Nine shutouts this season: A franchise record.
Three shutouts in a row: The most since 1949 – six years before Red Fisher began covering your Montreal Canadiens.
18 shots on goal on home ice: A season low.
The ritual trashing of Scott Gomez: no SoG, 6-10 on faceoffs.
Present in the room and putting up a brave front: Four of the highest-salaried players on the team _ Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Tomas Plekanec.
Shots by the aforementioned four millionaires: Five.
Number of goals Carey Price can allow for his team to have a chance: 0.
Goaltender in the third game Canadiens were blanked in 1949: Bill Durnan … who wasn’t picked as First Star.
Goals Cammalleri has scored since Dec. 19: Four
Goals Scott Gomez has scored in 2011: Two
Goals Benoit Pouliot has scored in the last 18 games: 0
Goals James Wisniewski has scored since being acquired on Dec. 28: Five
Goals the Wild have scored since the last of eight Canadiens goals in Minnesota: Four
Power play time for P.K. Subban: 1:03
Power play time for Roman Hamrlik: 1:50
Games Martin Hamrlik, visiting from the Czech Republic, has seen his brother play: The last three.
ToI for Mathieu Darche: 5:09
For Ryan White: 6:08
Hits by the Canadiens in their three shutout losses: 71
Hits by their three victorious opponents: 37
Number of times Jacques Martin has stressed the importance of net presence: at least 76, once after every game.
Stat line on Nicklas Backstrom, who was not one of the Three Stars: two assists, plus-2, seven SoG
Goaltenders the Canadiens likely will face on the road between now and the end of the season: Cam Ward, Martin F. Brodeur, Craig Anderson and James Reimer
More tomorrow.
Loading ...
kfdsla
welcome to our website:
——- http://www.chic-goods.com/ ——–
if you like to order anything you like.
More details,
please just browse our website Quality is our Dignity;
Service is our Lift.
enjoy yourself.
thank you!!
——- http://www.chic-goods.com/ —–
Think Martin should drop a defensive minded player for an offensive one.
Health is wealth
http://measuringmetabolicrate.weebly.com
All of the above in Mike Boone’s column are direct results of Martin’s poor coaching, his commitment to vets & refusal to use the players that bring energy to this team. Right now we’re the laughing stock of the league. Save this season by FIRING JM. Only logical thing left to do. We are not a great team by any stretch but I refuse to believe that we are this bad.
After the Wild game, it looked like they were ready to roll. My kid forgot his glasses at the Westin. I believe the Habs were at the same hotel (I saw Gomez in the lobby). Maybe he/the Habs forgot something there too.
It is not that bad people. Last year this team was very anemic going into the playoffs. I’m not saying they will cause the same playoff joy this year, but who knows. I do know that we have a goaltender that all the other teams would want and that many feel could single handedly steal games. Many of these guys know when to turn it on – no body in any job goes full out all of the time. Would you beleive that Washington has scored only five more goals than the Habs have this year. Parity: same thing happens in Boston, seven goals versus the Habs one night, no goals versus the Rangers tonight. The Rangers suck most of the season, now they are awesome – come playoffs?? Want to bet that Chicago bounces Vancouver in the first round?
I don’t complain about thee guys much, but the last three games was horrible. Million dollar players going for a nice leisurely skate is what it looks like. I guess they want 7th or 8th more than we know. I feel bad for the fans who paid money to watch what we’ve all been watching on Bell.
Shane Oliver
Sholi2000.com
Brandon, MB,Canada
R7B 2R7
hockey@sholi2000.com
Ph- 204 724 8418
Yes, it is hard to watch. But I can’t be critical after the show they gave me and my kid and half of St Boniface in Minneapolis last wkend. That game plus Kristo the night before (also at the Energy Center) was very entertaining.
Hi.. see poster G-Man re advice about phone etc..
The Minny game (and yes the play of prospects like Kristo and Gallagher) are very good news for us habs fans and created the entertainment we love in our hockey.
And so it is against that joy of seeing plays like Subban’s and White’s in that game that I shudder when I hear the following observations after the Minny game and see JM’ use of these players since then..
P.K .. interviewed after the game and I paraphrase, “I know Perry will tell me not to do that again although it turned out well this time”.
Melniyk on team 990 reported that JM opined that we will have a ‘chat with P.K’. And as Melnyk put it and I paraphrase. ‘What does
he want to chat with P.K about.. oh yeah kid.. dont be doing that sorta stuff.. dont be thrilling the fans with fancy moves”.
And then look at the minimal usage of White since then.
I am not critical of the players right now.. maybe except Gomez. And even Gomez I have posted will better serve the team if used as a 3rd line type checker a la Guy Carbonneau… keeps the puck and just skates eating up time while giving some of his top line offensive minutes to the YOUTH.
And look at P.K’S power play usage. In fact look at the PP. There is no need to pressure our point men on the PP because they never skate away from the blue line to combine with the forwards on the ‘man advantage’. They just stand there and fire shots at the net where our forwards have clustered on the orders of JM ‘to go to the NET’ Fans here used to call out P.K for standing at the point and blasting away describing it as rookie impatience. Well look at WIZ’s PP
play last night… same strategy. It is not the player.. it is the ‘ordered strategy’ and P.K said as much some time back.
You have to listen to the words of the players to kinda get a hint of their level of confidence and passion for the game they are asked to play and their ‘focus’ on NOT displeasing the coach. One thing I have been hearing more and more lately as I listen to the players, especially the rookies, is less of a mention of MULLER and more of a mention of PERRY.
Could be just me though.
Why are you leaving your e- mail, mailing address and phone #? Asking for spam? Just curious.
2011 is the Year of the Hab (can I still say that?)
Wow – even the puck bunnies are turning – what a world.
Cammalleri had one good season in the Calgary (2008), in L.A, (2006) and in Montreal (2010). Looks like he can play well for only one season in every team . Maybe it’s time to let him go before 2011-12.
Right now he’s only stealing hungrier players icetime.
http://media.turku.fi/kamera1.html
In Bruins culture to do bad is to do good and that’s the immediate reaction I had upon seeing Chara shoving Pacioretti into the station,
Chara new that Pacioretti would be damage good after such a hit as much as the Bruins brass new that the CH would also be damaged good without him and no longer the threat they represented up to that point against their own team in the race to finish first in the division.
That aside, I saw the lost of Pacioretti as the end of our journey as a team this season, with him we had a fonctional and productive line as he proved to be an ideal partner for Gomez and Gionta which lefted us with 3 pairs of skilled players ( Plek, Cammalleri ), ( Desharnais, Pouliot ), ( Eller, Kostitsyn ) each of them complemented by the threesome Halpern, Moen and White for maximum overall balance as they were.
We won against VAN, ATL, FLO, TAM and BOS with those lines…. a nice ensemble and when adding Price to such an equation the chances for a fairly deep playoffs run didn’t appear to me as being a far fetched proposition any longer,……. but when Pac went down my hope to see it hapenning went down with him.
A lot of nice guys, on this team. Too many nice guys.
Like Jeff Halpern said, a couple of months ago: players generally take on the personality of their head-coach. Let’s see some more testosterone from this team! A lot of yappers! Plekanec, Cammalleri, Gomez! I can’t stand Tomas Plekanec no more! Who noticed that he was gone for four games! I prefer, and by far, David Desharnais in his spot! Things are not going well, brothers. There’s a real danger, here, of not making the playoffs. And if they do make it, there is no way they are surviving past the first round. I’d like it for someone to name me ONE game, one game, where the Canadiens have won a testosterone-charged game. I mean, a real, furious, brawling, man’s man game. I can’t recall.
-Plekanec does play like a girl-
Step back a bit, minus Plekanec, the Habs are likely battling for this year’s the first overall draft position.
“Step back a bit, minus Price, the Habs are likely battling for this year’s the first overall draft position.”
Fixed.
Carey Price is All Hart! http://on.fb.me/CP31Hart
Go Habs Go!
are you friggin kidding me? I’m not saying Desharnais would be much better. BUT we do need much better than Plekanec as our no.1 center (nevermind Gomez) if we ever hope to be an elite team. Tell me he that guy plays fearlessly, like a leader should. Tell me he’s creative with the puck, like a no.1 center should. No! Enough!
-Plekanec does play like a girl-
The problem is that most Habs fans here are brain washed. Most of these posters wouldn’t know a hockey game if it crunched them into the boards.
We’re stuck with the team of turtles until 2015.
Why on earth would Martin keep #14 on the power play? Where was Subban? He’s the one who has a hard point shot and is creative. As far as Wiz is concerned, he’s a lousy defenceman – unable to take the body and constantly coughing up the puck. It seems Martin is enamoured with Wiz, keeping him on the PP as well.
Martin is unable to adapt to failed plans. He plods on as he did tonight. He always looks lost, looking up and down the bench as if someone if going to jump up in a black cape to save the day.
This man is just plain stupid. I never liked this guy and I think the fans are tired of him as are the players. He has no plan – ever.
I dont care for JM and his emotionless anal discipline shtick either, JM teams eventually become zombies. But he has a plan, he never strays from it. Some say hes good with young players, yeah right, only when he doesnt have a choice because of injuries.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
“It seems Martin is enamoured with Wiz, keeping him on the PP as well.”
I am very scary re saying things that hype Subban cause of my love of what he brings to our team and the hope that finally we are on the verge of having a habs legend growing up in front of our eyes.
So I have tempered my posts but I thoroughly agree with you.
I have posted many times before…
a) watch for JM to take P.J’s minutes and give it to the veteran WIZ. I said this long long ago in response to one of A Basu’s adoring article on JM being good with young players.
b)Wiz’s shifts are too long … easy to observe
c) I dont see the huge like of WIZ as a long term answer on our defense.. your point re is defensive acumen is spot on.
Does it look like Martin is saying “f*ck me” every time the camera is zoomed in on him? Or am I just wishing he was saying that?
I too think hes saying it lol
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I think its either of 2 things:
1- The habs arent in urgency mode and are therefore going through the motions and not straining themselves risking injuries etc and its understandable IMO Why go all out when you dont have to? Only problem with this theory is Price getting most of the starts.
2- Every team has a player that is its engine. And for the habs I think this year the engine has become MaxPac. His game has been consistent no matter the style of the opponent and he is missed more than we thought hed be.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
ok i was at the game i paid big bux to witness this painfull useless effort.THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE LOSING ON PURPOSE to drop to 7th spot to avoid the bruins.come on not even one goal, evey shot looked to be wide on purpose. i wish they just admit it were tanking it.
I am no NHL coach nor try to be but it all starts with winning the majority of board battles and attacking the neutral zone. Tonight we did none of these hence the result. No aggression and no fight, boys must think their in already and have had enough of the regular season. Gonna be sad if we end up in 8th and get swept by the Flyers.
I love this team. I live and breathe this team. When they lose I yell, when they win I yell. I yell at Gomez, I swear at Pouliot. But what I don’t do is love them to pieces and wax poetic about their heart just to sh*t on them a few days later when they go back into their slump. Yes Gomez sucks rights now, but we loved him last year. Yeah Pouliot sucked tonight and usually does, but we loved him to death didn’t we when he played the Wild?
I yell at my team, I hate them sometimes, but what I don’t do is flip flop back and forth from game to game based on whether they won or not, that does not seem like a true fan to me
Last three consecutive shutouts was 1949!!!!… we flip flop tonight with purpose, their play is pathetic at the moment.
Best post i’ve ever read.
It is just a scoring slump , defense is holding up well aside from the Boston game . Defense is the key in the playoffs and that remains intact . Last three games we had one blow out loss and two 1-0 losses . A goal each game would have given us two points min. The Caps lost 5 in a row in Dec , every team has slumps .Good time to have ours and avoid a pasting from the B;s first round .Maybe the team is collectively decided this route on their own and without Martin’s blessing . If so you got to hand it to them for team work and great execution . Man when then are in alone one on one they have dazzled in ways to not score . Also with our injuries and overpaid munchkins it is a tribute to Martin that we are even going to make the playoffs . This is really working out well . We will be just coming out of our slump to catch the number one team in the conference taking us lightly and going into their slump . Better also to draft a few positions higher in June . PG loves to tinker and be assured this slump gives him more room to make a few more moves ……
As my friend says, Martin wins just enough games to stay as a coach, but not enough to win some type of cup. He ruined teams in OTT.
Hi Folks,
Though I am more of a reader than an actual poster on this site, I felt the need to share my views on what has become, quite a pathetic team…
We keep bringing up the losses of Markov and Gorges, Gomez’ inability to hit his stride, ‘snipers’ hibernating through extended periods of time, the line juggling, the tough schedule, players playing hurt and last but not least, Dan Stanchion’s dirty hit on Paciorety (Well, that’s the NHL’s ruling anyways as Stanchion got suspended indefinitely and Chara is still out there mugging smaller players)… In my humble opinion, none of that fully explains the players’ total lack of passion on the ice.
If I may speak in metaphors. Martin looks like a University professor who ran out of ways to explain Risk Management Economics to his students… Sure, Hal is a stud and Carey is Class President, but all in all, the bulk of the group is oblivious… Grades are not improving and the final exam is right around the corner. Worst, I think they might be starting to realize that this might not be what they wanted to study in the first place.
Cammaleri always wanted to be a rockstar, Pouliot, a pilot, Plekanec was contemplating a career as mechanical engineer and PK got caught by the teacher, writing poetry rather than listening. Gomez is the easy going guy who took the class thinking he would meet cute girls, but ended up back in his old girlfriend’s arms (Gionta’s) and the love is way gone. But I digress…
Sure they are getting paid big money to attend Professor Martin’s class, but they sure don’t seem to give a damn anymore… Yet, I am not holding Jacques entirely responsible for what has become of our sixth seed bubble team, but I sure hope he brings a twist to his teachings or I fear the players will eventually drive him out of town….
Just my 2 cents.
The real problem I see here is Martin doesn’t do anything with he offense. Carbonneau used the fast guys to generate odd man rushes and used one touch passing with one timer shots.
Martin starts with defense and tells players to go to the net and shoot better. Lame
Arrrrrgh! Someone stop him before he metaphors again.
Gomez in Gionta’s arms? Gruesome image….
Bravo!! Great post!
Is our team an offensive vacuum? Look at Moore, D’Agostini, and SK74!
Moore has one goal less than Cammy (at a small fraction of the price). D’Agostini’s 19 goals would have him tied for 3rd on the team. SK74 has 43 points, which would place him 3rd behind only Pleks and the Wiz. Scott Gomez is -16 (team worst), and has less points than Saku (with more GP) at double the price.
Yes.
For the record: I never even LIKED this game anyway.
Chillin like MacMillan, potty-boy says he’s L. B. Potter, esq.
Actually, Bugs, you’re in a (posting ) slump yourself….
“You’re posting like Gomez, for cryin’ out loud! Now get back in there! I don’t want a Habsbro. I WANT THE BUGS!” (From the maor motion picture “The Bugs” starring P.J. O’Rourke as Bugs….)
I understand the loss.
The Habs don’t want to play the Bruins in the first round.
I don’t want the Habs to play the Bruins in the first round.
If you have to look over your shoulder twice before going into the corner, you’re scared.
Justly so.
Lucic flatlined Komisarek’s career by ripping his arm out of its socket.
Chara takes Max-Pac out with a (i.m.o.) premeditated move after chasing him around since January.
Jacques Martin and the Canadiens organization believe in speed and skill as keys to success on the ice. Gary Bettman and his accountants believe that Rock-em Sock-em hockey and an all- American post season tournament are the keys to success.
Why play a physically demanding series vs a knuclkedragging goon squad that will leave you bloody and broken when you can drop to 7th place and play civilized hockey vs a team you have better chances of beating.
Waaaaahhhh!
Call 911.
One of the Habs problems is a lack of a bona fide number 1 centre. Gomez is not a #1 centre. The Habs do not have one at the moment either.
Plekanec is a 2A, meaning he is an elite 2nd line centre. He is not a number 1 centre however.
Eller is a 2B right now with potential to be at least a 2A if not a 1B, meaning a good #1 centre but not an elite one. It’s still better than what the Habs have now, and that is no number 1 but at best right now he is a good number 2 in this league.
Desharnais is either a 2C or a 3B, not a bad 3rd line center weak if he’s your number 2.
Gomez is a 3C or at best a 3B. His cap hit makes him a 5C.
Halpern is a 4A
The main problem however is Habs rigidity. Inability to face the music in view of stubbornness.
Theodore-Hacket got Vigneault replaced by Therrien.
Huet-Theodore got Claude Julien replaced by Carbonneau.
Halak-Price got Carbonneau replaced by Martin.
In each case a coach wanted to play the goalie who wasn’t number 1 and lost his job for it. What’s my point?
It’s that there’s a pattern here, one that was finally broken when the Habs finally let Halak play last season in the play-offs and it paid dividends in the Eller trade. No way the Habs get that trade without Halak’s run. That has to be credited to PG as he was the GM at the time.
I doubt PG will tolerate a half ass performance from Gomez for very much longer.
This forward core of Gomez, Cammy, Plex and Gionta is not a core that can win the Cup.
I like all those players, not so much Gomez lately, but even if they have the biggest hearts and are loaded with obvious skill, they don’t have the frames to succeed in this league when they form the bulk of a team. Parts yes. Not core. I don’t blame the players. I feel bad for them because they are being sent to slaughter. Especially Carey Price. I really felt bad for him because he deserves better.
I still don’t see any major moves made over the summer in terms of letting any of these players go. So we are stuck with this core until at least the next trade deadline. If at that point the Habs are looking no better than now, I hope they pull the trigger and half a smurf fire sale.
Eller is certainly NOT a 2B (as you put it) right now. He has 7 goals and 9 assists in 71 games, and is a -5. He has some grit, and even potential, but that is a 4th line center-man’s numbers. Even 4B.
Halpern has 25 points and is +6 in 70 games. That is maybe a 3B…
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
Then the Habs are screwed because Gomez is below Plex, Eller and DD in terms of effectiveness. Why is Gomez playing 20 minutes? He should be playing 15 or less.
Gomer should be in the AHL.
And yes, we have been “screwed” for quite some time, because we lack the talent at this and other positions.
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
Stop putting random numbers and letters together.
If only the Habs could put some random numbers together. Can we say 4 consecutive shut outs?
So what are these numbers , Bra sizes ? Look on the bright side then as it will be the first time a team with all girl centers made the playoffs in the NHL .
Estimable analysis HH.
I would offer that Pleks, at his best, is a 1B or a 1C. And with MaxPac before the annihilation, Gomez was surely a 2A. But that’s margin for error.
And I still say that last season we could have made the Finals if the Bruins had not choked, & then, who knows? And in fact, an injured Pronger and a fit Markov & that series result gets swapped.
Yes Halak was haloic, but we won the Cup on Roy’s back last time with a lower-level skater lineup than we have now (uninjured.)
Still, really pleasing bit of writing there.
The ’86 and ’93 teams had much, much more talent than this team. Please look at the stats.
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
You and I have defended Gomez, you more than I as of late. My point is JM needs to cut his ice time. The same mistakes are made again and again.
Don;t feel bad for Carey Price . He is paid well and getting all the starts like he felt entitled to as shown last year . He is improving and just a year away from free agency where someone will pay him over 6 mil per year . The smurfs are paid too high to get a buyer for any of them except maybe Plex . They will obviously have to think long and hard over the summer about putting Gomez into Hamilton as they have to sign defencemen . DD brings as much as Gomez and should be much better next year .
Plecanec is an elite cheapshot artist hack. See for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Voi3f18fos
Cheapshot. Hack.
No further description is necessary.
He was obviously going for the puck.
Yeah, until he took the cheapshot intentional slash to Horton’s face.
I guess hits to the head are ok when they are dished out by a Canadiens player. No 911 calls then.
Dude. I can whip out a bunch of tape showing just how cheap the Bruins are but I am not interesting in hearing Jack Edwards having wargasms all over the place.
Nothing will change the fact that Chara intentionally rammed Pacioretty’s head into the stanchion. Probably one of the dirtiest plays to ever happen between the Bruins and the Habs. Sadly Gainey put together a team of pansies and little girls to face the goons that teams like Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia currently skate.
Hopefully the trend of little forwards is over in Montreal and Habs management starts putting together a team of men together.
Keep strutting your chest though. It’s at moments like these that overconfidence puts bullies in the most vulnerable position to be taken out.
Fool
barriesc
Poor baby. Does the truth hurt?
Not as much as having a 3-0 lead in a series, getting pushed to a 7th game, being up 3-0 in that crucial series deciding game and losing 4-3. Yep. That is more painful than any dirty hit to the head that results in a broken neck.
Hardhabits, it doesn’t hurt anymore. That was last year. What must hurt really bad is being a fan of the storied Canadiens and having to watch them fall apart on a daily basis game after game after game. Unable to score goals. Unable to win games. Worrying whether they will even make the playoffs or lose out on a playoff spot to a lesser team. That has to be just awful.
By the way, we just clinched a playoff spot tonight by beating the best team in the conference. Have fun tying your record with your fourth consecutive shutout on Tuesday, and then breaking it on Wednesday. Hopefully those games will be televised here so I crack myself a couple of Molsons and enjoy watching the girls from Muntreal implode. How sweet it is!
I’ve never been a huge Martin fan but in this case I don’t think he’s too blame for the offensive slump (outside of the lack of Subban on the PP. That’s just dumb). The fact is the young guys are the only ones showing up everynight and you can’t rely on Subban, Eller, Deshernais, Kostitsyn, etc for constant offense. They’re not experienced enough and are therefore inconsistent but those 4 are the only ones doing anything right now and along with Gionta have sadly been the most consistent contributers this whole season.
The Habs high priced snipers have packed it in, and Gomez and Cammy have packed it in for most of the season. Gomez has sucked and hasn’t been motivated ever since Sather gave him that ridiculous contract and Cammy has had a reputation of immaturity in LA and Calgary. We’re seeing that side of him this season and he’s been a dud since the second game of the season. Those two not producing at all this year has really hurt the Habs and I’d like to see a coach who COULD motivate those two right now. A head coach can use fear and other tactics to motivate young players, established vets with big contracts pretty well have to get up for games themselves.
Martin can’t teach size or coach smaller players too be bigger. (Not sure if anyone’s noticed the Habs total lack of size up front before. lol) But hey, if the slide continues we could be in line to take Mark McNeill, Joel Aramia, or Brendan Saad in the first round!.
For all of JM’s faults and all of us have had problems with his coaching before, I’m not buying that this current slide is entirely his fault. The veterans on this team have to actually start pulling their weight for a change too
Everybody thought this was a cakewalk for our mighty Habs to enter the playoffs.
I warned everyone that Buffalo, Carolina would be making a strong run the second half of the season and most laughed at me.
This will come down to the last game of the season for us.
I predicted a 9th place finish and I am standing pat.
The team has serious issues, and let it be known, we must get bigger up front next season even if it means having unskilled players but big is better I say.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
Dude… the last thing we need here is you, the ultra putz. Just zip it, Skippy. Nobody’s in the mood.
*Perfectly content as a HABS I/O member for 3 years 16 weeks… now forced here, grrrrrrr.
fermez la bouche frosh!
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
This is funny, coming from someone who just wrote (below):
“…TRUST ME, this is not just “A SLUMP”, this is the end of this team…”.
Gloom and doom…
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
I mean, seriously… why do we keep coming here? To discuss this crap???
I’ve never felt so betrayed by a Habs team and TRUST ME, this is not just “A SLUMP”, this is the end of this team… gutted by Boston Thursday…
*Perfectly content as a HABS I/O member for 3 years 16 weeks… now forced here, grrrrrrr.
I don’t comment often, but I’ll state the obvious: It’s time to panic. The problem is, the players don’t seem to realize it.
Jesus…
I wasn’t a negative guy before this…
the Habs SUCK… gimme one reason to keep watching this shite other than Carey Price…
F*** me, man, this is freakin’ Leaflike…. worse.
See you f*ckers in September, ain’t worth talkin’ ‘ bout no mo’
F***ing PAthetic.
*Perfectly content as a HABS I/O member for 3 years 16 weeks… now forced here, grrrrrrr.
Trust me, you know I’m with you. Or you’re finally seeing the truth as I have seen it, but we can’t jump the gun until we see how the playoffs play out. As we’ve seen last year, miracles can happen. Although the miracle man is now in St. Lou.
Oh f***, give me a f***ing break, Price is the only valid part of this pretender Hab team, spare me the Halak crap.
*Perfectly content as a HABS I/O member for 3 years 16 weeks… now forced here, grrrrrrr.
I want to say the Habs are letting off the pedal to gear up for the playoffs.
Then again, the playoffs could be the light at the end of the tunnel which signifies the freight train heading their way.
Hold on, it’s gonna be a helluva ride.
Pathetic.
Shameful.
Unacceptable.
On home ice yet.
Why would I watch another game?
The triumph of hope over experience …
I don’t blame anyone being negative about the situation and I respect how they feel. However I truly feel that if this massive slump were to happen at any point of the long NHL season it would be none other than now. The Habs still have a few points in bank, albeit quickly slipping away and it is the perfect moment to look at the guy to your left and then the guy to your right in the eyes and ask each other, “Are we going to war in these upcoming playoffs together and win this cup? Or will we fold in an embarrassing way that will be a stain we’ll have to carry the entire long off-season?”
I’ll look to see what will happen, as a loyal Habs fan I watch this train wreck unfold but I sincerely hope the tide changes soon for we won’t hear the end of it for many many months.
I only caught the first 15 minutes or so so it’s hard to know what really happened in the game. Sadly, the live blog doesn’t help that much. Subban’s penalty that I saw was boneheaded and one that he takes too often but you wouldn’t know that from the commentary. Subban and Eller are golden, Benny and AK not so much. I hear complaints at lack of production from Benny, White, Darche. These guys’ time on ice was 6-7 minutes — a third of the time spent by our high priced help! It’s about time that TOI is related to how you play not what you make. We have no offence? Surprised? Our coaching staff is made up of a goalie, a mucker, and a defenceman, for whom offence is running a stop sign or red light.
While other teams have risen to the occasion in their playoff
drives, why have the Habs struggled in theirs? IMO, the blame
lies with the coaching staff for poor preparation and a roster
not suited for the challenge at hand.
I sat down at my computer ready to write that I had never seen, nor ever heard, of the Habs losing by three shut outs in a row, since I started following the team in the early 1950s. Then I read on HIO that it happened in 1949! (I was 5 years old!)
This gives me hope! If guys like Durnan, the Rocket and Elmer Lach (with Dick Irvin coaching) can lose three in a row and finish second in a six team league then why should I complain?
I wonder if Dave Stubbs will follow up with Elmer Lach to see if he remembers that season at all and what happened when they gave away the three shutouts?
Anyway, at this rate, it won’t happen again until 2073 and I should be well dead and buried. For this I an duly thankful, because I really felt “dead” after watching the last three games.
Look Fred, I hear you. I still can’t believe we’ve just witnessed the franchise’s worst goal slump in 62 years. I mean that’s pretty mind-blowing. I’m one of the Habs worst critics on here. I don’t go back as far as you do, but go back far enough to remember when the team was a contender every year and winning was not a treat, but a rule. At the same time, in todays NHL, if you make the playoffs, that is all that’s needed. Once there, it’s a whole different ballgame. The Odometer is back at zero for everyone as we saw last season. I think management is garbage and the Habs are full of holes, but I wouldn’t over react too much until we see how the playoffs shake out.
In the immortal words of “old blue eyes”
“Changes in the night, with mounting losses there’ll be changes in the night”
Here’s hoping!
The warts of this team which were predicted at the beginning of this season have become more and more apparent.
The lack of depth is appalling and a bench boss whose only in- game strategy is to bench anyone taking a minor penalty is a joke!
How many players were actually given playing time in the third period tonight not named Gomez?
Enough is enough!
… the fans of the Boston Bruins now have lost forever any right to complain that “the league” is out to get their team, and that the Montreal Canadiens have some kind of pull inside the NHL home office.
Charles P. Pierce – Boston Globe
When (if) Habs score a goal Tuesday against Atlanta, how loud will the ovation be?
I think there won’t be much noise. Just a sigh of relief with a little bit of shock mixed in.
Agenda for the Montreal Canadiens’ management committee meeting in order of urgency:
1) remove Habs name from fan website
2) remove Habs name from fan website
3) remove Habs name from fan website
4) remove Habs name from fan website
5) remove Habs name from fan website
6) remove Habs name from fan website
…..
100) Address inadequacies of hockey operations department to adjust to NHL 2011 style of play.
…..My empire is crumbling, my international sponsors are deserting me, my authority is questioned, I am held in contempt wherever I go.
Who am I: Mohamar Ghadaffi or Gary Bettman.
LOL!!!!
Before tonights game I was watching that movie “Pearl Harbour”. You know the one with that really hot Kate Beckinsale in it. When I switched over to the first period I felt like I was watching a re-run of the movie…our Habs looked about as befuddled as the US Navy did during the attack. Confused, running around in disbelief, constantly be bombed and shot at and unable to develop or sustain any return fire or fight…yeah, that seemed to sum up our Habs tonight.
We could not make crisp accurate passes, the breakout seems delayed and got caught and stripped of the puck several times, our O-zone pressure was non-existant and our Powerplay was not to be seen at all tonight.
Just how many pussy assed lazy penalties do we need to take in a game?
There just does not seem to be any fight in this team. To be honest with you and I really hope the players will be honest with themsleves, I think this team fell into a deep emotional funk the night Max Pax went down to the Chara hit. I think the team is afraid to play a tough or even a competetive game. I think this team is feeling scared to be hurt the way Patches got hurt and I believe we have a few senior vets that are quite happy to skate around in circles and look frustrated for the cameras (Mike Cammi) or to skate up and down the ice doing absolutely nothing productive offensively as they have done all season (Gomez) and continue to collect their fat pay cheques while they wait for the summer golf circuit and Alaskan fishing season to open.
Lots of potential cliches to throw out there tonight….like our offense is a one and done group, we need to battle throw this adversity, or the lovely and rediculous, we need more net presences and shoot with authority…come on guys it’s the end of March already, if you haven’t figured out how to play the game to win by this time in the season, then just stay home and let the kids play.
To me Cammi and Gomez look like they are playing to be traded and moved in the off-season, not like the highly valued veterans that were supposed to lead us to the promised land. So Pierre, if you don’t move Gomez this summer then you need to go. And Pierre, you do have options – look at Wade Reddon and Sheldon Souray…there are options to free cap space and open forward positions for players with youth and desire and fight in them.
I think I may just be losing my mind right now but I found myself alternating between hurling loud F-bombs at the TV and then laughing out loud at the absolute futility and absurdity of how poorly the team played tonight at Home after a humiliating lose…how does a so called proud team simply role over and play dead at home if they have any inner pride and hope to move on in post season.
Yes, it felt like I was watching a “Pearl Harbour” re-run, right down to a couple of young kids stepping up and throwing something back at the enemy and showing them that they were not going to just sit there with their pants around there ankles and take it…I thought Eller and DD put in some effort…but seriously…where is our highly paid veteran pop gun offense these days.
Enough said, I think we are headed for a first round match up with Philly and it will be Four and Fore…then off to the golf course.
When do you predict the Canadiens will play their own “Midway”?
… the fans of the Boston Bruins now have lost forever any right to complain that “the league” is out to get their team, and that the Montreal Canadiens have some kind of pull inside the NHL home office.
Charles P. Pierce – Boston Globe
Who will be the next contestant on:
Score a Goal Tonight!!!!
They’re playing the Thrashers on Tues. I mean for God sakes, surely they have to score a goal then. Right? My pick is DD.
is martin playing possum?…some of the lines and pp decisions make no sense at all…yet he continous with them…when you are having problems scoring and 5 minutes to go he still has gill playing reg shift…23rd highest scoring team last year ..we are 24th this year…darche,moen,halpern,gomez,pyatt,eller,white,pouliot ..with these super 8 forwards how can you expect this team to score goals regularly..eller is the only one who may become a top forward but not this year..
Will Benoit Pouliot show up for work anytime soon? And can he please stop taking these ridonkulous penalties?
I think the kid is a lost cause.
You got a Coach who does not believe in having a tough guy on a Team… God forbid we let our Scorers Score Goals.. Ryan white said it best.. I’m here for Cammalleri.. RDS thought that was cute..and Laughed at White.
i know we don’t have exactly what would be considered big bodies, but would it be that hard to put the puck at the net now and then (a ‘shot’ as the kids say) and see if a rebound pops out and maybe a scoring chance? i’m so tired of seeing soft, dipsy-doodle passes through three sets of legs instead of firing the puck and hoping for a dirty goal off a rebound. size helps when crashing the net, but determination matters more and we seem to be lacking that drive.
All I want to know is WHY THE HELL, WHEN WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SCORING GOALS, IS SUBBAN BEING PLAYED MINIMALLY ON THE POWERPLAY???????????? At LEAST 18 seconds of PK’s pp time was in the last 18 seconds of a horrific powerplay where passes were going to nobody in particular except the Capitals.
It is so annoying watching an ancient Hamrlik try as he might, just not succeed. PUT THE KID ON.
Yup, even in the JM system, it is very very important to play defensive and conservative on the powerplay. God help us if PK should excite the crowd once in a while.
JM is punishing Subban for having the audacity of scoring a hat trick on Sunday.
JM is still steamed over PK’s hat trick. NO DMAN is supposed to score a hat trick in the system.
LOL sorry Curly demented minds think alike
As I didn’t watch the game… how loud and long were the boos for Gomer?
Neither loud enough nor long enough for my liking…but they were consistently there. Message sent, but was it received?
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
If you read Stubb’s column on Cammilleri, they don’t care. He didn’t state it as explicitly as that, but in essence that’s what he said. Players don’t give a flying thing how the fans feel.
So I guess players like this are a dead breed? They just want their 7 mil a year and laugh to the bank?
http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens2158552module82710191photo_1265155793Messier-prediction.jpg
I disagree… I see same type of picture – determination and courage beaming from Gomer’s eye with headline reading: We Will Not Score Tonight!!!
It’s hilarious how the Gazette reporters all run to the defense of Gomez. The message is clear…”You fans are too stupid to understand the importance of Gomer in the room.” It’s getting really annoying to read this constant Gazette support for the most useless player in Canadiens history. Wake up. He sucks and the fans forking over hundreds of dollars to watch that loser piece of crap quitter have every right to shower their displeasure on his over paid head. He’s a loser, pure and simple.
The most I’ve seen since he got to Montreal. He’s such a nice guy, it’s hard to give him hell in person. Finally, I think people have had enough.
I don’t care if he’s a nice guy. He makes $7 million a year. It would take a person earning $50,000 a year 140 years to earn the same. He could at least pretend to care or do the honourable thing and quit at the end of the season.
It felt like Patrice Brisbois was still playing. It was to the point that if Gainey was still GM, he would be calling everyone Gutless Bastards. But Gomez deserves it.
I agree that Gomer deserved it. Brisbois, however did not. He was good for HIS pay grade.
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
Since I couldn’t hear them here in St. John’s, my answer can only be “Not loud enough”
Ugly ankle break for LAK Anze Kopitar out for up to six weeks possibly……..
Ouch, it looked painful….\\In my pool – Crosy, Kopitar….blah….Crosby ggetting hurt cost me 1st overall, and might cost me 2nd too…..
The worst part for me is listening to all the band wagon jumping Canucks fans.
Canucks will never win the cup with Higgins playing on the 2nd. line.
Mr. Biter
To add insult to injury…
Sergei Kostitsyn got his 42nd point tonight. That puts him ahead of everyone on the CH with the exception of Plekanec. Not too shabby for 550K.
I said he would excel once he got away from JM.
99% of HIO laughed. Any coach or GM who could not see SK’s talent is suspect.
No argument here. The kid had some growing pains he had to get through, but he’s damn talented when he wants to play hockey.
Problem is, he didn’t seem to want to play hockey here…
What gave that away? Was it the time he wouldn’t report to the Bulldogs? Or the time he asked for a trade? Or was it the time he left the Bulldogs?
In all seriousness, I was sad to see him go. We all know he could really play hockey, but there was a lot of other issues with him. Sometimes you just have to cut bait and move on.
At least we got a fair return for PG’s gift to Nashville. Oh wait….
Think of Sergei as a sports car engine that the Canadiens bought in a mystery sale. They weren’t sure what they had but they knew that it was fancy, fast and that not every mechanic could fix it if it broke down. Unfortunately the car Bob Gainey built required a different engine and the mechanic he hired didn’t have time to tinker away for more than a season on Sergei. Not every team will be a great fit for a good player and the Canadiens seem like a nightmare in so many ways… just ask Cary Price, Mike Robeiro, Scott Gomez or Breezer. Great players that didn’t or haven’t always fit the system. Good for Sergei, too bad he couldn’t make it work in Montreal… some might say the system failed him and others that he failed the system. Either way, I bet we’re all better off that he’s playing elsewhere.
Sergei aside, is the system flawed? I’d say not. The team has over achieved under very difficult circumstances all season. These injuries are heart breaking… Josh Jorges, for example would have added a level of poise to tonight’s game that was painfully lacking. You can’t build a race car, replace many of the main components with lesser ones and expect it’s going set records in the home stretch. That would run contrary to logic or common sense. That this team has done as well as it has for so long and without major breakdowns (like the ones we saw this week) is a testament to the abilities of the coach and the other people driving this forward.
The home stretch might get ugly and there’s no guarantee they make the playoffs… but if they can stumble their way in I have a feeling we’ll see a fresh start and new momentum for the post-season. Maybe not a cup winner but what can we expect from a team that has lost so many great players to injury? Again with the common sense.
Intelligence, finesse, creativity and talent versus brutality, violence, money and a knuckle-dragger’s version of masculinity.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
boOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BO BO BOOOOOOOOOO
At least in a weird, twisted way, tonight’s shutout, along with the goose egg against Buffalo, helps to put the debacle against Boston into perspective: The Bruins beat the Habs in the midst of the Habs playing their worst hockey of the season.
At some point in the season every team will have a string of games where they play their best hockey, just as they will also have to endure a number of games where they will play their worst hockey.
This just happens to be the low point in their season, and the Bruins were able to take advantage of it.
Thursday night was the Habs’ perfect storm: the first game against Boston since the Pacioretty injury, looking over their shoulders, playing their 5th game in 8 nights, at just a .500 clip since their previous meeting with the Bruins, in the midst of a goal scoring slump, on visiting ice, without the last change, injuries galore, against a team above them in the standings looking to solidify their hold on first place in the division.
Add it all up, and the result isn’t all that surprising. If the Habs had been on a 4-game winning streak and playing great hockey when the Bruins beat them 7-0, THEN I’d be worried.
When the Habs were playing good, sound hockey against the Bruins (the previous game against them… how quickly we forget) they beat ‘em. And the next time they play good, sound hockey against the Bruins, the Habs will beat ‘em again.
An considering the probability of the 1st round matchup, let’s just hope that they right the ship over the next six games.
Not much fun posting with 3 shut outs Chuck. So just making light of things to night. We are a far better team than we have shown over the past week.
But they will get fired up again. This team if you remember, plays best when they are right up against it.
That’s it, keep telling yourself there’s no reason to worry…
This is the Titanic…this ship is “unsinkable”…Blub, blub, blub!
Didn’t we have a 7 game losing streak this season? and isn’t scoring an annual problem?
——————
Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
But seriously, shouldn’t we have had a bit of an advantage…home ice, Caps playing second of back to back road games without Ovechkin?
I guess when you are not ready to play at home for your fans there just isn’t much we can expect from these guys.
Sorry for the cynicism, but I am not buying the slump excuse…this team has head issues to get cleared out and fast.
What really bothers me is the TOI of Darche and White. Two guys who play their hearts out every shift of every game yet sit on the bench. To compete with the top contenders you need to roll all four lines or else you’re just going to run out of gas. There’s no point nit-picking during a slump (and let’s hope this is just a slump) because it’s too easy to point out flaws when things aren’t going right. The ice time really gets to me though, you NEED to play all your players. Third period down by a goal, sure shorten the bench and play your stars, but in the first and second, play everyone. I still remember in the playoffs when Darche dressed and played 0:00. He still didnt complain and was ready to go next game (in fact he put on skate guards during intermission and went on the bike just in case he got a shot).
I scratch my head often at Martin’s coaching, But after the great run last year, I have to hold my tongue a bit.!!
There’s something we can finally agree upon. Not to mention how good his system had been working up until March.
I agree- As long as they keep Darche out of the top 6… Oh wait, who is the top 6?
I have actually enjoyed watchiong White the first few games since his call up- Unfortunately now he seems to falling back to the white we have seen a few times before… Consistancy from him would be awesome. He’d make a great 3rd-4th liner… Someone who at least can hold his own in a fight and can play some hockey…
What happened to the PhD line? That line carried us for awhile and then dipshit JM juggles. Anyone else he juggles his lines almost as much as Carbo did? Other than always ending up with Gio-Gomer-Moen more times than not. Ii is amazing Gio has as many goals he has playing with those 2 for most of the year!
Eller got the most out of AK46… And we got to see some of Eller’s potential… Cammy hasn’t looked great lately… Pleks seems to be really chippy since coming back- He must not be nearly healthy to be playing like that…
PK had been GREAT these past 15-20 games. Sure he has made some mistakes, but EVERYONE does… How is he not playing 30 minutes a night and getting ALL the PP time??
What can we say about Price?? Without him this team would be DEAD LAST- 100%. He has kept this team in way too many games when his teammates have chose to not show up for the opening face-off.
Lastly, I just wish JM would get the SH*T out of his eyes and give gomez the night off… Put him in the Press Box please. As for all the penalties?? That is lack of discipline- That steams from the coaches…
Why is Kirk Muller still here..? if he is goin to leave next year… he’ll be hard to play against since he knows everything about the Habs. I don’t get it. Doug Jarvis beat us that game in Boston…
To be critical of this coach and certain players would be futile and mean spirited. Kinda like kicking a dead kitten. Their respective faults were as apparent a year ago as today. What’s the point. I just don’t think things will ever change in Montreal.
That’s right. So many of the problems we see today were apparent 1,2 or 3 years ago. At least to some of us. I just hope if things go down how they look like they will, Molson sees the problem and cleans house.
New picture same B/S about Gainey.
Mr. Biter
Given that the combinations didn’t work before and the team is struggling to score, why Martin would put Moen back with Plekanec & Cammalleri, and Kostitsyn with Gomez & Gionta, is beyond me. In doing so, he killed all sense of unity with the players and we saw them tonight desperately trying to find some kind of rhythm and cohesion with their new (old)linemates.
Serious problems, kind of all of a sudden. Team played with a lot of heart all year, up until the Bruins game this week. I would have taken some muscle/stick work to the game in Boston. Instead we activate Pleks/Darche/Halpern. What is that? Pleks instrumental in putting us behind in both games.
We get Sopel and Mara instead of Brewer. What is that? Nothing against these guys, I’d play them to give Spacek (if he wasn’t hurt) and Hammer a night off once in awhile but can’t you play Webber against the teams that aren’t goons?
Gionta has been in my dog house for weeks, Gomez for the last two weeks, Cammy everybody’s dog house, and on and on.
The refs are hosing us left right and centre and we go to the box like its fair play.
Just gotta make the playoffs and be the gutsy team we were before the Pacs debacle. Why didn’t we bring a couple of guys up to take some heads off?
Habs Win!
Martin keeps playing Gomez like there’s no tomorrow, well after tonight there may never be one. There’s more heart in teams that are on the outside looking in than the one that wears the CH. Pathetically embarrassing – the fans should be looking for a refund!
Gomez has the pictures…
At least I saw one really good hockey game today… UNB wooped Western tonight back in my home town. Face off vs McGill tomorrow for the CIS championship! Go Reds!!!
Fire Jacques Martin! Carbo and Julien were canned for less. If it takes missing the playoffs to run this clown, so be it.
Excellent!!!
Got your first period?
but the bruins will be on a three game losing streak wed morning also
Yeah, but we’ll still be in the playoffs
Do you always go and take a shit in other people’s houses? Personally, I prefer to use my own toilet.
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
Montreal IS our toilet.
History tells a different tale.
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
Where’s the heart? The intensity? The pride?
It should be an honour to wear the CH. WTF!
Mario Tremblay must be fuming.
Even the frickin’ Leafs play with more passion.
Excellent post. Since the beatdown in Beantown and the savage attack on Max Pac where nothing was done to a single Boston player during the 3rd. period I have been fuming over this exact thing. A little history, I played CIAU soccer for 5 years as a walk on (started every game also) and after the 1st. practice the coach took me aside and said “every team needs a hard man and your ours”. Yeaah my job was to play and score but if someone took any “shots” at any of our more skilled players someone payed the price and for 5 years if any thing like what happened to Max happen someone would have left the field via stretcher or assisted by teamates guaranteed. Hey slide tackle you’ve got ball, foot,ankle and knee not in that order to take out. Cleats down as someone is about to kick a ball only hurts one person. Going up for a header elbow to the head or face or back of the head to the face “referree I didn’t mean it” as you got a yellow or red card opr watch what goes on behind the play. Lots of fun.Thing was I did anything to help my team win no matter what. This leads to the intensity, Pride and heart. Past Habs teams (and other NHL teams) had players (and I’m not putting myself in any of their class) who would have gone through the boards to seek revenge about some of the dirty hits we took during the last few years or do anything to win. Ferguson, Nilan, Robinson, “The Rocket” Gilmore Chelios, Bobby Clarke (I know a Flyer) but he did everything and anything to win (won us the 72 series vs the Russians with his famous slash) even I hate to say it Domi (using a leaf without a cuss word before or after is tough)who would do anything to win. Right now we don’t have and have not had that type of player playing for us for a long time and until we get one or more who put winning above all we will not win the Cup. Hey I wish we win it this year and every year but besides being too banged up we lack the someone to take us to the promised land. And I’m not blaming Gomer cause is there anyone out there who when having a bad year is going to their boss and give some salary back? Probably other posters did the same thing I did at University, Junior, Minor, etc in other sports. You know what I mean.
Mr. Biter
WOW, Boone with no glasses and a beard. Looks like a completely different person!
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/images/photos/mg_mboone_150x150.jpg
All of the wives and girlfriends, have been told by Gauthier that they must go back to live at their mothers immediately.
He said it is their fault. They are wearing out the players with to much extra curricular activity.
The games we saw earlier this year with tape to tape passes, speed through the zone with the puck, hitting the open man, d-men covering up rebounds and clearing traffic, stellar goaltending have all but abandoned us for some reason. Passed are tentative, at best. We can’t gain the zone, our defense is porous (understatement) and our superstar goalie is being left high and dry.
What to do, what to do?
Welcome to the new NHL – NASCAR on Ice
At least we still have the stellar goaltending.
Which is pointless without an ability to get at least one goal…
__________________________
The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions. ~Susan Sontag
That Chara hit ended our season.
Waaaaaahhhhhhhhh!
Do you honestly have nothing better to do then troll this site? lol
If that is true, which I don’t agree with, what does that say about the team?
Also, can these millionaires pull their heads out of their asses? Can they think about legendary Habs, pillars of strength, like Maurice Richard. The guy got paid nothing, and even moved himself (I’m sure all the current Habs paid moving companies), AND scored 8 points the same night. And these guys get more than doctors to not even give a good old college try.
You might say my reaction is a bit harsh, but even if they went and got 116 pts on the season, I still think Gomez et al are overpaid. Not Gomez’ fault, if Slather offered me 7 mil a season for multiple years, I’d laugh to the bank as well.
Here’s hoping we don’t get swept 4-0 in the first round, two years ago was such a depressing playoffs, 4-0 complete domination by the Bruins, zero fun to watch.
Boone quick hits:
“Number of times Jacques Martin has stressed the importance of net presence: at least 76, once after every game.”
Martin’s offense strategy was brilliantly evident in instance of power play in third period.. time approx 12:46.
Net presence 2 canadiens to 1 CAPS .. look at the tape.
What does JM have his point men do.. one hugging the left point Wiz hugging the right point.. and fire away at the net because ‘guys had gone to the net’.. again check the tap approx 12:46 on power play of 3rd period.
No mobility on PP. Huge gap between guys ‘who had gone to the net’ down low and the point men at the blue line.
Check the tape. This is JM’s OFFENSE OFFENSE mantra.
The team’s problems lie between their ears. They need a good shrink!
They need a good coach.
Ain’t they small enough, already?
—
Habs: Possessors of the league’s best PK–now, and for the foreseeable future
I really wasn’t expecting this at all. Sigh, I think after the millions of times Boone has said to hold off on the panic button, now’s the time to push it.
Getting back to basics.!
The team has been sent down to Hamilton!
Something to be really proud of. Dive, Dive, all Dive.
Habs held a closed door meeting after 3rd consecutive shutout loss. Deciding if it’s Chez Paree or Super Sexe tonight.
Chez Paree all the way. That’s one place the Habs never get “shut out” at least!
Full Breezer 4 Life
I’m partial to Les Amazones myself. My girl works there at times. Layla, check her out. Her friend Kesha is even hotter and more wild.
THIS WILL NOT STAND!
Gomez and Cammi are starting to rub off on Boone. Not much of a Quick Hits following not much of a game. Not much effort being put out by all employed in Montreal these days.
Gotta sleep on this one. And I’m having a MUCH better season than they are
Mike Boone
Hockey Inside/Out blogger
Gazette City columnist
mboone@montrealgazette.com
Just razzing ya Boone. Love your writing and your articles. Just the frustration over the Habs (particularly Gomez, Cammi, Pouliot) is getting the best of me. Keep up the great work.
KISSY KISSY
Razz away, bro. I can take it.
Mike Boone
Hockey Inside/Out blogger
Gazette City columnist
mboone@montrealgazette.com
Right back at ya
Boston seven, Montreal ZERO