Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames

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 (1-1-0) host Calgary Flames (0-2-0)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Game Three (score posted following scribbles)

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. A written transcript typed during the game, posted and edited about thirty minutes afterward.  Based on the RDS French telecast of the Montreal Canadiens game, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee. Or late-night chocolate.  A unique way to re-experience the game.

click here to expand post (it looks prettier)

 

One hundred victories is a Ron Lancaster stat.  If you play enough games, you’ll have big numbers.  Not necessarily good ones.  Carey Price is on the cusp of his hundredth NHL win.  He started over seventy of the team’s 82 games last season.  Wins as used to judge a goalie are a diluted number and misleading.  Winning percentage is a bit more clear but also not worth considering (or making conclusions from).  There are too many external factors.  It’s like judging a quarterback by his won-loss record.  Easy. But a measure suited to lazy media members and even more removed fans.

Ron Lancaster was a good quarterback.  Carey Price is a good goaltender.  We know that much.

Alberta’s team, the Calgary Flames, are in town.

Alberta’s other team are playing in a bar in suburban Edmonton.  Something Joe’s. Original Joe’s.

And don’t forget your Fort McMurray Oil Barons.  Or do they even exist anymore.

Dean Trotman!

The team is about to step on the ice.  Alberta’s third team (in the O6 days, there wasn’t much choice).

The team.

The coaching staff is introduced.  Some amusing smiles.   Assistants. Gloves.  Heart monitor guys.  Skate sharpeners.  Randy Ladouceur.  Randy Cunneyworth.  Perry Pearn (Did Rene Lacroix say Pearns? Did he?  Did he? Lacroix is the PA bloke).  Jacques Martin.

Martin goes with the indigestion expression first, camera is low.  Then he tries a smile.

Now some ostentatious music and the player names are flashed on the ice. Gill 75.  And so forth.

Two kids skate onto the ice.

That part I like.  Young.  Flags.  Uniforms.  It’s endearing.  And U2.  Maybe?

The crowd.

They wait.  The anticipation.  Spacek and Cammalleri are introduced.  Calm waves to the crowd.  I’m injured waves.  Campoli.  Suits.  Absent and not in attendance.  Ryan White.  Haven’t seen him yet this season, myself.  And Andrei.  Markov.  He gets a decent cheer.  He’s been practicing in Florida (and sighted skiing in the Alps; yes, Danno).

Now to the players.

This is taking a bit long.

They enter from the corner instead of by the bench.  Gomez is on the ice, helmetless.  Bald. Plekanec.  Same.  No hair.

Budaj (Peter, the new backup goalie; pleasant sort).

It takes so many games for it to feel like the season.

It has to be as per the usual.  Not all these weird entrance points and strange music.

Player introductions.   Waste of time.

And a decline in warm-up energy.  Possible injury risks.

Still.  That jersey.

Those names.

They’re ours. They’re yours.

Andreas Engqvist is 23 but looks about 54.  Bearing of an accountant.

Why do people love Pacioretty so much?

Cole!

Can you imagine if Saku came on?  Last?

Subban gets a louder cheer than the rest.  Tries to stay focused.  Nods.  Chews something.   Hopefully not his mouthguard.

Charisma counts, I suppose.

Gill. Tall rod-hockey giant.  He’s better than aluminum.  Same for the last player introduced.  Your captain.

The team is on the ice.

Calgary is welcomed.  No individual names.  Smothering oven boos.

Tanguay should wave.  Boos fade.   Go Habs Go cheer replaces them.  And then it just gets a bit loud for any amplifier to process.  This rink is the most raucous in the NHL.  Maybe the team has no single dominant player anymore.  But they have the dominant fans.

Some Nagano guy is wearing number one and waving down low (in a corner of the rink).  Skirts, English degrees and blatty instruments.  For your anthem.

Can’t they just start with the hockey?

Béliveau is shown.  He still knows the words.

Nagano bows.  He’s very pleased to be in the Bell Centre.

Fine.

Commercial.

Already?

First Period

Habs win the draw.  Sent down.  Another distance shot.  This isn’t working. How can we feel anything from this distance?

Kiprusoff stops a long one.  Replay shows a Cole bumping of Calgary defenceman Mark Giordano.

The distance, the camera distance is too great.

They close to Price, Iginla in the crease and the puck is lost under his pads.  Head low and snow spraying, Price hears the whistle that stops action.

Camera distance is a bit better.

Flames control.  Interception off a Cory Sarich stick-break.  Pacioretty. With Kostitsyn.  Tow on one.  Pacioretty shoots.  Rebound.  Kostits7yn buries it.

Now that feels like a Montreal goal.

Montreal 1, Calgary 0

Kostitsyn stays on the ice.  About half a shift.  Twenty seconds.

Tom Kostopoulos is on the ice.   Former Hab.  How is he feeling about his return here? We don’t know.  RDS elected to interview the smug Alex Tanguay prior to the game instead.  Tanguay.  What a thick face.  A former favoured Hab.

Jay Bouwmeester is shown. The Calgary defenceman is playing in his 509th consecutive game tonight.  Longest games-played streak in the NHL, currently.

I read the Unger book in 1982 or so.  He was the iron-man back in the day.  The iron man of that generation.  Later it was Jarvis.  Yes.  That Jarvis.  Doug Jarvis.  Gary Unger was a Blue.  St. Louis.

Flames entry.  Flames penalty.  David Moss.  Legit call.  Moss grimaces to himself in the box.

Montreal power.

Darche misses a doorstep chance and shortly afterward Montreal is penalized. We go to fours. And quickly to a ninety-second Calgary power-play.

Around the net, Gionta bumps and puts hands on Miikka Kiprusoff behind the net.  No whistle.

Seconds later, Rene Bourque turns at the circle, receives and shoots.  Wrister high.  Glove side.  Calgary goal!

Calgary 1, Montreal 1

It’s Bourque’s second of the season.

Faceoff.

Into Montreal ice.  Corner to Price’s left. Gionta’s stick breaks.  Emelin is there.  Two Flames.  Gionta uses the body effectively.  Flames can’t set up.  And now a whistle.

Pierre tells us we’ll find out after the whistle.

There are some poor quality, opportunistic chevra companies out there.

Gionta is called for slashing.

Broke his stick on the slash.

Some overweight guy on a cell is shown in the skybox.  Flame cheese of some kind.  Big.

Calgary power.

I’m having some kind of Stilson of my own here.  And some Triggs.   And some dangerously old olives.

The human immune system is not to be underestimated.

Calgary power.  Cleared out.

One muzzle shot.  Hagman.  Good angle for Price.  And coverage.

We resume.

Ten and a half.

Flames control.  Around the boards.  TO the right point.  Across.  Long shot.  No deflection can be had though Jokinen (wearing #13) floats past.  Price retains it.
One more sequence.

Habs shovel it out.

Gionta is back on the ice as the puck dies in the neutral zone. Stajan resuscitates it.  Right side.  Low and struggling through his paces.  Shoots.  And from thirty feet away misses entirely.

Now another whistle.  Pierre informs us it’s a third Montreal disturbance.

High stick.  The captain.

Martin leans forward behind the bench and questions….. everything.  Alone.  But now he’s ok.

Plekanec against Moss.  Gill takes it from Plekanec. Turns and safe-shovels it down.

Montreal exit.  Plekanec. Accompanied.  High-glove wrister.  No.

Eight and forty.

Calgary.  On the right hash.  Jokinen.  Centring pass.  Low slow.  Hagman.  Has to kick it to his stick.  Fires.  In.

Calgary goal!

Calgary 2, Montreal 1

Hagman is from Finland.  Espoo.  Koivu is from Turku.  So is Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff.

Plekanec across centre.  Backhander down the right side.   Moen follows.  Flames are quick to close.  Moen finds a way to centre from behind their net.  No Habs.  Two Flames.  And that Turku guy.

And a whistle moments later as the puck is easily lifted out of Calgary ice.

Moen is back on the bench.  Nodding, mouth open, very PeeWee (peewee?) expression on his face.  Ok, bantam.  Capitalization?

Six and a half.

Eller. Right side.  Brakes at the hash.  Keeps.  Turns.  Sends it along.  Along the boards on the other side.

Puck stays put as four and five struggle with knees, skates and sticks to own the disc.

Six seconds. Seven.  It escapes.  Palushaj, newly called up, tries a run and thump.  Fails.

On the other end, Iginla receives a pass, back to the blue line.  To Tanguay.  To Moss.  Through the pads.  As pretty as you could want.  If you’re into efficiency.

Calgary goal.

Calgary 3, Montreal 1

Pull Price?  Surely you overestimate their chances.

Commercial.

This Bell Station is the most powerful force in the universe.

Calgary, Calgary, Calgary.

This is not your grampy’s NHL.

Marc Denis has Randy Cunneyworth out of the bench area and talking hockey in English.  Cunneyworth has a cutlass demeanour.  And a Nilan head on the shoulders.  Hangs forward a little as if he’s trying to look inside a foggy car window.

Faceoff to Price’s right.

We missed a bit.

Long Montreal puck.   Moen chasing and plants a guy to the corner.  Puck escapes, regardless.

Four and eighteen.  Calgary leads on shots 11-10, says Pierre.

Kostitsyn.  Over the blue.  In his cruising whale mode.  Parks on the point and receives a pass.  No white space.

Jackman hops on for Calgary.

Montreal zone.  And Calgary can’t keep it in and it’s whistled for offside.

Three and twelve.

And out of play it goes.

Palushaj is shown.  Aaron Palushaj.  Wearing Theodore’s number 60.  Numbers probably shouldn’t be retired.

I’m not ready to talk about Al Davis yet.

Raiders don’t retire numbers.

Two and a half.

Where’s Lee Deary these days?   He was a Seahawk.  I think even God hates the Seahawks.  Wasn’t that proved in 1988 or so?

Odin hates the Seahawks, in particular.

Minute and fifteen.

Lee Deary was an overrated wide receiver who played in the Molson leagues.  Decent character score.  Especially as the years mellowed him.  That’ll happen to a guy, I’m told.

Thirty seconds.

Lanes grow wider, skating gets slower.  Both teams are mailing it in.    Houde doesn’t say it.

Siren.

I shake my head.

Shots on goal favoured Flames 13-10.

First Intermission
Calgary 3, Montreal 1

My current favourite Smythe teams in order of love:

1)    Los Angeles Kings
2)    Calgary
3)    Edmonton (minus Hall)
4)    Vancouver (minus LooLongo)
5)    Atlanta (where’s Kovalchuk?)

Before 1981 (and Calgary’s move from Atlanta … yes, Smythe teams like hurting Atlanteans) Colorado was a Smythe division member.  Later, around 1993, the Sharks, an expansion project, joined the division. San Jose Sharks.  They may still exist.

Crosby might be back sooner than we think, says Alain Crete.   The big test.

Someone might get him.  And that would be sad.  But there’s a good chance.  And I have a bad feeling.

The league’s most celebrated player (not its greatest) will be returning from the effects of two concussions earlier this year.  He skated with the team today (Pittsburgh Penguins) and had some “battle”work, besides.  Whatever that means.  I’m going to assume he has had contact action.

Why do I have to ecoute to Benoit Brunet?  Why.  He says ecoute. And then starts sharing bubbles.  Word bubbles.  They’re clear.  No communicator is more transparent on this staff.

Penguins are leading 1-0 over Das Capitale.  And the Isles are leading Tampa Bay 5-1.  What.  What.

Alain’s tie is gold.  Guy Carbonneau’s is a form of copper.  Brunet has his jacket loosened (hey it’s not Méchant Mardi, buddy) and his tie is boring.

C’est pas complique, c’est pas complique.  What is he saying.  I just fade out and stare at grapes.

Now he’s nodding to himself.  Now he’s looking at us.  Nodding.   Pulling his jacket together.  Nodding.  Showing his huge knowledge-less hands.    Pointing.

Alain tries to stay respectful.  Succeeds.

Avalanche are in town on Saturday.  Montreal town.

Paul Stastny and Steve Duschesne.  Oh wait.  Matt Duchene.  Duschesne was a Capital.

Bang bang!

Second Period
Calgary 3, Montreal 1

Pacioretty and Gionta effect deep pressure, two on two and two on three.  Gionta has it in the low slot.  Sloops and slips.  Gets the stick on it.

More pressure.

Now Cole hops on.  Left side.  Opening. Eyes it. Fires.  No.

Emelin and Weber low.  Hagman can’t swamp-towel it away.  To the neutral zone.  Stays there.  Flames push it back in.

Canadiens early push is less evident.

Brent Sutter looks worried.  That cheese guy is shown again.  Must be the GM.

The new GM.

Calgary’s management ranks are rather amusing.  One can infer the problems just from the list of guys.  Their site has separate links for Executive, Owners and Hockey Operations.   Madden was right.  The more names you have above you (as a head coach) the more likely it is that someone is going to decide you have to go.  Other problems exist with multiple names between you and the person who makes the final call.

All Madden had to do was talk to Al.

Craig Conroy is special assistant to the GM.  He got that job because he is well-liked.  Nothing more.

Being well-liked is not good enough.  If I were well-liked (just saying this hypothetically) I still shouldn’t get to play on the right wing with Tomas Plekanec.

Ability.

Speed!

Whupping him on points!

For the distance if necessary.

Calgary hooking.

Sutter has a real reason to worry now.  Coaches just have to wait.  All worry is real.  Somewhere along the timeline.  Somewhere.  Somewhen.

Conroy is likeable.  Sure.

Let’s consider the person that could have done that job. Could have merited that position.  How does she feel?  He.  Whatever.

Time for female head coaches, too.

Jokinen.  In a city that could never learn to appreciate him.  Should never have left Florida.  Not that it was his choice.  He was marvelous there.

Montreal power.

Just under thirteen.

Price nearly sets up Subban with a suicide pass.  Subban controls and keeps it away from the orange stick on his flank.

Then Price has to dive forward to end a Flame entry.

One minute and still no pressure.

Desharnais.  Has it on the low circle.  Here it is.  And Giordano knocks away the pass.  Sure goal thwarted.   Cole was at the goal(mouth).

Penalty ends with a mild dump-in and the Gomez line’s exit.

Kostitsyn and Plekanec.  Hab is knocked down at the entry point.

The offseason fills one with ideas and champagne.  Caviar belches.  Posters.  Easy purchases.

None of that can score a goal for you.

It was Subban who fell at the point.

Under ten.

And there’s nothing to be satisfied about.  Imagine the Boston fat.  I don’t pity them.  Nor do I take joy in it.  The Eye of the Tiger is actually important.  Existentially.

I can’t prove this one.

These new kids, Diaz and Engqvist.  Palushaj and Emelin.  They can’t be expected to holler and wave away bats.  In the mines, it’s Moen.  Or Gill.  Gionta.  And those punch-clockers.  They have to fix what’s wrong.  It’s Columbus’ destiny to fail.  Not ours.

Houde chuckles and discusses the oncoming three star selection.

Seven and forty-two.

Price leaves one.  Glencross gets it.

On the hash.   Failed exit.  And another failed exit.

Flames aren’t going away.

I’m watching the back of the net again.  One shot.  A second.  It’s in.

Some Indian guy in an orange get-up.  He’s clapping.  Some Chinese dude beside him.  Also orange.  Also clapping.  Both standing.

Calgary 4, Montreal 1

(Calgary goal)

Six and a half.

Price stays in.

Well, if I was looking for something to define this season’s start, something understand or ….. rail over.

Scores help give meaning.

So do new planets.

Five.

Winning is not an option.  It’s mandatory.

Price nearly gives it away.

Of course process and all the systems and details, wisdom and knowledge are what’s needed to get to the outcome.

Price was very calm as he steered the puck away from the tenacious Calgary captain.  I can’t think of a captain better suited to his city.  He would have been good in Toronto but they would have deoxygenated him.

In Calgary, he can’t be minimized.  Nor forgotten.

Feel sorry for Leaf fans.  They probably don’t deserve this.  Not for this long.  I mean, really.  And I know how objectionable and irritating they are.  Hockey Hubris, thou art blue.

Three and a half.

Who’s going to lead this team?

Adversity.

Blame.

Courage.
Concentration.

Rush and Plekanec hits the post off a beauty pass.

Plekanec never stops.  True.

Cole.  On the boards.

Another Plekanec chance,

Six on the ice.

Interference.

Houde sees both.

My French gets a bit rapid.  Jokinen.  Ok.  I was wondering.  Aloud in angry French.   Churchy French.

Montreal power.

Gionta.  Diaz and Weber low.  Pacioretty with his awkward stride.  Calgary clears.

Second entry.

Gionta follows and hits.  To the point.  Across.  Back. Pacioretty on the high circle.  Gomez on the end line.  Passes.  No Habs.

Now a drive right in on Kiprusoff. Gomez.   Goalie is bumped down.  Mild.  And a small crowd around Gomez behind the net.  Wait.  It’s Pacioretty and Gionta.

It ends.

Faceoff to Kiprusoff’s right.

Puck escapes Plekanec at the blue.

Something’s at stake.  The team could have a losing record.

Nothing is more meaningful than losing what you already have.  Not gaining something you didn’t.

What’s the term for that again?

Calgary keeps Montreal from their birth-right and destiny for the time being.

Push it into the Montreal zone.

Siren.

Whistle.

Order could be reversed.

Montreal outshot Calgary 14-7.

Home team leads on shots 24-20.

Second Intermission
Calgary 4, Montreal 1

Well, it’s been pretty even.  Hasn’t it?  (The couches stare back in derision)

At least I’m not hungry anymore.

It’s the thirteenth.  Cammalleri should have been playing against his old team.  He would have had a goal and an assist.  Maybe two.   But not the way the team is controlling the puck.  Minimally.

I shouldn’t take Carbonneau’s presence at the desk with Alain for granted.

Carbonneau emphasizes puck control, particularly in the team’s own end.

Carbonneau doesn’t know what to say to Benoit’s banalities.  But he’s polite and respectful.  The eyebrows and non-response tell us more.

Is Cole frustrated, the small panel considers.  He’s been on the third line.  He’s been limited in his minutes.  They agree but nobody will criticize it openly.  Yet.

But they will on L’Ante-Chambre. The post-game show.

Bergeron won’t understand.  Figuratively.

Third Period
Calgary 4, Montreal 1

Rene Bourque is from Lac La Biche.  What.  But I thought.  I thought that.  I mean.  What.

Gill.  Hooking.  Legit.

Calgary power.

Plekanec wins it.  Subban carries.  Fires it along.  Plekanec has it somehow.  Centre ice.  Tries the long shot.

Plekanec is everywhere. Now he leans to slow an entry pass across the neutral zone.

Pierre asks Marc what we can expect Martin to highlight following the game.  Turnovers, they agree are significant to Martin and to tonight’s outcome.

I wonder who took the time to write such a long, eloquent write-up of Rene Bourque on Wikipedia.  His dad works for “the Canadian oil patch near Ft. McMurray”.  Red Fisher’s write-up, by contrast is stark.

I wonder who.

Ray Bourque’s son is Ryan Bourque.  There is also Chris.

The Alberta hockey psyche is at times a delicate one.  In contrast with its robust external boiler-plating.

Too bad I don’t make any extra money for being honest.   I did remove the brackets.

Fourteen.

This game feels over.  Therefore, I’m expecting to be dead wrong.

Commercial.

You’re dead wrong.

When Stajan was here (playing for your Leafs), I often heard how great he was or was going to be.  Rebuttals were in vain and chuckled at.

Stajan (that’s a chuckle you hear).

Under thirteen.  And can these pro hockey players remember what it takes?  Can their bodies and the stars and blood under their skins?  If the tingling takes too long to ignite, a team can be lost forever.

Bob Gainey is up in one of the boxes.  Watching.  Campoli is beside him.  He notices he’s being watched and looks away and upward.  Or is it the screen that beckons to him.  Energy is an odd thing.  The brain.  What can it sense?

Under twelve.

Bob Gainey.

Could he ever return as GM?

Calgary ice.  Eller.  Cole.  Subban advances.  Eller can’t be shoved off the puck.  Bouwmeester learns what others will learn all season.  Eller has great balance.  Yet he is listed at just 198.

Iginla got away with one, perhaps.  Booing.  Subban fell.  Iginla got a pass, guesses Houde.

Ten and a half.

Come on Canadiens.  Prove it.  Prove it.

High stick.  Hagman.  Sutter grimaces mildly.  Looks downward and moves along the bench.

Nine fifty-six.

It’s now or never says Houde in English.

Glencross.  Moss.  Two on one.  Price is badly beaten.  Puck sails past Moss’ stick.  What has he missed groans Houde.  Perfect pass.  Should be five, one.

Plekanec. Gomez.  Gionta.  Subban.   Darche.

First minute is gone.

This ergonomic keyboard is quite good.  Sticky.  But my arms and fingers feel the same as they did in the first.  Relaxed.  It’s a Microsoft.

Too many people died this year.  I mean really.

Shots on goal are seven, zero in Montreal’s favour this period.  So?

Pacioretty’s lack of effort on a Diaz long shot is underwhelming.  And I hate that word.  Underwhelming.

Seven and a half.

The passion is declining.

But Palushaj has some mojo left.  Another irritating word.

Yes.  I am affected.

Puck goes out of play on Palushaj’s entry.  The young step in for the old.

Who are these guys?  Gomez.  Gionta.

I feared them in New Jersey.

Oh eight, oh nine.  That was the season.  It should have happened.  It didn’t.  So many good moments that season.  And then Lang’s injury.  Carbonneau’s firing.  The slide.  The sweep.

Emelin has thirteen minutes logged tonight.

Under seven.

My own writing is annoying me.

I hate Christmas!

Six.

Eller.  Swooping.  Puck leaves the area.

Another swoop-in.  Another Hab.  Another puck gone.

Canadiens aren’t feeling it enough.

And the Flames have but to skate their shifts.

They’ve done nothing wrong.  And they’ve earned a win.

But your buddies in red.  Not enough.

One good bit of news.  Miikka Kiprusoff passes Vernon in career wins with Calgary.

Vernon.  <insert sinister titter>

How did he get his jersey retired?  Hilarious.

Two hundred and sixty-two wins.

It will be 263 for Kiprusoff tonight.

I’m sure Vernon will have his defenders and apologists.  But the current guy is far more skilled.

Two and twenty.

On joue pour la forme.

Calgary rush.  Diaz flies into the Montreal net.  Price was across.  Net went off.

Faceoff to Price’s left.

Canadiens exit.  Eller.  Stopped at the Calgary blue.  Skates slowly over to the opposite boards. Turns and follows the flow as it nears him.

Calgary is in.

Tanguay.  Open for the shot.  But the puck is behind him and the shot can’t be had.

One fifteen.

I’ve developed a new facial expression.  For disgust.   It’s repressed, somewhat.

Yeah, yeah.

Thirty.

Houde seems calm.  He isn’t falling apart.  Nor should he be.

Me?  Ah.  It’s early.

Twelve.

What sloppy ending.

They congratulate their goalie.  Two hundred and sixty-three.

He’s 34 years old.  Wearing number 34.

Final Score
Calgary Flames 4
Montreal team 1

HDS Stars: David Moss, Miikka Kiprusoff, Tomas Plekanec
RDS Stars: Rene Bourque, Alex Tanguay, Miikka Kiprusoff

Wow, what homer picks from the RDS viewers.  Bourque.  Tanguay.  What did they do.  Oh.  They wore French names on their jerseys.

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