Visions of a Busy Montreal Crowd

I couldn’t take any pictures from the game last night so sorry to anyone who expected that, but I do have an excuse. Too many Hab fans! Jezus it’s only pre-season and they think they’ve won the Stanley Cup. Especially wen Gionta scored they started parading and doing that famous “Ole Ole Ole” that almost made me sniper them all. Here’s what I took from the game though…

Positives

Speed- A huge improvement from last year when even during Clouston’s tenure they looked slow and could not create a rush. This year, with the help of Milan Michalek and in earlier games Erik Karlsson, we’re faster and stronger on the man advantage and something I saw yesterday was the fact that Montreal couldn’t get the puck away frm Ottawa. That’s something Cory vowed on working this summer and he may have completed it.

Milan Michalek- I already mentioned this guy had speed, but he also has a crazy wrist shot that Halak never saw. He looked like a winner all night and you can udnerstand why Murray wanted this guy included in a trade so badly. His greatness was also rubbing off of Spezza which needs to happen in order for these two to be linemates.

Jason Spezza– The Spez Dispenser looked awesome all night. He was creating plays, shooting pucks, hitting, forechecking, what else could you want from this kid? I predicted in July that he would have a career season and it’s looking as if he will.

Pascal Leclaire- Nobody probably noticed but this guy played great last night. He stopped 16 of 17 shots and he simply looked cool, calm, and collected. He made two huge saves on Brian Gionta, the little guy that always could and never let a rebound get past him. The only goal allowed was a fluke (as was the 2nd one as well) but it looks like Leclaire is finally starting to answer the bells.

Daniel Alfredsson-I’ll end with this guy, but who wouldn’t say this guy in the positives? He looks so young and out with potential there, not like a 37 year old. His game has not stopped and you can see that he really wants to elevate the Sens into a winning team again. Usually players his age enter “the twilight zone” but not El Capitano, who’ll have to come home in a zoo. At least Erik Karlsson’s there 🙂

Negatives

Jeremy Yablonski- He lost. I’ll put it that way. He did however entertain the Montreal crowd.

Chris Campoli– Camps looked very out of place tonight. I don’t know if it’s just the pre-season and trying to mesh and all but he never seemed positionally well and gave up a few pucks on the Power Play. This is his contract year so he’s a guy to watch.

Alexandre Picard– Awful tonight IMO. He got the assist on the Michalek goal but always lost control the puck and when needed defensively, he didn’t step up (see 2nd Habs goal). He started the pre-season well in Halifax but it looks like the Quebec native is frazzled by the chance of Erik Karlsson stealing his spot on opening night.

Zack Smith– As well looked out of place tonight and it seems like he doesn’t know what position to play. He’s probably earned himself a one-way ticket to Binghamton with his bad pre-season.

Christoph Schubert– Can somebody please remind me why we still keep this old, German hag? Where were you covering Ben Maxwell on the 1st goal. Probably looking at the crowd and smiling at his imaginary girlfriend. Murray, ship…this…guy…out…NOW!

Bell Centre Boards- After a weird bounce off the board hashmarks that gave Maxwell the puck and an empty net, things couldn’t get wierder as a Gionta shot went off the boards harshly, off Lehner’s mask, body, pads, and in. Lehner did panic at that time but there was no reason why Montreal should cheer tonight, because BOTH GOALS WERE FLUKES!