First time I’ve really noticed Sergei tonight. D’Agostini is on with them. Sergei enters with the puck. One-on-one. Goes for the long shot. Gets it on net. But right on the dropping Brodeur.
Other way we go. Strides and the odd bellow. Shot on Price. Easy stop.
Television time-out. In football the guy in the yellow outfit comes onto the field. When he leaves you know the commercial break is over.
Long view of the arena. About 70 seats up. Lengthwise. And a shot of an unexcited father and his sleeping New Jersey-wearing son.
Faceoff. D’Agostini comes up with it from behind the net. Gets it to the slot. Shot. Now Gomez brings it in right to the lip, raises it. Beats your buddy. Puck goes over the net.
Rolston on the other end. Stopped by Price.
I’m thinking of the power that some secretaries have. And some HR departments. Their judgement determines some very important things. Who gets to talk to whom. Who gets in. How smart is your administrative assistant?
Is a goalie a secretary?
Just over five minutes in the period. Shots from New Jersey. Whistle. Hamrlik is on the ice. Trainer. He is up to his knees. Trainer is on his knees on the ice. Listening.
Looks like Price’s stick broke in contact with Hamrlik who was chasing Zach Parise around the net. Hamrlik goes to the dressing room to be evaluated. Pierre Houde expresses concern.
Zach Parise stays on the ice for the following faceoff. Devils complete a few passes and then change lines. They complete a few more passes and a whistle goes.
Montreal wins the faceoff. Shot from Bergeron.
Ilkka PiIkkarainen takes a long, loping, lazy shot high, very high on Price. Price reaches for it. Misses it. Loses it. It drops behind him and clatters into the net. Yes, from here it sounded like a clatter.
New Jersey 1, Montreal 1.
Just under three minutes left in the second.
Pyatt advances with Moen on his right. Gets it over and Moen shoots from the circle. Stopped and controlled for a faceoff by Brodeur.
It doesn’t take much blood to ruin a good painting.
McAmmond comes in with two Devils and a Hab chasing. McAmmond is basically free but on the left. He shoots. And Price is on a knee and closing the door.
That was Pikkarainen’s first career goal. It’s common enough. Always new players getting called up for their three-game NHL careers. Pikkareinen has played 21 NHL games and is 28 years old.
Jacques Lemaire has a tilt of Nicholson tete on his graveyard countenance.
Period ends.
Shots are seventeen to fifteen in favour of Montreal.
Second Intermission
New Jersey 1, Montreal 1
RDS informs us that Montreal is 32% on faceoffs in the first two periods.
Third Period
New Jersey 1, Montreal 1
Neidermayer beats Plekanec on the faceoff but the Cammalleri line enters quickly from the neutral zone. Cammalleri shoots from the off-wing. Bounces in front. Andrei cracks his stick. Right on Brodeur’s leg-pad.
Gorges to Gill behind the Montreal net. Back it comes where Gill has to get it up to the neutral zone. Most of the work is in the Montreal cup. But only along the boards.
Hamrlik will be back for the third period. Brunet and Houde let us know and Brunet says it’s good news.
Montreal moves out on a three-man press by New Jersey. But they can’t establish control. They haven’t at all in five-on-five tonight. Longest such lack of control for the team this season.
New Jersey takes no risks.
Sergei skates. Stops hard. Shoots from the left circle. Brodeur’s pads are becoming a problem.
Langenbrunner has the most intriguing play of the period so far. A thundering check about five minutes ago. Yet less than two minutes have been played.
Price gloves a puck and holds it for a faceoff to his right.
Houde says he would have expected more urgency from the start of the period. Brunet corrects him and says both teams are playing cautiously. I agree with Benoit.
Laraque and Pyatt work hard with Metropolit to keep the puck deep. Somebody has to do something. Their burst ends with a puck over the boards. Line one.
Long pass skims a bit too far and the Devils get it. Sigh and a shake of the head. Brunet comments as well. Another faceoff soon afterwards.
Line one stays on.
Plekanec wins it.
Just over twelve minutes in the period.
Gorges and Cammalleri combine to break out but Brodeur finds the puck behind the net and clears it.
Moen loses it in the centre ice area following short, end-of-shift backhand pass from Cammalleri.
New Jersey’s long passes are also wasted against Montreal. It’s more because the Devils don’t cherry-pick much.
Parise gets a sharp chance. To Price’s left. Save and freeze.
Zajac and Plekanec face off. New Jersey’s senses a drop in Montreal’s resolve. They increase the pace of their passing. Along the Montreal blue line skims the puck. And Bergeron interrupts it.
Next line is trapped. Pyatt and Metropolit. It doesn’t last and they are able to clear it out and create space and time for the Gomez line.
Long shot is stopped in photographic style by Price. Left foot, Zorro extension. Epee! Ha!
To the corner. And out again.
Pacioretty is working deep on the boards. Long shot from O’Byrne. Wide.
Devils exit. Andrei knocks down McAmmond while backchecking. Unexpected. But a S.H.I.E.L.D. level take-down. Very beret, Andrei.
Devils get pressure. Price makes a stop. Faceoff. A brief flare-up is reconsidered. Commercial.
Sixty-three percent of voters think Jaroslav Halak should be allowed to leave. The consensus seems to be that he can be a number one elsewhere.
Price is better and has been for over a month now. Halak is still very good. Price is approaching his potential. Which is greater than Halak’s.
Just over six minutes left in the game.
Spacek to Pacioretty. Puck goes to the corner. Moen can’t reach it.
Salvador takes a long wrister but Spacek blocks it.
Elias drives down the right side. Tries a backhand slot pass.
The Devils are a brochure and two-semester team. All white blueprint, green overheads and devil-red pdf lessons.
Just over four minutes.
A turnover. It’s what I fear now.
Plekanec sends it down from the neutral zone. Three and a half minutes. D’Agostini sends Gomez in with a short pass. But Kostitsyn is offside. Sergei.
Just under three minutes. Montreal is waiting. Devils enter anyway. Elias. Shoots. Rebound. In.
New Jersey 2, Montreal 1.
Elias was sent in alone. Rolston. He stopped at the top and centre, just inside the blue line, leaned and tucked the puck to the crease and Elias backhanded it in swooping.
What horsebag timing.
Just under two minutes left in the game.
Moen forechecks with Pacioretty. Pacioretty falls and exaggerates it. No call. Devils ice. Jacques Martin calls a timeout. Jacques Nicholson makes indications with his piece of paper. He seems joyous. On the inside. On the inside.
Faceoff is to Brodeur’s left.
Devils win it. Brodeur clears. Stopped at the upper hash. Parise gets it to Elias. Harangued at the centre line. Finds a shot. Just misses the empty net.
Forty seconds.
Bergeron is forced to retrieve it. To Kostitsyn. Fired in.
Bergeron stops another puck at the blue line. It goes out. Brunet says it’s incredible how the Devils know how to end a game. Brunet says what I feel; he is very disappointed tonight.
Gomez takes the faceoff with seven seconds left. To the right of Brodeur.
This team is so close. So close. To what? To legitimacy.
Cammalleri sets up Spacek. Missed. Time trickles away.
I take solace in Brodeur not getting a standing ovation in an enemy rink (March 14th, 2009) and not getting a forever shutout. Forever.
New Jersey 2
Montreal 1
HDS Stars: Patrik Elias, Brian Rolston, Jamie Langenbrunner
RDS Stars: Patrik Elias, Travis Moen, Brian Rolston
We get a great analysis of the goal against on l’antichambre. Plekanec stopped skating with Elias. And Andrei Kostitsyn stopped skating defensively with the play in the neutral zone. Oy.
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