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Call Of The WIlde: Another Loss

October 18, 2017

By Brian Wilde

Wilde Horses

– The power play had been a mess. No goals on the season. So help a key player by giving him an opportunity to do what he does best. Shea Weber moves off the left half wall and ripped a 25 foot rocket. It came to him where he doesn’t have to accept it and shoot it across his body. It came to him from 25 feet out instead of 45 feet out and it was in and out of the net so fast no one even saw it. At least that was working. He’s the best weapon, so some good coaching to give your best weapon a chance to be a weapon. Plenty to improve but at least Mete at the point so Weber could go to the left freed him into a better spot. That should improve things going forward.

– Victor Mete is outstanding but he can’t be, along with Shea Weber, your best defenceman. He looked good on the power play. He pinched in at some smart moments with authority. He set up Charles Hudon on a breakaway. He got his first NHL point but at a certain point, someone else has to be as good as a 19 year old rookie.

– Jonathan Drouin with a gorgeous goal on a sweet feed from Artturi Lehkonen. Both players had good games all things considered. Drouin with a lot of good vision. Lehkonen with his usual intelligence.

– Charles Hudon has to breakthrough soon. He’s getting so many chances including a breakaway. He also took a bad penalty but we will concentrate on the work around the net. He has moves. He has finish. It will come.

 

Wilde Goats

– Ales Hemsky is only around still because Mark Streit took his unconditional release already this week. It’s simply too embarrassing to admit you signed two duds in the off season within five days of each other. I suppose they’ll keep him around awhile and pretend he isn’t too slow now, that he isn’t done now. But he is slow and he is done.

– The captain has to help out here soon on the scoresheet. He is good for between 30 and 40 but Pacioretty has only one goal this season. The sad truth is he’s really not getting many looks. The chances are few except when he takes power play slap shots that aren’t working yet. Your best players have to be your best players is the hockey term and it’s not happening yet for the captain. All eyes are going to turn to him soon and that will be a tough moment and may make it even harder. We will see. However this is not trending well. Pacioretty has not looked good this season. They need his 35 goals, not ten.

– Speaking of your best players have to be your best players …. where is the 925 save percentage of Carey Price. Not only is he not one of the best, he’s one of the worst. He’s not making saves. Simple. He started the night at 885 on the season. He finished the night at .882. He went for an off balance skate on one goal when he pushed off one way and couldn’t regroup. He lost the short side post on another goal. He couldn’t freeze a puck in front of him on another goal. Carey Price is a world class goalie. I expect soon he will be again but right now he’s an 882 goalie because that’s what his percentage is.

– What exactly was Joe Morrow thinking cross checking someone eight times in a row? I think you’re gonna get a penalty. Yep. I do.

Wilde Cards

– Joe Thornton’s stick swept the pad of Carey Price to change his direction and comportment on the key fourth goal. Didn’t matter when the coaching staff challenged it. This goaltender interference is a complete mystery to me. I get it wrong more than half the time. That’s crazy. After looking at it in slow motion, one should never get it wrong. Ever. So when Price is dragged to Moose Jaw last year with a skate hooked into his pad so he is miles out of the net and there’s a goal called instead of goaltender interference…. then honestly do not look to me anymore. I don’t know. I really can’t find any consistency in the calls. I’m sure they think they have it all figured out, but I have zero idea.

– Alex Galchenyuk can’t be on the fourth line of a team starving for goals. The club can’t score right now and your best shot along with Pacioretty is barely playing and wasting away with a line mate who can’t set him up and another line mate who should be watching the game from his couch. The team has nine goals in six games, so I’m not sure now is the right time for the long lesson in behavour modification for a sniper.

– Your best players have to be your best players. Weber. Yes. Drouin. Yes. The rest. Nope. And it’s a big nope.

– Marc Bergevin’s plan had to be stay comfortable this season on the way to the playoffs and spend that cap room money when the time is right. But that $9 million may have to be spent quickly or the season could be in jeopardy. On last week’s podcast, I said they would struggle all October before recovering in November. That is my belief even more so now. The club will find its rhythm but it’s going to get darker before the dawn. L.A. and Anaheim still to come. The San Jose game was the easy one of the three supposedly.

About Brian Wilde

Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.

View all posts by Brian Wilde

  • Scott Murray says

    October 18, 2017 at 6:23 am

    Didn’t watch but Drouin was -2 despite his two points, so I wondered if he was still having a little trouble on his defensive reads? in any event, Price was first on the ice in practice yesterday so I was expecting a pushback game from him. Montoya tonight? I would. Benn in for Morrow too, one hopes.

  • tprigi says

    October 18, 2017 at 6:55 am

    Habs are digging themselves in a deep hole in and I’m afraid they will be unable to recover from such a horrible start to the season. Teams that generally start off the season with a 1-4-1 record will not make the playoffs. Their Leaving too much points on the table
    MB your on the hot seat. Your move sir

  • Steve B. says

    October 18, 2017 at 8:04 am

    October is going to be a looooong month.

    Here’s hoping it won’t be a long season…

    • Steve B. says

      October 18, 2017 at 8:04 am

      A long season would be good – playoffs. You get the jist.

  • Shawn Couch says

    October 18, 2017 at 9:55 am

    I do believe you are right Brian. It will get darker before the dawn. My major concern is that the habs are not able to dig themselves out of such a bad start. They have 3 points out of a possible 12. That is a brutal start. I am a little shocked that Julien has not given Galchenyuk more of a shot. Max is the captain and is doing jack squat out there but yet doesn’t get the same level of heat Galchenyuk does. I would like to see Chucky with Drouin and Lehkonen. Put Max back with Danault and Gallagher or Hudon. Not a single aspect of the team is playing well….offense, defense, special teams (minus the PK) and goaltending have all been sub par. It is going to be a long October

    • Brian Wilde says

      October 18, 2017 at 5:51 pm

      All great suggestions. Especially Max with Danault. They had chemistry last year.

  • Trevor Birtch says

    October 18, 2017 at 10:04 am

    This goaltender interference is the worst! Each year they try to improve it and nothing changes.

    I didn’t watch the game last night since it was on so late but from what i saw in the highlights, the defense looked lost. How was couture so alone on the first goal? 4 guys were standing in a line between the circles, how does he get through?

    Tonight’s going to be a tough one..

  • Nick Jurich says

    October 18, 2017 at 12:31 pm

    I’m starting to wonder if the lack of production from Shaw and Gally can be attributed to a shift in how the refs are calling games. Have some of their strengths (agitator/grinding out points) been neutralized with refs now calling penalties against plays that they used to be able to get away with more often?

    Historically, Patches seems to be a streaky player. I don’t really recall if he’s often a slow starter but it sure stinks when virtually the entire team pulls a no-show at the same time. Brian, I believe you noted during the game how odd it is that Patches hasn’t clicked with Drouin yet. Further to that it feels even more surprising when you consider they spent a lot of time training together in the offseason. We’ve yet to see a dynamic duo combo that I believe many of us anticipated.

    • Brian Wilde says

      October 18, 2017 at 5:52 pm

      Pacioretty started very slowly last year too. Remember he had the knee injury that he got in Florida somehow and we said he had slowed.

  • Teresa Buono says

    October 18, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Great as always Brian.
    My take they are screwed!
    So frustrating to watch, referees, r/w C, Power play, penalties, and of course the Goalie and his goals! Just torture.
    The only solace I have ,Is reading, watching and listening to u Brian, thanks fingers crossed things will get better.🍻my friend🍻

    • Brian Wilde says

      October 18, 2017 at 5:53 pm

      Thank you Teresa. Try to remember though it is hard that it is early. Things turn around. November they have a good schedule. They’re learning a new system and it takes time.

      • Cara says

        October 18, 2017 at 10:32 pm

        Brian,
        I absolutely love your optimism..and I’ll stand there with you..November will be better..it has to be LOL
        Love everything you write about the Habs & still miss you so much on CTV , it’s horrible to watch with no sports coverage or the very bare minimum…ugghh…but so happy to still be able to get your feedback & opinions..always intelligent & informed !!

        Keep up the excellent work !!!

        • Brian Wilde says

          October 19, 2017 at 1:50 am

          Thank you Cara very much

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