October 23, 2004 : Bulldogs vs Binghamton

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

GAME DETAILS

SCORING 1 2 3 OT TOTAL
Hamilton 0 0 1 0 1
Binghamton 0 1 0 1 2

SHOTS 1 2 3 OT TOTAL
Hamilton 15 7 9 0 31
Binghamton 7 12 11 1 31

POWERPLAYS
Hamilton 1 for 5 : Binghamton 1 for 6

SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
(no scoring)
Period 2
Binghamton - Denis Hamel (powerplay) (Jason Spezza, Anton Volchenkov) 4:00

Period 3
Hamilton - Tomas Plekanec (powerplay) (Ron Hainsey, Jason Ward) 12:26

OT
Binghamton - Jason Spezza (Anton Volchenkov) 0:32

PENALTIES
Period 1
Binghamton - Christoph Schubert - (Tripping), 2 min, 2:01
Hamilton - Gavin Morgan - (Roughing), 2 min, 4:14
Hamilton - Trevor Daley - (Holding), 2 min, 10:19
Binghamton - Denis Hamel - (Cross Checking), 2 min, 11:10
Binghamton - Josh Langfeld - (Cross Checking), 2 min, 13:19

Period 2
Hamilton - Gavin Morgan - (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 2:55
Hamilton - Philippe Plante - (Boarding), 2 min, 3:06
Hamilton - Ron Hainsey - (Hooking), 2 min, 7:11
Hamilton - Raitis Ivanans - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 12:53
Binghamton - Brian McGrattan - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 12:53
Hamilton - Raitis Ivanans - (Unsportsmanlike Conduct), 2 min, 12:59
Hamilton - Raitis Ivanans - (Misconduct Misconduct), 10 min, 12:59
Binghamton - Brian McGrattan - (Misconduct Misconduct), 10 min, 12:59

Period 3
Binghamton - Chris Kelly - (Holding Stick), 2 min, 2:10
Binghamton - Christoph Schubert - (Obstr-Tripping), 2 min, 13:45

OT
(no penalties)

GOALIES
NAME DEC MIN SHOTS SAVES
35 Yann Danis LOSS 60:25 31 29
NAME DEC MIN SHOTS SAVES
31 Billy Thompson WIN 60:23 31 30

PENALTY TOTALS
Hamilton 27 minutes on 8 infraction(s) Binghamton 25 minutes on 7 infraction(s)

OTHER FACTS
GAME LENGTH: 2:31
ATTENDANCE: 4,103

[blaise]

Please change Binghampton to Binghamton in the head.

So Danis lost 2-1 in OT. Too bad, but at least the Bulldogs got a point. Plekanec continues to score goals. When NHL play resumes I think he'll become either a serious contender for the second line center position, a can't-miss candidate for the fourth line, or a desirable trading commodity.

[mic]

Blaise said:

Please change Binghampton to Binghamton in the head.

So Danis lost 2-1 in OT. Too bad, but at least the Bulldogs got a point. Plekanec continues to score goals. When NHL play resumes I think he'll become either a serious contender for the second line center position, a can't-miss candidate for the fourth line, or a desirable trading commodity.

Obviously, with Plekanec's work ethic, with the fact that he looks more and more dominating in the AHL, he should be able to get a spot on the Habs. The question will be where ? I'm not too sure about him having the second line (if that means something) center position, which is a lot of responsability and a big risk for the team. But I would be pleased with him having a defensive role, a wild card that can play every kind of situation. And later possibly bring an alternative to become the Habs second line center. It is a dangerous thing to trade players because rookies seem to be good enough.

[blaise]

mic said:

Obviously, with Plekanec's work ethic, with the fact that he looks more and more dominating in the AHL, he should be able to get a spot on the Habs. The question will be where ? I'm not too sure about him having the second line (if that means something) center position, which is a lot of responsability and a big risk for the team. But I would be pleased with him having a defensive role, a wild card that can play every kind of situation. And later possibly bring an alternative to become the Habs second line center. It is a dangerous thing to trade players because rookies seem to be good enough.

I wouldn't say dangerous and I wouldn't say trade immediately. By the time Plekanec gets to Montréal he'll have had several seasons of AHL experience behind him to prepare for the responsibility. Then he'll have the benefit of his third serious preseason look. Moreover, this time the Habs have Bonk. If Plekanec's arrival means that the center position will get crowded, then he has to be compared critically with the others and given a fair chance to compete.

The most obvious comparison would be with Ribeiro. Ribeiro put up 65 points last season but he isn't a flawless player and he faded in the playoffs. Plekanec doesn't have everything in Ribeiro's skill set but he brings several different and important assets, such as skating, strength, defensive awareness, a better shot, and greater consistency. It would be up to the Habs management to determine what to do with him. I am reminded that Jacques Lemaire didn't have all of Ribeiro's skills when he came up as a rookie, but Lemaire brought others that made him a far better player from the day he laced on his skating boots in the Forum. And if Ribeiro is traded the Habs ought to be able to get value in return, such as a power forward or a solid defenseman (the immediate need for a power forward would be lessened if Gainey signs Kovalev after all).