Courtesy http://3.bp.blogspot.com
WiFi problems at Rexall Place are playing havoc with Mike Boone’s live game blog tonight. Mike hopes to be back online soon…
Loading ...
Hockey Inside/Out: Absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens For editorial inquiries, contact Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan. For advertising inquiries, please contact your Gazette sales representative. © 2013 The Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement
You guys are a laugh riot.
Richard R
next page
I’m sure Mr. Boone is consulting with the finest network technicians that can be found at the hotel bar.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
A game in front of a partial home-crowd led to a Pyrrhic victory for the Canadiens, one that does wonders for the confidence and self-pride of Les Glorieux, but greatly diminishes the odds we’ll drop beyond the Oilers to Columbusian depths in the standings, which we might rue in June. This was kind of like blowing the mortgage payment on a pretty good house party, fun while it lasted, but now what?
Confronted with an Oiler team that has lots of promising offensive talent, the Canadiens threw a training camp split squad on the ice. The NHL’ers played well, with P.K. Subban playing an almost flawless game, save for a penalty that can be forgiven, since it was a roughing penalty instead of one of his more brainless infractions. Max Pacioretty potted two goals, one an empty-netter to reach 30 for the season. Tomas Plekanec played with the energy of old. Our AHL players didn’t dazzle, but they played hard, with heart. Blake Geoffrion had a couple opportunities to score. Scott Gomez skated hard and was productive with the puck on occasion, earning an assist. Aaron Palushaj seemed dangerous, surely giving Oiler coach Tom Renney a few cold sweats, but flubbed eight or nine shots on a perennially open net. He has now played 28 games for the Canadiens, earning a grand total of one assist. I sometimes wonder if he’s destined to be one of those guys you find on hockeydb.com, with 40 or 50 games played, no goals and twenty penalty minutes in their NHL career, followed by five seasons playing for the Orlando Solar Bears and HC Fribourg-Gottéron.
A thought that occurred to me while watching was that we should put in a call to Brian Burke as soon as the season is over and swap him Tomas Kaberle for Mike Komisarek, relieving each team of a headache in return for a pain somewhere else. I know Mike has fallen a few levels since leaving Montréal, but he can’t possibly do worse than Mr. Kaberle. I don’t care that he gets occasional points on the powerplay, Tomas Kaberle is the worst player on the team night in night out, and the one who cares the least.
The Linus Omark goal provides us with a case study. In the official scoresheet, it is deemed an unassisted goal, but it should really show Mr. Kaberle as having assisted on it, if not gift-wrapping it and putting a nice festive bow on it. He had control of the puck deep in his own zone, and made a poorly thought-out and weak backhand pass to no one in the high slot. No one in white that is, the puck cruised through the zone and may have crossed the blue line in another 15 seconds or so, but Mr. Omark swooped in and wristed it in the net, a nice bank shot off Alexei Emelin’s pants.
En français, a blind pass or one that ends up going nowhere is often referred to as “une passe à l’aveuglette”. The word comes from the root word ‘aveugle’, which means ‘blind’, and is used whenever a player dishes off the puck with a poorly conceived pass, which usually ends up being a giveaway or icing. Wags will often say “Le maudit L’Aveuglette, y pogne jamais le puck”; they have conjured up a hapless player named L’Aveuglette who never receives the passes intended for him.
I firmly believe that Tomas Kaberle thinks he is playing with L’Aveuglette and would swear on all that is holy that he can see him when he’s out there on the ice, much like Haley Joel Osment could see dead people. There is no other explanation for that poor a pass. Had he had a live hand grenade about to go off on the end of his stick, he would have propelled it to the same exact location to try to save his teammates’ lives. In that area of the ice, no Canadien would have been harmed. They would all have been equidistantly safe.
When the Tomas Kaberle trade was announced, I may have posted a harangue that decried the move, but after that I vowed to myself that I would not harp on this subject. I was convinced that Tomas’ own ineptitude would serve as my megaphone. Unfortunately, it is so staggering that it also serves as the trigger to set off all the alarms and all the fears about where this organization is headed.
René Bourque has been attracting negative attention lately, but I’m comfortable with his play. He is what we expected. He’s big, can play physical, is serviceable as a third-liner who can move up to the second on occasion. He plays well on the penalty kill, and can also play on the powerplay. We knew him to be streaky and that his style makes him seem disaffected sometimes. We can expect around 25 goals from him. And that’s exactly what we are getting from him. Next year we’ll be looking for enough legitimate NHL players to fill out a roster. Mr. Bourque is not one of our worries. He’ll fill his role and a hole in our lineup, we don’t need to get on his case because he’s not Clarke Gillies. Or Erik Cole. He is René Bourque, and on balance I’m happy to have him on the team.
Of note also was the performance of special teams. We’ve been fretting that the Good Guys have given up on the season and on the coach, but as has been mentioned by others on HIO, the results obtained by the penalty killing units shows that they still have some fight left. Their success depends on effort, hard work, sacrifice and determination. Even with the loss of Hal Gill, which I thought might drastically reduce the PK’s effectiveness, they haven’t skipped a beat. Against the best powerplay in the league tonight, they allowed one goal out of four. Not great in terms of the percentage, since Edmonton has been clicking on a 25% pace this season, but they often bottled up the Oilers and didn’t allow them to establish themselves in the zone and get comfortable. The bonus was that the Canadiens’ powerplay was 2/4, and featured a reinvigorated Tomas Plekanec and René Bourque, who seemed dangerous on the second wave after a long stretch of games where nothing seemed to work. Our powerplay strategy had degenerated to sending out the Desharnais line on the first wave, then hoping for a flukey bounce from the ragtag collection we sent out on the second.
Thus heartened, we move on to Vancouver for a big big game on Saturday. Hopefully Mr. Desharnais’ leg twinge can be alleviated with a couple days of physiotherapy, we’ll need all hands on deck to bring down the mighty mighty Canucks.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Palushaj and perpetually open nets (if you write a tome, have no fear of editing
)
And the gist? Oh well, can’t lose them all, right?
Is this a play by play recap of the game? lol
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Mr. Errant,
A thoroughly enjoyable and extremely well written post. Well done sir.
Thanks for the good read and the occasional chuckle.
Seems Brian Murray is a better GM than Burke. Ottawa’s goaltending was solid but then Anderson got hurt. Ben Bishop was acquired in deft fashion and played well in beating the mighty Rangers.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Don’t put Gauthier in that comparison. He makes Murray and Burke look like geniuses.
It doesnt seem right that the oilers will get another top pick, there should be a 2 year maximum of top 3 picking in a 5 year span or something.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Make’s sense to me…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Can’t change rules in mid-process. Pittsburgh got Fleury, Stahl, Malkin, and another guy with consecutive high picks.
“May you live in interesting times.”
I respectively disagree with this because if this was the case than it’s more like a terrible team gets penalized for sucking out, which in-turn they could possibly get worse. I believe we all sometimes like these ideas as it would effect teams other than Montreal, but I believe if it was Montreal in this position we would want to keep loading up on #1 or #2 picks for years so to build the proverbial dynasty again..
ONCE A HAB, FOREVER A HAB!!!
Every team should get a top 5 pick every 6 seasons, then the remaining picks by how lousy the team does. This might level the playing field a little.
Revenge of Gretzky’s Ghost.
Richard R
I was hoping for an honourable defeat.
Still, those Oilers really suck. They are a bit like Eastern Europe. Even after the Wall fell the gloom remained for some time (and remains still in some parts). If they don’t watch out they will become so used to losing they will never win.
–
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
There is no honor in defeat… this season is a shame.
Now if there was a Lemieux or a Crosby involved within the next draft, this would be a whole different ball game, but this is the wrong timing for a tank of a season. So. Here we are.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
That Eastern-Europe point of your’s has no… ABSOLUTELY NO, basis in reality or fact.
I have many friends from that part of the world… do you? Probably not. You choose an obscure German Syphillosopher as your avatar and think you above them all? They are far from gloomy dude.
No offense but… Do you have friends?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Seems your friends LEFT that part of the world. I could be wrong….
“May you live in interesting times.”
I left my part of the world, Laval Quebec. Canada. You familiar with it? You know why I left? The place I was born and raised in? Communist country? No. Not Canada. Was it the fact I was the youngest of 6 and tired of the hand-me-downs? Maybe. Eastern-Europeans make up the better part of my friendship for a long time now. Only reason why is that…y’a can hardly trust a yank. I not only had a field day in the sack with the most beautiful women of this planet but also am divorced by a Polish one…still friends with. Can you say the same?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
You know I agree with you. I remember back in the communist days the way theyd make fun about eastern european women on american tv about their hairyness and manliness. Suddenly its like capitalism made them beautiful.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
just deleted my horrific blabla
Just call me Dr. Victor Tankenstein
I have a friend from Moldova, his name is Igor (no Sh!t) … would you like him as your assistant? Dr. Tankenstein.
Hearts can be dug up in most cemeteries for cheap.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
I know a guy from Moldova, his name is Dragos. Everyone calls him Dragon. Best name ever.
“I don’t wanna see Maurice tonight, I want the rocket!”
Ha ha! That is quite an awesome moniker. It would be perfect for a hab D-man or power forward.
We deal with tourist customers around here at my work in Key West, we call Igor ‘Iggy’ because customers tell us “we are not very nice” when we call him Igor. They don’t believe it’s his real name, they think we use him as a servant. His thick accent doesn’t help our case but, he has a great sense of humor, so.
Come to think of it, an Igor would be good on the D also.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
That is a cool name, I also fancy Wolfgang.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo4pdhKL4b4
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
Ahh memories.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
This was the first time I got to go to a game here in Edmonton where Montreal won since Janne Niinamma scored on his own net in the late 90′s (best live game memory).
Subban was dominant tonight. He handled Jordan Eberle better then I’ve seen anyone handle Eberle all season here. After his penalty against Omark he settled in to play the best game I’ve seen a Hab play live in front of me in a long time. Hall was a little more effective on the other side against Georges but only scored when he was out against Campoli. And Gomez astoundingly played the best game I’ve seen him play in years.
Shoutout’s go to the Hab fan wearing a paper bag over his head across the aisle from where I was sitting and the award for least family appropriate sign goes to the girl who brought one that said “Everytime Pacioretty scores I touch myself”. You really can’t make that up (and since he scored twice tonight………..)
Just got home from another long day at work and noticed a first on a thread…COMMENTS ARE OFF… what is that? Is everyone misbehaving?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiss my hAbSS!!!
My thought is that there are two almost simultaneous threads which were put up, so they wanted to consolidate the Comments on just one thread, which I think was a good move.
———————————
How about it NHL? No fighting, just hockey?
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Why not on the Edmonton players blabbing thread then?
funny thing about tanking is that you can end up like the oilers.. you tank so much that by the time you can be any good all those “starts” you draft will become ufa
——————
The 2010-11 Stanley Cup was not won, but given
The sports net guy in between periods was bragging up PK, I whole heartedly agree. PL is just starting to become a bonified d-man in the NHL. It was good to hear this from an Edmonton Oiler perspective.
Oilers showed why they are 29th….
And i thought the Habs had bad defence!!!!!!!
Budaji has more career wins against The Oilers than any other team in the league – Now 14 or 15 & counting……
It’s pretty sick…. Oilers going for another top pick. They’re jjust piling up these picks now. That’s gonna be a team to reckon with in the future (if their mgmt doesnt screw it up that is)
Most will leave as soon as possible via free agency.
__________________________
☞ If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong. ☜
Or command too much money
“I don’t wanna see Maurice tonight, I want the rocket!”
The Oilers suck. Theres no indication the team will turn around anytime soon, the young players are already really good and the team still sucks. They still need D and a goalie, and free agents still dont wanna go there.
“I don’t wanna see Maurice tonight, I want the rocket!”
The problem is the Oilers haven’t drafted well in the later rounds in the past few years. Tanking is not enough. All that a high pick brings is a high pick. Players make a team not one pick.
Guess they forgot to draft some defencemen.
“May you live in interesting times.”
And exactly when will that be? 2020?
Clearly the Oilers are better at tanking than we are…
__________________________
☞ If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong. ☜
They’ve been doing it for the last 3 seasons now they’ve had practice
they have years of experiance!!!!!!!!
Boone needs to learn not to keep spilling his beer on his USB wifi modem.
pk is so selfish blah BLAH BLAH !!!!! such a joke those posters on here wanting him traded.
#30. nice
Poor Budaj. No chance on any of the goals.
Budaj ? I thought Price finally had a good game. Oh boy…..
Does anyone know why DD is out for the remainder of the game?
lower body injury
there is only one edmonton oilers in the league. The Tankers need not worry – there won’t be a winning streak.
Cunney musta been a math major. Trying every line permutation, algorithmically.
(Yay, Larry!)
—
If Eller were pronounced “Ell-ay”, Larry would be #2 with a bullet!
Figured it out… Boone is the Habs jinx
G Love fo da $$$
Desharnais out for the rest of the game…you know what that means?
GOMER TIME!!!!!!
What happened to DD?
So if we lose tonight in regualtion does that put us in 29th behind the Oilers? lol
Wow is Crapperle trying out for Oilers? Very nice tape to tape pass on the Oilers second goal and then coughs it up on the Oilers blue line on the power play.
Bring up St-Denis and sit Kaberle on the bench. Better still, in the stands. Selling hot dogs and beer. Nose bleed section.
Richard R
Please: elucidate me. Is the draft according to the final position or there is a lottery like the NBA?Thanks
Wow. we was just robbed! I guess goals don’t count anymore…
Why hasn’t Gomez been centering Patches and Cole all season!!! He’de have 90 points!
Strangely enough….i agree with you.
“Of course I’m crazy, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
- Robert Anton Wilson
So would Enqvist.
He was injured. Duh.
“May you live in interesting times.”
Because he doesn’t speak French?
Richard R
Correct me if I am wrong but did not Tuesday’s game start out the same way as tonight’s, that is the Habs score to even it @ one in the dying seconds. So since tomorrow is a day off and the night is young, should I stay up? I must say I feel a little more confident tonight since the SOG are tied @ 10, and that is a good thing. The Habs seem to be playing with more confidence. Go Habs Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boone’s live blog hopes to return….
However it was last seen on a laptop
at an Edmonton massage parlor.
At least Boone is having a”Happy Ending” this season.
Mr. Biter
No Guts No Glory
Nice pic of beautiful,downtown Toronto!
Not only are the Habs tanking but so is Boone. What a great year to be a Habs fan.
Because my Gallery generates more action than the Habs
They Call Me Shane
“They never asked to be Canadiens, they were Chosen.”
Shane Oliver
Twitter @Sholi2000
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Custom Sports Figures
Some old guy who’s existence depends upon writing 300 word articles about a silly game, as if it had any merit in the grand design of the universe.
We didn’t win yet. Have some faith, will ya?
Yeah it was funny the first time, maybe ask again
If it’s any consolation, Edmonton wants to draft a defenseman, we want a forward
Dudes, this site wouldn’t be here w/o Mike.
“May you live in interesting times.”