Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils

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 (12-12-7) host New Jersey Devils (17-13-1)

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

Game Thirty-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 23 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)

 

Jacques Martin was fired today.

Current assistant Randy Cunneyworth will be the interim coach.

Larry Carriere is going to be the other assistant along with Randy Ladouceur.  Carriere is a suit.  Never coached a minute.  Guess he’s there for evaluative purposes.  Ladouceur was Martin’s other assistant.  Carriere has scouted and has hockey cred, though.

Yes, it’s sad.  The coach takes the fall for his players’ lack of follow-through.

Tremblay says it’s a deplorable decision but it’s time to move on, it was big decision and then he reviews Cunneyworth’s record.  It’s long and varied.  He’s been a head coach in the AHL, never in the NHL.  But he’s a technician and has had a few assistant roles at the pro level.

My first thoughts (regarding possible replacements) are sentimental and perhaps even sensible; Jacques Lemaire.  Guy Carbonneau.  My first thought was actually Bowman.  Yeah, I know.  He’s over 70 and unlikely to return behind any bench let alone Montreal’s.

Larry Robinson.  Gainey’s return.  And then I wondered about Bobby Smith and Patrick Roy, both head coaches earning their way in the minors.  Muller might have been the right guy, sure.  But he’s quite untested and of course he’s with Carolina now.  Guy Boucher is long gone.

Thoughts of what we missed; Dale Hunter, for example, recently hired to a first NHL head coaching position though he was a stretch and likely only the Washington job might have interested him.  He’s there now.

English.  French.  Will it matter?  The Canadiens have only had one English-speaking coach in their recent history.  Two, really.  Al MacNeil.  Bob Berry.

The best coach or the best French-speaking coach?   Hot-fire, the tweets be zappin’ this week.

We’re shown the team introductions.  Kids with flags flank the ice entryway and the names are shouted.  Michael Cammalleri.  Tomas Plekanec.  Josh Gorges.  Andrei Kostitsyn.  PK Subban.  And Carey Price.

Lacroix stretches the “I” in Price a bit longer.  Is this something new?

First time for me.

It’s always sad when a coach is fired.  Even when a disliked player leaves.  But the coaches in this league are more vulnerable than any other position in a team’s media guide.

New Jersey assistant Adam Oates bears a very strong resemblance to Ray Liotta.  Oates’ demeanour is always impressive.

Anthems.  Retire them.

If Dog Cherry can repeat himself, so can I.

I wonder if Martin is watching this.

Each player is affected differently.  It’s a new beginning.  But the timing raises questions for all. Is the team saying, in effect, we’re giving up the season?  Winning after a coaching change is never a certainty.

Especially a coach who was, by most accounts, liked by the players.  If not always respected.  Listening is a sign of respect.  Carrying through the game plan is a sign of respect.

And maturity.

Of course, the approach will be; let’s save this season.

Brodeur is in net again.  Good for us.  It’s a we night.  Natch.

First Period

Greg Kimmerly and Chris Lee are the refs.

Plekanec wins it.  To the blue.  And sent in.

Deep left.

Cammalleri had better be interested in back-checking tonight.

And on the first shift, he is.  Still, the effort ends with a cursory stick tap and the lines change with the Devils losing the puck to Montreal deep.

Subban long for Desharnais.  Bumped off it and to his keester in the circle-cleaving.

Gill with a long shot.  Rare.  Kept it low and it got through.  Stopped.

Zubrus forechecks and watches the puck leave the zone.  Twice.

Second effort results in a turning shot by Darche and the deflection can’t be angled to the net by Eller.

Can poets be fired?

Finally the Devils get some control.  One long point shot.  Left side.  Doesn’t reach the net.

Almost three minutes gone.

What do we cheer for?  What formations can we expect?

Reseau told us that Cunneyworth planned on keeping the systems in place tonight.  Maybe for the rest of the season?  Doubtful.  He’ll tinker as it goes along.

Another thought is that Cunneyworth will reduce minutes regardless of (favoured) veteran status.  He’ll base it on performance.  Fair enough.  It’s something the faithful have grumbled about for months.

If so, expect Desharnais and Eller’s minutes to increase.  Perhaps even Leblanc’s.

Subban advances and gets all of a shot.  Off the board.  The heavy droom sound.

Stoppage.

Devils are sprightly but in their style they mark the spots on the graph paper and leap as mistakes are made.

Habs press the pace.

Now a Devil entry.  Henrique.  To the net.  Releases the backhand pass, unmolested.  No sticks reply.  Best chance so far.  For either team.

Exited.  And then back in.

Price gets the left pad low.  And Emelin is called.

Brief booing.  Tripping.

This isn’t poetry.  Though the lens might be something lyrical.

Deep right.  To Price’s left.

Devils win it.

Elias on the high hash.  His second pass is into Plekanec’ stick.  Good advance by the Kladno native.

Devils are back in.

Elias creating and now leaning and firing into the slot.  No.

Kovalchuk is on the left point.

He fires.  Into the end boards it trickles.

Montreal is on it.  Kept in.

Plekanec is still on the ice, Darche up top with him.

Long shift.  Gill.  Gorges.  A Darche block allows the unit to change.

Thirty seconds.  Devils wrist it in.  Montreal to it first, Campoli.  Lob backhander.  Out of the zone.

Devils enter with twelve seconds.

Kovalchuk on the right.  A move, keeps, around Subban.  Passes to the left point.  Shot.  We’re at fives.

Zubrus.  Works it.  It’s in the muzzle. It’s in the net.

Two Devil fans rise and clap.

Two others, on the other end, do the same.  The second pair looked identical.  Rotund. Backward ball caps.  A beverage, each.

Price lost his stick and the puck escaped him over the right shoulder as he fell to the post.

New Jersey 1, Montreal 0

Henrique.  The new kid. Number fourteen.

Cole line.

Pacioretty for Cole.  Cole looks to return the disc.  Defended well by Parise, the captain.  And the puck leaves the Devil’s zone.

And I sigh.

No more point de presse from Jacques.  No more wry smiles as I observe his foot-to-foot squeezing of the truth.  He never lied.  He just made us work to figure out what he was saying.  Some called it boring.  I call it hockey diplomacy.

A decent man.  Fair man.  Principled.  Never got too close to the players.  Understood the game as well as anyone.  Maybe some of his philosophies could be questioned and were but they were tested.  And things didn’t work out.

What about Gauthier?  Why aren’t GMs fired before coaches are?  Players.  Scouting staffs.

Twelve oh eight.

Gauthier, I like, as well.  So my comment is a general one.

Devils lead on shots 7-0 with another drive going over it all.  A Campoli slapshot.

Cammalleri bursts out with the puck from under his end line. Good effort.

There’s nowhere to hide on the ice.  There is a way to hide from the camera.  We await for (the dawn of) multiple angles.

Cammalleri with a move and a man in front of him.  High riser.  Weak.  Easily bodied by Brodeur.

Faceoff to his right.

Don Lever is another name that came to mind.  The former Bulldog coach was fired along with the rest of his staff in that famous summer following the failed Centennial.

He’s Anglophone.  But a decent man and he knows some of these players.

Cole with a carry around the net.  Backhander is into legs. He stations himself in front of Brodeur.  Goes behind the net.  Puck finds him.  Emerges.  Slot pass.  No.

Now he takes it from the right corner.  To Gorges on the left point.  Shot-pass.  Desharnais under the end line.  Rounds out.  Slot pass is fenced.  Long Devil puck.  Icing.

Very long shift for these five Devils.

Montreal changes lines.  Here’s a chance.  Devils are out of breath, low on sulphur.  And this is where goals can be had.

When.

Plekanec deep right.

Montreal wins it.

Gill from the left point.  They’re careful.  It’s like a power-play.  They pass with care.  And keep it in.  Cammalleri.  Plekanec.  Kostitsyn on the left.  Plekanec wins a puck battle.
What work from this unit.

Finally the Devils work it out and two Devils can leave.

And now the rest as Brodeur stops it behind his net.  Salvador looks pauses and then carries.  Long pass.  Long passes are almost never worth it.

Unless Lofton is downfield, I suppose.  Or Sam Graddy?  Just kidding.  But hey. Those speed guys, you know?

Desharnais to Pacioretty. Brodeur is low in a shower of snow and the puck stays out.  Pacioretty couldn’t reach it.

Six and forty.

Kaberle and his partner turn it over.

Four on two.  Plekanec.  Cole.  Pacioretty.  One-timer.  Misfire.

That was a mid-line-change. Rush.

Campoli bumps Parise off the puck and sends it long.

Campoli was unsigned through the off-season.  He’s no grand grad dame but he’ll get his chance here.  But with all the healing (except Markov), Campoli may get bumped by a younger, more talented albeit less experienced defender.

Montreal has a few.

St. Denis?  Hmmm.

Is that Larry Carriere?  If so, he’s a young fella.

Brodeur kneels to mop up a crease mess.

Faceoff to his right.

Into the neutral zone.

Eller hurls backward to find it.  Campoli carries.  Small pass. Drives to the slot.  Well thought.   Why not try a little something?  Tonight’s the night to do it.   Before the iron glove of the game plan takes shape and cools.

Four and a half.

Subban with a similar idea.  Left side, around one and then the second is too close so he dumps it down and retreats to the point.

Devils work it out.

Devil back-checking is not as impressive as normal. Here Zubrus takes it easy on a Montreal exit.

Interference.  Montreal.  Cole.  Has a few words.

And we’re forced to hear some hanging red hat notes as the network pauses.  I was entering Shopper’s today and, simultaneously,a group of carolers decided to make it a stop.  One of them said, prior to entering, that Shoppers hates it when we sing in there.  Let’s go!

Caroling.  Bah.

Someone should go into Loblaw’s and start rasping death metal songs every December instead.  Several someones.  In regalia.

Cole’s knockdown is shown and the puck was nowhere near.  Legit call.

It’s a physical game.  In general.

First segment sees Plekanec exit and, covered, launch a low-wrist special.  Brodeur turns it away with ease.

Devils still haven’t set up with a minute gone.

Nokelainen escapes.  Alone.  Misses the top right corner.  And the RDS feed hiccups throughout.

Devils still can’t get it in.

Kovalchuk has been on the full two minutes says Denis.

And Gill traps one at the blue and fires it down.

Maybe they shouldn’t allow the defending team to ice freely.  Fair enough, Karlo.

Penalty is over.  Subban has it.  One pass.  Back to him.  Now a long one.  Incomplete.
I shake my head.

Wasted possession.

One seventeen.

Cole dings a man.  Cole got his head.  Cole is a bit disappointed.  Wasn’t intended.  Houde says it looks a like a kind of KO.

Shoulder to the head.

Looking to check.  But.  Got the head.  It happens.

What will Shanahan say.  What will he believe.

It’s called.  Of course.

The Forum guy (in a suit) beside Cole is shrugging and smiling at someone to his left.  Cole, on his right, leans forward and settles in to observe this penalty-kill.  Sounds better than Bell guy.  They’re choking your wallet.

Elias on the right.

Back and forth the puck goes.  Elias sends it on to the doorstep. Nearly a scoring chance.  Much better sequence for the visitors.

Kovalchuk is on the left point as he has been on all NJ’s power-plays tonight.  Habs clear.  And it’s enough to end the period.

Price leaves his net.  Subban looks in a bit of discomfort.

And the Habs put together a good period.  But the time in the box hurt them.  Devils led on shots 12-6.

First Intermission
New Jersey Diables 1, Montreal Canadians 0

That’s what it means in English.  Canadians.

You know?  A Canadian is someone who cares about justice and fair play.  The others just wish we were more like America.  Go wave your flags down south, then.

Sometimes the truth hurts.  Even if it’s shouted in the House of Commons.  Righteous anger is something I can respect.  Hurtful anger?  The kind that kills, the kind that divides, the kind that oppresses; we can all do without.  That smarmy smiling anger we have gotten accustomed to.  Now, haven’t we.

The big desk. All three have grey suits and white shirts. Silver ties.  Each in his own style.

Moores?

Martin talk.  Cunneyworth talk.  Tremblay is focused on Cunneyworth.

Is Carriere the eyes and ears for Pierre Gauthier, Alain asks.  Sure, I say.  Tremblay explains how it will work.  Relaying of information.  Giving of advice.  What advice?  He’s a former defenceman.  He’s currently the assistant general manager and does work in player personnel.

His Wikipedia entry is already updated.  Wow.  Now who did that?

Patrick Roy?  Tremblay says that one day he’ll get an offer from somewhere.  He’s paid his dues, adds Brunet.  Tremblay says Roy will be offered a GM role, perhaps.

So, it wasn’t the young guy I saw.  Larry Carriere is born in 1952.  One year after Guy Lafleur.  And the same year as Gene Simmons.  Oh, wait.  Stanley was 1952.  Simmons is 1949.  Frehley is 1951.

Uh.

Yeah.

Cole’s head hit.  Brunet thinks he could have been more careful.  Tremblay says he didn’t lift the elbow to make a malicious gesture.  Alain and Mario are in sync.  Brunet is not.

It’s happening.

I contemplate the five stupid holiday balls on the desk along with eh silver streaming laid so nicely across.  Looks good.  Evokes irritation.  Still with the orange papers, all three.  Isn’t that a bit expensive?  Or are they using industrial scrap?

Gill clocked 9:48.  A lot of time Houde and Denis, agree.

Second Period
New Jersey 1, Montreal 0

Leblanc is shown.  Cunneyworth is nervous for tonight’s game we were told.  Fair enough.
Two astronauts and a ref work the netting.  Larry Carriere is shown up in a box with Gauthier.  Gauthier is nodding in agreement.  Who was that young suit?

The astronauts are in white coveralls and work for the Bell Centre.  Maybe even for the Canadiens.

Houde says that the Cole hit reminds him of the Campoli hit.  The one in Quebec City that took number seventeen out.

Devils power-play continues.  Under forty.  One Montreal clear.

Gill jump-steps, watches his man get by him, retreats and min9i-booms him into the boards.  Puck is stripped.  Cleared.  That’s how it‘s done.

We’re back to five on five.

Nokelainen.  Has a man.  But it’s lost.  And Emelin is into the net.  A call?

Yup.

Emelin was taken down by a Devil.

Montreal man-advantage.

Crowd gains more life.

The damaged ice is sprayed down with water from a beverage container and tamped down with a puck. Two officials.

Kostitsyn is on.

Subban and Kaberle are on together on the blue.  We’ll see some conventional decision-making tonight.  And some interesting pairings.

Where will Gomez fit into all this?

He’s still out.

Gionta, too.

Sent down.

Plekanec.  From the phone booth.  Cycled.  Plekanec from the end line.  Across the low slot.  Cross-checking.  Volchenkov is called.  He disagrees.  But not too strenuously.  Legit call.  Double-wooded Kostitsyn to the ice in the crease.

Five on three.

Ninety seconds of it.  Won by Montreal.

Kaberle and Cammalleri share it.

Across.  Misses it all.

Back to the blue.

Worked around.

Cammalleri has it on the circle dot.  Hesitates.  Advances.  Fires.  Off the mark. His confidence is lower.

Tried the high shot.  Brodeur came out and cringed.  But he had the angle.  Just a small space over his left shoulder.

Brodeur’s butterfly style sees him drop earlier than many others and shooters like going high on him.

More movement.  Across to Subban.  Windup … all of it … and in the net.  Low.  And to his left.

Didn’t see it?  Through the legs?

A frustrated Devil whacks the ice with his stick.

The first goal of the post-Martin era.

One more minute of man-advantage.

Montreal 1, New Jersey 1

Most of the passes are coming from the end line. Devils have bottled the middle.

Montreal continues.  Desharnais.  Right hash. Kostitsyn drops low.  Campoli on the left point.
Pacioretty’s slot pass nearly leaves the zone entirely. But it’s kept in on the blue.

On he left side boards.  And it’s lost.

Devils exit.

Elias’ cross-ice pass is intercepted and then floats to Price who shells it.

Faceoff to his left.

Denis calls the Subban goal a sequence of perfection.

Habs win it.  Subban pounces.  Lobs it high.  Devils shoot it back in.  And again.

Cammalleri entry.  Slows, stickhandles.  And looks for a receiver.

Cole collided with Parise.  Interference is called.  Cole shakes his head in disagreement in the penalty box and sprays water across the camera.  Squeezed the bottle across the top.  A vague gesture and most of the water misses the lens.

Devils power-play.

The Devils’ 12.7 rate (going into Friday’s game against the Stars) is one of the league’s worst.  But they set up well again.

Kovalchuk is on the left circle.  Finds Elias on the other side.  Perfect.  One-timer.  No chance.

Quelle passé precise de Kovalchuk says Denis.

Parise was in the low slot.  And that’s how Ilya Kovalchuk can play when he’s lit up.

Not sure what the struggle is.

New Jersey 2, Montreal 1.

Zubrus, Zajac and a third create a great chance immediately.  Jamming backhanded in the crease.  Price is across.

Canadiens seem behind the play.  And Price makes another save on his crease lip.  Knees and the mask down.  Finds the disc.

Habs are out.

Weber is watching as the Canadiens work it out.

Gil.  Pulls it from the mess.  Across.

Fanned on.  Campoli moves over and takes it.  Winds up.  And nails it.  Beats Brodeur to the glove side.

Montreal 2, New Jersey 2

Plekanec line.  Kovalchuk and Henrique for Devils.  Parise, too.

They enter on the left.  Puck is lost.
Kovalchuk’s backchecking is about as committed as Cammalleri’s tends to be.  Lovely.

Don’t you want the puck?  Let’s connect the dots.

Get puck.  Get goal.

G-g-g-g-g gun goes ….. race over.

Yeah, yeah.  It was the greatest moment in Canadian sports history.  For one glorious night.  The rest you know.

Montreal pressures.

Gill with another offensive flourish.

Yes.

Across.  Into traffic.  Darche in front.

Blast ball.

Eller.  Lars Eller.

Over the left shoulder.

They’re waking up.

And perhaps some of the things we worried about will be corrected. It’s complicated.  I liked Martin.  But his touch with the younger guys was a question mark.

Montreal 3, New Jersey 2

Cole has to take a draw at Price’s left.

Ten and a half minutes.

The team is skating free and the help is there. Desharnais and Campoli combine to take a puck in the corner.  Gill was nearby.

Cole is rudified in some way.  Clarkson.  Called.

Clarkson is a thug.  Useless.

Guess where he’s from.

The birthplace and stronghold of arrogant hockey.

Montreal power-play.

Tonto.  Toronto.  Whatever.

Hi Ho Silver!

Tonto.  Go into the village and get messed up.  So I can ride in and rescue you.  It’s always some cowboy saving all the Indians.  Kevin Costner in Dances With Wolves comes to mind.

Maybe Amitabh Bachchan needs to overturn our government.  In a black dress shirt and with dress pants kicking.  Save us, Ustad!

Montreal man-advantage is unconvincing.  Devils are more quick to the puck.

Two on one.  Parise and Kovalchuk.  Parise’s pass fails.  And Kovalchuk takes the time to shove Weber in the back with his stick.  Has a few words following it all.  Replay doesn’t confirm any misdeed by Weber but there may have been something up ice before the breakout.

Penalty ends with the Devils winning the draw to Price’s right.

Shots favour Devils 22-12.

It’s sad but it may work. Martin’s removal allows the players to compete more truly.   It’s true that Martin was loathe to reduce his veterans’ minutes.  He rarely punished them.  If ever.  Whatever went on was behind closed doors.  But the sense of entitlement was there to see. At least for some.

Entitlement shows up in different ways for different players.  For some forwards it means “I don’t need to backcheck. I don’t need to do the dirty work.  Hey, I’m on the posters aren’t I?  Aren’t I?”

Leblanc chase a puck into the right corner and is knocked over by Salvador easily.  Pup and the venison.  There are wolves in these traces.

Six and a half.

The team is feeling optimistic and so am I.

Subban turns and looks.  Big circles.

How much defensive freedom is going to be afforded.

The enthusiasm, missing from his game in recent months, may return.

It’s how he needs to play.  His is a brash game and it works best when he takes chances.  He can add the defensive responsibilities as he goes.  Instead of earning offensive freedom by growing defensively first.

Let em fly.

Four on two.  Emelin with the trailer. No.

Habs are more end to end. And it’s a shocker against a Devils team known for bottling things up.

But they’re giving up as many as they’re recording (shots) and they’re not the same as they were three years ago.  I have to keep reminding myself.

Booing as a rough piece of hockey work doesn’t result in a call against New Jersey.
Great pass.

Leblanc hits a man into the glass.  A Darche pass from the end line is intercepted.

No matter.

Montreal is back in.  Brodeur is no longer invincible.  Yet they start him.  And keep starting him.

Good.

Devils enter.  Sykora loses it in the low corner. One Price’s right.

Two and a half minutes in the period.

Behind the Montreal net.  One Hab and two Devils.  Desharnais joins the scrum.  Puck is out.

Canadiens are skating free as at no other time this season

Yet they’re getting back.  How long can they keep this pace?

Price is out to the circle and, pads splayed, he keeps it out.  The message is clear.

Go get em.  I’ll take care of the rest.

Devils enter again.

And somehow the tooth-raggled Clarkson fires an easy wrister over Price’s right arm.

Hilarious.  Such a poor quality play.  Beer league.  And he scored.

The team may get used to the new pace.  And so will Price.  If they’re allowed.

Montreal 3, New Jersey 3

Plekanec.  Kostitsyn. Two back.  Plekanec winds and shoots.

Brodeur gets all of it.

More pressure.  It’s free in the slot. Kostitsyn a sweep shot.  Stopped.  Cammalleri, too.

Habs pressure.  What work.  Diving, poking and keeping it all alive.  This is spirited hockey.  And it’s freedom to watch.

Eller is on.  Stops it on the hash.  Kept it from two Devils til a third, Elias arrived.

Siren goes as the Devils push it out.

Devils led on shots 13-11.

It’s Montreal’s game to win.

Second Intermission
Montreal 3, New Jersey 3

Some doctor is with Mario and Alain at the big desk.  What are concussions?  A bruising of the brain, eh.  We’re shown a Crosby hit from his QMJHL days.  He’s been relegated to the injured reserve list after his latest collision and will be out for a longer time.

The doctor talks in his rumpled outfit.  We see some more hits.

I was told last year that there are situations in Montreal where ambulance drivers will sometimes, at the risk of in-crisis patients, go to the French-speaking hospitals even if they are further away than the so-called English-speaking ones.  I wonder what this doctor thinks of all of that.  Is he aware?  Does he support it?  I was told by two doctors who no longer work in Montreal.  That, among other things, were factors in their decision not to settle in La Belle Province.

I have no doubt they are telling the truth.

Quebec progressives must cringe when they hear these stories.  It must be confronted and corrected.

As for concussions, once you suffer one, it has permanent consequences.  It’s case-by-case.  But I think we all know more than we want to on the subject.

Increase the rink sizes.  Remove the red line.  Slow down the game.  International regulations.

There are other suggestions, of course.  Deal with infractions much more severely.  Yes, there will still be incidental concussions but reducing the percentages is the way to go.

Penguins lead Sabres 6-1 after two periods.  Are they responding to the bad news in a good way?  Maybe so.

Third Period
New Jersey 3, Montreal 3

The optimism remains.  Let’s see if the unfurled sails stay the same under Cunneyworth.

A little more open hockey is a bit more fun.  And a bit more fun is good for any team.

More swashbuckling play.  Eller to the net on the left and he’s upended.

Devils respond with a goal.  Campoli’s exit attempt is mangled and he falls.  Two Devils are alone in the slot and they stretch Price further than any gali9e can reach.  It’s in.  Ping ping pang.

New Jersey 4, Montreal 3

Rink goes quiet.  We can hear the voices.  The shush of skates.  Plekanec falls and then rises to take down Kovalchuk and Kaberle is the beneficiary.

Kostitsyn makes one-on-one marvel-bot moves.  And he’s through.  And shoots.  Stopped.

Devils respond with an entry.  Price is low.  Across.  Two solid saves.
Three minutes gone and the teams are toe-to-toe.

Long Devil puck is touched by Gill.  Icing.

Draw deep left.

Defensive play, of which I am fond, has its cons.  It’s play not to lose as opposed to play to win, risk to win.  Coaches in all sports are prone to this mentality as it protects jobs.  No one can criticize a non-risky approach, no one can criticize the conservative move, the safe play.   But playing not to lose results in more losses than wins in those most critical moments, those moments when a team unused to baring teeth, behaves as they’ve done all season.  With an eye on safety.

The right approach is a mix and takes a coach with a thicker skin.  Especially in media-frenzied Montreal.

A coach that’s won gets a longer grace period but in Montreal it isn’t very long.  A Stanley Cup coach gets a bit more grace than a guy who’s just won in the regular season, say.

Guy Carbonneau could do it.  But I wonder if he’s learned enough.  And he has done very little coaching in the interim.

Montreal power-play.  Handled by the Devils.

Thirteen minutes left.

Canadiens are back in the five fingers make a glove mode.  All the jerseys are visible.  And finally it pays off as a long Devil shot is off the mark and Subban snares it.

But the troubles continue. Zubrus keeps it against Plekanec on the right side.  Elias follows on the opposite boards.  Finally a shot, a rebound and the Canadiens get to it first.  After some back and forth, the Devils recreate and the Habs get the puck back.

Some booing after the Habs finally get it out.

Not sure if it’s because of the long Devil possession.

High shot.   Corralled by Price.  Some animosity behind his net follows.  Of course, the skill-less Clarkson is there.  Its’ like having a drunkard at a funeral service.  Knocking over the casket, foul language.  Hitting on unknown women.  Who invited him? Nobody can say anything.  He’s the pastor’s son.

Nice league.  They encourage two per team.  Some teams ignore the device.

Detroit is one.  Montreal, another.

In Montreal, winning with decorum is a requirement.  The culture around (and currently within the hierarchy of) the team expect nothing less.

Some cities have it.  Some don’t.

Pacioretty is called for cross-checking.  Terrible.

Volchenkov exaggerated.  Should have been diving on top of it.

Devils’ power-play.

Clarkson wins the draw.  Oh.  A centre.  There’s some skill needed there.

And eleven goals with that miserable shot of his.

Price with a save.  Plekanec is allowed as far as the right hash.  Shot is wide.
Devils get it to Zubrus.  Splits two.  Beats Price.

A goateed Devil fan stands and claps.

Wrister. Over the left glove.

Lovely shot.

Oy.

New Jersey 5, Montreal 3

Nine and a half.

Desharnais is to the slot.  They circle.  Great effort.  Cole and Larson on the boards, Cole carrying.

Can’t generate a chance.

Lines change.  Eller, Darche and Leblanc.  Shot.  Save.  No rebound.  Brodeur plops it around in his glove.  Leblanc may nor may not have said something to the ageing goalie.

Blunden wears 45. Picard’s number.  Picard hasn’t been called up in months.

Devils ice it.  Eight and a half.

Plekanec line.

Long pass from Cammalleri for Plekanec.  A bit long and they’re chasing again.

Long shot off Gill’s stick makes a crab of Price.  Nearly took it in the mask.  Dodged to avoid.  He really should wear a neck protector.

Long Montreal puck is called for icing.

Desharnais wins the faceoff to Price’s left.  Campoli carries it around.  Stopped at mid-ice.

Campoli to Gill.  Missed it.  Recovers it and gets it going before the turnover flowers.

Seven.

Some scattered Go Habs Go chanting is short-lived.

Action stays on the perimeters.  Lines change.  Icing.  No line change permitted.

We’re reminded that the Winter Classic is coming up on December 24th.  Rangers and Flyers.  Two of the uglier hockey legacies in the pro ranks.

Flyers are changing for the better though.  For the first time.  A culture change.  Sudden after a long incubation period, I’m guessing.

Five and fifteen.  Montreal is stuck in their own zone.

Finally Campoli scoots forward to take a puck from the slot and the Habs are deep and digging.

Houde compliments Elias’ game tonight.

I always wonder how Martin will characterize a game but tonight we will hear our first Randy Cunneyworth press conference.

Price falls backward as the puck rounds his net.

No harm.

Three minutes.

Habs are hearing the boos.

A win was a must and seemed possible.  Too many own-zone mistakes.

Two and a half.  And a strong third from New Jersey.

And it continues.

Canadiens are also playing a bit nervous.  They wanted this.

Final scores are too damning.

Process.

Who is that young suit?

Faceoff to Price’s right.  One forty-six.  Stranger things have happened.  Why not tonight?

Brodeur is flat and beaten.  Backhand.  Forehand.  Missed.  And stayed out.  How.  What a chance.

Eller had Brodeur at his mercy.

Great save by Brodeur.  Got his left side across.  He’s like a pancake man.  Half cooked.

Montreal timeout.

Robinson is talking with his boys.  Price is leaning over the boards, sitting on his bench.  Just 59.9.

Two goals in the final minute.

Kovalchuk is out.  Plekanec defends it.

Thirty-seven.

Plekanec turns and fires it into the crease.  Cole can’t make it happen.  More work.  Habs are winning the battles.

Kostitsyn at the top. Tapturns and fires.  And a turning slapper is dangerous but stays out.
And then another turning shooter is solved by the clock.

Siren goes.

Lots of silence.

And lots of people still here.

Fire Martin and what.  So it sounds.

Final Score
New Jersey 5
Montreal 3

HDS Stars: Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, Zach Parise
RDS Stars: Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, Hal Gill

Rare symmetry.

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