Game Notes: Habs v. Panthers (10-30-10)

Pregame: Markov is back!!! I hope that JM addressed the 2nd period vs the Islanders and the players will respond with this game.

First Period:

• Why is JM starting Spatch and Hammer?
• AK46 is a bull that's throwing his weight around and winning battles.
• Eller has speed to burn and he will cash in on his opportunities soon.
• Markov looked a little rusty on his 2nd shift of the game but he recovered nicely and then made a great outlet pass for a near breakaway soon after.
• Price looking a little lost handling the puck near the side board... you're not Marty Brodeur!
• Marky looks like he wants to help the 2nd line get out of their scoring funk and almost gets caught giving up a 2-1... Carey to the rescue!
• PK shows amazing patience and vision and takes two hits from Panthers and still makes the play behind his net. Then draws a penalty for a brutal elbow that should be reviewed by the league. Definition of karma would have PK scoring the PP goal assisted by Marky but alas that won't happen.
• Florida goal. 0-1 Wow Price made the first stop and the D needs to clear that rebound. Not surprised Gill was the culprit.
• So much for not playing Marky on the PK.
• Gill directly responsible for two more scoring chances... and he's one of the team leaders?
• There's Gill's 4th mistake leading to yet another scoring chance! He's consistently inconsistent. I guess we're paying him for his post season work.
• Good work by Gomez line to shift the momentum then draw a penalty. Lets go!
• As bad as Gill is Subban is equally amazing especially with the extra room given on the PP. Subs wind up for the slap shot puts fear in any goalie. Learning to abbreviate the back swing could help get him his first goal of the season.

Second Period

• Gomez needs to shoot the puck more often. He passed up a better scoring chance for Gionta's shot. His own shot could have given the rebound to a charging Gionta.
• Plek missed by very little but you need to hit the net in that spot. Force him to make the save and possibly get a rebound.
• Montreal goal! 1-1 Way to go to the net!!! 3rd game in a row that the 3rd line has worked hard and helped out on the score sheet. This one is a tying goal but the last two games they got the game winner. They come up big under pressure. Good work by JM to give them the offensive zone face off as well.
• Even on Subban's clearing attempts there is clear offensive intent. That is transition at it's finest. 
• All 5 skaters for the habs are back deep and helping their defense. Makes for easy zone exits and short high percentage passes. 
• The fourth line should not be on the ice with Gill at the same time... Price had to bail them out with a few HUGE stops.
• Price makes tow more huge saves to keep the game tied up. Subban tried his best to negate the chance but instead he let Pricey show off! The second save was even bigger then the first... isn't it usually?
• Penalty shot!!!! Booth vs Price... goal. This was directly caused by Hammer skating up the middle of the ice and turning the puck over. He had no where to go and clearly didn't have a plan. This left Spatch to try to stop a 30 goal scorer alone and he had to haul him down.
• Florida Goal. 1-2.
• Gomez loves to stop on a dime and let everyone skate by him but sometimes that's not the best move. It even confuses his teammates once in a while.
• Great shift by the 4th line with Marky and PK. Markov only gets better as the game progresses. JM once again rewards the 3rd line with an offensive zone face off against a tired Panthers line that iced the puck.
• Cammy is in a funk... he never misses the net this much! He needs to get back in touch with the Force.
• Subban has drawn a 2nd penalty. His speed and skill definitely puts a target on his back from the opposing team. 
• 5-3 Powerplay for over a minute! They're loading up the PP to get a tying goal but will have to wait for clean ice and a neutral zone face off. Time to get a special teams goal, now that Marky's back there's no excuse for a 8.8% PP efficiency rating!

Third Period

• Wow Gionta can't buy a goal! Two marvelous opportunities and he can't put it home?! The PP is now under 6% for the season.
• Subban is a physical specimen, he's so strong that he can muscle others around and keep his balance.
• AK46 does have a tendency to revert back to last years performance from time to time.
• Interesting how JM uses two centres (Plek & Halpern) on the top PK unit.
• Habs are at least getting shots on net, 34 and counting... 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
• Add great stick control to Subban's repertoire of skills. This guy is going to be a star, he already is a stud.
• Wow Price and defense needs to communicate better, that one cost them a scoring chance.
• Is the hype too much? Marky and Subban aren't looking great for this 5th power play...
• Florida Goal: 1-3 Pinch by Hammer leads to the 3rd Panthers goal. Lucky bounce to the trailing player and he makes no mistake. 
• Mountain to climb if they want a 5 win in a row especially shorthanded and without their best defense man. Atleast they're not going down without a fight!

 Post game notes: The loss was not Prices fault, he did his part, Gomez and Gionta inability to score is the main reason for this loss.

My Favorite Sports - FOOTBALL (Part 2)

I love to watch sports. I enjoy the competitive nature of sports and the thrill of winning, being recognized as being the best and the stories behind the athletes. Over the next few posts I will rank my favorite sports and give a little background about myself.

FOOTBALL

Canadian Football League

  My first exposure to North American Football is through the Canadian Football League. Although this league is small (currently only 8 teams) the tradition of the Grey Cup goes almost as far back as the Stanley Cup. This 101 year old trophy is an amazing symbol for a sport and the country. The differences of the CFL to National Football League rules are quite large and I won't go into all the details in this blog.

  I started watching the BC Lions but was never really a fan that followed the team throughout the season, or closely followed the player transactions. Honestly I find that a football team is very large and its difficult to commit all the names to memory especially when some will only play a few downs during the whole game. But I digress... My interest in the CFL corresponded to my move to Montreal and their team the Alouettes. The main reason for my increased interest was primarily due to the location of the playing field (Percival Molson Memorial Stadium) on the McGill University Campus. Although it is a small stadium it was very intimate and allowed for a great atmosphere. It was very accessible and affordable for students and the level of competition provided was very enjoyable. I knew more about this team during my stay in Montreal then any other CFL team and I am still somewhat partial to them and the BC Lions.


National Football League

  I have become a much bigger fan of the NFL during the past 3 seasons. My natural choice was the San Diego Chargers as I have family in and around the SD area which has allowed me to travel there on numerous occasions. Over the past three seasons I grew to enjoy the intricacies of the NFL game and rules and feel that I have a great understanding of how the game is played. I know I love the game when I enjoy watching any NFL game regardless of the teams.

  One of the main incentives to learn a sport as a fan or observer is to gamble. It doesn't need to be a lot of money but whenever money is on the line the stakes are raised. The football pool I joined costs $100 for the whole season and every week you pick a winner for every game. My pool does not take into account the spread so it is much easier for beginners. Having the most correctly predicted games in any given week pays you $200, 2nd place for the week pays $100 and 3rd place is worth $50. Knowing that you only need to come in 2nd place once out of 18 weeks to break even gives you great odds. This forced me to start to research teams, get expert analysis, watch for injury reports, etc.

NFL football has climbed the ranks of sports favorites to 2nd overall only after my beloved Hockey.

My Favorite Sports - HOCKEY (Part 1)

I love to watch sports. I enjoy the competitive nature of sports and the thrill of winning, being recognized as being the best and the stories behind the athletes. Over the next few posts I will rank my favorite sports and give a little background about myself.


HOCKEY

  As a boy growing up in Canada hockey is an integral part of the culture. Being born in the city where the best hockey player ever played I was automatically a default Oilers fan. As a 9 year old, I remember crying when I heard the news that Gretzky had been traded... to an AMERICAN team nonetheless! I recall losing interest in the sport that had broken my heart. But that wound was soon mended when I was able to watch a live hockey game at the Pacific Coliseum; Vancouver Canucks vs. CSKA Moscow. This team had three of the best Russian players to ever play the sport: Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Mogilny and the electrifying Pavel Bure all on one line! I don't remember the final score but I definitely recall the speed, skill and flair of which I was to be witness to starting with Bure winning the Calder Trophy for the 91-92 season.

  As a teenager I was caught up in the Canucks incredible run to game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. I didn't partake in the aftermath in downtown Vancouver but the images on TV are forever burnt into my mind's eye. The passion that engulfed the city was instilled in me and an integral part of why its my first sports love. Once again this love was challenged during the lockout shortened season and I lost faith in the business of the sport.

  Enrolling at Concordia University, in the historic city where hockey was born and the National Hockey League created, my fate was sealed. I fell in love with the city, culture, lifestyle, joie de vivre and above all the pervasive religion: the Montreal Canadiens, Les Habitants, Les Boys, The Habs, etc. The most winningest franchise in professional sports (at the time) were experiencing some of the most challenging years in recent history. The city of Montreal was dealing with the fallout of the referendum and times were bleak. Yet the fanbase never faltered, the love never died, and plans of a parade down St. Catherines renewed every October. As a struggling student I was only able to attend one live Canadiens game but what an event and experience it was. Sitting in a luxury box at the Bell Centre with a fully stocked bar and bartender provided, game programs and hot food served to order, the actual game seemed secondary maybe because we lost to the Sabres.

  The lore and history of the Habs is overwhelming and chronicled in many books, magazines, websites, etc. The purpose and subject of this blog is to address my love of ALL sports but it is important to point out the place that the Canadiens have had in my past, do have in my present, and will have in my future. I continue to meet Habs fans everywhere I go and the mutual love and respect is a basis for lasting friendships.

  I am a first and foremost a fan of hockey, of the fights, the goals, the players, the stories, the battles, the hits, the assists, the highlights, the draft and even the pools. I've made it through two lockouts and realize that each season, game and period of hockey should be appreciated and cherished. Now lets drop the puck and watch some hockey!