Canadiens goaltender Carey Price makes a save against Thrashers’ Chris
Thorburn on Tuesday night. Scott Cunningham, NHLI via Getty Images
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Hits and About last night …
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PRE-GAME AUDIO: Jacques Martin | Jaro Spacek | Ben Maxwell
• At a Glance: The Canadiens finally found a way to defeat the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday night, a 3-1 win in Atlanta despite being outshot 41-23. Max Pacioretty scored his 12th goal of the season 13:22 into the game when his shot from the blue line went off the stick of at Atlanta player and eluded Chris Mason. Only 34 seconds into the second period, James Wisniewski scored a power-play goal when he flipped a puck beyong Mason from the goal line. At the time, it was only Montreal’s sixth shot of the game. After making 35 saves, Carey Price was finaly beaten 14:14 into the third period when Nik Antropov redirected a pass from Anthony Stewart, catching Price moving in the wrong direction. Canadiens captain Brian Gionta sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 44 seconds to play. Price finished with 40 saves, including 16 in the second period, for his 29th win of the season.
• Key Moments: Moments before Antropov’s goal, Pacioretty failed to score on a breakaway that would have give then Canadiens a 3-0 lead.
• What It Means: Montreal has won two straight games and improves to 34-24-7 for 75 points, good enough for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, 5 points ahead of the New York Rangers, who sit sixth and lost on Tuesday night.
• What’s Next: The Canadiens continue their road trip with a pair of games in the Sunshine State. They play the Panthers on Thursday and the Lightning on Saturday.
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I’ll probably see Kings live 2/3 more times this season and will report my own impressions (which are of course subjective) but what I hear around town. I will definitely be at next Kings/Dux game.
Disagree on Sergei. He doesn’t have the ability to find quiet areas on the ice or the shot to be a 40 goals scorer. Not even a 30 goal scorer in fact.
55-60 points for Sergei is not out of the question though.
Over/under pt total for Maxwell tonight (if he plays of course): 0.5
Call it.
It’s easy to make good trades when you are a seller every trade deadline selling to desperate buyers. When you finish as a lottery pick that many years in a row, your best players are kids under 20 making small salaries. You always have veterans someone wants at the deadline to make a playoff run.
I agree, except that Price’s record last year 13-20-5 sucked. That’s not average, that’s bad.
Habs Brendan Gallagher’s two latest goals in the WHL, the move he makes on the first goal is becoming his signature move.
http://bit.ly/eAtFnw
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
I think Thornton’s issue is he’s not mean enough, literally. Everything I always hear about Thornton is he’s one of the nicest guys in the NHL you’ll ever meet. I think he just can’t stoke his competitive fire hot enough to really lay it down when it matters and want to win badly enough. He has the talent to dictate a game will be played if he enforces it, but he can’t seem to want to use it to just flat-out dominate like say Crosby.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
He’s playing against MTL, the team that drafted him and he’s a kid looking to score his 1st goal. Knowing how couteous MTL is towards players looking to get their 1st NHL goal I can’t see how Maxwell doesn’t score tonight.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Do you think Boston ruined Thornton by bringing him up so fast with so much pressure? Or is that just him?
I think it’s an important lesson. Look at young Price, young PK. PK seems to have the personality to handle it, but not everyone does and I think it’s a big consideration in how we bring up our young players — you’ll be able to comment on this very well as you’re evaluating them over time.
Not to broaden the question, I remember the Thornton situation in Boston very well and while of course we hate Boston I felt very bad for him.
I like what he brings to the table in the WHL, But look at what Locke did in the OHL for 2 years and where is he now?. I hope Gallagher proves me wrong.
Defence wins hockey games, the playoffs are proof of that.
And while offence also wins hockey games, Weber has one goal in 34 games and hasn’t registered a point in his last 8 games so its not like we’re losing alot of offence with him as a healthy scratch.
He is 14-2-1 in his last 17 starts with 3 shutouts and is averaging .932 in those games.
Pretty good numbers and 3.8 million for the current Stanley Cup winning goalie is not terrible in my mind.
His career average is the same as Halak’s and with his Cup ring, I think he is worth what Halak is worth.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Zero- zippo- nil-nada.
TURTLE POWER! COWABUNGA DUDE!
The path is quite simple, a top goalie, a stud defense man and a big center.
Did Tallon mean a top goalie like Carey Price, a stud defense man like PK Subban and big center like … okay Habs still need that one. …
LOL – leetle boy wow are you ever funny! you should be on saturday night live! or is that past your bedtime?
He’s another one who learned the game in a totally different era.
Wiz, Sopel and Mara make our D both bigger and tougher, we are playing a “price” centric game, so big Ds that can protect him make all the difference.
We have 3 lines that can score, its rare more than 1 line performs per game, but now that they don’t stress over all the trade bullcrap, maybe the players can concentrate on their game instead of the constant “rumors” wishfull “fans” get wet over.
Stablity is priceless. Last thing new owners want is upheaval and thats what they got…stable, not to flashy managers of a public trust. I would think Geoff Molson pitched this to secure investors. Alot of money changed hands.
that’s cause he played half the year with the NYI. he is even since arriving in Mtl.
montreal is the city with the highest taxes in the nhl, which means, players in montreal get inflated salaries, as they would get a higher NET pay elsewhere
chicago got some great picks, you need to be bottom and out of playoffs for a few years to get those great picks, only exception was pittsburgh.
habs never really tanked in last 10 years, we’re a middle of the pack team, which means, unless we luck out and get a star draft pick, we will take a SLOW and i mean SLOW road to contenders, and who cares? besides the holigans that winning in playoffs brings, does it really matter?
we won gold at olympics, a week later did anybody care?
you’re basically saying sex is all about the climax…
Will find out big Byfu… 6’5″ 265 lbs..
I’m gonna say he gets torched in the first period in a matchup against Benny and DD, -2 in a couple minutes played, benched for the final 40.
This is exactly the kind of game the Habs should win. But, they are not a .500 club on the road, so who knows?
Here’s hoping they come up with a solid effort and win going away.
Spacek back for playoff
I’ll be the first to take it back if I’m wrong, but Weber is way better than Mara in every way.
Looks like they will play Mara against certain teams and Weber against others.
Fine.
Also, hate to be negative because as Boone mentioned Sopel seems like a real good guy, but he can’t skate.
The game is played on ice, after all.
His skating last game was below par – especially when he had to go back in our zone to collect a loose puck and move his feet.
I should add that Sopel was Atlanta’s # 7 d-man when we acquired him, and Mara was almost never dressed in Anaheim.
Maybe that’s why pedneault felt there was still a need to be filled on the back end.
Maybe Sopel was tired or nervous. I hope so.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
For all the people who think Bob Gainey and now his protege are great GMs.
In 2005 Dale Tallon took over a Chicago franchise which was the joke of the NHL for decades. Five short years later the team he essentially was responsible for won the Stanley Cup. In his first year the team finished 14th in the 15 team Western Division. Five years!
In 2010 Dale Tallon took over the Florida Panthers. He promises to follow the road that was successful in Chicago, by gutting the team and starting from rock bottom. In an interview on a Toronto radio station he said the only way to rebuild is by hitting rock bottom and acquiring draft picks. He said that over the next two years he has 23 draft picks and intends to build with these assets. The path is quite simple, a top goalie, a stud defense man and a big center. Dale Tallon said once these cornerstones are in place you build momentum and hopefully in 3 to 4 years you are ready to add some high priced UFA’s to complete the puzzle.
I will be watching where Montreal is in 5 years as compared to Florida. Interestingly he said he was surprised Ottawa kept on to their high priced veterans as it doesn’t mesh with his views of a proper rebuild.
CBC radio
Alright.
1) Sopel: Yes he is tough but he has only started. We can only judge in a little while as he has not played enough yet to get a good read.
2) Mara: Yes he is tougher but he is a defensive liability. I rather have a guy like gorges that can play better D but not hit than have a guy that hits and not great at D.
3) Wiz: he is a good offensive guy. he only started hitting for the last 2 or 3 games. Other than that he was not a hitting machine or tough for that matter.
I really like The Wiz. he is an excellent pick up.
If I was the GM I would be signing him to the big contract he deserves.
knowing the habs.
they wait until July 1.
they will offer Wiz about 500,000 less than what he’s worth, and wacth him walk away.
sad but true.
Pierre – The Wiz is a very good hockey player.
He is still young, he is tough, he has great offensive instincts.
Sign him!!!
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
anyone remember the last game we played vs. Thrashers in ATL? We got punked all over the ice and lost 3-0 – since our lack of size was only marginally addressed since then (addition of White, Sopel and Mara) lets see what game ATL brings to the table. They got the bodies to make life miserable for our skilled guys.
point 1: we’re in a soft division, luckily, and with loser points it’s hard to completely bottom out as the talent is diluted overall. I’m not saying we have NO skill, i’m saying JM’s system doesn’t match the players we have. How do you explain all our dumb offensive and neutral zone penalties? Our guys can skate. They’re trying to execute some system and it’s not clicking, that’s my half-ass theory, got a better one?
point 2: Yes Kovy II was getting it going a bit, I saw him live here under Maclean and he was like a big dog that wants the ball, panting for it. He is an absolute dream on skates, I watched him really carefully every shift as I was interested and you can just see the smooth power and skill. He didn’t give off any moody Russian vibes at all, which was interesting, too (Markov doesn’t either).
I’ll tell you one thing, we are damn luck there’s not enough road for NJ to make the playoffs or it would be a whole new game (not sure when Parise is coming back).
Totally incorrect that Sopel was Atlanta’s 7th d-man. he had played all but two games, one of which was the day of the trade, a game for which he was pulled from the line-up because he had been traded.
Panthers make no money.. zip….. So the owners will have to dig deep into there own pockets and pay for the players that Tallon will either sign as UFA’S or bring up thru the system. The cap is going to increase further putting pressure on the owners. Peeps could care less about hockey down in Florida. i just came back from Florida.
You make it sound so easy to win a cup. Lose for 5 straight years, accumulate these high draft picks then you have all the young guns you need to go all the way. Just look at all the success LA, St Louis, NY Islanders, Colorado and Florida(I could go on) have all had employing that same strategy over the past decade. Oh wait…….
For all the genius that is Tallon, he also woefully mismanaged the cap, and the defending stanely cup champ hawks are barely 2 points into the playoffs today after trading away so many cup just to stay within the cap.
Why can’t we be like a Detroit/New Jersey (excluding this year.) perrenial Stanley cup contenders that draft right no matter what position they get and sign the players that fit into their system. I’d like to think thats the strategy Gauthier/Gainey are going with as we move forward.
I think you owe me some sort of fee for the use of my name
Antti Niemi getting 3.8 million a season for the next 4 years. He is not leading in any statistical categories in the NHL at the moment and he’s being outplayed by the rookie who took his job in CHI. Nothing like more financial mismanagement in the NHL giving players more than what they’re worth.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
The plan is easy! It is in the details and implementation that requires great management.
Why can’t we be Detroit or New Jersey? Again it requires great management.
The bottom line is that regardless of which plan ownership takes it requires sound management. Get the BEST management, scouting and coaching available. Without these ingredients no plan will ever be successful.
My argument has never been about which road Montreal takes but rather who is leading the charge. Montreal needs great management and deserves it.
stand corrected. he was not their 7th d-man.
he was their #5 d-man.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
lol sopes looks kind of like dolph lundgren’s goofier younger brother.
Well said Shawn! That is the strategy they are going for. To do that you can’t jeopardize the future every trade deadline, you have to be patient with players and WORK THE SYSTEM!! When we play the system we win (aka vs VAN) when we don’t we lose (aka vs TOR)
“Shutouts are really more of a team stat” – Carey Price
the wiz is -18…
he’s a good hockey player. the problem for us is his size. smaller guys can dominate in junior and do well in the A but it takes a special player to survive and do well in the NHL.
We have too many small guys right now and they dont fetch much on the trade market so they arent marketable.
The good news for Brendan is that in the next 2-3 years when he is maturing our small guys contracts will be falling off the books.
@mattmaniac
i was hoping for Yzerman when Gainey kind of retired. Not saying PG can’t do the job but i wanted something more.. a different look.
i like him too ed, but who does he play with and can the Habs afford the $4M+?
way i see it, we gotta go for,
Markov ($5.5M) – Gorges ($3M)
PK ($1.5M) – Gill ($2M)
Weber ($800K) – Spacek ($3.8M)
Sopel ($1.5M), Nash (two-way)
= $18.1M
If Spacek wasn’t signed, i could see it. And the Wiz doesn’t want to play 3rd string. Maybe he can play with PK (who’s increasingly effective defensive reponsibility may balance the Wiz’s antics in the d-zone), but do you really want to give up Gill? His leadership and PK prowress are pretty invaluable at $2M per…
a cup can do that, look at what it did for khabibulin.
Do you really think Dale Tallon, the guy who doesn’t know how to properly work a fax machine to send in RFA qualifying offers, is a great GM? Have a little more of that drink in your avatar.
Go Habs Go!
you give up Spacek, virtue.
I hope Spacek retires. He sucks!
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Islanders kind of suck, you know.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
ya, i like. HOW?
Actually, after a slow start, Niemi has been lights out for the Sharks in the last few months as they have moved steadily up the standings. Whether he will be good for the next 4 years I don’t know, but he is one of the best goalies in the league in the second half of the season, to the point where he is being mentioned as a potential Vezina finalist.
Also, Doug Wilson is probably one of the best GMs in the league.
Ditto!
Normally new ownership means bringing in his own management team. I was supremely disappointed when Geoff Molson chose to stay the old course.
The old management team did make a lot of money for Uncle George. Sadly that is what matters most.
Who knows maybe a requirement of securing the loan was to keep the old management in place?
clarification – i think Spac is overpaid and over the hill, but he most definitely does not suck. he has been a reliable workhorse for a battered and bruised d-corps for two seasons. just hasn’t lived up to his offensive billing. maybe getting back to the left side, and away from top match ups will help…
Niemi only became a goalie with a winning record this season because of a fantastic February stretch going 10-2, before that he was 11-13-3. He’s not going to win the Vezina based on one month’s hot streak anymore than Toews will win the Hart (and I really like Toews) for dragging his team back into the playoffs with 21 points in February.
Don’t know about Wilson, I question the judgement of anyone who thinks Joe Thornton should be a key piece in a team looking to win a Championship.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Corey Locke did some great things when he played with the Ottawa 67′S…. Let’s see where Gallagher ends up in the next 3 years.
Can’t blame Molson, XXX.
Habs went to the ECF last season.
That means Gauthier and Martin were successful, and the Habs made a ton (about $20 million) of playoff money.
GM’s and coaches do not get fired when their team is successful.
I’m no fan of todays management – as you know – but as long as the season is successful the habs will not make major changes.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
ok – maybe suck is a strong word.
Spacek is no where near as valauable to the Habs as a guy like The Wiz, and Spacek will make 3.8 million next year.
If we are tight on the cap, I would prefer to move Spacek and keep the Wiz.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
I agree.
Not to mention a goalie’s stats are most likely the most easily skewed pieces of data in the sport. A goalie can play pretty well and pay for it on the stat sheet from a few bad performances and a lack of support on the defensive side. There are quite a few goalies that are better than their stats suggest in the NHL, and if they had the benefit of playing with teams that were more solid they would rise up the ranking sheet quite a bit.
He is just what San Jose needed to finally get them over the hump.
Badly outplayed for 2 periods by the Leafs on Sunday but either came back strong or Leafs completely ran out of gas? Atlanta won the 2 previous meetings with the Habs, this game is huge for them. But no way are they as good or even close to the Habs on ability IF the Habs show up from the opening face-off on.
When did we get 3 lines that can score? We are in the mid-20′s in scoring out of 30 teams.
Did I miss something?
I AM A VATICAN MONK ASSASSIN.
MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!
Nice story, thank you. I imagine he emptied your fridge pretty well on the way
Mine has only been skating for 13 months and just had his first playoffs this weekend. After being in first place all year he had to take a loss, finishing 2nd.
He cried and cried, even though he scored 3 goals in the 2 playoff games. Detroit Red Wings were practicing (we play at Kings practice rink) after his game but he had no interest to watch.
He puts his team first and consoled their goalie (talk about being hung out to dry, you don’t want to be an 8 year old goalie).
I can already feel the time accelerating and so fast he will (hopefully) be as big and accomplished as your son (hopefully minus the scars and knee injury!)
I think how PG handles Wiz will give us an interesting clue as to his plans.
My take is we pretty much have to sign him within reason, 2/3 years max.
there are no assurances that Markov and Gorges will be 100%, Hammer, Spa, Mara and Gill can no longer do big minutes.
Hopefully Sopel will be good. Our future is PK and Weber, we have to back them up and have depth.
And god forbid more injuries are always a possibility.
You mean like Carey Price from last year? He was playing solid hockey, but it wasn’t reflected in his stats because the team in front of him took more nights off than with Halak.
My favorite Dale Tallon move is when he turned Natham Horton and Greg Campbell into a 1st (15th) and 2 3rd round picks.
Hmmmm. Although Spac is much more reliable in his own zone than the Wiz, I tend to agree with you. If PK could clean up the Wizzy messes, it’d be worth having his offensive upside. Problem is Spac is unmoveable, and, at over-35, his salary would still count as a cap hit even if he retired… We are kinda stuck with him.
I’m with you on that. It still remains to be seen whether Gauthier could be considered a part of a great management team.
With regards to yesterdays deadline, hard to say whether Gautier did the right thing by not making any trades. Of all the trades that happened the past month, seeing the price tag it took to get one of the impact players that were dealt we need was always too high for what we would have to have given up. This may not be our year, but we still have a solid nucleus(better than most teams), just need a couple more players to really round out and become stanley cup challengers.
Now if PG doesn’t put an offer out for Shea Weber this season, than FIRE HIM!
To bad they didn’t score as five man units that’s why we are in 6th place instead of 1st..Philly can score as five man units…..
You’re missing the inflection. 3 lines that CAN score not 3 lines that WILL score.
my son – who is a hockey player – and I were laughing out loud at how stupid the islanders are.
what did they possibly gain by giving up the Wiz before the trade deadline?
he could have fetched them quite a bit yesterday.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Atlanta is lower than us in the standings, therefore a loss tonight. Atleast that’s what it feels like.
I really don’t understand Gauthier’s position. I truely believe that he’s bought into JM’s hockey killing defensive strategy. what is the point of getting shutdown men into the line up when we can’t put one into the opposing team’s net? no disrespect to Sopel, but I want to see goal scorers and not shot blockers!
But I thought Montreal management was incapable of making a good trade. All joking aside, purely based on value the Wiz trade is easily one of the top three trades of this season. Boston traded two pieces in the Kaberle deal that had more value than Montreal’s entire package; also Montreal got an extra 20 games out of the Wiz.
The majority of that (almost all of it), was from his days with the Isles. He’s about an even +/- player with us.
- Honestly yours
I don’t think he meant long term replacement, just short term injury replacement.
I would however take Sopel over Hamrlik and Spacek…
Only his second game with the team. In due time I’m sure.
Well I guess he is being eased into the lineup, and he has to catch on the play style and system of the Habs.
Buttman’s ’ vision ’ for the NHL was on display last night in Atlanta.
The average hockey fan calls it ’ empty seats ‘ …
ALWAYS Habs – D Mex
For my money, Gorges is excellent and the habs should entertain long term plans for him.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Not that it was, but you could have the best ever game played and itd look like crap with that atmosphere in Atlanta. Its hard to watch.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
I thought in Sopel they were acquiring one of the NHL´s better defensive defensemen but I see that JM is playing him under 15 minutes a game. I thought he would be a decent replacement for Gorges, but he eats nowhere as many minutes. He seems to be more of a penalty kill specialist. Similar to Gill, but Gill still gets over 20 minutes a game. So that means he´s not even as good as Gill 5 on 5?
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I don’t think he meant long term replacement, just short term injury replacement.
I would however take Sopel over Hamrlik and Spacek…
So no one feels like we take A LOT of too many men on the ice penalties, isn’t that JM’s responsability… this isnt the 1st game we take 2 such penalties… i rarely see our opponents do that
SUCK IT
I recommend posters and ice-level seats, although any long correspondence can get expensive
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. Habs and Hockey.
Don Cherry would have a field day with this one hehehe
Just received alert via TSN TRADECENTER App on my iPhone that Columbus has made a trade with Minnesota. I thought the deadline was yesterday @ 3pm, did I miss something?
The sportsouth announcers are terrible. They are so biased they make the Canadian networks who worship the leafs look good
Habs where outplay tonight ,really suck after the no movement they could have shown more fire
Sopel and Mara
They hack so much they managed to lose a 3-0 series after gaining a 3-0 lead in game 7.
They are destined to fail, don’t worry.
The Price is Right
You bring up a good point MA.
One of the moral pillars of my hockey life is that Don Cherry cost the Bruins that Game 7 with the too many men on the ice penalty. So I’m afraid JM will have to bear the responsibility for our little problem. The very foundations of my hockey faith depend on it,
Price did all right, he almost pulled a Halak.
I actually thought he’s been pretty good since his return
sweet
haha very nice it’s just Cammy seems a bit depressed this year and i feel some your awesome letters would work for him dont cha think positive letters could help no ?
Habs win and not much chatter, Habs lose and the server overloads. Habs win it wasn’t pretty but take the 2 points and move on. Didn’t notice to much on Maxwell playing for the Thrashers. I kind of figured the Thrashers would do that when playing Montreal. Price won this game, Habs looked really sluggish out there. Young guys seens to be the ones with any energy on the team lately.
To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.
Now THAT was Habs hockey, Halakian Era style. Stay in your shell (how can you win 35 of 53 faceoffs and have the puck so little?) and ride your ‘tender.
Works like a charm.
17-2-3 leading after one period. 22-1-4 when leading after two periods. 4-17-1 trailing after one. 1-21-2 (holy shyte) when trailng after two.
Interestingly, however, the Habs have outshot their opponents 40 times (20-13-5) this year and been outshot 22 times (11-9-2).
And YES, we do lead the league in bench minors this year, with 12. Philly and Detroit have two apiece.
http://www.cafepress.ca/+bruins_suck_tshirt,290606904
hey whats up awesome people of earth
Is there some way we can write to the players ??
Buffalo will be higher than 8th. Probably 7th. With Carolina #8 and Rangers on the outside looking in.
They are both in the top 10 in each category but Vancouver is #1 in PP and #2 in PK
Going to fall asleep watching this one.
Everyone says we are not tough enough, put Bonneau, Schultz and Moen on the 4th line, Henry in Mara’s spot and we are as tough as anyone. Its not like our 4th line and Mara are doing anything special anyways
Yeah that was awful. They were appauled that atlanta got a coincidental minor for Plekanec’s interference penalty. You should be able to throw someone down who doesn’t have the puck any time without consequence…..
At least there’s ONE category where we lead the league.
Well said, but Carey did make a lot of big saves too
Too many men on the ice is not the coaches fault. He tells them who is up next it is their responsibility to take their man properly. Does JM push the players off the bench?
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
I was watching the Chicago Minnesota game last night and I’m sure I heard the announcer say Minnesota and Montreal are the only 2 teams top 10 in powerplay and penalty kill.
Don’t forget Mara. Big hit tonight…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Still found a way to win. Just shows that many shots at the net from crappy angles doesn’t always go in.
Instead of doing the wave tonight, they’re just going to shake hands with each other in the stands. It’s faster.
Yeah. Mara played because we needed size and grit in our line-up. He had a real solid hit in centre-ice that resulted in a Desharnais 1 on 1 with the goalie. Weber probably takes his spot against Florida.
Round 1 in the East, Buffalo over Philly
Round one in the West: Calgary over Van
Thanks guys.
I thought so too… surprised there were that many shots in the game… didn’t seem like it.
Bergie agrees with you about Gomez.
They’re speaking too fast for me on l’antichambre… .but they’re talking Gomez and Desharnais… Pouliot.
Can someone give highlights? Thanks!
Decent win from what I watched. A team on the outside looking in SHOULD always result in a win.
I’m still wondering why Montreal is the black sheep in the NHL. We are pushing for the playoffs without our TWO BEST DEFENSEMEN, and one being a top 5 d-man in the NHL and not even a honorable mention in the league press. Instead the Toronto Sports Network and the Canadian Bashing Club is fixated on the leafs and how they are pushing hard for the eighth spot but neglect to look at the statistics of the matter
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Eastern/Northeast/MapleLeafs.html
________________________________________________________________________________________________
“How would you like a job where when you made a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?” -Jacques Plante
Before we start in the Habs…we must give alot of credit to the Thrash. They were coming strong and they knew they need the win a little more than us. Kane is very fast and Buff is ruff and dirty but we played well enough to beat them!
Some great plays and some not so…but Lets just enjoy this, we didn’t beat a crappy team tonight. But we must improve!!! Go Habs Go!!
As DX would say…I got twoo wordss for yaaaaa……CAREY PRICEEE.
Thank you Carey!
Is it just me or is Weber a better d-man than Sopel? The guy can’t handle the puck if his life depended on it…
—————— Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
Thank you Carey!
Mother F’n Beantown hackers!!
all I can say is Thank You Carey
Kevin Mio: ” Carey Price was finaly beaten 14:14 into the third period when Nik Antropov redirected a pass from Anthony Stewart, catching Price moving in the wrong direction”
Kevin, U should have worded it ” Carey Price was finaly beaten 14:14 into the third period due to a give away by Sopel & a wide open Nik Antropov redirected a pass from Anthony Stewart, by Price who never had ha chance on”
I think you can make trades after the deadline but those players can’t play in the playoffs or something like that.
DD always find is wingers but not Gomee bears
Kane should have got the third stars ,agree on that
Sopel’s giveaway was brutal but he was otherwise solid on the PK and I like his grit back there. I prefer him and Mara to Spacek and Weber, especially against teams like the Flyers and Devils.
The Habs now have a D-corps that is not so easy to push around and they can keep the opposition forwards honest around their crease area. With Wiz, Subban, Gill and Hammer that’s a pretty robust crew if you ask me.
That Gary Bettman he is one hell of a leader anyone that can sell to the top businesmen in the NHL that hockey works in Phoneix and Atlanta has to be good . You have hockey mad Canadians city and your putting teams now there. I swear if someone gave Bettman the goose that lays the golden eggs that idoit would pluck it and cook it.
Besides on the PK/Defensive zone, anyone notice Cammalleri? It sucks that he can’t create room for himself. I wasn’t 100% focused on the game so maybe it’s just me.
i noticed they dont even use netting around the boards! what is that? i guess they figure the odds are no one will get hit.
There is no one in the seats, that is brutal. There was more people at the Edmonton Oil Kings(WHL) game last night.
Add M.Grier,PK Subban,W.Simmons and R.Emery in net and maybe they would sell out a game!
Ok. I’m sure some of us travel and go to NHL games in other cities if we’re there, just cause we like hockey. If each of us takes shots of the empty seats in these places and we figure a way to regularly post them we can create a “SHAME GARY” campaign (can you tell I work in advertising).
SHAME GARY! SHAME GARY! Can you imagine, it would be great — except he’s already shameless.
Gomez, Gionta and Pacioretty have been playing very well the last 5-10 games. Great line.
Amen to that, O excellently-avatar’d one. (The Habs are The Beatles of ice hockey….)
Blake Geoffrion eh? what if he were a Hab someday ?
His father Danny played a couple of games for the Habs, his grand-father Bernard was a Habs great, his great-grandfather (Bernard’s wife’s father) Howie Morenz another Habs great who will never be forgotten. He would become a 4th generation Hab if he ever played here in the future?
its nice to get a win when the team doesn’t really play there A game!!!!!!
lol! I love these. I’m not sure how you know this, or if you just make it up, but I think this should be included in the pre-game articles every game.
The Cat’s tale O’ the Tape: Habs are 8-7-1 on 2 days off and 6-4-2 on Tuesdays. Atlanta are 16-10-6 on 1 day off and 1-5-0 on Tuesdays.
[Disclaimer]: I’m a hockey fan. I care about the habs, but probably not as much as you.
Anyone enjoy how our top sniper and prized young offensive d-man don’t quite make it onto the top pp unit anymore so that Gomez can get his time. He certainly has earned it!! I’m sure Cammy and Subban enjoy the 30 seconds they get at the end of the pp.
It’s time for the fans to get rid of gomez with the beezer treatment
LOL! Did you guys see RDS just now? Gionta would take Gomez’ shiftyness up the ice and Gomez would take….NOTHING! LOL I LOLLED SO HARD
Hmmmm. Who knew? Our D is actually starting to look “tough”. Mara, The Wiz, and Subban’s no slouch with the body. Gill, Hammer and Sopel are large lads who may not be agressive, but don’t get bounced around either. Did you see Gill toss whatshisface on the ice like a rag doll last game?
I like this new found depth on the backend. If Sopel turns out to be the penalty killing ace that revives our Gorges-less PK, then PG’s tinkering may turn out to be more significant than most currently believe it to be…
Agree. Our penalty kill has slipped badly without Gorges and often costs us a chance to win. If the addition of Sopel puts it back on track, the difference will be huge. We’ll be winning more games, and we’ll be a tougher team to beat in the playoffs. Add to that the fact that Cammalleri seems to be finding his scoring touch after a sup-par season, and Gauthier’s non-moves start to make sense. There was little or nothing he could have gotten at an affordable price that would have improved the team.
We are a better group than last year, going to make a noise in the play offs again.
This team will do fine. Probably finish in 5th spot. Gomez and AK46 will have a terrific final 20 games, Pleks, Gionta and Cammi will improve offensively, the D will shut down all opponents and Carey will be….well, Carey.
Looking forward to another trip to the Conference Finals (or better).
We’ll need a bit of a hot streak for our boys and a bit of a slump by the Caps to make it happen. With all the road games on our calendar I’m doubt that will happen.
I do, however, still hold out a small amount of hope that we can somehow catch the Bruins. The two games remaining against them will determine our overall position.
Go Habs Go!
We will make the playoffs. After that it really depends on who we draw first.
Can we press pause on all the Gomez-bashing for a day or two around here? Hasn’t everything that could possibly be said, been said, 2000 times, and in CAPS!?
I hope he turns it on and averages a point per game for the rest of the season just to spite the HIOers
don’t buy him out. Send him to the minors just like what was done to Redden.
Gomez is fast but he skates up with the puck goes to the outside and then makes a blind pass
Its sad when we have to look to our defense to score. What are we paying Gomez so much for then? The Molsons should consider buying him out if only to improve the team the way it is now. The only glaring weakness overall, besides being so small, is that Gomez is neither fast, nor incredibly skilled, the excuse for not having size.
I thought Weber was filling in admirably, not sure why he’s scratched. Not a move that will have a huge effect I guess, but still think he’s earned his keep.
I was hoping we would get rid of Weber, he is the only player on the habs that I can’t stand watching. He scares me more than Sourray did and much more than Bergeron. I much prefer Mara over him any day and hope that we choose to put Mara in over Weber in the playoffs.
Grabovski- please get a decent haircut!
Kind of like 93? Enough great teams were knocked out that we looked awesome
They Call Me Shane
Quite feasible to see a Boston (3) vs Habs (6) in the first round. Maybe the Rags knock off TB in the first round so the Phlyers get them in the 2nd, while the Habs take out the winner of Pens/Caps. Then the Rangers and off to the finals. Could happen.
Too bad they won’t play each other first. that would be the ideal situation for the habs, leave us to mop up the walking wounded.
“When I was a baby I wish my first word had been “QUOTE”, then right before I die I could say “UNQUOTE” – Stephen Wright
About not doing anything before the deadline:
We might have a chance as long as we don’t run into both the Flyers and Bruins in the playoffs. I believe we could possibly upset one of the two, with a bit of luck, but if we run into both of them…we’re dead.
Nothing really — like I said, just a hope. : )
There is no way the leafs win one game in the playoffs against Philly, let alone 3 or 4.
Just out of sheer curiousity, what makes you think that Ron Wilson’s bunch of misfit toys will be able to push the Flyers to seven?
Go Habs Go!
I believe Sanford was injured recently, which is why they made the move for an AHL goalie.
I am afraid that we may have seen the last of Auld. Sanford may just back up Price in the near future after acquiring a new tender for Hamilton.
A guy on covers.com who does a starting goalie thread is very reliable and he has Price and Mason both confirmed
Hopefully Price. Auld has been struggling. Not his fault when you play so rarely it is hard to be sharp. Auld needs a few more games to rest Carey
Gotta be Price, unless he still is under the weather.
Price or Auld in nets?
Well… Now they have a military government…
If the Egyptians can get rid of Mubaruk, the fans can get rid of gomez
Boston will finish behind Tampa in 3rd spot. Because they will win their division. They are 3 points behind and even in games. Do not think they will catch Tampa. We get Boston twice more.
No, I think Boston can be had by us, we may be black and blue. But if we stay out of the box we can take them. (speed speed) and Tampa will finish behind Philly in 2nd spot.
You don’t think Boston could finish above Tampa?
Shawn, I think it is fair to say that we will probably finish 6th in the conference, 2nd behind Boston in the division. So, you know what that means, Boston and Montreal 1st round.
oops I’d better run. I’m PVRing the game. Don’t want any reports.
There are 30 teams in this league.
Here is where we place this week, compared to last week.
As our goals against have increased, so has our place in the standings dropped from 9 place to 12th place this week, in the over all standings.
We have bolstered our defence up with acquisitions this week. That should help out this stat some next week.
Goals Against– 164. We are in 11th place. Last week we were in 10th place with 143 against.
Total Points—- 73. We are in 12th place. Last week we were in 9th place with 69 points.
Goal For——– 165. We are in 25th place. Last week we were in 28th place with 154 for.
i just hope that one day we will have a team that it does not matter who we play and who gets beat…part of me is sad that we have to have upsets and we have to avoid teams to have a chance…this is not what the montreal canadiens franchise should be
He has managed a winning record since coming here. He managed to make the ECF, beating the top 2 seeds
<sarcasm>It was all Halak and Muller is the real coach.</sarcasm>
Maybe so re a couple of teams being knocked out. But the Habs of 93 played some great hockey of their own!
Tonight we skate with them, Tonight is our night!
Thought I heard Price was still under the weather and wearing his toque.
Tonight we skate with them, Tonight is our night!
Hey all,
Any links to watch the game??? can’t find any
Habsonlinetv.com
Try this one :
http://www.atdhe.me/
ALWAYS Habs – D Mex
No I don’t mind, my last classes of english we’re quite long ago, and since then, I have only used it on the internet, and its not the best spot for grammar and ortography.
me to me to , I want him to lead the team , solidify a second wave of attack , make those around him better, we can build him we have the the technolgy to make him better than he ever was before….. THE EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR MAN …..lol THERE I am done …..Go habs go …………
Definitely is word whose root is the word “finite”, remember that and you will never have trouble spelling the word definitely. I know I probably sound like an ass but I used to have a hell of a time spelling definitely until I clued into the relationship to the word finite.
“When I was a baby I wish my first word had been “QUOTE”, then right before I die I could say “UNQUOTE” – Stephen Wright
Heck I have been on his case, but I would definately relent if he produces like he did last season near the end.
It’s true that it all has been said about Gomer, but it’s also true he has not elevated his game, or brought it back to his normal production. Point is I’d rather have him on the team and producing than sending him down to Hamilton or whatever else.
like i say, come playoffs he’ll be on the top pp
I sure hope so pal. I can see easing Cammy in but with Sopel here and on top PK pairing now Subban should be fine to have his PP time. I would just hate to see Martin ruin Subban’s offensive confidence by turning him into a shut down d-man. All the other top young D (Green,Weber,Doughty etc) rely on the top pp min to produce.
weird is right. , thought he was quite effective ……Webber was pulling his weight as well ……..who knows …
He was most likely moved because of a possible trade, but then that trade fizzled.
kind of weird that they send white down then call him up and he is in the line up. In my opinion he should be in the line up all the time. No offense to Pyatt he is great defensively but he isn’t physical and can’t score. White can add a little sand paper that is much needed.
You know I pretty much agree but if there were ever a team into whose head we could get into it’s the Bruins (and I guess now, Washington, but with B’s there’s all that tradition
).
If we can get things to go just a little bit wrong for them it could snowball…
Well it looks like we’ve got to play with the hand we’ve been dealt for the rest of the season and playoffs boys.
We’re not the best team but we’re not a bad team either. There are some holes for sure and we don’t match up well against the Flyers or Bruins, but at least we’re in the conversation.
As we all know, as long as you make the playoffs there’s always a chance. We’ll need some serious good fortune and be forced to survive many trips to the ER to beat the Flyers or Bruins in a seven game series. I think we can possibly pull off an upset and beat one of the two but facing both would be suicide.
We’ll need a whole lot of Carey Price, some lucky bounces and for every player to elevate their game. I feel Montreal can beat any other team is the Eastern Conference except the Bruins or Flyers in a 7 game series. Anything can happen so let’s hope the hockey gods or the Forum Ghosts are with us.
and its well founded optimism for this year and many to come, IMHO. may not be the glory years, but the Habs youth movement is one of the most under-reported phenomenon in the NHL right now.
Stanley Cup Champs 2011-12:
Cam-Pleks-Gio
AK-Eller-Max Pac
Poo-DD-UFA, trade upgrade, or Dawes
Moen-Gomez-White
Pyatt, Palushaj, Boyd, Avtsyn, Engqvist
…
Markov-Gorges
Subban-Gill
Weber-Spacek
Sopel, Nash
…
Carey TFS Price, ???
Thanks Shawn,
It is so much more fun for me to see this side of the equation in a sport and team that I have followed for 60 years.
I always love your optimism Ian. It is quite refreshing compared to some of the posts on here
Martin can’t manage anything
I know we all want to see pk on the top pp unit, but the problem is that he is logging a stupid amount of ice time as is. Martin is simply just managing his ice time so he is still fresh for playoffs.
Also cammi is still being eased in coming off injury. As we get closer, Cammi ice time will increase and it will be the key to the habs success!
Thank Price for this one! But a win is a win. Eller and Wiz looked good.
I don’t pretend to be an expert; just a die-hard Habs fan passing my opinion
A much needed 2 points against a team that was given several too many power play advantages from our bench. Price played extraordinary. The Wiz needs to be signed in the off season.
I also don’t mind our backend…it’s just upfront where some holes can be found. Either way come playoff time this team will be playing on piss and vinegar looking to try and shock the NHL.
I just saw how Brian Burke was complaining about the max.4 AHL call-ups rule after the deadline (you can see it on tsn.ca). With that, I still find the Ryan White situation funny, and let’s say they weren’t trading him… was it a contract issue ? He has 10 games played this year, which I think is the limit otherwise they must keep him in the NHL right ? Were they saving money ? and call-up wise I guess they’ve just wasted one right ?
we dont have an a game, were too banged and bruised and injured to barely scrape by the trashers. by the way they sure had alot of empty seats in atlanta last night, pull that team outta there and depoit them in quebec city or winnipeg.
Who are you…and what have you done with observer
That system worked for 2 rounds in the playoffs last year. And yesterday Price was as good or better than Halak in those playoffs. Sopel cost Price a well-deserved shutout last night.
Outshot 41-23, are you kidding me? Are we trying to overtake the Penguins for most penalized team in the league? This team needs to wake up quickly & cut down on their trips to the sin bin.
From a PR point of view, that would be freaking sweet. Reading Hockeysfuture info on him, seems like he’s got grit and goes for pucks in the dirty zones. Also a good skater apparently. Possesses hard shot AND likes going to the net !! And we all thought Latendresse would be our net driver.
Seems like a kind of 4th or 3rd liner that could be a good Hab addition. Never mind that his sweater would sell like hotcakes
We were outshot tonight but we what you don’t see on the score sheet is that we had a lot of cycling in their zone, and a lot of good chances (I can think of 3 breakaways off the top of my head that we didn’t capitalize on). Still room for improvement though.
I thought Pouliot had a pretty good game for the time he was on the ice. Gionta has not been great lately but Wiz is being pretty solid defensively I notice.
Blake Geoffrion #5 wearing his grandfather’s Boom-boom Geoffrion’s Habs #5 scored the first goal of his 3 game NHL career tonight for Nashville in a 2-1 SO loss to Edmonton.
?
They take food stamps for hockey games?