Montreal Canadiens vs Los Angeles Kings

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 (30-29-6) visit Los Angeles Kings (38-21-4)

Saturday, March 6, 2010
Game Sixty-Six (score posted following scribbles)

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. Based on the RDS telecast, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee.

Jaroslav Halak gets his first start since the Vancouver tournament. Jonathan Quick is in net for Los Angeles.

Justin St. Pierre and Brad Watson are the referees.

Maxim Lapierre is replaced by Ben Maxwell tonight. Lapierre was suspended for four games for his dangerous hit last game. I think he should have gotten more.

First Period

Gionta, Gomez and Pouliot are in early. Gionta creates a turnover and is in the slot after a failed glove on by Quick. He cracks it in standing in the blue ice of the crease.

Montreal 1, LA 0

Gomez line stays on and slick Scottie sneaks to the slot stickhandling and shooting a backhander. They maintain control after a good positional save by Quick. Squared to centre.

Sorry about that other thing.

Kings are turning over the puck in ghastly ways. Dead straight giveaways. They’re making Montreal look better than they are. And they are good, don’t get me wrong.

Whistle after a glove save by Quick. Kostitsyn, Plekanec and Pyatt are on next. Articles today referred to this addition (Pyatt) as an appearance on the “first line”. Fair enough. The term not the addition. Ah, well. I guess I can be a bit lenient. Pyatt is a very quick skater.

Markov and O’Byrne are paired on defence.

Forward Alexander Frolov (one of about 28 Russians in the NHL) initiates the Kings first incursion. They get about six seconds, a shot blocked just inside the blue line and an exit.

Lines change and Randy Jones starts the Kings from behind his net.

Puck is in the corner to Halak’s left. Goes to the point. And the Kings are able to control it.

Kings are a good-sized team it appears. They have nine Canadians. And the NHL has over 550 Canadians.

Gomez line is on again. Quick has to make a save off a screened shot from about 37 feet out. Quick appears to look with exasperation at the bench or to his right. His guys aren’t getting the coverage. Montreal has seven shots with less than four minutes elapsed. LA has zero shots.

Halak retrieves it behind his net and lofts it along the boards. Goes to the point. Shot. It makes a wayward path. And it’s in front. Jammed at. Blocked by Halak.

Kostitsyn is on the other end. Shooting. Muffled.

Canadiens keep the puck in. Plekanec is coasting from around back of his net and I’ve not seen space like this afforded a Montreal team all season. What is LA doing wrong? It’s not as if we’re as fast as we were last season. Yes, tonight is one of those “we” nights.

Sergei Kostitsyn is on now. Moore is with him. Markov pairing remains.

Ben Maxwell accompanies them. They are in chase mode until Maxwell retrieves it behind the Kings net.

He rounds the boards and leaves it for a linemate, Metropolit.

Whistle.

King defenceman Drew Doughty is shown on the replay. He wears number eight and had a good series for his team in the Vancouver tournament. Canada.

Gomez’ drop-pass is a no-look and is a turnover.

Kings get about nine seconds along the boards. Now Brown picks it up behind the net. To the point. Across the blue. Shot. Rebound. Great chance.
Halak.

Ryan Smyth has it behind the net. Yes, that Ryan Smyth. Still wearing his trademarked #94. Oil, oil we go.

Lines change and Pyatt flies down the right and sends a slot pass. Great chance but no shot. Speed is increasing. Canadiens sense death. LA’s black and blue demise.

Speed is excellent. Here come your Kings. Wayne Simmonds. One-on-one. Looks to get a screened shot. Doesn’t work but the right idea.

Moen works the boards now. Two Kings. Three. Moore is there. Gill joins them. Six seconds. Eight. Stays on the boards. It’s a throwback sequence. I love it. Houde says there’s a lot of energy being expended without much result. Both Brunet and Houde chuckle. That was about twenty seconds or more spent on the boards. Sergei ends it.

Puck is sent down. Kings retrieve.

On the boards again. It’s like boxing. Gloves stay on. And I haven’t seen hockey like this all season. Great work along the boards.

Faceoff.

We are shown the slot chance by Andrei Kostitsyn. He did get a stick on it and it was a good save from seven feet out by Quick.

Pouliot shoots. Gomez misses the large and livid rebound. What are Quick’s pads made of? Some kind of plyomer rubber echo material. Big pucks. Bad spaces. It’s an LA moaning. (No I did not mean polymer)

Another rebound and Moore dives in head-first like an Xbox player swinging but can’t get a stick on it. Wow. Great effort from Moore. I can be convinced.

Commercial.

LA lines. We are told that left wing Raitis Ivanans and right wing Justin Williams are missing tonight. Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty are the first defence pairing and Brunet says that it’s not a good beginning for the well-reputed twosome. Johnson also played for his country in the Vancouver Tourney. Team USA.

Kings win the faceoff and drive down for a mild shot on Halak’s left. He holds it for a faceoff. O’Byrne and Brad Richardson have a discussion following the whistle. One of those jostle chats. Eyebrows and “oh yeah?”

We resume and Moore has it deep on the boards. Sends a slot pass for Sergei. Nope.

Kings have it now.

Fight.

O’Byrne and Rich Clune. O’Byrne struggles early but by bear-hugging Clune gets a tight decision. In my NHL these guys are both gone for the season. Hey, then don’t gift the league to me.

Clune is from Toronto. Yeah, exactly. Who gives a hoot.

Kings’ head coach is shaking his head. He has a Bryan Murray demeanour. Pursed lips, concern and pending stroke. I like him immediately. Short white hair, older dude, boring suit. Has a demeanour of that implies he does the right thing. Hey, it’s just a first impression.

Play resumes. Four on four.

Pyatt is on with Plekanec.

The Canadiens circle in their own end with the puck and then Pyatt gets called for hooking Brown after giving up the puck. Fair call. Brunet said it was right at the limit.

Kings set up on the first powerplay of the night. About six and a half minutes left in the first period.

Kings control at the blue line but are tipped off the puck and clearing shot leaves the top right circle.

Moen and Plekanec are the first kill pairing.

Jack Johnson mishandles a pass at the blue line and the Kings have to regroup.

Frolov has it in front. Halak makes takeaway save. Should have could have been a goal.
Kings are forced out but they are in again. They move the puck quickly. They have to. Montreal is not sitting back in a box. They are going after each King as if it’s a five-on-five. Interesting. Either the Kings aren’t good puck-handlers or the Canadiens are under order to be the aggressor for some other reason.

Penalty evaporates as Plekanec cruises in on the right, lens left and then shoots to the slot. Moen nearly tips it in.

Darche line follows. Hitting increase. We hear the echo throughout the ink.

Kings drive in on the right side. Shot. Halak gloves the sharp angle attempt.

Commercial.

The action is lively and filled with quick, short passing. The Kings and the Canadiens are a good matchup.

We are informed that LA is the fourth-youngest team in the league. Terry Murray is LA’s head coach.

Smyth line is on. He rumbles down the left side and sends it in. The Kings keep it along the boards for about nine seconds before the puck hops out at the blue line and back in right away for offside.

Canadiens win the faceoff. Kostitsyn line is on. Andre Kostitsyn.

AK hits someone in the corner to Quick’s left. He does some other good work.

Wayne Simmonds isn’t white. He’s black. Didn’t notice. Gettin’ old. Old people like me are allowed to say “black”.

Faceoff to Halak’s left following a mild stop.

Brunet is talking about the Kings letting Montreal skate unimpeded.

It is rather strange.

Moore line is on.

Puck is King control for a brief three seconds but they send a pass into the centre ice area and it’s intercepted. Seconds later, the Kings resume control.

Anze Kopitar. IN from the left. Wearing the “A”. Swerves at the drop-dot circle. Keeps it. Across the crease. Backhander. In. Lovely goal.

LA 1, Montreal 1

Brunet lobs a few puck-filled bouquets.

Metropolit line follows.

Hal Gill is on with Gorges on the back line.

We see a shot of the King bench and I don’t see a lot of silver glitter. The days of grainy gay and grey gretzky are done. It’s all matte and mute now. The uniforms look fat letter and thick font. They’re not bad but they’re not compelling.

I’ve been advised by some of my youth affiliates that I can use the term “ghey” as an ironic, whimsical negative descriptor. I have decided no. To me it’s in the same category as “nigga”. Ok for some but not for me. Hey, if you want to use it, go. It’s just not for me. And I do support the co-opting.

Period ends with more silk and long passing. LA’s shooting totals have rebounded and Montreal finishes with 14 shots to the Kings’ 11.

First Intermission
Los Angeles 1, Montreal 1

A La Une. Gagnon is having a Michael Jackson moment of a sort. The light is too bright and from the side, Gagnon looks like an ageing pop star. Direct camera angle shows the healthy (or is it hearty) Gagnon we are familiar with.

Gagnon discusses five goaltenders, experienced, who could leave their respective teams. Fat salaries for some. Theodore and Huet are at 4.5 and 5.6, respectively. Now we see some of the younger guys that could move. The salaries are all tiny. Ellis is the highest-priced on this list at 2.0. All figures in millions.

Crete adds that there are some good goalies in the AHL to consider as well. They mention Jonathan Bernier of the Kings. He is with the Manchester team; the Kings’ affiliate. Uh, not that Manchester.

Cory Schneider and Jhonas Enroth of Vancouver and Buffalo respectively are also mentioned. Gagnon says these are guys who are blocked behind an established goalie.

Luc Gelinas interviews Brian Gionta. Good.

Second Period
Montreal 1, Los Angeles 1

Gomez is starting to get his confidence. Blue alert. Red alert (use a Scott Kids accent; I forget his, oh yeah, Thompson). Get ready for this line to really put up some numbers. And they already have been with Pouliot and Gionta both playing well.

Kings win the faceoff.

Kopitar is marching in on the right. Slinking, too.

Icing against Montreal soon afterward.

Kings win the faceoff.

Handzus, yes he is on this team, too, has it. Puck goes around the boards. It’s shot out of play by the Kings.

Martin is talking to his team a bit more than I’m used to seeing. He is saying “come on” and “let’s go”.

Handzus is controlling behind Halak.

Backhand pass or shot from the side of the net by Handzus does nothing but sail the opposite way.

Markov sends a long pass.

For Plekanec.

To the right. For Sergei. Quick. Shot. Rebound. Stopped. Whistle. Plekanec keeps jamming. Kings don’t like it. Plekanec punches back. Moen came in late, too.

Kings go to a power-play.

They get control for most of the two minutes but get only one shot. Big rebound but no sticks reply.

Canadiens take over with about twenty seconds left in the penalty.

Moore has it. Slapshot from inside the blue line.

How’d that go in?

Montreal 2, LA 1

Still eight seconds left in the penalty.

Kings enter. Moore stays on the ice. Spacek is there.

Canadiens get the puck out and get a line change as the penalty expires.

Strange goal. Unexpected.

Kings have it. Doughty is low. Under the Montreal end line and trying to create. He’s got a lot of nerve, eh?

Simmonds line is on. Handzus and Green and Jones are with him.

They get some point pressure. Finally Hal Gill retrieves behind the Montreal net.

Plekanec line hops on.

Jarrett Stoll sends it in.

Whistle. It’s called an icing. Stoll wasn’t past the centre line. Spacek is hit at the whistle. Nothing occurs.

Gomez takes the faceoff deep. To Quick’s right.

Yeah, he’s got a great name, eh.

Both teams keep the interest if not the pace.

Gionta and Pouliot nearly create a goal just on hard work and puck pursuit.

Markov is called for interference.

Early segments sputter for your Kings.

Hey, no wonder Terry Murray reminds me of Bryan Murray. Hilarious. I’m serious. I just realised that now. I really had never seen Terry Murray before. Guess there’s a family resemblance.

They’re brothers.

Kings power-play is sputternik now.

Isn’t it fun to hate Commies? That’s what I was told.

Embarrassing.

Penalty ends.

Commercial.

Next NHL franchise should be called the Commies. And they should have Sputnik on the front and be based in Washington DC. (I like the Dallas Black Panthers as the NFL’s next team. Someone should hire me.)

Ice staff is wearing tight clothing and looking about fifteen years old. That’s how they do it in LA.

What a lost cause.

They leave the ice with their shovels after a task completed. They’re female. LA needs some more female general managers.

Eight and a half minutes left in the second period.

Pyatt supports Andrei in the corner. What a contrast. Pyatt in with olives, Kostitsyn slowly rolling his pumpkin.

O’Byrne is called for holding the stick.

Martin shoots a smoky glare to the right.

Faceoff is to Halak’s right.

Kings win it. To the point for Stoll. Smyth is on. Works the boards. Falls over a stick.

Kings are pushed out.

They enter and after some dithering and missed sticks, they control in the corner. Kopitar to Doughty on the point. Shot is wide. Way wide.

Canadiens exit.

Shot from a screen by Plekanec.

Puck is behind Halak now. I mean, he’s playing it behind his net.

Move-out results in a long shot for Montreal. Moments later another harmless long shot from the same area; Gionta. Quick is being tested long now. Are you ok, Jonathan? Not thinking about that Moore goal, Jonathan? Psychology. Hockey 501.

Penalty ends with Montreal getting the offensive control.

Commercial. Girl, am I glad the tournament is over. And I started looking forward to Habs games for the first time this week. San Jose was the first. This one was even deeper. Maybe I will recover after all.

We’re playing Saku. Tomorrow evening. Sunday game. It’s a one-year contract. He may be back. Would be weird. But ultimately good. He belongs in Montreal.

Moore takes a faceoff to Quick’s left. Wins it. To Darche. Great chance. Backhand shovel-up. Stopped. Whistle. Penalty. Kings.

Randy Jones. Holding.

He seems non-plussed. He’s got an Aldo Nova demeanour to him.

Collision between Hamrlik and Pouliot. Pouliot is on the ground holding his face. He’s up now. Kings benefit. Habs have to regroup. Kings have two guys dep. Frolov. Has it. From behind the net like Pavel. Backhand. Woof. No goal.

Canadiens finally get it under control.
Plekanec line.

Puck escapes Spacek at the right point and he has to retrieve.

Only thirty seconds left in the penalty.

Habs fans are booing. Even here in LA.

Finally a keep-in and a vector here and slid puck there. And a carburetor shot. Stoppage.

Canadiens lose the faceoff and have to retrieve.

Dommage.

Minute left.

Gomez beats two guys to the puck. Sends it to the slot. Turnover.

His zest is there. Now he has to recalibrate a nudge. Just that millisecond to look first. He is a dangerous, game-breaking passer. Sure, the bill is high, but that ain’t his fault. Blame Sather.

Period ends.

Canadiens still lead on shots. Just eight to five this period for a 22-16 lead.

The hockey was good.

Second Intermission
Montreal 2, Los Angeles 1

I like typing out Los Angeles in full when there is a chance. It just looks typographically appealing. The straight L and the angular A. The lower-case “g” adds an element of speed if you work it. They all work well together.

Dawgs, I’m as gay as I need to be.

Like I said.

We see some replays and Tom Pyatt impresses me even more. Great drive and speed. Joel Bouchard says that LA has a reputation for showing up every night and playing with great intensity.

Now some score updates and Joel’s on-ice lesson.

Third Period
Montreal 2, Los Angeles 1

Pierre Houde says that the Staples Centre is a magnificent building for watching sports. He mentions the restaurant amongst other details.

Canadiens get early control.

Gomez. To the slot. Big chance missed.

Puck goes behind the net again. Gomez. To Pouliot. Scores.

Quick’s technique is not from the Jacques Plante textbook. On his side and twirling like the thing you use to roll up a window.

Canadiens 3, LA Kings 1

Does that thing even have a name? Or am I finally emptying my cupboards?

Little scrum in front of Halak following a freeze. Alberta theorem. Fall behind, start something. What do those kinds of guys do when they fall behind during a multiple-choice gymnasium exam? Start up with the guy at the next desk?

Frikken three-hour departmentals.

Hamrlik is in like a big, quiet shark. Carries the drop-pass into the LA mid-slot to a neutral, shotless conclusion.

Houde says that Gionta has a good rhythm tonight. Puck is jammed in the corner. Pyatt and Andrei Kostitsyn. Andrei doesn’t go after the puck hard enough after the great effort by Pyatt and AK should be ashamed of himself.

Pyatt was working like a bankrupt dwarf in the corner. Meanwhile, AK loped like a maybe-hungry timber wolf in late spring. I could maybe sorta use a snack. Kinda.

Not good enough.

Action is at Halak’s right. Now it moves to his right.

Pouliot is waiting casually at the high slot for Gionta or someone to get the puck. Gionta does and gets it to Pouliot. But we are going the other way again. Canadiens are out of position but the Kings come in offside.

We return to the action after a dominant ideology break.

Thirteen minutes and thirteen seconds remaining.

Frolov sends a high shot from under the blue line. Play ends.

Small meeting in front of Halak. Markov is there and a few others. Markov leaves first. It’s over.

Plekanec takes the faceoff to Halak’s right.

Kings score.

Montreal 3, LA 2

Montreal turned it over at their blue line.

It’s always interesting to see a player yell at his teammates with intensity after scoring. Where was the intensity before that? It’s not easy to talk and then do. It’s certainly easier to do and then talk. Too risky to do it the other way.

Habs are in right away. AK is flashing letters and in the crease. Can’t score.

Pace is back. Speed is back.

Sergei is down the right side. Sends it to the slot.

All these young players on the Kings have motivated the youngsters in Montreal. I wonder what’s being said at ice level. Old men (old opponents, old captains) aren’t that inspiring, I guess. Ah well. I had a good run.

Jarret Stoll is asked to leave the faceoff circle. Brad Richardson wins it and the Kings after a regrouping are in.

Gomez takes it from them all in the corner. To O’Byrne. To the neutral zone.

Johnson has it entering for the Kings. Chased by Pouliot.

Back to the neutral zone.

Handzus has it on the inside.

Looking. Around the net. To the side. Shot. Rebound is dangerous. Flickering black in front of a parted curtain. The gaps close and Montreal moves it out.

They generate a shot. The speed.

LA is back the other way. Slapshot. Halak has all of it and is on his knees. Stoppage in play. Break.

Don’t ever expect me to discuss haunches in any other way. I’ll leave that to HDIC. If they are so inclined.

RDS viewers select Drew Doughty as the Norris winner. It’s a tight vote. Shea Weber and Dan Boyle was also on the list. No Habs. None should be. One could have been. He’s having a decent year but the injury messed things up.

Andrei Molotov, of course.

With just over eight minutes, Houde says that the Gomez trio is having a great game. Good cohesion and great work particularly against the Kopitar line (who are on against them at the moment). Brunet adds that Gomez’ line has been the best tonight. For Montreal.

Sergei’s line is on.

Chance in front of Halak. Halak gets across but looks behind him. Slot pass from the bottom of the bowl and the shot went wide.

Gomez line is on again. Gomez sends it ahead for Pouliot. It’s all sharp.

We go to a break and I find myself wondering if we had kept Rivet how well he might be playing today. He’d be even more revered. Possibly, he’d be wearing the “C”. Of course, thinking of keeping Rivet, it’s natural to think of retaining Koivu. The two were best friends. If Koivu stays, he retains the “C”. If Koivu returns, he might ask just to have the “A”. He may not want to return, though. Would you? Would he. Hmm.

Craig Rivet. The former Canadiens defenceman traded to San Jo-Say for Josh Gorges and a draft choice. Rivet is in Buffalo now. (Playing hockey)

Faceoff to Halak’s left is won and scooped by Markov who starts a rush down the left side.

Kings get it back and are frustrated at the Montreal blue line. Pouliot has it now. He runs into trouble and has to send it back for Markov. Now Gomez has it and sends the puck down for a line change.

Hamrlik has it. To Spacek. Turnover. LA passes it in the same way behind their blue line.

Canadiens are in keep the puck away mode. Gill and Gorges are on now. Moore is on the ice and he runs a player. First period energy from Moore. Moore has played very well. Can he duplicate this next game?

Kings have it deep. Passing. To the point. Shot. Wide.

Brunet says it was a good shift for Moore.

Action gets rough and tough. Plekanec is delivering small elbows and high attitude.

AK is backchecking with greater, uh, conviction. That guy’s back on stage again. O solo mio. The Hamlet of the team. Balding and quiet. Alas.

Just under two minutes.

Doughty rushes in like Orr. Loses it. Like Randy Manery.

Net is empty.

Kings control but can’t stay ahead of the action. Of Montreal.

Now a pass by Doughty is intercepted point-blank by Plekanec. He’s in. One player back. He scores. Empty net.

The great Drew Doughty.

Montreal 4, LA 2

Just over a minute.

Pierre Houde and Benoit Brunet both give Doughty a free pass. Maybe they don’t want to be called separatists.

Oh, the ad hominem accusations of the book-light privileged.

Quick is back in net. Kings make a rush, left side.

Jeff Halpern and Scott Parise work the boards against two Habs. Puck exits soon afterward.

And then the ugly sound of Staples’ giant electronic toad tells us the game is ended.

Montreal 4
Los Angeles 2

HDS Stars: Scott Gomez, Benoit Pouliot, Brian Gionta
RDS Stars: Scott Gomez, Benoit Pouliot, Anze Kopitar

My stars are matching with RDS’ stars a bit too much lately. Hmm.

Related posts:

1. Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Gm 2)
2. Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers
3. Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils
4. Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers
5. Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins
6. Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators