CFN – If you’re Habs GM you’re not totally upset with the team’s 3-2 loss to Calgary last night. Joey MacDonald is hot in net for the Flames and they are playing like a team that wants to prove something before the settle into the hunt for a good draft pick which is where Montreal may end up if they don’t right the ship.
The biggest concern in the line up is David Desharnais who while not putting numbers up on the board is eating up a lot of minutes of ice time. He’s getting his chance and playing with strong players.
At what point are changes made?
The other glaring spot for the team is the make up of the D. It’s not that there are some stanky slots; but you need the right skill set to play next to Subban and especially Markov. While Gorges isn’t a disaster he doesn’t really maximize the match up with either. I would prefer Diaz on the third pairing. When Emelin comes back that’s the solution for Markov, but the team desperately needs a d man to play with Subban unless Tinordi really shows improvement this year.
I won’t write about Carey Price. Watching Jaroslav Halak put up the numbers so far this season is pain and suffering enough.
The Sens suffered a heartbreaker to LA losing 4-3. They battled back after goalie Craig Anderson gave up 3 rare first period goals to the Kings to tie the game only to see Jeff Carter score his 4th in OT. Bobby Ryan scored his first along with JG Pageau and Milan Michalek who scored the tying goal.
St. Louis is now 3-0 as Jarslav Halak has only given up 4 goals in those three games and is sporting a 3-0 record. The team is tied for first in the Central division with Patrick Roy’s Colorado Avalanche.
San Jose is pulling a 2013 Chicago and flying out of the gate led by rookie Tomas Hertl who put up 4 goals in a night, 6 for the season, against the NY Rangers who look like the Hindenburg right now teamwise. (The Rick Nash curse strikes again!)
The Sharks are 3-0 with 17 goals for and 4 goals against. That’s a recipe for winning hockey. If the puck is in the other guys zone it makes it awfully hard to give up a goal.
What do you think Hockey fans? What are your biggest surprises of the NHL season so far? You can post your comments below.