o zone, ..sounds retarded, well then why was it being used at the Canada vs US gold metal game..and I have heard it at many other non Habs game….chanting OLE has absolutly no bearing on the outcome of a game…its just something Habs fans do when they are happy or pumped up…its not a victory cheer…fans are not going to stop doing it..so move on to something important..
I always thought that we sing the ole ole when we’ve WON the game… so in that sense, to me it does sound retarded when you hear it as soon as the puck dropped.
I know it has no bearing on the outcome of the game; was just using Boone’s line
Actually, on second thought, I do remember that whenever I notice the chanting before actually winning the game, we ended up losing. So maybe it does somehow affect it
The Habs continue to play a style of game that just won’t get them far. Yes, lots of speed. Lots of shots – but – the shots are from the point and from forwards just entering the offensive zone. (lucky last night, bad goaltending) On net, yes. But, they are hesitant to put the puck into the corners, battle, cycle, set up a man in front of the net. They don’t win those battles – too small so their game is gun and shoot. Maybe ok for a 4 – 8 seed and certainly not a Cup contender. No guts, no glory. But, yes, we need to right size and skill set.
So, um….Budaj getting a start anytime soon? I mean, just for the hell of it. At worst, it gives a shaky goalie a little break to get his head back into the game.
Another 4 goals scored, another 3rd period lead squandered. I’m starting to miss Campoli, ffs.
1) Results of public inquiry determine that there is no corruption in construction industry in Quebec,that system is as clean as a whistle.
2) Geoff Molson announces that he has signed Jacques Martin & Pierre Gauthier EACH to 5 year extensions.
What’s up with the idiotic premature ‘ole ole’ at Bell Centre? Seriously, you can hear it with merely 2 min into the 1st period, which sounds totally retarded. Not to mention that it always jinx the game- without fail!
Another one that stings. And more evidence that the Canadiens are not a Stanley Cup contender. This will be emphasized in our matchups against the Bruins and Flyers coming up soon.
There has to be a way to penalize blatant, shameful dives like the one John-Micheal Liles took to draw a penalty against Travis Moen. I don’t want hockey to degenerate into soccer. It would be so simple for Brendan Shanahan and his minions to hand out game suspensions for those, they stand out on video review. It would also make his job easier, sorting out the serious boarding calls from those that are self-inflicted or embellished.
Also, the league needs to protect goaltenders from rampaging buffaloes like Ryan Malone and Cody McCormick or Brian Gionta. As much as it was controversial, we need to go back to the ‘in the crease’ rule like it was applied in the 90′s. It cheapens the game to have players barreling into the goaltender because they can’t ‘solve’ him, it’s a cheat that shouldn’t be allowed. Some argue that it would reduce scoring, but the goals that are scored that way aren’t those that show up on highlight reels and take your breath away. Opposing players shouldn’t be in the goalie’s crease, end of story. Which, of course, by the way, Mr. Gionta wasn’t.
Specific to this game, I noticed Erik Cole working very hard to make something happen. He’s catching some flak because his production hasn’t been what was anticipated, but I never saw any lack of effort. What I’d like to see is him lurking in the offensive zone, pouncing on a loose puck and cashing it in, but that will probably come when he gets a regular centre to be on the same wavelength with.
Travis Moen was demeaned by some this summer because he’s not a feared heavyweight fighter. He’s showing that he’s more than that, a true energy player who plays with heart and can lift the team. Let’s hope that he won’t lead the team in scoring for long, but good to see him having success.
Hal Gill turned it up a notch tonight, maybe inspired by his family seated behind the bench. At times, the antics of his young daughters was the most interesting thing to watch, and certainly when compared to Mr. Martin’s usual dour countenance. In any case, he stood out on many plays, instead of being his usual self-effacing defender. He was physical, surprised some Leafs by not always making the safe play off the boards, and showed leadership in a difficult situation.
I hate to be uncharitable, but Andrei Kostitsyn drew my eye again, demonstrating his wizardly skill and low hockey IQ in the same game; he is our resident idiot-savant, this generation’s Gaston Gingras. He scored on a laser in the second, but also on three occasions that I saw gave away the puck when he had clear, unchallenged possession. Once on the powerplay in the opposing zone, and once while cruising inside the opposition blue line, he showed indecision and lack of hunger and the puck floated off his stick right to an opponent. Best case scenario is for him to score twenty before the trade deadline and we unload him to a contender for a first-round pick.
Mike Komisarek was booed lustily when he carried the puck, but I chose to remember him fondly for the good years we had, like that ex-girlfriend you run into who still looks damn good and you almost forget why you broke up. I caught myself thinking that if the Leafs don’t want him we’d take him back, he’d bring a skill-set that is completely absent on the Canadiens blueline right now. Yannick Weber and Raphaël Diaz are clones of each other, and when Jaroslav Spacek returns he’ll be our third defenceman who is reputedly slick with the puck but devoid of size and strength. Building a team is best accomplished by bringing diverse talents together. You don’t build a great team with 20 Einsteins, you need a B.A. Barracus, a Face, a Murdoch and a Hannibal to lead them.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
JayBee, I’m going to have to deduct points for reading comprehension. Go through the whole paragraph again. Then look up irony in the dictionary, and wonder why I juxtaposed those three players, and characterized them as buffaloes. Ponder on whether that applies to Mr. Gionta.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
It’s amazing the bad decisions that have been made by all in the management offices in behalf of this franchise. And dont talk about the french issue. It was not the reason. The main reasons are lack of planning, imagination and forsight borne out of a homegeneity of thought from the minds of men with a common trait of seclusion.
Many many many! But let’s start with panicking and trying to get Jacqoe Lemaire to return to coach and then when that failed, overnight picking up the phone and offering JM 3yrs or whatever his tenure is.
I never did see or hear any of Jacques Martin’s presser… did we hear anything other than the standard blah blah blah about the “process” or the “system”???
What a french shower
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“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
I have nothing to vent about. I let it all go a long time ago.
I figure 2-3 years of pain outside of the play-offs is in store for us so let it go and just relax. No pain, no gain. The Habs need to rework their strategy. Stop the experiment with small players. Build a real team.
Acquire a #1 centre.
Have two scoring lines.
Have a third line that is a defensive unit that is capable of playing against either of the opponent’s top lines.
Have a fourth line that is all crash and bang energy.
Have muscle and size on the back end.
Understate trapping and emphasize fore checking.
That doesn’t mean a team can’t use two-way forwards and puck moving defense men. Just don’t build a team exclusively out of two-way forwards and puck moving defense men, especially a team that is physically out matched in a sport that includes elements like checking, hitting and puck battles along the boards.
An open letter to IAN. Please organize another summit and we can have a sit-in on the steps of the Bell Centre to demand accountability from Management.
Cole has been a bust so far this year. I’m not gonna give him a chance to adjust. As a veteran, he’s had enough time now. Do we have him for 3 or 4 years?
Gorges coughed up the puck to Kessel.
Price couldn’t stop a beach ball tonight. However his goal post made 4 great saves tonight.
Moen’s boarding penalty was pretty much a fantom call. Total B.S.
Leafs’ last tying goal should not have counted. Play should have been dead as the puck had touched the netting above the glass.
Last but certainly not least, Jacques Martin’s gotta go along with Gauthier.
Is it too late to get Muller back and make him head coach? Would he be able to leave his current coaching job?
I made bets with 8 different Leaf-fan coworkers. I was so sure that we were gonna win this one finally. Not looking forward to work Monday morning.
Price was fine tonight and don’t blame JM for the players not buying into the system. We all know how JM likes to coach and the way they were trying to play tonight was not the way he wants them to.
Easier said than done. They’re professionals, they shouldn’t need convincing. I think alot of it has to do with new players still learning the system, players trying to cover for another player (thereby taking themselves out of position), and a lack of focus.
I’m curios, the too many men on the ice penalty, is it really the coach’s responsibility, or the players? The rule is within 5 feet of the bench the player can be subbed……
I’ll agree the line juggling is frustrating, but players still have to know. And at least the first TMM penalty came after a PP when ofcourse things are going to be mixed up. Players gotta know whats going on.
Why is it we signed Cole at 4.5 million for the next 4 years…to sit in the penalty box to serve Martin’s lame bench penalties? I know we led the league last year and are well on the way to do the same this year but COME ON!!!!!! Twice tonight he put him in the box (I know one was for Price penalty) But come on!!!! Can someone remove that stick up Martin’s arse regarding Cole? Really what’s his beef with the guy. He’s treating him like a rookie! He had some pretty energetic shifts tonight. So what gives? It would behoove Molson to step in and protect his investment before things get dour to the point of no return between them. How about PG in this, why doesn’t he step in and ask him why he’s sutch a beeatch towards him. I don’t know. I just don’t get him (Martin) anymore.
Cole didn’t have a single redeeming moment tonight and was the reason Grabovski got to the front of the net to score. If he wants to play, he better start playing
How can you play if you don’t get the minutes. I saw him fly on a few shifts. As for the Grabovski winner lets face it he did an EXCELLENT move turning Cole inside out. Cole was so twisted he had no leverage to level Grabovski since he was on his heels at that point. Give credit where it’s due.
Cole was too slow to get to the net, didn’t box him out and didn’t use his much larger body to keep Grabovski away from the net.
I saw him fly too. Everytime he got stood up by that Gardiner kid by either a poke check or steered into the corner. Didnt even try overpower his way to the net.
He’s never near the net! And he nevers gets a rebound. No fight in this guy.
Well I beg to differ Grabovski did an awesome move. Goody for him. As for Cole I blame Martin for not using him properly from the get go. He is a coach and is supposed to be there for the players and he’s obviously got Cole playing scared. He’s a poor communicator. As for the too many men situation? It’s both the players and the coaches job to make sure the transitions go smoothly. Not simply the players. Why is it we lead the league in bench penalties since Martin’s at the helm? All the different players who’ve come and gone? No the coach. Anyway I’m out of here. This place is depressing. Enjoy the rest of the season, it’s gonna be a long one.
Let’s get rid of him as we have gotten rid of all the players who underperformed in Montreal and are now plying their trade happily elsewhere. And while we are at it send out a missive to any pending UFA that signing for big bucks does not necessarily mean that JM will condescend to talk to you.
Goal 1:
Terrible face-off coverage, shot from the point, tipped at the last second – No chance
Goal 2:
Gorges carries the puck in front of the net, gets doubled up, puck ends up on Kessel (the NHL’s top scorer)’s blade and all he coulda done was finish, while PK is smoking a cigar in the corner – No chance
Goal 3:
PP goal due to a stupid penalty by Weber… Helluva shot by Phaneuf off a one-timer with Engqvist trying to block the shot but doing nothing but screening Price – Not much he can do
Goal 4:
Shouldn’t have counted but the puck bounced to the crease with like 6 players around the blue paint – No chance
OT winner:
Grabovski left WIDE OPEN because of poor D-zone coverage (Gill covering Liles?! Cole covering net front?!), Grabovski put a nice move and finished – No chance for Price
I guess one can say Price isn’t making the BIG saves in 2011-12 like he did last year, but he’s doing what he can to stop the puck. Unfortunately, poor coaching, poor management and a depleted, soft, inexperienced, shallow D are not gonna win us many hockey games.
Yeah it was a huge save but it was pretty lucky though. He’s not in the zone this year like he was last year (except in the Winnipeg game), but he’s still our best player as far as I’m concerned.
I dont really see much negative post on Carey Price..
Carey just needs to be careful handling/passing the puck..
and a lil more hustling back to his net..
but maybe he is a slow scater or likes looking ‘kool’
I dont know.. seems to make his D’s nervous.. and me.. when he touches the puck.. lol
just not a fan of his demeanor..
and i dont mean todays incident when he was boxed out by his own defensemen Weber..
still id have him out playing next game unless he is fatigued
Watching Habs and Ticats tonight with my son (26). Yeah, I know, everybody here cheers for the Als. At least you got that goin’ for ya. Parallels between Ticats and Habs, however, are mind boggling. Passive owner, GM who makes bizarre, inexplicable blunders which are not noticed by passive owner. Coach who doesn’t know how to spell passion, let alone instill it. Result, teams that perennially nudge themselves toward mediocrity. But I digress. My son comments to me tonight that, since the time he really remembers following the Habs, he can’t remember a team that had enough grit to be able to intimidate even the meekest of teams in the league. Seems, he says, that there’s some unwritten rule in Montreal that winning by physically overpowering other teams is just not cricket. Well, at least I’ve got the teams from the 60s and 70s to think about, but we have a whole generation of Habs fans who have never seen anything but mediocrity. (While our team is small, but emphasizes speed, other teams are big and emphasize speed.) What reason do these next-gen Habs fans have for continuing to support the team. Its history? The great jerseys? Please, Mr. Molson, give me your answer to that question. What is it we’re all holding on for, the next rebuild? Ah, hell, I had one too many Taliskers tonight. Celebrating the fading sunset of mediocrity. Leafs rule!
If JM and PG are left to run things much longer, then La Belle Province will end up with no MLB team, no NFL team, no NBA team, and no NHL team… unless Quebec gats a franchise.
And Bob Gainey… I admire you and respect you but, whether it was because of family problems, disinterest or succumbing to the pressure of the GM’S job in Montreal, the decisions you made which brought us PG, and JM, and Gomez etc will haunt this franchise for a long long time.
You tarnished your legacy.
If you are still associated with this team Bob, step in and advise Molson to clean house.
I think most people are saying Gill had a good game tonight because he almost fought. Gill is a terrible fighter and I never want to see him fight but atleast it shows a little passion which has been a lacking from the team as of late. However, I still saw Gill give the puck away numerous times and get caught out of positions numerous times. I’ll admit he wasn’t terrible tonight but he was far from having a great game. The mistake he makes though are caused by things he sucks at, which we should be familiar with by now, and not because of lack of focus.
The amount of ice time that Darche has received on the PP is puzzling and wasted.
I thought Gill had a very solid and spirited game overall, but any OT time was a huge error on Martin’s part.
On a positive note, I loved the way Eller performed tonight. Seeing other teams take liberties with Habs players – specifically, Price – is damn frustrating!
I have no idea how anyone can be blaming Carey for that game. I’d like to know which goals people are blaming on him. The first 1 that was deflected 6 ft in front of him? Maybe the 2nd one that Gorges put on Kessels stick in front of the net? Maybe the 3rd one that was a rocket from Phaneuf from the top of the circle? Maybe it was the 4th one that the puck went off his shoulder and hung up in the netting and dropped on a Toronto stick ( that for some reason four effin zebras didn’t see) followed by 2 passes and a shot he saves fololowed by a great save on the rebound that goes acroos the crease onto a Toronto player’s stick for a goal? Maybe the Grabovski goal that anyone has to admit was a nice play, but no way he should of been allowed to skate out in front without anyone stopping him? This was a game that his GAA and sve% took a $#it kicking but he couldn’t of been faulted on any of them and he made a lot of huge saves.
…if I can find ‘something’ humorous about tonight it is I just received this second HIO’s push notice on My Ipod Touch that Gorges just scored …Habs 4 the Weeds 3 !!!
…Go Habs Gooooo !!!
…
* The only thing the pre-injury Gorges has in common with the post-injury Gorges is his name
* Meanwhile, Hal Gill had a terrific game. He suddenly played like a 6’7 player.
* 2 years of Too Many Men penalties. You can blame the players for bad changes for only so long. Time for JM to man-up and accept responsibility.
* the PP is simply embarrassing — 5 of 29!!! A coach who preaches special teams is incapable of fixing it. His answer is to use Darche over Cole, and rudely laughs at the reporter who dares ask him why he uses Darche.
* say what you like about Spacek. We could’ve used his experience out there tonight.
* great chemistry between AK, Eller, and Moen. That line was one of the two best lines, just as AK, DD, and Patches were against the Sabres. And what happened to the DD/Patches line? Hint: he was Gauthier’s big signing this season.
* I LOVED Pleks with Cammy and Gionta. I don’t care if they are a small line. Let the opposition throw their most physical d-pair out there against them, and we can follow up with AK, Eller, and Moen who are fully able and willing to play rough and tumble hockey.
* I’ve said it for three years now: we desperately need a TRUE fourth line. Not a reserve line for excess players. The Penguins are all the illustration one needs.
* finally, Eller is better than Gomez. By a loooong shot!
It takes Scott Gomez not being in the lineup for everyone to see the power of Eller. Lars played his first true game as a top 2 center in Montreal and did not look out of place.
Peculiar that he saw no time on the powerplay though…Zip.
TMM penalties are the players fault. Never the coach. Players need to focus.
Eller is definitely better than Gomez, and will be even better in the future.
If Cole wants ice time, then he needs to play with half an ounce of passion when he IS on the ice.
Pacioretty needs to consistently play wit energy.
Gio needs to be the spark that ignites this team every game.
Fans complain when we play a reserved defensive game, and when we play an out of control offensive game. Make up your mind. The players aren’t committing to the system and our new players are still learning it. Quit using JM as a scapegoat and recognize who the blame really falls on.
When did the idea that we need a french coach and GM come about? Frank Selke and Toe Blake= Stanley Cups, Sam Pollack and Scotty Bowman=Stanley Cups. Rejean Houle and Mario Trembley=no Cups, Pierre Gauthier and Jacques Martin= no cups.
and so , llet us releae the hounds……why did we sign Eric Cole if we were not going to use him. Seriously would you have put him on our dept chart below Darche , Moen , Eller , etc , etc , etc , please some one explain what is goning on here. our major acquisition in the off season , four million a yr no less, doesnt rate first or second line minutes ;.. Why is our best d men , newly signed to a three yr deal in Florida under wraps with a wonky knee. Why cant anyone say what the deal is with markov , what gives except maybe we signed damaged goods , and are afraid to admit it. Why should anyone have to make excuses for this sorry mess except Management that created it , enough of rationalization and excuses we have been badly taken by a management team that has a singular record of having never won anything . Mr Molson Please ……help !!!!!!!!!
Last December, the surgeon said it would take a year. It hasn’t been a year yet. Plus, I’ve been told that Markov rushed himself and hindered the healing. Which is why his rehab is now under very close scrutiny. Always should have been, mind you. When you value a commodity that much, surely you should take better care of it/him.
Hey I know, have some more awards and milestone announcements. That always makes them play better. Hey give Price the molson cup again, he loves those things.
Why is everyone so negative? It’s early in the season.
The D is young and banged up but they’ll get better. Are you guys real fans? Support your team and don’t be negative.
Jacques is gonna fix this( I know, he has to start by getting his players to learn how to count to seven).
Eller looked good out their…didn’t he?
If he continues to improve they’ll put him on the ice for a 5 on 3.
Man, we’re a work in progress.
I see machine gun Darche as a top six player, not to mention our top powerplay specialist, that can score us out of this.
Everyone stay calm. They’re learning. Actually, they are in the second phase of a twenty year plan to win it all.
I’m feeling really upbeat right now. There is so much to like about how these guys are playing right now.
Does anybody else feel this good?
Timo, how about you?
Because in Gary’s NHL, if you’re not in a playoff spot by November 1st the odds are you’ll be watching playoff hockey from the 19th hole…
JM’s a complete moron, has Darche on PPs and Cole and Eller sit. What’s with Cole anyway, does JM not know how to use the guy??? 3rd line minutes and no PP time??
huh huh huh I wrote ‘PP time’ heh heh heh
Anyways, this was a MUST-WIN game and they played as soft and confused as ever, mark my words NO PLAYOFFS IN 2012… but then the world’s ending anyways…
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“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
I’m with you here. We’re putting up more goals some times than we did last year. That’s a positive. But our D appears to be making some pretty sad mistakes. It’s gotta be inexperience. Managament did try to bring in Campoli and I guess they thought Markov would be alright. Since both those things went out the window we’re a bit of a mess. But guys like PK and Weber should not be making mistakes. They’re no longer rookies. Time to grow up.
The other issue we got is our PP. No idea how to fix that. Maybe call up Kirk?
I just want to say this though: if we fire the coach and/or GM and we don’t get suitable replacements then what will all the “FIRE JM & PG NOW” people do? Settle for a tank? This, I suppose, is the same reason why Gomez is never sent down. If he was and we still sucked then what? Sure it’s worth a shot but there’s no guarantee.
Perhaps we need to work with what we’ve got. This team can play better. It showed a little of its strength against Winnipeg, and occasionally (see Moen) shows some of its true skills. We need to coordinate to get that PP going and get the D to improve. The goals will pour in, and will stop being poured in against us. Just a bit of patience.
Besides you can’t taste sucess without tasting defeat.
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3P 18:10 Reimer stops that
by mboone 10:44 PM
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Boone, you should not criticize octogenarian Bob Cole for getting names wrong, when you have the same problem. Reimer did not play after the first period, & was replaced by Gustavsson.
Cole is doing live play by play, while you are not. Plus Reimer had been gone for almost 2 periods. I hope that your only excuse is booze.
If Plekanec is your number 1 center, you’re in trouble. Never wins important faceoffs, passes when he should shoot and when he does shoot, misses the f***in’ net.
As for AK46, what the hell is he still with this team for??? Coulda let him walk but no PG throws $3 million+ at him.
Same for Markov, $5 million+ for a defenceman with chronic china doll syndrome, heck, most of these new guys brought in back in the ’09 purge have only met the guy a handful of times…
Gauthier will stick with this old school coach whom the game has passed by and Gauthier will stick with these soft chickensh*t players and the Habs are back in the late ’90s Reggie days of non-playoff mediocrity… yay for the fans.
This team is mostly brutal to watch except for the odd beauty Cammy goal or Price save.
I’m losing interest in the NHL game anyways, Gary’s World sucks.
“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
Wouldn´t say that but Plekanec and Kostitsyn (easily one of our three best forwards today) are certainly not our biggest problems. When Kostitsyn gets criticzed after a decent game with just one stupid mistake, two points and a +2 while the captain who didn´t have a point (+/- -2) doesn´t get mentioned, I can only laugh.
You don’t think that Plekanec belongs amongst the top 30 centres in the league; or, that if he is your top centre that your team will not be amongst the league’s best?
The guy is a heck of a player, in my opinion. In fact, by NHL players’ standards he was deemed to be one of the most underrated in the league.
Just looking for clarification on your take on Plekanec.
Stopped reading after your first two paragraphs when you slagged two of tonight’s best performers. Loooong line of culpable characters ahead of those two.
I’m getting pissed off that this team is starting to really waste my time. 1 win in 7 games. That’s about 21 hour of my life I’ll never get back. about 18 of those hours were me being pissed off. And that’s not even counting pre season.
Hey Habs, how about you win a god damn game already
Man, we just can’t get it done. It’s a bit frustrating, but considering we’re still in October we probably shouldn’t be freaking out. There has to be some understanding that until Markov comes back, it is not easy to replace Hamrlik who ate a lot of minutes and Wiz who played some pretty hockey. Lots of positives, but I guess people don’t like to think about them…how bout AK? he’s been fantastic.
“Keep Calm and Carry On” – Winston Churchill anybody? no?
Price doesn’t have to get shutouts, but he has to be better than he’s been. I think his save percentage tonight was about .870. For the season so far it’s under .890. Those aren’t good numbers.
Holy crap! Really? Price? This D makes every night look like the last defence of Stalingrad, and you blame Price? If you want to blame anybody blame Gauthier. Gone – Wiz, Sopel, Mara, Hammer – replaced by Markov, Yemelin, Diaz and at the last minute out of panic Campoli. Now looks where we are. The reason we can’t win is, 1. we can’t make a good outlet pass to clear the zone 2. we are so small that down low every team in the league can kick the crap out of us. It’s obvious to a blind man that what’s costing this team wins is its not-quite-ready-for-the-KHL defence. Gauthier has blown this one big time. It’ll be interesting to see what comes first, a blow-the-rest-of-the-cap desperation signing or a Gauthier firing. My money’s on the former. Fed up with cheering for this team.
All of that is true, but Price is not playing anywhere near as well as he usually does.
As for Gauthier’s moves, most people didn’t want Hamrlik for two years or the Wiz for 6 years at 5.5 million. Signing Markov was a gamble, which so far hasn’t paid off. The D is inexperienced and of course makes mistakes, but all those three guys (Diaz, Weber, Emelin) are going to be good. Gorges has lost a step since his surgery; maybe he’ll get it back.
I’m not sure lack of size had anything to do with today’s loss. The officiating was horrendous, especially on the Leafs’ fourth goal, but mostly the team looked ill-prepared (again). Passes were off the mark and there was little cohesion. The powerplay is a mess, and the penalties killed us. These things are on JM. At least the team showed some heart, and Eller, Kostitsyn, and a couple of others were good.
I guess this is a good example of how two people can look at the same series of events and see two completely different things. To me, Habs D was punished in the corners all night long by larger, faster Toronto forwards. But you have to admit that whether they were good, or horrible, blaming the officials for a loss is a mugs game, and a loser’s mentality. Bad officiating will happen. Good teams overcome it.
Eller interviewed after the game “They changed goalies? I honestly didn’t know they did that…when did they change the goalie”? One would think the players would notice that, or at the very least the coaching staff would… Eller played a good game, but this is indicative of the lack of attention and focus the team has right now.
i’ve stuck with this team through thick and thin since 70, but enough is enough. i’ll start watching again when the goat and the count are gone. now i have to go listen to all my leaf fan buddies in the morning……..thanks guys.
Its a tale of two teams. Pleks, Cammy, Eller, DD, Moen, Kostitsyn, Diaz, Weber, Gorges have pulled their weight. I’ll give Gio a break because I’m positive he’ll pick it up. Patches has been off and on. The rest have to be better.
Same shift that the goal was scored on; up into the netting behind the goal. Hung up there for a bit, too. The crowd was yelling that it was up there, but it fell to the ice and play was allowed to continue.
You don’t think there isn’t a chance JM gets canned if we are 1-8-2 by next saturday night? Which judging by the schedule is very,very possible. When was the last time a coach was fired when it wasn’t the players fault? I’m not saying its right,but thats the way it is.
You can’t fire a whole team so JM’s head had the Sword of Damocles hanging over it but I suspect he is here to finish his contract even if the Habs finish last. Either way I don’t care about a coaching change. I just don’t want to see a panic move trade.
Time to rebuild. Slowly. Methodically. Patiently. Painfully.
IMO it will be 2-3 years until this team will be back in the play-offs. Forget about contending for Cup.
Might as well stock up on draft picks in the mean time.
You have to admit the Leafs D is much better than our blue line. Phaneuf, Liles (underrated), Schenn, Gardiner (played a great game), and even Homosarek, Gunnarsson are much better than PK, Gorges, Gill, Diaz, Weber and Emelin… even if you throw in Spacek.
Love the boone title “Barn Burner at the Bell” –Really , yes this should send shockwaves around the league and scare everyone from wanting to come here or toronto,.Habs -Leafs have 9 goals scored and have to go to OT,…yup that’s a “Bar Burner”
Habs still stink since 1993……………
Good thing we’ve got a franchise goalie to keep us in these close ones & a coach who know how to play under pressure-LOl
Love the boone title “Barn Burner at the Belle” –Really , yes this should send shockwaves around the league and scare everyone from wanting to come here or toronto,.Habs -Leafs have 9 goals scored and have to go to OT,…yup that’s a “Bar Burner”
Habs still stink since 1993……………
Good thing we’ve got a franchise goalie to keep us in these close ones & a coach who know how to play under pressure-LOl
Love the boone title “Barn Burner at the Belle” –Really , yes this should send shockwaves around the league and scare everyone from wanting to come here or toronto,.Habe -Leafs have 9 goals scored and have to go to OT,…yup that’s a “Bar Burner”
Habs still stink since 1993……………
Good thing we’ve got a franchise goalie to keep us in these close ones 7 a coach who know how to play under pressure-LOl
Work on this and we start to win:
1. Tape to tape passing. How many passes went off skates or were a total miss?
2. Bury your shots! How many shots went wide or weren’t even close?
3. LINE CHANGES! This is an embarassment. Line changes should be clean. No too many man penalties.
Coach, you are responsible for getting the team prepared. This team looked ill-prepared once again.
This is brutal. Worst Habs start I can remember personally. And they just look so bad doing it too. Injuries, yeah, sure. Leafs are missing some guys too I believe … that excuse only goes so far.
The only thing you can put on JM is the line juggling which is frustrating. Everything else is on the players. They’re playing lazy, out of position hockey, not JM.
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I hope this improves
Obviously there is conflict between Cole and Martin so one of them needs to go.
I don’t really like Cole.
o zone, ..sounds retarded, well then why was it being used at the Canada vs US gold metal game..and I have heard it at many other non Habs game….chanting OLE has absolutly no bearing on the outcome of a game…its just something Habs fans do when they are happy or pumped up…its not a victory cheer…fans are not going to stop doing it..so move on to something important..
second place is just the first loser
I always thought that we sing the ole ole when we’ve WON the game… so in that sense, to me it does sound retarded when you hear it as soon as the puck dropped.
I know it has no bearing on the outcome of the game; was just using Boone’s line
Actually, on second thought, I do remember that whenever I notice the chanting before actually winning the game, we ended up losing. So maybe it does somehow affect it
This is not fun.
The Scott Gomez line………..where wingers go to die.
The Habs continue to play a style of game that just won’t get them far. Yes, lots of speed. Lots of shots – but – the shots are from the point and from forwards just entering the offensive zone. (lucky last night, bad goaltending) On net, yes. But, they are hesitant to put the puck into the corners, battle, cycle, set up a man in front of the net. They don’t win those battles – too small so their game is gun and shoot. Maybe ok for a 4 – 8 seed and certainly not a Cup contender. No guts, no glory. But, yes, we need to right size and skill set.
Earl Raven
So, um….Budaj getting a start anytime soon? I mean, just for the hell of it. At worst, it gives a shaky goalie a little break to get his head back into the game.
Another 4 goals scored, another 3rd period lead squandered. I’m starting to miss Campoli, ffs.
It has to be 2.
1) Results of public inquiry determine that there is no corruption in construction industry in Quebec,that system is as clean as a whistle.
2) Geoff Molson announces that he has signed Jacques Martin & Pierre Gauthier EACH to 5 year extensions.
What is the worse case of the two?
What’s up with the idiotic premature ‘ole ole’ at Bell Centre? Seriously, you can hear it with merely 2 min into the 1st period, which sounds totally retarded. Not to mention that it always jinx the game- without fail!
Another one that stings. And more evidence that the Canadiens are not a Stanley Cup contender. This will be emphasized in our matchups against the Bruins and Flyers coming up soon.
There has to be a way to penalize blatant, shameful dives like the one John-Micheal Liles took to draw a penalty against Travis Moen. I don’t want hockey to degenerate into soccer. It would be so simple for Brendan Shanahan and his minions to hand out game suspensions for those, they stand out on video review. It would also make his job easier, sorting out the serious boarding calls from those that are self-inflicted or embellished.
Also, the league needs to protect goaltenders from rampaging buffaloes like Ryan Malone and Cody McCormick or Brian Gionta. As much as it was controversial, we need to go back to the ‘in the crease’ rule like it was applied in the 90′s. It cheapens the game to have players barreling into the goaltender because they can’t ‘solve’ him, it’s a cheat that shouldn’t be allowed. Some argue that it would reduce scoring, but the goals that are scored that way aren’t those that show up on highlight reels and take your breath away. Opposing players shouldn’t be in the goalie’s crease, end of story. Which, of course, by the way, Mr. Gionta wasn’t.
Specific to this game, I noticed Erik Cole working very hard to make something happen. He’s catching some flak because his production hasn’t been what was anticipated, but I never saw any lack of effort. What I’d like to see is him lurking in the offensive zone, pouncing on a loose puck and cashing it in, but that will probably come when he gets a regular centre to be on the same wavelength with.
Travis Moen was demeaned by some this summer because he’s not a feared heavyweight fighter. He’s showing that he’s more than that, a true energy player who plays with heart and can lift the team. Let’s hope that he won’t lead the team in scoring for long, but good to see him having success.
Hal Gill turned it up a notch tonight, maybe inspired by his family seated behind the bench. At times, the antics of his young daughters was the most interesting thing to watch, and certainly when compared to Mr. Martin’s usual dour countenance. In any case, he stood out on many plays, instead of being his usual self-effacing defender. He was physical, surprised some Leafs by not always making the safe play off the boards, and showed leadership in a difficult situation.
I hate to be uncharitable, but Andrei Kostitsyn drew my eye again, demonstrating his wizardly skill and low hockey IQ in the same game; he is our resident idiot-savant, this generation’s Gaston Gingras. He scored on a laser in the second, but also on three occasions that I saw gave away the puck when he had clear, unchallenged possession. Once on the powerplay in the opposing zone, and once while cruising inside the opposition blue line, he showed indecision and lack of hunger and the puck floated off his stick right to an opponent. Best case scenario is for him to score twenty before the trade deadline and we unload him to a contender for a first-round pick.
Mike Komisarek was booed lustily when he carried the puck, but I chose to remember him fondly for the good years we had, like that ex-girlfriend you run into who still looks damn good and you almost forget why you broke up. I caught myself thinking that if the Leafs don’t want him we’d take him back, he’d bring a skill-set that is completely absent on the Canadiens blueline right now. Yannick Weber and Raphaël Diaz are clones of each other, and when Jaroslav Spacek returns he’ll be our third defenceman who is reputedly slick with the puck but devoid of size and strength. Building a team is best accomplished by bringing diverse talents together. You don’t build a great team with 20 Einsteins, you need a B.A. Barracus, a Face, a Murdoch and a Hannibal to lead them.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Gionta? Gionta wasn’t even in the blue ice. If a goalie ventures out of his crease then he’s fair game.
JayBee, I’m going to have to deduct points for reading comprehension. Go through the whole paragraph again. Then look up irony in the dictionary, and wonder why I juxtaposed those three players, and characterized them as buffaloes. Ponder on whether that applies to Mr. Gionta.
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How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
It’s amazing the bad decisions that have been made by all in the management offices in behalf of this franchise. And dont talk about the french issue. It was not the reason. The main reasons are lack of planning, imagination and forsight borne out of a homegeneity of thought from the minds of men with a common trait of seclusion.
What bad decisions specifically are you referring to?
Many many many! But let’s start with panicking and trying to get Jacqoe Lemaire to return to coach and then when that failed, overnight picking up the phone and offering JM 3yrs or whatever his tenure is.
Was that real due diligence?
I never did see or hear any of Jacques Martin’s presser… did we hear anything other than the standard blah blah blah about the “process” or the “system”???
What a french shower
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“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
At least i got in the top 5 in the fantasy hockey board..
other then that..
sad day in sports for montrealers..
Als lost and now Habs..
Pull my finger.
There! Doesnt help does it! You just have to vent and vent.. like we all are here.
I have nothing to vent about. I let it all go a long time ago.
I figure 2-3 years of pain outside of the play-offs is in store for us so let it go and just relax. No pain, no gain. The Habs need to rework their strategy. Stop the experiment with small players. Build a real team.
Acquire a #1 centre.
Have two scoring lines.
Have a third line that is a defensive unit that is capable of playing against either of the opponent’s top lines.
Have a fourth line that is all crash and bang energy.
Have muscle and size on the back end.
Understate trapping and emphasize fore checking.
That doesn’t mean a team can’t use two-way forwards and puck moving defense men. Just don’t build a team exclusively out of two-way forwards and puck moving defense men, especially a team that is physically out matched in a sport that includes elements like checking, hitting and puck battles along the boards.
An open letter to IAN. Please organize another summit and we can have a sit-in on the steps of the Bell Centre to demand accountability from Management.
This is becoming a disgrace to the CH.
I hope any such protests are better than the “Keep Kovy” shinanigans.
How come what’s-his-name-the-Vancouver-Canucks-GM can shed his high priced busts for a player like David Booth and Gauthier can’t???
Injuries schminjuries, good teams have depth… Gauthier is ill equipped to be a hockey GM (Blair Betts anyone?)
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“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
because they have a competent GM, and ours is a moronic idiot!
oh please…a sit in? Get real! Call 911 while you’re at it.
You take my venting too seriously sir!
Very disappointing game.
Cole has been a bust so far this year. I’m not gonna give him a chance to adjust. As a veteran, he’s had enough time now. Do we have him for 3 or 4 years?
Gorges coughed up the puck to Kessel.
Price couldn’t stop a beach ball tonight. However his goal post made 4 great saves tonight.
Moen’s boarding penalty was pretty much a fantom call. Total B.S.
Leafs’ last tying goal should not have counted. Play should have been dead as the puck had touched the netting above the glass.
Last but certainly not least, Jacques Martin’s gotta go along with Gauthier.
Is it too late to get Muller back and make him head coach? Would he be able to leave his current coaching job?
I made bets with 8 different Leaf-fan coworkers. I was so sure that we were gonna win this one finally. Not looking forward to work Monday morning.
Price was fine tonight and don’t blame JM for the players not buying into the system. We all know how JM likes to coach and the way they were trying to play tonight was not the way he wants them to.
If the players are not buying into the system, that’s the coach’s fault. It’s his job to have them convinced.
Easier said than done. They’re professionals, they shouldn’t need convincing. I think alot of it has to do with new players still learning the system, players trying to cover for another player (thereby taking themselves out of position), and a lack of focus.
I’m curios, the too many men on the ice penalty, is it really the coach’s responsibility, or the players? The rule is within 5 feet of the bench the player can be subbed……
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26485
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Dooooooooooooooomed!™
Its the players fault. You gotta know when its your turn to go on the ice and for whom. They’re professionals. They should know that
True..but the way JM shuffles the lines around at any given time it’s a wonder ANYONE knows which line they are on.
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The more you know the less the better!
I’ll agree the line juggling is frustrating, but players still have to know. And at least the first TMM penalty came after a PP when ofcourse things are going to be mixed up. Players gotta know whats going on.
Then why do people sh1t on JM for it? Lack of understanding how line changes work?
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Dooooooooooooooomed!™
Why is it we signed Cole at 4.5 million for the next 4 years…to sit in the penalty box to serve Martin’s lame bench penalties? I know we led the league last year and are well on the way to do the same this year but COME ON!!!!!! Twice tonight he put him in the box (I know one was for Price penalty) But come on!!!! Can someone remove that stick up Martin’s arse regarding Cole? Really what’s his beef with the guy. He’s treating him like a rookie! He had some pretty energetic shifts tonight. So what gives? It would behoove Molson to step in and protect his investment before things get dour to the point of no return between them. How about PG in this, why doesn’t he step in and ask him why he’s sutch a beeatch towards him. I don’t know. I just don’t get him (Martin) anymore.
Cole didn’t have a single redeeming moment tonight and was the reason Grabovski got to the front of the net to score. If he wants to play, he better start playing
How can you play if you don’t get the minutes. I saw him fly on a few shifts. As for the Grabovski winner lets face it he did an EXCELLENT move turning Cole inside out. Cole was so twisted he had no leverage to level Grabovski since he was on his heels at that point. Give credit where it’s due.
Cole was too slow to get to the net, didn’t box him out and didn’t use his much larger body to keep Grabovski away from the net.
I saw him fly too. Everytime he got stood up by that Gardiner kid by either a poke check or steered into the corner. Didnt even try overpower his way to the net.
He’s never near the net! And he nevers gets a rebound. No fight in this guy.
Well I beg to differ Grabovski did an awesome move. Goody for him. As for Cole I blame Martin for not using him properly from the get go. He is a coach and is supposed to be there for the players and he’s obviously got Cole playing scared. He’s a poor communicator. As for the too many men situation? It’s both the players and the coaches job to make sure the transitions go smoothly. Not simply the players. Why is it we lead the league in bench penalties since Martin’s at the helm? All the different players who’ve come and gone? No the coach. Anyway I’m out of here. This place is depressing. Enjoy the rest of the season, it’s gonna be a long one.
Let’s get rid of him as we have gotten rid of all the players who underperformed in Montreal and are now plying their trade happily elsewhere. And while we are at it send out a missive to any pending UFA that signing for big bucks does not necessarily mean that JM will condescend to talk to you.
For Price haters, look at it this way:
Goal 1:
Terrible face-off coverage, shot from the point, tipped at the last second – No chance
Goal 2:
Gorges carries the puck in front of the net, gets doubled up, puck ends up on Kessel (the NHL’s top scorer)’s blade and all he coulda done was finish, while PK is smoking a cigar in the corner – No chance
Goal 3:
PP goal due to a stupid penalty by Weber… Helluva shot by Phaneuf off a one-timer with Engqvist trying to block the shot but doing nothing but screening Price – Not much he can do
Goal 4:
Shouldn’t have counted but the puck bounced to the crease with like 6 players around the blue paint – No chance
OT winner:
Grabovski left WIDE OPEN because of poor D-zone coverage (Gill covering Liles?! Cole covering net front?!), Grabovski put a nice move and finished – No chance for Price
I guess one can say Price isn’t making the BIG saves in 2011-12 like he did last year, but he’s doing what he can to stop the puck. Unfortunately, poor coaching, poor management and a depleted, soft, inexperienced, shallow D are not gonna win us many hockey games.
i basically said the same thing below. Glad someone else saw what I saw.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
Reasonable opinions aren’t permitted……
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Dooooooooooooooomed!™
He made that massive save just before the Habs went down the ice to score their 4th goal.
Yeah it was a huge save but it was pretty lucky though. He’s not in the zone this year like he was last year (except in the Winnipeg game), but he’s still our best player as far as I’m concerned.
I dont really see much negative post on Carey Price..
Carey just needs to be careful handling/passing the puck..
and a lil more hustling back to his net..
but maybe he is a slow scater or likes looking ‘kool’
I dont know.. seems to make his D’s nervous.. and me.. when he touches the puck.. lol
just not a fan of his demeanor..
and i dont mean todays incident when he was boxed out by his own defensemen Weber..
still id have him out playing next game unless he is fatigued
On ALL 4 goals..where was Price..on his knees.
Name me one active goalie (taller than 6’0) that wouldn’t be on his knees in those situations. I’d be in my butterfly on those goals as wells.
The official 1st post of the Price apologists. (golf claps)
idiot. learn a little about hockey before you try to blame Price you fool.
Watching Habs and Ticats tonight with my son (26). Yeah, I know, everybody here cheers for the Als. At least you got that goin’ for ya. Parallels between Ticats and Habs, however, are mind boggling. Passive owner, GM who makes bizarre, inexplicable blunders which are not noticed by passive owner. Coach who doesn’t know how to spell passion, let alone instill it. Result, teams that perennially nudge themselves toward mediocrity. But I digress. My son comments to me tonight that, since the time he really remembers following the Habs, he can’t remember a team that had enough grit to be able to intimidate even the meekest of teams in the league. Seems, he says, that there’s some unwritten rule in Montreal that winning by physically overpowering other teams is just not cricket. Well, at least I’ve got the teams from the 60s and 70s to think about, but we have a whole generation of Habs fans who have never seen anything but mediocrity. (While our team is small, but emphasizes speed, other teams are big and emphasize speed.) What reason do these next-gen Habs fans have for continuing to support the team. Its history? The great jerseys? Please, Mr. Molson, give me your answer to that question. What is it we’re all holding on for, the next rebuild? Ah, hell, I had one too many Taliskers tonight. Celebrating the fading sunset of mediocrity. Leafs rule!
I’m a Ti-Cats fan too, I live in the Maritimes.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
So, the night wasn’t a total write-off. All hail the two-quarterback system!!!
If JM and PG are left to run things much longer, then La Belle Province will end up with no MLB team, no NFL team, no NBA team, and no NHL team… unless Quebec gats a franchise.
And Bob Gainey… I admire you and respect you but, whether it was because of family problems, disinterest or succumbing to the pressure of the GM’S job in Montreal, the decisions you made which brought us PG, and JM, and Gomez etc will haunt this franchise for a long long time.
You tarnished your legacy.
If you are still associated with this team Bob, step in and advise Molson to clean house.
Some questions that I would like Jacques to answer:
- Why is Darche on the first wave of the powerplay with MaxPac, Cole, Gionta and AK on the bench?
- Why are 2 players jumping over the bench and onto the ice when only 1 should be?
- When playing 4 on 4 in overtime, with lots of open ice, why is Hal Gill on the ice?
- Why are players on the other team allowed to run Price and go after Subban without anyone responding?
- How come the opposition puts in a shakey goalie and your team goes about 10 minutes without a shot on goal on him?
Come on Jacques, you should be a better coach than that.
Dean Martin would have done a better job than Jacques Martin
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“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
1. Those players were tired or weren’t playing good enough to be on the ice.
2. Ask the players. Thats their fault.
3. Why is Hal Gill in the league.
4. They are not “allowed”. Those are penalties. Why not ask the refs why they wouldn’t call the game properly.
5. You mean that first shot, that we scored on, 29 seconds into the period???
Again, weird how we’re throwing players under the bus, overall Gill had a good game – save – one shift
I think most people are saying Gill had a good game tonight because he almost fought. Gill is a terrible fighter and I never want to see him fight but atleast it shows a little passion which has been a lacking from the team as of late. However, I still saw Gill give the puck away numerous times and get caught out of positions numerous times. I’ll admit he wasn’t terrible tonight but he was far from having a great game. The mistake he makes though are caused by things he sucks at, which we should be familiar with by now, and not because of lack of focus.
Couldn’t agree with you more.
The amount of ice time that Darche has received on the PP is puzzling and wasted.
I thought Gill had a very solid and spirited game overall, but any OT time was a huge error on Martin’s part.
On a positive note, I loved the way Eller performed tonight. Seeing other teams take liberties with Habs players – specifically, Price – is damn frustrating!
Gill 1,001 GP
Gorges 370 GP
Subban 85 GP
Weber 55 GP
Diaz 6 GP
Yemelin 5 GP
Markov 623 GP
Spacek 836 GP
Campoli 398 GP
That about sums it up. (pun intended)
The return of Markov would make a difference. The return of Spacek and Campoli? Questionable.
Glad someone realizes it. A lot of negativity on here.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
I have no idea how anyone can be blaming Carey for that game. I’d like to know which goals people are blaming on him. The first 1 that was deflected 6 ft in front of him? Maybe the 2nd one that Gorges put on Kessels stick in front of the net? Maybe the 3rd one that was a rocket from Phaneuf from the top of the circle? Maybe it was the 4th one that the puck went off his shoulder and hung up in the netting and dropped on a Toronto stick ( that for some reason four effin zebras didn’t see) followed by 2 passes and a shot he saves fololowed by a great save on the rebound that goes acroos the crease onto a Toronto player’s stick for a goal? Maybe the Grabovski goal that anyone has to admit was a nice play, but no way he should of been allowed to skate out in front without anyone stopping him? This was a game that his GAA and sve% took a $#it kicking but he couldn’t of been faulted on any of them and he made a lot of huge saves.
Thumbs up.
Like, maybe he should make a BIG save when it counts. This season, he has been a far cry from last season.
…if I can find ‘something’ humorous about tonight it is I just received this second HIO’s push notice on My Ipod Touch that Gorges just scored …Habs 4 the Weeds 3 !!!
…Go Habs Gooooo !!!
…
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
These games are not fun to watch. I think I’ll take some time off from hockey, maybe go down to South America tomorrow
RANDOM THOUGHTS:
* The only thing the pre-injury Gorges has in common with the post-injury Gorges is his name
* Meanwhile, Hal Gill had a terrific game. He suddenly played like a 6’7 player.
* 2 years of Too Many Men penalties. You can blame the players for bad changes for only so long. Time for JM to man-up and accept responsibility.
* the PP is simply embarrassing — 5 of 29!!! A coach who preaches special teams is incapable of fixing it. His answer is to use Darche over Cole, and rudely laughs at the reporter who dares ask him why he uses Darche.
* say what you like about Spacek. We could’ve used his experience out there tonight.
* great chemistry between AK, Eller, and Moen. That line was one of the two best lines, just as AK, DD, and Patches were against the Sabres. And what happened to the DD/Patches line? Hint: he was Gauthier’s big signing this season.
* I LOVED Pleks with Cammy and Gionta. I don’t care if they are a small line. Let the opposition throw their most physical d-pair out there against them, and we can follow up with AK, Eller, and Moen who are fully able and willing to play rough and tumble hockey.
* I’ve said it for three years now: we desperately need a TRUE fourth line. Not a reserve line for excess players. The Penguins are all the illustration one needs.
* finally, Eller is better than Gomez. By a loooong shot!
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
It takes Scott Gomez not being in the lineup for everyone to see the power of Eller. Lars played his first true game as a top 2 center in Montreal and did not look out of place.
Peculiar that he saw no time on the powerplay though…Zip.
My more concentrated thoughts:
TMM penalties are the players fault. Never the coach. Players need to focus.
Eller is definitely better than Gomez, and will be even better in the future.
If Cole wants ice time, then he needs to play with half an ounce of passion when he IS on the ice.
Pacioretty needs to consistently play wit energy.
Gio needs to be the spark that ignites this team every game.
Fans complain when we play a reserved defensive game, and when we play an out of control offensive game. Make up your mind. The players aren’t committing to the system and our new players are still learning it. Quit using JM as a scapegoat and recognize who the blame really falls on.
I think you should keep trying to concentrate.
More concentrated? Because they are your thoughts? Well, hows about that.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
That part was mostly a joke because they weren’t random, as some of them were in regards to your points.
LOL, now all of you are seeing what I saw years ago. Honestly I’m sickened by all of you. I tried to warn you…… You really deserve this, I’m out
Na, this is a just a few jumping of the shaky wagon, you haven’t proved anything yet. You a fan of James Dean?
haha, a gloating, beaming ManApart with a fresh new James Dean avatar…what a clown, don’t let the door hit ya on your way out
amen. what a freaking tool he is. he’s always here to gloat after a loss. with fans like him who needs enemies?
Stay out.
- Honestly yours
LMFAO,let me guess. You also brag about knowing all the words to Joe Satriani songs?
I’d gladly suffer though this poor start if it meant the end of ToolApart.
That was so callous. Even for you.
Because if we’d only believed you back then, things would be different now?
I think the Habs should give Mario Tremblay one more chance as coach, replace PG with Michel Bergeron, and put Pierre McGuire in charge of drafting.
Throw in PJ Stock to replace an uninspired Youppi.
Youppi needs to be moved to the front office.
…and Chantel to replace Cunneyworth. Bet the boys would like her pep talks.
Oh God, no!
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
If Mario Tremblay ever sets foot behind the Habs bench again, I’ll f*ckin vom.
- Honestly yours
I watched Mario btw periods. That paper on the desk in front of him – i swear it was his resume.
When did the idea that we need a french coach and GM come about? Frank Selke and Toe Blake= Stanley Cups, Sam Pollack and Scotty Bowman=Stanley Cups. Rejean Houle and Mario Trembley=no Cups, Pierre Gauthier and Jacques Martin= no cups.
Must you play the language card?
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
The french media does
ability is what you’re capable of doing.
attitude determines how you do it
and so , llet us releae the hounds……why did we sign Eric Cole if we were not going to use him. Seriously would you have put him on our dept chart below Darche , Moen , Eller , etc , etc , etc , please some one explain what is goning on here. our major acquisition in the off season , four million a yr no less, doesnt rate first or second line minutes ;.. Why is our best d men , newly signed to a three yr deal in Florida under wraps with a wonky knee. Why cant anyone say what the deal is with markov , what gives except maybe we signed damaged goods , and are afraid to admit it. Why should anyone have to make excuses for this sorry mess except Management that created it , enough of rationalization and excuses we have been badly taken by a management team that has a singular record of having never won anything . Mr Molson Please ……help !!!!!!!!!
I take the wiz
Last December, the surgeon said it would take a year. It hasn’t been a year yet. Plus, I’ve been told that Markov rushed himself and hindered the healing. Which is why his rehab is now under very close scrutiny. Always should have been, mind you. When you value a commodity that much, surely you should take better care of it/him.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
Maybe because Cole hasn’t shown up to play is why we haven’t played him.
Torches? CHECK
Angry mob? CHECK
Jacques Martin effigy? CHECK
Ok. Let’s get started.
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The more you know the less the better!
How can you tell the difference between the JM effigy and the real person? Both are equally silent and wooden.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
The effigy would coach with more fire.
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The more you know the less the better!
Especially if you lit it.
Lol!
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
Pretty soon it might be Martin himself burning in effigy the way some fans are reacting.
Hey I know, have some more awards and milestone announcements. That always makes them play better. Hey give Price the molson cup again, he loves those things.
Yes, and awards and milestones also add to how upbeat and good I feel about this team.
GO HABS..
Why is everyone so negative? It’s early in the season.
The D is young and banged up but they’ll get better. Are you guys real fans? Support your team and don’t be negative.
Jacques is gonna fix this( I know, he has to start by getting his players to learn how to count to seven).
Eller looked good out their…didn’t he?
If he continues to improve they’ll put him on the ice for a 5 on 3.
Man, we’re a work in progress.
I see machine gun Darche as a top six player, not to mention our top powerplay specialist, that can score us out of this.
Everyone stay calm. They’re learning. Actually, they are in the second phase of a twenty year plan to win it all.
I’m feeling really upbeat right now. There is so much to like about how these guys are playing right now.
Does anybody else feel this good?
Timo, how about you?
GO HABS…
Hold on, let me take another hit from my bong.
OK, I’m starting to feel it.
“You play to win the game”
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is our year!
Because in Gary’s NHL, if you’re not in a playoff spot by November 1st the odds are you’ll be watching playoff hockey from the 19th hole…
JM’s a complete moron, has Darche on PPs and Cole and Eller sit. What’s with Cole anyway, does JM not know how to use the guy??? 3rd line minutes and no PP time??
huh huh huh I wrote ‘PP time’ heh heh heh
Anyways, this was a MUST-WIN game and they played as soft and confused as ever, mark my words NO PLAYOFFS IN 2012… but then the world’s ending anyways…
_____________________________________________
“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
I’m with you here. We’re putting up more goals some times than we did last year. That’s a positive. But our D appears to be making some pretty sad mistakes. It’s gotta be inexperience. Managament did try to bring in Campoli and I guess they thought Markov would be alright. Since both those things went out the window we’re a bit of a mess. But guys like PK and Weber should not be making mistakes. They’re no longer rookies. Time to grow up.
The other issue we got is our PP. No idea how to fix that. Maybe call up Kirk?
I just want to say this though: if we fire the coach and/or GM and we don’t get suitable replacements then what will all the “FIRE JM & PG NOW” people do? Settle for a tank? This, I suppose, is the same reason why Gomez is never sent down. If he was and we still sucked then what? Sure it’s worth a shot but there’s no guarantee.
Perhaps we need to work with what we’ve got. This team can play better. It showed a little of its strength against Winnipeg, and occasionally (see Moen) shows some of its true skills. We need to coordinate to get that PP going and get the D to improve. The goals will pour in, and will stop being poured in against us. Just a bit of patience.
Besides you can’t taste sucess without tasting defeat.
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3P 18:10 Reimer stops that
by mboone 10:44 PM
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Boone, you should not criticize octogenarian Bob Cole for getting names wrong, when you have the same problem. Reimer did not play after the first period, & was replaced by Gustavsson.
Cole is doing live play by play, while you are not. Plus Reimer had been gone for almost 2 periods. I hope that your only excuse is booze.
Fail on your part.
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GO HABS GO! 2011-12 is our year!
What he meant was that Reimer would have stopped that.
Oh, so Boone was been sarcastic. That’s not like him.
You obviously don’t know what sarcasm is.
The Grabovski show. The player the Habs didn’t want. The same will happen when they get rid of AK…
If Plekanec is your number 1 center, you’re in trouble. Never wins important faceoffs, passes when he should shoot and when he does shoot, misses the f***in’ net.
As for AK46, what the hell is he still with this team for??? Coulda let him walk but no PG throws $3 million+ at him.
Same for Markov, $5 million+ for a defenceman with chronic china doll syndrome, heck, most of these new guys brought in back in the ’09 purge have only met the guy a handful of times…
Gauthier will stick with this old school coach whom the game has passed by and Gauthier will stick with these soft chickensh*t players and the Habs are back in the late ’90s Reggie days of non-playoff mediocrity… yay for the fans.
This team is mostly brutal to watch except for the odd beauty Cammy goal or Price save.
I’m losing interest in the NHL game anyways, Gary’s World sucks.
“If the Bruins played the Taliban, I’d root for the Taliban”
Why keep the wiz or Hammer went you got Markov on er you trade for the guy and let them go
AK has been fantastic.
Regarding AK – 3.25mil for a guy who consistently get over 20 goals is actually good value given the current market.
- Honestly yours
And Plekanec, as quiet as he was tonight, was still our best forward.
Wouldn´t say that but Plekanec and Kostitsyn (easily one of our three best forwards today) are certainly not our biggest problems. When Kostitsyn gets criticzed after a decent game with just one stupid mistake, two points and a +2 while the captain who didn´t have a point (+/- -2) doesn´t get mentioned, I can only laugh.
You don’t think that Plekanec belongs amongst the top 30 centres in the league; or, that if he is your top centre that your team will not be amongst the league’s best?
The guy is a heck of a player, in my opinion. In fact, by NHL players’ standards he was deemed to be one of the most underrated in the league.
Just looking for clarification on your take on Plekanec.
Moen, eller, AK combined for 6 pts tonight. Something wrong with that?
ability is what you’re capable of doing.
attitude determines how you do it
Stopped reading after your first two paragraphs when you slagged two of tonight’s best performers. Loooong line of culpable characters ahead of those two.
I remember Dec. 31, 1975
Andrei is the least of our problems. He’s played pretty well and he’s one of the few on the team that
a) Is Physical
b) can score
I’m getting pissed off that this team is starting to really waste my time. 1 win in 7 games. That’s about 21 hour of my life I’ll never get back. about 18 of those hours were me being pissed off. And that’s not even counting pre season.
Hey Habs, how about you win a god damn game already
The Price is wrong !! This team is even worse than I could have imagined. BG/PG your time is short
you’re wrong. you have no clue whatsoever.
You got it right….Price is not the problem, but some posters believe it is and it’s amazing how they don’t get it…..simply JM is got to go
Man, we just can’t get it done. It’s a bit frustrating, but considering we’re still in October we probably shouldn’t be freaking out. There has to be some understanding that until Markov comes back, it is not easy to replace Hamrlik who ate a lot of minutes and Wiz who played some pretty hockey. Lots of positives, but I guess people don’t like to think about them…how bout AK? he’s been fantastic.
“Keep Calm and Carry On” – Winston Churchill anybody? no?
Google Earth showing moving van in front of Jacques’ house – oops, looks like there could be too many men in the truck.
Curious as to why people feel the TMM penalties are JMs fault. Its not like he pushes the 6th player onto the ice.
Its the players fault. Anyone who has ever played knows its the player who doesn’t focus on whats going on who causes the TMM penalties
We are now in sole possession of 15th place. And in two days we get to watch them lose again, then three more times next week.
We won’t win many games with Price playing the way he is. Not that he’s terrible, but he’s not good either. His numbers speak for themselves.
A badly played game, but the team kept battling. I guess that’s the positive, plus the loser point of course.
The deal is, Price has to post shutout games, every game to bail the team out. Never will happen with any goalie anywhere.
_____________________
Dooooooooooooooomed!™
Price doesn’t have to get shutouts, but he has to be better than he’s been. I think his save percentage tonight was about .870. For the season so far it’s under .890. Those aren’t good numbers.
Having half of your top-6 defensemen with career game totals that are lower than the number of fingers on my hands doesn’t help.
Holy crap! Really? Price? This D makes every night look like the last defence of Stalingrad, and you blame Price? If you want to blame anybody blame Gauthier. Gone – Wiz, Sopel, Mara, Hammer – replaced by Markov, Yemelin, Diaz and at the last minute out of panic Campoli. Now looks where we are. The reason we can’t win is, 1. we can’t make a good outlet pass to clear the zone 2. we are so small that down low every team in the league can kick the crap out of us. It’s obvious to a blind man that what’s costing this team wins is its not-quite-ready-for-the-KHL defence. Gauthier has blown this one big time. It’ll be interesting to see what comes first, a blow-the-rest-of-the-cap desperation signing or a Gauthier firing. My money’s on the former. Fed up with cheering for this team.
All of that is true, but Price is not playing anywhere near as well as he usually does.
As for Gauthier’s moves, most people didn’t want Hamrlik for two years or the Wiz for 6 years at 5.5 million. Signing Markov was a gamble, which so far hasn’t paid off. The D is inexperienced and of course makes mistakes, but all those three guys (Diaz, Weber, Emelin) are going to be good. Gorges has lost a step since his surgery; maybe he’ll get it back.
I’m not sure lack of size had anything to do with today’s loss. The officiating was horrendous, especially on the Leafs’ fourth goal, but mostly the team looked ill-prepared (again). Passes were off the mark and there was little cohesion. The powerplay is a mess, and the penalties killed us. These things are on JM. At least the team showed some heart, and Eller, Kostitsyn, and a couple of others were good.
I guess this is a good example of how two people can look at the same series of events and see two completely different things. To me, Habs D was punished in the corners all night long by larger, faster Toronto forwards. But you have to admit that whether they were good, or horrible, blaming the officials for a loss is a mugs game, and a loser’s mentality. Bad officiating will happen. Good teams overcome it.
Eller interviewed after the game “They changed goalies? I honestly didn’t know they did that…when did they change the goalie”? One would think the players would notice that, or at the very least the coaching staff would… Eller played a good game, but this is indicative of the lack of attention and focus the team has right now.
JM’s coaching just isn’t working at all. What are some catchy, early season slogan’s for falling for Yakupov or Ryan Murray?
I just figured out why Bettman doesn’t want to give Quebec City an NHL team.
It’s because if he does, Montreal would want one too…
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
i’ve stuck with this team through thick and thin since 70, but enough is enough. i’ll start watching again when the goat and the count are gone. now i have to go listen to all my leaf fan buddies in the morning……..thanks guys.
Its a tale of two teams. Pleks, Cammy, Eller, DD, Moen, Kostitsyn, Diaz, Weber, Gorges have pulled their weight. I’ll give Gio a break because I’m positive he’ll pick it up. Patches has been off and on. The rest have to be better.
cammy gives the puck away more in a game than anyone on the ice. if we had someone else to score id trade him in a second.
If there’s a silver lining in all of this, it’s that the Leafs tying goals should have never counted, what with the puck having gone out of play.
Oh, and the server sucks, too.
I missed it.When did it go out of play?
Same shift that the goal was scored on; up into the netting behind the goal. Hung up there for a bit, too. The crowd was yelling that it was up there, but it fell to the ice and play was allowed to continue.
Who gives a shit that’s loser talk
Not looking forward to the upcoming week’s schedule.
Depends on how you look at it. If you are hoping for a JM firing you couldn’t ask for a better one.
JM isn’t getting fired. Smarten up. This is the players fault.
So trade them. Make a goddamn move. Do something.
Sitting here crying every game is pointless and I’m tired of watching them
You don’t think there isn’t a chance JM gets canned if we are 1-8-2 by next saturday night? Which judging by the schedule is very,very possible. When was the last time a coach was fired when it wasn’t the players fault? I’m not saying its right,but thats the way it is.
You can’t fire a whole team so JM’s head had the Sword of Damocles hanging over it but I suspect he is here to finish his contract even if the Habs finish last. Either way I don’t care about a coaching change. I just don’t want to see a panic move trade.
Time to rebuild. Slowly. Methodically. Patiently. Painfully.
IMO it will be 2-3 years until this team will be back in the play-offs. Forget about contending for Cup.
Might as well stock up on draft picks in the mean time.
You have to admit the Leafs D is much better than our blue line. Phaneuf, Liles (underrated), Schenn, Gardiner (played a great game), and even Homosarek, Gunnarsson are much better than PK, Gorges, Gill, Diaz, Weber and Emelin… even if you throw in Spacek.
Server sucks, JM sucks.
“It’s not an obsession, It’s a way of life..”
Move the team to Quebec!
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Dooooooooooooooomed!™
Quebec wants a major league team
Love the boone title “Barn Burner at the Bell” –Really , yes this should send shockwaves around the league and scare everyone from wanting to come here or toronto,.Habs -Leafs have 9 goals scored and have to go to OT,…yup that’s a “Bar Burner”
Habs still stink since 1993……………
Good thing we’ve got a franchise goalie to keep us in these close ones & a coach who know how to play under pressure-LOl
Love the boone title “Barn Burner at the Belle” –Really , yes this should send shockwaves around the league and scare everyone from wanting to come here or toronto,.Habs -Leafs have 9 goals scored and have to go to OT,…yup that’s a “Bar Burner”
Habs still stink since 1993……………
Good thing we’ve got a franchise goalie to keep us in these close ones & a coach who know how to play under pressure-LOl
At least Moen is on pace for 47 goals..
haha
If I was JM, I’d think maybe it’s time to try Moen-Enquvist-Darche for 18 minutes a night & first wave PP. Don’t laugh, you know it could happen.
If I was JM I would blow my ….. Nevermind!
“Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”
Gill 1,001 GP
Gorges 370 GP
Subban 85 GP
Weber 55 GP
Diaz 6 GP
Yemelin 5 GP
Markov 623 GP
Spacek 836 GP
Campoli 398 GP
That is all.
and yet Weber and Diaz were both better than Gill and Subban
Love the boone title “Barn Burner at the Belle” –Really , yes this should send shockwaves around the league and scare everyone from wanting to come here or toronto,.Habe -Leafs have 9 goals scored and have to go to OT,…yup that’s a “Bar Burner”
Habs still stink since 1993……………
Good thing we’ve got a franchise goalie to keep us in these close ones 7 a coach who know how to play under pressure-LOl
Give management some pepsi and may west and send em packing
Work on this and we start to win:
1. Tape to tape passing. How many passes went off skates or were a total miss?
2. Bury your shots! How many shots went wide or weren’t even close?
3. LINE CHANGES! This is an embarassment. Line changes should be clean. No too many man penalties.
Coach, you are responsible for getting the team prepared. This team looked ill-prepared once again.
PRE-SEASON 0-6-1
SEASON 1-4-2
1 win in 14 games? Right.
– HABS INSIDE/OUT R.I.P. –
Last place in the east by the way, just thought I’d cheer you guys up
Time has come today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wanoXM90yHE
________________________________________
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
Tank Time!!!
Guess who was out on D for the winning goal and well out of position?
And Cole lets him walk out front for free. This is what I dreaded when we signed him. He’s Kostitsyn w/o the natural talent
This is brutal. Worst Habs start I can remember personally. And they just look so bad doing it too. Injuries, yeah, sure. Leafs are missing some guys too I believe … that excuse only goes so far.
So bad. SO so bad.
Full Breezer 4 Life
well, the Canadiens took the top team in their division and the best team in canada to overtime and lost.
can’t be to upset at that
… right?
if the loss equates to the firing of our french management and staff … I am not upset at all … in fact, I’m happy.
Let me the first to thank Jacques & Pierre for their efforts and wish them well in their future endeavors
He put Eller out there for the faceoff and then subbed him out for Cole!
Honestly….
the coaching for the habs has been dismal this season. most people above the age of 23 have noticed that.
The only thing you can put on JM is the line juggling which is frustrating. Everything else is on the players. They’re playing lazy, out of position hockey, not JM.
Maybe we should have kept Grabs and given him some ice time?
Can we please have an english coach this time…
THREE MORE LOSSES AND WE MAY SEE SOME ACTION.
It’s all a fiendish Gauthier plot. Ruin Price’s numbers so that he’s cheaper with his last RFA contract, and secure Nail Yakupov in the draft.
It’s FOOLPROOF!
Eller should’ve stayed on the ice after winning the face-off.