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.

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McLean’s Pub Call of the Wilde: The Captain Scores in OT

November 11, 2017

By Brian Wilde

Wilde Horses

– Charles Hudon showed a lot of hunger in this one. He was charging the net hard and fighting for pucks well. It’s getting to the point despite only two goals that you feel some sort of breakthrough to a higher level is close. Until it happens though, it’s just a concept.

– Alex Galchenyuk has been the best forward on the Habs here for a while. It was Galchenyuk who had the breakaway early and he could have made the difference with an early goal. Let’s credit him for being the guy who the offence seems to be revolving around most at the moment.

– Charlie Lindgren is the third string goalie of the Montreal Canadiens and absolutely the number one considering his play. Once again, Lindgren holds the Habs in the game. He’s been their best player every night since he started with the team in support of the guys who were supposed to be the difference makers.

– Andrew Shaw is the best surprise of the campaign. He has four goals after counting the one that tied it. He is playing an in-your-face game and making it difficult to win any battle with him whether the puck is there or not.

– Max Pacioretty sure scores important goals for a guy who is allegedly not there when it counts. Feels like he saved the season twice already. He scored in overtime in Winnipeg and he put on the deke of his life to win it over the Sabres. If not for Max, where would they be at the moment. He cares. He’s coming through.

Wilde Goats

– I don’t know how much I want to single out anyone when it kind of feels like everyone. This just wasn’t a hungry game for the Habs and it stayed competitive only because they were playing a club that also isn’t very good at finishing their Grade A chances. Simply put, they just weren’t an intense club in my mind. This isn’t going to be a popular opinion because they won: This was one of their poorest games strangely.  When they were losing early in the season, when it was all doom and gloom, they were outshooting their opponents 40-20 and you knew that that would turn around. I liked a lot of the process at the time. What we saw here was a team that couldn’t look better than Buffalo who are one of the league’s worst teams and who played last night at home and lost 4-1 to Florida. They also were missing their best, and their only truly good, defenceman Ristolainen. I know all that sounds harsh considering it went to overtime and they won but this was one of those nights that I said this: I don’t think this team is all that good in its present form. I don’t see a playoff team here. This may be premature right now to say but that’s how it feels sadly when the Sabres who even played last night are a tough out. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense to a lot of people but I look at the process and I didn’t like the process as much in this one than when they lost and outshot their opposition 40-20 but got no puck luck.

Wilde Cards

– The Habs announced why Al Montoya missed action since the Winnipeg game. He suffered a concussion. This was likely on a Dustin Byfuglien slap shot that hit him square in the face. He stayed in the game. Sometimes symptoms show up after. He displayed no symptoms of a concussion during the game. He showed symptoms of being in great pain, but not dizziness or any other notables.

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

  • Marvin Matthews says

    I’m with you, Brian – Habs do not look like a playoff team. How long before it gets too late to keep saying “there’s still time”?

    • Halifaxhab says

      3 points out after such a poor start says this team is a playoff team. The problem is they lack enough weapons to do any damage once there

  • Angelo Palucci says

    Is it just me or do they always look like this against the Sabres. They just seem to be one of those teams Habs have a difficult time handling, regardless of the difference in talent

  • Miki says

    I have to agree and disagree with you Brian. Agree they did not look like a playoff team tonight. However, since they started getting decent goaltending they have looked like a playoff team. Even when they were losing they looked pretty good except they had the one of the worst goaltenders in the league statistically. When Price finds his game and/or Lindgren keeps this up then the goaltending will be fine and they can make the playoffs.

  • Bill Shahidi says

    I wouldn’t go so far as to say Habs aren’t a playoff team but they’re not a top cup contender until Bergevin uses that cap space for a top 4 defenseman & maybe a #2 centre.

  • Scott Murray says

    It was an amazing OT effort by the captain and full marks to him there. But I agree with you Brian that this team is – at best – a playoff “cusp” team the way they are playing. Better D-men desperately needed or Weber will wilt.

    • Brian Wilde says

      That’s how I see it. They were 15 last year in offence. They’re essentially still that. They were 4 in defence. They’re not appearing to be a 4 this year. We shall see.

  • Cj Angel says

    Absolutely! Well said. I feel they will just miss the playoffs but keep us hanging on ‘till the end.

    I’m prepared now to look forward to the future. There’s a lot to like about the future. Building a team is also fun to watch!

    Thanks Brian!

  • Sam Ghilarducci says

    This was definitely a poor showing. It makes up for the early season losses when we deserved a better faith.
    It’s a long season…things even out.

  • steven lawrusik says

    Agree totally, this doesn’t look like a playoff team. Defense looks way too weak to be able to support the forwards, forwards look too weak to score consistently to win regularly. Only hope really is to have a goalie allow 2 goals or less every game.

    • Brian Wilde says

      I think the offenss is very similar to last year. 15th. But the Defense that carried them to the playoffs by being 4th cannot be 4th in its present form.