Winter Classic Big Success

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With over 71,000 fans packing in to the home of the Buffalo Bills and higher American television ratings then the National Hockey League has seen in 10 years, the Winter Classic can safely be called a success. Throw in a light snowfall and a shootout goal for league poster boy Sidney Crosby and you’ve got the ultimate late Christmas gift for Gary Bettman.

I only caught the highlights but it was quite a scene - huge crowds, snow on the ice and Sid the Kid dancing around the ice, scoring goals and making plays. There is a good chance that this success will lead to the outdoor game becoming an annual event - lots of speculation at this point, nothing solid.

Buffalo 5 - Washington 3

Oleg Kolzig and the Caps put up a valient effort but the Buffalo Sabres were able to score with five minutes remaining in the third to take a 4-3 lead over Washington before adding an empty netter to seal the deal.

The Sabres have won their last two and are 6-4-0 in their last 10 while the Capitals are 5-4-1.

Buffalo 3 - Montreal 0

The second game of the home-and-home series taking place between Montreal and Buffalo opened up at a wicked pace at the Bell Centre today! The Habs looked much stronger than they did on Friday and they went on several very high-action rushes early in the first. Jocelyn Thibeault looked sharp in the early minutes, replacing Ryan Miller in the net for the Sabres. Christobal Huet took over from Carey Price in minding the net for the Canadiens and he looked just as sharp, making several key saves through the first half of the first period. Each team enjoyed a one-man advantage with no results and a very hectic first period ended with no score.

Spacek and Vanek quickly combined to give the Sabres a 2-0 lead at the end of the first despite the Canadiens continued efforts. Jocelyn Thibeault made a few key saves on good Hab rushes and the Buffalo defense did a good job of making sure rebounds were cleared as quickly as possible.

More of the same through the third period. The Habs pulled Huet late in the period only to have Hecht throw the puck down the ice from the Sabres zone, rolling the puck just into the net of Christobal Huet. That put the Sabres up 3-0 and that’s where it ended only a minute later.

My Thoughts

I have to say, it frustrates me to see the Habs come out so strong tonight after simply coasting around the rink in Buffalo last night. I think that if the Canadiens gave it their all every time the puck dropped they’d be a very difficult team to beat. Everyone worked hard tonight; Higgins worked the corners, Ryder delivered a few key hits, Huet stood solidly between the pipes and Koivu weaved his magic. Steve Begin has kept up his rapid pace since netting a pair of goals the other night. Despite the fact that Thibeault and a strong Sabres team stole the show, the Canadiens looked more with it tonight.

What Went Wrong?

We looked a bit weak on the faceoffs and a more aggressive defense would have limited Buffalo’s chances in close, but overall the Habs played a fairly solid game. Thibeault made a few saves that should have been goals and that really was that.

The Canadiens lost all four possible points to Buffalo during their home-and-home; that translate to 8 divisional points between the two.

Buffalo 4 - Montreal 2

The Buffalo Sabres came out strong against the Habs tonight and the Canadiens looked a little sleepy through the first half of the game – with the notable exception of Carey Price. Ryan Miller was in net for the Sabres and he looked to be at the top of his game throughout.

Derek Roy opened the scoring 9 minutes into the first and Tim Connolly added another to put Buffalo up by two going into the second, clearly dominating the first 20 minutes of the game.

The second period saw Chris Higgins net a powerplay goal to tie it and the Canadiens seemed to be waking up a bit towards the end of the period.

Plekanec scored with an excellent deke move in Miller’s crease on a breakaway, tying the game for Montreal. A few scoring chances presented themselves on the powerplay for the Habs following that goal but they weren’t able to put any pucks home. The Sabres went on the powerplay a few minutes later and, after the Habs looked to be in total control for the first half of the penalty kill, a mad scramble in front of Carey Price ended with Vanek batting one in the net.

My Thoughts

The Habs were slow. They were too slow on the faceoff, they were very late in getting to lose pucks – Derek Roy forced three icing calls to be waved off alone as he beat Markov and company to cleared pucks. I get the distinct impression watching the Canadiens play sometimes that they simply are not all there. Here’s hoping for better back home against the Sabres tomorrow night.

What Went Wrong?

Well, I’ve already mentioned the lack of speed and sense urgency. Price played well but Miller played better – a clinching point in a tight game like this. The Habs need to speed things up and play to win, especially coming into a game against the Sabres – they’ve proven over their past 10 games that they are looking to win. Huet will get the start tomorrow night coming off of his convincing win against the Islanders on Wednesday night so hopefully he stays solid and inspires the Habs’ skaters to greater things on Saturday!

Montreal 4 - Buffalo 2

The Game

Christopher Higgins netted a pair of goals in the third period including one on an empty net to help lead the Habs to a much-needed victory tonight. Bryan Smolinski opened the scoring for Montreal early in the first and the Canadiens finished with a strong first period showing to maintain the lead. The second period saw successive Buffalo goals only 9 seconds apart before Kyle Chipchura was able to bring the Habs to a 2-2 tie going into the third. And, as mentioned above, young Chris Higgins took it upon himself to shine, scoring first on a Montreal 2-man advantage and dumping the puck into an empty Sabre net with 25 seconds left in the game. While the Habs’ main line was quiet save for Higgins’ third period burst, Roman Hamrlik added a hat trick of assists and the Montreal Canadiens looked more like a full team tonight then they have yet this season.

My Thoughts

Honestly, the Sabres bore me and I was hoping for a Carey Price start tonight so I was more than biased before the game even started. It was fantastic to see the Habs putting in a team effort and Huet (save for the scare he gave me with those goals in the second) was fairly steady in net.

What Went Right?

Although we’ve yet to make our way out of October, the Habs were in danger of digging themselves a divisional hole that they may not have been able to get out of. While a loss tonight wouldn’t have exactly ended their season, the time to pick up the game and earn some points is very quickly upon them. A strong team effort tonight made a world of difference. Instead of being outshot (as has been the Habs’ tendency of late) the entire team created quality scoring chances again and again, and four of them paid off. So long as Higgins, Ryder and Koivu continue to receive all-star games from players such as Roman Hamrlik (3 assists tonight), the Canadiens’ game will look much better as a result.