Pens – Habs Episode 4: The Search for Consistency

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LIVE BLOG TONIGHT!

Yes, we’ll be back for another live blog today, as the Canadiens as well as our record when we do these things look to get back on track! Set your reminders below and join us at 6:30PM for all the pre-game fun!

TCL Presents: Pens – Habs Game 4 LIVE BLOG!

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IT’S NOT ALL BAD

The Montreal Canadiens will attempt to tie things up tonight at the Bell Centre, as they gear up to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals!

I know things aren’t looking so great for the Canadiens in this series, but how many people thought they’d be saying that a few months ago? A few weeks ago? Hell, even a few days ago!

Before I get into the details of tonight’s game, and all the news leading into it, I just wanted to point out to all my readers that things really aren’t that bad, at least not in the here and now. The Canadiens have already knocked off the league’s best team in this past season. They performed what will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in NHL history. Since then, in three games against the Penguins, the Canadiens have actually held their own and look like they belong in the top 4 teams of the Eastern Conference (and know, it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that other two top 4 teams aren’t much better than them anyway).

When you consider the depth of the Penguins, the inconsistencies of the Canadiens and the fact that they are playing with two of their best defensemen, including THE best Canadiens’ defensemen, thing really aren’t that bad.

So, if the Habs lose tonight’s game at the Bell Centre, should Habs fans be disappointed? The answer is obviously yes, and there is no way to get around it. Lose tonight, and the series is basically over. The Penguins will NOT let an opportunity to win the series at home, in 5 games, slide, not like the Washington Capitals. Lose tonight, and you’ve only won a single game in two years at the Bell Centre, in the post season.

Nevertheless, once that initial disappointment wears off, one can only hope that Habs fans will still be proud of their team for getting this far, considering no one even thinks that the should be here. Not to mention all the bright spots, including Jaroslav Halak, Hal Gill, Josh Gorges, Mike Cammalleri, PK Subban and all the other players that have given Habs fans hope heading into next season.

I don’t really know what it is that brought this out of me – maybe it was the sudden thunderstorm we received here in Montreal after an otherwise beautiful morning in the series, maybe it’s the news that Jordan Staal has healed and will be a game-time decision for tonight’s game, along with Bill Guerin.

Who knows. This series certainly isn’t over, in fact a win from the Canadiens at the Bell Centre would be huge for just about everyone tonight. But with all the negativity coming from fans and media alike, including some negativity from myself, admittedly, you just have to try and see the bigger picture. And while it will be difficult for the Canadiens to achieve any more success than what they’ve seen this post-season, with this team, and the contracts that Bob Gainey handed out last season, no one ever said winning the Stanley Cup was easy, right?

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WHAT WENT WRONG?

If you didn’t watch the second half of the game on Tuesday night – and shame on you if you didn’t – you may have awoken to a surprise on Wednesday morning, to find out that the Canadiens lost Game 3 by a score of 2-0.

Clearly, the Canadiens were the better team in that game, especially in the 1st period. Even late in the third, Marc-André Fleury, generally bad in his outings at the Bell Centre, had to be spectacular to stop the Canadiens’ shooters.

Credit this Pens victory to a single post-whistle scrum – one that came at the end of the 2nd period. Instigated by Sidney Crosby and Josh Gorges, the Canadiens came off worse after the dust had settled and all the penalties were called. Yes – each team received a 2 minute minor. For the Canadiens, Josh Gorges would start the third period behind the glass of the penalty box. But for some reason, Sidney Crosby, who was clearly the worst offender out of the whole thing, got away scott free. Instead, defenseman Kris Letang serves a two minute minor with Gorges for roughing.

With Hal Gill in the box for an earlier (and questionable) holding penalty, the Canadiens were down their two best penalty killers, and the Penguins pounced.

I’ve tried to stay away from criticizing the referees lately, and frankly, the Canadiens didn’t score – and you don’t win games without scoring goals. But it’s clear as day that Sid got away with a few things there.

Nevertheless, before any Pens fans get on my case, I do realize the Canadiens got away with a few high sticks earlier in the game and series.

A goal from Evgeni Malkin early in the third on that powerplay was all the Pens would need to put this one in the books.

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THE MORAL OF THE STORY

What the Canadiens should have learned coming out of that game is that they definitely need to stay out of the box. Let Crosby do whatever he wants. Play your game against him, and if he continued to be shut down, he’ll eventually get frustrated to the point where the refs will have no choice but to call something on him.

Otherwise, stick to the game plan. Keep up the pressure on Fleury, who was clearly playing over his head on Tuesday. Keep finding ways to block shots and keep Crosby off the score sheet. Guys like Gionta and Cammalleri are doing their jobs, and they’ll find the back of the net eventually. With Gionta’s 7 shots, and Cammalleri’s 4 in game 3, they’re bound to beat Fleury.

Regardless of what was said at the beginning of this post, the Canadiens CAN beat the Penguins. They’ve proven that they can shut them down, they’ve proven that they can score on Fleury and they’ve proven that they can put momentum behind them and do things that no one thought they would be able to do.

The problem is that they just haven’t proven that they can do it consistently.

That being said, heading into tonight’s game, one can only hope that the message being preached by coach Jacques Martin is Consistency, Consistency, Consistency.

Only time will tell if the message gets through.

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Quick Game Notes:

- As mentioned above, Jordan Staal has miraculously healed from his severed tendon and will be a game-time decision for tonight.

- Bill Guerin skated with the team, but will not play. He remains day-to-day with a sore back.

- Jaroslav Spacek also skated with the team, but he is reportedly still a while away from a return.

- The starting goaltenders obviously remain Jaroslav Halak and Marc-André Fleury.

- Finally, Sergei Kostitsyn didn’t even skate with the team today. Jacques Martin cited that the Canadiens were focusing on tonight’s game, basically saying that they didn’t need any more distraction, something that Sergei has become. His brother Andrei remains in the line-up, but it’s looking more and more certain that Sergei Kostitsyn is done as a Montreal Canadien (more below).

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Two Habs related articles to check out today on TCL:

- Keeping up with the Kostitsyns, by Micheal Aldred. All the latest news on the Kostitsyn brothers, including Sergei’s altercation with Carey Price from the other day. Join the discussion!

- TCL Top Ten Crosby Excuses for his behavior in game 3, but the always hilarious Habs Laughs!

Enjoy the game, and don’t forget to join us for the live blog!

George Prax
www.thecheckingline.com
www.twitter.com/thecheckingline