Get to Know a Canadien: Andrei Kostitsyn
by J.P. on Apr 13, 2010 2:00 PM EDT
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Print[Ed. note: As part of the build-up to the first round playoff series between the Capitals and the Canadiens, Japers' Rink will be looking at some of the important but lesser-known players on the Canadiens and how they might impact the series.]
Andrei Kostitsyn
#46 / Left Wing / Montreal Canadiens
6-0
214
Feb 03, 1985
Novopolatsk, Byelorussian SSR, USSR
10th overall, 2003 by Montreal
| Strengths | Owns a great wrist shot, which he uses with aplomb. Has explosive scoring ability and a nose for the net. Loves to dangle and make nifty plays. |
| Weaknesses | Doesn't always put out maximum effort. Has issues in the defensive zone. Leaves himself vulnerable to big hits, which can lead to injuries. |
| Potential | Inconsistent scoring winger. |
Why you should know who he is - The point totals have dropped in each of the past couple of seasons for the elder Kostitsyn (younger brother Sergei is also with the Habs), and he has just just three goals in 19 games in calendar year 2010 after missing all of January and February with a knee injury. Still, Kostitsyn has plenty of talent (10 goals and 15 points in 16 games in December speaks to that, as do his nine points in ten career games against the Caps) and can burn you if you give him time and space. As his 102 hits in 59 games (a higher per-game rate than any Caps forward who doesn't wear a "C" on his sweater) indicate, he also doesn't mind playing with a physical edge, often toeing the line between clean and dirty.
How the Caps can stop him - Keep him close and play the body, not the puck (I'm looking at you, Mike Green). Make his life difficult and he might go away and/or lose his temper; give him room and he might be trouble.
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The trick is in hitting him before the mob does.
My ability to post is only surpassed by my ability to pinch pennies.
by jordanDC on Apr 13, 2010 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Aplomb-ometer
Is now on two… Three more and it’s pegged
Great. Now I have to change my name to "Jaromir meet Alex".
by Chris meet Alex on Apr 13, 2010 2:20 PM EDT reply actions
Something tells e they’re doing this on purpose…
Go USA, Braves, BU Terriers, Irish, Colts, Caps, Hoyas, NU Cats, Wizards, DC United, Washington Freedom
BU Hockey: National Champions 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009
I’m glad I could spark a trend…
"My face is my mask."
by Jake Shapiro on Apr 13, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Almost positive the Rink crew doesn’t write those scouting reports, SBN does.
On the Forecheck/Twitter/CLS
"What do you think this is? Major League Baseball?"- Shea Weber
by Chris Burton on Apr 13, 2010 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
The Kostitsyns make me feel twitchy for some reason.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
I know this may segue into the next GtKaC, but Sergei was recalled from Hamilton? That’s all smoothed out now?
They're coming.
by Bald Pollack on Apr 13, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I believe Sergei’s true brilliance and madd skillz are now being properly and appropriately appreciated by the people who should have known better in the first place, yes.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
Sounds like he can dish the hitting, but can’t take it. Perfect.
Come to think of it, it sounds as if the Caps’ two mantras should be “Stay out of the box” and “Hit ’em early and often”.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
That should be the mantra for any team playing Montreal. They’re small (Well, other than Hal Gill) so hitting them is good, but hit them clean, as their PP is explosive… almost as good as Washington’s.
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Pivonka on Apr 13, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Not worried about Hal Gill after Ovi sent him flying that one game.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
… or after seeing his play against the Caps in last year’s playoffs.
Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world
Aren’t we legally required to refer to him as “Big Hal Gill”?
"Now wait a minute. This is just purely a social call. You know, just two adults getting a stew on, man."
by The Ghost of Bebop on Apr 13, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Feel free to use this in the future
From Brown goes Down review of NHL 10
“Inspired by the legendary NBA Jam series, NHL 10 includes a hilarious “tiny mode” in which all the regular players on a team are comically shrunk down to a fraction of their normal size. To enable this mode, go to the Team Select screen and choose “Montreal Canadiens”"
Obstreperously Avatarless
by Edanger6 on Apr 13, 2010 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
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