Bruins head coach Claude Julien has his team on an eight-game winning streak headed into tonight’s Bell Centre game vs. the Canadiens.
Stubbs video capture
• CANADIENS AUDIO: Jacques Martin | Michael Cammalleri | Hal Gill | Yannick Weber
There is hockey in other locales besides Pittsburgh tonight, folks. And the Canadiens are in tough at home against their arch-rivals, the Boston Bruins, who arrive riding an eight-game win streak.
In Brossard, the Habs practised with the same lines used in Saturday’s 4-0 win over the New York Rangers. Defenceman Hal Gill will return to the lineup Wednesday in Carolina, tonight his fourth game out of the lineup. No Jaroslav Spacek tonight either.
I was at the Bruins morning skate, where much of the discussion was about the return in Pittsburgh of Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. Patrice Bergeron, the famously concussed Bruin, weighed in on the subject, while head coach Claude Julien and Bruins captain Zdeno Chara also addressed the issue.
Video below from the Bruins room in advance of what could be a great goaltending duel, NHL first star of the week Carey Price riding a two-shutout streak, Boston’s Tim Thomas arriving on the heels of a shutout of his own.
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Check this out, top NHL plus/minus stats-
2- Seguin. + 17
4- C. Kelly. + 13
T5- Chara. + 12
T5- Marchand +12
T7- Bergeron +11
No wonder they’re climbing up the standings!
allan baylis the link for my article on the referees conspiracy is found here http://ezinearticles.com/?The-NHL-Referees-Conspiracy&id=6674431
great read and so true
Timo is a great Hab’s fan. He just talks negative at times so that the landing is not as horrific if we should lose.
Just setting expectations, Ian, just setting expectations.
allan baylis I for one am sick and tired of the unfair bias the referees have towards the Habs. Last year the Bruins had 438 penalty minutes to kill and we had 546. The Leafs had the 3rd most power plays and far less penalties than us.How does a small, soft team lead the league in penalties? I have written an article as to why and you can find it on the internet The NHL Referees Conspiracy.
The only thing you can say to the Canadiens taking the most penalties, and it’s a bit of a guess, is the old size issue.
At certain moments, a little less this year, Montreal is just incapable of regaining control of the puck because they can’t separate the other team from said puck. As a result they have to hook or hold.
Matty, glad to see you out of the closet. Was great meeting you and your wife and child. My wife is honoured that her choosing of the Gomez Jersey (as she initially forgot it was your ticket that was called) for you could turn into such a wonderful event.
Had a great weekend overall, but especially enjoyed the Pints at Hurley’s after the victory. I only wish I was better at names (yes even with nametags I struggle) and could thank each of you for the incredible hospitality and good times.
Mr. Hickey, was a treat to talk old school basketball with you. I still disagree with you and like Emelin more than Diaz.
Gerald!
I said this to you personally, but I would like to say publicly as well. You are a very generous and fun man to be around.
It is for the likes of people like you and your lovely wife that I enjoy to put these Summit on each year. Above all the Children’s Foundation thanks you and all other contributors as well.
,
I’m setting the date on my calendar for sure next year. It always comes around after I’ve come back from a summer vacation so I’ll put some $$$ aside in advance for next year!
Would love to meet everyone!
Here is where we are placed this week compared to last week in the 30 team league.
Goals Against-49. We are in 11th place. Last week 19th with 42.
Total Points—-21. We are in 16th place. Last week 24th with 16.
Goals For——53. We are in 16th place. Last week 23rd with 40.
Starting to look better folks.
Thank Gawd for Martin’s defensive style of play!,for putting Plekanic on the point and for playing Gomez out of his funk.!
Okay, full disclosure — Bruins fan here. However, I love HIO because it’s the best hockey chat going, even though it’s tough to read when the B’s play the Habs. Bottom line, while the B’s have been pretty dominant in this 8 game stretch, one look at the Columbus game shows they’re not necessarily the scoring machine they’re being made out to be by NESN, etc. They have a tough time against quick forwards and are susceptible to passing lane breakdowns and giveaways in their own end (especially Lucic). That being said, IMHO it’s a mistake for the Canadien players to try to beat them with the body. The C’s beat the Bruins when they play to their strengths — passing skill and speed. I look forward to a great game tonight.
At least some of us appreciate the outside perspectives. It is sometimes nice to escape from the tunnel vision that we all get into when it comes to our own team.
Enjoy the game!
There’s no way you’re a bruins fan, that post was way too reasonable lol
Thanks JP — we’re not all NESN yahoos! And I’ll be drinking cold Alpine’s during the game — not some watered down american beer.
when you describe the posters here as NOT being yahoo’s, that frightens the crap out of me
cheers and good game dude
I think he was just being overly polite. I am not familiar with this and am still trying comprehend.
I do know another highly intelligent Bruin fan, I had no idea there was more out there.
yeah i got friends in boston, good dudes, although they always make jokes when i visit that im there to do their dry wall (apparently this is a stereotype about french canadians in new england… we have a “thing” supposedly)
I’m from Boston and I can tell you this! The only thing I could say about NESN is Catherine Tappen made the Bruin broadcast during pre/post game show and intermission and she probably was fed up with the two idiots she had to co-host with! (I call them Jack and Jill!! Where is Danny Gallivan and Dick Irvin when you need them (two of the best). BTW not only is Catherine a a good, smart analyst but she’s not bad to look at while she speaks either.
…just goes to prove not ALL Booins fans are Neanderthals …welcome CeeDee
…You are right, Our Habs play Their game, and your team has problems
…play tough, not necessarily rough, but smarter, faster and as skilled and We will overcome intimidation everytime
…SPEED KILLS !!!
…that being said, love Bergeron, Marchand, Seguin, Thomas and Lucic
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
TIMO, he is an UNCLE – troll.
What does it make you… an anti-troll?
Timo, you’ve been posting on this site for a long time, or at least as long as I’ve been coming here, and you are consistently one of the most humorous posters on here. Good stuff. Of course, I still want the B’s to crush Les Habitants tonight.
Timo is humourous?
Man, that’s why I love this site. New info every day.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Use reasoning here Punkster, Timo bashes the Habs at most every turn, ceedee is a Bruin fan. Why wouldn’t ceedee find Timo humorous?
Now trade Gomez to the Bruins and everything is turned upside down.
Now, THAT would be humorous.
Tell you what… if it results in Martin being canned, so do I.
What’s it like to cheer for a recent cup winner cause after 20 years I think I remember…but I’m not sure!
I think any honest Bruins fan will tell you that last year was a complete shocker. Yeah, yeah, I believe in the team — always have (at least, since I started watching them in 1968) and always will. But last year was so out of the blue it’s crazy. It just goes to show why playoff hockey is the best sports experience for any fan. Anything can happen.
Welcome to Montreal: 1993.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I think my brain just imploded!
I agree with you ceedee, we have to use our speed and your team has to try to slow us down using the body. I am looking forward to another great contest against a great rival tonight.
If we skate like we can and keep our feet moving, we will draw Boston into taking penalties. Our power play is starting to come around a little.
Nice to chat with the enemy civilly my friend.
great post. welcome!
Fearless prediction: Either Subban or Emelin levels a Bruin at the blueline and the Bruins players chase one of them around the rink trying to start a fight as a result.
HIO crew sure love their Bruins, don’t they?
Habs play them tonight, you know?
Randy for HC!
TIMO, I’ve never got behind the idea that every TV personality from Jim Hughson to Pierre MacGuire are anti-Habs.
However, not so much that the CBC is anti-Habs, they do have their head scratching moments though, they are just complete jerks who really offer nothing between periods on Saturday nights.
I agree that not everyone is anti-Habs, but you did read the thing about Cherry complaining that they were playing images of Price and Subban while he was on, didn’t you?
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I had posted it on an earlier thread, I PVRd the game, couldn’t believe it….
I didn’t see it, and while I am surprised he said it, I really can’t be. Amazing how blatantly Cherry hates the Habs. But really it is a feather in our cap, would we ever really want that guy in our corner? I bet he still wakes up at night in cold sweats hearing the Montreal Crowd cheering as Lafleur put that puck in the net… haha is all I can say.
Milbury Cherry and Stock sure but Hughson and McGuire? LOL
——————————————————————-
Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
i don’t think Stock is all-Bruins and anti-Habs. I actually think that he would like to see the Habs succeed and he comments forecfully on those characteristics that he thinks keeps them from succeeding.
Pierre Mcguire is a “band-wagon” guy, and anti Pierre Gauthier. Jim Hughson is “anti-everything-but-the-Canucks”
“Andrei Kostitsyn is a better hockey player than Max Pacioretty”
- Sean Bonjovi
I can’t deny that it seems a lot of commentators and sports-coverage channels in general are anti-habs, but one thing’s for sure; as much as Pierre MacGuire makes me uncomfortable with the weird crap he says, he definitely comes across a Canadiens fan
The game tonight will not be close…….Habs will take this game by at least 3 goals cuz the B’s play much smaller when they are away from home. Ultimately Julien and his goons will resort to their usual thuggery when the game will be outta reach late into the 3rd.
“I kind of feel sorry for players who never got a chance to be a Montreal Canadien” – Cammalleri
So after starting the season 1-4-2, with a 3.15 GAA and .878 sv%, Price has a gone 7-2-1 over his last 10, with a 1.48 GAA and .943 sv%. I guess his rough pre-season carried over into the regular season this year, but he’s back on track now.
It’s the moustache.
Last two games were gifts.
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Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
Help me out here.
You start off with a picture of Zdeno Chara.
People complain about how ugly and repulsive he is.
And so you switch it for one of Claude Julien?
i was going to type the saaaame thiiiing
Julien=Homer Simpson. only not as smart.
I thought he was a Hank Hill lookalike.
Randy for HC!
i was thinking corky thatcher
I meant Bill Dauterive actually, from King of the Hill.
Randy for HC!
im stickin with corky thatcher
It’s Bill Dautrive
See below.
Yeah, his name was just on the tip of my tongue.
Randy for HC!
Didn’t he win the Stanley Cup?
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Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
This was posted here a while back but I think it’s worth repeating here now:
http://25stanley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/claude-julien.gif
I wanted a photo of Julien from the start. But I processed my Chara video first, since it was shot first this morning, and every news post here requires a photo. Nothing nefarious; Chara was holding space.
Dave Stubbs
Hockey Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: twitter.com/habsinsideout1
• Email: dstubbs@montrealgazette.com
I’m sure there’s nothing nefarious. I’m just having fun.
Besides once you’re committed to posting a pic of a Bruin, aesthetic concerns are pretty much out the window. One might as well complain about the lack of objectivity on a Justin Beiber fan site.
man am i ever excited for this game. sure the habs will probably leave this game with at least 1 more injured player but i think habs will take them out. fearless prediction, habs win 3-1. scores by pleks (2 points) patches and cole
“Don’t get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for them. They have good players and they’re good at what they do. But playing against them is so boring. They should have to pay for coffee for our fans to help them stay awake.” Higgins (I’m paraphrasing), on the NJ Devils.
Plekanec will not register a point, will be scared shitless, and will leave in the 1st period with a sore turtleneck..sorry, upper body injury…
take your drink to the end of the bar buddy…come on now, don’t be a fool…
HEY! don’t joke about that! i have suffered a sprained turtleneck before, and they are not fun at all!!
your friendly neighborhood Salted One
Does habs inside out love the bruins or something? Does anyone on this site really care what julien, bergeron and chara think about Sid the kid coming back? always photos of them on this site, and now their opinions on a matter not in any way, shape, or form related to the habs…I dont get it.
The boys are going to put an end to the bruins winning streak tonight, and than tomorrow the only bruin photos i want to see on this site are ones of tim thomas getting lit up!
I guess it’s about where the reporters are, they are in Boston, we get videos from the Bruins.
They do seem to rub it in some though.
Randy for HC!
Erm, the video is from Brossard…
Still applies, they have Bruins player available, we get Bruins videos.
Randy for HC!
Here’s the deal, folks:
I was at the Bell Centre this morning shooting video. Pat Hickey was in Brossard without video capability. We can either use nothing in video form, which is a disservice to the site and its readers, or use the Bruins today. Not like we have a shortage of the home team here. Mike Boone will shoot and upload video from the Habs room post-game. Pretty simple: if you don’t want to see the Bruins video, don’t play it.
By the way: Saturday I’ll have Sidney Crosby video. You’ve been warned!
Dave Stubbs
Hockey Inside/Out
Sports Columnist/Feature Writer, Montreal Gazette
• On Twitter: twitter.com/habsinsideout1
• Email: dstubbs@montrealgazette.com
Crosby?!
Aaaggghhh!
(gouges out eyes)
Ahh. That’s better.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Hmmmmmmmmm no video? Bruins video? No video? Bruins video…. No videos would have worked for me, I didnt watch them anyway. Like I said, I could care less what a bunch of goons think about sidney crosby. I just find it ridiculous that it even gets posted here.
.
I commented about the jerks during Eddy’s moment of silence yesterday and JD does as well below. Truly embarrassing behavior. When I got home and watched the game again on PVR, you couldn’t hear either those outbursts or the occasional faint boos during the US anthem.
Every arena in the league is bound to have a handful of drunken idiots in the crowd on any given night…
I heard it. I felt ashamed.
I was disappointed as well. As Boone noted earlier in the year – its like the moment of silence is an invitation to the stupidest morons in the building to identify themselves.
SO i am curious say everyone is healthy after Christmas Ak White Return up front and Campoli, Markov, Spacek and Gill no others injuries what happens to out roster forward and defensive lines?
Tweaking ™
Randy for HC!
Have you heard White will be playing after Christmas? Anything I read still says “indefinite”
I am as stoked about a White-Nokelainen-Moen 4th as I am about the return of Markov. All 3 can take play,face-offs and forecheck like animals. Two prairie guys and a Finn…talk about character.
If indeed we have all those healthy bodies at once, it will be like Miracle on 34th Street. I will be happy for our team to have that problem.
Price named 1st star… probably the first time in his career where he doesn’t deserve all the credit.
Oh really? So If a player scores10 goals in a week but all of the goals were on wide open nets he doesn’t deserve 1st star?
“If you’re not the TOP DAWG, the view never changes”
I think he means that this past week, Price got a lot of support from his team, and didn’t have to be a superstar to pull off the wins.
Mike Boone: “With Gainey at my side, I’d walk into any dark alley in the world.”
Leave Gretzky out of this.
It depends…if the net is wide open because he deked the goalie out, then it counts.
If the net is wide open because the goalie is on the bench, then I can’t give the player credit.
Okay, so here it is:
I now love Scott Gomez.
Hurley’s on Saturday night after the game was my Room 101.
Not being able to attend the charity raffle on Saturday, I entrusted (some might have said foolishly, including HiB himself, who actually said it) my raffle tix to HabinBurlington and his lovely wife. In the post-game celebrations at said Irish pub, I was presented with my prize by a grinning platoon of the flushed-with-victory-and-alcohol-but-mostly-victory-but-mostly-alcohol Commentariat.
That’s right, an autographed away jersey, sporting Gomez and 91 on the back, generously donated by Saku’sEvilTwin (Paul), who tried to get it back off me.
This to the guy (me) who spent the game missing all Gomer’s good work and fuming over his mistakes. I admit, I had the filter lenses on, but those are NO LONGER.
The way I figger it; the only way I can ever have the opportunity to wear that jersey on the outdoor rink with a modicum of pride and save it from being stashed in the bottom of a closet is if Scott of the Arctic starts to play well. And as a result, I am determined to be his number one cheerleader/brainwasher.
Here’s to the Habs’ real #1 Center!!
—Hope Springs Eternal—
give Gomez a raise!
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Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.
– Augustine of Hippo
you had quite the pimp swagger with it on…
Haha!
Yeah, just like the man himself.
Great meeting you on Sat, dude. Shame we couldn’t chat more.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
totally and back atcha
theres always next time bro
Test? The Habs have beaten the Bruins in back to back games so far. Well almost back to back.
“If you’re not the TOP DAWG, the view never changes”
They weren’t doing so well when we beat them.
Now they are, and now’s the test.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
We weren’t doing well when we beat them either.
Maybe la Colon will be in the press box to watch his boy and see PK splatter him like Marchand.
So is this the night when Chara and Lucic run into each other, giving themselves well-earned career-ending injuries? One can only hope that will come to pass, and the sooner the better.
Otherwise, a lop-sided Habs win would be very nice.
We need to skate circles around them, score early and often and ignore the goon squad, kill them on the PP. I know this is unpopular with those who want bleeding Bruins all over the ice but it is the way this team is going to win.
Go Habs!
I’m as happy for Carey Price as anybody here after his second straight First Star of the Week from the NHL. After a sluggish start to the season, he’s been great and is cementing his status as one of the top-5 goalies in the league.
But was Carey Price REALLY the first star of the NHL last week? I don’t even think he was the first star on the Habs. He had back-to-back shutouts, but in neither game was he particularly a difference maker because the team in front of him was so dominant.
This is one of those all-too-frequent cases where the 3-stars have become based on stats instead of on-ice performance. Tomas Plekanec had 6 points in 4 games last week and was, in my estimation, the most important Hab. Erik Cole had 6 points in 4 games and has helped invigorate the Habs ailing power play; he was skating well all week and was dictating the play while on the ice. Josh Gorges led an inexperienced defence corps that surrendered 42 shots combined in Price’s two victories (74 shots in 3 games overall), with very few being particularly threatening. Gorges even blocked 13 shots along the way, or about 1/3 as many shots as Price stopped per 60 minutes last week.
This isn’t intended as a swipe at Price, who has clearly stolen points for the Habs this season, but more my perception of an over-emphasis on goaltender performance in recent years.
I didn’t agree with him being a star on Saturday, but what can you do? When the fans vote, it’ll pretty much always be the same few players.
Although I agree with you about the fan voting for the three stars being a joke, the NHL stars aren’t a fan vote.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
I know what you are saying, the team played great in front of him… but, it is hard not to give a star to a goalie who posts a shut out (albeit an easier one)
Isn’t it mandatory in Montreal that the first star go to the goalie if there is a shutout? I thought I heard that a shutout was an automatic 1st star, as was an overtime winning goal. But then I saw that Price was only the 3rd star against Carolina.
thats neeeever been the rule (auto 1st star for shutout)
Thanks…I thought I heard that last season when they moved to the fan voting in Montreal and was a bit puzzled. Haven’t been to the Bell Centre in far too long…once this infernal thesis is done, that is high on the checklist.
Yep, those were both Magic Baby Day presents from the team. Time for him to reciprocate tonight (and more often).
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Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
Price has stolen many points for the team. I’ll be very happy if he can steal some tonight from the Bruins, but even happier if he doesn’t have to.
I love it when he gets a shutout (or even a win) and doesn’t HAVE to be a star to get it.
Time’s up, JM must go!
That’s the sign that you’ve got a good team with everybody buying in.
The Islanders game shows that there are the odd hiccups.
Cole has been the habs best player for weeks now. The guy is a beast
Agreed.
Like the Hamrlik deal, part of me worries about how Cole will look in 4 years time. But Hamrlik played well throughout his entire contract, so I can only hope that Cole does the same.
I’ve absolutely loved watching Cole this season. Like many others, I’ve been very surprised by just how fast he is.
I wouldn’t worry too much. Reality is if need be this team could easily dump Cole, Cammy or Gionta if they weren’t producing. Teams would take a chance on them coming back.
It’s guys like Gomez we’re stuck with
Amen. What wheels.
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Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
The same argument can be made any time a goaltender played well. “Was it really him playing well, or just a product of the team?” Hell, Martin Brodeur’s entire HHOF career can be called into question using this logic.
Price faced 44 scoring chances in 3 games this week to go with his 74 shots against. 14.7/game. That’s actually about average so far this year for the Habs. So while it can’t be said that he had a remarkably difficult week, he excelled in an average week.
Of course it’s not a swipe at Carey, but these NHL weekly stars are always a bunch of BS. That said, this argument only ever gets brought up with goaltenders. If a player floats like crazy and manages to score 5 goals on 5 shots in 3 games, he could be a star of the week despite playing horrible, but no one will question it.
______________________________
Seriousfan09 has started a Movember team named McPhee’s Irregulars. Donate to him, or me or the team to raise money for a great cause!
http://mobro.co/AndrewBerkshire
Actually, people question point totals all the time (Grabovski? Sergei Kostitsyn?), so it isn’t just the goaltenders. Give us some credit here. For example, I also saw that Marc-Edouard Vlasic picked up an NHL star for his 1 goal and 6 assist performance, but I also have a had time buying that he created much. I’ll leave it to Sharks fans to debate that one.
Regarding Price, 44 scoring chances on 3 games just demonstrates how ludicrous that statistic is. For those who don’t know, ANY shot, regardless of how hard, from inside a prescribed zone of ice is designated as a scoring chance by the folks that are keeping track of that. This is a huge problem with that statistic…it is an attempt to objectively quantify something that is inherently subjective.
I could take a slapshot on Carey Price from between the hashmarks and can absolutely assure you that unless Price has a complete brain fart, it will not be a scoring chance. That is how bad my shot is with two herniated discs in my back. I make Scott Gomez look good. But under the current definition that people are using, it would be a scoring chance. Meanwhile, a one-timer by Yannick Weber or P.K. Subban off a cross-ice feed on a PP from above the circle is NOT a scoring chance unless it goes in the net. That is a massive flaw in the scoring chance statistic that you cite, and the primary reason why I don’t put much faith in it.
Watching the games last week, there is no way in this world that Carey Price faced 42 possible goals. Not buying it even one iota. He was very good in the Buffalo game (except the shootout, but that is a crapshoot) and basically could have written his memoirs during the Carolina and Rangers games.
Therein lies the problem, you’re projecting your own subjective view of the game onto an objective matter.
And if Weber or Subban get off a one timer from the top of the circle it’ll be a scoring chance.
What you’re asking for in regards to scoring chances is something that would have absolutely no value. As soon a a recorded stat becomes subjective, it’s useless. That’s why giveaways are such a terrible stat in the NHL.
And like you said, your shot makes Gomez look good, so your own point is completely irrelevant. If your shot is that bad, what’s the point of bringing it up? Every shooter in the NHL has a better shot, so the odds of them having a scoring chance from the situation you described is much better.
You’re also committing the exact error that you get annoyed with other people for, you’re dismissing what other people have objectively recorded because it doesn’t fit your narrative.
As for Grabovski and Sergei, let’s do each other a favour and ignore the 10% of people who will always make excuses no matter what.
______________________________
Seriousfan09 has started a Movember team named McPhee’s Irregulars. Donate to him, or me or the team to raise money for a great cause!
http://mobro.co/AndrewBerkshire
Regarding the top of the circle example, it wouldn’t be labelled a scoring chance by Olivier at “En Attendant les Nordiques” if he uses the picture he showed in an interview over at Lions in Winter this past summer.
It is an interesting argument you used here…you accused me of projecting my own subjective view of the game onto an objective stat but don’t acknowledge the inherent subjectivity of the scoring chance statistic in its present form. Somebody (or in this case, a group of interested fans) have arbitrarily determined that a shot on goal (an objective stat) is not a scoring chance unless it is taken from within an arbitrary area of the offensive zone. You don’t see that as subjective?
I understood their rationale…they based it on the speed of an average shot and the reaction time of the average human. That is all well and dandy, but the reality is that with a guy hooking you, you don’t always (or, in reality, very often) get off a shot as powerful as the average shot in the “dirty areas” of the ice. In fact, those shots are often about as powerful as my slapshot in that they dribble in towards the goalie. Hence why I brought up my pitiful slapshot. In Olivier’s case, he gives himself some subjective leeway and eliminates shots that wouldn’t trouble the goaltender. That is patently absurd and essentially negates the idea that the shot was a “scoring chance”. And what are the criteria? You’re knocking me for my subjectivity, but cite a statistic collected by one individual whose subjectivity is beyond reproach?
After your article on advanced statistics, I’m assuming you have read up on how that statistic was calculated, so I’m not really sure how you are able to tell me it is not a subjective stat with a straight face. It has nothing to do with whether it “fit my narrative”…it has everything to do with the idea that it doesn’t fit reality. I watched those games this week, and you did too. And, without the benefit of statistics, I don’t think either of us would try to argue that Price had anything approaching his average workload this week. So once again, if the statistics tell us something different than our eyes, which are we to believe? The reality of our eyes, or the narrative of the numbers? Especially when those numbers are so clearly inherently flawed in their definition.
I’ve always enjoyed the statistics side of the game. But some of those statistics are inherently flawed. Your example of giveaways/takeaways is a good one…it is subjective and, as evidenced by the huge variability across the league, inconsistently applied. But the scoring chance statistic as it is currently being calculated is equally flawed and therefore dubious. I rarely discuss the giveaway/takeaway statistic and have campaigned about the silliness of that statistic for a very long time on this site. I happen to believe the scoring chance statistic is questionable as well…it is certainly better than the other two, but it is still horrifically flawed in my estimation.
Sorry for the late reply…been working on my thesis. Dealing with some statistics, as it turns out.
Stranger things have happened, but I agree with all of this. Good post.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Lucic and that moronic grin …..
Marchand and his Linseman like obnoxious post whistle B.S. ….
We need an enforcer Pierre, maintenant !!! It’s wrong when your toughest, strongest and most fearless player is your goalie.
Oh, Knuckes , Fergie, Big Bird where art thou ?
I respect the fact our Habs have speed, finesse, style and grace, but
I want our opposition to respect these and our toughness, too !!
If you can’t beat’em in the alley … well, you know .
GO HABS !!!
Bruins have to know that they’ve been teflon for about a year now with the brass. They’ve been playing inspired hockey in November and like the Rangers, they are about to face a true test in a hostile environment. They will tread lightly and if we can win the faceoff battle, we will prevail. Go Habs. Pretty stoked for this one!
OOH AAH – HABS ON THE WARPATH!
I opened up HIO and thought it was one of those gag sites, where you follow a maze and then when you make a mistake a horrible picture pops up, you know, the ones that make the kids cry!
Time’s up, JM must go!
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Bylsma-talks-Sidney-Crosby-8217-s-ice-time-get?urn=nhl-wp17880
Here’s a pretty neat article about Crosby’s return. Bylsma sounds like a pretty awesome coach. He seems like he’s really got the pulse of his team and actually seems concerned for Crosby beyond the normal coach-player relationship. I like the teams like this and the Habs that seem to have a good locker room. Who knows, maybe Jaques Martin has some good inside jokes with his players (probably not).
Just got back from vacation and checked out the highlights of the Habs/Rags game on saturday. Looked like a fun game to watch, Carey is on a roll and really asserting himself as one of the top goalies in the NHL. Looking forward to watching the Habs beat the Bruins tonight on the scoreboard, where it counts.
On to tonight’s game.
The Bruins are back to their old tricks, fighting, shooting their mouths off and new to this year’s game plan, running star goaltenders.
So we all know there is no way Moen is going to beat up Chara at center ice or that there is any possibility of us winning the physical end of the contest or coming out on top of the after the whistle activities.
So along with the Habs, I’m going to swallow my pride and accept the fact that we’re better off putting or heads down and concentrating on the next shift, if the Bruins are going to try and turn the tide by taunting and intimidating us.
That doesn’t mean that i can’t be angry at Gauthier for not addressing our need to get tougher over the summer but to blame the coach or the players is stupid.
Good luck tonight and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that on our way to victory we don’t suffer any serious injuries or beat downs along the way.
Moen (God bless ‘im) couldn’t even take on Thornton. Maybe hope for a draw or wrestling match with Gianni Girlchuk or McQuaid et al. There’s more than one way to get Chara off his game. Max showed that, Lapierre too. Death by a thousand hacks. Taunts. Bumps. Pushes. Chara’s got a short fuse and has cost his teams when he loses it. Push him. Bug the hell out of him.
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Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
The Br00nz were eventually gonna figure it out and eventually they did; it’s not like Recchi and Ryder were the heart and soul of the team. Presumably, the Habs are in good shape after two solid shutouts bookendin’ the Long Island Iced Traves-Tea™, in particular given another week where the Habs will be playin’ 27 back-to-backers, includin’ matchups agains the Bobby Clobbers and Sidney Crosbys.
The wankers from Beantown have across-the-board scorin’, includin’ four guys with 20%+ shootin’ percentages, and a sophomore who is 12th overall in points and a solid 2nd in league +/-.
I’m not an NHL head coach – I just play one on the Intrawebz – but I’ll really stick my neck out there and modestly suggest Price may very possibly get the start. With so many guys on fire, all the Br00nz potentially need is the Rags’ Saturday night relative shot count. Big money game for big money goaltenders.
The Flyers game should be a real treat given it will be one of those cherished Friday afternoon bouts that just screams tradition. I’m assumin’ the NHL is accommodatin’ some schedulin’ conflict with a Philadelphia Union – Montreal Impact friendly ahead of the latter’s entry into the MLS.
And then there’s the return of a healthy Sidney Crosby on Saturday night. It says somethin’ when his prolonged absence was the basis for PM Harper’s very recent written comments openly slaggin’ the NHL’s leadership.
As expected, an exceptionally good time at the Summit®. Thanks again to Ian, a truly thoughtful and resourceful individual – and, frankly, visceral anti-thesis to the Bell Centre buffoons who can’t clam up for even a mere ten seconds to honour the passin’ of one of the good guys – who scheduled a full day that, once again, overshadowed the previous year’s solid effort. Thanks also to Shane for givin’ Ian a hand.
Lots of old faces, lots of new, great discussion, high-quality humour, and ridiculous raffle prizes – I walked away with a st00pidly generous gift after watchin’ some elderly gentleman, who I later confronted in a violently aggressive and hostile manner, snatch the game-worn Price jersey – and a great effin’ game. Even a few cute-as-a-button newborns undergoin’ some very important post-natal indoctrination were on hand.
At the end of the night, I opted for the Metro™ ride from Lucien-L’Allier to Cote-Vertu before grabbin’ a taxi. After takin’ the 45 escalators down into the lower mantle of the earth’s crust, and droppin’ off the oxygen tanks for some trapped Chilean miners, I walked along the platform, stoppin’ only to peer at an abandoned, shiny red box sittin’ on the bench.
It was partially mangled with the kind of mangle one only sees when the turnstiles come out ahead.
Turnstiles.
Upper body injury.
‘Nuf said.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Hahahaha…ouch.
Nice work J_D. That story’s to come.
…typing…a…challenge…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
got love the scheduler maker, Bruins have yet to play back to back games this season, sigh.
Thanks for the words JD, you are quite correct in your assessment of me.!!
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The Bruins will be headhunting tonight, we’ll have to keep our heads up. I predict 3-2 Habs. Cammy, Patches, and Weber.
4-2 (sorry Carey, I had to break your shut out streak just based on probability)
Cole and Subban is who I would bet on tonight for a goal….
I absolutely hate the Bruins with a passion. I live in a state where I am surrounded by their fans. Believe me when I say it’s a non-stop battle for me here everyday (especially at work). My CH flag which hangs over my cube wall draws daily critism and ridicule showing it’s achieving the original goal of being a thorn in their eyes
That said, I must reluctantly admit they do have a good team. And no matter how we feel about their methods, their record speaks for itself. They’re big, fast and skilled. Our beloved Habs have the speed and skill…just need some size now.
I have $10 riding on this game. Hoping my Habs will buy me lunch tomorrow.
Mediocre teams work at their best; teams seeking excellence strive to do better.
haha i get crap from school to dad
I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”
Muhammad Ali
A third shutout for Carey tonight???
Personally, I am curious to see if Max Pac plays his game tonight. Last time, he seemed a little out of it (almost invisible the last time they played the bruins).
Yah, not sure any of us can identify with him what it is like to share the ice with Chara again.
Would be great to watch Max fill the net tonight.
We have our good luck charm at the game in Shane. Problem is if team keeps winning with him in Montreal, we are going to have to put the collection plate around in order to fund this guy while he stays there.
We’re going to get our butts kicked by a bigger and stronger team.
Hate to be a Weber, Gionta, Plekanec, Gomez or Camallerri to name a few who face these goons tonight.
“We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets “
just like we got our butts kicked the last time we played them.
Right. When we play smart and skate hard we beat them most of the time but it´s not something the negative clowns want to talk about.
@Stubbs: Well done. It´s probably the most disgusting picture you could get, right?
Go home and don’t come back.
Seriously, why do you have to be so gloomy? They have played pretty reasonable hockey all year and even beat the big bad bruins this year.
The more Boston tries to pound these guys, the worse they make Boston look (usually, anyway). I say bring it!
Reminds me of the 2001 (???) playoffs, when the #1 boston bruins decided that they were going to squash the Habs on opening night of the playoffs. The end result was they had their asses handed to them by tiny little Habs. Different players now, but the result will be similar.
Until the Bruins pound us out of back to back games (and not close games, I mean like destroy us), I will not listen to any of the dwarfists here.
you are aware this is going to be the third time they play each other this season right?
Why would he want to be aware of that?
you lost me at w
You are a peice of work Mikey.
“If you’re not the TOP DAWG, the view never changes”
That is an awful picture to look at. Man is that guy ugly.
With Marchand on the team, they must break mirrors everywhere they go. The Boston Bruins: putting the Fugly back into pro sports!
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
and Lucic isn’t helpin’
Time’s up, JM must go!
Not to mention Jaba Julien.
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
Go Habs. Bruins suck. May the fastest skating team win!
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Listen to the Smart Dog. He knows his poop!
May Chara be broken.
Go for his wrists ankles and back of his legs. Chop chop tap hack hook spear. He’ll lose it. Like a gorilla sitting on an anthill.
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Little giants: Henri Richard, Mats Naslund, Yvan Cournoyer, Aurel Joliat, Howie Morenz, Guy Carbonneau, Newsy Lalonde.
penalty, penalty, penalty, penalty and penalty
good plan tony
The only thing that can make this hated rivalry more exciting is if Chris Lee and Tim Peel call the game.