Oct 18 Montreal Canadiens Win Over Phoenix Coyotes But Lose AK-46?

The Montreal Canadiens proved tonight that they would not back down from anyone, would accept all challenges, and would always attempt to overcome their trials and tribulations. The only problem is that although the addition of Georges Laraque was supposed to deter opponents from taking advantage of the Canadiens' star players, the word, apparently, hadn't spread to Phoenix until tonight. 

The Canadiens, who scored early and often went on to win the contest 4-1 but as of this article's posting, word had not been given as to the extent of Andréi Kostitsyn's health after a nasty hit that laid him out on the ice lifeless for a while after he was elbowed in the head by the Coyotes' Kurt Sauer.

Montreal would get on the board with the Koivu line connected in the early goings of the 1st period and then again at the halfway point to put the Habs in the lead for good. Alex Tanguay would end the game with 2 goals and an assist and line-mate  Saku Koivu would tally a goal and an assist while Robert Lang would top off the scoring with a nifty goal of his own, keeping his line on the score board.

The line consisting of Koivu, Tanguay and Latendresse amassed a total of 6 points on the night, leads the team in points, also earned the night's three stars, respectively.

Carey Price was very good, making 28 saves and his shutôut bid was ruined in the 3rd by none other than his cousin and Coyote's captain Shane Doan.

A line that hasn't necessarily been on fire of late is the Kovalev, A. Kostitsyn and Tomas Plekanec line. On this night, they would be getting alot of air time, but for the wrong reasons. Kovalev's stick in the face in the second period that sent him sprawling to the ice, could almost be written off as accidental as it is unclear if it is Ryan O'byrne's stick that guided the Phoenix player's stick violently across Kovalev's face, but the vicious hit on AK-46 by Kurt Sauer was something that will have to be reviewed.

Although all announcers on all channels of all languages vouched for Sauer's character, saying he was not that kind of player, this is neither comforting to the Montreal Canadiens nor relevant. The fact is that Sauer intentionally ploughed into Kostitsyn's head with his elbow and although Andrei should have been paying a little more attention to the play rather than his pass, he was surely not expecting that ! Kostitsyn's head was first hit by Sauer's elbow, then the glass, which must have knocked him out, since he fell lifeless to the ice and his face stayed firmly planted into the ice until he was helped up by the medical staff. Kostitsyn skated off on his own instead of opting for the stretcher that was wheeled onto the ice, but we will only know the full extent of his situation after he passes thorough tests tomorrow. I'm going out on a limb and calling it now: definitely a concussion. Let's hope he can recover and continue on what looks like a promising career.

George Laraque did what he had to do, and it looks like he will be kept really busy this season, until teams realize the Habs are for real and should be respected, both as a scoring threat and as a team that will take care of its own. Among the players involved in skirmishes tonight were Sergei Kostitsyn, seeking to avenge his brother's demise, George Laraque with many a Coyote player, Mike Komisarek and Tom Kostopoulos also mixed it up with Kurt Sauer, who initially refused to go with big George.

Here's hoping that :

- Andrei is OK and can come back to help his line to revert back to its scoring ways of last year,

- George Laraque will not have to prove on every night why he was brought to Montreal,

- That Montreal will continue their winning streak ( tonight was their 4th after the overtime loss to Buffalo)

- That depending on your feelings for Chris Higgins, Jaroslav Halak and Marian Gaborik, that the rumoured deal does or doesn't happen.

pics from habsinsideout.com

Tags: canadiens \ coyotes \ montreal \ over \ phoenix \ win