You Make the Call - Babchuk or Kaberle?
by Bob Wage on May 13, 2009 10:59 AM EDT
21 comments
Anton Babchuk is getting a lot of flak this morning because of his inconsistent play in this series as well as for his mistakes last night. Luke DeCock does a good job of throwing the youngster under the bus in this article, almost poking fun at him while never mentioning that Nic Wallin's miscue, when he pinched and then allowed the puck to get past him, put Babchuk in the precarious situation he was in when the defenseman ended up taking Cam Ward out of the play for the Bruins first goal.
There are certainly several players you could point to, who need to ramp up their games if the Canes are to move forward in these playoffs, but Babchuk has been a "nervous nellie" with the puck, and inconsistent without it. Many are calling for Frantisek Kaberle to come off the sidelines to take his place. Although he is a veteran, Kaberle has yet to play a single game in this series. There are certainly no guarantees when he has the puck.
I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, I prefer to win or lose with the players "who got you there". Babchuk scored some huge goals for this club down the stretch, but there is no denying that he has been a liability lately in his own end and shaky with the puck on offense. Kaberle has never been the same since his shoulder operation, but his veteran presence and experience in previous game 7's may better serve the team right now.
You are Paul Maurice for the day and you make the call. Who do you play in game seven?
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Babchuk still possesses a threatening weapon on the PP. I think you stick with him.
by Cory Lavalette on May 13, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions
The only problem I see with that argument for Babchuck is how many PP chances do you really expect the Canes to get on Thursday?
by Iggy Reilly on May 13, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
yes, people are reacting way to quickly, i don’t think people realized it, but last game it really seemed like one of boston adjustments was to bring their wingers down low to snuff out any movement and passes from our forwards.
this left our points relatively open, i guess because boston has lost respect for our defense scoring, but if we could get a quick pass up there and the D a shot on net, that gives us a chance to score, especially babchuk – or if we do get it on goal, a rebound, as we got from samsonov’s goal last night.
kaberle brings nothing – while babchuk did make a bad play and pushed ward out of the play, wallin made the more egregious error.
finally, no one seemed to make the point that right before recchi scored the opener, jussi was hooked down behind the boston goal, but versus showed no replay and ofcourse no call was provided.
I did notice the no-call on the Jussi takedown. I think he was legitimately hooked … part of the problem is he’s gone down too easily a few times this postseason and I think the refs have noticed.
by Cory Lavalette on May 13, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
The officials seemed to have the attitude that they weren’t gonna call much last night either. I prefer that method of officiating definitely.
by Iggy Reilly on May 13, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
No, but I didn’t forget Babchuck either. Last night was not an isolated incident.
Basically this is all coming back to what we were all saying last off season.
Defensive depth is an issue with this team.
by Iggy Reilly on May 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
It won’t matter if they play Babchuck, or Kaberle, or if Sean Hill comes back to play one game…. it won’t matter…. it takes more than one guy to win a game… and it takes more than one guy to throw a series away….
The fact is that our team had the Bruins down…. foot on their throat…. and then our guys let them get up…. If you give the bruins an inch they will take a yard…. and now they have taken leaps and miles and all we have on our side to show for it is amazement and confusion….
I am amazed and confused beyond all comprehension as to how in the world we could have the Bruins…. a team who had their way with us during the regular season…. in an all out choke hold…. only to find ourselves the ones about to choke….
I’m not saying it can’t be done…. but if we lose game 7…. let it be known that we lost the series in game 5……
Go ’Canes!
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 13, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
Way off topic…. but for what it’s worth…. PK was named by SI as one of the Leagues 5 best owners: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/hockey/nhl/05/08/nhl.owners/index.html
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 13, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions
Gotta go with Frankie
As much as Babchuck scored some big goals, he didn’t do it against the #1 team in the east and right now we need defending defensemen, not guys who stare like deer in headlights. Kaberle hasn’t had the best of years, but he is playoff experienced. Babchuck is frankly freaking out.
What about Corvo's play?
I like Babchuk, even though he made a bad play on that first goal.
The play of the game that realy upset me the most was when the Bruins scored their (3rd or 4th?) goal.
Corvo, basically backed up when the Boston player got the puck along the side boards. He just stood their as the Bruin looked for a pass to the goal, he have him all the time in the world to figure out where to pass it. To me that was our worst defensive play of the game. On the other hand, I do like the way Corvo moves with the puck, just wish he’d play defense.
He was caught flat footed more than once in that game. Mostly on the wing near the blue line.
It is kind of pointless to try and single anyone out for bad play. Singling out the good ones would take far less time.
hehe
which is why I am in no way pessimistic about tomorrow’s game.
The ’Canes were in the game but put themselves too far behind the 8-ball.
Imagine if you will, the ’Canes being able (read: Cam Ward) to stop those 2 errant goals in the first 5 minutes.
I expect that the ‘Canes will not be the team we saw Sunday or Tuesday. Last Friday’s team is what I’m looking at.
Knowledge is Power!
Power Corrupts!
Study hard,
Become Evil!
BUT…. On the other hand…. I saw Corvo make several good plays to keep the puck in the offensive zone….. So he hasn’t been all bad….
by Mateos_Canes_Lamp on May 13, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Wasn’t realy trying to pick on Corvo, just that one play was horrible, and it wasn’t like he was caught flat footed, he backed up, I guess to protect the area around the goal.
Having watched this team all year, from where they started to where they are now, it would not surprise me if they come up big tommorrow night and win. On the other hand it wouldn’t surprise me to see them lose as well.
by CanesFanFromLI on May 13, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
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