Replying to the post below about optimists’ vs. pessimists’ record when it comes to the Habs…
As somebody who was frequently labelled a pessimist when the previous incarnation of the team was blown up, my contention was always that I am not sure that the Habs in their current incarnation are that much better than the Habs were in their previous incarnation.
Over the two last two seasons of the Koivu-Kovalev-Markov Habs, the team went 88-55-21, averaging 3.12 goals per game while conceding an average of 2.86 goals per game.
Over the past 1.75 seasons of the Gomez-Gionta-Cammalleri habs, the team has compiled a record of 70-55-17, averaging 2.61 goals per game while conceding an average of 2.65 goals per game.
So only in the unlikely event that the Habs close out this season on an 18-0-4 run would they match the regular season record of the team that was blown up. If they go 10-8-4 over their remaining 22 games, a reachable target, they match the record of the much-maligned 2008-09 Habs that self-destructed in the second half.
But the playoff performance was much better!
True…the Habs went one further round than their predecessor was able to make it. But let’s see how each team fared in their final series…
2009-10: Montreal loses to Philadelphia 4 games to 1 in the 3rd round, being outscored 17-7 while being shut out 3 times.
2008-09: Montreal loses to Boston 4 games to 0 in the 1st round, being outscored 17-6
2007-08: Montreal loses to Philadelphia 4 games to 1 in the 2nd round, being outscored 20-14
When it came to facing a more physically intimidating team in the playoffs, the current edition of the Habs laid the same egg that their predecessors did. But they get extra credit for two huge upsets before they got there, giving them the edge.
And the judges say…
Thus far, I’m willing to grant the split-decision victory to the current edition based on their playoff run last year, but I reserve the right to void the decision should the Habs get demolished in the first round this spring!
If we’re going to talk optimists vs. pessimists, the Habs need to be better than the team that was blown up for me to concede they’re exceeding my expectations. Because when all the moves were made, I was pretty vocal (and admittedly pessimistic) that this team wasn’t all that much of an improvement over their predecessors. The jury is still out on that front, but I remain a skeptical. (Or stubborn…)
I live in NB but I told my wife I’m going to try and stay up to watch the game, because if I go to bed I will be laying there wondering what’s going on. She said obviously you have to be crazy, maybe she is right but at least I know I am not the only crazy one.
Before I get to reading all the posts here just want to say I woke up with a good feeling for the Habs this game.
Call me crazy but expect a victory tonight.
And for once I liked the look of JM’s lines if they hold true from last practice.
Yeah Facts aren’t always facts. Who knows what the record of the most recent Habs would be with a completely healthy line-up. One of the reasons 08 was so great (that rymes!) was because we had ZERO injuries ALL YEAR.
Imagine how much better this team would be with markov and Georges playing at 100%? And Cammy not missing ten games? Or last year when GIO missed a month and Cammy missed a month and Markov missed his entire lifespan.
O’Byrne only fits into the Top-4 of a team’s defence when he’s playing next to a guy like Markov or Liles, when he isn’t, he’s 3rd pair. 3rd-pairing Ds are not impossible to find last I checked.
It’s worth noting that on their worst day, the older edition of the Habs never thought of having the amount of significant injuries that this roster has. When Koivu was out, we still had Plekanec and Lang. With Markov and Gorges out, we’ve had no viable replacements for either one.
I’m going to say that this is an opportunist posting considering the slump, and how heavily the slump has effected GF and GA. Not to mention that the previous team included Markov playing all but 4 regular season games, and this current edition has seen him miss 90 games of 142 games played. Keeping in mind that Markov generally adds about 0.5 goals per game to the team when he’s playing, this analysis is far too simplistic.
There’s also no note made of the period where the Habs were an entirely new team from coach on down, and how they adjusted to that and the time it took.
Edit: for the record I don’t think you’re a pessimist. I think you fell in love with the team that got blown up, which is why you still think Komisarek is a good player. And you don’t have that same feeling towards the new team. I don’t get why you feel this way, but that doesn’t matter.
The market for defensemen has been set pretty high. He doesn’t have a contract beyond this year but he’ll command at least a 2nd round pick if more than one team wants him.
I’m foreseeing yet another 3+ goal win by the western home team. And because I want another Habs loss like I’d love a root canal, I’m hoping the eternal HIO optimists are correct in their predictions!
You know what I would like to see? Switch Halpern and AK and stick with these lines for 10-12 games, not 10-12 seconds. To me when a line goes great for several games and then has an off-game, this shouldn’t be an invitation to blow it up.
Chilling at the hotel, flew in from Whitehorse this morning. Pumped to see the game live tonight! Last game I went to was in LA, where I bumped into George Gillett! Got my signed Dryden jersey out and getting ready. Got a good feeling anbout this one.
Anybody got any tips on how to hang around and get autographs? My kids are all kind of hoping to get and autograph. I bougth my kid a jersey today and she asked “Daddy, are we going to get mine signed now too” (she was with me last week when we saw Ken Dryden in Whitehorse and he signed my jersey.
Do the players walk out of the Rogers /GM place somewhere special?
Most telling, in my opinion, are the last few games of the Koivu/Kovalev era: the sweep at the hands of the Bruins. A pathetic performance. Totally gutless and without pride or effort. Made me embarrassed to be a fan. Completely different than the series against Phil last year, where we give it a yeoman’s effort but simply weren’t good enough and ran out of gas.
Say what you want about this edition of the Habs, but they rarely (if ever) mail it in. And that’s something I can get behind.
Was there really a rumor like that? Damn… for me, “Gomez to Phoenix” and just stop right there sounds pretty good. I hear since the attendence in the desert is through the roof they got some $$$ to burn, so why not on Gomer.
one thing you are right about Chris. The “rebuilt” team is not all that much better (if at all). One set of overpaid unproductive forwards was replaced with another. Defense is still inconsistant at best. Goalies still don’t get any help. The System is still gelling. I say nothing is really change. Chances Habs go 3 rounds this year – I will bet my MAB jersey they won’t.
Who’s his defensive partner, Liles? Not exactly nobody. OB looked like an easy Komisarek replacement on a cheap cap hit last season when he partnered w/ Markov. He’s Top-4 when he’s playing with a No. 1 guy who can clean up the fact that he lacks hockey sense.
Yes but that team totally imploded in the last quarter or so of that two year stretch, and this team had to rebuild almost from scratch, especially with the injury situation factored in. I just don’t think those stats reveal much in this particular case.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in this particular scouting report. I watched Bournival play in Cape Breton last week. The kid is a powerful skater. He slices through the ice with authority. Among the many terrific things I noticed about his game was his skating. If you don’t believe me, QMJHL games are available online for about $3 bucks or go see him in person. The kids a keeper.
Even the most optimistic of Habs fans would have to be high to predict anything other than a blowout tonight. This could get ugly for Price just like last season’s visit but hopefully it won’t ruin the rest of the season for him like last year’s game did.
Been a Habs fan since I was in 2nd grade and sat behind Patrick Roy at the Aud.
Not true man. Spach is a good Hab and the reason he is not playing well is because he is playing out of his element. At this stage of his career he is a 10 minutes per game kind of guy. Same goes for Hammer. I like both of these guys and if Habs had enough depth (thanks BG and PG) on D, these two would be number 5 and 6.
From Hockey Prospectus regarding Habs Prospect C Michael Bournival
“Drafted by Colorado in the 2010 Draft, Michael Bournival was dealt to Montreal this year in the Ryan O’Byrne trade. While Bournival has put up decent counting numbers over the last two QMJHL seasons, he doesn’t have much offensive upside and projects as a bottom-six guy at best. He is solid physically around the sideboards and is displays good work ethic. He excels in the cycle game when he can protect the puck and work it around to his teammates. His puck skills are fair, but his skating is the real issue that will hold him back. He’s a fringe skater and looks very awkward at times especially when trying to burst up the ice. His even-strength defensive awareness is fine, but his penalty killing could use some work.”
Misha, the D is not the reason period. The reason Habs don’t win 4-0 games is because we have overpaid bums up front who do jack all season long, and don’t help out in our end. Our defense can be decent and usual is when a) they get help from the forwards b) any of the useless guys with the Forward designation score at least couple of times in a game.
Player bashing continues. But try to remember some of these things…. We have won only 1 game without Gomez in the last 2 seasons, without Spach we are 9-12 and without Gill we are 6-12….
So you guys can hopefully do the math, but in case you cannot. WE ARE A BETTER TEAM WITH THESE GUYS IN THE LINEUP.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
I haven’t even seen the kid play, it’s hard to outright refute analysis of a 3rd-round draft choice from a Hockey Prospects site. I take what I can pick up and share it around. I like the hard-work players at a young age though, some of them have that ethic that simply makes them a better player later on. Not sure if Bournival is for sure one of those guys but he was well-thought of to nearly make the WJC as an 18-year old (and would have if Cizikas hadn’t played for the HC Of Team Canada’s OHL team).
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, I can’t leave saskhabfan because of misguided fans like you who keep telling everyone that every thing is fine and that only you know about the Habs (which you know nothing!) So instead of harping bout your bad judgment and blaming good fans like me ,WATCH A GAME WITH YOUR EYE’S OPEN AND YOUR MOUTH SHUT!
No problem. I was really charged up about Bournival’s potential after seeing that game. Love your weekly prospect updates, by the way. Please keep them coming.
Sounds like this trade could work out nicely for the Habs after all. Bournival sounds like he could develop into a nice 2-way forward. Sure would be nice to see him come up through the system, maybe play in Montreal one day. Do you think the kid can play in the AHL next year, or do you think he needs another year in the Q?
I don’t think the Habs’ win-loss record (1-3-2) without Gomez says anything at all.
During those games we played the Red Wings twice and the Capitals and Penguins once, along with the Blue Jackets and Leafs. Aside from the Leafs and Blue Jackets, who the Habs beat to get their only win without Gomez, those are great teams we played. Its easily arguable that we would have lost those games with or without Gomez.
In addition, two of those losses (3-1 to the leafs on 11/Dec/10 and 3-1 to the Penguins on 25/Nov/09) came on the second day of a back to back match.
So while its sexy to say ” we’ve only won one game without Gomez” its important to remember how many games we were talking about and which teams we played and what the schedule was like during said stretch.
I know you already know this. But a reminder is helpful.
***I feel like its important to note that I’m not a Gomez basher at all. In fact, I’m mostly likely in the minority percentage that doesn’t hate him.
I’ve got some: a defenceman will be injured, most of the Canadiens shots will come from the outside, the Canucks will crash Carey Price with impunity, and JM will put Halpern on the top line and bench Eller.
I believe it was Lions in Winter that did a breakdown last year of the Habs GF with Markov vs GF without Markov, and it was close to 0.5 goals per game more with him in the lineup. The winning percentage was also significantly better. Last season the team was under .500 without him, and close to .600 with him. That’s a massive change. And remember that Markov coming back isn’t just Markov having that effect, it’s allowing players who are playing out of their depth to slide back down the depth chart, playing against easier competition.
As for similar players, I’ll grant you Gomez and Koivu or Moen and Kostopoulos, but Streit vs Spacek is a red herring as Streit was already gone that year. And Cammalleri and Tanguary don’t play similar games at all. They’re both LW, and that’s it. Cammalleri is a sniper and Tanguay is a playmaker, they don’t even come close in playing style. The players brought in were also younger, so whatever window you’re talking about closing, will stay open longer with these players than it would have with the last set.
“ I recognized his limitations when everybody else was making him out to be the new Scott Stevens or Mark Tinordi.” Is this a thinly-veiled “I’m so much smarter than you”?
I think with Markov’s ability to control both ends of the ice, it’s not a (huge) stretch to think that he contributes to a +0.5 goal swing for the Habs every game.
As for Komisarek – karma’s a b!tch. He’s getting what he deserved.
I completely disagree with the Markov assessment. We’ve been a top 3 Powerplay with him in the lineup for more than consecutive years. Souray, Streit, Schneider, Brisebois and others have all come and gone, Markov was what made our powerplay elite. Now, without him, it’s mediocre.
And on the goals for and against subject with him. Teams attack us on the forecheck like never before due to his absence. You can’t send two men in deep into our zone with Markov on the ice, if you do, it’s an odd man rush going the other way almost every time, like clockwork. He not only accounts for a goal every couple of games but he eliminates forechecking pressure that often results in us giving up goals without him.
His value to this team rivals Price’s. With him, we’re running away with the division right now, without him, well, you see the results.
Really?? I tell everyone that “everything is fine and i’m the only one who knows about the habs”??? I will make a bet with you. If you can find one post i made that says those EXACT words i will never post here again. If you can’t prove it, you disappear for good. Not that you would keep your word since your word is about as good as a mesh condom. Anytime you want to try to shut my mouth for me,just let me know,idiot. Good luck finding a post that says those exact things that i apparently tell people. Looks like you will be forced to leave and come back with another user name,again. Looks like your the one who needs to keep his mouth shut,dickwad.
Again, no question. But if I’m hurt and already have a pattern of shying away from the rough stuff. a brutal series where I’m being targetted for hits probably limits my effectiveness.
He’s performed in the playoffs in his career. Some years he’s been great. Other years, invisible. I’m not sad to see him go, although I do think Carbo’s steadfast refusal to unite Koivu, Kovalev and Tanguay was a big mistake. It’s putting all your eggs in one basket, but it was one heck of a basket…
Gill deserves a star for his last two shifts alone. We have a losing record on the western swing, but we won the most important game, and it was a statement game.
Yeah that’s true, I often wonder what kind of message leaving him IN the line up sends to the rest of the players espically the young guys..?m oh well he our rubix cube…sigh.
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
Yeah i agree but seriously how long does it take to develop confidence 90 games is a bit much i think,?! plus he is a huge reason for the musical lines this year moving people around trying to get him going. he has been a chemistry killer.
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
I guess they missed all of those Canuck penalties in the first so they’re calling everything on us now. What a joke. Only reason they got any life and are now in the game.
But Tom, that can’t be right. I mean everyone here says if you yell at the refs they’ll stop calling penalties against you or it proves you’re a man or…something…I forget.
So frustrating to watch Gomez shoot, and every time he misses the net, and the puck clears the zone, goes over the glass or ends up on a Canuck’s stick. Offensive black hole he is.
LOL. I’ll never forget that moment. I remember saying to myself in disgust. ”If a non-call or a call gets Jacques Martin screaming at you, you should chalk it up to a mistake on your part”. I mean, that guy never screams during games. It has to be pretty blatant to make him lose his cool.
Do you think the Canucks are diving because they KNOW the officials are biased and are looking for any excuse to call anything on us? Teams scout, they talk, I am sure the word is out. They know it.
I ain’t gonna make it to the end folks. Played Sunday morning; played last night and hyperextended my elbow. Played OK on both occassions, but feel like shit. As St. Peter, I think once said, fight the good fight or if that doesn’t work, kick them squarely in the nads! Good night all!!!
honestly i think on pouliots penalty the canuck should have been called for diving. He layed there as his team went up the ice and sold it only to skate off laughing later. That deserves a diving penalty I think.
Benny Poolio escapin the box and sendin a message “I’m a bad muthafugga; I WILL crosscheck your azz into the boards without a second thought. Fear me and despair.”
hahaha i was thinking that as i typed out that comment ” some one is going to call me on moen” haha.. But i seriously dont know why gomes is getting pp time over DD.. it is apperently all right for one to suck worse than suck it self on this team and be rewarded with major minutes.. USEEEEEEELESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
“Hello Habs fan here, quick question… is your equipment manager on strike? If so, it could explain so many players losing the edge of their blades as they skate up the ice, or find themselves remotely close to an opponent. If not, think you can send the video to the Italian National soccer team? I think they can use these dives as research material. Thanks!”
As effective a penalty-killer as Pleks is, it kills me to see him burning up so much fuel shorthanded every game. It all adds up by the end of the year. Being one of the most penalized teams in the league (minors) has got to catch up to a few of our stalwart pk’ers come playoff time.
Great …fun game ! I phoned my son who lives in Van and is a NuckleHead and he asked me to never contact him again,lol.BIG 3rd COMING UP AND IT’S GONNA BE AWSOME!!!!
Jacques Martin and Kirk Muller screamed at Brad Watson in game one of the Capitals series last playoff for not calling a late body check penalty on Eric Fehr for running Bergeron after an icing. They embarrassed him on TSN because he had called the same exact penalty on Travis Moen for doing the same thing to Shane Morrissonn less than 10 minutes earlier. Ever since that game it’s been a never ending parade to the penalty box when Brad Watson is doing a Hab game.
Haha. Yeah it’s a long time but it’s not like you can hid the guy in your lineup. If you bench him or demote him you might as well hang a for sale sign around his neck.
I think your boy is sitting cause of the shaft he delivered to the head of the vancouver player. Personally, if you ask me, I liked what he did. I wish more Habs did that kind of stuff and more often.
Effective use of his star players with regards to playing time is not one of JM’s strong points. Pleks gets tired every season because he plays too much on the PK. I am worried about Price with all the games he is playing and Auld is not getting a break not playing either.
Good to see Price have a better game then the last time he played at home. Props to Martin for having AK46 out there in the last minute(he played great tonight)
Maybe they should just send Gomez out alone…with no teammates, he will have no choice but to try and go to the net instead of peeling off to the left half-boards!
I agree about Washington. And if I were to pick a Cup winner today it would be them. Offensive talent like theirs doesn’t stay cold for full seasons and their offensive guys are buying in.
People are having fun at their expense but I don’t expect that to continue into May and June.
JM was very wise with Kostitsyn tonight. Put him with Moen and Eller. Simple game style, all he has to do is skate, hit, find open ice and shoot…..nothing fancy. He also gave him PP time just in case he felt he was being demoted. Pretty much saying ..”Hey, need to work on a few things, but I got faith in you”. Giving the kid that bone seemed to pay off…….little things that don’t get enough appreciation.
Good coaching from Jacques but a great response from the kid.
Seems like “Martin’s Magical Mixmaster” (ala Stubbs) found some good magic tonight. All 4 lines played well putting pressure on the Canucks…good bash, crash and offensive movement. At least until the bench got shortened I assume because of an undisciplined penalty by Pouliot limited that lines ice time.
Seems AK is effective in a less than top 6 role and I like that he comes to play when he is with Moen. Eller , Moen and AK looked very good tonight.
I think Cammi will refi9nd his magic with Pleks and then we could see some good offensive hockey.
It was very obvious at a point in the 3rd period that JM implmented the defense, protect the lead game plan…but I thought he let them go hard offensively for most of the night and that felt good as a fan to see the boys go hard to the net and make plays in teh O-zone for a change.
As long as JM lets them play some offensive game in order to get the jump pon the other team, I have no problem with him kicking in the protect the lead ad some point to preserve the win like he did tonight.
Thank you Habs for winning this for me…living out here in Canucks land these Canuck fans are A-Holes (read Cam Cole, John Garrett (colour jerk for Sportsnet) my brothers wife, and so many more that were laughing at me/us before the game. So thank you Habs for putting in a great 60 mins of hockey and for shutting them up for a while.
Wow! What a game! What an exciting game. Hard to believe they held the lead. The Canucks gave them all they can handle, and then Kostitsyn ADDED to a LEAD?! Pretty certain I haven’t heard that sentence in a while. He had a great game. Very involved. Looked very threatening. Awesome body language.
I love the way Mara muscled that forward off him as he went for the puck, don’t you? He’s not a magician with the puck, but he has fresh legs late in the season, and he looks like he’s alert and trying hard to help.
Price wanted this one and he battled for it. He also looked human tonight – not in a bad way, but he didn’t have that robotic cool. And it was fun to see him care that much.
Hal Gill’s reach is still wondrous. He made several great poke checks
Plekanec was on his game. He’s a gem, that one. He competes in every zone, every shift.
I like Pacioretty. A lot. He uses his body, he can skate, he’s got hands, he’s got smarts, and he’s got heart. I’m not worried about this kid not panning out.
I think Eller has improved a lot since the season’s start.
Like having Cammalleri back? Me too. He’s a top flight talent and he’s a competitor. We’re a much better team with him in the lineup.
Gionta was great tonight. Strong leader. The team plays with pride. He helped to forge it last year in the playoffs, and it’s been hardening since. Good mentor for Pacioretty, the American boy? You betcha.
I just feel sorrow for Gomez now. He’s such a likeable guy. This city so desperately wants to cheer for him. Has he simply forgotten that? Does he think we’d never like him again even if he started scoring? We should all write him letters of support. And we should all write to Geoff Molson and ask him to hire a sports psychologist. Lets do it!
now we need to win the next two at home…vs leafs no reason not to play 4 lines all game…pp should be wiz,pk weber and hammer second half of the pp only…major pull back of the offense after 2-0 lead… brutal faceoff performance….keep hoping but still have a feeling ak46 on his fool me once performance..accept this is about the 50th time in his career..is he now going to score thurs and maybe sat and be invisible for 10 games after sat
I think you’re right. The year we drafted him (I think it was 10th overall) he was a concensus top-3 but other teams shied away from him because of his illness. The Habs medical staff said it was controllable so we picked him. Some games he’s clearly not 100%. It’s only one game but I love the space he has when Eller is at centre.
It was a dumb selfish penalty. But I really like the aggressive new Pouliot we are seeing recently. He is finally using that big body and if he puts on some more muscle he could be a power forward.
The zebras suck again tonight. There’s been more than a few Hab’s shifts in the 1st and 2nd when multiple infractions could have been called on the Canucks. Many of them the non-discretionary variety. And then they make the bullshit calls on Pacioretty and Halpern. Halpern’s been tackled in the goal crease twice and interferred with or tripped about four or five times during the game. Not a single f’ing call. I agree with the poster who said that the fix is in. It sure is and it’s been that way for the Habs all year. I hope the Habs overcome the adversity. They’re a better team than their record suggests and they can compete against the league’s best on an even playing field.
Yes he is. But I won’t be confusing him with Cam Neely anytime soon. The bloggers of the World and knee jerk reactionary sports writers of North America have been calling him the prototypical powerforward. I don’t know, maybe somwhere along the line the criteria for that label changed.
Or maybe he’s intelligent for not getting into a battle with the face of the franchise who makes $9 million annually.
You ever hear of a coach challenging Peyton Manning?
When they iron out the details of becoming what they’re developing into now. They’ll be a team that can win any style of hockey game you want to play. Tight defensive, wide open, physical. Won’t matter. They have two very talented goalies, a ton of fire power, blue chip defensemen and big physical presences. And they’re pretty fast too.
Yup, it’s sad the autonomy and level of power tripping NHL ref’s are allowed to get away with. There’s a scene in the 24/7 HBO doc, that really displays this, but I’m too drunk to recall specifics.
Coach’s responsibility to hold a player accountable and it shouldn’t have taken the team four years to start balancing out with defence. Boudreau has enabled Ovechkin more than anyone, something as simple as abusing shift time should have been rubbed out years ago.
AK – could he need corrective lenses? He has a heck of a time picking up the puck when it gets deflected or when there’s a scrum. In open ice he’s poetry. Do the players get their eyes tested regularly?
You dog him way too much Robert. It isn’t his fault that the owner lets Ovechkin do whatever he wants. He’s a good but not great coach and you could be eating your words sooner rather than later.
No, my math wasn’t wrong. The Habs actual salary room is $1,031,006. That comes out to an ability to add a total salary of $4,168,850. Not to be rude, but it’s probably a good idea to check the facts before you insult someone HH.
That’s fair. But throwing zero hits through pretty much a full game’s worth of icetime doesn’t exactly make him the havoc wreaker that he’s touted to be Andrew.
Kostitsyn hits much more than he does. A lot more.
Making the playoffs makes you a contender in the East. After that, it is good goaltending, discipline and getting the right matchups.
I still don’t like the Habs shots against Boston or Philaelphia on paper.
I think they matchup well with everybody else, although Washington still scares the heck out of me because I think they’re learning how to win the hard way, which makes them a more dangerous team come playoff time. If they dump Semin, I like their chances that much better. I still think they beat Montreal if they had stuck to the gameplan of running everything through Backstrom, instead of suddenly trying to let Ovechkin and Semin try and do everything individually later in the series.
To make room for him at center, Halpern had to move to the wing, where he looked not bad at all. Much better than Eller did there. So JM may have found a solution.
More to being a power forward than hitting, namely taking hits and keeping the puck, and barreling through people to the net. Like Kostitsyn’s goal today, that was a power forward goal.
I still think Markov’s and Gorges’ prolonged absences will catch up. But I also reserve the right to maintain the opinion that good goaltending and special teams make you a contender in the East. So I really don’t care which way Gauthier goes as long as he doesn’t mortgage the future.
The only thing that damn game revealed is that the Habs don’t have more than four players who can fight. Pouliot, Moen, Subban and Wisniewski are fairly good with their fists.
Does Boychuck, Thornton and Campbell targeting Pyatt, Hamrlik and Spacek justify some misguided opinions about the toughness of the Habs? Nope. In fantasy land it might, but not in the real world.
It was a good win but there are still holes in the Habs game. The Boston beat-down still leaves a bad taste in the back of my mouth.
Nevertheless a statement game.
It still doesn’t change my POV that the Habs still need to build their farm and work towards getting better draft picks and better positioning in the entry draft.
Like that Eller was on in the final minute …shows JM has increasing trust in the kid and hey why not he played a hell of a good game at centre…hello JM – THAT’s HIS NATURAL POSITION – leave him at centre – enough of the trying to make him a winger.
Like all 4 lines tonight…good compete level and crash and bang mixed with offense…
Until he comes down from this season long high he’s been riding……yes. He’s the Vezina winner as of today. I’d like to see Tim Thomas deal with the workload and pressure he’s been under and thrive the way he has. Four words. NO WAY IN HELL.
No. He gets a gold star. He doesn’t even count in the three stars. The guy has had two bad games all year and has been great in just about every other game all season.
furthermore, i would just like to thank The JM System for totally shutting down the most dangerous offence in the league during the third period. a thing of beauty was that. great team effort. awesome coaching!
Guess I am a Negative Nellie. First 10 minutes of the game was brilliant hockey by the HABS. Either through the coach’s design or the the players becoming too ‘passive’, they mostly allowed Vanc to take the game over after that. But they WON and I am happy because it means the playoff spot gets more secure. You can dump on me as a Negative Nellie all you want if it gives you the air of superiority which you seem to clamour for with your name-calling.
I would like to be the first to thank all the Negative Nellies who showed up here tonight trying to rain on our parade. Dare I say the usual suspects. You made this game particularly satisfying with your standard whines and rants, your livingroom couch coaching expertise and your Atom D hockey experience. You shone through and made this a completely enjoyable experience for us all because we love it when your own words get shoved up your collective nether regions. We won and you didn’t.
That was tense. But here’s the difference from last year (‘s regular season): Habs under the JM system can properly lock down a game in the 3rd. Heart palpitations ‘n all. >:)
It’s a sure thing. I was very happy to see Gill step in and just toss him aside when he was in Price’s kitchen. There hasn’t been enough of that. Mara will certainly help in that regard he can just beard guys out of the way
Ahh Garret and Shorthouse. Doesn’t get any more homerish than these two. The worst commentators in the business if you’re not a Canucks fan. I would give Galley and his boyfriend in Ottawa a close second.
Kessler is a good player but he dives a ton and chirps more then most players. Pretty funny how nobody ever mentions that. Must not be quite good enough to get noticed.
Theres been all of this talk this year about how Ryan Kesler is a new player because he no longer lets himself retaliate as much as he did before and just focuses on his play. I would LOVE if this was the night that it all came undone for him, thanks to PK and the gang.
Devils winning again against Dallas…but no way they are making the playoffs right?
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
It was mentioned a lot earlier in his career, but I think Burrows being on the Canucks takes attention away from Kesler’s chirping. Both would be welcome on my team.
Pouliot springs Desharnais with a beauty pass, breakaway dekes backhand goes through Lou’s legs. Second one PK lets a hard wrister go, big rebound drops right to Gionta, we don’t miss a gimme for once. A few other chances right after that pulled off the line. Could have been 4-0 at least halfway through the period
Despite the shot difference, we’ve had more good scoring chances in the first 10 minutes today then we had the last two games, I like that we’re not just firing perimeter shots with no traffic.
Nice little role reversal here, from our play of late. It’s nice to be up by two right away and have the other team chasing. Seems like the Nucks aren’t getting the calls either. SO THIS WHAT ITS LIKE…
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
I’d like to see what this team can do on pure preparation. Unleash them, let them build a 14-2 shots advantage, and 2-0 on the scoreboard–and then Don’t coach them! Don’t give them any guidance, Don’t rein them in, Don’t remind them to mind their defensive responsibilities. Just let ‘em play!
That analysis ignores the fact there are two teams on the ice. The Canadiens don’t have to go into a shell for a team like Vancouver to take the initiative. They’re good.
we need the next 3 goals(lol) …but it looks like we are starting to pull back…i think martin has hypnotized this team and evrytime they show some offense in a game and take a lead they fall back to hang on mode…we have to keep attacking the vancouver d…but i am afraid they will revert to the rope a dope d that martin loves
I like Hamrlik but I call it like I see it, his game is really having issues in this final leg of the season. It took to the playoffs last year for him to really go down but it’s happening earlier this year. I just think the NHL schedule is a bit too much for the guy, he doesn’t play a soft game and he’s close to being 1300 games in the NHL. Takes a toll sooner or later.
No thanks. He is a very average player having a career year because he is playing big minutes on a bad team (just like Jason Blake did with the Islanders and cashed in). Plus, Jaro Spacek wouldn’t like it as Mcarthur gave him a pounding earlier this year.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d ‘like to like him’ for our blueline, but I tend to consider his value relative to our existing strengths and weaknesses. I figure the likes of Subban, Markov (healhty) and Wiz can provide the offensive upside, Gill and Gorges provide a solid shutdown pairing, while Hamrlik and Spacek might very well be gone by next year, leaving two spots open. Given the top 4 I’ve listed, I’d rather fill the last two spots with bigger, mobile guys than a Weber. That’s just me, though. At a push, I guess he could be a 7th, so long as he’s well-insulated by a bigger body that can move.
I’m likely just rambling at this point, but just trying to work out my conflicted mindset about #68!
We also lack youth and offensive upside which he brings. I feel he has been a much better option then spacek and picard. Never mind all the upcoming ufa’s we have on defense this upcoming summer. We can’t afford to trade him IMHO.
That cross check call on Max was beyond weak. Letter of the law, yes it is a cross check. But that kind of contact happens 20-30 times a game and is not called. They look for things. Anything against us. I don’t care what anyone says, there is a bias against Montreal by the officials in this league. It is not whining, not excuses, I see it every game, night after night.
This is by no means to pick on Weber, as he’s done a serviceable job overall, but I simply don’t see him as a viable option on the blueline. Yes, he’s a warm body back there whilst Markov and Gorges are out, but does anyone see him as a permanent piece of the puzzle moving forward?
On a blueline that is already marked by a lack of effective size and physicality, can we afford to keep a Weber around? His diminutive size and difficulty holding off or boxing out opposing forwards down low has been especially glaring in recent games, it seems to me. Also, I haven’t seen much sign of his apparent offensive upside.
For the sake of conversation, just looking for others’ opinions!
2-0 is the dangerous one. When it went to 2-1 and the way the Habs were playing I was worried, however that 3rd goal makes me breath a bit easier. A bit. 24 minutes left to play.
Remember that kid named Pernell…somethingorother, sat him a bit, now he’s a go-to PK player. A role Guy Boucher didn’t give him and had to learn in the NHL, under JM.
I agree the canucks have been diving all over,that call on maxpac was probably the worst one. But at the same time you can’t put yourself in a position to give the refs a reason to call something like pouliot did.
L’Ecuyer was the architect of the game where the Habs had 11 straight penalties called against them in Carolina. Obviously not a Hab fan, or desperate to prove he isn’t biased.
I am not a Halpern fan — if we were sellers, he would fetch a decent return since he’s good at faceoffs and brings a veteran presence. If we can get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him, take it.
What a great article by Cam Cole. Part of the problem may be that East and West teams play each other so rarely. If Montreal and Vancouver played eight times a year, I’d bet dollars to donuts he’d feel differently. But as it is now, the Habs visits to VAN are like the Royal Family tours: kinda nice, kinda meaningless, devoid of real significance or intensity (mostly because the Habs love to lay eggs when they’re out West). So who can blame him?
I think he was speaking more to the idea that the league is full of 30 roughly equal teams, and none of them have special status anymore. Although the comparison to the Predators is an obvious attempt at bashing the Canadiens in terms of recent success. I found it humorous because Montreal has won the same number of playoff series since the lockout as Vancouver (3), and made the playoffs 4/5 seasons to Vancouver’s 3/5.
Defensive shell the rest of the game? I’m feeling it, shots are too one sided right now for it to last. I just hope we can keep atleast some offense going the rest of the way.
Pouliot threw a great pass and Desharnais finished with the smooth breakaway/SO move he honed in Hamilton, Gionta cashed in on Subban’s rebound. That invincible Western Conference that kills small players is getting knocked around by smurfs.
Respectfully disagree, and my reading comprehension skills are just fine, thank you. Watched a Habs game at Nassau Coliseum recently? The last time the Habs rolled through Long Island, it seemed like an even split between Isles, Habs and Nordiques fans.
Holy crap these late games are hard on the Beer supply. Had to run across the street to the grocery to stock up, could have been bad if I’d run out in the second period.
I thought the article was off the mark. Cole’s point that the Canadiens are now the Predators with nicer uniforms is foolish. Habs fans travel better than any other fanbase in the league, and I would hazard a guess that all those owners whose teams play to less than capacity are more than a little envious, while at the same time grateful for the extra gate receipts when Montreal rolls through town.
Don’t see Liles in Toronto, apparently he is really good friends with Ryan Miller, and the new Buffalo owner announced during his presser today that there would be no financial restrictions on the Sabres front office…so maybe Liles ends up in Buffalo??
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
ialways said it,ill still say it canucks are overrated, sure they have strong seaon, might win the president trophy, but come playoffs they are the boston bruins of the west. chockersss.im not jealous, hell i just want a canadian team to win the stanley cup. but vancouver isnt that team. this team will not get past 2nd round. luongo will not get it done
Why the hate on for Cam Cole? Are we so fragile between the ears that we need to crap on anyone who isn’t a Habs superfan? The article was funny, honest. I feel the same way about a lot of teams- for instance, I don’t give two craps about Tampa Bay, Guy Boucher or no.
Grrr… Malhotra, traded him to my team in NHL 10 and then he scored the goal to put the Sharks up 3-2 in the tight game last year where Price was @ something like 50 saves.
Eller is a centreman and AK can skate and hit – and score a few as well. It will be tough for other teams to stack up against the Pleks line if these two continue to click.
I saw Ak hit the net repeatedly tonight. I saw Gomez hit glass and boards repeatedly. Yet never the net. When he starts being even somewhat useful, I’ll stop blaming him.
When you can logically explain to me what Gomez hitting the net has to do with the effort level of Andrei Kostitsyn I’ll have time to continue this conversation.
Kostitsyn’s had enough excuses made for him over the last four years. And Gomez has been blamed for enough things over just under two years. You don’t need to combine the two.
Replying to the post below about optimists’ vs. pessimists’ record when it comes to the Habs…
As somebody who was frequently labelled a pessimist when the previous incarnation of the team was blown up, my contention was always that I am not sure that the Habs in their current incarnation are that much better than the Habs were in their previous incarnation.
Over the two last two seasons of the Koivu-Kovalev-Markov Habs, the team went 88-55-21, averaging 3.12 goals per game while conceding an average of 2.86 goals per game.
Over the past 1.75 seasons of the Gomez-Gionta-Cammalleri habs, the team has compiled a record of 70-55-17, averaging 2.61 goals per game while conceding an average of 2.65 goals per game.
So only in the unlikely event that the Habs close out this season on an 18-0-4 run would they match the regular season record of the team that was blown up. If they go 10-8-4 over their remaining 22 games, a reachable target, they match the record of the much-maligned 2008-09 Habs that self-destructed in the second half.
But the playoff performance was much better!
True…the Habs went one further round than their predecessor was able to make it. But let’s see how each team fared in their final series…
2009-10: Montreal loses to Philadelphia 4 games to 1 in the 3rd round, being outscored 17-7 while being shut out 3 times.
2008-09: Montreal loses to Boston 4 games to 0 in the 1st round, being outscored 17-6
2007-08: Montreal loses to Philadelphia 4 games to 1 in the 2nd round, being outscored 20-14
When it came to facing a more physically intimidating team in the playoffs, the current edition of the Habs laid the same egg that their predecessors did. But they get extra credit for two huge upsets before they got there, giving them the edge.
And the judges say…
Thus far, I’m willing to grant the split-decision victory to the current edition based on their playoff run last year, but I reserve the right to void the decision should the Habs get demolished in the first round this spring!
If we’re going to talk optimists vs. pessimists, the Habs need to be better than the team that was blown up for me to concede they’re exceeding my expectations. Because when all the moves were made, I was pretty vocal (and admittedly pessimistic) that this team wasn’t all that much of an improvement over their predecessors. The jury is still out on that front, but I remain a skeptical. (Or stubborn…)
0 to 0
I live in NB but I told my wife I’m going to try and stay up to watch the game, because if I go to bed I will be laying there wondering what’s going on. She said obviously you have to be crazy, maybe she is right but at least I know I am not the only crazy one.
Before I get to reading all the posts here just want to say I woke up with a good feeling for the Habs this game.
Call me crazy but expect a victory tonight.
And for once I liked the look of JM’s lines if they hold true from last practice.
Yeah
Facts aren’t always facts. Who knows what the record of the most recent Habs would be with a completely healthy line-up. One of the reasons 08 was so great (that rymes!) was because we had ZERO injuries ALL YEAR.
Imagine how much better this team would be with markov and Georges playing at 100%? And Cammy not missing ten games? Or last year when GIO missed a month and Cammy missed a month and Markov missed his entire lifespan.
Hmmmm…interesting. If you drop the C’s and turn the M into an H his name becomes a-hole.
“When I was a baby I wish my first word had been “QUOTE”, then right before I die I could say “UNQUOTE” – Stephen Wright
O’Byrne only fits into the Top-4 of a team’s defence when he’s playing next to a guy like Markov or Liles, when he isn’t, he’s 3rd pair. 3rd-pairing Ds are not impossible to find last I checked.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
It’s worth noting that on their worst day, the older edition of the Habs never thought of having the amount of significant injuries that this roster has. When Koivu was out, we still had Plekanec and Lang. With Markov and Gorges out, we’ve had no viable replacements for either one.
That’s one theory. Another is that the problem is Martin’s antiquated 5 man System which I believe does not work in today’s NHL.
Yeah, he’s stinking Denver up.
I’m going to say that this is an opportunist posting considering the slump, and how heavily the slump has effected GF and GA. Not to mention that the previous team included Markov playing all but 4 regular season games, and this current edition has seen him miss 90 games of 142 games played. Keeping in mind that Markov generally adds about 0.5 goals per game to the team when he’s playing, this analysis is far too simplistic.
There’s also no note made of the period where the Habs were an entirely new team from coach on down, and how they adjusted to that and the time it took.
Edit: for the record I don’t think you’re a pessimist. I think you fell in love with the team that got blown up, which is why you still think Komisarek is a good player. And you don’t have that same feeling towards the new team. I don’t get why you feel this way, but that doesn’t matter.
You’re a habs fan, you are absolutely entitled to a bit of crazy maybe even delusional…but that’s reserved for leafs fan
What time doe sthe game start for you anyway?
“They say you can’t buy experience,and it’s really true.” -Carey Price
Unlike you folks, I am only an hour ahead of this debacle, and even I am not staying up.
um where is the part where you refute all of this?
——————
GWG = game winning gionta!
The market for defensemen has been set pretty high. He doesn’t have a contract beyond this year but he’ll command at least a 2nd round pick if more than one team wants him.
I’m foreseeing yet another 3+ goal win by the western home team. And because I want another Habs loss like I’d love a root canal, I’m hoping the eternal HIO optimists are correct in their predictions!
If we give up a lot for a Chris Phillips rental, I’ll be pissed.
You know what I would like to see? Switch Halpern and AK and stick with these lines for 10-12 games, not 10-12 seconds. To me when a line goes great for several games and then has an off-game, this shouldn’t be an invitation to blow it up.
You are totally ignoring health in regards to this discussion though.
The 2008 team had zero injuries. They didn’t miss any significant players for any length of time.
The 2010 and 2011 team has lost Markov for close to 100 games. Cammalleri for 30+ games, Gionta for 20+ games.
The 2009 Habs were rolling and then the injuries began to mount and they collapsed.
So I don’t think you can simplify it to the level that you did by just using records.
Chilling at the hotel, flew in from Whitehorse this morning. Pumped to see the game live tonight! Last game I went to was in LA, where I bumped into George Gillett! Got my signed Dryden jersey out and getting ready. Got a good feeling anbout this one.
Anybody got any tips on how to hang around and get autographs? My kids are all kind of hoping to get and autograph. I bougth my kid a jersey today and she asked “Daddy, are we going to get mine signed now too” (she was with me last week when we saw Ken Dryden in Whitehorse and he signed my jersey.
Do the players walk out of the Rogers /GM place somewhere special?
Most telling, in my opinion, are the last few games of the Koivu/Kovalev era: the sweep at the hands of the Bruins. A pathetic performance. Totally gutless and without pride or effort. Made me embarrassed to be a fan. Completely different than the series against Phil last year, where we give it a yeoman’s effort but simply weren’t good enough and ran out of gas.
Say what you want about this edition of the Habs, but they rarely (if ever) mail it in. And that’s something I can get behind.
no blow out tonight it will be a tight checking game low scoring , and we will have a great shot at winning it.smiles…..
Thanks for the report, always like to get some firsthand thoughts about a player.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Was there really a rumor like that? Damn… for me, “Gomez to Phoenix” and just stop right there sounds pretty good. I hear since the attendence in the desert is through the roof they got some $$$ to burn, so why not on Gomer.
It’s only a good thing if he misses the rest of the next season too!!!
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
If we see a page full of Z’s in your blog can we assume you fell asleep on your keyboard ?
Einstein’s definition of insanity – “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
one thing you are right about Chris. The “rebuilt” team is not all that much better (if at all). One set of overpaid unproductive forwards was replaced with another. Defense is still inconsistant at best. Goalies still don’t get any help. The System is still gelling. I say nothing is really change. Chances Habs go 3 rounds this year – I will bet my MAB jersey they won’t.
Who’s his defensive partner, Liles? Not exactly nobody. OB looked like an easy Komisarek replacement on a cheap cap hit last season when he partnered w/ Markov. He’s Top-4 when he’s playing with a No. 1 guy who can clean up the fact that he lacks hockey sense.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Sportsnet is reporting that Spacek will miss the rest of the season….
on a similar note – i dont have any desire for phillips as a rental, or any rentals for that matter unless they involve a gomez salary dump
Yes but that team totally imploded in the last quarter or so of that two year stretch, and this team had to rebuild almost from scratch, especially with the injury situation factored in. I just don’t think those stats reveal much in this particular case.
I’m still waiting for Carbo’s truth to emerge.
whatever came of the gomez to pheonix rumours?
gomez for jovo and a pick?
id take gomez for just a pick at this point
I wouldn’t put too much stock in this particular scouting report. I watched Bournival play in Cape Breton last week. The kid is a powerful skater. He slices through the ice with authority. Among the many terrific things I noticed about his game was his skating. If you don’t believe me, QMJHL games are available online for about $3 bucks or go see him in person. The kids a keeper.
My bold prediction. If the Habs win this game they’ll get two points.
I agree. We will have this game in the bag by the start of the 3rd.
True dat!
Even the most optimistic of Habs fans would have to be high to predict anything other than a blowout tonight. This could get ugly for Price just like last season’s visit but hopefully it won’t ruin the rest of the season for him like last year’s game did.
Been a Habs fan since I was in 2nd grade and sat behind Patrick Roy at the Aud.
Bold prediction – Gomez will be a minus tonight.
how often does this really happen?
Not true man. Spach is a good Hab and the reason he is not playing well is because he is playing out of his element. At this stage of his career he is a 10 minutes per game kind of guy. Same goes for Hammer. I like both of these guys and if Habs had enough depth (thanks BG and PG) on D, these two would be number 5 and 6.
well in all honesty i don’t thinkd epth on d is an issue…
with guys like gorges and markov out for the season it’s hard to blame PG for that…
thankfully we’ve had guy like weber and subban stepping it up like crazy (that’s depth for ya)
——————
GWG = game winning gionta!
From Hockey Prospectus regarding Habs Prospect C Michael Bournival
“Drafted by Colorado in the 2010 Draft, Michael Bournival was dealt to Montreal this year in the Ryan O’Byrne trade. While Bournival has put up decent counting numbers over the last two QMJHL seasons, he doesn’t have much offensive upside and projects as a bottom-six guy at best. He is solid physically around the sideboards and is displays good work ethic. He excels in the cycle game when he can protect the puck and work it around to his teammates. His puck skills are fair, but his skating is the real issue that will hold him back. He’s a fringe skater and looks very awkward at times especially when trying to burst up the ice. His even-strength defensive awareness is fine, but his penalty killing could use some work.”
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Sounds like a keeper.
Misha, the D is not the reason period. The reason Habs don’t win 4-0 games is because we have overpaid bums up front who do jack all season long, and don’t help out in our end. Our defense can be decent and usual is when a) they get help from the forwards b) any of the useless guys with the Forward designation score at least couple of times in a game.
Player bashing continues. But try to remember some of these things…. We have won only 1 game without Gomez in the last 2 seasons, without Spach we are 9-12 and without Gill we are 6-12….
So you guys can hopefully do the math, but in case you cannot. WE ARE A BETTER TEAM WITH THESE GUYS IN THE LINEUP.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
80-65 is the current HABS OPTIMISTS RECORD….
65-80 for the negative Habs posters….
WHO’s winning in the last 2 seasons???
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Misha #2… i totally agree that the offence is umm.. laughable at times
just addressing the fact that if there is one thing we shouldn’t complain about is our d and goaltending
——————
GWG = game winning gionta!
Oh yeah….well I say zero goals for AK tonite!
I haven’t even seen the kid play, it’s hard to outright refute analysis of a 3rd-round draft choice from a Hockey Prospects site. I take what I can pick up and share it around. I like the hard-work players at a young age though, some of them have that ethic that simply makes them a better player later on. Not sure if Bournival is for sure one of those guys but he was well-thought of to nearly make the WJC as an 18-year old (and would have if Cizikas hadn’t played for the HC Of Team Canada’s OHL team).
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
More like 11:10 AT here in Freddy Beach, N.B. Too late for me.
So we traded a large sized NHL roster defenceman for a Q-League maybe?
I am not filled with confidence. A serious undervaluing of OB and a major steal for Colorado.
Happy birthday bud! Enjoy the game!
Hoping for a great game tonight. It’s my birthday, and I’m going to the game!
Besides his skating, I forgot to mention all the freaking elbows he was throwing. He’s got an edge to him, too.
Can we talk about Tanguay without discussing his refusal to play in the playoffs?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, I can’t leave saskhabfan because of misguided fans like you who keep telling everyone that every thing is fine and that only you know about the Habs (which you know nothing!) So instead of harping bout your bad judgment and blaming good fans like me ,WATCH A GAME WITH YOUR EYE’S OPEN AND YOUR MOUTH SHUT!
No problem. I was really charged up about Bournival’s potential after seeing that game. Love your weekly prospect updates, by the way. Please keep them coming.
Sedins, Samualsson (or whatever his name is), Kesler, even that jerk Borrows… the candidates are plenty.
And the brain trust traded O’Byrne for a kid that can’t skate? Typical.
They were not missing those guys for a full season Chris.
You’re really gonna bring up Dandeneault?
They missed Lang for a half season, that’s the closest any of those injuries came to being comparable to what’s happened in the last two seasons.
Yes, I will be wearing my bag after the 1st period.
I’ll bet the Canuckleheads are shaking in their boots after seeing those Habs lines at practice! LOL!
So, like teams that don’t have scoring forwards win?
In what universe?
Sounds like this trade could work out nicely for the Habs after all. Bournival sounds like he could develop into a nice 2-way forward. Sure would be nice to see him come up through the system, maybe play in Montreal one day. Do you think the kid can play in the AHL next year, or do you think he needs another year in the Q?
O’Byrne couldn’t think.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
I don’t think the Habs’ win-loss record (1-3-2) without Gomez says anything at all.
During those games we played the Red Wings twice and the Capitals and Penguins once, along with the Blue Jackets and Leafs. Aside from the Leafs and Blue Jackets, who the Habs beat to get their only win without Gomez, those are great teams we played. Its easily arguable that we would have lost those games with or without Gomez.
In addition, two of those losses (3-1 to the leafs on 11/Dec/10 and 3-1 to the Penguins on 25/Nov/09) came on the second day of a back to back match.
So while its sexy to say ” we’ve only won one game without Gomez” its important to remember how many games we were talking about and which teams we played and what the schedule was like during said stretch.
I know you already know this. But a reminder is helpful.
***I feel like its important to note that I’m not a Gomez basher at all. In fact, I’m mostly likely in the minority percentage that doesn’t hate him.
I’ve got some: a defenceman will be injured, most of the Canadiens shots will come from the outside, the Canucks will crash Carey Price with impunity, and JM will put Halpern on the top line and bench Eller.
Full Breezer 4 Life
I believe it was Lions in Winter that did a breakdown last year of the Habs GF with Markov vs GF without Markov, and it was close to 0.5 goals per game more with him in the lineup. The winning percentage was also significantly better. Last season the team was under .500 without him, and close to .600 with him. That’s a massive change. And remember that Markov coming back isn’t just Markov having that effect, it’s allowing players who are playing out of their depth to slide back down the depth chart, playing against easier competition.
As for similar players, I’ll grant you Gomez and Koivu or Moen and Kostopoulos, but Streit vs Spacek is a red herring as Streit was already gone that year. And Cammalleri and Tanguary don’t play similar games at all. They’re both LW, and that’s it. Cammalleri is a sniper and Tanguay is a playmaker, they don’t even come close in playing style. The players brought in were also younger, so whatever window you’re talking about closing, will stay open longer with these players than it would have with the last set.
winner.
“ I recognized his limitations when everybody else was making him out to be the new Scott Stevens or Mark Tinordi.” Is this a thinly-veiled “I’m so much smarter than you”?
I think with Markov’s ability to control both ends of the ice, it’s not a (huge) stretch to think that he contributes to a +0.5 goal swing for the Habs every game.
As for Komisarek – karma’s a b!tch. He’s getting what he deserved.
Bottom-six sluggish skater who cycles well and has decent defensive awareness? He’s tailor-made for THE SYSTEM, I can see the attraction!
Full Breezer 4 Life
I completely disagree with the Markov assessment. We’ve been a top 3 Powerplay with him in the lineup for more than consecutive years. Souray, Streit, Schneider, Brisebois and others have all come and gone, Markov was what made our powerplay elite. Now, without him, it’s mediocre.
And on the goals for and against subject with him. Teams attack us on the forecheck like never before due to his absence. You can’t send two men in deep into our zone with Markov on the ice, if you do, it’s an odd man rush going the other way almost every time, like clockwork. He not only accounts for a goal every couple of games but he eliminates forechecking pressure that often results in us giving up goals without him.
His value to this team rivals Price’s. With him, we’re running away with the division right now, without him, well, you see the results.
Really?? I tell everyone that “everything is fine and i’m the only one who knows about the habs”??? I will make a bet with you. If you can find one post i made that says those EXACT words i will never post here again. If you can’t prove it, you disappear for good. Not that you would keep your word since your word is about as good as a mesh condom. Anytime you want to try to shut my mouth for me,just let me know,idiot. Good luck finding a post that says those exact things that i apparently tell people. Looks like you will be forced to leave and come back with another user name,again. Looks like your the one who needs to keep his mouth shut,dickwad.
Again, no question. But if I’m hurt and already have a pattern of shying away from the rough stuff. a brutal series where I’m being targetted for hits probably limits my effectiveness.
He’s performed in the playoffs in his career. Some years he’s been great. Other years, invisible. I’m not sad to see him go, although I do think Carbo’s steadfast refusal to unite Koivu, Kovalev and Tanguay was a big mistake. It’s putting all your eggs in one basket, but it was one heck of a basket…
Good game. Reminded me of the Red Wings game with slightly less screwjobbing and a little more poise at the end of each period.
Carey won this for us. I hope his folks were at the game. Good third hanging in guys.
Good team effort. Solid performance by Price. Solid win.
The curse is broken. The Monkey is off their backs.
Gill deserves a star for his last two shifts alone. We have a losing record on the western swing, but we won the most important game, and it was a statement game.
Well done boys!
Mason Raymond is one of the top 5 fastest skaters in the NHL, Gill has beat him to loose pucks twice in a shift. That is amazing.
Think I will take a pass on this one and give my blood pressure a break.
wooooooohoooooooooo
Big win! Of course, the game ends with a Canucks player flat on the ice.
Big Hal is my boy!
Good on JM to play Eller, AK46, and Moen towards the end
Great 4th line shift again, and go Gill for being tall
WHAT A GREAT DIVE BY GILL….
HA GILL HAL GILL HAL GILL… He gets bashed, but im glad he is on our team…
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Atta boy PK. He made the call. The ref was going to let that go.
LOVE Gill’s effort on that play. Twice now he’s beaten Mason Raymond to a loose puck in the last couple minutes.
Eller put with less than 60 sec. left…JM is destroying the kid.
“And Scott Gomez is still missing. He’s the original hole in the donut. The place where odd-man rushes go to die.” Jack Todd
Gill with a dive to get icing… great play.
Methinks he’s gassed
The other brother just got away with a huge tug on gill’s jersey, that stopped him from getting to the puck.
For the penalty, 200 feet from his net, Benny got his ass nailed to the bench (as he should)
Its called JM’s reverse trap,where you hem the opposition in your own end.
the Canucks are Ghandi and the Habs are the British imperial forces!!!!
This game is in the bag….go habs go
Yeah that’s true, I often wonder what kind of message leaving him IN the line up sends to the rest of the players espically the young guys..?m oh well he our rubix cube…sigh.
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
lol
Right, it’s way past my bedtime
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
Not in the standings it doesn’t.
No contract comming up?
I think he is hiding an injury.
The Shell is stage four of the system. PAY ATTENTION!
He sure looks tired to me
Notice how AK is playing a lot better now that he is off Gomez line?
Time for a Canucks powerplay, pull the goalie and finish the game 6 on 4. That’s what it says here in the script anyway.
Great hit from AK!!
——
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Ok Carey…get ready for the 20+ shots comin’ your way.
4th line playing big minutes, and with good reason. Some great plays and big hits by that line.
There’s also the matter of the 100-odd assists that Henrik tallies.
Not knocking you, as I’m sure many a team would take a flyer on AK, but I’m not sure the Henrik goal stat is relevant.
Or because he feels bad about the crap return the Habs will get for him.
Yeah i agree but seriously how long does it take to develop confidence 90 games is a bit much i think,?! plus he is a huge reason for the musical lines this year moving people around trying to get him going. he has been a chemistry killer.
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
I guess they missed all of those Canuck penalties in the first so they’re calling everything on us now. What a joke. Only reason they got any life and are now in the game.
for sure – see that hit? nice.
I am Ozzy-Pooly-Ben, Hab of Habs
Look on my works, ye flighties, and despair!
WHAT A HIT BY AK46!
WOW!
what a difference when we win the faceoff in our zone with halpern…plecks is just terrible at winning key faceoffs ..
Can’t decide whether he’s channeling Alfred Hitchcock or trying to look like Price’s outdoor mask.
Glen Sather adds another day to his tenure as GM every time Gomez misses the net.
But Tom, that can’t be right. I mean everyone here says if you yell at the refs they’ll stop calling penalties against you or it proves you’re a man or…something…I forget.
***Subbang!!!***
LMAO
+1
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Can’t believe I’m still awake for this. Gonna be a long day at work … go Habs go … please no more Gomez on the power-play.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Booner perhaps you should start bloggin for Flyers inside out. Montreal will beat them in the playoffs this year. You’ll see.
You’re not going to beat Price from the outside if he can see it.
Benny should say to Ballard – “Think you can stay on your feet long enough to drop the gloves, or will the draft from my fist knock you over, too?”
So frustrating to watch Gomez shoot, and every time he misses the net, and the puck clears the zone, goes over the glass or ends up on a Canuck’s stick. Offensive black hole he is.
How about comparing his goal total to Daniel’s!
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
i’d watch that.
LOL. I’ll never forget that moment. I remember saying to myself in disgust. ”If a non-call or a call gets Jacques Martin screaming at you, you should chalk it up to a mistake on your part”. I mean, that guy never screams during games. It has to be pretty blatant to make him lose his cool.
In 2005-06 Gomez scored 33 goals for the Devils……………….Ripley’s Believe it or Not!!
We never make it easy on ourselves.
Pouliot should be fined, he takes one or two of those every game.
I am absolutely LOVING the new videos by Mr. Boone.
Except it was only a one-handed push and a dive. Or maybe Benny’s really strong.
He’s actually called the majority of the penalties but Watson sure does have a knack for piling on that right time on behalf of the opposition.
This is very interesting. Good post.
What if your best friend is also your wife/girlfriend?
Can we go 20 more minutes shorthanded against Van We will have to stop touching them.
No you’re not Booner.
JM is going with 3 lines. No DD, BP or White.
Next goal wins
Do you think the Canucks are diving because they KNOW the officials are biased and are looking for any excuse to call anything on us? Teams scout, they talk, I am sure the word is out. They know it.
You quit easy, Mr.Ian. Something I previously noticed.
When you have a stallion, you train’m to run in the Derby.
Wanna take some bets that Benny fights tonight!!!??
Cammi get slashed in a scoring position…no call! We barely “hook” when short handed and up goes the arm….unreal!
LOL
I ain’t gonna make it to the end folks. Played Sunday morning; played last night and hyperextended my elbow. Played OK on both occassions, but feel like shit. As St. Peter, I think once said, fight the good fight or if that doesn’t work, kick them squarely in the nads! Good night all!!!
honestly i think on pouliots penalty the canuck should have been called for diving. He layed there as his team went up the ice and sold it only to skate off laughing later. That deserves a diving penalty I think.
C’mon boys, make this late night worth it!
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
Interesting stat on the screen – Kostitsyn with one less goal this year than Henrik Sedin. AK will find lots of dance partners if he’s a free agent.
Love it when he plays like this!
——
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I believe the default gelling period is 25 games. Of course, there are exceptions.
He’s also had at least 57 assists in each season since the lockout, which is more points than AK has had in any of his seasons.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Phew!
Benny Poolio escapin the box and sendin a message “I’m a bad muthafugga; I WILL crosscheck your azz into the boards without a second thought. Fear me and despair.”
hahaha i was thinking that as i typed out that comment ” some one is going to call me on moen” haha.. But i seriously dont know why gomes is getting pp time over DD.. it is apperently all right for one to suck worse than suck it self on this team and be rewarded with major minutes.. USEEEEEEELESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
“Hello Habs fan here, quick question… is your equipment manager on strike? If so, it could explain so many players losing the edge of their blades as they skate up the ice, or find themselves remotely close to an opponent. If not, think you can send the video to the Italian National soccer team? I think they can use these dives as research material. Thanks!”
JM has a habit of benching DD in the third in close games.
Why???????? DD always impresses me in every game.
You’ll be here in spirit. Well, at least one or two of you will
***Subbang!!!***
As effective a penalty-killer as Pleks is, it kills me to see him burning up so much fuel shorthanded every game. It all adds up by the end of the year. Being one of the most penalized teams in the league (minors) has got to catch up to a few of our stalwart pk’ers come playoff time.
where are Desharnais and Pouliot? are they injured?
Whooooaa baby!!! WHAT is goin’ on in Pennsylvania!!?
Over/Under on the PPs the Canucks get in the third is set at 3.5
I’m picking over
Habs PPs is set for 0.5
I’m picking under
Gomez is incapable of hitting a wall with the puck… even while standing in front of the Great Wall of China.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
somethin’ isn’t right with Pleks. He’s either hurt, sick or just plain pooped
Watching Gomez is as painful as watching your hot ex making out with your best friend
Can’t blame him for the refs bad calls.
hammer getting way too much pp time…sometimes i just dont get martin
1st line centre.
Close one, dumb penalties but some good killing to go with it atleast.
LOL..timo: the ever optimist..
Great …fun game ! I phoned my son who lives in Van and is a NuckleHead and he asked me to never contact him again,lol.BIG 3rd COMING UP AND IT’S GONNA BE AWSOME!!!!
oh Ak, why must you torture me with flashes of your hidden brilliance? WHY?!?
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Boys have to stay out of the box. Stop reaching with the stick and skate.
Canucks better looked out – Gomez is on the ice.
I made the suggestion 2 years ago they should hire yanic perreault for that reason.
There’s Benny benched for the rest of the game!
“I only like to watch and takes notes” JM
HOLY SHITE
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
How about Scott Gomez and a pick for Paul Statsny?
Two tough contracts to move, but Statsny has more upside and shorter contract.
Jacques Martin and Kirk Muller screamed at Brad Watson in game one of the Capitals series last playoff for not calling a late body check penalty on Eric Fehr for running Bergeron after an icing. They embarrassed him on TSN because he had called the same exact penalty on Travis Moen for doing the same thing to Shane Morrissonn less than 10 minutes earlier. Ever since that game it’s been a never ending parade to the penalty box when Brad Watson is doing a Hab game.
I know. Moen never misses them.
Alright boys, bring it home ..
AK playing well
They have to keep #17′s butt out of Carey’s face
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
LIFT IT AK!
How is that a good plan? The good plan calls for falling back and protecting the lead. You clearly haven’t followed the Habs much.
he should be buried like one.
Agreed
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How many games will it take Cammy to warm up?
Refs better call the rest of this game even for **** sakes, they’re the biggest reason Vancouver is back in this.
Jacques should impose a strategy on Gomez. The only word he’s allowed to say until April is “finish”. Hi Scott, how are you this morning?
Scott: Finish.
Dude: So you’re doing well then?
Scott: Finish
That is all.
PK has to beat down 17 for God sakes!
Not one Hab in front of the net on the PP
First period was ours, second was theirs. Let see if we play with the puck and forecheck or sit back and try to dump it out and blow it.
why is Gomez on this team?
Gionta has to challenge on that. Finally, they get a penalty. What a terribly refereed game. Make them pay boys!
lmfao,awesome avatar.
Our powerplays are severly lacking in power & plays.
What?! Gomez missed an open net?! Haha… this guy is just amazing.
That was beyond pathetic – cmon Gomez, my grandma would have potted that in.
COME ON GOMER!!!
Nice play by Kessler….why can’t our forwards do that!
Gomez can’t hit space itself!
come on mara,bleed damn it,lol. j/k,but seriously bleed.
Fraggin Gomie!
He only missed by a couple of feet.
Gomez misses net? What? UNHEARD OF!
Gomez, come on son. Couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn with a banjo
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
Ok, the stage is set for an “exciting” finish. Sit back and enjoy 18 minutes of play in the Habs end.
Two goals two screens. The D have to clear the man so Price can see
Lots open on the blocker side there.
Why is DD not on instead of Gomer??????
Brad Watson my friend. Halpern wasn’t even close to doing anything illegal.
L’Ecuyer is a treasure as well.
All Price saw on that one were two huge numbers….One & Seven
WHY THE HELL IS GOMES GETTING PP TIME?????? Only he could miss an empty net…
“After 13 years, I couldn’t accept to be number two.“ Guy Lafleur.
whats vigneahlt smirking about?
I’m guessing 5
——
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oh man, why do I feel that missed net will cost us?
I can’t take Gomez anymore.
Great shot, Pyle.
Go Habs Go!
I’ll go get the spade, we won’t need to bother drawing a map eh?
… why is Gomez on the PP?
Benched for the penalties?
——
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Gomez couldn’t hit sand if he fell off of a camel.
JM’s blood pressure is rising.
Gomez couldn’t hit the broad side of a damn barn!
neither do his players.
F*ck, Gomez….
Or ties
——
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See kessler take a wack at Carey there?
1. He’s Scott Gomez, and you want him to play with confidence. Putting him on the bench in favour of Desharnais in that situation embarasses him.
2. This has been his best game this year despite his tendency to miss the ocean while jumping off of the cruise ship.
Oh no! I did not see this coming.
lmfao,nah,we will bury him in the regular spot with the other useless artifacts. Like leaf playoff tickets or lats wrap around videos.
Well the douchebag refs are getting their wish. What a joke they are.
My boy Eller is playin with some moxy tonight.
Haha. Not quite Ian. Halpern isn’t exactly working well on the right wing but if they win it doesn’t matter I guess.
Andrei showcasing for suitors tonight. Good for him!
CRAP!!! We gotta game boys and girls.
The Belarussian Bear just ate someone in the corner.
That was Gomez going for a skate and letting Van out of their zone!
“I only like to watch and takes notes” JM
Best game from AK i’ve seen in a month at least.
Get # 17 away from our net!
WTF was that? A 5 on 3?
Never in a hundred years Bugs.
Haha. Yeah it’s a long time but it’s not like you can hid the guy in your lineup. If you bench him or demote him you might as well hang a for sale sign around his neck.
Pouliot has a little brother who plays centre? Where?
The Nucks always got a guy in front of the net
The references are Historical and Literary.
All I’ll say.
OMG how was THAT not a penalty??????
Haha!! Well played Sir!
As much as I can’t stand AK I am really liking him with Eller. Maybe they should put another scoring winger like Pouliot or Pacioretty with them.
My wife’s from Victoria BC, she’s a huge Nucks fan. She went to bed when it was 2-0. hehehe
No, it’s called the SYSTEM
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
Where is the “like” button?
He’s hurt. Ference acted as if his stick were an axe and Plekanec’s right leg were a tree and chopped. And chopped hard I might add.
All lines are working well Timo.!
My boy gettin the shaft!
Dezzy and White too, what the hell?!
Given his video segments, this site becomes something entirely different if he does. Eesh!
I think that hip injury is acting up again. Pleks is not a slacker if he can help it.
He lives in one, so it makes him feel right at home.
He’s gassed after all that PKing he’s been doing.
i am so impressed with Gomez tonight though. what a game he’s having.
Ya but do they tie it or do the Habs get a short handed empty netter to ice it?
But not Halpern, whose penalty was the one they ACTUALLY scored on…
Nope. 6 on 3. You forgot about the cheese whiz call that comes once we’re already short handed.
I think your boy is sitting cause of the shaft he delivered to the head of the vancouver player. Personally, if you ask me, I liked what he did. I wish more Habs did that kind of stuff and more often.
Great game tonight folks! The calls aren’t going our way, but I am loving the aggression. Let’s hope they keep it up in the 3rd
——
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Oh THAT one!
Go with the second.
Gill is my hero!
please’s esplain bugsy
Hal Skill!
For the love of God Boone, please, do NOT put on the cheerleader skirt.
-Dustin-
WHAT A PLAY BY GILL!!!!!
Effective use of his star players with regards to playing time is not one of JM’s strong points. Pleks gets tired every season because he plays too much on the PK. I am worried about Price with all the games he is playing and Auld is not getting a break not playing either.
Steamboat Gill! good play…
“I went to see a fight the other night…And A hockey game broke out!”
~Rodney Dangerfield~
Why does Hodgson wear a cage?
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
awesome play by giller
I agree 100% ! There should be a faceoff coach, just like a goalie coach, in todays game starting with the puck counts for a lot.
Fudge Yeah!!!
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I think Booner compared them to Nazi’s last year, so I’d doubt he’d be too popular over there.
Carey Price, wow what else can be said? What a Win
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
Pacioretty’s cross check was the funniest call. If that was cross-checking they’ve missed about 30 more.
Ex-Rollie-goalie beats current Rollie-goalie.
You mean the “put the fear of God into the other team” penalties the opposition doesn’t capitalize on? I can dig THOSE.
So, if by “fined” you mean “treated to a round of drinks from his teammates”, I totally agree with you, Mr.Ian.
Drink. That’s what I did with 5 minutes left, but I’m still shaking like an autumn leaf…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Huge win fokks! Great game from AK/Eller/Moen
Wooooo!!
——
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cup preview
Over/under on when Everlasting1/demigod comes back to rant about Price the choker and how much better Halak is.
Laugh now Vigneault. We have beat you twice now this year.
WOO HOO indeed Mr. Boone. And on that note, good night
wish I could have seen the triple low five.
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
Gill deserves two of the stars. I’d give em three if Andrei didn’t show Hab fans Worldwide once again why they hate him.
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET !!!!
Iam going to sleep through games more often….what GREAT news to wake up too……
Great way to end the Road trip woes!! Very proud of the gang tonight!
Good to see Price have a better game then the last time he played at home. Props to Martin for having AK46 out there in the last minute(he played great tonight)
I love how the frenchies kept saying Al Gill and Sam Wilson.
Probably around the same time when you start going on about your tanking nonsense. Don’t really see how one is worse than the other.
The Montreal Canadiens: sporting the best AND worst fans since 1909!
Maybe they should just send Gomez out alone…with no teammates, he will have no choice but to try and go to the net instead of peeling off to the left half-boards!
Opposites attract.
We’ve allowed fewer goals in two games against VAN than we did in any game we had with CGY or EDM, odd isn’t it?
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Yeah but he wasn’t on the team then.
I would’ve loved to have seen the Bruins reaction to Wisniewski, Moen and Subban fighting Bergeron, Marchand and Seidenberg.
I agree about Washington. And if I were to pick a Cup winner today it would be them. Offensive talent like theirs doesn’t stay cold for full seasons and their offensive guys are buying in.
People are having fun at their expense but I don’t expect that to continue into May and June.
JM was very wise with Kostitsyn tonight. Put him with Moen and Eller. Simple game style, all he has to do is skate, hit, find open ice and shoot…..nothing fancy. He also gave him PP time just in case he felt he was being demoted. Pretty much saying ..”Hey, need to work on a few things, but I got faith in you”. Giving the kid that bone seemed to pay off…….little things that don’t get enough appreciation.
Good coaching from Jacques but a great response from the kid.
Unsure which player in your post you are describing as gutless. Is it Subban?
Calagary plays us with more physicality than Vancouver and Edmonton throws a more varied attack at us.
Seems like “Martin’s Magical Mixmaster” (ala Stubbs) found some good magic tonight. All 4 lines played well putting pressure on the Canucks…good bash, crash and offensive movement. At least until the bench got shortened I assume because of an undisciplined penalty by Pouliot limited that lines ice time.
Seems AK is effective in a less than top 6 role and I like that he comes to play when he is with Moen. Eller , Moen and AK looked very good tonight.
I think Cammi will refi9nd his magic with Pleks and then we could see some good offensive hockey.
It was very obvious at a point in the 3rd period that JM implmented the defense, protect the lead game plan…but I thought he let them go hard offensively for most of the night and that felt good as a fan to see the boys go hard to the net and make plays in teh O-zone for a change.
As long as JM lets them play some offensive game in order to get the jump pon the other team, I have no problem with him kicking in the protect the lead ad some point to preserve the win like he did tonight.
Thank you Habs for winning this for me…living out here in Canucks land these Canuck fans are A-Holes (read Cam Cole, John Garrett (colour jerk for Sportsnet) my brothers wife, and so many more that were laughing at me/us before the game. So thank you Habs for putting in a great 60 mins of hockey and for shutting them up for a while.
Wow! What a game! What an exciting game. Hard to believe they held the lead. The Canucks gave them all they can handle, and then Kostitsyn ADDED to a LEAD?! Pretty certain I haven’t heard that sentence in a while. He had a great game. Very involved. Looked very threatening. Awesome body language.
I love the way Mara muscled that forward off him as he went for the puck, don’t you? He’s not a magician with the puck, but he has fresh legs late in the season, and he looks like he’s alert and trying hard to help.
Price wanted this one and he battled for it. He also looked human tonight – not in a bad way, but he didn’t have that robotic cool. And it was fun to see him care that much.
Hal Gill’s reach is still wondrous. He made several great poke checks
Plekanec was on his game. He’s a gem, that one. He competes in every zone, every shift.
I like Pacioretty. A lot. He uses his body, he can skate, he’s got hands, he’s got smarts, and he’s got heart. I’m not worried about this kid not panning out.
I think Eller has improved a lot since the season’s start.
Like having Cammalleri back? Me too. He’s a top flight talent and he’s a competitor. We’re a much better team with him in the lineup.
Gionta was great tonight. Strong leader. The team plays with pride. He helped to forge it last year in the playoffs, and it’s been hardening since. Good mentor for Pacioretty, the American boy? You betcha.
I just feel sorrow for Gomez now. He’s such a likeable guy. This city so desperately wants to cheer for him. Has he simply forgotten that? Does he think we’d never like him again even if he started scoring? We should all write him letters of support. And we should all write to Geoff Molson and ask him to hire a sports psychologist. Lets do it!
Wow. What a game.
I don’t think anyone is Cam Neely anymore. But I would take Chris Stewart on my team any day.
Are the Habs short handed? I have seen this movie before.
Wow, it’s pathetic watching the nucks dive all over the place.
now we need to win the next two at home…vs leafs no reason not to play 4 lines all game…pp should be wiz,pk weber and hammer second half of the pp only…major pull back of the offense after 2-0 lead… brutal faceoff performance….keep hoping but still have a feeling ak46 on his fool me once performance..accept this is about the 50th time in his career..is he now going to score thurs and maybe sat and be invisible for 10 games after sat
Burrows diving everywhere.
And Moen. Levels Subban from behind and they both go after him. His reaction? Find the nearest linesman. He’s gutless.
Moen has had a fantastic defensive game.
Capgeek is much more accurate, and they have it as what I typed out.
It’s called the shell, and it’s stage 4 of a Jacques Martin game.
Stage 1: Get an early Powerplay goal.
Stage 2: Your goaltender stands on his head.
Stage 3: You get an insurance goal on the Powerplay.
Stage 4: Bottle up tighter than 50 year old wine.
I think you’re right. The year we drafted him (I think it was 10th overall) he was a concensus top-3 but other teams shied away from him because of his illness. The Habs medical staff said it was controllable so we picked him. Some games he’s clearly not 100%. It’s only one game but I love the space he has when Eller is at centre.
Yeah, why isn’t Markov or Streit on the PP.
Oh, I’m sorry. Not waving the pom-poms quite enough for you?
Lucic ran away from Wisnwieski in that game, so no way that would happen.
It was a dumb selfish penalty. But I really like the aggressive new Pouliot we are seeing recently. He is finally using that big body and if he puts on some more muscle he could be a power forward.
The zebras suck again tonight. There’s been more than a few Hab’s shifts in the 1st and 2nd when multiple infractions could have been called on the Canucks. Many of them the non-discretionary variety. And then they make the bullshit calls on Pacioretty and Halpern. Halpern’s been tackled in the goal crease twice and interferred with or tripped about four or five times during the game. Not a single f’ing call. I agree with the poster who said that the fix is in. It sure is and it’s been that way for the Habs all year. I hope the Habs overcome the adversity. They’re a better team than their record suggests and they can compete against the league’s best on an even playing field.
Yes he is. But I won’t be confusing him with Cam Neely anytime soon. The bloggers of the World and knee jerk reactionary sports writers of North America have been calling him the prototypical powerforward. I don’t know, maybe somwhere along the line the criteria for that label changed.
The ‘Nucks player embellished, if Pouliot had taken that shot it wouldn’t have been called.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
He can’t stop opposing players from looking for the bottom of the swimming pool Ian.
Or maybe he’s intelligent for not getting into a battle with the face of the franchise who makes $9 million annually.
You ever hear of a coach challenging Peyton Manning?
When they iron out the details of becoming what they’re developing into now. They’ll be a team that can win any style of hockey game you want to play. Tight defensive, wide open, physical. Won’t matter. They have two very talented goalies, a ton of fire power, blue chip defensemen and big physical presences. And they’re pretty fast too.
Do you really think I would explain my boy’s master-stroke if there was even the slightest possibility of anyone’s affecting its outcome?
I partially suspect the medication he takes to control his epilepsy throws him off a bit. Not a lot, but just enough to cost him in the game.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Yup, it’s sad the autonomy and level of power tripping NHL ref’s are allowed to get away with. There’s a scene in the 24/7 HBO doc, that really displays this, but I’m too drunk to recall specifics.
Well said, Jacques did well in trying AK and Eller together and leaving them together. It was nice to see them on the ice so late in a one goal game
NHL numbers has the Habs Cap Space at 3.255
http://nhlnumbers.com/teams/MTL?year=2011
I think the difference is Stewart is just much more effective, and younger, and cheaper. Lots of allure there.
Coach’s responsibility to hold a player accountable and it shouldn’t have taken the team four years to start balancing out with defence. Boudreau has enabled Ovechkin more than anyone, something as simple as abusing shift time should have been rubbed out years ago.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
AK – could he need corrective lenses? He has a heck of a time picking up the puck when it gets deflected or when there’s a scrum. In open ice he’s poetry. Do the players get their eyes tested regularly?
WSH will win when Boudreau is fired.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
You dog him way too much Robert. It isn’t his fault that the owner lets Ovechkin do whatever he wants. He’s a good but not great coach and you could be eating your words sooner rather than later.
Habs lead the league in statement games
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
No, my math wasn’t wrong. The Habs actual salary room is $1,031,006. That comes out to an ability to add a total salary of $4,168,850. Not to be rude, but it’s probably a good idea to check the facts before you insult someone HH.
That’s fair. But throwing zero hits through pretty much a full game’s worth of icetime doesn’t exactly make him the havoc wreaker that he’s touted to be Andrew.
Kostitsyn hits much more than he does. A lot more.
Mara can drop ‘em as well.
I would like to add that we do need a winger who can attack Chara and Pronger consistently however.
Making the playoffs makes you a contender in the East. After that, it is good goaltending, discipline and getting the right matchups.
I still don’t like the Habs shots against Boston or Philaelphia on paper.
I think they matchup well with everybody else, although Washington still scares the heck out of me because I think they’re learning how to win the hard way, which makes them a more dangerous team come playoff time. If they dump Semin, I like their chances that much better. I still think they beat Montreal if they had stuck to the gameplan of running everything through Backstrom, instead of suddenly trying to let Ovechkin and Semin try and do everything individually later in the series.
To make room for him at center, Halpern had to move to the wing, where he looked not bad at all. Much better than Eller did there. So JM may have found a solution.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
More to being a power forward than hitting, namely taking hits and keeping the puck, and barreling through people to the net. Like Kostitsyn’s goal today, that was a power forward goal.
I still think Markov’s and Gorges’ prolonged absences will catch up. But I also reserve the right to maintain the opinion that good goaltending and special teams make you a contender in the East. So I really don’t care which way Gauthier goes as long as he doesn’t mortgage the future.
Very odd.
The only thing that damn game revealed is that the Habs don’t have more than four players who can fight. Pouliot, Moen, Subban and Wisniewski are fairly good with their fists.
Does Boychuck, Thornton and Campbell targeting Pyatt, Hamrlik and Spacek justify some misguided opinions about the toughness of the Habs? Nope. In fantasy land it might, but not in the real world.
It was a good win but there are still holes in the Habs game. The Boston beat-down still leaves a bad taste in the back of my mouth.
Nevertheless a statement game.
It still doesn’t change my POV that the Habs still need to build their farm and work towards getting better draft picks and better positioning in the entry draft.
This team is 7% predictable. (Leaving 93% frustrating, exciting, stoopid, scintillating, Plexistensial….)
Like that Eller was on in the final minute …shows JM has increasing trust in the kid and hey why not he played a hell of a good game at centre…hello JM – THAT’s HIS NATURAL POSITION – leave him at centre – enough of the trying to make him a winger.
Like all 4 lines tonight…good compete level and crash and bang mixed with offense…
Chris Stewart. You know, everyone’s favourite powerforward. 0 Hits through three games with the Blues.
Maybe it’s time people just referred to him as a goal scorer.
Hahaha so you’re elevating him above the 3 stars?
Facts disturb you?
It’s my very own juju.
Says the University student who still hasn’t mastered grade school math.
Until he comes down from this season long high he’s been riding……yes. He’s the Vezina winner as of today. I’d like to see Tim Thomas deal with the workload and pressure he’s been under and thrive the way he has. Four words. NO WAY IN HELL.
I agree, but Vezina voters won’t.
Does one win erase two bad losses?
Math was never my subject, but where exactly did I fail?
When it’s against the top team in the NHL, yes.
Kovalev’s cap hit if the Habs acquire him. You seem to forget his 5 million would be pro-rated so it would be somewhere between 1 and 1.5 million.
BTW. I never was on the band-wagon nor am I am back on. I am not a follower. I trail-blaze.
Damn right – PK shamed him into it.
One win and he’s back on the bandwagon.
No. He gets a gold star. He doesn’t even count in the three stars. The guy has had two bad games all year and has been great in just about every other game all season.
Your goal-scorers the last time the Habs beat the Canucks in Vancouver?
How about Craig Darby, Martin Rucinsky, Brian Savage and….P.J. Stock.
Assists collected by the likes of Juha Lind and Patrick Poulin.
Also dressed that night for the Habs…Andrei Bashkirov, Eric Landry and Christian Laflamme.
I don’t care what happens for the rest of the season, let’s just thank the Lord that we don’t dress the likes of that motley crew anymore. Yikes.
Thank you for returning to the HH avatar.
***Subbang!!!***
nicely said.
furthermore, i would just like to thank The JM System for totally shutting down the most dangerous offence in the league during the third period. a thing of beauty was that. great team effort. awesome coaching!
You needed to bring this up why?
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
Hit ‘em Andrei!
Home province Timo
why is the DD-BP-White line benched after being one of the better, more consistent lines in this recent losing skid?
Yep saved a goal by deflecting a back door pass on the pk in the second period too.
Only 2 threats in the East for the playoffs in my opinion are Philly and Montreal.. Of course we might see surprises….
Haba are hanging tough. I smell a biased, weak assed penalty coming.
Yeah, AK seemed to have a little ‘thing’ going on with Young Lars.
I like.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Subban tripped by one of the twins as he was pivoting to the corner.
Guess I am a Negative Nellie. First 10 minutes of the game was brilliant hockey by the HABS. Either through the coach’s design or the the players becoming too ‘passive’, they mostly allowed Vanc to take the game over after that. But they WON and I am happy because it means the playoff spot gets more secure. You can dump on me as a Negative Nellie all you want if it gives you the air of superiority which you seem to clamour for with your name-calling.
That’s part of the fun.
PK tripped, no call.
Anybody else has an impression that Plekanec has been playing way too casual in last dozen games or so?
My boy’s penalty is what ripped Couvie’s heart out. They were terrified after that.
Shame the coach put his conformist apron on and even so, I fail to see why Dezzy and White had to suffer as well.
Anyway, rant about it tomorrow; g’night, you circus animals!
To which obvious infraction are you referring?
I would like to be the first to thank all the Negative Nellies who showed up here tonight trying to rain on our parade. Dare I say the usual suspects. You made this game particularly satisfying with your standard whines and rants, your livingroom couch coaching expertise and your Atom D hockey experience. You shone through and made this a completely enjoyable experience for us all because we love it when your own words get shoved up your collective nether regions. We won and you didn’t.
***Subbang!!!***
You’re forgetting about Price!
That was tense. But here’s the difference from last year (‘s regular season): Habs under the JM system can properly lock down a game in the 3rd. Heart palpitations ‘n all. >:)
Guess we do nothing at trade deadline now. We beat ‘best team’ in the league so we are SET for the playoff.
Does anyone want to dedicate Friends in Low Place to Cam “The Habs are nothing more than Nashville with a better crest” Cole?
For AK?
Halpern got the infraction while defending Poopoo’s penalty.
Also Pouliot is young and will be a Hab for longer than Halpern. It’s part of his learning process.
It was worth losing sleep over.
STFU John Garrett! These guys give NESN a run for their money
Classic!
Ok… the parade is back on, folks. Sweet win. AK was great tonight… more players should NOT play with Gomez and we’ll be ok.
Glad Price got a win in his hometown which is nice that for a change our goalie did that.
Go Habs and go Gomez!!!!
He almost ruined Price’s career before it got started.
mr.boone u gotta try your about last nigts live, it would be awesome
** Buck Fruins **
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let’s sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again
HOW THE HELL CAN I GO TO BED NOW?????????????
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
HAL! Hero of the game right there.
Gozer the Gozarian running the Leafs!
http://www.atdhenet.tv/
cool, thanks! i thought that one was shut down, but it looks like they’re back!
Yes, you do. I just view it as a signal for the original Christmas truce in December 1914.
FFS
Not only Lou can make the big saves
Torres doing his job, being a dick and getting under habs skin.
NOW I remember Paul Mara
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
Who’s this team in red? What happened to all that peripheral play? Was there a trade while I was napping?
Cheap call on Mara
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
Slick combo, no doubt.
***Subbang!!!***
Always.
Nice period.
The DD, Pouliot thing is a very nice addition to this team.
I would almost swear he was clean shaven to start the game.
Yep, he’ll be the next to have a “comment”
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
It’s a sure thing. I was very happy to see Gill step in and just toss him aside when he was in Price’s kitchen. There hasn’t been enough of that. Mara will certainly help in that regard he can just beard guys out of the way
Total scumbags, and great hockey players. How annoying!
hugs and kisses bugsy!
Hangin’ in there Eric?
***Subbang!!!***
Who wants to bet Kesler will gripe about PK in a post-game interview?
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
This is an important kill.
Great blocking by Moen
To refill the Viagara prescription?
Kesler never stops bitching, and Crosby has a bad rep?
Way to take a few for the team Moen…
MAN WE REALLY NEED TO STAY OUT OF THE BOX…. They are gonna kill us if we take any more penalties…..
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
From the original Wall Street: A man looks into the abyss…..
Is it just my TV, or do Pierre and Brunet sound like they’re crowding around the microphone on Boone’s laptop?
My god these Vancouver announcers are annoying
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
If the Habs keep this up for four hours, I’d say they better see a doctor!
I taunt them with my avatars!!!!
Oh, the Habs love to take their hooking penalties.
Full Breezer 4 Life
John Garrett…worst colour man ever.
I thought CBC sucked but these guys on Sportsnet are really bad.
“And Scott Gomez is still missing. He’s the original hole in the donut. The place where odd-man rushes go to die.” Jack Todd
That Paul Mara can grow a full beard in about 10 seconds can’t he….
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Now the Refs are back to normal and trying to kill us. WEAK CALLS, and nothing against us as PK get leveled in the corner by two Nucks,,
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Refs want to make sure the Nucks tie this up before the end of this period
Somebody break Kesler please. Thanks.
Anyone else notice Super Gino behind the Habs bench?
Check out that giant gold chain, that Napoli jacket, that massive gold ring…
Looks like a halloween costume.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
anybody watching (free) online? link please?
Ahh Garret and Shorthouse. Doesn’t get any more homerish than these two. The worst commentators in the business if you’re not a Canucks fan. I would give Galley and his boyfriend in Ottawa a close second.
For a big dude, Kesler sure acts like a little b!tch out there
Carey doesn’t get any quick whistles at all
http://atdhe.me/tv/1970/live-montreal-canadiens-vs-vancouver-canucks
No! Priopism! It could be dangerous!!!
http://www.fromsportcom.com/
Kessler is a good player but he dives a ton and chirps more then most players. Pretty funny how nobody ever mentions that. Must not be quite good enough to get noticed.
Yup. I would take either of those scumbags in a split second.
Theres been all of this talk this year about how Ryan Kesler is a new player because he no longer lets himself retaliate as much as he did before and just focuses on his play. I would LOVE if this was the night that it all came undone for him, thanks to PK and the gang.
Devils winning again against Dallas…but no way they are making the playoffs right?
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
Kesler needs a good beat down.
It was mentioned a lot earlier in his career, but I think Burrows being on the Canucks takes attention away from Kesler’s chirping. Both would be welcome on my team.
What a great reaction save by Carey.
I missed most of the first, videos of the two goals?
Pouliot springs Desharnais with a beauty pass, breakaway dekes backhand goes through Lou’s legs. Second one PK lets a hard wrister go, big rebound drops right to Gionta, we don’t miss a gimme for once. A few other chances right after that pulled off the line. Could have been 4-0 at least halfway through the period
Amen! (“Centre”, BTW.)
Despite the shot difference, we’ve had more good scoring chances in the first 10 minutes today then we had the last two games, I like that we’re not just firing perimeter shots with no traffic.
Looked like that Nuck player bear hugged Halpern to the ice there.
Can’t tell you how refreshing it was to see Paul do that. You don’t have to do anything daft, just let the little twit know you’ve got his number.
Good on him!
Habs are flyin out there.
Does it look like Martin is so excited?
And with that assist Gomez ties Plekanec for the most points by a Hab since December 1st with 24.
Just sayin’
MAKE UP CALL
Hammer has to get his usual dumb penality
Me too!!!
Absolutely are.
Luongo getting lucky, should be 5-0 already. Hope they can keep up this pace
Good for Mara letting Torres know whats up..he tried to take Pacs head off.
Eller looks so much more comfortable at Center, they have to find a way to leave him there.
Habs – Giant killers. But they need good ice.
Red sweaters in front of the opposition net … end times are nigh. Can they please go there every night??
Full Breezer 4 Life
JM’s line “mix-o-matic” seems to have come up with good mix for tonight.
“And Scott Gomez is still missing. He’s the original hole in the donut. The place where odd-man rushes go to die.” Jack Todd
Funny thing is, Luongo has been spectacular IMO, this could be 5-0 by now.
Man we’re giving them fits, Canucks not skating at all right now though.
Moen scores and I am preparing myself for the coming of The Messiah!!!
That Eller, Moen, AK line could be very effective with Eller mucking it up in the corners and Moen in front of the net.
Liking the Eller 4th line…goods mix of grit and skill there.
“And Scott Gomez is still missing. He’s the original hole in the donut. The place where odd-man rushes go to die.” Jack Todd
Using facts to argue a point. Pfffft!!!
How dare you call that outburst a game’s worth. That’s easily worth two games.
ANyone else notice how well moen and ak seem to play together? If only they could finish
I’ll have what they’re having, please.
Big Lou will be beaten to a snot by the 3rd
need to bury a few more as canucks looks like saw this as an easy 2 pointer…no flukey goals to wake the canucks up or bad penalties
They boo a hand pass?
This is scary a whole game’s worth of scoring in the first period!
“I only like to watch and takes notes” JM
Beauty save by Lou.
That was totally holding the stick. what a brutal call.
Nice little role reversal here, from our play of late. It’s nice to be up by two right away and have the other team chasing. Seems like the Nucks aren’t getting the calls either. SO THIS WHAT ITS LIKE…
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Uhhg. What a pointless penalty to take. Why would you hook some non factor like Raymond.
Nobody get excited. It’s 2-0. Next team that scores wins the game.
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=99312
exactly what the habs need, what does it take to get him here
** Buck Fruins **
The Habs had him, didn’t work out too well
Boone: It’s a three-goal lead that is the worst in hockey. But really, can you see the rings of Saturn from your video site?
I dunno. It’s freaking me out.
Ok, what adventure awaits the Habs fans in the 2nd ?
Yep… *hic* … got ‘em right where they… *hic* … want us!
Carey takeing notes from Hammer?
We’ve seen this before, will they hold or will they fold?
Screw the Bruins. So what? We just need to worry about OUR biness and nevermind them, man.
Tradition for nigh on 80 years betwixt us. Been workin pretty good for us so far, no?
Thank you!
Some people seem to think that Martin actually tells the team to stop trying and sit on a lead.
Yeesh.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
ron u sleeping yet
You see that guy behind JM? He’s out of control.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
this new jersey streak is unbelievable..is it nhl planned? lol….boston looks like will win in calgary…marchand 19 goals and picked 71st by boston
oops wrong link lol,
i was talking about rick nash and his beauty goal against the preds
** Buck Fruins **
Reckon the Boys know that. A goal here would help…
I’d like to see what this team can do on pure preparation. Unleash them, let them build a 14-2 shots advantage, and 2-0 on the scoreboard–and then Don’t coach them! Don’t give them any guidance, Don’t rein them in, Don’t remind them to mind their defensive responsibilities. Just let ‘em play!
PP is terrible with Hamrlik on the first wave. Why did JM split up Wiz and Subban?
Brain fart by Pricey.
GOTTA STAY OUT OF THE BOX….. PLAYING WITH FIRE HERE.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Ayoye Carey
Unlucky bounce of a block. Good screen by Kesler.
They can’t let Kesler stand there. GOTTA move him.
Nice call Boone, I guess we’ll have to blame you
Wow they make it look so easy.
Carey has bailed us out more than he’s let us down, I forgive him
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
Only picked 71st because he’s a midget, he’s got skilz. Watched him a lot with the Wildcats. He’s a tool though.
Full Breezer 4 Life
I’m telling you, I’m obsessed with Super Gino.
It’s insane.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
NJ wins again, holy crap, I want Jacques Lamaire, Its gotta be him
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
Mother Effin BRUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!
you need a ‘like’ or +1 option for your live thinger posts, boone!
Formerly known as Camel_Larry.. ‘Sub-BAM! What a hit!’ ..”No more Looser on this teams!!” – Canadienboy
2-0 got em right where we want em!
That analysis ignores the fact there are two teams on the ice. The Canadiens don’t have to go into a shell for a team like Vancouver to take the initiative. They’re good.
Super Gino, lol
That’s fine let them enjoy it. Let that Luchicken wear his smug smile.
Very good blackmail on the entire Cans organization for a Gomez-Staal swap.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Somebody better be getting them pumped up in the room because the Canucks are going to come out flying. This is too one sided for reality.
***Subbang!!!***
we need the next 3 goals(lol) …but it looks like we are starting to pull back…i think martin has hypnotized this team and evrytime they show some offense in a game and take a lead they fall back to hang on mode…we have to keep attacking the vancouver d…but i am afraid they will revert to the rope a dope d that martin loves
Great commentary Boone … Love the Video
“Gotta post something just so my mug isn’t at the top of the live blog.”
Gonna take more than one line I’m afraid, Mr. Boone!
Tim Horton’s just blamed subban.
Oh ya. I just won $100 Tim Hortons card on the Roll Up the Rim. Take that Scotty Gomez.
jinx
Full Breezer 4 Life
Mara and Weber look solid as a pairing.
I like Hamrlik but I call it like I see it, his game is really having issues in this final leg of the season. It took to the playoffs last year for him to really go down but it’s happening earlier this year. I just think the NHL schedule is a bit too much for the guy, he doesn’t play a soft game and he’s close to being 1300 games in the NHL. Takes a toll sooner or later.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Fine. But hasn’t taken a toll YET.
You will show our most reliable defender the proper faith until it does.
LOL. The key to winning is you just have to shut up and play.
moulson 27th goal..mcarthur 18th…if he is a free agent would we look at mcarthur next year?
Mcarthur would be a good grab. That is the nicest thing I can say about a Leaf.
No thanks. He is a very average player having a career year because he is playing big minutes on a bad team (just like Jason Blake did with the Islanders and cashed in). Plus, Jaro Spacek wouldn’t like it as Mcarthur gave him a pounding earlier this year.
hammer on the pp is a joke..he is to slow and not agile enough anymore..martin makes some strange decisions
No soon though the way its going
1 every 4, that means they cant score here…. right?
Ok, this is getting stupid. Canucks fall behind and it’s been a parade to the box, mostly for Canucks dives. Time to call it even refs.
that penalty is a tough go for pricey. he played well 1st period tho, and he had no chance on that goal
Discipline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of Vancouver players can easily change sports and play soccer instead.
They look like they are skating in cement!
What the hell has happened?
“I only like to watch and takes notes” JM
I think he’s come light-years from where he was. I’m excited about his future and I wouldn’t trade him.
“Get demoted to the Gomez line”
He reminds me totally of a young Stephane Robidas: quick and mobile, but prone to mistakes in his own end.
LOL
Four penalties in a ten minute stretch (80% of those ten minutes) will do that to a team.
Thanks for the input.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d ‘like to like him’ for our blueline, but I tend to consider his value relative to our existing strengths and weaknesses. I figure the likes of Subban, Markov (healhty) and Wiz can provide the offensive upside, Gill and Gorges provide a solid shutdown pairing, while Hamrlik and Spacek might very well be gone by next year, leaving two spots open. Given the top 4 I’ve listed, I’d rather fill the last two spots with bigger, mobile guys than a Weber. That’s just me, though. At a push, I guess he could be a 7th, so long as he’s well-insulated by a bigger body that can move.
I’m likely just rambling at this point, but just trying to work out my conflicted mindset about #68!
We also lack youth and offensive upside which he brings. I feel he has been a much better option then spacek and picard. Never mind all the upcoming ufa’s we have on defense this upcoming summer. We can’t afford to trade him IMHO.
I swear to god there’s a Canuck player falling somewhere, somehow every 15 seconds. We’re like the Bruins or somethings.
AK46 scores!
The Habs need to score another goal. Trying to win this 2-1 is not a good strategy.
I’ve seen better acting in home videos.
I’ve seen your old highschool drama department. They were awesome.
Isn’t Ballard the one who laid the knee on knee on AK46 last year that put him out for 20 games?
woukd love to have those flex boards in da bell
That cross check call on Max was beyond weak. Letter of the law, yes it is a cross check. But that kind of contact happens 20-30 times a game and is not called. They look for things. Anything against us. I don’t care what anyone says, there is a bias against Montreal by the officials in this league. It is not whining, not excuses, I see it every game, night after night.
Where did the 1st period Habs go?
I believe you are correct.
OMG NUCKS FALLING EVERYWHERE
This is by no means to pick on Weber, as he’s done a serviceable job overall, but I simply don’t see him as a viable option on the blueline. Yes, he’s a warm body back there whilst Markov and Gorges are out, but does anyone see him as a permanent piece of the puzzle moving forward?
On a blueline that is already marked by a lack of effective size and physicality, can we afford to keep a Weber around? His diminutive size and difficulty holding off or boxing out opposing forwards down low has been especially glaring in recent games, it seems to me. Also, I haven’t seen much sign of his apparent offensive upside.
For the sake of conversation, just looking for others’ opinions!
To the penalty box.
I knew there was a reason I didn’t like him!
Yep. Played for Florida then.
They were outplaying the opposition in the first so the officials stepped in and put a stop to that
and so does every fan for their team.
WHAT A PLAY BY ELLER AND KOSTITSYN!!!!
That was a beaut!
HOLY SH!T AK
Kosty not playing with Gomez? Scores.
Just saying.
trade AK right now
And Lapierre tried to fight him, and got pummeled.
Awesome call!!!
EXTRA EXTRA, GET YOUR FREE SLUMP, JUST PLAY WIH GOMEZ ON THE LINE!
He played well with Pleks as well! Hmmmmmmmmm
Nah can’t be Gomez.
But the stats don’t back them up. They back us up.
I’ve seen better acting with my old high school drama department.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
They better start calling these both ways. And that was a dive.
Weak
Unreal.
On the Canucks’ goal, Weber has to take the body, and Hammer was in no man’s land. I’m beginning to think he is no longer able to play a strong game.
Brutal call on Patches. Horrific.
That last penalty has nothing to do with discipline, the guy fell INTO Pacioretty’s check, it was a dive.
ruh roh
Didn’t matter who got that penalty they were bound to score on one PP tonight
I was going to say, stay out of the box and this game’s ours
Wonder if we’ll hear any CAREY! chants in Van-city tonight.
Go Habs Go!
Amazing! Nice forecheck and play by Eller
PK standing up to Kessler, love it.
Fearless prediction…Price will see more rubber than a Quality Control officer at the Trojans factory.
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
And the Nucks will find more holes !
Einstein’s definition of insanity – “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
Lars!
AK!
Unberlievable!
van is killing them selfs lol
AK i am dreaming for sure
Who said AK wasn’t gonna up his trade value!!
This is what we’re risking here: dogs and cats living together!
Pestilence, flood and famine.
***Subbang!!!***
The Ox with a big one!!
Trade them both while their stock is high!
***Subbang!!!***
Way to go Andrei! Nice to see his demotion to the “4th” line doesn’t have him sulking.
He’s ALIVE!!!!!
AK46 flying now… another point for The Wiz
I guess I’d be satisfied if just Gomez is moved off the team. AK46 bought himself a reprieve… a temporary reprieve.
About time sometime said something to the refs. These missed penalties are getting out of hand.
WoW the Habs are playing… Ho__ey
Eller and AK are stretching the Canucks out. I really like them together – two of the better skaters on our team.
Don’t limit it to rookies, ALL young players. Price, White, Pouliot and even Nash in just two games!
Portugal are the worst in that category
Who got the match?
Never heard of him! Yer makin’ things up!
i was thinking the same thing they fall over everytime a hab gets close to them wow looks like a team full of max lapps lol
Agreed, I feel they have both been getting a bum rap this year.
Two of the stronger forwards as well.
2-0 is the dangerous one. When it went to 2-1 and the way the Habs were playing I was worried, however that 3rd goal makes me breath a bit easier. A bit. 24 minutes left to play.
lol
Let’s just say he did his best.
AK..For the life of me I just don’t understand you…
As I said, before the game: Eller is a CENTRE. Start him at CENTRE–in Hamilton, if you have to.
JM ruins all the rookies. PK, Max, DD..you name him he runied him.
***Subbang!!!***
No no. They must immediately be rend assunder.
WOW, no call on an OBVIOUS slash
Kostitsyn would do well in the West. Great pass by Eller, great release by Andrei.
Great break by Desharnais.
Nice battling by Gionta.
Good solid skating and battling by the team tonight. Two goal lead is the worst in hockey, let’s hope they can go three up by the third.
Remember that kid named Pernell…somethingorother, sat him a bit, now he’s a go-to PK player. A role Guy Boucher didn’t give him and had to learn in the NHL, under JM.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
I like the last several minutes of play. A lot calmer. Nice job boys.
Canucks need to wear the Italian soccer team colors, they go down so easy.
The Leafs are a point out of ninth and playing well of late. We have to win this tonight as THursday will be no gimme.
Gomez isn’t playing like a forward, he’s more like a backward.
Solid shift by Hammer. I’ve hated on him quite a but gotta give credit where it’s due.
Ha ha …AK,good timing buddy!
I love it!!!!
AK 46 finally the slug scores
The Balirus Bear has awaken
Andrei Kostitsyn buried a goal from the left circle, I’ve seen everything.
He should stick with Eller, they have something going.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Eller with 2 points in 3 games since he was a healthy scratch, JM ruined him!
AK!! – and his work along the boards on that one may have been as good as the quick shot. Eller at centre is a nice thing to see.
OK now its time for Cammi to catch on fire…
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
He can be an ace for us, just gotta watch his minutes. He’s no spring chicken.
Hamrlik was having a good game right until that penalty, fatigue is killing his game.
He’d probably be an ace in the KHL with a 50-odd game season.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Put the arsenic down, Yahoo. No need to off the old man just yet.
Number 11, whoever that is.
***Subbang!!!***
The new NHL is no match for the new Transylvania.
***Subbang!!!***
did Gio over-celebrate?
Nice, hopefully the Canucks don’t wake up.
Good Start!! Foot on the gas! foot on the gas!
I guess some people are gonna be up late tonight, myself included, Nice start boys, PK looks quick,
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
still early but the team looks sharp…if only ak46 had some of gions fire and effort..
They’re working on a whole new version of suck tonight
***Subbang!!!***
It’s all about the Poo Poo eh bugs?
Canuck fans are insufferable A–holes…that includes my brother and his wife who were bugging me before the game.
We need to pank these guys to night…GO HABS
“And Scott Gomez is still missing. He’s the original hole in the donut. The place where odd-man rushes go to die.” Jack Todd
Based on tonight’s scorers, Cammy & Gomer should be next
Pouliot got the primary helper….not sure if there was a 2nd
It’s all bout a balance Mr Punkster…one needs the other.
‘nucks are just screwed. With only composite sticks on the bench, they have no wooden stakes. Beautiful, f’n beautiful!!!
Pouliot and Hal Skill.
It’s a blowout!!!!!!!!
Maybe they just ain’t an outdoor squad?
WTF is going ON HERE ???????? GOMEZZZZZZ
SMURFS 2 NUCKS 0
GO SHORT BOYS
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
great work by Gionta!
***Subbang!!!***
That’s it, I’m off to bed. This is terrible.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
It’s a midget attack!!! Go Habs
Habs are f’n vampires! They can’t play in the sun!!!
Good call by Vigneault to call a timeout.
Ah now that’s more like it. Refs not calling an obvious penalty. Ah the NHL.
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject”–Winston Churchill
Who are these guys? And can we keep them instead of the lot that played in Edmonton and Calgary?
Go Habs Go!
lol wtf
——————
GWG = game winning gionta!
Martin, have your boys to GO GO GO & not slack off
These guys are way to small to be playing in the NHL.
***Subbang!!!***
Did I read somewhere that Alain V was laughing during the Habs practice
Who assisted on the DD goal?
***Subbang!!!***
I’m in shock….
Way too pale to play in the sun!
Great pass from Poolio.
What in god’s name is going on here?
LOL
By 10 pm eastern I should be nicely toasted on Stella. Carey’s gonna have a big game tonight. I hope the team in front of him steps it up a notch.
I agree the canucks have been diving all over,that call on maxpac was probably the worst one. But at the same time you can’t put yourself in a position to give the refs a reason to call something like pouliot did.
Why stop if it’s workin’? Poolio’s braincramp was st00pidity of the highest order. He’ll be lucky to see a shift in the third.
OMG HE GOT SHOT! BRING DETECTIVE COLOMBO RIGHT AWAY!
Last we’ll see of Pouliot tonight?
The Italian soccer team will be checking tapes of this game to improve their diving game.
What a joke these refs are.
f&ck!
WTF that was a hook? what a joke…
OK, now your justing taking shots in the dark. Ridiculous observation.
***Subbang!!!***
They SURE do catch all our infractions.
L’Ecuyer was the architect of the game where the Habs had 11 straight penalties called against them in Carolina. Obviously not a Hab fan, or desperate to prove he isn’t biased.
Agreed, but the diving has to stop, the Canucks have been brutal for it tonight.
Then who takes the D-zone faceoffs?
Subban with one hand on his stick?
“I only like to watch and takes notes” JM
So will Christiano Ronaldo.
It’s impressive… Very thorough officiating with regards to the players in red.
You’d think Habs would get a break from a guy with a last name of L’Ecuyer, must be a Nordiques man.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
I am not a Halpern fan — if we were sellers, he would fetch a decent return since he’s good at faceoffs and brings a veteran presence. If we can get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him, take it.
lol, so true.
To quote Benoit Brunet: “Oooo!”
—Hope Springs Eternal—
You’re silly. Halpern works his butt off every night.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Do the Canucks practice diving? I mean they’re really really good at it.
Wow, 10 for that dive!
White is a little pest. Love it.
Pouliot, use your head for more than a hat rack…come on now
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
If they don’t score, it was an excellent taken penalty by my boy.
That was just stupid. But that being said, he sure did lay there for a long long time from a little push.
Stupid play by benny. Even though it looked sold,still no reason to do something like that 200 feet from your own net.
The fix is in.
PHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!!!!!!!!
Zebras running wild tonight.
Benny you are no longer Benny. You are now ‘Stu’ short for …………..STUPID!
2 minutes for tapping the opposition stick below the gloves. Terrible call.
The FIX is in.
C’mon boy’s, big kill!!
My Kingdom for a faceoff win!!!!
Poo Poo takes a bad penalty. Bugs will go batshit.
omg
They have to call the dive too.
Those are their retro jerseys, which didn’t have nameplates back in the day.
They’re throw-backs. That’s why the Habs are wearing their reds.
/\\ike
GO HABS GO!
Why don’t the nucks have their name on their jerseys?
We need to get better on the freakin draws, its gonna come back and bite us eventually
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
I had to mute them, they were making my blood pressure go up
“Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
“His eyes were as wide as the proverbial saucers”
- Sportsnet commentator, talking about Gionta almost getting the puck in the slot.
What a great article by Cam Cole. Part of the problem may be that East and West teams play each other so rarely. If Montreal and Vancouver played eight times a year, I’d bet dollars to donuts he’d feel differently. But as it is now, the Habs visits to VAN are like the Royal Family tours: kinda nice, kinda meaningless, devoid of real significance or intensity (mostly because the Habs love to lay eggs when they’re out West). So who can blame him?
I think he was speaking more to the idea that the league is full of 30 roughly equal teams, and none of them have special status anymore. Although the comparison to the Predators is an obvious attempt at bashing the Canadiens in terms of recent success. I found it humorous because Montreal has won the same number of playoff series since the lockout as Vancouver (3), and made the playoffs 4/5 seasons to Vancouver’s 3/5.
Cole points out he has been biased against the Habs his whole life. Great scoop of poop. Hope his Canucks continue their 41 year re-tooling program.
Defensive shell the rest of the game? I’m feeling it, shots are too one sided right now for it to last. I just hope we can keep atleast some offense going the rest of the way.
That’s a hell of a good start so far!
Pouliot threw a great pass and Desharnais finished with the smooth breakaway/SO move he honed in Hamilton, Gionta cashed in on Subban’s rebound. That invincible Western Conference that kills small players is getting knocked around by smurfs.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
any guesses how long it takes the habs to break our hearts and let van back in it to tie it lol
I must have fell asleep and dreaming we just scored to goals. I hope i don;t wake up
Boone: This video shit from the space station is creeping us all out!
Way to go Mara…..
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject”–Winston Churchill
Mara letting his presence be known.
Atta boy Paulie!
Almost another!!!
THE HABS ARE PISSED!!!
He must have said “double-echec” about three times.
Benoit is an idiot. There was no cross check there at all. He was going to net after a loose puck.
welldone Whitey
Whatever they ate at the rookie dinner should be their regular meal now
sweet move DD
he is so sick
Benny and DD bromance continues!
YEAH BABY YEAH
Double D’s!!!!!!!!!!
Wow great play.
Our Marty St-Louis ?
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject”–Winston Churchill
F*** YEAAAH !!!! GOOOOOOMEZZZZZZ
DD what sweet goal…
“And Scott Gomez is still missing. He’s the original hole in the donut. The place where odd-man rushes go to die.” Jack Todd
Who says DD can’t play in the NHL? BS!
He should be our second line center.
who?
However Gomez was the original cause of it, and he gets put right back on the ice to start the PP.
Head shots like that should be a 2 minute major — the team on the PP can score as many times in 2 minutes
I wonder if AK46 is hurting, communication wise. Hasn’t he been on a downward spiral ever since Markov went down ?
Red jerseys on the road, as it should be
WOW Gio, 10 ft away & shoot wide like that!
Woah, horrible giveaway by Weber there. Probably his worst play this season.
Good start, close one there though… big PP right now
That should have been a 5. That’s clearly targeting the head.
You still up great give away
Note to White, elbow someone on the Canucks for retribution.
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject”–Winston Churchill
weber?
that was the dumbest play by gomez yet
——————
GWG = game winning gionta!
I AGREE RON
I knew it!!! Molson ponies up $350 million and we start getting some calls!! lol =)
White hasn’t had a scrap since he got called up – maybe tonight’s the night
MAN do I ever love Desharnais!!
Little body, big talent!
Go Habs Go!
HUGE!!! By the little dude!
DD …..Wowzers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And again with the dives!!!! unreal how easily these tools go down.
i was just about to wright that i havent seen a goal in ages lol and DD scores lol
GIOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After this game we are going on a run. I’d say win 9 lose 2
The rout is on!!
Carey looking nice and calm
Start the season with a clean equipment bag and a freah bucket of febreze!”-CharlieHodgeFan
I really like the Heeb line!
Didn’t predict this…. wow what a start
Yahoo-Sports-NHL is streaming it for free! good quality!
Wow! Nice work. I’m very impressed. Don’t think I could hack it.
Mind you, I also notice you chose the shortest month of the year…
…clever…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Could have been worse if you lived in Ontario.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Another bold prediction: Danno will make me lol at least 3 times.
Respectfully disagree, and my reading comprehension skills are just fine, thank you. Watched a Habs game at Nassau Coliseum recently? The last time the Habs rolled through Long Island, it seemed like an even split between Isles, Habs and Nordiques fans.
Pretty sure Crosby and a first are heading to Toronto for Gustavson.
Holy crap these late games are hard on the Beer supply. Had to run across the street to the grocery to stock up, could have been bad if I’d run out in the second period.
Hey Mike! You need to have it set up so that you can view via video all the commentariat in their various basements.
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I thought the article was off the mark. Cole’s point that the Canadiens are now the Predators with nicer uniforms is foolish. Habs fans travel better than any other fanbase in the league, and I would hazard a guess that all those owners whose teams play to less than capacity are more than a little envious, while at the same time grateful for the extra gate receipts when Montreal rolls through town.
hahaha now we’re talking!
We’ve got our tech people on that. Just to be on the safe side, zip up your pants now.
Whoa, is this HIO or Chatroulette?!
I didn’t really take offense to the article, it came across as tongue-in-cheek.
On the wagon for February. Seven more sleeps … but who’s counting?
Fearful/less prediction: Pouliot and Price make the difference tonight.
Pleks will score tonight along with Max-Pac, Squid & PK
Really doubt that VAN is having trouble selling the seats.
Also really doubting that expat Habs fans make a statistical difference anywhere outside of Florida and Ottawa.
Also, you missed the point.
habvision is off the air – what is the other good link for a streaming game?
thank you
Don’t see Liles in Toronto, apparently he is really good friends with Ryan Miller, and the new Buffalo owner announced during his presser today that there would be no financial restrictions on the Sabres front office…so maybe Liles ends up in Buffalo??
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
Are the Habs in the hunt for anything?
My prediction is I will probably being going to bed in 45 minutes
Quick start boys ..Lets go !!
Heh heh.
I actually liked that Cam Cole article. Good humour.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Hey, Mikey, when do we get our hyperlinks back?
Did I miss a memo or sumpin?
Let’s hope “Les Boys” come to play tonight
Hey Boone, every decent player in the league is Toronto bound at some point
Maybe now that Molson and the NHL are in cahoots we’ll start getting a few calls to go our way eh Booner?
boston leading in calgary…while not enough games leafs reimer in 14 games 2.20 gaa and 932 sv%…
If the first period is garbage (which is probably a guarantee), I think I’ma call it a night
ialways said it,ill still say it canucks are overrated, sure they have strong seaon, might win the president trophy, but come playoffs they are the boston bruins of the west. chockersss.im not jealous, hell i just want a canadian team to win the stanley cup. but vancouver isnt that team. this team will not get past 2nd round. luongo will not get it done
** Buck Fruins **
Didn’t Nash get a divorce this year?? Right after his wife gave birth to their son? Yikes…
“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” – Bilbo Baggins
I need a party to keep me awake
well at least the bruins first pick may not be that high…leafs with the win are one point out tying for 9th spot
double post
haha wow!
Why the hate on for Cam Cole? Are we so fragile between the ears that we need to crap on anyone who isn’t a Habs superfan? The article was funny, honest. I feel the same way about a lot of teams- for instance, I don’t give two craps about Tampa Bay, Guy Boucher or no.
The Leafs are a decent team. Might not make it this year. But you gotta like the moves Burke did.
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject”–Winston Churchill
If the Habs win this game …..it will make a tiny lil team full o tot’s a wee bit bigger laddy! Go Habs GO
It wasn’t Hammer and the Mammaries who were connected to the Russian Mafia. It’s Markov and Halak as can be attested to in this photo.
http://www.crystalkiss.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/russian-2.jpg
Cam Cole is a great sports columnist and there are too many people in the Commentariat suffering from diaper rash.
Mr. Boone, the Habs just may surprise a few people this evening !
Bold prediction – Kostitsyn remains unremarkable
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
I like that White
My prediction is we come out real strong..Only to be beaten badly in the second…then I will be at the gym the rest of the evening…
I think Cam Cole is looking for trouble…
We need the Mother of all Reverse Jinxes to pull this one off. Mike?
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Mom has the night off. Past her bedtime.
John Garrett…biggest homer ever! I feel your pain. The man has made me hate the Canucks.
AK is shooting like a 4th-liner and has the hockey sense of one right now, not like he’s earning Top-6 time.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
AK has to earn top 6 minutes like Gomez.
Oops, forget that I said that.
i have to be up at 530 tomorrow……joy. this better at least be entertaining!
GO HABS GO
A must win oh well so is everyone it don’t seem to matter. Go Habs this is a must must win
Grrr… Malhotra, traded him to my team in NHL 10 and then he scored the goal to put the Sharks up 3-2 in the tight game last year where Price was @ something like 50 saves.
Bold prediction, we only lose by 3 this time.
That’s a stretch.
C’est absolument capotant!
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
All this ribbing gives me pleasure.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Strangely enough, I couldn’t get up for reading Cam Cole’s article, either.
I can’t imagine why
You can feel the pessimism settling in around this community.
Eller is a centreman and AK can skate and hit – and score a few as well. It will be tough for other teams to stack up against the Pleks line if these two continue to click.
I booked off work today, may have to book off tomorrow as well.
I saw Ak hit the net repeatedly tonight. I saw Gomez hit glass and boards repeatedly. Yet never the net. When he starts being even somewhat useful, I’ll stop blaming him.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
When you can logically explain to me what Gomez hitting the net has to do with the effort level of Andrei Kostitsyn I’ll have time to continue this conversation.
Kostitsyn’s had enough excuses made for him over the last four years. And Gomez has been blamed for enough things over just under two years. You don’t need to combine the two.
Note how much better Eller is as a center and not a winger.
Note how much more effective AK is with an actual set-up man (i.e. anyone BUT Gomez).
Note how valuable Hammer can be.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
yeah AK,nice pass by eller
Sweet!! I knew Eller would muck it up in the corner and set up AK!!!
Didn’t someone just call that?