André Savard: "Higgins has become one of the best"
Mar 14, 2005 12:37:13 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 14, 2005 12:37:13 GMT -5
14-03-2005
Andre Savard: "Higgins has become one of the best"
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
The Canadiens are counting on Chris Higgins, their 2002 first choice (14th over all), to liven up their offense over the coming years. Not playing in the NHL due to the lockout, Higgins is carrying the Habs farm club on his shoulders.
The Bulldogs played a crucial match in their playoff race, yesterday afternoon in Hamilton, against their arch-rivals, the Edmonton Roadrunners, and Higgins gave a scintillating performance: his two goals and a helper made it possible for his team to take the game 6-3 and join the very same Roadrunners in fourth place in their division, the last available playoff spot.
After a difficult beginning offensively, Higgins has racked up an impressive total of 13 goals and eight assists in his last 17 games. He now has 43 points, including 22 goals, in 61 encounters.
His linemates, Tomas Plekanec (a goal and an assist) and Antti Miettinen (two assists) got two points each yesterday. "Those three form a really good line," commented the Bulldogs' GM, André Savard, after the game. "The return of Miettinen (a prospect loaned by the Dallas Stars) is not inconsequential to Higgins' recent success. When he is well set up, Higgins is capable of finishing the play and putting the puck in the net. I would say that in the past few weeks he has become one of the best players in the American League."
The young right winger Jonathan Ferland, recognized for his robust play, also chimed in with two goals, the last one into an empty net. This game could renew the confidence of the seventh round choice from 2002, who had scored only two goals in 46 games before yesterday's game.
The weekend had however started badly for the Bulldogs. In the first game, on Friday, the Bulldogs faced one of the best clubs in the AHL, the Chicago Wolves. They have one of the most promising goalies in Kari Lehtonen, first round choice of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2002, and they received unexpected reinforcement a few days earlier by picking up Jay Bouwmeester and Stephen Weiss to finish the season.
The Bulldogs nevertheless were beaten by a minor league graybeard, Steve Maltais, 36 years old, who's two goals helped to bury Hamilton. The Dogs had however built a 3-2 lead after two periods thanks to two points, a goal and an assist, from Jason Ward.
The following day, in Grand Rapids, the Bulldogs let the Detroit Red Wings prospects dominate in the second half of the game and were defeated 4-1. defenseman Niklas Kronwall, 24 years old, a first round choice in 2000, picked up two assists, to boost his points total to 43 in 62 games. It is said that he is the Niklas Lidstrom of the AHL.
The playoff race is tighter than ever in the Northern division. Only two points separate fourth place (Hamilton) from seventh (Cleveland). The Bulldogs have 15 more games to play. This Friday's and Saturday's encounters are against their tough divisional rivals the St John's Maple Leafs.
"It's a really big win this afternoon, especially after our disappointing loss on Friday," said Savard. "The guys played three games in as many days and they did not give up. Yesterday, they saw the Roadrunners tie the score after they had taken a 3-0 lead, but they found it within themselves to rebound in the third period. They have the right stuff."
- texte français original
Andre Savard: "Higgins has become one of the best"
Mathias Brunet
La Presse
The Canadiens are counting on Chris Higgins, their 2002 first choice (14th over all), to liven up their offense over the coming years. Not playing in the NHL due to the lockout, Higgins is carrying the Habs farm club on his shoulders.
The Bulldogs played a crucial match in their playoff race, yesterday afternoon in Hamilton, against their arch-rivals, the Edmonton Roadrunners, and Higgins gave a scintillating performance: his two goals and a helper made it possible for his team to take the game 6-3 and join the very same Roadrunners in fourth place in their division, the last available playoff spot.
After a difficult beginning offensively, Higgins has racked up an impressive total of 13 goals and eight assists in his last 17 games. He now has 43 points, including 22 goals, in 61 encounters.
His linemates, Tomas Plekanec (a goal and an assist) and Antti Miettinen (two assists) got two points each yesterday. "Those three form a really good line," commented the Bulldogs' GM, André Savard, after the game. "The return of Miettinen (a prospect loaned by the Dallas Stars) is not inconsequential to Higgins' recent success. When he is well set up, Higgins is capable of finishing the play and putting the puck in the net. I would say that in the past few weeks he has become one of the best players in the American League."
The young right winger Jonathan Ferland, recognized for his robust play, also chimed in with two goals, the last one into an empty net. This game could renew the confidence of the seventh round choice from 2002, who had scored only two goals in 46 games before yesterday's game.
The weekend had however started badly for the Bulldogs. In the first game, on Friday, the Bulldogs faced one of the best clubs in the AHL, the Chicago Wolves. They have one of the most promising goalies in Kari Lehtonen, first round choice of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2002, and they received unexpected reinforcement a few days earlier by picking up Jay Bouwmeester and Stephen Weiss to finish the season.
The Bulldogs nevertheless were beaten by a minor league graybeard, Steve Maltais, 36 years old, who's two goals helped to bury Hamilton. The Dogs had however built a 3-2 lead after two periods thanks to two points, a goal and an assist, from Jason Ward.
The following day, in Grand Rapids, the Bulldogs let the Detroit Red Wings prospects dominate in the second half of the game and were defeated 4-1. defenseman Niklas Kronwall, 24 years old, a first round choice in 2000, picked up two assists, to boost his points total to 43 in 62 games. It is said that he is the Niklas Lidstrom of the AHL.
The playoff race is tighter than ever in the Northern division. Only two points separate fourth place (Hamilton) from seventh (Cleveland). The Bulldogs have 15 more games to play. This Friday's and Saturday's encounters are against their tough divisional rivals the St John's Maple Leafs.
"It's a really big win this afternoon, especially after our disappointing loss on Friday," said Savard. "The guys played three games in as many days and they did not give up. Yesterday, they saw the Roadrunners tie the score after they had taken a 3-0 lead, but they found it within themselves to rebound in the third period. They have the right stuff."
- texte français original
