• PREGAME AUDIO: Jacques Martin | Jaro Spacek
Jaroslav Halak will get the start tonight against the Toronto Maple
Leafs as the Canadiens attempt to wrap up a playoff spot in their final
regular-season game.
Coach Jacques Martin said he won’t make his final
lineup decisions until game time but it appears that Ben Maxwell will
again sit.
(Hockey Night In Canada’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Twitter that Mathieu Darche is in, Ryan O’Byrne said he’s in and it seemed that Sergei Kostitsyn would be a healthy scratch. But upon further review, Friedman said it seemed likely that it would be either Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre or Tom Pyatt who sits.)
The Canadiens need a win or an overtime loss to clinch
a playoff spot.
Loading ...
PG over BG was the nail into the Habs coffin tis season.
Geoff Molson may very well be a huge Habs fan. His first moves as the owner have hardly been auspicious. Making Pierre Boivin overall chief of hockey operations and allowing him to make PG the GM WITHOUT doing due diligence is beyond dumb.
Now we can call him shitrules. Hey shitrules, qu’est ce qui s’passe??
cuz… sh-t sqeeks through sometime!
Marty played at the olympics, traveled and has been playing 70+ games for years now! I’ve never heard anyone say anything about Marty being tired. If jaro is going to be a number 1, he’s going to have to strart getting the majority of the games right? SO maybe this is the beginning of that for Jaro. Marty had to start the same way, taking over for Burke, Billington and Chevrier. Jaro’s shots against him lately except for the islanders over 40 have been basically between 25 – 30 per night. I love you guys all think you know that a guy is wearing down! Quite comical! At 24 this guy hasn’t even begun to reach his high gears let alone be on the decline…..wake’em up. Jaro is the number 1 and JM and the team have to ride him, there is no other choice!
Shaker
lol that’s not the point. you go with your #1 when u have too just happnes to be halak this year.
yo Chris- you have an insider view of things – tell us why you still like sergei?
does he practice hard? cuz i’m not there?
is he good in the room?
does he make his linemates better?
give me something.
cuz the guy has 1 foot out the door – at least from my “outside looking in” perspective.
don’t be sorry – its your right to be pessimistic and negative
where i grew up “dudu” meant sh-t.
have been a fan since 1970′s
totally agree.
the team has 4 or 5 core guys that i like – coach is a dinosaur – GM should never have been given this job
i will cheer for them nevertheless – because they represent the Habs.
if they lose to Toronto – the coach will be fired this summer and given another job (3 years left on his contract)
gauthier??? depends on the molson’s
i could tell you something about Jeff Molson.
he came to speak at my daughter’s school after he took over the team.
when you hear him speak you can respect his passion for the game and for the habs.
the guy is a HUGE HABS FAN!! HARD CORE!!
jeff Molson will be a great owner – i’m sure of it.
i actually like the team we have, just not the coach
Agreed! if the goalie lets up, his players better step up… hopefully it won’t be left up to halak!
I hope Halak doesn’t have to stand on his head for us to get a win today. It’s the right call for him to be in, if we are going with him in the playoffs. However after 2 straight losses, it should be Price. I am happy it’s not though, if we lost tonight, Price would be stoned to death by a mob.
We better beat Toronto,and we better beat them badly. It doesnt hurt them to win, so they are going to come out hard in their last game of the season. Most of the forwards are playing for a spot on the team, and the defense are playing to justify their salary.
Most importantly if we lose, I don’t believe we deserve to be in the playoffs. If there was ever a time to make sure you don’t come out flat. They need to prove that they are a better team than the standings suggest. And I don’t know if the players want to hear the insane BOOING they will get if we lose and the Philly game goes into OT…
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
Gotta love the optimism.
And how many points has our #1 gotten for us the last few games?
Good to know that JM chose Halak,ince he knows how the Montreal Fans would certainly run a guy like Price out of town. Perhaps Price might see some playoff time, if Halak should faulter when we get there. This game will make or break Halaks chances of seeing the post season (provided we make it). GO HABS GO!!!
“To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be it yours to hold high.”
Regardless, the kid’s done well against Toronto in his career and just remember if it comes down to a tie breaker with Boston for the last spot in the playoffs, we can all say sorry to and thank Carey Price for winning 3 games against them this season, while Jaro lost one.
What’s good for one should be good for the other.
Your right Carey should have played vs the Isl and Halak vs the Canes. But as much as I love Price, and I hope we keep him for the future, this is Halak season, no doubt about it, we gotta ride him. And as much as I love Price, I love the Habs more, and we gotta go with Halak tonight. But you better believe that If they do not win tonight, ohh boy am I gonna go crazy on this guys. Their is NOOOO EXCUSE not to win this.
LOL, let’s hope that happens tonight
Here’s hoping him and his brother are shipped out this summer for guys who actually give the effort night in and night out.
Get rid of the Kostitsyns, Gomez’s and Lapierres of this team and bring in guys like Hammer, Pleks, Gorges, Cammalleri and Gionta who bring it every game.
In all my 50 years as a fan I have loved the Montreal Canadiens,but this year has been the worst I have seen in years.I still love the Habs, but not this team.I would love to see them make the playoff,but will only embarass us in the first round.my 2 cents worth…
did you forget he played every game in the olympics? no rest… travel… loose in bronze metal game… he was great there but is wearing down…
btw, Marty only gets 20-25 shots a night max.
i meAnt “choke” in the best sense of the word… he is tired… you could see it Thursday night… frustrated at the guys in front of him who shut out buffalo but can’t sqeeze 2 of 4 points against isles or canes…
I don’t think a 24 yr old kid, who’s only played in 45 NHL games this year can be worn out. What do we call Marty then? Roadkill?
SHaker
In the first half of the season Price always got the benifit of the doubt. It didn’t seem to pay off. Now Halak gets the benifit of the doubt. Halak is the way to go at this point in history. It would be a greater disaster if Price played and lost as opposed to Halak, especially at home.
I guess at this point ok… but i said on tuesday to start priming up price and put him in against the isles… then he woulda played thursday And be ready for tonight. i like halak, i just think he’s worn out.
Tonight will be a test of character for the team. Biggest game of the season, let’s see who comes through for us. I’m saying Markov will score one and get 2 assists in a win tonight. Just give him the C already JM.
Hmm, not sure, maybe, but im pretty sure he wants to play in the NHL so I doubt he’ll go to the KHL.
“Halak will choke” what a fan you are, atleast when most people are being negative its because they wanna see the team improve, plz go cheer for another team.
lets hope teh team infront of the goalies show up tonight and for 60 minutes.
You gotta play Halak, I love Carey Price but putting him in nets is just isn’t fair, the poor guy would be hung if the team plays bad and we loss, Halak has been the better goalie this year so we ride him tonight.,
Don’t hate Jaro!!!….JM has no other choice!
Shaker
I have felt that with Metro being out Habs have been lacking the extra gusto. Darche brings that element. I am not sure who I’d sit.
Chris,I couldn’t care less if Sergei ever plays for the Habs again ,so sick of these guys that don’t show up to play a full 60mins,if they can’t get it to beat the Leafs ,than they may as well go play golf .They can’t depend on other teams to help them to make the playoff,because once they do make the play offs no one will help them.
nothing to understand jaro is the guy right now win or lose. carey is number 2.
halak will choke and be traded… i’m sorry, i hate this JM’s choice.
Well, just imagine if Price played tonight and he (the team) lost… I, for one, wouldn’t want to stand in his shoes, you see?
he’s done either way. what has this guy done? probably the laziest piece of @#$%^& in the NHL!
Habs have been outshot 198 – 133 in 5 games against the Laffs this season. Just thought I let you all know we never outshot the Laffs in any of the 5 games played so far. Yikes!!! Maybe tonight’s the night?
I also vote Sergei plays. Well, with my vote, I think that makes everyone.
Jacques?
i dont get it. Pricey loses 1 game, he doesnt play the next. Jaro loses 2, he plays again..i just really dont understand. i think they should have given Price the start because he did play good in the last games he played.. anyways, i just hope Jaro plays the way he can because they really need to win since they cant base their season on the rangers..
GO HABS GO, GO JARO..lets go boys, you can do it!
i dont get it. Pricey loses 1 game, he doesnt play the next. Jaro loses 2, he plays again..i just really dont understand. i think they should have given Price the start because he did play good in the last games he played.. anyways, i just hope Jaro plays the way he can because they really need to win since they cant base their season on the rangers..
GO HABS GO, GO JARO..lets go boys, you can do it!
Ran a sim on NHL10, ironically Sergei Kostitsyn scored a hat trick in a 6-1 victory.
U R correct. Sergei will bolt to play in the KHL and the Habs will lose out on another Russian type player maybe?
A choice between Pyatt and Sergy?
I like Pyatt’s gusto and all but put me down for Sergy, I guess.
Ridiculously overhyped, call me
L.Bugs Potter, esq. Assistant-Director of St-Habbie’s Hospital for the Blind, Head Physician of Neuroflannelogy Unit, and Occupational Therapist in Habsbros Emergency Ward: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
L’Artiste. L’ACL.
Kovalev, out 3-4 months… not like he’d make a difference for the Sens in the Playoffs.
This guy sits or that guy sits, I say give the puck to my boy Poolio and everything’ll get straightened out.
Ridiculously overhyped, call me
L.Bugs Potter, esq. Assistant-Director of St-Habbie’s Hospital for the Blind, Head Physician of Neuroflannelogy Unit, and Occupational Therapist in Habsbros Emergency Ward: http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
It could always be worse… Imagine if we still had Kovy only to lose him for 3-4 months with a torn ACL with 2 games left…. hope for the best, plan for the worst!
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=317465
Give me a break, Price has won 3 games since Jan.1st. Talking about him is not even an option.
First he is not a UFA, he’s an RFA, two I hope its his last game as a habs, his bro too. I use to love the brothers but these guys just don’t care to win, vs the Cans two weeks ago, in the dying seconds Sergei REFUSED to in the corner and battle for the puck. I don’t have an issue with having small forwards like Cammy, Gio, Pleck and Gomez, but we need to offset it with some size, ex trade the brothers and Weber for Nathan Horton or someone like that.
Lets see if Halak can win us the most important game of the season.
U hit the nail on the coffin cause Price might be vacating to the press box with SK74 with no backup?
Just 17 more wins Jaro, you might have to do it alone though.
If Sergei don’t play? He is done in a Habs uniform. UFA at seasons end. Its a Shame, Shame,Shame. 800 K. Another promising up coming player leaving this franchise as a result of poor coaching decisions. Geesh!!
I’d play Sergei on the Pleks-Camm line instead of Andrei who has officially decided he sucks…
Also glad Halak’s in cuz if, or rather WHEN, his teammates let him down, the maniac faithful woulda crushed Price. Halak seems to get a free pass, carte blanche, when games turn out ugly.
HAB SKATERS GET YER POO TOGETHER! Couldn’t beat the lowly Isles to clinch, couldn’t beat the lowly ‘Canes to clinch and now we get the low, low, lowly Laffs… it’s Groundhog Day!!
If Sergei is out….I swear to god Martin….
Sitting Sergei is dumb – but then so are a lot of moves by JM…he (SK) has been stalwart on the PK, and has shown at least some offensive flair as of late, in the limited chances he has been given. I have a bad feeling about this…we’d better win, because if not, the unthinkable (just a few days ago, anyway) will likely happen if we don’t. Anyway, I’m sick of backing into the playoffs and then going 4 and out. If they can’t get motivated for this game, then they are not professionals (save in name only), and don’t deserve to be in the playoffs anyways.
We need a new coach – a non-francophone one would be nice for a change! Screw politics. I just want the best coach available, and we don’t have him – not by a long shot.
Time for bed then…early gametime (for me!)
GO HABS GO!
_________________
Don’t argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
let’s start 20,000 person petition to play sergei…we’ll stand outside the bell centre with a picket line saying we will nto support the team if sergei doesn’t play!
but seriously…sergei will play with passion against grabo…and we need more passion on this team! that’s one reason we need sergei on
- We’ve gotta beat the beat, and fist pump our way to victory!
Ok buddy… we’re comparing Halak with Brodeur? Don’t you think he is a bit exceptional? I’d go easy comparing the two. it’s halak man…
Let’s hope for a (gasp) win tonight, and also for some civilty at the Bell Centre tonight at the end of the game, no matter the outcome.
At least the wrongs committed 3 years ago will not be repeated.
Best of Luck Jaro. Hope you can stone em good tonight
Go HABS GO!!!!
I agree that Price vs. Halak isn’t really worth much more discussion, but Martin finally sticking with a goaltender, and in spite of that goaltender failing to win his last two starts, is significant.
If Martin had done this from the start, we might not have this issue or, in all likelihood, a severly damaged Carey Price.
But yeah, the Leafs, egged on my Komi, are going to be out to bury us tonight so it will more be about our skaters …. hockey gods help us.
Oh man – that little brave hart rant was beyond.
SK will save us tonight. He’s done so much for us this season… 18pts of pure offensive power! He’s actually playing not too bad with Moen and Moore… he should stay with them.
——
Canadien en 5!
Never go Full Retard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svwGRJA28lY&feature=related
I agree completely. SK has played very well lately. I’m very dissatisfied with Martin’s coaching. Moen is a very useful player but putting him on the 1st line and Pouliot on the bench is stupid.
Could this be Halak’s final game as a Habs if they lose tonight? We all should find out if the Habs do not make the playoffs? Could it be or not?
LOL watching the boston game, “Playoff tickets on sale now!” 1 minute later carolina scored the second goal to make it 3-2,,, How sweet would it be if Boston loses tonight and dont make the playoffs
Sergei still on JM’s **** list for nothing, wonderful. Not playing him tonight won’t solve anything, best 3rd line we had this season was SK, Moen and Moore, breaking them up does nothing to help our fortunes especially since checking line scoring has been more reliable than the Top 6 lately.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
I really do not care anymore about who starts in nets. It’s irrelevant, Price or Halak, if the rest of the team doesn’t show up we’re not going to win. The offence has to start producing IMMEDIATELY. If Cammy, Gio, Gomez, AK, Plecs, Poulio(t) decide they want to play in the post season I’ll be one Happy Habs fan. If they decide “Meh, my golf stroke needs some work” then we’re all screwed.
———–
”Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you.” – Jacques Plante
Ak and SK usually play well vs the laghgs to I see Pyatt and Maxell out, either way Pyatt for SK won’t make much of a difference. If anything I would sit AK, we need a point, hate to see him take a dumb penalty to cost us that.
Never in doubt… Good luck, Halak…my man!
I am steeped in blood so deep that returning is as tedious as going…
Ok Jaro, you have brought us this far buddy, let’s do it one more time… I Know you will
5-2 Habs….3 for Cammy…would make sense, been invisible lately but just might break out tonight
GO HABS GO….Don’t be afraid to throw the occasional bodycheck boys, wouldn’t hurt
Not sure if anyone else posted this, but Kovalev is done for the season: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=524765
I don’t think anyone cares…what with the crucial game tonight.
Name on the back is more important then the symbol on the front?
Fail!
Who cares about Scarey Price. It’s about Halak and the Habs trying to clinch tonight. You and Price can sit on the bench and get out of everybody’s way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svwGRJA28lY&feature=related
——
Canadien en 5!
Never go Full Retard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svwGRJA28lY&feature=related
don’t you dare sit sergei
Jaro ,you have been the best part of this season my friend and I don’t expect anything but your best efforts cause that’s all you deliver so if give her HELL kiddo……
Sergei HAS to play, It’s just an instinct I have. He CANNOT sit. I’ll go berserk on JM if he does make a bonhead decision like that.
“I gotta feeling…that tonight’s gonna be a good night!”
I agree! He should play!
I care and I’m feeling some great schadenfreude over it.
For f sakes jaro starting kiss our season good bye. Jm is an idiot jaro is not a big game goalie and before I get jumped on my point will be proven tonight. Good bye habs see u at the tee off.
what you say is fuhgawz
And Price is a big game goalie?? Please buddy get your head on straight and your eyes out of your a$$
let us know where you play golf – i’d like to see whether your drives reach the ladies tees.
WRONG!!!!
C’mon now, Jaro is the only choice JM has, everyone knows that!
Shaker
Guess which goalie has the BEST stats since the Olympic break? Halak, that is who? Your illogical Price manlove is annoying.
ps if we need a BIG GAME from either of our goalies to beat the LEAFS should we really be in the playoffs
According to the Ottawa Sun, Senators right winger Alex Kovalev has a “completely torn” ACL in his left knee and is out for the season. He reportedly will have surgery in two weeks.
man poor kovy
——————
“I like what I’m seeing right now,” assessed Markov. “We’re not perfect, but we’re trying to be.”
Who cares. We have bigger fish to fry.
This sucks for Kovy. He is no spring chicken, I hope this doesn’t end his career. That would really be a shame. Just because he isn’t with us, doesn’t mean I don’t want to see him doing well. Just not against us.
There may be other teams, but only ONE Club De Hockey…
It’s now or never.
Unless we get a point tonight, we’re destined to golf next week. Because we all know that tomorrow’s Rangers/Flyers game will go into OT with New York winning. Gotta believe Boston will earn at least a point in their last 2 because I can see the Caps resting their regulars on Sunday.
We’ll see how much character this team has.
can not agree with those wanting sergei to play
how many of you, if given $800,000, would have trouble getting up for a game, or working hard, or staying out trouble??
not I.
give me darche and pyatt and gorges – hard working players – win or lose – i take that guy over sergei any day
trade sergei + andrei + a 2nd round pick = ?????
No one’s gonna want these losers.
Hm more like both sisters and Weber for Horton
:):)
Price would be a bigger risk. Halak has been much steadier. It will be interesting to see how soon Martin panics.
It’s a risk putting halak against the leafs, he has beenpretty bad against them this season
Martin will be hot underneath the collar. Feel the rope tightning by the minute.
I dont care if we start Brian Hayward or Pat Jablonski tonight. We just have to win. The whole Halak/Price thing (who we like more) isn’t going to be relevant if we miss the playoffs. Bottom line is, we need a win to both make the playoffs and to avoid the Capitals. Besides that, a loss to the Leafs is just sickening at any time of the year, especially the last game of the season.
http://gushuecards.webs.com/ http://ronthecat.webs.com/
You want to see a team that wants to make the playoffs, Bruins just scored 3 shorthanded goal on the same PP vs the Canes!!
Woah
If somebody wanted Dag’s, then someone would definitely want the Kostitsyns. Hell wouldn’t surprise me if they both blossomed like Gui did. Montreal is hell on young players or so it seems. They either play great then struggle or just plain struggle from the beginning. Maybe there’s something to what Gui said about the environment being to buisness like. Players aren’t having any fun, it’s almost like they’re playing scared. I think Montreal just weighs on the players having so much pressure eventually drains you of your enthusiasm until, like Gui, you’re just going through the motions.
when does the PLAYER take responsibility and be held accountable for his effort?
if i was a player, i would DREAM of playing for the habs.
losers take the attitude that the organisation is to blame.
i might not be the most skilled, but NO ONE would accuse me of not giving everything i had.
the PLAYERS NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
stop blaming montreal, fans, media or organisation.
The news is frightening. The noose is tightening…
“Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!”
If either Pyatt, Lapierre OR Sergei sit tonight, and Maxwell gets the start, that would be one of the MOST RISKY and almost stupidest move coach Martin can make. In a time like this, where your future is all in your hands, you don’t mess around with your lineups and keep your players guessing. Letting your players know you need them when the the “guillotine is tightening” is one of the best feelings a player can have. And that alone can be tremendous boost and motivation to your player and solidify the whole lineup. Lapierre has been proving something as of late, Sergei has been fairly consistent with her work ethic and is playing good third-line hockey for a potential second liner and no one can disregard Pyatt’s efforts.
That being said, I have nothing against Maxwell. I have high hopes of him turning into a good NHL player, his time just isn’t right now.
There is no EXCUSE for the Habs to lose tonight!!! If there is evere a game o win? This has to be it!! Halak is having his 3rd chance to get the Habs into the playoffs. Could it be lucky or do Habs Fans have to wait until next season? I guess we all have to wait til game time. It should be a beauty!!! Laffs will be coming full tilt.