Dogs vs. Marlies

[Gas]

I have to tell you. I hate, hate, hate losing to the Blue and White. Nothing makes me more angry. Add the fact that we had a nice cushy 3-1 lead and played an outstanding first period and it looked to be a good Friday evening. Alas....as the team slogan goes...."this is our team" and they found a way to lose.

Good: Not much. I feel like I'm repeating myself with these posts. It seems the same four people have all of the heart on this team. Duncan Milroy, Maxim Lapierre, Kyle Chipchurra and Jonathon Ferland. Milroy and Chipchurra as well as Lapierre and Ferland have some amazing chemistry when they are on the ice in their respective pairings. Especially during the penalty kill. The four of these guys have no quit in them and work so hard. They never, ever give up on the play, use their size and just play tough all of the time. It's a pleasure to watch them. I'm not sure all four will become full time Habs, however, I wouldn't put it past them and I think the team would benefit.

Ryan O'Byrne put in a very solid defensive game tonight. The first time he's really stuck out in the four games I've seen him play in. He made some excellent plays clearing the puck. He also blocked some shots and made a fantastic diving play to clear the puck off of a Marlie stick during a two on one.

Average: I'm reluctant to put Yann Danis here because he deserves a lot better. There's no help whatsoever on the defensive end. Some rebounds that he couldn't control became goals as no one was there to clear it. There was an unfortunate amount of standing around. 3 of the 5 goals against he was hung out to dry on. He needs a break and it'll be good to see Halak get the start tomorrow.

Bad: Team defense as a whole. The defencemen for the most part tonight were horrible. There are reasons why Traverse is in the minors. You saw those reasons tonight. Dan Jancevski was not this bad when he was last on the team. I'm not sure what's going on.

The power play remains a problem. It was nice to get two goals out of it, but when you allow two shorthanded goals it becomes counter-productive.

Corey Locke remains a problem. His two goals do not excuse him from his lazy defensive work. Nor do they take away his amazing talent for constantly making the wrong decision. I'm surprised I'm not bald from all the hair I pull out.

I do believe the big issue is still coaching. No one seems to learn anything at all. I'm worried we won't get the potential out of our kids with Lever as coach. It leaves me with knots in my stomach.

This is a team that lost to a bad Marlies team. Our only win is against a team with no wins at all. They love to crap away leads as Lever consistently has them on their heels when they get a lead. This just in: That doesn't work. Gah!

Help me Andy Murray.......you're my only hope.

[Gogie]

I have to concur with Gas' comments. I think it's obvious the biggest problem in Hamilton isn't the players, it's the coach. The team plays a completely disorganzied game in their own end. They often end up simply chasing the puck and get completely out of position. I would think when you're trying to develop players you've got to give them a solid system to play. Lever hasn't shown any ability (or maybe it's willingness) to bother with that aspect of coaching.

Individually a few of the guys have stood out in my mind, none more so than Chipchura and Lapierre. Lapierre was a real force last night and his energy and drive were a real treat in an otherwise disappointing performance for the team. Chipper is exuding confidence and I like his style. I also agree with Gas about O'Byrne. He showed a definite improvement in his game last night.

Where oh where has Kostitsyn gone? As I said to my son last night, I wish this guy would start playing up to his potential. Oh, well, maybe next game.

One comment from a fan sitting near me last night: "I hope this isn't going to be like last year!" Unfortunately, unless something changes dramatically behind the bench I'm afraid it will be.

[BadCompany]

Watched the game on TV, and I have to agree with just about all the comments, especially the poor defensive zone play. Doesn't appear to be any sort of "idea" behind their play, they just kind of run around. React to the play, as opposed to anticipate/control it, if that makes any sense. While I agree O'Byrne played a very physical, noticable game, this would be my biggest knock on him (at this point) - that is he chases the play, rather than dictates it. Still, he's very strong, and takes the body with consistency.

Agree on Lapierre. He hits at least one person on every shift, and his motor never stops. His goal, while flukey, came because he just didn't quit on the play. Drove the defensemen wide, threw it on the net, stuck with the rebound and bounced if off of Tellqvist for the goal. I liked him.

Have to admit I didn't notice Chipchura as much as Gas or Gogie, but I'll chalk that up to the difference between watching on TV and being there.

Danis... not great. Hung out to dry, but still looked a little "off." Kostitsyin seems to skate an awful to create virtually nothing. Locke falls down a lot. Agree with the comments on Jancevski and Traverse, who has gone from looking like a bad NHLer, to looking like a bad AHLer. Sigh.

As this was my first Bulldog game this year, maybe the regulars can answer this question - do the Bulldogs ever set up the big shot from the point on the powerplay? Kostitsyin took a couple, but none were classified as "big" and a lot of them seemed to get block. From the games I saw of O'Byrne when he was with Cornell, he seemed to have a heavy, Souray-like slapshot, and I was wondering why that was never exploited?

[HFTO]

Was down at the game as well and too me Lapierre was the Bulldogs best player,Chips didn't do anything exceptional and like you guys said Danis really didn't have a chance on most of the goals,the third however was played poorly.
The thing about Locke who looks to be a career minor leaguer if he stays with the Habs is he manages to get his point regardless if he plays poorly on the back end or not.I really find myself rooting for the kid but he still has too work harder on his defensive game.In smurfland I doubt he will ever get a shot I would like to see him get an opportunity at some point because he is gifted offensively.
IMO Kots needs to get more involved he has to show more to get a look at a call up.
Just like the big club the Dogs need to find that killer instinct instead of having mental lapse(2 SH goals)and lettingother teams win games they shouldn't,we've seen this story line way to often.
HFTO

[chief6]

I'll jump in here before Gas lets fly on tonight's game.

To comment on some points:

BadCompany, the biggest thing I notice about Kyle Chipchura is his strength on the puck. As I've seen more of him now, some small criticisms are beginning to surface, but I imagine they'll slip right out the door as he continues to improve and find his way int he pro ranks. He wasn't as much a factor last night as he's been in other games, but the way he refuses to get knocked off the puck buys time for guys either to regroup defensively, or to set up offensively. He's coming around in the neutral zone, and he's going to be an impact player before long.

Again, BadCompany, your question about setting up the big shot from the point actually had me rolling on the ground laughing. The closest we get to seeing inverted sticks on the point is when two lefties are out there, and in that case, it's been Andre Benoit on the one-time side, and he just doesn't have an overpowering shot. That said, it would be nice if the defensive units had to at least pay attention to the point.

HFTO, on Corey Locke, the guy's had opportunities. Part of the reason Andre Kostitsyn seems uninvolved at times is because Lever is seemingly in love with Locke, and tries to run the offense through him. And while Locke has a pretty tremendous amount of skill, his hockey sense is lacking. He make so many bad passes, passes too often when he should shoot, and stays away from the action too often. He loves to set up at the outside half-boards, but he's pretty stationary. He doesn't create space there, and when the other guys aren't moving around enough, he can't get passes to them. Makes for bad passes.

I agree that Ryan O'Byrne played his best game as a pro last night. Until last night, I was left wondering why he lasted so long at the main camp.

And I guess the only other Montreal guys I'd like to comment on are Matt D'Agosini and Michael Lambert. D'Agostini is Montreal's Making The Cut guy, so it would be hard to imagine him ever seeing ice time with the big club, but he's working hard out there, and he's showing a lot of jump. He forechecks well, and plays a lot like Max Lapierre and the rest of the lot Gas loves. Lambert, meanwhile, is a guy I was completely disappointed with last season, but he's come out of the gates flying this year, and was among the hardest-working guys on the ice last night.

Fire Don. I'll check in again tomorrow to comment on tonight's game. Keep up the good work Gas.