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McLean’s Pub Call of the Wilde: Wild 3, Refs 2, Habs 0

November 9, 2017

By Brian Wilde

Wilde Horses

– Many of you really feel as if the coaching staff missed a chance to have Galchenyuk at center with Drouin’s absence but he was left on the wing. How can you complain though about that when he had a dominating game? It seemed like he was firing bullets all night. I obviously can’t know how he would have played if we were at center but Galchenyuk was the best forward so there’s no higher place to go than ‘the best player’.  He had 5 shots after two periods.

– Paul Byron seemed tireless in this one. The wheels were moving and he was cycling well which always kind of surprises me because he’s so small. Byron is one of the best puck battlers on the team. Time and time again I am reminded winning puck battles isn’t just about size. Mike McCarron is not a good puck battler. Shaw, Gallagher and Byron are. Size matters, sure, but it’s not always in the ways you would think.

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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

  • Bill Shahidi says

    Mete will return to London and play in the WJHC when Schlemko returns barring more injuries. The only reason I kept pushing for Galchenyuk to play centre was the lack of options and he seems to be more effective offensively. But with the addition of Drouin, Danault’s inexplicable chemistry with Pacioretty, and the likes of Poehling, Evans, de la Rose, McCarron in the organization. I’m fine with Chucky on the wing if it means he can concentrate more on scoring.

  • jason barbosa says

    I don’t understand the lack of ice time for mete either. If there d are healthy it seems highly likely he will be joining Canada for wjs, which wouldn’t be the worst thing.

  • Debbie Seida says

    Mete deserves more ice time. Yes he’s made some mistakes, and he’ll learn from them as young players should.

  • Robert Thomson says

    I don’t understand the Mete situation. He’s been better than both Benn and Petry. I could see if he was coughing up the puck or looking like a pylon but that just hasn’t been the case. He’s a kid he’s going to make mistakes but I don’t feel enough to warrant his reduced ice time.

  • Chris Loreto says

    Mete is just another example of how the Habs will trust any vet over youth. If Benn or Petry were rookies, they would be benched for the mistakes they made tonight and every night.
    Montreal has never had a history of trusting its youth.

  • Scott Murray says

    I liked Mete better than JJ. Tough to win missing all that leadership. Big holes not easily filled. They showed character all the same.

  • Darren Dembicki says

    Benn is Benn but Petry has reverted to his previous Oiler form. Saw it in game one vs Sabres when he decided to puck watch on the first goal. It continues now. Exactly what got him run out of Edmonton. Bonehead play after bonehead play. Getting walked by Bellemare, horrible pinch tonight. Every game it’s the same. If you look at the dollars, Benn is bottom pair and Petry is being paid top 3 value. Ouch. I’d play Mete over both.

    Oh yeah, the refs changed the outcome of this game. I have no problem saying that.

  • Alex Laberge says

    This team needs wins and this game was one they should’ve had. Bad ref calls & missing key guys didn’t help but you’re playing at home, rested while MIN second game in two nights & not playing great hockey. When will MB make a move to help his team? Holding out for a home run? He might end up doing a desperate trade to try & save his job. I mean, if Habs don’t make the playoffs, he’s losing his job, right?

  • Paul Crites says

    Totally agree Brian. If they’re not going to give Mete more minutes in a game where they’re missing Weber and are desperate for offence…when will they?
    I do think the limited ice-time is having an effect on Mete…he used to skate the puck out of the zone using his speed/creativity…now he does the rim much more often. He’s afraid to make a mistake.

  • Jennifer LaPoint says

    Mete is easily our second best defenseman right now, so the lack of minutes is unjustified. Morrow is gaining ground which is good to see and hope he keeps that trend. And if this elusive Schlemko ever makes an appearance and lives up to expectations (who knows as he’s barely even practiced yet let alone played) then maybe Mete playing less is an option, but right now it shouldn’t be.

  • Kenneth Geauvreau says

    I see that Mete at times loses some battles deep because of strength. He’s not even close to having that “man strength” yet. He’s a teenager so it’s totally understandable, but his positioning and skating ability have allowed him to get out of trouble and make winning puck battles sometimes look easy. This is the type of defensemen he will most likely be in the NHL. Good example is an hour away in Ottawa; Karlsson wins the puck and makes plays with his passing, positioning and skating abilities while not being the most physical. I’m not saying Mete is the next Karlsson, but he comes from a similar mold and plays a similar game.

    I understand the coaching staff is under pressure to make the playoffs and every point is precious but there is no one in the D lineup that can make an outlet pass like him. He sent Pacioretty on a semi-break in the first through a couple Wild players. This a skill that is needed and therefore he should be playing minimum 15min a night or I think it will hurt his development. Confidence is everything with developing young players and if he’s only going to play 8-10min a night, then it’s better he play in London for 25-30min a night and really work on his game.

    Habs are in a tight spot. They need Mete’s skill, skating and vision on the back-end. He’s played really good for them; at times better than some regulars but they don’t want him to get exploited to the point where he loses confidence. So they limit his minutes and I think this is wrong. Give him the time he deserves and it will make the team better now and in the long run. If the Habs will be paranoid, then let him go back to London and come in next year with utmost confidence.

    This is part Bergevin’s fault. That 9mil player named “cap space” is not helping this team win games and really the Habs need a #2-3D which is putting Julien in a tough spot with Mete’s usage. If that were Markov (as the #2D), I think fans would be happy but now MB needs to make a move and I’m suggesting Tyson Barrie from COL. I would move a 2nd pick with McCarron for him. This would reverberate through the lineup. Mete as well as the whole D corps (pointing at Shea) would be better managed, the PP would be better and 5 on 5 play would improve with a legit NHL 26yr old #2-3 puck moving D. He has a $5mil cap hit for 4 more seasons and has 14pts this season with the Avalanche! That’s 1st on the Habs right now.