Recrutes

Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.

Proudly Sponsored By

Call Of The Wilde: One Win In Five

October 14, 2017

By Brian Wilde

Wilde Horses

  • – Alex Galchenyuk can snipe and it was simply terrific to see him choose to shoot on his goal after all of that attention around him. As he came down on that 2 on 1, I was sure that he was going to pass because that is what players who are struggling do — they pass. Galchenyuk never looked over once. He knew his skill the entire time. It was a brilliant moment. His excitement was obvious. I saw the piano lift right off his shoulders. He played the rest of the game with a higher level of confidence.

  • Sorry, but you must be a subscriber to view this content. Click here to sign in

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

  • mrbell04 says

    Comments on price and patches were spot on. I do have an addition to the wilde horses though. The third period! Utter domination against the eventual cup winners. Couldn’t finish but it was something that is keeping me calm here in Toronto right now.

  • lamoroso says

    Good points, Brian! And yes, it is time for the Hemsky era to end. He almost cost the Habs a goal with his sloppy play in the 3rd period. Anyway, the Habs played a great but once again their great effort wasn’t rewarded with an extra point. I can’t find a way to be mad at the club.

  • Robert Thomson says

    Price and Pacioretty haven’t been great yet. Both need to pick up their play. Benn has been just terrible and Hemsky needs to hang up his skates. On a positive note Mete has been just so good,his play has been very impressive. Great to see Chucky score, hope he gets a confidence boost from tonight’s game, he played well. Habs played a good game tonight but still found a way to lose, kind of sums up their season so far.

  • Mike Languay says

    Price will get his act together. Like his post game comments.
    Totally agree about Hemsky. Done. So long it’s not been good to know ya.
    Weber is never going to be the guy to step in for teammates. He should be but he and the coaches overestimate his importance. Larry Robinson wasn’t above protecting teammates and he was a million times better and more important than Shea Weber ever will be.
    Pacioretty has gotten a lot better at interviews. Unfortunately, he has not gotten any better at leading on the ice. Your captain can never be invisible in a game, let alone the first 5 games of the season. Making him captain is another mistake Bergevin needs to own and fix.
    I agree that the percentages will shift but the team is fragile and needs more talent than they currently have.

  • Roland Briere says

    Dead on. Without Carey club is toast. Yes Hemsky another MB whiff.
    Not concerned about 67. When he gets hot, it’s very hot.
    Loved the overall D effort last night also. Very promising.
    Never have much neg to say about CJ, but last night Babs started the OT to win it, CJ to survive it. Didn’t like that.

  • Darren Dembicki says

    Bang on again Brian. Just watched game this morning & we saw the same things. Reality is, Habs won a lot of games vs Leafs because of Price, now they e peri eve the other side of the coin. Hope Carey comes back soon.

  • Chris Loreto says

    My fear with MB’s approach is that it is based upon one person. He has built this team around CP and for this team to succeed CP has to be above average. The offence is too spotty, too unreliable,and regularly unproductive and the D is mistake prone to rescue a subpar goaltending performance.
    If CP is off, then it spells disaster.
    Right now opposing teams are making him look mortal and we are making their goalies look Prician.
    I think that is playing in his head- he knows he has to be the man every night and that is a lot of pressure for anyone.
    To me I would like to see play and lines determined by production , which means that after last game AG should be on line 1and Max on the third. This road trip will go a long way into determining the future of this squad as it is presently conducted. 0 for 3 will mean near certain change but I have no idea who or how?

    • Brian Wilde says

      Carey has to be better. There’s no question Chris and I think he will be. The goals vs Chicago he had no chance. They were too high quality. But the first three Toronto goals I felt Price saves those all the time. So he simply has to be better and this is on him.

  • Steve Dubreuil says

    Great calls Brian. I’m worried that Montoya will get a start out west (Tues or Wed.) which means that the prospect of going 0 for 3 is a possibility considering Habs history in California.
    I agree that Scherbak could help out. What about Deslauriers on 4th line to add a little sandpaper. I’m sure he would’ve paid Martin a visit.
    With 2 games in 2 nights, Benn has to sit out one. And if Habs could get a win without him, that would force CJ to keep same lineup.

  • Trevor Birtch says

    That 3rd goal was pretty devastating. Drouin scores his 1st, crowd is going wild and then they score an ugly goal not too long after. That would be hard to come back from.

    As for patches, he went through a slump last year and people were on him and then he exploded for something like 24 goals in 18 games? Goal scorers figure it out and he will soon!