This will definitely sound like sour grapes coming from a Habs fan on the Sunday morning following a crushing shootout defeat last night on Hockey Night in Canada to the hand of the Buffalo Sabres. On a night where half the country recieved a dismal Leafs-Bruins blowout game, the other half was treated to quite a spectacle. Right off the hop when Maxim Lapierre planted the not-so-popular Patrick Kaleta face first into the boards, I knew we were in for a treat.On a side note, I didn't like the hit one bit and as much as I hate that little bitch Kaleta - Lapierre deserves two games. It was square from behind, on the numbers, from a couple feet out from the boards and there was a clear intent to punish him. When Max throws hits like that, he loses his effectiveness in an awful hurry. The whole purpose of a pest is to goad opponents into penalties, not vice versa!
So after the Habs appeared to be down and out, down 2-0 midway through the second period, Chris Higgins silenced the Bell Centre's famous Boo Bird Choir with a bullet wristshot by that skinny kid from Buffalo. A couple minutes later, cue an Alex Kovalev snipe and then another - seems like all is well.
Enter the third period, the Habs revert to their Carbo method of sitting back on a third period lead and surprise, surprise Buffalo ties it up. Which leads me to my next rant.
Shootouts have had their time in the NHL. After a thrilling game with end to end action and punishing hits all night long, we instead had to watch twelve shooters mosey up and down the ice taking shots one on one with a goalie. Sure it gets all glitzed up by broadcasters and arena production crews alike, but it's all smoke and mirrors.
What would really get the crowd going, and it's been said by countless people - is adding an extra five minute frame of three on three. First of all, almost all games would be decided with a goal if that method were employed. Secondly, if it doesn't work, what was so bad about the tie? It worked for decades.
i concur.
ReplyDeletei also think some of those shots in the shoot out were way LAME. maxim i think is the only one who really tried. it failed, but... nice try.
and ya 3 on 3 would be pretty cool, what 3 would you put on that first line?
My 3 would be Markov, Schneider and Koivu. I think they would score quickly. But maybe have Komisarek instead of Schneider.
ReplyDeleteMarkov scores a lot and works defensively. Schneider is the same. But Komisarek can block many shots, and forechecks hard,so he is also up there.
Koivu can come up with good scoring opportunities when the game is on the line.
But Kovalev can turn people around and get right next to someone and score, with only 3 people in his way... its possible he is also a good candidate
Good review!
Unfortunately a current poll on nhl.com says 68% of people like the shootout while only 21.7% don't. So if the shootout must stay they really need to at least use a 5 shooter format.
ReplyDeleteOn the game, a 60 minute effort will be required next time.