Dogs get robbed...

[BadCompany]

Tied 2-2 tonight, against the very familiar Toronto Roadrunners. Roadrunners scored the tying goal with less than 1 second left in the game. Yes, less than one second.

Dogs out-shot the Roadrunners fifty-one to thirty-two.

Josef Balej continued his hot streak, scoring both Bulldog goals while taking ten shots on net. Marcel Hossa had 2 assists. Alexander Perezhoghin and Chris Higgins both had 7 shots apiece. Ron Hainsey was +1, and is now +11 on the year, second on the team, behind Balej's +15.

Anybody catch this game?

www.theahl.com/SlamScoreboard/ahl-frameset.html

[Yeti]

I got some of it. I was impressed by Damphousse. He made some terrific saves. Traverse is struggling even in the AHL.

I believe Hainsey and Balej could step right in with the Habs and we would be a better team. Hainsey can do so much more than Bouillon it's scary. Balej has the skills to play in the NHL right away and more importantly, he has the determination and the intensity. Dagenais can't relax, actually someone on the right side will lose his spot even if doing good, Balej absolutely deserves a chance. Isn't he averaging a goal per game pace since mid-November?

[Disgruntled70sHab]

I saw most of it. We had a house full of people yesterday and the TV went from the World Junior Championships, to most of the Habs game, to the Bulldogs.

Yes, there was beer aplenty, but here's what I remember

• Balej is a real shaker and baker. On offense, he seems to have two gears; fast and roadrunner. Exciting hockey player, guys.
  
  
• I remember Hainsey getting up from a high stick. But, it didn't seem to phase him too much. He got right back up and played a pretty decent game.
  
  
• On the review, it showed that the Roadrunner's goal was scored slightly after the clock read "0." However, video replays aren't used in the AHL. Yes, the Bulldogs were robbed.
  
  
• Though HA might have some first-hand experiences going to see the Bulldogs, I also like the atmosphere during a Hamilton game. The crowd seems to be into the game quite a bit more than in other AHL games, at least from my vantage point; TV and beer.

I agree with Yeti in that Dagenais can't afford to relax. I'll go a step further by saying, I don't think there's a youngster on the club who doesn't realize that jobs are for the taking in Montreal and, if they perform, they'll get their chances under Bob Gainey. More specifically, Bouillon had a pretty decent game yesterday, but I think even he knows that Hainsey has what it takes. Chad Kilger just found out that the club will be accepting nothing less than 110% effort and there's just too many youngsters in the system waiting for their chances to prove that they have what it takes.

Cheers.

[NWTHabsFan]

Yeah, the Bulldog was game 4 of 6 for me yesterday (no, the divorce papers are not pending for some reason). I too cried foul when I saw that the goal was scored with nothing but big fat zeros showing on the shot clock. On well, better officiating than the world juniors games I have been watching. All in all, agree with what was said.

* Balej is fast and shoots, shoots, shoots. He has a nose for the net and can shoot on the fly with the best of them (at least at his level).

* Perezhogin is really starting to get comfortable. He seems a lot less timid about going to the net these past few televised games and you can sure see those stickhandling skills. He looks good with Svitov (earth to Tampa, wake up...you have a good one there).

* Higgins seems to play a steady game in both ends. Very low key and effective.

* Hainsey is getting much better out there than the timid guy who graced the Bell Centre ice. For those who wondered about the logic in sending him down, rest assured, it is paying some real dividends.

If I was Dags, I would be really worried. There is a faster, younger guy with an equally good shot (probably even better since Balej seems to have a much better release on the fly, Dags tends to shoot standing still) who if he continues to improve, is probably less than a year away from a starting spot with the big boys. He also seems to come to play more consistently than Dags, based on the games I have seen and reports I have read.

[PTH]

NWTHabsFan said:

If I was Dags, I would be really worried. There is a faster, younger guy with an equally good shot (probably even better since Balej seems to have a much better release on the fly, Dags tends to shoot standing still) ....

Question: I've only seen Balej shoot with slapshots with long windups (but I've seen him in a grand total of 1 intersquad game and 1 AHL period on TV while having an argument about something else, so I haven't gotten a long look), it always gave me the impression his game wouldn't translate well to the NHL where snap shots are often better, since goalies don't have time to get set.

So, after this long and rambling preamble, how does Balej tend to shoot ?

[NWTHabsFan]

I think he ended up with 10 shots in Saturday's game. He shot from all locations and in all forms, so I think he has a few tools in his toolbox. Adjustments are part of the transition when moving up in the ranks. I guess we will wait and see how well he does once and if he gets his callup.

[PTH]

Thx for the info. Good to know he's diversified.

[Andrew]

PTH said:

Question: I've only seen Balej shoot with slapshots with long windups (but I've seen him in a grand total of 1 intersquad game and 1 AHL period on TV while having an argument about something else, so I haven't gotten a long look), it always gave me the impression his game wouldn't translate well to the NHL where snap shots are often better, since goalies don't have time to get set.

So, after this long and rambling preamble, how does Balej tend to shoot ?

He scored a beauty one timer in last Tuesday's televised game. He had a lightning quick release on a hard pass, putting it top corner from about 20 feet out. The announcers went on about how it was a real "goal scorers" goal.