Kovalev a tale of black and white

McKenzie: Kovalev a tale of black and white (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=80066&hubName=nhl)

It almost doesn't matter - because Montreal coach Claude Julien and Souray - the man who bumped into Kovalev - basically pointed at the newest Canadien and said whether it's a penalty or not, he should have kept playing and he didn't.

The blame for this one - at least from the dressing room - is being pointed right at Alexei Kovalev.

Alex giveth and he taketh away. Same old same old.

Alex giveth and he taketh away. Same old same old.


Pathetic display by Julian and Souray. If it wern´t for Kovalev that series would have been over and besides you win as a team and lose as a team you dont point fingers like that specially as I stated against a player who was by far your best out there that night.

MTL got what they deserved in that game.

1. Ribeiro flopping around the ice was an embarrasment because it goes against everything hockey is about.

2. Kovalev looked like he faked it, it was more of a light poke in the glove, and he acted like someone sawed off his arm. Even if someone did saw off his arm, it's double overtime in a HUGE playoff game, so play the puck, and be a man.

I'm so glad he's gone, this year I have really come to realize what a selfish player he is. He's not the type of player you want to build a team with. I don't care if he is arguably the most talented player in hockey.

If it wern´t for Kovalev that series would have been over.

And ironically, because of Kovalev, the series is probably over.

You can tell he's an ex-Ranger because his first instinct is to make excuses about officiating instead of taking responsibility for his gaffe. Alex is the problem here, not Julian and Souray.

I just stopped in to check out the Habs board.... it seems like their all blaming the Referees for that game.

I rooted for them all game, but with the crap they pulled they deserved the loss.

I just stopped in to check out the Habs board.... it seems like their all blaming the Referees for that game.

The officiating was ridiculous. Nothing was called. NOTHING. I, therefore, wasn't surprised that a slash wasn't called. The question is, why was Alex?

The officiating was ridiculous. Nothing was called. NOTHING. I, therefore, wasn't surprised that a slash wasn't called. The question is, why was Alex?

Alex had to make the play, you cant just give up..... with that said the refs didn't lose this game: The Habs did.

The officiating was ridiculous. Nothing was called. NOTHING. I, therefore, wasn't surprised that a slash wasn't called. The question is, why was Alex?

I'm all about letting the game go on in playoff OT but that game was out of hand. The B's defenseman looked like pro wrestlers out there. Koivu was body slammed twice. The refs were ridiculous.

As for Kovalev, NO ONE KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT HURT!!! I dont either. But it is concievable that Kovy really got stung hard with that SLASH. He got slashed hard with the blade of the stick right where the glove ends and the wrist begins. That might have stung so bad that he didn't overreact. I'm sure Kovy isn't so stupid that he would have tried to draw a penalty with refs out there that weren't called obvious holds, roughings, slashes, ect. That was not Kovy's fault, he got what looked like a light slash on a part of the body that hurts the most.

As for the game, one of the best games of hockey I've ever seen. Kovy didn't loose that game, RAYCROFF WON IT. Alex pulled off one brilliant move after another non stop. Raycroff won that game. If anyone lost the game for the canadians it was Rivet when he didn't clear it well on Boston's 3rd goal. Dowd won the face, but Rivet just shanked the clear.

Kovalev has been know throughout his career as a diver, in fact I think he warned about it during the '95 (?) playoffs?

I think the point about him is that you keep playing until the whistle blows. If you're hurt, get off the ice, don't run into your player. Hocke players are tough guys, I've seen worse slashes, and players keep playing.

Kovy made a mental (yet again) mistake that cost his team the game, and erased all the hard work and effort he might have contributed earlier in the game.

As for Kovalev, NO ONE KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT HURT!!! I dont either. But it is concievable that Kovy really got stung hard with that SLASH. He got slashed hard with the blade of the stick right where the glove ends and the wrist begins. That might have stung so bad that he didn't overreact. I'm sure Kovy isn't so stupid that he would have tried to draw a penalty with refs out there that weren't called obvious holds, roughings, slashes, ect. That was not Kovy's fault, he got what looked like a light slash on a part of the body that hurts the most.


For arguments sake let's say it broke his wrist. You MUST PLAY THE PUCK. You CANNOT just skate away, and bump into your own player on top of it.

Did you see the replay? Maybe it stung his wrist beyond all belief, but you CANNOT give up on a play in double overtime of a playoff game. That was ridiculous.

Are you really sure that he isn't that stupid? I'm not.

As for Kovalev, NO ONE KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT HURT!!!

Hey, welcome to the NHL freakin' playoffs. Guess what. They hurt.

I'm sure getting your ankle broken by a shot hurts a ton too. When it happened to Ted Donato earlier in this series though, the guy finished his shift. Some players gut it out, some don't.

Hey, welcome to the NHL freakin' playoffs. Guess what. They hurt.

I'm sure getting your ankle broken by a shot hurts a ton too. When it happened to Ted Donato earlier in this series though, the guy finished his shift. Some players gut it out, some don't.

Exactly. Play the puck and then get off the ice. Alex has done this to himself. After years of diving, he does not get the benefit of the doubt. And he certainly is not going to in Double OT of the playoffs.

I love Alex but if you can shake your wrist (which he did after the slash), you can at least kick the puck and skate off for a change.

This, however, was NOT his problem with New York. The guy I saw play last night was the Kovalev who played for Pitt.
Created more scoring chances for himself and his linemates than he did in 15 games for us.

Whether it hurt or not is besides the point.

The fact is that Kovalev went the easy route and tried to end the play by effectively "diving" to draw a penalty.

Alex is skilled enough to have played the puck with his other hand/arm and at least get it to a teammate. Instead he decided to cry wolf. Too bad we'll never know if there was actually a wolf.

Hey, welcome to the NHL freakin' playoffs. Guess what. They hurt.

I'm sure getting your ankle broken by a shot hurts a ton too. When it happened to Ted Donato earlier in this series though, the guy finished his shift. Some players gut it out, some don't.


Yea I was hoping for us to resign Donato this past offseason. He has heart, more than Kovalev. He is good on the PK and would prolly help us. Oh well. I thought Donato was a good role player when he played with the Rangers and helped out the young guys, and he never complained when he got sent to minors. Teams need players like him, now I can see why he played with alot of teams, teams like his heart. He may not be the best skilled player in the world, but his heart and grit make up for it. :yo: good luck donato in the playoffs.

Is anyone actually surprised by this?

Kovalev is an enormously talented player, but he's a meathead. He always has been a meathead, and always will be a meathead.

I mean seriously, suppose you hadn't seen any playoff games last night, but had that play described to you, and then had to guess which player was guilty of such idiocy?

If you deny that the name Alexei Kovalev would have been one of the first to jump to mind, you're either ignorant or dishonest.

me too! we need guys who don't mind being pushed around as long as they can back it up and score. people like York (F***ing Sather!!!!) :mad: :cry: who worked hard on every shift and tried his best to win.

good job stealing my avatar. ;)

Hey, welcome to the NHL freakin' playoffs. Guess what. They hurt.

I'm sure getting your ankle broken by a shot hurts a ton too. When it happened to Ted Donato earlier in this series though, the guy finished his shift. Some players gut it out, some don't.

Talk about poetic justice. I've been waiting for Kovalev to get what he deserves since the '95 playoffs when he essentially got Andy Van Hellemond fired for "the dive" against Quebec. The fact that Montreal was involved with this incident makes it that much sweeter.

And when is the NHL going to put an end to this fake injury nonsense? How about the other night with Ribiero flopping around on the ice like he's in critical condition and then once a penalty is called he skates to the Montreal bench laughing about it with his teammates.

Just one of a mountain of things that's wrong with the NHL.

The officiating was ridiculous. Nothing was called. NOTHING. I, therefore, wasn't surprised that a slash wasn't called. The question is, why was Alex?

Melrose, it wasn't a slash. It was a light slap to the knuckle part of the glove where it wouldn't hurt him.

Neil Smith was on the radio yesterday saying he spoke to Kov after the game and he had a bandaide on his knuckle. Neil said in his opinion he was faking. That is why he traded him when he did (the faking and always being the last man back).

kovy got what he 'deserved' in the series against Quebec. I should actually say that Van Hellemond got what he deserved...and that was for Kovalev to fool him on that play. I am totally against diving. I hated it when Alex would unbuckle his strap, throw his helmet and fall to the ground when he was young. But, Van Hellemond's officiating in that series was such a disgrace that he deserved it. Kovalev and Nemchinov were cheap-shotted the entire series by, mainly, Wendel Clarke. Countless non-calls. And they just kept playing, both of them. It was well-deserved.

Neil now taking 'credit' for trading Kovalev for Nedved...funny...the guy goes on toe help PITT a couple seasons, scores oodles of points and realizes his potential finally, and Smith's talking about why he traded him 5 years ago. Brilliant. What's the guy still trying to find a job?

On another note, kazo, I totally agree with this flopping crap, it's gotta end. But, if the refs would call a half-decent game, perhaps players wouldn't take things into their own hands to make up for the countless non-calls, or countless stuid calls. Like I said, I hate flopping and blating 'aiding' of penalties. But just as much, I've come to hate the officiating I've seen over the last several seasons. And if a game was called correctly, we'd see less clutching and grabbing, and perhaps even less flopping.

Melrose, it wasn't a slash. It was a light slap to the knuckle part of the glove where it wouldn't hurt him.

Neil Smith was on the radio yesterday saying he spoke to Kov after the game and he had a bandaide on his knuckle. Neil said in his opinion he was faking. That is why he traded him when he did (the faking and always being the last man back).

Whether it was a slash or not and whether it was called or not are almost secondary ideas here to me. The biggest thing is, slash or no slash, you find a way to play the puck. That is first and foremost. Its hard to draw a call on a marginal play that was not clear cut in Double OT in the playoffs.

Alex giveth and he taketh away.

kovy got what he 'deserved' in the series against Quebec. I should actually say that Van Hellemond got what he deserved...and that was for Kovalev to fool him on that play. I am totally against diving. I hated it when Alex would unbuckle his strap, throw his helmet and fall to the ground when he was young. But, Van Hellemond's officiating in that series was such a disgrace that he deserved it. Kovalev and Nemchinov were cheap-shotted the entire series by, mainly, Wendel Clarke. Countless non-calls. And they just kept playing, both of them. It was well-deserved.

Neil now taking 'credit' for trading Kovalev for Nedved...funny...the guy goes on toe help PITT a couple seasons, scores oodles of points and realizes his potential finally, and Smith's talking about why he traded him 5 years ago. Brilliant. What's the guy still trying to find a job?

On another note, kazo, I totally agree with this flopping crap, it's gotta end. But, if the refs would call a half-decent game, perhaps players wouldn't take things into their own hands to make up for the countless non-calls, or countless stuid calls. Like I said, I hate flopping and blating 'aiding' of penalties. But just as much, I've come to hate the officiating I've seen over the last several seasons. And if a game was called correctly, we'd see less clutching and grabbing, and perhaps even less flopping.

To my mind, Kovalev deserved everything he got in that Quebec series (Nolan went after him, too. If Kovalev had stood up for himself he would have put an end to that stuff. But he didn't and so he continues to add to his reputation as a less than couragous player. And age has nothing to do with it. He did it when he was young and he continues to do it.

I totally agree on Neil Smith. If that was his opinion on Kovalev, why didn't he trade him straight up for Shanahan when he has the chance ten years ago? There's a reason why he hasn't worked in what, five years?

but, I honestly wouldn't know how Kovalev would stand up to Clarke and Nolan - both would've kicked his arse. I did see a lot less flopping in PITT, and him taking a lot of abuse and keep playing, which is why I said younger. But he's reverted back to that this season, as he's struggled mightily and is obviously frustrated (not an excuse, as there is none).

I like what Barry Melrose had to say about this on NHL2nite.... the teams leaders need to grab these guys at practice or off the ice and say "You're hurting the club by diving/exaggerating/faking when you get slashed/hit/interfered with.... " The leaders/Captains of these clubs should consider this a job requirement in the NHL if you're going to be a leader. Real leaders won't stand for this kind of 'theatrics'.

Easier said than done....

I like what Barry Melrose had to say about this on NHL2nite.... the teams leaders need to grab these guys at practice or off the ice and say "You're hurting the club by diving/exaggerating/faking when you get slashed/hit/interfered with.... " The leaders/Captains of these clubs should consider this a job requirement in the NHL if you're going to be a leader. Real leaders won't stand for this kind of 'theatrics'.

Easier said than done....

As long as the league tolerates it (which it does) and as long as the players use it as a bonafide tactic, this won't change.

but, I honestly wouldn't know how Kovalev would stand up to Clarke and Nolan - both would've kicked his arse. I did see a lot less flopping in PITT, and him taking a lot of abuse and keep playing, which is why I said younger. But he's reverted back to that this season, as he's struggled mightily and is obviously frustrated (not an excuse, as there is none).

By that time in his career Kovalev had already been marked as the kind of player he has become (a wuss ?). He couldn't stand up to those guys in terms of fighting but he chould have and should have stood his ground in other ways. Plus at that time the Rangers had no answer to Quebec when it came to physical play. That was the series where Nolan knocked Beuk out with an elbow and then stook over him while Nolan taunted him.

I totally agree on Neil Smith. If that was his opinion on Kovalev, why didn't he trade him straight up for Shanahan when he has the chance ten years ago? There's a reason why he hasn't worked in what, five years?

Neither Messier nor Gretzky wanted Kovalev traded for Shanahan. Mess was gone when Kovalev was finally traded.

And the Smith interview, which I heard, was not "taking credit" for trading Kovalev. His point was that for all of his talents, he can be just as destructive at times. He can win a game and lose the next one, and as a GM he felt he had a limited time left to trade him and get something substantive in return. Now, I wouldn't have tried to get Nedved, but that's another story.

The bottom line is, Kovalev wouldn't have scored the 40 he did in PITT in NY - whether in '99 or in '02, '03-'04. So Smith was right to trade him.... Just took the wrong package.

but I had to laugh when I heard 'That is why he traded him when he did (the faking and always being the last man back).' The timing of the statement was impeccable, while many hockey fans/analysts watched Kovalev turn into a player once he bumped heads with half-decent coaching.

And who really knows what Kovalev would've done had he stayed in New York. Who knows what would've happened in Kovalev was to TGO's right from the beginning of the 97-98 season, a the two showed chemistry towards the end of the season when Muck put them together. Who knows what would've happened had Muck not been too stupid to replace Sunny with Tik on a line that showed so little chemistry as a result of the horrific Tik. In essence, what would've been had the Rangers had a coach that could coach.n't.

...and what a nice goal he had tonight, what a nice 5-1 win, sorry guys we're still in it.

And Thanks for the wuss! :handclap:

...and what a nice goal he had tonight, what a nice 5-1 win, sorry guys we're still in it.

And Thanks for the wuss! :handclap:
:yo: , congrats to the wuss!

...and what a nice goal he had tonight, what a nice 5-1 win, sorry guys we're still in it.

And Thanks for the wuss! :handclap:

Don't forget to mention that it was the game winning goal!

Kovy made a mistake, he took a chance thinking a penalty would be called and it didn't work out. I think if anyone was mad at him he's already forgiven.

Kovalev has turned our 1st line into an offensive threat EVERY shift. Watch him, Koivu & Zednik play. It's a think of beauty.

:yo: , congrats to the wuss!

Don't worry, he'll do something stupid like he usually does.

Now get back to Montreal where you belong.

:yo: , congrats to the wuss!


:lol: all of a sudden Habs fans love Kovy. You guys change like the weather. You'll be back to booing him soon no doubt.

Don't worry, he'll do something stupid like he usually does.

Now get back to Montreal where you belong.

Ya know, these Habs fans haven't been rubbing our noses in it (not the trade but our playoff drought). I'd cut 'em some slack.

Alex does have occasional "brain farts", but if he had played here like he played in Pitt or in the playoffs so far for Montreal, we might have made the playoffs this year (I realize in the long run that would've delayed the long overdue rebuild).

And Thanks for the wuss! :handclap:


No, no, no, Thank YOU for Balej..

Enjoy Kovy, he can get you to the next round, or he can get you knocked out in the first, but he always makes things interesting.

For all his faults, I'm pretty much a Kovalev fan, but I'm very happy to have Balej around for the next few seasons.

I am surprised by a lot of these comments. I wonder if people have been watching the series. Kovalev has been Montreal's best player by far. Had he not been there, we'd be done with the Habs already. He is just killing us... If Zednik were able to convert on half of Kovalev's passes, the series (sadly) would have been over in 6. Say what you want about Alex Kovalev, but I would be thrilled to have him on my team.

ive started cheering for montreal in the east cause of kovalev. he's great to watch, and sure he makes mistakes, but who doesnt?

im glad he found his scoring touch again.

ive started cheering for montreal in the east cause of kovalev. he's great to watch, and sure he makes mistakes, but who doesnt?

im glad he found his scoring touch again.

Koivu and Zednik work great with him, just like Straka and Lang.

I know Balej will be a good one for you guys, but in retrospect, I'm kind of glad we got Kovalev, he has been *really* good for Montreal. He (5-1-6) and Saku Koivu (2-6-8) are probably the best tandem in the playoffs right now. Let's hope he signs with the Habs in the off-season, if there's a season next year.

ive started cheering for montreal in the east cause of kovalev. he's great to watch, and sure he makes mistakes, but who doesnt?

im glad he found his scoring touch again.



I with you. Kovalev is the reason i've been pulling for montreal out of east (if toronto doesn't last, that is). Its pretty safe to assume that the habs will go as far as he will take them. This will be a pretty good measure of just how much he means to a team.

im defintely cheering for the habs to win the east right after the leafs, kovalev has been the player we thought we would get from the pens in the fata deal for the habs, it just never happened in NY

Kovalev made a mistake in the OT game, it happened, hopefully he wont do it again, but regardless he is the reason along with Theodore that the habs are still in the series, i hope they can beat the bruins

as for balej, im glad with the trade, we got a young kid with wheels, hands, and effort for someone who has all the talent in the world, but for whatever reason just cant do it in NY, its a good deal for both teams and i hope the habs realize that kovalev, for his defensive flaws, is a player who can really help them

off topic word in today's star ledger is that the oilers want to re-sign nedved for 3.5 million, hopefully devo can talk him into it, he was good for the oilers and they could use him as their #1 center