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 19-8-3 record into a game against the Boston Bruins on Dec. 12, 1992 at the Forum. Below is Red Fisher’s story from that game:
Sniper Skrudland propels Habs
CANADIENS 5
BRUINS 1
RED FISHER
THE GAZETTE
Mathieu Schneider turns off the steady drone of dialogue taking place to his immediate right, because that’s where Brian Skrudland sits, breathes in deeply and says:
“He brings the best work ethic to a game I’ve ever seen. Whether he’s playing good or badly, he’s working. He’s going to the net, and that’s where the goals are.”
Mons. Schneider, who’s dashing head-long toward a berth in the All- Star Game and, perhaps, on one of the two official all-star teams at season’s end, was talking about Mighty Mouth, of course. Brian Skrudland, that is, whose first two goals of the season played an integral role in the Canadiens’ fairly easy 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins.
“He’s not the best shot,” said Schneider.
“He’s a centreman, but he’s not the best playmaker.
“He’s not the best stickhandler …”
So?
“He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen,” said Schneider.
Ah yes, Skrudland’s favorite four-letter word. Work was what most of the Canadiens were all about while they were giving up the game’s first goal to Dave Poulin early in the second, and then got goals from Vincent Damphousse, Skrudland, Sean Hill and Kevin Haller in the second, and Skrudland’s second late in the third.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever played with,” said Schneider who, more and more, is undertaking the challenge of leadership. “He gets everyone excited. He’s upbeat. He brings a certain element to this team that might be missing if he weren’t around.”
Did last night’s skirmish look and sound familiar? Remember the last time these teams met at the Forum?
They scuffled through a tight first period, whereupon the Bruins exploded for three in the first few minutes of the second. After that, help! The Canadiens scored five in the second and another in the third without a reply from Boston.
So here they are, going through yet another tight-collar first period. And yes, there are the Bruins getting the game’s first goal from Poulin fewer than two minutes into the second period. These things happen, but is Poulin supposed to be left alone in front of Patrick Roy?
No sweat. A little more than four minutes later, Damphousse batted a Kirk Muller rebound beyond Andy Moog, and for a little while, at least, life was worth living, after all. All the more so when Skrudland, playing in only his third game after missing 27 with a shredded knee, scored his first of the season from a hair outside Andy Moog’s crease.
The goal came a little more than three minutes after Damphousse had scored his 10th goal in his last eight games, and his fourth in his last two. It was, for Skrudland, what players like to call lifting a piano or a monkey and/or a gorilla off their backs. In other words, it’s been a long time between goals for the centreman.
Then, of course, there’s the matter of the power-play goals scored by the firm of Hill and Haller. This was Hill’s fourth game since returning from a season-long abdominal muscle injury. The table was set for him when Glen Featherstone was despatched for beating Gilbert Dionne like a drum in a brief one-sided fight late in the second period.
In truth, Dionne started it with a cross-check across Featherstone’s ample acreage – a tactic which escaped referee Andy van Hellemond’s attention. Featherstone, however, got the message. In a matter of seconds, he sent Dionne to the icy canvas, whereupon the Boston behemoth was waved out of the game by van Hellemond. Worse, he was provided with a major penalty to go along with the minors both players received.
So now it’s Hill beating Moog with a shot from the blue line, and Haller adding another power-play goal 23 seconds later. Bye, Bruins.
The easy thing would be to say that the major penalty to Featherstone tilted the game toward the Canadiens. The reality is that even though they relinquished the first goal, they were largely in control.
Clearly, home was a comfort for many of the Canadiens who returned form a road trip with only three points in four games. It could have been far worse, of course, when it’s considered that they had to rally from a 2-5 deficit with fewer than 10 minutes remaining against the Los Angeles Kings – with Damphousse scoring a pure hat- trick in seven minutes and nine seconds.
Teams build on these things, of course. The Canadiens surely did last night, because they appeared to raise their game a couple of levels after Poulin beat Patrick Roy only 1:36 into the second period.
Skrudland was the leader, as Schneider said. So here’s one more from the defenceman:
“Skrudland’s the type of guy who’s gonna talk it up in the room, and backs it up with his play on the ice. He’ll do anything for the team.”
Yeah, but does he like him?
(Photo by John Mahoney/The Gazette)
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Lyle’s view;
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/49039-Effects-of-a-new-CBA.html
Looks like Hudon has made the WJC TEAM. Excellent. Remember this guy was a late round draft. I rank him a better NHL prospect that LL OR Palushaj.
Hudon is still quite a ways off Leblanc when it comes to his NHL potential. At 5’10″ and 171 pounds, the kid is going to have to work incredibly hard to get to the strength he’s going to need to compete with professional hockey players instead of the 16-18 year olds that he is playing with right now.
Let’s see how he does when he get to the AHL in 2013-14 before we talk about his NHL prospects.
JohnLuTSNMtl – #NHL and #NHLPA met separately for roughly 6.5 hours today. The two sides were not in the same room at any time.
Bill Daly says #NHLPA is going to talk to mediator again tonight and details will be forwarded to NHL. No progress made, no conclusion.
Amnesty buy outs…be still my pounding heart!
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/nhl/amnesty-buyouts-emerge-as-important-issue-for-nhl-nhlpa-to-sort-out-183242212.html
Gomez is hold passage. He’s trying to get Kaberle’s suuport.
Heads up amigos.. PK on Sportsnet. Primetime Sports
RealKyper – #CBA meeting over. No progress. #NHL remains firm on “take it or leave it” last offer to #NHLPA.
Apparently not sure if there will be talks tomorrow or if not when?
Rich Chere @Ledger_NJDevils – Players leaving the meetings 1 min ago!
Update: followed shortly by the Fehrs and have gone into a separate meeting without NHL.
Bulldogs announce Palushaj out 4-6 weeks with shoulder injury, suffered in last nights game.
Another setback for him. Poor guy… can’t catch a break.
More time for the kids but ouch!
@BulldogsAHL forward Aaron Palushaj suffered shoulder injury in last night’s 1-0 win vs. Lake Erie Monsters, will be out 4-6 weeks.
Got me by a min Frank. I typed as you posted. My your quick lol.
Copy & paste wins every time
Hahahahahahahaha..
This blogger on why he doesn’t think the NHL will move;
http://montrealhockeytalk.com/blogs/making-sense-of-the-nhls-hill-to-die-on/
Part of the Canadian Junior team is losing 3-1 after one to the men playing on the University of Alberta team…..what a bunch of bums!………..:l……….
“I think I may have found a way for us to get Griffey and Bonds, and we really won’t have to give up much” -Costanza
That there was sarcasm my friends.
Malcolm Subban didn’t have the best first period as he let in 3 goals on 7 shots.
“I think I may have found a way for us to get Griffey and Bonds, and we really won’t have to give up much” -Costanza
Ok, I was away from my computer for like 20 minutes. What did I miss, what did I miss?!
Bettman farted at the meeting, but is still blaming Fehr for the smell. Otherwise, nothing.
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With those two in the same room, how would any other smell be noticed?
Timo is bored. Senator fans are paranoid. Most here drinking the players kool aid. Secret location no longer a secret. That about it guys?
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yep in Ottawa…and that is the place….the Sens fans are in quite a tizzy over it…
So what’s the word on Jordan Subban? I think he’s draft eligible this year. Any chance the Habs could get him in the second round?
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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”
“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien
They are building a new fancy ass bar down on the market…guess who owns it….
Oh the Toronto Maple Leafs of course. I assume we are talking about Ottawa. Real Sports bar, looks nice though/
“I think I may have found a way for us to get Griffey and Bonds, and we really won’t have to give up much” -Costanza
I visited an account with a manufacturer’s rep from Boston today.
He is a Bruins fan and doesn’t deny it.
“Did you know that we drafted a player related to one of your guys?”
“Yeah, Malcolm Subban.” I replied.
Yeah. I hear he’s pretty good.
Pretty good? He’s ranked #1 overall at the junior level and is a shoe-in as a starter for Team Canada.
Wow. I hear your D isn’t signed yet…. wouldn’t that be somethin’ if he came to play in Bawsten.
Keep dreaming, my friend, keep dreaming!
Did you leave him somewhere in a Canadian wilderness far far far away from everywhere?
Pretty close. The Metropolitan Boulevard in mid-afternoon chaos!
BTW why am I not surprised that you could drum up a bikini hockey link?
Pretty good….
I don’t know… why aren’t you?
Where is Gretzky’s daughter, that looks like a natural for her?
Just a note…Malcolm Subban is not the shoo-in to start for Team Canada as seems to be widely assumed.
The coaching staff have announced that the competition is actually wide open for the goaltending job.
Malcolm Subban, Belleville: 15-7-3-0, 2.17 GAA, 0.932 SV% (2nd GAA, T2nd SV%)
Jordan Binnington, Owen Sound: 17-6-1-2, 2.31 GAA, 0.930 SV% (5th GAA, T4th SV%)
Jake Paterson, Saginaw: 11-12-2-1, 3.49 GAA, 0.901 SV% (17th GAA, 18th SV%)
Laurent Brossoit, Edmonton: 12-4-2-3, 2.73 GAA, 0.901 SV% (11th GAA, T16th SV%)
I don’t see that Subban has any leg up on Binnington going into this. Binnington has been fantastic this season. I’m a little surprised that Paterson and Brossoit were given invites, because their numbers are really quite pedestrian when compared to those of some of the other top goalies in the country:
QMJHL
Etienne Marcoux, Blainville-Broisbriand – 12-3-0-1, 2.00 GAA, 0.919 SV% (1st in GAA, 1st in SV%)
Francois Brassard, Quebec – 17-7-0-1, 2.48 GAA, 0.913 SV% (2nd in GAA, 2nd in SV%)
Antoine Bibeau, PEI – 9-6-1-0, 2.75 GAA, 0.912 SV% (5th in GAA, 3rd in SV%)
I know that Marcoux and Brassard play for powerhouse teams, but Bibeau is actually doing quite well on a middle-of-the-pack team. Puzzling that nobody from the QMJHL got a look.
WHL
Tristan Jarry, Edmonton: 7-3-0-0, 1.62 GAA, 0.931 SV% (1st GAA, T2nd SV%)
Cole Cheveldave, Kamloops: 19-5-0-1, 2.15 GAA, 0.916 SV% (3rd GAA, T6th SV%)
Chris Driedger, Calgary: 16-5-1-2, 2.28 GAA, 0.922 SV% (4th GAA, 3rd SV%)
Jarry is young, but it does not do Brossoit any favours that he is getting obliterated by his teammate statistically. Cheveldave is having a great season for Kamloops, but they are a league powerhouse. Calgary is a first place team having a good season, but Driedger is a big part of that success.
I love laughing at Sens fans…they have such a complex…I don’t like the leafs either…but its sad and pathetic the way they obsess over them…they should worry about their own issues…
“Nick Kypreos@RealKyper
#NHLPA’s Ron Hainsey looks right at me in the lobby of the #CBA #NHL meeting and says “so much for the secret location” #kodakmoment”
When you can’t even hold a meeting in private, the lockout has gone on too long.
Of course Kypreos would tweet that. Amazed he got that swollen head of his into the location. I will forever remember the following:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf8csr_the-fight-central-nick-kypreos-punc_sport#.UMjuk-TAfk0
Oooooooooh, he got knocked the (BLEEP) out!
Nice link.
How sensitive are Senators fans? Evidently this store in the Ottawa area was not allowed to show Leaf merchandise.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/senators-fans-force-sports-retailer-remove-toronto-maple-192231789–nhl.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
The Sounds of Silence…
Is no news good news?
What the PA and NHL forgot was that by meeting in a double secret location, there is no cell service there either. For all we know an all out brawl has taken place but no one can get the word out.
I hope someone remembered to bring them sandwiches and water.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Maybe I’m being overly cynical but having no owners involved in this session smells bad. Is it possible that Daly and Bettman get the players to show their hand and take it to the owners only to return with a resounding NO. Kind of like what Fehr did last week to the moderates.
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I see it more the other way around. Owners have now told Bettman exactly what can and can’t be negotiated. Bettman is in there with firm marching orders.
OK but wouldn’t that signal more of a “we’re not moving from that last offer” or even worse? Either way it might inhibit any real negotiation on the owner’s part.
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And how would that change from what they’ve accomplished so far, Jim? They haven’t really moved, have they? Except from N.Y. to T.O. to N.Y. to T.O. to an undisclosed location (and repeat….).
Not wanting to defend them but I do think they moved a bit with the make whole provision. BYW I heard they’re in NJ. Getting in my car now to check hotels.
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I hope they took your old clunker and not the Bentley.
Are you well insured? You know they’re lawyers, eh?
I don’t see the owners moving much off their last offer, unless they decrease the make-whole. The one thing that has to happen for this to end is the owners have to feel like they’ve gained something. The 5 year contracts, 10 year cba and no transition buyouts is that something right now.
I’m not saying it’s justified, but it is how it is. The owners hold virtually all the leverage in these talks so nothing gets done unless they’re satisfied.
That’s not what Fehr did. He looked at it and said, ‘This is really close’ and Bettman responded by taking everything that had been done off the table and started yelling No No No with his fingers in his ears.
Nope. He advised the players that by holding out longer there would another nickel in it for them. League thought they had a deal.
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So we are in the “They are getting closer, and hopeful to get a deal phase,”
Wake me up for the Bettman/Fehr mutual name calling phase. Thats the most entertaining. The insults will fly by Friday.
Go Habs Go!
Check out Top Shelf Prospects, my Team by Team prospect reports
http://lastwordonsports.com/
Ben, I think I’m with you. See my post above. Something smells fishy.
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Thus far, it’s the “no comment” phase. The “hopeful” crap usually begins as the sun goes down and the commentators are getting hungry.
I am with the cautiously pessimistic crowd.
That’s a very good description Cal.
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Is anyone else really really bored?
More tired with the dreaded northern winter blues ….150 days till spring……………
I hear ya. It’s been winter since late october. I am ready for the spring.
No way!
Got our first snow that stayed the other day.
Can’t wait to get out on the ice, and to get the x-country skis waxed and ready to go!
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Very! If football can have lingerie football why can’t hockey?
You mean like this?
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/09/24/bikini-hockey-league-could-cure-nhl-lockout-blues
Did I tell you Burly that I like the way you think?
Cheers Timo!
http://www.torontosun.com/2012/09/24/bikini-hockey-league-could-cure-nhl-lockout-blues
You’re welcome.
OH NO, I’m on the same wavelength as Timo
That’s the end of the road for you.
Your both of soundwave!
In case you missed it. Great read, well worth your time.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/opinion/2012/12/30-thoughts-nhl-players-could-turn-to-nba-lockout-fixer.html
The 3 nominees for the 2013 Order of Hockey in Canada are Dave King, Paul Henderson and Mark Messier.
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Jim apparantly all three are getting the award, as opposed to them being nominated, or perhaps they get nominated but automatically then get the award.
Since there won’t be a season I’d rather NHLPA dissolve and see NHL and players go to court. At least would provide for some entertainment.
Will they use Judge Judy?
I wouldn’t care if there was no season I just want this BS to end so we can all move on.
Watching a court case to settle this would be so painfully boring I couldn’t stand it.
We’ve got the juniors to keep us busy over the holidays and the Bulldogs on TVA/Sportsnet.
Once the Blue Jays are in Spring Training in March I could care less about hockey.
You’re probably right.
If baseball weren’t so dull to me I’d agree with you 100%. As is, I’m a good 75% in agreement. Is that enough for a new CBA?
http://calsnhllockout2012songparodies.weebly.com/
A disclaimer of interest.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=411412
Also an interesting disclaimer!
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Being a Hab fan is like buying real estate: only over the long-haul will you appreciate the true value of your investment.
Foist? NYUK NYUK NYUK!