Montreal Canadiens versus Washington Capitals

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 (21-20-3) visit Washington Capitals (24-11-6)

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Game Forty-Four (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.

Alexander Ovechkin, we are told, has been named captain of the Capitals. I’m with Bob McCown on this one. The captaincy should go to an experienced leader and not to your most skilled player.

Carey Price and Michal Neuvirth are the goalies and Gord Dwyer and Tim Peel are the referees.

First Period

Quiet crowd.

Early chance by Washington and Price is floating on water. On his stomach and hopeful. Metropolit clears the puck out of danger but not out.

Plekanec sets up and fires from the top of the circle and it hits Neuvirth’s mask. Really powerful shot and unexpected as his wind-up wasn’t as full as it could have been.

Gorges sends it up by the boards. Washington retrieves and Price is clearing it up soon afterward. Gionta has it behind the Washington net but his pass results in a turnover.

Skating is cautious for the most part. Washington is playing a lazier game than I’m accustomed to from them.

Pouliot is playing well. Good pursuit and always around the puck.

The Capitals are cavalier in their play and know that they have the advantage. This could cost them the game.

Gomez to Gionta for a shot but Steckel gets in front of the puck.

Steckel is stopped in the high slot and a Canadien and a Cap stand together for a moment, puck between them, motionless.

Just over eight minutes left in the first period.

Capitals enter easily and the Canadiens are unable to establish anything resembling a pause and pass play.

Schultz’ dump-in is retrieved by Hamrlik who sends Bergeron in on the right side. Bergeron’s speed allows him to cut to the net on a good curve. His backhand is stopped.

Green comes in on Price’s left. High wrister. Price sees it all the way and makes a Statue of Grant save. Puck is bobbled a bit on the way down and we see a faceoff next.

I am wasting this period flummoxed over my capture technology. Changed the settings and can’t get them back to normal. It’s something I’d wish on an enemy.

A few enemies. Minute and a half.

Canadiens incur a penalty. Early set-up results in a long shot by the Caps and a clear. Next wave sees Semin miss a point-blank pass-and-shoot from the tip-top of the crease.

Period ends with no further danger.

Shots on goal are in favour of Washington 11 to three.

First Intermission

Washington 0, Montreal 0

A La Une avec Francois Gagnon and Alain Crete. Andy Murray was let go by St. Louis on the weekend. Gagnon says that Murray is the second coach fired this season and that the Blues replaced him from within the organization and that this move is cheaper.

Did someone tell Alain Crete to be less friendly towards Francois? Crete maintains a colder demeanour towards Gagnon for the first time in months.

Seems Bryan McCabe has been named captain of the Panthers. How amusing. Did he complain and complain til he got the title? His sense of entitlement is the kind that causes a player to bang his stick on the ice after ending a long scoring drought. As if he is a fifty-goal man. “Finally!” As if the gods have been denying him. No. The gods have not been denying you. You are just a below-average player with thug tendencies.

Second Period

Washington 0, Montreal 0

Price makes a beautiful save. Slides low across the crease.

Spacek takes a penalty.

Semin moves in. Danger, danger. Ovechkin turns slowly with the rebound. Deliberately. Sings a wrister off the post.

Washington is creating international intrigue chances. High drama and high skill. James Bond sur glace.

They should all be wearing suits.

Poti fires from a distance. Deflects to the corner. Fifteen seconds left in the power-play.

Backstrom loses the puck while creating behind the net. Fleischmann gets it in the mid-slot and beats Price to the biscuit side. Markov had lost his stick and Fleischmann reacted immediately cutting across to the slot from the corner.

Houde says the referees missed the slash on Markov’s stick, though.

Washington 1, Montreal 0.

I finish off the remainder of the holiday chocolates and fudge; about three-quarters of a pound.

Gorges carries it in. Drops it for Pouliot. Long shot. Held onto by Neuvirth.

We were told earlier that Jose Theodore’s days with the Capitals are as good as over.

The French Moore’s commercial is going to be annoying before long. The guy they hired to do the voice-over is too nasal.

Ted Leonsis, Washington’s chief cheese has that “I’m somebody” demeanour. He’s chewing on pistachios and wearing a Hugo Boss suit. Well, I don’t know what he’s chewing and the suit could easily be a Moore’s. Leonsis has a tan and very black hair. Deeply black.

Pouliot sends a blind backhand pass to the Washington slot and it fails as you might expect.

Brunet says that there are too many turnovers for Montreal right now.

Neuvirth has his name featured on the lower part of his mask. The paint-job looks quite nice. Neuvirth has that “I’m sort of a big deal” demeanour that one gets after a big Christmas bonus.

Maybe he’s just had nearly a pound of chocolate between periods and is feeling good about it. Bushy eyebrows on the youngster.

Fehr and Hamrlik work on the boards deep in Montreal territory. Lapierre works to get it out. And it is banged back in.

Whistle. Penalty. Houde surmises that it’s against Lapierre. He promises clarification after the commercial.

Whom are these Molson commercials targeting? Weird legs and heavy eighties synth. Chocolate-eating forty-year olds? Magenta and gold, big lips and a rotating bottle of the worst beer in Canada. Well, one of the worst beers in Canada. Pilsner is pretty bad. And so is Kokanee.

Backstrom glides in leading a two-on-one with a Canadien huffing to catch up. Lofts a pass cross-ice. Shot. Save by Price.

I can’t shake the image of a yelling Price. Heard a story about the goalie and a neighbour. Price was upset over a dog and overreacted. Well. It’s hearsay. Then again, Patty wasn’t a cleric now was he?

Montreal power-play is gearing up. And we hear a post. Great position from Gomez.

Second wave is Cammalleri with Plekanec and The Prospect (Pacioretty).

Penalty ends.

Knuble rounds the net to Price’s left. Can’t backhand it in. Montreal is pushed back but Lapierre finally gets it out. The exit lasts about six seconds.

This time Gomez chases the puck down and he is successful. He sends it up to the blue line and a shot follows. In. Gorges. Wrister. Lopey. But deflected.

Montreal 1, Washington 1.

It’s Montreal’s eleventh shot with just under six minutes left in the second period. It’s Gorges’ second goal of the season.

Pacioretty is down on the ice. Gets up to a cat position and RDS goes to a commercial. Houde guesses that Pacioretty was hit in the face.

Canada Mistrust commercial. We’ve saved you six dollars a month, Mr. Sept-Iles. Oh, thank you, Canada Miss Trust. How much did you save for yourself?

Houde and Brunet inform us that Pacioretty collided knee-to-knee with someone and took a stick in the face.

Washington scores. I love the MCI Center’s blare horn.

Deflected. A bit of bad luck says Brunet.

Washington 2, Montreal 1

Just under four minutes.

Can a person be exiled from a Cup?

Semin gets in on a two-on-two and shoots it in easily. Screened. Just about twenty seconds later, Alberta theorem demonstrates itself as the Canadiens lose their composure and a small scrum ensues.

Washington 3, Montreal 1.

Semin’s shot was high-velocity from the middle, high slot. Gill screened Price mistakenly. We don’t see what thuggery our heroes got up to after the play. But somehow a Capital is in the box. Poti. Gomez got penalized, too.

Four on four. Ovechkin is on with Backstrom. Plekanec and Cammalleri are paired for Montreal. Watching Ovie, I’d say that Kovalchuk is a better skater. Just a bit. And it’s just a post-holiday guess for fun.

The flying and curling is mostly in the Montreal zone but no quality shots emerge.

Houde pronounces Neuvirth’s name “Noy-Verth”.

Metropolit is reaching just beyond his wiper-range to retain the puck. In the slot.

Poti suddenly escapes for a breakaway. Easy and clear. Price stops it. Easily and clearly. Well, then.

Just over a minute left. Good message from the Priceberg.

Moen is working against Semin on the boards. Now Moen is chasing the puck into the Washington corner.

D’Agostini gets a shot.

Lapierre takes exception to something after the whistle and the response is instant. Lapierre gets up from the jumble of arms with a smile on his face. Reminds me of Stevey Bee. Stevie Bee? Stevy Bee. It was Green and Lapierre with some glove-on fist to jaw communication.

Lapierre goes to the box. He’s the only one.

Washington gets a power-play and the period ends about ten seconds later. Houde says it’s that type of game. Canadiens are playing back on their heels says Brunet. I’m paraphrasing.

Shots on goal are 28 to 13 in favour of Washington. It’s an ugly event for Montreal worshippers. But there is the third to come. (Fix my country, Steve)

Second Intermission

Washington 1, Montreal 0

Joel Bouchard is tieless and analytical. I’d say he’s tireless but I haven’t been in the RDS parking lot lately.

He reviews the turnover situation. We see some missed checks and hear that Washington leads 20-11 on hits. Hits can slow the opponent and if timed well, can remove players from pucks; the turnover game.

Now Demers shows some clips that highlight Washington’s backchecking.

Alain Crete laughs with Jacques Demers for the first time in months. What’s the deal with Alain ce soir? Demers wasn’t being that funny, either.

I should have an advertising budget and be permitted to pollute Chevrolet staff homes with my slickest, most superficial thoughts. Email me your advertising donations (hommedeseptiles@gmail.com). I’ll probably do it.

Demers says that Halak will be gone by the March 3rd deadline. Joel Bouchard hopes that the Canadiens don’t trade him “just for a draft choice”. He says that a draft choice is an unknown quantity. However, it’s likely that draft choices are the only way for a team to get an edge. When known quantities are exchanged neither team, in theory, improves. Generally speaking that is true as veteran player abilities are known. But with a draft choice, there is a chance that a team could come out well ahead in a deal. Of course, the reverse is just as possible.

Shocker interview; Tomas Fleischmann. English and a foreigner. Bien fait, RDS. Fleischmann says that the naming of Ovie as captain is something the team was expecting and that he is their leader. Skate me to your leader. Or steak, the case of Ovie. Red blood Hart.

Third Period

Washington 3, Montreal 1

White eggs light the darkened arena as an eerie red glow cloaks all.

Lights come up and the action resumes.

Early Washington incursion. Faceoff.

Plekanec loses the faceoff. Washington’s power-play continues.

It’s one of those, “I’d rather be playing video games” nights. Can we just score a few goals? It’s not a night for reflection. It’s a night for passion and pride.

Montreal wins the next faceoff and Markov clears it out on the backhand. Gionta swoops in, centres it. Markov nearly marks.

Another Montreal exit. Hamrlik and Gomez combine for a wide shot.

Capital goal-judge hits the red light button mistakenly. Houde and Brunet share a chuckle.

Big chance. Big crowd. Four white jerseys tumbled like pins. Price gets back up. His is the fifth jersey.

Washington organist plays the 2K6 theme music. I am very impressed. Aesthetic moment of the game so far.

Cammalleri drives to the front. Swivel-sweeping with the puck. Beautiful car moves. (Yes advertising works on me, too) Shot. Stopped.

Just under seventeen minutes left in the game. What would Maverick say?

Two men in. Moen and Metropolit. D’Agostini flies in to support. Well, for him it was a fly-in. Where is Saku.

D’Agostini retrieves the puck in our zone and shoot-passes it out.

Moments later we have a gloved-ahead call and the play stops.

Cammalleri has a very distant resemblance to Willem Dafoe. Figured it out.

Poti makes a move around Cammalleri at the blue line and shoots. Panic. Missed shot. Fortune.

Gionta exits. Following the puck all the wile. Whistle. Montreal is called for unsportsmanlike. Hamrlik. He sits down like a guilty man do. I like saying it that way.

Power-play. Long shot. Tink. Off the post. Green.

Whistle.

Gionta cross-checks Laich after the play. One of those mild “wanna go?” cross-checks. Laich refuses the invitation. Other Caps respect the exchange and Gionta returns to the Montreal bench with no harm done. Gionta is a respected player around the NHL. Don’t piss him off. Not because he will demolish you but because he is a guy that ought to be respected. N’a mean?

Montreal is doing better on this kill. Markov raps it off the glass and out.

Puck is back in down the right side.

Markov continues his good work. Man on. Slows down the action and messes up the pass. Just over thirteen minutes left in the period.

Seventeen seconds left in the power-play.

Knuble to Backstrom. Opening closes. Relief. There was a chance. A good one.

Puck is cleared out.

We keep getting Canada-America updates (the Juniors are on). It’s 3-3. Go America. Just bein’ neighbourly.

Plekanec and The Prospect are in the corner against two Caps.

Morrison nearly sets up a game-ender going the other way. Hesitates. Slides it over. Too far. Or was his wingmate too slow?

Another Montreal turnover. And another dangerous Washington shot. Montreal could easily be down seven to two right now.

Gionta somehow doesn’t score in the slot standing over Neuvirth who was down like Liston.

Replay shows that the puck was bounding in the crease. It was close, moke.

Bergeron to Hamrlik. Up for Metropolit. They work it down. Lapierre is watching close by in the corner. Semin is the beneficiary. Washington moves it up.

Price has it. Action remains in the Montreal zone. Boardwork. Slow but sticky. Sour honey on skates. The game is at hand. The hand is in the hive. Sorry. I couldn’t resist that last bit. But just think; in the hive. That’s gotta be serious. Nine sweet, buzzing minutes left.

Commercial.

Brunet is unhappy that nobody protected Plekanec. Washington gets a penalty on the play.

Montreal scores.

Bergeron to Gionta. Misses Gionta’s stick and goes in. Or maybe it hit Pouliot’s. Pouliot gets the credit.

Washington 3, Montreal 2.

Price’s breakaway save becomes even more significant. Eight and a half minutes left.

Montreal moves well on the ensuing faceoff.

Today I don’t give a squeak. I want a win. Do I say that every ding-dong game? Just some crazed fan. Forget analysis or pretense of understanding. Just give me jerseys, sugar and victory. (Oh, I hope I’m not hopeless)

Just over seven minutes.

Gionta moves in with Gomez’ help abut loses the puck.

Semin is in on the other end. Shoots wide and is off-balance and then dumped.

Montreal attacks. Whistle.

Where is Theodore going to go?

Booing. It’s Knuble. Slashing.

Ouch. Right on Cammalleri’s left glove. Looked like an ordinary stick to stick attempt. Regardless, Montreal goes to the power-play. Cammalleri clutched his glove on the play.

Montreal gives up an early chance off a Markov turnover. Then they enter. Gomez. To Gionta. Shot is gloved.

Washington wins the faceoff. Backstrom clears it.

Gionta and Gomez remain on. Bergeron is on the blue line with Markov.

Gionta gives it away. Cleared. Bergeron’s stick breaks on the next entry. What blasted, horned doom. As if.

Washington clears the next entry.

I’m up to one oath per three words.

Ok, I’m back to normal but the penalty ends.

Caps fans are rising in volume. Just over four minutes.

Markov on the point. From Lapierre. Shot. Washington reclaims the puck.

Backstrom centres it for a swooping Green. Just misses.

Markov has it behind our net. Yes, our net. It’s a Montreal website.

Pouliot is on. Giveaway. Bergeron. Nearly holds. Deke. Price. What a game-saving stop. Slid across and stopped a very slick, very quick stickhandling effort.

Montreal remains alive and in it.

Montreal is aggressively forechecking. We are going to see a few red jersey escapes. This one results in a goal. Long shot from Semin after a two-on-one was turned away. Too good a shot and it was deflected by a defender.

Both Kostitsyns are still injured. That didn’t help.

Washington 4, Montreal 2

Still a chance, grim and slim though it may be. Just under two minutes. D’Agostini moves in down the left side. Shoots. Shoots again off the rebound. Two stops. One faceoff. 2010 disappointments. I’m exaggerating.

Montreal pressure resumes.

Price is on the bench.

Pouliot, Cammalleri, Gionta and Gomez are on the ice. Bergeron and Markov are on the blue line.

Montreal keeps it in. They keep creating.

Bergeron shoots from the side. Markov wrists it high from the blue line. Fifteen seconds.

Markov keeps it in. Stick is broken. Markov shoots to the side of the net and it is nearly deflected in.

Big blare. Period ends. Brunet starts spouting positives. Tonight it feels like I was there and losing with them. Why? I don’t know.

Washington 4
Montreal 2

HDS Stars: Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, Dennis Maruk
RDS Stars: Alexander Semin, Tomas Fleischmann, Tom Poti