Habs lose two straight for the first time this season!With an amazing October behind them, the Habs have started the November campaign 0-2. Is this a sign for things to come or are we just a bit rusty with the return of Markov.
Let’s analyze the Habs success in October, first we were all treated with an awesome showing of the first trio comprising of Plecky, Cammy and AK 46. We also had some great support from our plumbers on the 3rd and 4th line with Darch, Halpern and Pouliot and then we got some great hockey by both Price and Auld. To most of the surprised Montreal media, this department was the most fragile one and yet they seem to still shine between the posts.
So what led us to this 0-2 start of November? Simple the second trio should I say Duo, the Habs had all summer to address this issue, and still they chose to lack it and try it with Pouliot, didn’t work. Tried it with Moen, didn’t work. Now I think it’s time to step it up a notch, I personally think we need to both move Gomez to the left wing and allow Ellar to play centre between Gionta and Gomez. If not, split the two G’s.
Same thing on the defense, with Markov back, we shouldn’t make Subban play with him. We should maximize our opportunities; Spacek has been playing like garbage, and has been since we’ve got him. Let’s bite the bullet and sit him and allow Picard, who has done nothing but played great since the beginning of the year, take his place beside Markov. Then we place Hamerlik with Subban, shall we not forget who made Dion Phaneuf look so appealing to Burke in Toronto. He would really help PK round out his game and with PK and Markov split on two lines; the Habs will have three more stable pairings on defense.
This just leaves the big Ryan O’Byrne out of the picture, it sucks because he has great potential but maybe this will lead Gautier to create a package deal for some teams in search for a D-Man. We’ll soon find out what his future has in store.
I don’t believe it’s time to panic just yet, if the Habs fine tune the second line to help the first with some scoring and try and get the power play on track then we can be in store for a great year of hockey.
E.Danis
Please give back some feedback; I would really like to know what everybody at TLC thinks about the topic.
Have fun and Keep Your Stick on The Ice!
I think other teams are just getting better and there's a few players right now who are slumping on the Habs. It will all pick up.
Gomez line being inexistant is kind of a problem when the Pleks line stops scoring
The problems for this team have been glaring since day one. The only reason they did so well is that for the most part they got lucky with the schedule and with the teams they were facing (and when they were facing them). Martin needs to make adjustments, and he needs to make them quick or there's going to be trouble.
But is it really up to JM to adjust or is it time for Gautier to step up and stop wasting o'byrne. if he's not going to use get rid of him for something, do something for help.
Winning or losing doesn't come with Ryan O'Byrne. Waste or not, there are things that can be done on the coach's side to fix this mess, and he's just not doing them.
PK and Markov shouldn't play together. OB does not have the confidence of Martin. However, after Gill leaves and Spacek retires (hopefully) then OB will be needed. Otherwise, will Carle be the answer? Maybe... but I'd rather have OB until Carle gets a full year in without injury.
Well Lowell... Yannick Weber has six goals in Hamilton (10 points, 3 on the powerplay) so he might end up getting another shot if the powerplay continues to struggle... He does have a great shot, and he's really not all that much smaller than, say, Spacek.
Carle seems like he's doing ok down there, 3 goals 1 assist in 10 games, team best +6.
Nash also had some good stats down there, 6 points +4 and I was a big fan of him at training camp.
So there are options, including O'Byrne who's just been mismanaged, and Picard who's just not being played, but Martin is too satisfied with the status quo to do anything drastic, unfortunately....
i was just thinking about weber, he's ready for the NHL but can we afford another small body on the team. he has a great point shot but then we lose a defensive de pairing for the PK line. with weber in the line up it thats 4 OFD on defense.
i really like picard, i wish martin could just fix that problem in his head, he needs to reallise that hockey is not just a fast sport on the ice but on the bench as well. mix the deck a bit and see what happens!
He's not THAT small, 1 inch shorter and 10 pounds lighter than Spacek. If they actually sit Spacek and put Weber in his spot with Hamrlik I think it would be a good fit.
i see what you mean, at this point i think o'byrne would me a better fit than spacek at this point.
I agree, but Jacques doesn't. So forget O'Byrne. IMO he's as good as done with the team and the only reason he hasn't been waived is cause they don't want to lose him for nothing.
so this is were my opinion comes in on gautier earlier. we no that JM has to work a little harder which he did, some what with the changes tonight, but PG also needs to step up his game as well and do somehthing about this issue.