Phew! The Habs needed that one.
Big win last night. Good effort all around by the team. Kostitsyn maybe should play every other game, and then he'll score 40 goals.
Habs carried the play and really this one shouldn't have been close. If not for the usual strong play by Cam Ward, and a few bad bounces and sloppy plays by the Canadiens' rearguards (esp Hamrlik), the Habs wouldn't have had to go down to the wire to collect a 3-2 win in Raleigh last night.
Habs got goals from whom should be doing the scoring: Gomez and Kostitsyn. The Canadiens have won every game when either scores, except once ... which says a lot. These guys score, chances are the team wins. That's how important they are to the team's success.
I really do think Kostitsyn needs to play out the season on the Plekanec line as his goal imput is sorely needed. He shouldn't be scapegoated, there's other goats on this team. Voila, back in the lineup and he scores. Plekanec, who hasn't been at his best either lately, also had a strong all-around game and was the best player on either team last night.
Important for the Habs to take a win to the break to regroup. Right now they look a bit shaky confidence-wise. Josh Gorges is definitely not 100%. But I liked the way the team seemed last night, loose and not uptight. They asserted themselves right from the get-go. Even Martin was laughing and smiling on the bench (when they were down 2-1, no less). I like that he was setting the tone for the Habs to stay cool, calm and collected. No reason to panic, they know they're the better team, just have to go out and prove it, which they did.
Now the Habs rest for a few days before taking on the Islanders in Uniondale on Boxing Day. Hopefully they ease up on the turkey and turn in another solid performance.
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