Jim Fox blogs from Montreal, Part Deux

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Editor’s note: The Kings aren’t televising the first two games of their current trip, so we’ve put FSWest TV analyst Jim Fox to work. He agreed to share his thoughts and insights on today’s game in Montreal and Tuesday’s game in Ottawa, the city where he played junior hockey. This is his second post of the day. To see his first post, click here.

MONTREAL -- The biggest news surrounding the Canadiens is the recent play of goaltender Carey Price. In his last three games he has allowed four goals to New Jersey and five to both Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The only job in sports that has more pressure than a Montreal Canadiens goaltender is coach of the Canadiens.

Coverage of the team is nonstop with many of the newspapers taking on a European-style tabloid format. Fun for the readers, not too much fun for the players and their families. To say that Mr. Price is being ‘crucified’ in the media might be an understatement.

I bumped into Kyle Quincey’s family at the hotel before the game. So many of the players have family or friends attending the Kings games in Montreal and Ottawa. By the way, another part of the Canadiens’ history -- and it’s everywhere you turn--the hotel the Kings are staying at is owned by former Hab and Hall of Famer Serge Savard.

Due to the Kings’ inability to practice yesterday or have a morning skate because of the afternoon start, all Kings players participated in warmup. I don’t mean to bring up bad memories, but I ran into Jacques Demers in the press lounge before the game. I chatted with him for a while. I didn’t bring up the ‘93 playoff series.

I think just for fun the Kings should have asked for a stick measurement after the first shift of today’s game.

There was a little more L.A. flavor here in Montreal in the pregame video board presentation. It started with an inspirational quote from Phil Jackson -- not hockey, but basketball will do -- and it was followed up with a slide show of Habs fans taking pictures in their Canadiens jerseys/hats etc. at various landmarks around the world (Stonehenge/Radio City Music Hall/bridge in Sydney, Australia).

First period
Kings Lines-Defense Pairs

O’Sullivan-Kopitar-Frolov
Calder-Stoll-Brown
Richardson-Handzus-Simmonds
Ivanans-Armstrong-Harrold
O’Donnell-Doughty
Johnson-Greene
Quincey-Gauthier

Montreal Lines/Defense Pairs
Begin-Lang-Kovalev
Pacioretti-Koivu-DAgostini
A. Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Latendresses
Higgins-Lapierre-Kostopoulos
Bouillon-Brisebois

Last season Montreal’s power play was first. Coming in to today’s game they are 24th, a huge drop-off. In the long run it might be a positive. Entering the playoffs, when a team has been dominant in one area, it can work against it. Many teams are able to control things better in a playoff series. Last year in the playoffs the Canadiens struggled in that area and since they ‘hung their hat’ on the PP success they weren’t as effective. Sometimes it’s better to be strong in all areas as opposed to dominant in a few, especially in the playoffs.

The Kings dressed seven defensemen with Peter Harrold expected to see time up front.... It took exactly 15 seconds for the fans to start the ‘GO Habs GO’ chant ... Derek Armstrong with a deflection ... under video review ... video room in Toronto with a long review ... from my view on TV replays, it will be called back ... looked like stick was a least a foot above the crossbar ... looked like Armstrong knew it would be called back ... it was.

No doubt we are in Montreal: The fans react to every time a Montreal player goes down and they can do no harm ... 1-0 Kings ... PP goal Michal Handzus.... After numerous passes around the boards, the rebound was there with the six-by-four waiting for Handzus.... Patience is so important ... the Kings are certainly taking every opportunity to shoot and it pays off with rebounds.... Shots: Kings 8, Montreal 2.

The Kings have already had three outnumbered attacks in the first five minutes ... Montreal is wide open defensively to start ... Armstrong-Harrold-Raitis Ivanans with two good chances ... Montreal is not slowing down the Kings in the neutral zone.... Speed kills and at the start all the speed is with the Kings.

Coach Terry Murray is matching Handzus vs. Robert Lang when he can.... To start, Montreal is not trying to get away from that matchup ... Murray is using the fourth line centered by Armstrong often early.... The most physical players early on: Wayne Simmonds and Mike Komisarek.... First scrap: Simmonds and Max Pacioretty. Simmonds started and ended with an all-out assault ... rights and lefts ... I score it a 10-8 round for Simmonds.

It’s 1-1 ... Tomas Plekanec with a rebound after a couple of whacks at it.... Initial shot high off shoulder of Jonathan Quick ... Quick tried to reach out and corral rebound ... it ended up behind him and he did not know where the puck was ... seems like every goal is scored on rebounds nowadays.... Tough to beat today’s goalies with the first shot.

The goal has definitely awakened the Habs ... much better pressure on forecheck.... The best save for Price comes on a deflection, Drew Doughty to Harrold.... A lot of ice in the first for Harrold. Versatility will get you ice ... Doughty seems to be improving in one of his few areas of weakness -- getting shots through from the point.... Price made the initial save but lost the puck for a second but found before the Kings could.

Price has been struggling of late. He’s a big presence in goal with solid butterfly fundamentals. Unfortunately for him, no matter what he does in the regular season doesn’t matter. He was great in the regular season last year and struggled in the playoffs. Did the pressure get to him? Can he control it this year? Big questions to be answered in ‘la Belle Province.’

Power play No. 2. Trouble on entry ... that has been a concern on the PP all year.... Once teams scout your breakouts, you have to be able to make adjustments on the fly. It has gotten better of late, but it is an area you always have to work on and be prepared to make changes to add variety.

Good first period for the Kings. They started well. Montreal came on for a five- to six-minute period. It was noticeable how much the Kings used the fourth line. Armstong/Harrold/Ivanans certainly had a positive impact on the first, more than normal or at any time this year.

I sat with injured Kings winger Oscar Moller during first period. He says he has been given the green light to participate with contact in practices. He has been skating for a while but was left out of contact due to a fracture in his shoulder. I asked him if playing in his first game in Montreal would have had a special feeling. Without hesitation he answered, ‘Oh ya!’

He said, ‘You can feel the difference.’ Playing in Montreal against the Canadiens is special for many players from all over the world.

I just received the ice times from period number one ... Harrold played 3:59, Armstrong 2:56 and Ivanans 3:09 ... nowhere near the top forwards, but they made it look like they were out there all period long.

-- Jim Fox

Jim Fox is in his 19th season as the Kings’ TV color analyst on FS West. He spent his entire 10-year NHL career with the Kings, and at the start of this season ranked eighth on the club’s scoring list, eighth in assists and ninth in goals. He has also been the Kings’ director of community relations. He lives in Redondo Beach with his wife, Susie.