Canadiens Demolish Coyotes
The Coyotes now can figure out where they stand in the NHL pecking order. Even though they are new and possibly improved, there are other teams with another gear that they have to acquire. In a team-by-team comparison between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens, the Canadiens are clearly ready now to make a run for the Stanley Cup as they are that good.
However, the Coyotes have a long way to go – even to making the playoffs.
When a young team wins their first two games in the fashion that they did, they might think they are kings ready to dominate the NHL. But the highs were too high and it’s important not to let the lows get too low.
I referenced a book earlier called The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL. That book clearly explained the events that took place on the ice last night.
Coyotes’ Defenseman Kurt Sauer hit Canadiens forward Andrei Kostitsyn high which briefly knocked him out and he landed on the ice. Kostitsyn had to be carried off the ice.
The angle that the CBC feed offered didn’t show a clear indication to me about whether or not the hit was too high, illegal, and so on. The officials didn’t get a clear look at it either as no penalty was called. Just like the Coyotes would do if one of our best players were knocked out in that fashion, the Canadiens wanted Sauer to pay for his transgression.
From the book’s analysis, Sauer needed to answer the bell. It could have been Fedoruk, but it’s better if Sauer would be the one to address the issue. And until he did, the game became very physical and very chippy, very quickly.
The subtle negotiations that took place on the ice probably was setting up a proper opponent for Sauer. Sauer more than likely wanted to fight anyone but Laraque. So, when this altercation occured in the second, a fight where he held his own, the physical play tapered a bit.
When Enver Lisin’s stick accidentally caught a Canadiens’ player in the face, accidentally because he was being forceably checked at the time (and yes, all players should control their sticks at all times – the penalty should have been called), the physical play was ratcheted up once again. As a result of the non-call, Canadiens’ head coach Guy Carboneau double-shifted Laraque to the fan’s delight. After Todd Fedoruk and Georges Laraque settled the score, the third period went back to “normal.”
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If Sauer didn’t fight, and if Fedoruk vs. Laraque did not happen, the result on the ice would have been very dangerous. My only disappointment is that when Georges Laraque was here with Phoenix, he did not protect the players in the same fashion as he did with the Canadiens. True, there are more reasons for him to be more passionate playing for a team that he grew up watching as he is from Montreal, but it’s too bad the situation didn’t work out for him here.
The Canadiens are a fantastic team right now, and they have the swagger to show for it. I hope Kostitsyn is going to be okay as he took a nasty spill. When he didn’t move, I was pretty concerned. Hopefully, he’ll join the team very soon.
As for the Coyotes, they have plenty to work on as I’m sure the plane ride back to the Valley was not a pleasant one. On Thursday, they face another skilled team in the Washington Capitals at home. It certainly does not get any easier.
From the virtual community, here is what everyone is saying:
From the Montreal Gazette: Slugfest follows hit on A.k.
From the Canadien Press: Tanguay Scores Twice as Montreal Canadiens Win Fourth Straight Game
From the CBC: Canadiens Manhandle Slumping Coyotes
From AP: Tanguay, Koivu Lead Habs to 4-1 Win over Coyotes
From Eyes on the Prize: Kostitsyn Hit Anything But Legal
