As we wait and hope for an end to the NHL lockout, Canadiens fans can relive the 1992-93 season – the last year the Habs won the Stanley Cup – at HIO as we post game stories from that season.
The Habs took a 23-14-3 record into a game against the Kings on Jan. 2, 1993 in Los Angeles. Below is Red Fisher’s story from that game:
Habs let one get away
CANADIENS 5
KINGS 5
RED FISHER
THE GAZETTE
LOS ANGELES – The Canadiens are one point out of the Adams Division’s summit – but have paid at least a small price to get there.
Their 5-5 struggle with a largely sad-looking Los Angeles Kings team last night is what lifted the Canadiens to within a point of the Quebec Nordiques, who fell to the Detroit Red Wings, 6-2. The price: a sore back for Denis Savard.
Savard had gone into the game with a goal and three assists in the Canadiens’ first three road games. He came out after the first period with what the medical staff is calling a bruised lower back. There was swelling in the area, as well.
He’ll need another examination today to determine whether or not he can show up for tomorrow’s game against the San Jose Sharks in Sacramento. Or, for that matter, in San Francisco against the Sharks on Tuesday.
If he can’t make it, Brian Skrudland – who wasn’t dressed last night – is eager to move back into the lineup.
Skrudland was replaced in the lineup by Mario Roberge, who scored the Canadiens’ second goal only 18 seconds after Kirk Muller had opened the scoring fewer than three minutes into the game.
Mike Donnelly scored the Los Angeles goal – late in the first period. That, though, was only the start of what eventually developed into a wild, error-filled game which the Canadiens led 2- 0, trailed 4-2, led 5-4 – and then gave up the tying goal in the final minute of regulation time.
Defenceman Rob Blake produced the tying goal, after scoring the Kings’ second goal, as well. Dave Taylor’s goal only 22 seconds after Blake’s, lifted the Kings into a 3-2 lead, and Darryl Sydor scored another in the third before the Canadiens gathered their legs beneath them for goals from John LeClair, Muller and Vincent Damphousse.
This one had a familiar ring to it … again.
It goes like this:
The Canadiens leap out of the starting blocks, score twice, miss several excellent opportunities to pad their lead – and then, pht-t- t!
Does this sound familiar as well?
Their two first-period goals were an outgrowth of seven shots – and they could have had four. They had the Kings in a position where they could have been reeled in early in the game – and fell short, coming out of the period with only a 2-1 lead.
The reason they could – and should – have had more was that Muller, who had deflected Mathieu Schneider’s shot for the Canadiens’ first goal fewer than three minutes into the game, also missed an open net a few minutes later. Earlier, Roberge’s goal had lifted the Canadiens into a 2-0 lead, the team was flying, the Kings weren’t – and well … there’s Damphousse banking a short shot off the post and Hrudey taking away a long shot from Eric Desjardins during a power play.
Were the Canadiens that good or the Kings that bad?
The Canadiens were better than they have been in recent games in the first period, horrid in the second and decent in the third.
The Kings were fortunate to get out of the first period trailing by only a goal, turned it up in the second when Patrick Roy turned it down – and hung on grimly to send the game into overtime after losing a 4-2 lead.
In other words, this wasn’t blockbuster entertainment – starting from the moment Benoit Brunet was tossed out of the game with a major for an accidental high-sticking. It was while he was out that Donnelly opened the scoring.
Put it this way: this one will have the coaches wide-awake listing blunders – on both sides. The goaltending was completely ordinary, but a reason for it could be that nearly everything taking place in front of both goaltenders was a case of blunder upon blunder.
NOTES – Others who didn’t make it to the lineup were defencemen Kevin Haller and Sean Hill.
(Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
Loading ...
This is too funny, had to share. For those of you not on twitter, Jay Onrait got Pierre Lebrun to snap a candid photo of Darren Dreger on the streets of NYC. Within 30 minutes, people had photo-shopped the shot into countless other pictures. This one was the best, imo: http://twitter.yfrog.com/nug6pdp
Canada wide trending #DregerFace
—
Go Habs Go!
Pic taken in NHL offices after they had come inside.
Yep, my bad.
For the heck of it I was looking into next year’s draft eligibles. Has anyone noticed this Federeick Gauthier kid playing his rookie year in Rimouski? 17 years old, 37 points in 33 games, centre, 6’05, 210 lbs! I want one. Slated to go somewhere around 30th overall but the Habs have 3 picks in the second round, could move up with change left over.
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
I did! I mentioned him a few times but none of the posters in Quebec commented on this kid. If Montreal drafts near the bottom of the 1st round, this guy could be our pick. Or as you suggest, deal a package including a 2nd rounder plus other assets to move up into the 1st round. Or if the team falters, deal off someone at the trade deadline to get a late 1st rounder.
Of course, rumours have it that most teams are making the playoffs so…..
Hell, they may have to move the draft into August once the Cup is finally won.
Given Bergevin’s track record already I’d say he is already high up on the list because of his last name alone. Bergevin likes big centers, as per his commentsafter drafting Galchenyuk, cuz they’re hard to come by and nobody wants to give them up in a trade. So I say why not have two……?
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
I like that he’s improving his skating which was a point of criticism before. Check out the first goal in this video. He still needs to improve his agility though, but that will come
http://hockeyprospect.com/video/2013-nhl-draft-video/23-frederik-gauthier-2-goals-vs-shawinigan-2012-10-07#23-frederik-gauthier-2-goals-vs-shawinigan-2012-10-07&Itemid=575
Since we’re talking about propescts we like, check out footage of JT Compher if you can, Little ball of hate, he’s awesome. Got the chance to see him play last year when I was in the States and he left a good impression. He’s very intense on the ice, great work ethic. Always in peoples faces. Central Scouting has him ranked number 1 USHL skater. I really really hope he’s there in the second round for one of our 3 picks.
cheers guys.
RDS have been following the kid extensively. But then, they do for most Q kids.
I watched bits and pieces of the inaugural game of the return of the Phoenix in Sherbrooke, and he and Alex Loiseau had the Sherbrooke players chasing them all night. And he was also impressive in his own end.
He’s a big centreman and IMO, he won’t last until the second round.
Let’s hope he isn’t. A Tinordi size guy at center would be legen…… wait for it….. dary.
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
The Bulldogs are down 5-0 to the Marlies at the end of 2nd period.
EDIT: 6-0 final. I think this is the 3rd game in a row being shut out.
EDIT: Ya this is the 3rd game in a row being shut out. Not good at all.
F!
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
The Bulldogs were bound to have a low season with all the rookies this year. They will come back next season with a fire in their bellies. I ‘m more disappointed that Leblanc hasn’t stepped it up and led the way.
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
I wonder if Leblanc is playing hurt. Those high ankle sprains are a bitch.
Their special teams are not getting it done. The PP and PK show the effect of a rookie laden team. There maybe some hope if the NHL gets going and some of the teams sporting NHL vets lose them and the Dogs are in a better playing field.
Still think the Habs should have take Chris Kreider or even Jordan Caron that year. But then again Gainey and Gauthier had the philosophy of always taking the smallest guy available.
Have you checked out Caron and Kreider’s numbers this year? Pretty disappointing seasons to date for them both.
PH – At the time, everyone on this site was ecstatic that Leblanc was still available for Montreal. It’s still too early to tell.
The three options at the time were Leblanc/Kreider/Josefson.
Our prospects are terrible. And fire Sylvain Lefevere already. Trade Louis Leblanc.
I’m not a fan of Lefebvre’s offence at all. There’s always two players going deep chasing the puck. Might as well play the whole game shorthanded.
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
Our prospects are good. Four of them were in the memorial cup last year. They’re boys against men right now.
@RAFord77
http://bleublancetrouge.ca/
Better they learn to lose while in the AHL. Builds character to know how to lose.
—
Go Habs Go!
Lets just hope it doesn’t create a losing mentality and then when they make the NHL (if any of them are good enough) they accept losing.
Not usually the lesson coaches teach in team sports (they tend to teach how to learn from losing), but yeah I agree. Lets hope that end result never happens… It would totally suck!
—
Go Habs Go!
One good thing about this lock out from a personal standpoint.
I’ve taken up bowling.
My last game, I bowled 167.
My 3 year old grandson just bowled 191.
This Wii game is a lot of fun.
Especially when you get your butt served on a platter by a smart-mouth little runt.
There seems to be confusion about the time of tomorrow’s game, I thought I heard on TSN-690 this morning that puck drop is 4AM..
I just checked TSNs website and pre-game is 3:30; the game is 4AM and the post-game show is 6:30…
Seems to be an earlier start than previous games…
Puck drop is indeed at 4am EST. The 3:30am time is for the TSN pre-game show. This game starts a bit earlier because it’s a semi-final, they want to be sure that people can watch both games.
Great! I will set the coffee pot for 3:45.
I wonder if the girlfriend will get up to make me breakfast?
If she does, marry her
and if you do marry her,i will give you some good advice. If she ever says to you “I’m going to give you a threesome which of my friends would you pick to have a threesome with”. Don’t ever give her 2 names.
Just clarification for tomorrow morning. The TSN pre game is at 3:30 am and puck drop is shortly after 4 am. It is not the same as previous games where puck drop was shortly after 4:30. Don’t want anyone to miss the 1st period. Go Canada Go. I’m nervous though, looks like team USA is gelling at the perfect time. Will be a great one.
Bulldogs vs Marlies right now. Not televised. Brutal. Can’t even find a Live Stream…
If another counter proposal by the NHL to the NHLPA will happen the same time the Canada vs U.S. game plays tomorrow at 4:30 am, I’ll totally LMFAO!!
Not hockey related but when I was a young lad,the first wallet I got had a picture of Patti Page in it. She passed away today so ,Rest in Peace Patti,”How much is that doggie in the window?”
Heard on the radio on the way home she sold 100 million records during her career. Incredible.
Happy New Year John.
Here’s hoping you develop a sense of humour in 2013.
Yeah for cripes sake cheer up, will ya?
———————————–
I am PVRing it. It will be 2 am here when the game starts. I think I’ll get up around 5 or so to watch it before kid gets up and I am forced to watch Toopy and Binou instead.
Should be a tough game.
Toopie and Binoo are fare more entertaining that a lot of the hockey that we had to endure last season.
___________________________________________________
Being a Hab fan is like buying real estate: only over the long-haul will you appreciate the true value of your investment.
Toopie and Binoo looks like all their episodes were made on april 20th at 4:20 pm.
Lots of coffee folks.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
This stuff rivals the Olympics for exciting edge of your seat hockey. It’s gonna be so lame watching the NHL again. If it wasn’t for our fresh talent on the way up I don’t think I’d bother.
That’s right Ian 4:00 am Montreal time. But 10:00 am for us here in Germany. It’s nice for us as we normally have 1:30 am starts when it comes from your side of the pond.
I once believed that this season was lost. Now I’m sure it will begin soon. I know this because I have tickets to see Belleville vs. Sarnia on Feb.2. So yeah, it’s pretty much a lock.
Haha, I remember when you posted that before, when you thought it may happen. You are to blame for this negotiation picking up speed! Sell your tix now, and Fehr and Bettman will have a complete hissy fit and start yelling to the media how bad the other side is again.
Yeah, I was joking when I mentioned it before. So we’re really getting up at 4 am for this thing? It was already looking like a long long day for me tomorrow. Fun game this morning though.
I figure in light of all the time I have saved not having had NHL hockey till now, getting up early tomorrow will be worth it. I can’t watch games when I know the result with anywhere near the same passion.
I am worried about the game tomorrow though. US will play well.
Got my Sting vs Frontenacs tickets for Feb 3,Super Bowl Sunday. Yee Ha!
Great hockey game tomorrow morning. I presume we play the early game at 4am, is that correct???
Yup we got the 430am game, expect to see your nimble fingers typing on HI/O tomorrow morning Ian!!
4 am eastern.
http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/schedule/
I don’t believe that 5% of Canadians were awake at 4:30 a.m. to watch junior hockey games. I could buy that 5% of Canadians have actually watched the games, but not at that time.
I know a lot of hockey fans, and most have simply PVR’ed the games or watch the replays the following day. I don’t know any friends who are actually waking up early, and most of my crowd are hockey mad (we’ve all purchased the package from TSN to watch the games).
Indeed.
The lockout helps, as we’re hockey starved, but those numbers are pretty amazing considering the time difference.
I’ll be curious to see if Junior hockey grows its following massively as a result of the past 6 months… as it is immune to shutdowns and lockouts.
Great point. Probably going to see a lot of groin issues when the games resume though. Good news for heads. Bad news for groins.
———————————–