As we wait and hope for an end to the NHL lockout, Canadiens fans can relive the 1992-93 season – the last year the Habs won the Stanley Cup – at HIO as we post game stories from that season.
The Habs took a 5-3-2 record into a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 28, 1992 at the Forum. Here is Red Fisher’s story from that game:
(Photo by John Mahoney/The Gazette)
Habs’ big line gets untracked; Bellows strikes twice against plucky Lightning
RED FISHER
The Gazette
CANADIENS 4
LIGHTNING 3
The word, Kirk Muller was saying in paragraphs, is tempo. Turn it up.
“We’ve got to go at a high tempo,” Muller said in the moments after this throat-grabbing, 4-3 victory over the plucky Tampa Bay Lightning. “We – the line has to play that way, or we’re not doing the job.”
The line Muller was talking about is the Million Dollar gang, which also includes Brian Bellows, who scored his seventh and eighth goals, and Vincent Damphousse, who assisted on both.
“We’ve been talking about it the last few days,” said Muller. “We couldn’t understand why we weren’t working together as a line. The talent is there, but the results weren’t. We’d be getting points, but not as a line, and that didn’t make sense.”
What Muller really was saying about The Line was that nobody noticed it as a line. Its members have been a step behind. There was very little eye-catching about it – until last night.
They dominated during the first two periods, which produced goals from Patrice Brisebois and Eric Desjardins and the pair from Bellows. Brian Bradley had scored a first-period goal for Tampa, and just when it appeared that the Canadiens would run away and hide, the Lightning struck for goals from Rob Ramage and Chris Kontos in the final period.
In other words, a scary ending, particularly when it’s considered the Canadiens were outshot 10-3 in the final period after outshooting Tampa 24-12 in the first two periods.
The Canadiens, no doubt, will be looking hard at films today to determine what it was that let the air out of the balloon in the final period. For one thing, they were outworked, but they can gain some solace from the fact that last night, at least, the big line came out to play.
“In other games, we weren’t moving the puck,” said Muller. “We were hanging on to it. Damphousse and I are shooters, but looking back, we could see that instead of shooting, we were passing it off. We were always looking for the other guys. Tonight’s the first time we’ve connected as a line.”
Good thing, too, because the Canadiens, as a team, had their hands full, although they should have suspected the night wouldn’t be an easy one. Earlier, for example, Lightning coach Terry Crisp had provided a quick mini-assessment of his bunch: “They listen,” he said. “They can’t sit back and tell me how good they are. They do what they’re told.”
In other words: they work. Also, they don’t quit, and to understand it, all that’s necessary is to chart the team’s conduct in the final period, when they got those Ramage and Kontos goals.
Going into the period, they trailed, 4-1. The best they could do was a goal from Bradley in the first period and a meagre total of 12 shots at Patrick Roy. In other words, the third period was a time when everything pointed to the Lightning capitulating without a whimper.
Work, you should know, also is something the Canadiens have been bringing to the arena.
Such as: Denis Savard delivers his umpteenth excellent individual effort of the season, Gilbert Dionne has one taken away from him, but he’s sufficiently alert to catch Desjardins with a short pass. Desjardins, in one of his rare dashes deep into the opposition’s zone this season, beats Jablonski.
Then, there’s Bellows snapping a shot at Lightning goaltender Jablonski, who was a hair slow closing off the corner. Jablonski got only a piece of the puck – and that was enough for coach Crisp to toss a rope around his goaltender – for a little while, at least. He was yanked in the eighth minute of the second period, but was back for the start of the third, a formula coach Crisp often used behind the Calgary bench.
Jablonski was out after 16 shots and three goals, Wendell Young was in – and there’s Bellows getting his second of the night from during a power play.
“We weren’t on the same wavelength for a long time,” said Muller. “Now we are. Now, we’ve got something to build on.”
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Hockey Frustration Song no. 16
Cue the music!
Out where the river froze
The Sherwoods and Koho folks
Mini-summits and boiling tempers
Steamed in frozen pond degrees
The time has come
To say fair’s fair
To pay to scale
To pay their share
The time has come
A fact’s a fact
Give it to them and
Give us hockey back
How can we dance when the rink sits empty
How do we sleep while it burns our belly
How can fans prance while the rink’s still empty
How do we rest when there is no hockey
The time has come
To yield to fame
To pay the players
To play our game
Bettmans scare is all for you
Hockey deprived, regardless who
The entire league with no release
In frozen pond degrees
The time has come
To say fair’s fair
To pay the boys
Who earn their share
The time has come
A fact’s a fact
Give it to them and
Give us hockey back
How can we blog when the rink sits empty
How do we sit while it burns our belly
How can fans prance while the rink’s still empty
How do we rest when there is no hockey
The time has come
To yield to fame
To pay the players
To play our game
The time has come
Bettman’s a hack
The game belongs to us
We’re gonna take it back
How to pass time when the rink sits empty
How do we rest when there is no hockey
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
So I took in the majority of the Dogs’ game yesterday afternoon. Obviously Blake Geoffrion had a good game with his goal and assist. At the same time, he clearly looked like the most NHL ready player on the ice for the Dogs. He seemed the strongest on the puck and had the most swagger of any forward. Mike Blunden also makes his presence felt on most shifts.
Brendan Gallagher has looked better lately but he and Mike Bournival seem a ways away with their overall games. Gallagher is letting shots rip on occasion but is being knocked off and stripped of the puck a lot of the time I’ve watched him. Gallagher has gotten a bit better in each of the games I’ve seen him play.
May favorite, Jarred Tinordi still looks a bit uncomfortable out there. He was on the ice again for the only goal against and there could have been another two goals against where Tinordi would be partly responsible for, if Rober Mayer doesn’t stop a breakaway and a point blank shot. Tinordi seems to be chasing guys around and getting out of position. He did throw a couple of big hits yesterday and he’ll eventually settle down and get used to the league I’m sure.
Thumbs up to TVA for showing a bunch of Dogs games this year. Again, I’m just as happy watching our future players as the regular Habs. Maybe if the Habs were contenders it would be a different story but they won’t be until most of the good young players on the Dogs and Galchenyuk are NHL ready.
If we miss an NHL season when the Habs are probably going to miss the playoffs I can easily survive watching the AHL. GO DOGS GO!
Gionta and Moen are also now attending the Steak dinner.
Not sure if it’s because of the reason that one poster put out over the weekend, they are in need of a free meal.
On the other hand, the winner will have to be careful not to criticize the players argument in the CBA negotiations…definitely out numbered and muscled on this one. Stubbs could be busy.
Moshies is gonna have to get a few more cows ready for that dinner it sounds like. Cool, to see the teammates doing this together.
Now Frank there was an lol with that, haha.
What a crappy a$$ day here in cowtown. Holy moly.
Trade ya.
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The winter just came too soon this year. Depressing.
You guys have had what… 4 or 5 snowfalls already?
KHL looks to expand into Western Europe next season;
http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/recap/7280.html?tx_ttnewsbackPid=955&cHash=097cc663b7
Larry goes to Finland:
http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/mtl121029.html
In other news, quickly becoming evident that Canada is a very boring place without the NHL.
No excuses remain for guys to not watch terrible chick flicks on Saturday evenings. See Garner, Jennifer.
There’s always the minor car repairs excuse. Hang out in the garage with a few cold ones.
Of course, there’s always museums and restaurants and theater and cinema and clubs, but whatever.
News from Toronto. Burke says he couldve made the playoffs but he didn’t want to. http://m.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1278614–feschuk-fans-can-only-hope-brian-burke-allows-leafs-to-make-playoffs
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Don’t really care about the Leafs or Burke…but they can still give you a chuckle.
That is too funny. I will have to send to my brother and mock him
Hope everyone had fun at the OHL game yesterday. I was wishing I could have been there.
it was great seeing everyone on Friday night. Had great company and cheap beer with the best thing in the world HOCKEY.
It was great meeting everyone. Thanks for a good time
Same here Kooch. Will have to do it again soon bud. CHeers.
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For sure. It was great meeting you. How was the game yesterday?
Good luck with the weather today! I hope it turns out to be a windy thunderstorm
Thanks bud. So see Burly’s update on yesterdays activities. CHeers.
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Mother Nature got in the way of things, the out of town guests made their way home to New York and Montreal. While the local boy went to a bar and watched his Steelers!
Commandant went to game and can give you an update on the OHL Game.
I forgot about the storm. I haven’t heard much from my clients in that area today. Probably all staying home. I hope the storm doesn’t do much damage!
Too bad about the OHL game being missed. Gally had 3 points apparently in a 4-1 win.
The Steelers had a strong game yesterday
I ended up going. Gally was fantastic. He really could have had 5 or 6 points if his teammates could receive his passes and shoot in open nets…. or get him the puck instead of passing it in his skates, or even 4 feet behind him when he’s wide open for a one timer.
He’s really got no one with him.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Highlights from the Dogs game yesterday;
http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=66&id=188959&lang=en
LR vents…hear you my man!!!!!
http://spectorshockey.net/blog/frustration-over-nhl-lockout-could-give-way-to-apathy/
He pretty well sums up how I feel about this whole stupid mess.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBmAPYkPeYU
We’re caught in a trap
we can’t walk out
Because we love you too much hockey
Gary, Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
You don’t listen to a word we say?
You can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And you can’t build our teams
with avaricious hearts
So, if Gary stops by
with a deal Donny,
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?
Here we go again
Another lockout
You can’t see these fears are real
You are annoying
You can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And you can’t build our teams
with avaricious hearts
Oh let our season survive
Or dry the tears from our eyes
Let’s don’t let a good thing die
When Gary and Donny you know
All you do is lie
Mmm yeah, yeah
We’re caught in a trap
we can’t walk out
Because we love you too much hockey
Chorus
And the talents of HI/O posters continues to ooze out here. Well done L, did you write that on the drive?
haha no, but you’ve inspired me to check out all the on-the-road, or hit-the-road songs.
I figured it out! The L stands for Lisa! Or is it Lovechild?
And the Elle is obviously short for Elvis (actually Ellevis cuz, like, you’re a girl).
I thought the resemblance between you and EP was striking Sunday morning, especially when you ordered a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich for breakfast. Three times!
Well done, Lisa. I mean, L.
Now about that 50 you found, by mistake, in my purse………
According to Ontario law, federal statute of limitations, local custom, and universal finders-keepers, losers-weepers protocol, not to mention legal advice from the same firm that once employed Gary Bettman, I believe I am within my rights to retain said amount until such time as remorse dictates a course of action hitherto and henceforth otherwise not contemplated.
I hope that answers your question, assuming, of course, ……… is French for ?
……… is French for, keep the 50 JB. That’s a pittance for all the entertainment you provide.
I have to go now, i have to show your “lawyers” to the door.
Elvis has NOT left the pages of HIO. Great job, L Elle!
1992-93 Habs season flashback fantasy diary – Oct. 29
God, what a great week it’s been, with the team going 5-0-1 over the last six games.
Roy’s been fantastic, our third line of Pacioretty, Desharnais and Cole has played like our top line, and the guys are finally starting to accept me as their head coach.
I understood why they were skeptical of me, a nobody, being named bench boss, but the players realized something radical had to be done because this team hasn’t won in six years – six years! – not since ‘86.
And that Cup win was seven years after the last one before that, in ‘79.
It’s pretty obvious this team has been on a slow, steady decline and needed to take drastic action to stop the slide. (Drafting David Wilkie, Valerie Bure and Keli Corpse in the first two rounds were real steals but it will take awhile before they begin making a difference.)
If the championship drought continues and we don’t win this season, you can bet there will be riots breaking out all across the city.
We Hab fans aren’t the kind to accept a team going 8, 10, 12, 15, gawd, 20 years without winning it all.
Everybody knew team chairman/president Ronald Corey had to act quickly to turn the ship around.
However, like so many others, I was surprised he decided to hold an open competition to find a replacement for Pat Burns, and invite fans to write in explaining why they would make a good coach, in 1,500 words or less.
It won’t be easy taking the place of a guy like Burns, him being a Coach of the Year, but when he left to join the Leafs, I think it threw Ronnie for a loop. He threw caution to the wind. Lucky for me I was on the receiving end.
The hardest part about the competition was keeping it to under 1,500 words. Some of the plays I have in mind – the flying wedge, the whirling dervish, pre-game and mid-game beers, the cherry picker – alone required a bunch of words (and twice as many diagrams), but I still managed to come in under the required number.
I’m going to introduce one of the new plays tomorrow. I know I’ll get some funny looks at first – training camp all over again! – but I think the guys will come to love the Pyramid Attack, although it will take some convincing to get Gionta to stand on the shoulders of Muller and LeClair.
However, seeing as we’re winning, they should be receptive to new ideas, which I’m writing down all the time in my little notebook while I’m behind the bench.
(I’m really impressed with how much Muller is a student of the game. I let him read my notes since he’s expressed a strong desire to become a coach some day. When I caught Kirkie trying to learn how to say a few words in French, I told him don’t bother, focus on becoming a coach. Carbo’s the captain and speaks fluent French, he can handle the media. Let him do all the talking for the team. You wanna become coach, your first and only concern is winning. You do that and the fans won’t care what language you speak. Look at me, I told him, I speak only English and I get along fine with the French media. And I am picking up a few words. Every time they call me Merde, I tell the fellas, hey, there’s no need to be so formal, you don’t have to call me Mister, you can call me JB. But they insist on calling me Merde. Wonder the French word for Mrs. is? Merci?)
Well, practice is about to start, I’d better go. Game tomorrow night and I gotta figure out who to start in goal, Roy or Price? They’re both playing so well. At some point I’ll have to decide who’s number one and I better do it soon before it becomes a goaltending controversy. Like it has in Toronto with Potvin and Fuhr.
I try to keep it low-key when the guys ask me who’s starting and if I’m ever going to pick a number one. I told them, well, if either one lets in 10 goals in a game, he’s outta here. They both laughed. It’s good they both have a sense of humour.
Maybe if I compose a few lyrics it will help me decide:
Patty and Carey were goalies
Oh, lordie, how they could play
One’s no better than the other
Who’s first, it’s hard to say
Each is swell, and they’ll do me no wrong
Gawd, what was I thinking! Writing a hockey song? No one’s tried that since Stompin’ Tom did his 20 years ago. With good reason. Hope this isn’t a sign of me cracking under the pressure.
Maybe I’ll have them do a coin flip
Hey, when I was head coach of the Atlanta Flames, I used to put the sticks at center ice and divide them into 8 piles – 3 forward lines, 3 d-lines, starting and sitting goalie.
It made the players consicious that it’s a team game, and that they’d all have to pull their weight in whatever situation they found themselves in. Willi Plett moaned a bit every time he had to play goalie, but he hit his stride eventually, and even managed to get in a couple of scraps while he was at it. Heck, even Tom Lysiak made a good rushing D-man with only a bit of defensive downside (a reluctance to backcheck).
That’s my advice to you, JB. Mix it up.
Hey, it can’t hurt, right?
I’m so right.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Matty, I always thought you got a raw deal in Atlanta, them letting you go the way they did. From the top of the Omni Coliseum. No golden parachute for you!
Was that any way to treat a coach whose team finished the season with a winning record and 83 points? Sure, you lost in the preliminary round to the Rangers in four games but I think some of the moves you made that series could have revolutionized the game, if anybody had actually been watching. Having the players wear mini-flame throwers on their gloves was brilliant. For the refs to call that unsportsmanlike conduct told me the fix was in.
Such is life as a NHL head coach Matty. One year you win the Jack Adams trophy ( which by the way it should be named the Toe Blake Trophy) the next year you’ve getting fired.
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Matty, the night Sheman rolled into Atlanta was one for the ages. Hope you weren’t burnt!
JB, I hope someone takes video of the pyramid play you’ve designed.
Great meeting you and glad you made it home safely. CHeers!
———————————–
Jim, it was a pleasure to have met you and your son, Chris. How was the trip home? I was wondering about the two of you when I didn’t see you post early this morning. Hope all’s well and the storm doesn’t turn out as bad as they’re predicting.
Always good to hear from you.
Hope F and B — effin’ B — get a deal done soon — talk about your fantasies! — and there will be a season AND a maxi-summit, when we can meet again.
Cheers.
Now, JB, this is a true mish-mash of fantasy and reality. Good thing it’s Monday or I may not have been able to handle it.
Hysterical as always!!!
The scary part, Cal, is I no longer can tell which part’s fantasy and which part’s reality. It’s all a monster mish-mash.
Hey, I feel a song comin’ on …
[I already tried posting this once but nothing happened. Other than a flash of light and now there's some big purple dude beside me asking if I want to make a wish. I'll let you know how it turns out.]
RUN!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE
I guess the drive from the Hammer to home got you to thinking JB, cuz those are some good thoughts worth reading. Cheers bud, always good seeing you again and keep up the good work Coach!
I see a nice fedora in your future, would suit you behind the bench.
Burl, a fedora sounds good. Got a picture of me wearing one when I was a young lad. Looked just like Der Bingle.
If I run into any problems with this coaching gig — okay, let’s just say, hypothetically — I hope I can count on you to help in a pinch. And if that doesn’t work, a poke. (Some of the players are hard to get through).
Enjoyed the get-together. Hope to see you and the gang for a Stanley Cup celebration.
OK John?
You’re a funny man. No question.
But I think you need help.
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
I think you are right Bri, get over to JB’s place now and start typing for him, he could produce way more material if he had a proper Stenographer there to help him.
I think he’d make me look bad Gerry.
Sounds like you guys had a blast. I’m envious and jealous all at the same time.
I think I’ve been trying to emulate Bettman too much!
You know…. short and rich.
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
I need help being funny?
Bri’, that cuts to the quick. See if I ever offer you any advice again on how to deal with customers.
BTW, how did it go with the client Friday? Is your new address Easy Street?
Easy street? Is there such an address? My GPS certainly can’t locate it.
My friday customer has turned into a two-fridays-from-now customer.
Back in Brampton. So I think I’ll be on my own, unless you guys decide on another quick-fix mini-summit.
And it’s not customers I need advice with. It’s family. Especially a 19-year old.
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
I’m sure your 19-year-old has plenty of advice for you…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Nov. 16th/17th is Bulldogs Marlies home and home series Bri. Get your customer onboard for that weekend and we got some hockey to watch!!
Morning everyone!
1: All HI/Oers in the Northern States, stay safe, batten down the hatches and keep your spirits up! We’re all pullin’ for you up here; we’ll be getting ours later on, though not nearly as bad.
b: I was at Frankie Boullion’s charity ball-hockey tournament this weekend; it was a block away from my house. Bit of a disappointing turnout… not a lot of people, but there was a good buzz. I got there late, and didn’t see Begin, and Frankie wasn’t playing, but Max Lapierre was playing.
Max kind of confirmed my suspicions of him – probably a nice guy, but can’t seem to shake that “I’m a rockstar” attitude. Didn’t come across that well. Frankie, on the other hand, is true class. A really good guy, you can just tell by looking at him. Soft-spoken and sincere. I gave him a pat on the shoulder and told him how happy I am that he’s back in Montreal, and he seemed happy to hear it.
iii) Going to start checking out tickets for the Armada de Boisbriand, if for no other reason, than to get a chance to meet Joel Bouchard
Gotta get my hockey on.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Goid morning Matty. Bathtubs filled. Potential projectile’s secured. Phones anf flashlights all charged. Pets inside and dry. As prepated for Sandy as can be.
Glad you got a chance to meet Frankie and Max. Sounds like a great way to get your hockey fix.
Be safe all!
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Get your fireplace stoked, and the generator running. Can never be too careful.
It looks like you had a great time on the weekend Jim.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your week as much.
Take care down there!
*********************************************
“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
Don’t mention the G Word (Generator) to Jim, long story.
Fingers crossed for you and yours, Jim. Be safe!
I don’t get it… Hockey fans are starved for action, locked out of NHL games and yet, the Dogs get only 2,405 fans out of a stadium that has over 17,000 capacity? What’s up with that? Is Abbotsford that bad, or the Dogs so unworthy?
Promote the Youth, Support From The Veterans and Remember the Heritage!
I guess that’s what happens when you put the Farm Team over 700km away from the NHL team.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
There was a pretty decent crowd Friday night. One other point, they do not sell seats in the upper bowl so I think the capacity is much less then the 17,000. Still 2,400 is not good, eh?
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The poor Dogs teams the past couple years really hurt momentum in the area. Also you have to remember that while there are lots of hockey fans in the area, many more are Leaf fans more than Habs.
Sunday Afternoon, a grey rainy cold weekend and not as many of the Hab faithful made the trip (I for one guilty as charged).
If the team can continue to improve, I believe attendance will rise, but will never get to constant sellouts. Also they have tarped off the upper deck at Copps, otherwise even with 9,000 in the building it feels empty.
I hope it improves, I know I will be at many more games this season.
Here’s a Monday morning lockout tune.
Please leave song suggestions in the comments section.
All will be considered.
http://calsnhllockout2012songparodies.weebly.com/1/post/2012/10/forget-about-me.html
Cal, Cal, the Music Man
If he can’t write lyrics
Then nobody can.
You, sir, have the songwriting fever. Don’t see a doctor.
Your self-prescription seems to be working just fine: six or more verses in the morning.
Nice work Cal.
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On the money again!
I met the band at Bourbon Street North in St Sauveur some years ago.
Much better studio band than live, but I love your selection.
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“I’m here to tell you: Gary Bettman hasn’t felt this alive since he killed Harry Potter’s parents.”
I read somewhere that they did this song for a movie- their agent suggested it would be good for their career- but they did it as a parody of themselves. Of course it became their biggest hit.
Write up on the Dogs game yesterday;
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2012/10/28/sp-ahl-heat-bulldogs.html?cmp=rss
Dogs weekly update including stats;
http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2932&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Interesting read on playing in the KHL, dry ice training appears popular;
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nhl–journeyman-shaone-morrisonn-hopes-year-long-russian-campaign-leads-him-back-to-nhl.html
…Price joining the table at Moishe’s should add another $ 2000 to the final bid
…if I was in Montreal, and also could be accompanied by My son and 2 daughters, I would not sweat $ 5000
…as I know I would be in the Good Books of My daughters for the rest of My existence
_________________________________________________________
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Campaign to Retire Toe Blake’s Number 6 !!!
Bring Back Boone, and send Hickey to Hamilton until this f*&%^g lock-out is over !!!
…and, last, but not least: FREE PUSSY RIOT !!!
Eller to Europe – old news?
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/350327.html
Hey Commandant,
Do you know anything about a prospect named Brandon Prophet who plays for Saginaw in the OHL. Does he have a chance at the NHL.
I just looked him up because I don’t have him in any of my notes.
After looking him up, I know why… He’s a rookie, just drafted in the 2nd round of the OHL draft, and has only played 5 games for Saginaw. I haven’t had the chance to see him yet. Ask me again in a month or so, and hopefully I’ll have seen a game of his or two.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Congrats to Dave Stubbs for getting that charity dinner done. Maybe the league will be back on track by the time that it is held…..Nahhhhhhhhhh!
So NBC/NBCSports has secured the rights for EPL (English Premiere League) for the next 3 years starting next August. Given the money paid for 3 years 250Million, seems they are pretty committed to this. THe NHL needs to be careful, or the opportunity they had to be the one of the foothold sports enterprises on that network could be jeopardized.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/richard_deitsch/10/28/nbc-confirms-epl-deal/index.html
EPL games will never replace NHL games due to the time zone differences, and the times the games are played.
Lets also not forget that Comcast owns the controlling interest of NBC now, and the man who owns the controlling interest of Comcast is Ed Snyder.
Seems to me this is to get more content on a network that needs content right now.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
I agree with you on weekdays but not on weekends. Traditionally in the U.S. the biggest hockey games of the week are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. This is also the same time when the EPL has their biggest games. From 10am until 3pm you can watch EPL games. If indeed the EPL takes off from a fan perspective these games could become the feature games on an NBCSPorts channel as opposed to a Washington versus Pittsburgh game.
I am not saying it will happen, but it is something the NHL needs to be wary of, if indeed they decide to have this lockout go an entire season or even worse beyond.
What time is the last EPL game over by?
I would think they would do double headers with EPL at noon or 1:00 and NHL at 3 or 4.
Seems to be the American way of doing Sunday/Saturday sports.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
As some of you know, former HI/O regular JD partners every year with the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation during the month of October to raise funds for underprivileged youth.
Since its inception in August 2000, the Foundation has donated upwards of $13.5 million to 450 charitable endeavours from across the province of Quebec. This winter, the Foundation expects to unveil its fifth hockey rink in Montreal, a facility where underprivileged children will be able to borrow equipment and skate out onto the ice to enjoy this amazing sport.
The fundraising effort is built around JD’s Halloween home haunt located in Kirkland, QC. Although cash donations are accepted on Oct. 31st, a $5 donation can also be made at any time by texting “Habs” to 45678.
This is a slideshow of this year’s display.
http://s127.photobucket.com/albums/p141/JaD__/Halloween%202012/?albumview=slideshow
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Awesome as per usual.
Gally is now only 3 points back of first place in OHL scoring…and every player ahead of him was born in 1993…he was born in 1994. Not bad for a kid who also missed an entire season and is playing on a ‘bad’ team.
Telio
The greatest Canadiens and NHL news-site: http://teliopost.com/
Twitter: @teliopost
He has little to no offensive help on that Sarnia team. Alex has been quite impressive, I am very glad the Habs drafted him.
What’s with the comments off on the next thread? I wannt to say how classy our players are for donating their time to a good cause. Guess I just did anyway.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
I am guessing that Stubbs is listening to the posts where it was felt that new threads stunted discussions which were going on. This way he provides us the information, but the thread discussion continues. If that is the case, “Way to go Stubbs!”
Exactly right, HabinBurlington… that’s precisely why I disabled comments on the post above. I know the flow of comments among readers is disrupted when we add “too many” posts during the course of a day and I’ve heard your suggestions about that. But my hat is seriously off to the players who have taken one silly tweet of mine on Oct. 11 and turned it into something that will help many needy Montrealers during the holiday season. A very classy gesture on their part.
Dave Stubbs
Hockey Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: @Dave_Stubbs
• Email: dstubbs@montrealgazette.com
Are there any classy owners out there that would do the same.
Very classy indeed, Dave your role in it should not be underestimated either. Good job to all of you. I would like to think that the Habs are on their way back to having Classy Players, Ownership and mgmt.
Way to go.
This Cowboy Giants game is a wild finish!
Great game by the Bulldogs tonight. Mayer was outstanding, as was Bournival. Goals were scored by Geoffrion and Palushaj (on the powerplay). Penalty killing was excellent, even though the Heat came in with a powerplay scoring at 28%. It was great to see the kids hanging on at the end, although the play was mostly in their end and Mayer had to make a couple of excellent saves.
To be fair to the Heat, they were playing their third game in three nights. They’re a better team than the Dogs, play a tight checking system and make good precise passes. They moved the puck well all night, whereas our kids tended to dump and chase it. But the victory feels good (especially when contrasted with the third-period collapses that were a regular feature of last year’s Habs’ performances).
Man, I really hope that the system isn’t to always dump and chase it. Seems to kill creativity. Imagine if Galchenyuk ever plays in the AHL and that’s what he’s told to do.
In fairness this current Bulldog team doesn’t have alot of offensive creativity or perhaps better put, highly talented offensive puck carriers.
They are young and the strength with the current roster will be the Dmen, but the forwards are more a combination of hard workers and decent offensive skill.
A player like Avtsin is probably one of the most offensive creative puck carriers they have, and he appears to be struggling the past seasons to adjust to AHL Pro hockey.
I think for now this roster, needs to play a simple gameplan with heavy forecheck and make opportunities around the net and score goals from the dirty areas.
As more skill arrives, perhaps they then can play a more puck posession style.
But I was under the impression that the Bulldogs would be playing the same system as the Habs, as has been the case for the past couple of years.
“They don’t hang Conference Championship Banners from the rafters here”
Carey Price
I’m pretty sure Therrien does not employ a dump-and-chase system.
That’s exactly how they scored their goals tonight and at least two of the four they scored against the Marlies the other night – hard work, driving to the net, unrelenting pressure in the offensive zone. I think the dump-and-chase is less a matter of strategy than a result of the team’s youth and inexperience, as well as (as Burlington pointed out) the fact that they’re not all that offensively gifted.
Hey, it feels good to be actually discussing a hockey game instead of the f—ing lockout!
Yeah I understand… It just seems that such a system would best work with big players, and I don’t think the forwards on the Bulldogs are all that imposing. Seems like they would lose most battles along the boards.
Also, last season on the Habs, it often looked like they couldn’t complete passes, like they’d lost all accuracy because they were dumping the puck so often and getting nowhere.
Grigorenko did not dress today for Quebec, anyone have the scoop?
I think it has something to do with The Remparts having 3 european Imports (him being one of them) and league rules stating that one team can only play a maximum of 2 per game so they have to rotate them in and out of the line up.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/GARTH/Rush-To-Judgement/6/47257
Interesting. Thanks.
Sweet, nice win Dogs. Team looking better defensively.
Bulldogs win 2-1 over Abbotsford.
Nice win by the Dogs. 2-1. Puck in Dogs end for most of last min and half.
Is the weather terrible in the GTA ? Doesn’t look like there is a whole lot of support for the Bulldogs in Hamilton. On my TV it looks like the stands are 70% empty…
Dont think the storm hit there yet but your right the place looks empty.
Bulldogs typically average 3000-4000 doing better against rivals like the Marlies and words against a BC team live Abbottsford.
But thats AHL hockey for you… outside of a place like Hershey, 3000-4000 is a decent average for the league.
Its not the NHL.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Hamilton is not a part of the GTA
Okay its NFL Sunday and it seems the Giants (Sorry Chris and Jim) appear to be crapping the bed after what should have been a blowout for them in the first half.
Very,very interesting…..
DarrenDreger; According to airport spies, Don Fehr managed to get on the last flight out of Laguardia to Toronto.
He missed the Summit, its over, no point in him heading out here.
Serves the SOB right!
LMAO!
He is headed there to give Laraque some pointers with the CHLPA conflict.
That is just great! First the Expos, then the NHL and next the CHL! When will it end???
LOL u guys, TONNES of great prospects in the 2013 draft, I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It would definatly be worth tanking this season, if there is a season at all.
if we were to get any two of Barkov, Monnehan, Erne, Mantha, Carrier, Harper, or that gigantic Russian kid on London then we would be that much better.
and thats just the icing on the cake!!!
Theres this Russian kid playing for Baie-Comou whose name escapes me that is supposed to GREAT, they say that his stock has risen lately. Does anyone know any more details on him??
and of course there is McKinnon and Jones, but I dont think that we should be THAT bad…………….
with a good showing at the 2013 draft, our future would be that much brighter.
Is he on this roster list?
http://theqmjhl.ca/roster/list/team/51/sort/last
#73 and he is second in rookie scoring so far.
Attended the Sarnia vs Erie game last night and I have to second commandant’s comment about Sarnia’s team. Gally finished with 0 points last night but could easily have had about 2 goals, 3 assists.
There really is no other offensive talent on Sarnia. Zero creativity, zero anticipation. Could not get the puck to Gally consistently; couldn’t finish his setups.
Bulldogs 1 – 1 in 2nd period. Geoffrion scored goal
Edit: now 2-1 Dogs 2nd Palushaj
Edit: 2-1 Dogs end of 2nd
Different game when you have big physical defensemen, isn’t it.
Ya and glad to see Ellis will be getting back into game shape.
I like the potential of Corbin, but was dissappointed that Nash wasn’t in lineup on Friday, not sure if he is playing today or not.
Corbin not dressed today. Nash in.
Yes, he is back and has an assist. Corbin is out along with Hagel and Berger is playing.
While it was nice to meet Corbin and he was a gentleman, I think Nash is a better player and Berger brings more to the lineup than Hagel. That seems to be more of a feelgood story bringing the local boy in. Granted, I think the Marlies are a better team than Abbotsford also. Thanks guys for the lineup updates.
Seems to me that Fehr is missing the point with regards to who is in the drivers seat regarding this negotiation. Whether right or wrong ( and I do think the owners are not right) the owners are the owners. Fehr’s job as head of the NHLPA is to find the best deal possible for the players. Seems Fehr is more interested in inventing the best deal for the Players.
When the NHL makes an offer negotiate off of their offer, rather than create a complete different offer which you expect them to negotiate off of.
I am now thinking no chance of NHL hockey this season unless the players tell Fehr to start trying to make a deal with that mule of a prick Bettman.
Anyone watching the Bulldogs? The game is on TVA. No score after one.
F***ing NHL players… do my job for a week, you whining sacks of shite… keep bitching over who gets the billions and don’t be surprized how many ‘fans’ don’t come back to watch you a-holes…
damn right i’m pissed.
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Jack Edwards is a clam.
Gary Bettman is a bobblehead.
derek roy tweeted a picture of his, i think it was a ferrari, that sets off car alarms as he put it. hard to take their part in this as well. they are both screwing the fan.
Another three points for Gally today. Now tied for 5th in the league.
15 games 21 points
I went to the game… .Its ridiculous how bad the rest of that Sarnia team is. Galchenyuk could easily have had 5 or 6 points if his teammates could bury a puck in an open net, or could properly execute a give and go, and put the puck back on Gally’s stick instead of in his skates… or worse 4 feet behind him.
Reid Boucher made a particularly big whiff with an open net in the second period.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Hey Ben, good to hear Galley can put up the points he does without help. If indeed the NHL season is lost, I certainly agree with you and others in hoping he gets traded to a contender.
Have a good day.
Yeah, I don’t see the Bulldogs going far in the playoffs with their young team.
And I dont see Sarnia going far in the playoffs either.
So I’d like to see Gally go to a team where he can get some quality playoff games in this year.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
i pray he comes to kitchener!
Looks like the players are starting to hurt and looking for food, lol. The charity dinner Dave is auctioning for the great charity the Gazette puts on has added a couple more players looking to get some eats. Along with Armstrong, Darche and Gorges add Price and Prust. Great auction though, up to $2800. Good on the guys to get on board.
According to a link (Flyers talk on Comcast Sportsnet) posted on the last thread by HabFab, the NHL has to make a decision next week about the Winter Classic. If they intend to cancel it, they have to do it almost immediately to avoid financial penalties. My guess is they’ll do it, and the rest of the season will follow it down the drain before too long. It’s almost inconceivable that an entire season could be lost because of a difference of a few hundred million spread over thirty teams in a league whose revenues and salaries reached record levels last year, but it seems to be about to happen. It’s clear Bettman was not serious when he said ten days ago that he still hoped for an 82-game season; otherwise he would not have dismissed the PA’s counter-proposals so rapidly or refused to meet them last week. The whole thing was a media show; and, because the so-called negotiations have become a showdown between two egotists neither of whom will back down an inch, we’re going to lose our season. I just hope the fans desert in droves when the NHL condescends to start up again, and that the games are played in half-empty arenas. All we can do to have an impact is to not give the league our money.
Scary when neither of those egomaniacs will negotiate on the others proposals.
Pathetic…
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Jack Edwards is a clam.
Gary Bettman is a bobblehead.
F*ck the NHL. Anybody else like the Steelers uniform today?
The Steelers’ “prison” unis today looked almost as horrendous as the Habs’ “barber pole” unis.
I called those Uniforms, the “Bumblebees”
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
I am glad I can’t remember the day when the Steelers wore those as their regular uniforms (1934 for those wondering). Unfortunately the Steelers will be wearing those Chain Gang outfits again in mid November against the Ravens. Such is the penalty of a team celebrating its 80th year in a league. We Hab fans remember some of the pajama outfits our players came on the ice wearing a few years back.
Let’s trade Bellows to Tampa while his stock is high for Marc Bureau!
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THE KINGS ARE KINGS!! 2012
Plus ça change…
It’s not like HIO hasn’t been dedicated to wallowing in past glories and reporting about that which is disconnected from reality since I first logged on here.
Call me crazy…..I know it’s only October 28th…..but I have a feeling that this team could go all the way!
Remember that you heard it here first!!!
Come October 2013, I have a hunch the LA Kings will still be reigning Stanley Cup Champs…without breaking much of a sweat.
Premier. Merci.
Nice! Singin” from Frontenacs Hymn Book Amigo!
Nice! Cohibas and Cognac.I like your style Amigo. Singin” from Frontenacs Hymn Book.