Dogs vs Moose, on sportsnet

[seventeen]

The game is on right now, in the first period. It's 1 pm. Pacific, 4, Eastern. 0-0, but the Dogs had a good PP, but no goals.

[seventeen]

3-0 Balej from Higgins and Cote. Cote pinched in, passed to Higgins behind and to one side of the net, out front to Balej swooping into the top of the crease, and really quick hands with a one-timer and it's 3-0. that was a very nice display of hands by Balej, though the Moose didn't pick him up very well. That's why its the AHL (or Pittsburgh).

Balej's stats seem to indicate a homer, though. +16 at home, -5 on the road. Same disparity with his goals.

PS. Milroy seems to have decent wheels today.

[seventeen]

Haisey was interviewed between periods and asked point blank about his demotion and what he has to do to get back and be an everyday player with the Habs. He waffled around the reason for being sent down, as if he was biting his tongue. He said he thought he was playing ok, unlike the previous year, where he wasn't. (reading between the lines, he didn't think he deserved it). He then said he has to keep playing well and see what happens. He didn't use cliches and seemed to think about his responses.

Aha, 4-0 Dogs, shorthanded goal by Dwyer (?!). Turnover with a quick shot by Balej and Dwyer put in the puck which had dribbled behind the goalie.

[seventeen]

Ryan Kesler of the Moose got into a fight with Svitov after Kesler threw a hefty check at Svitov and Kesler was the one who went down. There has to be some way for Gainey to pull the trigger on a deal for Svitov. This guy is going to be a bruiser. Perhaps a Holik type or even better offensively. His goal in the first on a PP was out of the corner, to the net and a roofer at a tight angle. Good goal.

Traverse nearly caused a GA by being overmatched (at the AHL level..yeesh). I guess skinny is skinny, no matter what universe you're in.

[seventeen]

5-0 on a 5-3 PP. Perezhogin from the goalie's left, about 10 feet away, top corner glove hand. Nice shot. Dogs must be inspired by the Habs trouncing of the Pens.

[PTH]

seventeen said:

Haisey was interviewed between periods and asked point blank about his demotion and what he has to do to get back and be an everyday player with the Habs. He waffled around the reason for being sent down, as if he was biting his tongue. He said he thought he was playing ok, unlike the previous year, where he wasn't. (reading between the lines, he didn't think he deserved it). He then said he has to keep playing well and see what happens. He didn't use cliches and seemed to think about his responses.

My take is that he's a bit of a jerk who's full of himself - but most good players are, so that's not really a slight against him. I agree he looks intelligent and I think in his case more than skill or (hockey or other) smarts it's just a question of maturity, of learning to work hard all the time, each and every shift. He might just be so skilled he's learned to coast in just about every league to date, and now needs to grow up, basically.

I did like that he used his brain and didn't just bail on the interview by coming up with cliche's, but he still seemed annoyed to be asked questions and interviewed - but that's the case with plenty of NHLers too.

seventeen said:

....
Balej's stats seem to indicate a homer, though. +16 at home, -5 on the road. Same disparity with his goals. ...

That can be kinda worrisome - a guy who can't get it done in the AHL on the road IMO isn't fit for the NHL. Or at least, he won't be more than a bit player, with the role of adding some 4th line speed and skill on a team with plenty of size....

seventeen said:

..... There has to be some way for Gainey to pull the trigger on a deal for Svitov. This guy is going to be a bruiser. Perhaps a Holik type or even better offensively. .....

I was thinking the same thing.... the work ethic issue might be a problem, but I hope Gainey is talking to Jarvis to see if this guy could be a worthwhile project. He wouldn't come cheap though.

seventeen said:

5-0 on a 5-3 PP. Perezhogin from the goalie's left, about 10 feet away, top corner glove hand. Nice shot. Dogs must be inspired by the Habs trouncing of the Pens.

A perfect shot.... I really like Perez's skills, and I wonder how he's look beside Ribs and Zednik. The basic problem is that we have a team that needs size/grit and skill, not pure skill.... Higgins would be a better fit even if he's possibly not as ready.




Michaud looking pretty good for a guy who's on his 3d AHL start, though like all young guys he needs to work on his rebounds. Milroy, Beauchemin also looking OK, Dwyer and Dykhuis seem to be taking leadership roles and doing well at it - and both are young enough to be potential fill-ins at the NHL level if needed... I wish the announcers would pronounce Ferland's name correctly, even though he hasn't done much..... Traverse looking awful, he's not even a top 4 defenseman in the AHL....