SB Nation - Andrei Kostitsyn

Fifth Straight Habs Loss Colours 2009-10 Chemistry Experiment A Bust

Robert L — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:01:43 -0000

Many valiant heroes sometimes go down with a ship.

On the 2009-10 Canadiens, there have been consistent and considerable efforts from many elements, but the sum is weaker than the whole of its parts.

There have been great individual seasons and respectable showings so far. One only has to think of the resurgent Tomas Plekanec, the beaten to death but still kicking (until Jersey) Roman Hamrlik, the captivating Mike Cammalleri, the heroic, for a spell, Brian Gionta, and the often maligned and occasionally faultering backbone that is Carey Price.

Give a good grade to Travis Moen for his gutsy play.

A "nice to finally see ya" for Andrei Kostitsyn.

A positive nod to overused warrior Glen Metropolit.

Respect for the mostly consistent Jaroslav Spacek and the dependable Josh Gorges.

Max Pacioretty is a kid that is coming around at 20, slowly but sure.

When properly employed, Hal Gill's a good guy to have around.

Sergei Kostitsyn has his moments, competes but fails to complete.

Paul Mara has delivered what was expected of him in terms of toughness.

For the rest....

On this Canadiens team, there are plenty of good intentions to go around, but it all comes back down to the weak sum of the parts.

A crooked and twisted notion, is that these Habs strike no fear. They aren't difficult to play against, as was billed and hoped. They give it their all, but cannot win many individual battles. When they attempt aggressiveness, they spend the game parading to the penalty box. On the offensive, they buzz around like mosquitos without stingers, rarely drawing blood, nevermind fouls.

They are in sum a team that can't win the puck, that can't maintain possession of it , and cannot back down opponents.

In a word....screwed!

A hockey player is alot like a child. They are gonna be what they are gonna be. When it comes to habits, traits and tendencies, it is easier to change players than it is to change a player. The most depressing note on that, is that such a cleaning of house was what got this team here in the first place.

Wanting a passive player to be more aggressive's kinda like wanting a blonde to be a brunette. A shift ot two might offer a different colour, but the roots always grow back in.

I don't want to see this team blown up for a second year running. We tried that already and it has been a giant step sideways.

Scott Gomez, the first player added to the mix, has been everything cement is supposed to be.

Cammalleri and Gionta have balls bigger than the pucks they fire, but will never be the difference makers in the trenches.

Plekanec, surely the Habs most rounded player, is a containable asset when not surrounded by players with more killer instinct.

Andrei K, playing his best hockey while the team is all achors, is the poster boy for several other enigmas on the team.

Price, with the right kind of team in front of him, has all the attributes to win and win big. On this team, in this city, his best friend will be his psychologist.

These Canadiens may work very hard, but they work badly because they haven't the required skills, the physical composition, or the mindset to sustain the type of effort required to win more games than they lose. That, and no discernable leadership, does not help.

All the individual attributes of the players add up to one very ordinary team. One many fans couldn't get excited about from the get - go.

The game of hockey will always be one of unstoppable forces versus immovable objects. It's down to speed versus size, and too much of one without enough of the other doesn't cut it.

The top teams in the NHL are always prepared to suffer in order to win. Size, and perhaps the fear of further injuries, prevents these Canadiens from becoming a top team.

The most depressing notion is that they cannot shed their shin, just as a blonde cannot ever truly become the brunette they wished they were.

Remember that old "OFF" repellent commercial, where the dude sprays his arm with the chemical and inserts it into a plexiglass box and the insects lay off?

What constructive evidence of the 2009-10 Habs testifies that they can draw blood?

Remember Bob Gainey's playing card analogy of a few years back, something to do with a hand loaded with deuces and threes making it hard to bluff, or something along those lines?

In a hockey reality of aces and kings....oh just nevermind.

The mid season point is starring this club down with more dread than hope.

A seven game road trip, on the lip of a five game losing streak, hangs like a death knell over this season.

On the road against clubs this Canadiens edition could conceivably beat - Islanders, Thrashers, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Senators, Lightning and Panthers - the Habs must win at least 6 out of 7 or its all over folks.

The Canadiens have a combined home and away record of 7-5 against these foes so far this season.

I'd love to find a positive spin to offer on the next 14 days of this Canadiens' season, but I don't believe in miracles, voodoo, ghosts, kewpie dolls, spells, magical creams, Quebec virgins, luck, Zimmerman, the return of Markov, global warming, superstition, lotions, copper bracelets, pyramids, prayer, the power of positive thinking, faith healing or hypnotism.

And I'm a fuckin' optimist!

The 2009-10 Canadiens chemistry experiment has been a bust. Would you prefer that it is admitted now, or in three years time?

It's meat, my friends. Time to stick a fork in its butt and turn it over.

Robert L note: Sorry for not bothering to post a single pic or link with this post, but I felt this one needed to be delivered in plain old black and white.

Lack Of Discipline Costly As Canadiens Come Up Short Again

Robert L — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:01:32 -0000

The Canadiens penalty kill has been, well, killer of late.

Not sure of the exact numbers, but it's something like 2 goals scored against in the last 40 opportunities. They recently went 33 kills in a row without a goal surrendered.

While that is one awesome facet of team play, is there a downside?

Apart from pooping out the PK participants, could it be that the Habs' players faith in themselves and their proficiency when it comes to snuffing out foes man advantages be having the adverse effect of creating indiscipline on the ice.

It seems that in the last three contests, as the PK gains prominence, the team is taking more and more penalties.

It's the type of calls, careless fouls and outmanned deeds, that lead me to thinking that some players are losing sight of the bigger team picture.

The Canadiens are not a slow footed team, but they are getting into trouble because certain players are consistently being outworked.

Ryan O'Byrne and Glen Metropolit have been guilt of late, taking penalties on plays where scoring chances weren't in play. Each took three penalties against Buffalo last night. The Gomez slash was no brighter.

This team needs to realize that its margin of error is thin.

It's only thing to be looking ahead a little too soon to Andrei Markov's return thinking he's the season's savior. It's another to be all well and fine, dazzled by the performances of the Tomas Plekanec, Mike Cammalleri and (finally) Andrei Kostitsyn trio, but one line firing can't save the team's collective butt on a nightly basis.

Even goaltending, as great as it can be at times, won't carry the team.

Every single player's contribution on this team is needed, and it's often a case where what some player's don't do that is the difference maker.

It's all good to have a solid PK, stud goaltending, and offensive guns cocked, but if the smaller details aren't managed it all goes for waste.

Of 18 Canadiens losses so far, 11 have been by one goal. Reverse a couple of those results over a long season....

The bottom line is, the indiscipline is the effect and not the cause. Mike Boone nails it succinctly when inferring that the penalties are of the lazy variety. Holding, hooking and tripping calls are the result of being outworked.

And that's what this team needs to work on most, otherwise those awesome PK units will be in for a long hard ride.

If the tide doesn't turn, such a thing will wear a team down by mid season, negating the boost brought upon by Markov's return.

It ain't pretty.

Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres @ Montreal Canadiens

Rafal Ladysz — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:11:50 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

14 days ago: Buffalo Sabres right winger Patrick Kaleta, left, and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Paul Mara trade blows late in the third period of the NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. Buffalo won 6-2. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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Scoring by committee and extraordinary goaltending create lengthy postseason runs. In essence, the Buffalo Sabres are playing playoff hockey currently or at least preparing for it. Beginning and ending with Ryan Miller, they have been backstopped by his 18 wins, four shutouts, a .939 save percentage and 1.83 goals against average. I'm honestly running out of positive things to say about the 29-year-old.

In the last three games, Steve Montador, Clarke MacArthur and Patrick Kaleta have each registered a game-winning goal. Darcy Regier wanted to build this squad from within giving them time to bond and grow together. We're beginning to see why. They have 11 different players with at least one game-deciding tally and Kaleta was the latest showing perhaps the finest display of his career in New York. When someone is down in terms of their level, a teammate has stepped up to the table.

Montreal surely has this match circled on their schedule after the Sabres demolished them 6-2 kicking off December on a high note. Less than ten minutes in, Buffalo put three quickly by Jaroslav Halak en route to a completely one-sided affair.

Five thoughts on each team below.

Carey Price will be dressed barring any last minute setbacks. He has two wins in five starts but can be the x-factor matching the Oct.1 Montreal victory where the Canadiens were outshot 35-17. His last performance in Atlanta was sparkling as he made a few breathtaking saves in a losing cause. They were outshot 34-19 by the Thrashers. More on that in a minute. Update: Halak is the starter looking to redeem himself.
Mike Grier's anticipated return to the line-up is occurring today. While this is good news, Grier has experienced a loss in the family and may not be as focused as he usually would be which is understandable. Lindy Ruff said he hopes to bring him ten to 12 minutes in ice time.
I spoke about the Canadiens getting outplayed by the Thrashers and it's a trait they haven't been able to avoid. Of the 33 games Montreal has completed, their opponent has registered more shots in 19 of them and they have only done so 12 times. In the last three matches, they have been outshot 121-66. ~~Price~~ Halak is going to have his work cut out for him tonight.
Catching fire, Derek Roy is becoming a point per game performer registering three goals and five assists in eight contests. His career statistics versus the Canadiens are re-assuring and Roy looks to keep it that way.
The hot stick in Montreal belongs to Andrei Kostitsyn who has four goals and five points in a four-game stretch. A talented stick-handler, the Belarussian packs a wicked shot and the Sabres would we wise to take away any space from a forward who has been flying since the middle of November.
Kaleta and Paul Mara have a bit of history dating back well over a year ago. It started with a check that injured the defenseman while he was representing the New York Rangers and the two have had it in for each other since. Mara is questionable for tonight but if he plays, expect quick fireworks.
Chris Butler and Nathan Gerbe are day-to-day both nursing lower body injuries. Marc-Andre Bergeron experienced a face laceration in Atlanta after being hit in the face by the puck. If he sits, that would be a massive loss for Montreal as he's provided necessary scoring from the back line.
Buffalo is allowing 2.17 goals against per game trailing New Jersey and Chicago barely. However, the Sabres are ahead of just Carolina and Tampa Bay in goals for in the Eastern Conference and could stand to use a little extra support.
Andrei Markov is meeting with doctors today to evaluate his status and could return at some point this week. Originally, he was expected to be out until February due to severed tendons in his right leg but has quickly recovered with intense work. One of the game's best defensemen, Markov will help the Canadiens in every way imaginable.
Tim Connolly has been quiet since a four-point evening in Philadelphia. The hip pain he's living with could have everything to do with it after last year's surgery. Connolly seems to be fine for the most part but you have to wonder if the busy schedule will take it's toll on him.

Having heavily outworked the Canadiens in two meetings, Buffalo is the favorite. Montreal does have two things going for them: a goaltender who can and probably will have to sneak out two points and a passionate fan base that will make themselves be heard. They'll need both from the opening face-off.

Is Canadiens' Tomas Plekanec A Legitimate Number One Center?

Robert L — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:50:34 -0000

A couple of quick thoughts before I head off to Ottawa for tonight's game against the Senators concerning Habs center Tomas Plekanec.

After repeatedly watching highlights of last night's game against the Flyers, it started to really catch my eye when they showed replays of Andrei Kostitsyn's goal. On the play, Plekanec was poised behind the Flyers goal, looking for someone to feed a pass to. Simultaneously, Kostitsyn found the slot just as a Flyers' defender approached, and Plekanec saucered a short eight foot pass over the defender's stick for Kostitsyn to essentially bat a blooper into the net.

On RDS, Benoit Brunet termed the play Gretzky-like, which is always a stretch.

Once I had seen it over again, on a closeup, it's apparent what a smart play it was. It tied the game up, and sent the Habs off to victory.

In Montreal, it's been ballyhood since forever that the team has not had a legitimate number center for ages. Saku Koivu didn't quite fit the description, and Scott Gomez definitely ain't it.

So what exactly would be the criteria for a top line or number one center?

Plekanec's play this season has gotten me thinking about this. Being that there are 30 teams in the league, hence there should be theoretically 30 number one centers. Of course, that all sounds a little too round numbered for me.

I thought I would look at today's current NHL stats to see where he fits in and what I found is quite revealing.

Plekanec is 25th in the league in scoring, and 13th among centers.

His 22 assists in 30 games are 9th in the NHL and 6th among centers.

Sounds like a top line center to me. What do you folks think?

Update: With 3 assists against Ottawa, Plekanec is now 16th in league scoring, 10th among centers for points, and his 25 assists place him fourth overall, tied with Nicklas Lidstrom.

Sominex, The First Star, As Canadiens Down Flyers

Robert L — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:19:37 -0000

I thought that the Canadiens through the first 30 games of the season were lacking identity, but having seen the Flyers mess I feel just a little better.

It wasn't a grand game by any stretch that the teams played on Monday. It was an uninspired Philadelphia team that the Canadiens beat but a win is a win is a win, as they say.

For a while it seemed like the game was at best destined to set a record for the least shots on goal by two teams in one game, which is remarkable in a way, considering the composition of the teams.

The yawnfest was an anti-classic brought to life by some glaring mistakes (Gomez, Andrei) on the Canadiens side and some lame goaltending by Brian Boucher on the Philly side. Boucher allowed 3 goals on thirteen shots, the same as he did on Saturday after releiving Ray Emery. That's hardly what the Flyers are hoping for in the search for consistent goaltending.

Carey Price only needed to be solid, not spectacular for the Canadiens. Daniel Briere, on a breakaway in which he seemed to be hogtied and floored, was the only Flyer to beat Price. If the Canadiens' goalie appeared to be surprised by the shot that eluded him, it testified to the strange nature of the goal.

Boucher, at the other end, was beaten by an Andrei Kostitsyn flutterball, after a nice feed to the slot from Tomas Plekanec.

The game had one veritable highlight, one of those ultra rare two on ones the Canadiens generally fail to complete. On the play, Maxim Lapierre retrieved a loose puck from inside the Canadiens blue line and broke away with Mike Cammalleri dashing to the net. Holding onto the puck just long enough for Flyers' defenseman Braydon Coburn to commit himself with a flat on the stomach cross slide, Lapierre pulled back and hesitated a second before handing a perfect feed to an open Cammalleri.

A power play blast from the point by Marc-Andre Bergeron made the score 3-1 midway through the third.

That pretty much sums up the game, one that needed to be watched upright for the most part.

Some notable stats from the game...

The Canadiens had 8 missed shots and 11 blocked.

Ten Habs failed to get a shot on goal.

The line on Scott Gomez for the game: No shots on goal, no shots missed, none blocked, 2 hits given, 1 giveaway (flagrant, and I saw more than one!) , 3 blocked shots, 6-5 in the faceoff circle and about $43,712.00 wasted from the Canadiens payroll.

Lapierre, who started the game centering Georges Laraque and Bergeron saw 7:58 of ice time.

Max Pacioretty lead the team with three shots on goal, 2 blocked, 2 misses and four hits - all team highs on the night.

Glen Metropolit was 15-8 (65%) in faceoffs.

The Canadiens blocked 27 shots during the game. Other than the 3 by Gomez, there were 3 blocked by Lapierre, 2 each for Spacek and Bergeron, 1 for Plekanec, Mara, D' Agostini and Gill.

Oh yeah, and Roman Hamrlik blocked another 10 himself. Whoa!

I'm heading to Ottawa tonight to take in the Canadiens in the nation's capital. This is the first time I see the Habs play somewhere other than the Forum and the Bell. Much thanks and appreciation to Kevin van Steendelar of Ya! The Habs Rule for the tix. I promise to yell "Sens Suck! at least a dozen times in his honour!

This should be cool and I should will take some pictures. Can't wait to see all the Habs fans there!

If any Sens fans want to visit, slap me for making fun of Bryan Murray or diss me for pissing all over Spezza since forever, I'll be in section 323 with a can of mace.

About Last Night...

Lions In Winter

Broad Street Hockey

Flyers vs Canadiens boxscore

Habs Spank Bruins, Celebrate Centennial In Style

Robert L — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:23:06 -0000

As it turned out, it was one of those games, and one of those days, that a fan could watch over and over, and relive many times again.

Like many of you, I watched much of the televison coverage and centennial tributes in the hours leading up to the game. Indulging in the Canadiens history will always be a riveting experience, and it is these moments that we as fans are reminded why it is so hard to separate past and present.

Perhaps it cannot be explained to fans of other teams. Maybe Leafs fans in the fifties and sixties can relate, but when watching reel upon reel of memories stream by, it's hard to remain unmoved. Your youth is flashing before your eyes, great times being relived.

I explained this to my kid, and you've maybe done this too, that I watched the Canadiens win the Cup for the first time when I was seven, and it made me interested in hockey. I saw them win again at age nine and eleven. During my four years of high school, the Habs won every year. I'm not sure if that experience can be conveyed to anyone who hasn't experienced the exact same thing.

But of course, the present is always in play. A successful past is a constant reminder of how things should be done right, a brutal loss to the Buffalo Sabres the night before is a wake up call, whose alarm sounds alert that the 2009-10 edition of the Habs are not the 1970's dynasty.

The scenario for the centennial game, the celebration to literally end all celebrations, had arrived at a very defining time.

Honestly, things looked bleak with the Canadiens riding a four game losing streak. A loss to Boston in the centennial game held the promise of things turning terribly ugly on the ice and in the stands. Blow this one, atop the stage of all stages, and the repercussions for the Canadiens seasons were scary proposition.

All day long, mixed in with visions of Stanley Cup triumphs, was a gnawing premonition that in a few hours, the Canadiens would be booed leaving the ice. Elongated pre-game celebrations tend to bring out the worst in the home team, and combined with a game the evening before in which the Habs were seemingly already at their worst, it appeared a script of doom was carved in stone.

By the middle of the afternoon, the centennial pre-game ceremonies were still a mystery. Little had been revealed as to how the Canadiens organization planned to celebrate the landmark. Soon, news came that the festivities would involve the retirement of Elmer Lach and Butch Bouchard's jersey numers.

High time, I thought, for the Habs two oldest warriors to receive their due.

Former broadcasters Dick Irvin and Richard Garneau give a crash course in Habs history 101 as clips on the big screen played Peter Gabriel's "Salsbury Hill" and U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Owners, coaches, managers and players who have departed, are listed through the strains of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord". The first image is of J. Ambrose O'Brien, who found the club in 1909, and last two images are of Newsy Lalonde, the team's first Flying Frenchman, and Maurice "Rocket" Richard, its most heralded.

Intrigue soon grasped imagination, as I sat watching the procedings. I was captivated by the image of former long time Canadiens trainer Eddy Palchuk dropping buckets of pucks on the ice.

As an intro to a very special evening, such iconic subtlety had the desired effect. I can only imagine that fans inside the Bell felt their hearts swell when Patrick Roy, in full goalie gear, first stepped onto the ice.

I, myself, could not believe my eyes!

What came next tugged at heartstrings, as former Habs players, from legends to role players, strode out onto the ice, unnanounced. The images were jolting.

How better to celebtrate and summarize a glorious 100 years than with the actors who made it happen?

Roy was followed by Lafleur, Gainey, Robinson, Mike McPhee, Stephane Lebeau, Mike Keane, Odelein, Nilan, Claude Lemieux, Shutt, Lapointe, Savard, Richer, Eric Desjardins, Damphousse, Turgeon, Pete and Frank Mahovlich.

Ken Dryden, who had not worn goalie equipement since his last game on May 18, 1979 donned for goalie gear and joined the skate.

The oldtimers were in the pre-game warmup, passing the torch to today's players. Subtle, it didn't require an explanantion!

Current Habs soon joined in, and additional oldtimers and coaches were all introduced to the crowd. This is what the Canadiens do better than anyone else, they do not forget their heritage. In savouring it, they pass it on, reminding us all of the players in the play.

This is Doug Jarvis, NHL ironman....

This is Yvon Lambert, who scored the game winning goal in...

This is Karl Dyhuis....

Legends Lafleur, Savard and Roy introduced icons Gordie Howe and Jean Beliveau.

Lach and Bouchard, who only found out in the realy afternnon that their jerseys would be retired as part of the festivities who brought out, treumpeted and feted. All gathered for a team picture that summed up a hundred seasons of glory.

There wasn't a burning torch to be seen, but in each of the multitude of players gathered, there were many still burning on this night. A subtle message, loud and clear.

Between the end of the ceremonies and the start of the game, it was later learned that one current Canadiens player made it a point to meet each of the past Habs legends and shake their hand.

His name - Michael Cammalleri.

As the game began, it was figured that the Canadiens would come out firing, and that if the Bruins were able to hold off an initial onslaught, they would be well placed to conquer.

It never came to be.

The Canadiens came out guns a-blazing, and it seemed that if they could only grab the lead early, scoring first for a change, the boost and the crowd would provide the needed lift.

Awarded a rare first powerplay six minutes in, the Habs were poised to convert early momentum into the man advantage and grab the lead, when the Bruins' Marco Sturm stripped the puck off a comprised Andrei Kostitsyn to break in alone on Carey Price. A Boston shorthanded goal early on would have been deadly, but Price came up big, kicking a leg out lying on his stomach to make the save.

It proved to be a first turning point, and defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, with Max Pacioretty screening from the crease, made it 1-0 Habs, four seconds after the Bruins penalty expired.

The lead held up while Boston fought back. A little over five minutes into the second period, Maxim Lapierre and Spacek were sent off simultaneously, giving Boston a two minute 5 on 3.

It looked like doom scripted.

Habs defenders Paul Mara and Roman Hamrlik, aided by centers Tomas Plekanec and Glen Melropolit took turns creating an impenetrable triangle while Price held fort. The Bruins would not score.

The kill turned out to be turning point number 2, as the Canadiens went up by a pair on Cammalleri's first of the game, 45 seconds after the penalties expired.

The blow took all wind out of the Bruins, as Montreal went on to a second period in which they would score four goals in a 9:19 span, essentially putting the game away.

Cammalleri's second hat trick of the season, combined with former Bruin Glen Metroploit's sixth of the year sealed the deal on this game before the second period siren sounded.

Ten NHL Players Who Should Shoot the Puck More Often

Rafal Ladysz — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:09:29 -0000

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

20 days ago: Buffalo Sabres' Tim Connolly, right, works the puck for a goal against Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ray Emery in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, in Philadelphia. Buffalo won 4-2. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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What is the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about Tim Connolly? Honestly, it could be a handful of things like smooth skater, crafty stick-handler, terrific play-maker or the obvious one being injuries. But a facet of his game that's often overlooked is the center's shot primarily because he hesitates to use it.

When he does decide to pull the trigger, his release and accuracy can surprise goaltenders. Connolly, who leads the Buffalo Sabres with 21 points after 23 games, is utilizing it increasingly and is on pace for a career year in all categories if he stays healthy.

This got me thinking about some of the other players like Connolly who would be wise to throw the puck at the net substantially. The last thing I suggest is that they listen to me because they are the athletes who are earning millions of dollars for their skills.

Suggestions aren't frowned upon however. At least, I hope they aren't because these athletes are competent to score. If all else fails, put the disc towards the goal.

10) Ales Hemsky (Edmonton Oilers)

Out for the remainder of the season, Edmonton's playoff aspirations are all but finished without the services of their talented winger. Hemsky was supplying a point per game and reaching new peaks offensively before he ran into shoulder issues

The patience he has can outlast goaltenders in close and his snap shot should be taken more seriously by defensemen.

9) Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals)

Playing with Alexander Ovechkin, the Swede is better served as an assist provider to a world-class shooter. But that doesn't signify it as the only option. Should Ovechkin be covered, Backstrom would be smart to attempt picking a corner like he's capable of.

Although he doesn't pack the meanest power, he's got fearful accuracy which is at times more vital to finding the back of the net.

8) Alexander Frolov (Los Angeles Kings)

Frolov is a two-time 30-goal man and has all of the tools to be an elite star for years. The frightening statistic is that the Russian hasn't fired 200 or more shots in a full season making you wonder how many more he could record if he did.

My estimate is that Frolov is worthy of 40 to 45 goals once he shoots first and asks questions last. Whether it actually happens is beyond me.

7) Tomas Kaberle (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Remember who won the accuracy challenge at the 2008 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition? Yes, Kaberle was the fourth player ever to hit all four targets requiring that many attempts. A fantastic set-up defender, his passing is right on the tape of recipients making him a marquee powerplay quarterback.

With 23 of his 25 points this year coming by way of assists, Kaberle will continue to do what's worked best for him. An unexpected shot is still threatening.

6) Kristian Huselius (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Huselius' shot count has grown each year since 2006 and with ten goals in 21 games, his wrister is truly emerging. The 31-year-old scored on 23 occasions as a rookie oozing confidence from the beginning of his career and has the gift to make the linemates around him superior.

Most likely, Rick Nash will lead the Blue Jackets in scoring and Huselius will be next in line.

5) Kimmo Timonen (Philadelphia Flyers)

Some players, no matter what they do, seem to be under the radar constantly. Kimmo Timonen is an example of that and with the arrival of Chris Pronger, that won't change. Like Kaberle, this veteran can run the man-advantage with ease and provides plenty from the back-end.

And also similar is his shot which isn't the strongest but precise. If only Timonen would utilize it.

4) Eric Fehr (Washington Capitals)

I've seen this kid's potential and his scoring touch is abundantly clear. While going to the net and digging for rebounds is what Bruce Boudreau wants from his young winger, Fehr is capable of letting it go from beyond past a netminder.

It's easy to forget about him with the plethora of stars Washington has but he wasn't a first round selection for nothing.

3) Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators)

Both Suter and Shea Weber can create injuries for opposing players attempting to block their shots. The difference is the latter won't mind launching one-timer after one-timer until something good happens. For some reason, Suter isn't as quick to unload his heavy shot which he does own.

Whatever it is, 24 shots in 25 games leads you to believe that he's a little trigger shy.

2) Andrei Kostitsyn (Montreal Canadiens)

A ~~huge~~ bit of an enigma, Kostitsyn`s best assets are his his explosive wrist shot and his aptitude at dangling by defensemen. After scoring 49 goals in two campaigns, the Belarussian has lit the lamp twice in 24 games adding to the laundry list of problems Montreal carries.

Kostitsyn was beginning to gain confidence before a leg injury sidelined him a few days ago.

1) Lubomir Visnovsky (Edmonton Oilers)

Visnovsky wasn`t shy about shooting in Los Angeles yet seems uncertain at times these days. One thing is for certain: the one-timer he carries with him can bank 20 goals easily. In order for that to happen, he`s got to deliver more pucks on net.

If not for himself, then for the sake of Edmonton`s postseason chances.

Can The Canadiens Win The Northeast Division?

Robert L — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:27:12 -0000

A simple question for a Monday morning.

Can the Canadiens win the Northeast Division?

One quarter of the way into the 2009-10 season, it appears that no team at present is poised to run off with the Northeast Division title. As the current standings show, the top four teams are separated by a mere five points, and it gives credence to the notion that if one club were to get hot at this time, they could conceivably eclipse the other three.

As it stands, the Bruins lead the pack with 31 points, followed by the Sabres and Senators with 30. The Canadiens are 4 points back of Buffalo and Ottawa, and 5 back of the Bruins. A busy December schedule that sees them play 17 games in 31 days is a crucial month of the season. When the New Year dawns, the Habs will be sitting just past the mid-season point, with 43 games played.

It is not certain when key players such as Andrei Markov, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez and Andrei Kostitsyn will make their return to the lineup, but with Markov beginning ti skate again and strong showings from the team in recent games, an air of hoprfulness has returned to Montreal. The play of youngsters such a Max Pacioretty and a rejuvenated Sergei Kostitsyn also serves to bolster the Canadiens' chances.

A look at an uninjured Canadiens roster speaks well for the team's potential:

Forwards

A. Kostitsyn - Plekanec - Cammalleri

Gionta - Gomez - S. Kostitsyn

Pacioretty - Metropolit - Moen

White - Lapierre - Pyatt

(D' Agostini - Pouliot - Laraque)

Defense

Markov - Mara

Hamrlik - Spacek

Gorges - Bergeron

(Gill - O' Byrne)

Goal

Price - Halak

December's schedule begins Tuesday with a home date against the Toronto Maple Leafs and features six other games against Northeast Division rivals. Six of the first ten games, between December 1 and 17 are at home, while the following seven, during a 12 day trip are on the road. The Canadiens play back to back games twice, playing the Wild in Minnesota following a home date with the New Jersey Devils on December 16. The round out the calendar year in the state of Florida, with games against the Lightning on succesive nights.

Poll

How many points out of a possible 34 will the Canadiens take during the month of December?

28 - 34?

17 votes

22 - 27?

140 votes

15 - 21?

128 votes

10 - 14?

31 votes

316 votes | Poll has closed

Habs Finding Ways To Defy The Odds

Robert L — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:38:33 -0000

It's insane somewhat to consider all the things that simply do not add up in looking at the Canadiens 5-3 win over the Blue Jackets Tuesday night. Some things make sense, other's don't, and certain things are quite revealing.

For starters, I quoteth Mike Boone quoting CKAC's Dany Dube suggesting something along the lines of "44% of the Habs salary cap" being out of the lineup for this win.

What is making sense is that the players in the lineup are all working their tails off and it is starting to show consistent dividends. They have won more of late than they have lost, which is inspiring on its own. A hot Carey Price has had a reassuring, calming effect on the group. There is less panic evident and the Canadiens are finding themselves in games that they might otherwise not be. The work ethic and confidence have taken root.

What makes no sense at all, is that current roster filled with callups, spare parts and castaways is actually a .500 hockey team after 24 games. The Canadiens have already employed 34 different players this season, nearing last season's total of 37, and the shuffling back and forth between Hamilton and Montreal has been frenzied. Eight of those 34 have played in Hamilton this season. Kids such as Tom Pyatt and Ryan White have not looked out of place and Sergei Kostitsyn looked like his better self last night, in his return to Montreal.

What may be revealing, is that after losing both Gionta and then Gomez, the team and it's lines seem more settled than ever. Having earned seven of eight points this past week and the emergence of what looks to finally be a number one line in Tomas Plekanec, Mike Cammalleri and Andrei Kostitsyn seem to suggest that the team is pointed in the right direction.

Perhaps out all this insanity, the team is developing an identity. The leaders are those that should be leading. When that happens, support follows from unlikely sources.

Cammalleri heads the group, a sniper who rises from nowhere to pot timely markers. He looks like he's on target for a 40 goal season - a weapon the Canadiens haven't had in ages.

Plekanec especially, with 10 points in his last six games continues to be a revelation, as he's often pitted against other team's top pivots. A true test for his will come against the Penguins tonight.

Carey Price has been playing up to his promise once again, and that's the best news of all. He has started the last six games now, beginning with the 4-2 win in Phoenix on November 12. Since then, Price has posted four wins, a 53 save loss, a shootout loss to Detroit, allowed only 13 goals in 370 minutes of play (2.05 GAA) and stopped 198 of 213 shots (.929 SV%).

Price never verbally answered Allan Walsh, the agent for Jaroslav Halak, after he posted some unflattering stats about him on Twitter. The answer has come in his play.

Should the Oilers Swap Mediocre, Speedy Forwards?

Benjamin Massey — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:48 -0000

More photos » by Paul Chiasson - AP

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Earlier this week, well-known hockey site The Fourth Period speculated that the Montreal Canadiens are interested in moving the Kostitsyn brothers.

Well, that's hardly news. Elder brother Andrei Kostitsyn, 24, was signed to a three-year extension beginning last season with a cap hit of $3.25 million per year. Kostitsyn scored 23 goals and 41 points last year, but even that was a drop from his previous year's performance. He's never been known for his defensive play or his productive, team-first attitude. He and Sergei were linked last year to the a gang bust which, even though it was completely unproven and later shot down by the courts, was called "the darkest day in Canadiens history" by people prone to overreacting without evidence.

Better yet, young Sergei Kostitsyn has been angsting over whether he wants to play in the American Hockey League at all this season. Sergei played fifty-six NHL games last year and recorded twenty-three points: in short, he was Robert Nilsson. But Sergei is younger than Robert and has a much better contract, although Kostitsyn isn't exactly tearing the cover off the ball in the AHL.

No, there's no surprise that the Canadiens are looking at trading the Kostitsyns. The only surprise is when the Fourth Period says the Oilers are interested. And even more than that, the name being thrown around is alleged wunderkind Andrew Cogliano.

Nobody wants the Oilers to add more soft forwards. But giving a soft winger back in the process?

The Copper & Blue is not known for its rousing defense of Andrew Cogliano. Frequent phrases include "treading water" and "has he actually developed as a hockey player, like, at all since he was nineteen?". But he's two years younger than Andrei Kostitsyn and both have a reputation as smooth floaters. Cogliano makes less money, and though he becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the year it's hard to believe he'll end up drawing Andrei's salary without a sudden and entirely unpredicted offensive outpour. Andrei Kostitsyn had that common form of luck where his career year matched the last year of his contract.

Among Oiler forwards to play at least forty games last year, Cogliano was eighth in QUALCOMP and ninth in QUALTEAM: in short, he was a third liner. With a plus-minus per 60 even strength minutes of -0.06, he didn't quite manage to saw off those mediocre opponents. That number has markedly improved to 0.65 so far this year while treading water in QUALCOMP and QUALTEAM, though it's early. So Cogliano isn't really good and can't handle tough matchups, but if he's not progressing he's at least taking care of himself.

When you look at Andrei Kostitsyn's numbers last season, they're unimpressive in a lot of ways. His plus-minus per sixty was -0.41, fourth-worst among qualifying Canadiens forwards. He scored 1.03 goals per sixty, well ahead of Cogliano and third on the Canadiens, but 0.48 assists per sixty was worse than, among many others, his brother Sergei.

There are two interesting points in Kostitsyn's favour. First off, his QUALTEAM was second worst among Habs forwards who played at least forty games last year, better than only the great Glen Metropolit. But his QUALCOMP was first. By the numbers, he was playing the toughest possible opponents with the worst possible linemates. He was found wanting but who wouldn't be? QUALCOMP and QUALTEAM numbers aren't perfect, but that is a remarkable statistic.

Second, Kostitsyn had a PDO number of 989 in 2008-09, tied for third worst on the Canadiens with Metropolit. For those who aren't familiar with the PDO number, it is the sum of a team's 5v5 shooting percentage and save percentage when the player in question is on the ice. By definition, 1000 is the league average. Bearing in mind that Kostitsyn shot 13.6% last year, it indicates that he was being let down by his linemates' shooting percentages and his goaltender's save percentage; that his plus-minus was so poor because his puck luck stank. Andrew Cogliano had a PDO of 1011 (actually pretty poor on the Oilers) while shooting 15.5%. So, with only a 1.9% swing in individual shooting percentage between Cogliano and Kostitsyn, Cogliano's PDO was 22 points above Kostitsyn's. Cogliano's linemates were helping his numbers and Kostitsyn's were hurting his.

That's just a long way of saying that, comparing Andrei's numbers to Andrew, Kostitsyn looks worse than he actually is.

Andrei Kostitsyn may well be a better NHL player than Andrew Cogliano. In his 22-year-old season, Kostitsyn scored twenty-six goals and fifty-three points. With eight points so far this year, Cogliano is clearly not going to do that. But Sergei Kostitsyn looks like a pretty marginal prospect and the brutal cap difference between Cogliano and Andrei Kostitsyn swings me.

The Oilers already have too much tied up in soft forwards who can't outscore. Unless the Canadiens have a driving need for Ethan Moreau, the Oilers would be adding nearly two million bucks in salary while making a slightly-better-than-lateral move for the third line wing.

I'm not an Andrew Cogliano fan, but is that anyone's idea of a smart move?

Poll

As an Oilers fan, which would you rather have?

Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn

43 votes

Andrew Cogliano

124 votes

Neither

44 votes

211 votes | Poll has closed