Enjoy the drive back to Quebec, Habs fans!
FINAL SCORE (Hi Dad!)
Red Wings 4-2.
FIVE OBSERVATIONS OF A FORMER HOCKEY PLAYER
1. Don’t let the final score fool you, this game was just about the best goaltending duel in recent memory. Carey Price is the real deal. That kid is damn good, and it makes me a little bit ill thinking he’s booed in Montreal on the regular. He’s the only reason it wasn’t 14-0 in the first period. The first Canadiens goal left a bit to be desired of the eventual first star Jimmy Howard — it was one of those instances that if Tiberius had any sort of rebound control, it wouldn’t have been 1-0 Bad Guys. He MORE than made up for that one, with some unreal saves in the third period. He had to be the best player in the game in the final frame, as the Wings were outshot 20-3. Not a good omen heading into the second half of a back-to-back.
2. The Canadiens were all but guaranteed to take a lead into the dressing room after twenty minutes. And then Josh Gorges stepped in. I don’t know what the hell he was doing dicking around behind the net kind of eating the clock. But he got snatched, and bing-bang-boom Nicklas Lidstrom pots it with 1.2 seconds left. Tie game. Thanks for the gift, Gorges.
3. Maybe I’m getting carried away with excitement, so tell me if I’m way off base…but was Niklas Kronwall’s wrister the nicest shot by a Red Wing all season? That thing was nastypants. It was the best shot of the year. At least until…
4. GODDAMN, PAVEL DATSYUK! That backhand was Filthy McFilthertons.
5. This was arguably the most entertaining regular season game in YEARS. What an awesome atmosphere at the Joe — despite being very loud with cheers when the Habs scored. It felt every bit like a playoff game, and I sincerely felt like these two teams hated each other just to hate each other… because so many decades of Red Wing and Canadien teams did the same. Just wonderful hockey. There’s gotta be a way to ensure that matchups like this happen more than once every year and a half. Even if it means — GASP! — dropping one of the games against the goddamn Blue Jackets.
Or the Wings should just be in the Eastern Conference, because that would make sense and everything… would also make it a lot easier to get to the Finals while we’re at it
Did you guys not call out Kronner as the single Wings Dman who still needed to do something to amaze you? Well, there you go. You are now amazed and clearly Nastypants reads TPL (or WIM or NOHL in case I have my blogs confused).
I don’t care what Jimmah says, whenever he’s facing some ballyhooed young goaltender, he steps up his game.
That was ridiculous good, edge of my seat hockey last night.
Did you guys not call out Kronner as the single Wings Dman who still needed to do something to amaze you? Well, there you go. You are now amazed and clearly Nastypants reads TPL (or WIM or NOHL in case I have my blogs confused).
I don’t care what Jimmah says, whenever he’s facing some ballyhooed young goaltender, he steps up his game.
That was ridiculous good, edge of my seat hockey last night.
It was a great game because Montreal plays hockey and not the plug up the neutral zone game that a lot of teams play trying to contain the Wings. I have never seen the Wings so outplayed in the 3rd period. Jimmy kept them in the game for sure and deserved the first star.
I’m filing a petition to change “Cirque du” Salei’s nickname to “One Horse Open” Salei through the holiday season. C’mon, guys. It’s a no brainer, just like CURLY FRIES.
I’m filing a petition to change “Cirque du” Salei’s nickname to “One Horse Open” Salei through the holiday season. C’mon, guys. It’s a no brainer, just like CURLY FRIES.
I’ll second that emotion, VT. Whether or not we remember this committment next time we’re doing a pregame…that’s another matter. Kinda like “of course I’ll respect you in the morning.” But more Eastern European. Feel free to remind.