Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty makes contact with Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
John Kenney, Gazette
Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty will have a Monday telephone hearing with NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan, presumably before the Habs fly early afternoon to Anaheim for their three-game West Coast swing with stops in Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles.
It’s possible Pacioretty could be suspended for his high hit Saturday on Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang, or being a non-repeat offender, he could get off with a fine. More to come on that tomorrow.
Letang returned non-concussed to score the controversial winning goal in overtime. It was the second-most famous face-bloodied comeback goal on Montreal ice, following a playoff goal scored by Habs’ Rocket Richard. That one has been described as the most dramatic goal in NHL history. I re-created that goal in May 2000 in a special Gazette section upon the death of the Rocket.
As you all discuss Pacioretty and Letang, here’s that story, with a photo from the April 9, 1952 Gazette. A footnote: Bruins goaler Sugar Jim Henry died in 2004.
THE NIGHT A GROGGY ROCKET GOT HOCKEY’S MOST DRAMATIC GOAL
Published May 31, 2000
DAVE STUBBS
The Gazette
“Suddenly everything went black, and the next thing I know, I woke up in the medical room. And I want to tell you, I was still groggy when I scored that goal. I don’t remember it clearly. My legs were all right, but my head was all foggy. I had a hazy idea of what I should do, and I did it.”
- Maurice Richard, April 8, 1952
“That goal,” perhaps better than any he had scored before, or would score in the future, defined the hockey icon we mourn, celebrate and lay to rest today.
In the seventh game of the 1952 Stanley Cup semi-finals against Boston, returning to the Forum ice concussed and bloodied, unaware of his surroundings and driven only by his courage and instinct, Rocket Richard rushed from end to end, through every Bruin, to eliminate Boston with what many consider the most dramatic goal in National Hockey League history.
Montreal Herald sports editor Elmer Ferguson described it on his paper’s front page the next day:
• “A great brown plaster covering a six-stitch cut in his forehead, around which a purpling bruise was forming, blood oozing from a deep scrape on his left cheekbone, Rocket Richard raced the length of the Forum ice, wheeling around a baffled Bill Quackenbush on the Bruins defence, cut in like a meteor and whipped an ankle-high shot past goaler Sugar Jim Henry.”
Through excerpted newspaper stories of the day, as well as reports published years later and a delightful conversation this week with Henry, the goaltender whose own career was defined by this single, transcendental moment, “that goal” we reconstruct here helped shape the Rocket’s cosmic myth.
• Today’s hero – Rocket Richard! Knocked colder than a bailiff’s heart in the second period, he came back stitched, battered, bruised and bleeding and scored the winner.
Henry arrived in Montreal with two black eyes and a broken nose, suffered in Game 6. He spent the day with his trainer, who applied hot and cold towels to his eyes to reduce the swelling.
“Yes, I had two great shiners,” Henry recalls. “I could hardly see.”
The photograph of himself with Richard shaking hands after the game, two battle-scarred veterans paying their mutual respects, is one of the most compelling in hockey.
A print of it is framed, hanging in a place of honour in Henry’s Winnipeg home.
Nicknamed “Sugar” as a boy, a sweet-toothed lad growing up in Brandon, Man., he had been a hero two seasons earlier in Montreal, saving the Rocket from serious injury.
Dumped by a Bruins defenceman deep in Boston ice, Richard slid full-speed toward Henry’s nearly immovable goal, the nets then anchored firmly to the ice.
“It just occurred to me that I couldn’t let Maurice crash into the goalpost – he would have broken his leg, or worse,” recalls Henry, now 69. “So I slid out and let his body hit mine, to protect him.
“He got up and thanked me, as did a few others on the ice. It was the greatest ovation I ever had in Montreal.”
Early in the second period of Game 7 on April 8, 1952, the score tied 1-1, Richard was flattened in a collision with Bruins’ Leo Labine, which sent him into the knee of Boston defenceman Bill Quackenbush. The Rocket was left unconscious, either from the impact with Quackenbush, or when his unhelmeted head struck the ice.
• The Rocket crashed the ice head-first and sprawled there, senseless, a thin trickle of blood staining the ice.
“I had a bird’s-eye view of that one,” Bruins defenceman Hal Laycoe said in The Habs, Dick Irvin Jr.’s excellent 1991 oral history of the Canadiens. “The Rocket didn’t see (Labine). It was a vicious upending. It was amazing that he could come back from something like that and score the kind of goal he did.”
At first it was feared Richard had suffered a broken neck, but finally he came to and was helped, rubber-legged, to the clinic. He passed out again while the team doctor wove six sutures above his left brow.
“What is it they say about those boxers who get hit on the chin early,” Richard asked later, “but fight on, and around the seventh round ask if it’s the second? Is it instinct? I guess that’s what it was with me.”
• Sensing the Canadiens’ heart was broken, the Bruins swung the momentum their way, and more than 14,000 Forum fans were resigning themselves to an inevitable loss without their leader.
And then, late in the third period, the Rocket returned to the Canadiens bench.
“When Richard came from the clinic, he told me he was all right,” Montreal coach Dick Irvin Sr. told reporters. “But he wasn’t just then.”
Yet with fewer than five minutes remaining in regulation time, and perhaps his team’s season, Irvin tapped Richard on the back.
“Rocket was squinting at the scoreboard,” linemate Elmer Lach said later. “It was obvious he couldn’t read it, so I told him it was still 1-1.”
Big Butch Bouchard, traveling on one damaged leg, leaned far forward, tapped the puck with the end of his stick, and slid it over to the circling Rocket.
“Rocket gave everybody in the league trouble,” Henry remembers.
“It was a toss-up between Maurice and Gordie Howe as to who was the best player in the league. But from the blue line in, Maurice was the greatest. He was dynamite.”
Richard scored 82 playoff goals during his career, dozens of them spectacular efforts. Now, with 3 1/2 minutes left in the game, he was a runaway freight train – even if he looked toward his final destination through glazed eyes.
The Rocket picked it up on his blade and was off in full flight. His start was near the outer edge of the big red circle, within the defensive zone, and he was in full cry in a stride or two.
“What a terrifying sight for a goaltender,” Henry says, in awe of the image even today. “There was nothing like the Rocket at full speed.”
While Bruins swung around in pursuit, Richard raced along the right side close to the boards. Experienced Bill Quackenbush moved slowly over as if to block him, but the Rocket feinted, as if to cut into the centre, and Quackenbush swung there.
“Maurice had such a wide shift,” Henry said in Irvin’s book. “Them legs of his would go apart. He just seemed to hop from one leg to the other when he made the shift, always so wide.”
The Rocket had numerous chances to pass the puck, but later said his vision was so blurred he couldn’t make out his linemates, Lach and Toe Blake.
Richard shifted swiftly, past Murray Henderson and Bob Armstrong, cut out again, eluded Real Chevrefils, then swung in like a streak around the startled Quackenbush, cut in straight across the goalmouth and whipped the puck past Henry while going full speed.
“Most people still get one fact wrong,” Henry points out. “They say the Rocket scored through my legs, but he didn’t. He put it in on my glove side. The puck only came out of the net through my legs.”
Elmer Ferguson turned to a fellow writer and muttered, “That beautiful bastard scored semi-conscious!”
Richard was mobbed by his teammates, and the Forum exploded.
“The crowd saluted the brilliant play with a roar that shook the building,” The Gazette’s Dink Carroll said. “They threw programs, coins, newspapers, overshoes. It took a squad of seven attendants five minutes or more to clear the ice.”
Billy Reay iced the 3-1 victory with an empty-net goal, sending the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup final they would lose in four straight to the Detroit Red Wings.
In the dressing room, Richard happily greeted his father, but soon collapsed in convulsions, sobbing hysterically from exhaustion, his concussion and nervous shock, before doctors sedated him.
It was two hours before he was able to leave the Forum.
Forty-eight years later, Henry is comfortable with his place in hockey history: he knows his name will forever be recognized not for one of the fine saves he made during a 435-game career, but for one goal against, and a magnificent photo of a bowed, black-eyed, nearly wordless handshake with a bloodied Maurice Richard.
The two men last met in the spring of 1999 at a memorabilia show in Boston, where they sat shoulder to shoulder signing hockey cards.
Henry scolded Richard not just for the goal, but for having scored it on Henry’s wedding anniversary, an occasion he forgot in the heat of the playoffs.
“I feel so sorry for Henri Richard and the Rocket’s family with the passing of Maurice,” Henry says.
“He was a great fella and a great player. We’re all going to miss him. We’ve all lost someone very dear to hockey.”
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Watched the Brampton Battalion hostthr London Knights and by extension, Jarred Tinordi.
Impressions: Do not start predicting him to make the team out of next year’s camp. Needs to mature physically, not as dominant or immovable as you would expect him to be at his size. First step in his skating is not very strong which left him caught a couple times, he may need two years in the Hammer. Positives were a good first pass, a strong no quit attitude in his board battles even when he was down. Skating is not awkward, moves well on the whole. Endurance and smarts not an issue I found, was strong on the penalty kill, very alert watching movement of Brampton skaters as he covered his position around the net. Knights coach Dale Hunter trusts him to keep a lid on a tight game, Knights led 1-0, 2-0 and 2-1 over the 3rd period and Tinordi was basically double shifted for the period, including the last minute and a half. Considering this was London’s third game in as many nights, pretty solid on Tinordi’s part. Was not very physical, but he was wearing jaw protection so may have felt hesitant about getting too engaged.
Serious are there a couple of guys from the Habs who check in on our prospects, and find out what their needs are for improvement and give them those means. In the instance of Tinordi. do they have a power skating coach who will give him drills, and then check in to see if there is improvement.
Bobby Orr the greatest EVERhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-onQTLSRBXQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwMVdgyBQn8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=HwMVdgyBQn8
Sad stat
Price’s save % in last 8 games: 93.7
How many did Habs win: 4
Pains me to say it but the Leafs are a way better team than Montreal. They are winning with Gustavsson.
We can barely win with Price. Martin needs to be replaced.
Trade the veterans if needed (including Cammy and Gio) and pursue a top center this team desperately needs.
sigh.. go habs go.
The top management of the Habs was given a mandate by by George G to make the playoffs, they served him well and he made a ton of money. Molsons who gave him the ton of money has probably
given them the same mandate, and lets face it he owes money on the team, and playoff cash is not chump change to him. BG and PG have done a decent job in that we have made the playoffs and have played well, I enjoy the playoffs and the excitement involved, but the cost in talent has been high and I dont see any players of impact coming up for a few years. I think this year we play our cards out with no big player movement, till we know if were in or out of the big show. My hope is that when Markov comes back, that we are firmly in a playoff position at the 50 game mark. I think its at this time that we will know how good management is by how they handle aging vets and too many men on D. I think we could get some good young talent from a team that needs to make the playoffs, and the cash that lots of teams need.
Habs have played 24 games, and have 24 points, of a potential 48.
10 of the next 15 games between now and Jan 1rst are on the road, including the California coast, stops in Boston, Chicago, NJ, and the usual new years Florida week.
How many more games will Markov miss? And when he does return how effective will he be.
Sitting 2 points back, with opponents holding games in hand, the team will surely require a better then 50% there currently on pace for, to make the top 8.
Can this team, take 60-70% of the remaining points? With injuries its obvious, no. But how about healthy?
I think if Markov plays well from the get go, Price continues with the great goaltending, and some guys find their scoring touch, we will be fine.
If, if, if? Not to mention we depend on Price to much.
The Habs will be a better team with Markov in the lineup, no ifs and buts about it.
well, the Canadiens are last in the division again
We better get used to it.
Hey there, big boy…
And that we gave 7 of 8 points away this last week, is probably the more important statistic. Regardless of salvaging 3 points.
This team is not very intimidating.
if you want to see changes in Montreal – bring in Muller as coach
and Roy as GM – get rid of PG and JM – the odd couple….
I just watched the Max Pac hit on Letang on you-tube. I missed it the other night. If nothing had ever happened in the world before I could understand why some would want to see Max suspended for that hit, although I’m not sure there is anything that demonstrates evil intent, etc. But how weird would it be for the league to suspend him for THAT when they didn’t suspend Zedeno for his hit last year? Really? In one instance a guy drives another guy into a stanchion with his forearm well away from the puck, breaking his neck and in the other a player hits a guy with the puck with his shoulder. Hmmm. If they suspend Max Pac they really should start dressing referees in full body armour, because it will be time to start pelting them with “C” batteries. This is the problem with turning a blind eye, it tends to come back to haunt you. Did Zedeno get fined, no, did he get suspended, no, so how do you suspend Max Pac for something far less reprehensible? In the Bettman era of evening out things in favour of American teams perhaps it doesn’t matter.
Here’s hoping Donald Fehr kicks Bettman’s little Napolean-complex ass so hard he’s weeping for his momma and cuddling his blankey in the next CBA! The sooner the NHL cuts ties with that little ar*ehole, the better!
Just putting this out there… is it possible that this year, the Laffs are just a better team than our beloved Habs? Here is my theory…it’s not the whole answer, but, it is a factor nonetheless.
Is it that nobody gets up to play the Laffs, whereas, everybody gets up to play the Habs, both for the atmosphere of the Bell center, and, the pure history and aura of the blue, blanc, et rouge? If hardly any teams bring their “A Game”, when they play the Laffs, then the Laffs have an advantage, because, if they can bring emotion, while the team they are playing against doesn’t, then it works in their favor. Secondly, since the Laffs have not been in the playoffs for so long, they actually HAVE NO rivals, in the sense that the Habs have a huge rivalry with, for example, the Goouins and Philly, due to our more recent playoff runs, vs these two teams. In short, the Laffs simply don’t garner an urgency, or, an emotional level, that is crucial to winning games in the NHL during the regular season. Why? Because nobody F$%KEN CARES?
The fact that the media, e.g., CBC, carries on about the great rivalry of the Laffs and Habs, based soley on a history that took place so long ago, that only a handfull of us old guys can even remember it, makes the actual reality of a rivalry, even more of a joke. A joke on the fans, esp. Laff fans, not the players! The players that make up the current version of Habs and Laffs, have no recent playoff match ups to stir their hatred of eachother. So the only rivalry that exits, is mostly in the minds of Laff fans, who have so little to get excited about, from so many years of ineptitude!
My question is, are the Laffs REALLY better than our Habs, or, are they getting away with a large portion of their wins, because they get SO MANY teams that are simply looking past them?
Sal from the Hammer
Sal:
I don’t know if the Laffs are a better team, but Kessel is a better player than anyone in Montreal except possibly Carey Price. Wouldn’t Kessel look great in Habs colours?
Kessell and Loupol wouldnt be anywhere near the top of the league in scorin gwith JM as there coach, THATS THE PROBLEM
Has nothing to do with teams looking past the Leafs. The Leafs are a better team because they have better players who are playing how they should. The Habs guys are just not as good man for man. It also doesn’t help that the guys they do have are not performing how they should. Besides Patches and Cole and probably Pleks, nobody else on the team is playing so great. Bottome line is the Leafs have reached and maybe surpassed the Habs. One reason. They have Burke and we have the bozo brothers. Truth hurts.
I was about to respond to him but you answered exactly as I would have. I am amazed that people who have been watching hockey can delude themselves with the aguments that he did.
Right now the Leafs are better and the Senators are close if not our equal.
Sal, I live in TO and married to a leaf fan so I watch almost all their games. The Leafs actually remind me alot of the habs. Besides Lupul/Conolly, there top 6 isn’t that big or tough..but they are fast skating O type players…..very similar to what the habs thought they had built. The only difference is that Leafs are scoring 5 on 5. They can be totally outplayed for 10 min then one their first shot on net…it goes in for them. The habs have lost a lot of games that most feeel they played descent in. Leafs have been out played alot yet they win. they can score at will. And are #3 on PP. Gee weren’t we top 5 the last few years? Wasn’t that and the play of Price the main reason we got into playoffs the last few years. Leafs are doing exactly what we have done the last few years. They don’t have the best D, but they score on PP and 5 on 5, so it doesn’t matter.
If in HALF of our games this year we had scored even just 1 PP goal we would probably be tied with them in the standings. Theya re 5 pts up on us. That 2 wins and one OT lost difference. WE could easily have those 5 pts if in half of the games were we went zero on PP if we had score but once on the PP.
Bottom line, with these frwds who unfortuately can’t score at will when playing 5 on 5….we have to get our PP to top 10 in league if we want to win more games and make the playoffs. As long as leafs stay in top 5 in PP they will make the playoffs, just as we have in past years.
Thanks Everlasting for posting about the Blues. You provide more coverage on the Blues posting on H I/O than the entire combined Canadian media.
Why is Darche on the team? What is it he is supposed to do? I know it’s a nice story, but really, one goal and no assists, few hits, no presence, in 20+ games. What is it he’s doing for us? I know he’s cheap, but is this a case of you get what you pay for?
He’s our top PP specialist.
Arghhhh!
“Darchev” is #1 LW on our 1st PP Unit. Haven’t you been watching any of our games this season?
“I reject your reality and substitute my own”.
- Adam Savage
Rumor has spezza going to colorado.
Spezza scored two tonight against Carolina. I don’t think he’s going anywhere unless the Sens are getting a lot in return. The officiating in the Sens – Hurricanes game was absolutely atrocious, again. Where is the NHL finding these guys? The refereeing is hugely bush-league in virtually every game, every night. Isn’t someone, somewhere, responsible for maintaining standards. This is the worst officiating in any major sport. Oops, I forgot, it’s not a major sport.
You said it Dude. The level of officiating in the NHL is a joke. The NHL is a BUSH league. They are ruining hockey for a whole generation.
Sal from the Hammer
You should see the officials in the Timmins Midget Hockey League…..they are just as bad if not worse….lol…..Now on a more serious note, Officiating in the league is probably the worst I have ever seen ! Too many new guys to go with new rules and all they get is a video ! The league invests so much in their so-called image and no money in the Refs ! The refs definately dropped the ball in o.t. n Saturday night and get used to it as it will happen again !
paolo merenda
I can understand people who are looking for a coaching change, but I’m not sure why so many are calling for Gauthier’s head.
Martin is an old-school coach whose SYSTEM produces an unexciting, offensively anemic, unusually wimpy .500 hockey team. That’s what he’s always done, and that’s what he will keep doing. His line-juggling, one-goal lead-protection schemes, and uneven treatment of players have long frustrated fans, and are now starting to frustrate the players, if I am interpreting their post-game comments accurately.
The jury’s still out on PG, though, and I would say he’s done a pretty decent job overall. There was the ballsy decision to keep Price over Halak, the acquisition of Wizniewski, the decision to keep Markov (which we have to wait out), and the targeting and acquisition of Cole. Plus he persuaded Emelin over. It is not Gauthier’s fault that Markov’s rehab took a step backwards, or that his coach (whom he did not hire) won’t use Cole or Emelin effectively. Nor is it his fault that Gomez is DOA this year, or that he is untradeable. I also love the pick of Bealieau last summer.
Martin, sure, let him go. Next summer. When we have half a chance to find a decent replacement. Gauthier? I’m not so sure. He’s done a shrewd job of filling holes and building IMO.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Couldn’t agree more. Great post. I also love the draft picks PG has made since he arrived. JM needs to go, but not PG. Unlike Gainey though, PG doesn’t have the luxury/arrogance to make himself the coach if he fires JM. Still, the sooner, the better.
I would have given PG a pass except for one thing. He did not address the need for some more grit when he could have.. during the summer months.
And if he had shone some foresight he would have not lost Woywitka and be forced to pick up Campo who brings nothing strategically new to the team.
First of all PG was a major decision maker in Gainey’s terrible moves the whole way. He was the head of pro scouting and assistant GM for God sakes. If you think he wasn’t a major reason why Martin is here you’re delusional.
PG traded D’Agostini, Latendresse, SK74, O’Byrne and Lapierre for next to nothing. Made the right move, it seems, on letting Halak go, but botched the return in a guy who will have trouble scoring 10 goals. He trades a 2nd round pick for Moore, then lets him walk. Does the same with Wiz (although the salary constraints Gainey saddled this team with made it necessary). Let Halpern go for some reason. I did really like the Cole move and it seems to be paying off.
The problem with PG is he doesn’t do enough. Guys like Burke see a problem and take decisive action to improve and the results are there. After getting smacked around by Philly 2 years ago, he stands pat and doesn’t get bigger and tougher in the forwad position. He doesn’t improve his scoring which was a major problem. What happens, Habs squeek into the playoffs again and get booted in the 1st round. Surprise, surprise. Next, he wakes up and aquires Cole (not nearly enough). Didn’t want Jagr for some reason. He lets the defence now denigrate to being below average, when it was a strength, although Markov should help that (but who knows). The man is just terribly slow at recognizing what his team needs and going and getting it.
He’s just happy to play more or less status quo. So what will happen? They might make the playoffs they might not. The team is definately not moving forward. After seeing GMs like Regeir, Burke, Tallon, Yzerman, Ray Shero, Chiarelli and Holmgren make bold moves, you see that Gauthier will never get you anywhere. He hasn’t moved this team forward at all. And again, he was a large part of Gainey’s failure. Let’s not absolve him of that fact.
If we have any hopes of making the playoffs we need to fix the PP (get Pleks off the point) and trade for a power forward. PG, do something and tell JM to try this before you fire him:
MaxPac-DD-Cole
Gio-Pleks-?(Big body who can skate and put the puck in the net)
AK46-Eller-Moen
Blunden/Darche/Nok/White
Markov-Emelin
PK-Gorges
Gill-Spaceman-Weber
Use Cammi, Gomer, Campoli as trade bait for ? (or picks):
Diaz to Hamilton until next year.
PP1: MaxPac-Eller-Cole -Markov-PK
PP2: AK46–Pleks-?-Weber-Spaceman
*Listen to my instrumental tribute entitled “Habs at War” at http://web.me.com/ptolias/Music/OtherOriginalMusic.html
Love the idea of using an injured Gomez as trade bait.
An injured Gomez is waaaaay more attractive than a healthy Gomez!
HAHAHA true and funny!
Right now we have very limited goal scoring abilities from our centres…plecks will get his 20 goals but after him we may not even have a centre that scores 10 goals…eller may produce some scoring in the future but i believe it will not be this year….
Also news flash we are not going to win the Stanley cup with the current management group, so what’s the difference if they do get fired. If you can’t see that the Habs are no more than a 500 hockey team capable of going hot and cold for brief periods with an great goalie then your in for a tuff time my friend
Lupal looks like a steal now
So does Burke
leafs winning again..i remember some regular posters last year making fun of them picking up mcarthur and lupul…
That’s exactly what were getting at Shane? Man there is some dramatic current in your text! Also you could look at it in the negatives and choose not to address the obvious problem with the team or you could look at it in a rational positive manner and see it as build build build instead of fire fire fire. Sadly you can’t have one with out the other.
Trade Cammy for Crosby
And Diaz, Weber, Gionta for Ryan Getzlaf
Fire Martin and PG and everyone else.
Fire, fire, fire
Then will win the stanley cup.
Perfect Plan, wow
plekanec and Gomez for getzlaf
I should think the Pens would be satisfied with a prospect, wouldn’t you?
Full Breezer 4 Life
Getzlaf for Plekanac, Subban and draft or prospect
Ducks and habs have been talking
Last year’s MVP Corey Perry for our powerplay MVP Mathieu Darche??
No I do agree that credit be given where credit is due, but there has to be balance between both the PP and the PK some where in the middle is the winning formula. Not when one out weighs the other so heavily.There has to be balance through the team as well and there is not. And just for the record I am not one of those hate martain just for the sake of a few losses. I just think that the current philosophy is not working and is out dated. JM had a much better team when he was in Ottawa and still never won it. So I find it hard to believe there is anything different that will come from this core of players with this coaching staff. And since the coach and GM have been a package deal Since their days in Ottawa they should both go so that who ever comes in has a clean slate.
I totally agree with those calling for JM’s head, but we need a winner with experience coaching at this level – a Babcock or Lemaire would take control and lead properly. So we get rid of JM and replace him with………
Before some of the “you are not allowed to say anything negative about the habs” fanatics start yelling and screamiing: i also agree that JM and PG must go. i also believe that, if the Molsons won’t act now, then it is best for the team if they go on a long losing streak. Long enough to wake people up. Long enough so that even the die hard fans start to see that this is a mediocre team that BG and PG put together. Yes there is some good talent here but ask yourself; how many players would be picked up by some of the elite teams- 5 maybe 10 at the most. So come on Molsons- do what you said you’d do when you bought the team. Make the necessary moves to restore some pride and respect on the team.
How many teams are stuck with 3 rookies on D in full-time roles? And folks wonder why the team isn’t winning. Get Spacek and Markov back and then the team has enough experience on the back end to go on a run.
Florida doing very well with Denin and Ramsay who is getting a lot of credit for helping develop the young guys
Habs biggest problem is the Coach must speak french. If that wasn’t an issue there are plenty of opportunities. Even offer Kevin Dineen a shot a jumping ship form a sinking ship!
And the Gm should get the boot as well
What a difference a month makes. We had the big “Pearning” and everything was solved by the 2 Randy’s. One was going to do the Defense and the other was going to do the – Power Play. Well one Randy has done kinda okay thanks to us getting Emelin back into the line-up. But the Swiss Misses are still causing lots of grief inside our blueline. Too soft – too small & can’t provide any physical presence to support # 31. The “other” Randy is just flying. He’s got that PP clicking at an 0 for 19. I’m not sure what that translates into shooting success but they are sticking with it. Guess if it isn’t broke – don’t fix it.
I still remember someone on here posting that the 2- Randy’s were running the show and Uncle Jackie was …..you’ll love this…. “just a figurehead”. Well that statue is sinking this team with his stubborness to play his “system” when this team is built for “speed”. Something or someone has to give. I’m hoping that PG does not give in to panic and make a rash deciision and trade one of our young core players to show support to Martin. Usually in the NHL in these tugs of war – 1 coach vs. 20 plus players…..you don’t often see the 20 plus side let go.
I hope the right decisions are made by the right people before it’s too late.
“I reject your reality and substitute my own”.
- Adam Savage
No but a coach that could organize a power play and find ways to use his players to their strengths would make a world of difference.
If the coach is going to be excoriated for the sputtering power play, then he also should be lauded for a penalty kill that has killed 45+ penalties straight and is 3rd in the league.
Somehow I doubt you’ll agree though.
Way too rational THF. Leave now!
***Subbang Baby!!!***
Since Hitchcock took over coaching duties for the Blues, their record is 7-1-2. Habs could sure use a significant coaching change to try and turn their fortunes around..or not.
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Thus sayeth the Lord, “Destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks.” Amos 2:9
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Why would the Habs need a real coach when they have Martin?
“If you’re not the TOP DAWG, the view never changes”
And the biggest decision he made was to take the lions’ share of the goaltending duties away from your favourite player.
Not the biggest decision at all, goaltending hasn’t been a big issue. He has however turned the pk, pp around.
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Thus sayeth the Lord, “Destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks.” Amos 2:9
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Jaro’s 3-7-2, and a .895 save%. Considering that he was signed to be their starter, and has now been relegated to backup, I’d say that it’s been a BIG issue.
E1 has gone into denial regarding his crush on Halak.
Actually ,I’d like too thank Halak for that super season he put together for us a couple of years ago! Heck we made it past the 2nd round which is more than I expect we’ll see this year at the old GOLF COURSE!
As someone who’s actually watched every Blues game, I can firmly state that goaltending hasn’t been a weakness. You can bait me all you want and post stats that you know I’m very aware of , but the bottom line is that they’re winning now – as a TEAM. That’s all that matters.
——————————————————————-
Thus sayeth the Lord, “Destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks.” Amos 2:9
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I guess Anaheims’ Jonas Hiller sucks too, posting similar numbers..nothing to do with overall team performance huh?
——————————————————————-
Thus sayeth the Lord, “Destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks.” Amos 2:9
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Habsolout, crushes are for tweens.
——————————————————————-
Thus sayeth the Lord, “Destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks.” Amos 2:9
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
everlastinglobotomy, your crush on Halak is creepy. it’s also scary how you troll a habs fan site and inundate us with Blues news.
Kisses!
While I am not adverse to a coaching change, as Chuck pointed out, having a new coach come here and start playing Budaj may not accomplish the same thing.
Mario Tremblay won his first 11 games as Habs coach. All new coaches get a bump.
Hitchcock was already past it when Columbus sacked him.
It was not late. It was no blind side, letang had to see him coming when looked up before shooting, it was no an elbow, there was no penalty and the head was not the prime target… Isn’t this a clean hit?
Pacioretty would get NO GAMES if he wore Bruins’ colours…
___________________________________
Jack Edwards sucks chowdah chunks
If Pacioretty is suspended, shouldn’t the referees be sanctioned as well for missing a foul? Or could it be they’re just as confused as fans are when it comes to deciding what constitutes an illegal hit when it involves the head?
It would be a scandal if the victim of one of the more spectacularly vicious and premeditated attempts to injure in the modern era (the Chara attack on Pacioretty) was himself suspended and or fined while Chara literally skates. High farce.
I completely understand and agree that players should be accountable for their actions on the ice, but how come the same standard isn’t required for the referees?
Will there be a phone hearing for the referee whose incompetence directly affected the outcome of a game?
It is in other leagues where accountability is desired. Other pro leagues review refs performances and have a system of accountability in place. The NHL is a bush league that doesn’t want the refs to be held accountable and wants officials to be able to affect the outcome of games. Any owner or GM who dares speak out against a ref is swiftly met with a hefty fine, which deters any criticism of the officiating and lets the NHL brass perpetuate the myth that NHL refs are infallible.
There is accountability in the NHL too.
Remember when a ref gave a penalty to Gregory Campbell and the man in charge of referees called the ref up the next day to yell at him?
That was the official version anyhow.
He may get a congratulatory email from Colon, as opposed to anything else Chuck.
Go Lions…….
cfl..lol
Hey come on now, like the Super Bowl I am expecting some brilliant Tim Hortons or Home Hardware commercials!!!!!
could not resist the jab.
Certainly I am not the CFL fan I used to be, but still enjoy watching a good game, however, early on not looking good for my squad from the Peg.
CFL is well the CFL…its a bit bush but they do try. I have been to about 10 NFLS games nothing like it except a HABS game.
I used to follow the cfl alot when i was a teenager.Not so much afterwards till about 5 years ago when one of my best friends was hired as a scout for the al’s. Him bringing the grey cup to my house in sudbury for a party was pretty cool though.
@Showey, congrats on the news of the boy on the way!
I heard semin to montreal…
hmmmm so many different ways to read that, I won’t touch it.
I’d wash your hands too if I were you.
***Subbang Baby!!!***
keep it going..
If you heard semin then your way too close to the source…
Here’s my prediction for Max.
Considering the fact that Chara got no suspension, and the fact that neither did Lucic, it only makes perfect sense that Max WILL be Suspended.
It’ll happen. You heard it here first.
I’m not saying Pacioretty shouldn’t be suspended (because I don’t understand the rules and the way Shanahan has handled things) but there IS a difference between the Letang hit and what Chara and Lucik did.
Basically, Pacioretty’s hit, until very recently, would be considered clean. It was an open-ice body check against a puck-carrying player who unfortunately had his head down.
When Chara tried to kill Pacioretty, he didn’t have the puck: that’s an illegal play resulting in injury, and therefore intent to injure. Lucik – come on -had every opportunity to avoid drilling Miller, who is a GOALIE. So what Lucy and Chara did would have always been considered “bad” plays.
If the NHL is wanting to eliminate hits like Pacioretty’s, then suspend him, but I didn’t think the NHL wanted to eliminate clean hits: he didn’t elbow him or target the head, after all.
And if Pacioretty IS suspended … then I really don’t get how Lucik wasn’t suspended, not to mention how Malone didn’t get suspended for his hit on Campoli.
Full Breezer 4 Life
LOL “When Chara tried to kill Pacioretty”
Made me laugh.
Good points. Sounds like you are just as confused as the rest of us. Under Campbell we knew pretty much anything goes.
Under Shanahan it seems like it completely depends on how he feels on any given day.
Maybe he makes decisions based on the colour of his mood ring…
We need to start unloading & build this all over again. Untouchables are Price, PK, Max Pac & Eller. Everyone else is fair game, if a team wants them, ditch them. All of this must be followed by canning PG & JM.
Tired of this win one lose two bullcrap. We’re too small, lack toughnness & in dire need of good coaching.
“Hate Bruins like a sickness”
Best thing ive read on here in a long time agree 120%
I would keep Cole too. I haven’t enjoyed watching a Habs player like that since… hmm… well, very long time ago.
So, minutes away from the Blue Bombers beginning their Grey Cup game. I am sure all the East is behind this Western (Technically Central) based team.
I don’t know I am excited as a Bomber fan, but something missing when not a traditional East/West game.
Bombes Suck
wink wink
Shane Oliver
http://www.Sholi2000.com
Brandon, MB,Canada
R7B 2R7
hockey@sholi2000.com
Ph- 204 724 8418
is there a CFL game being played today.
Good luck big fellow! As a Als fan, I don’t care who wins today however in the spirit of our Habs brotherhood…go Blue!
CHeers Frank!
Also I noticed an earlier post where the poster mentioned patches and prices comments after last nights game. Both pointed out about “sitting back ” in the 3rd period. It was also brought up by Eric cole earlier in the week. It makes me wonder if he discontent on playing an outdated skill hampering system is begins to wear on the team. For that matter the system as it would appear to me is ” let’s hope Carey wins it for us ” because there is no structure there at all. And if you don’t think JM’s coaching style is suffocating to offensively gifted players just have a look at the current state of PK he does not look anything like the player he has been. And he is not the only one. A change in management in philosophy is what is needed. Some one also needs to remind. Cammy that just because he makes 6 mill a year doesn’t mean he IS a 6 million dollar player.
pacs was committed to the hit right before letang looked up. letang is a very intelligent hockey player, he knew max was coming just didn’t respect him. I’m not going to get upset over what max does or doesn’t get as it is out of our control as fans. I just want shanny to wake up and remember what its like to be a player as his head is so far up bettmans ass trying to keep his job. Im glad he hit him as a habs fan, regardless of the injury or outcome. Maybe players wont think they can just walk around the ice untouched by any habs players. don’t see teams taking those chances against boston or philly
It would be a good start.. At least if she’s behind the bench JM isn’t
Cole will be getting 60 minutes of ice time per game
And Boone won’t be allowed to ask any questions (not that he does anyway)
will the system allow that.
It will be Coach Jessica’s system, so yes.
if she gets the players attention..iam all for that.
I’ve been thinking. How would coach Jessica do behind Habs bench?
Not sure but I heard that she was PO’ed with you! Apparently you had said that you were sending flowers after the infamous press conference. And then nada big guy!
Hahaa… that’s cause Boone did not provide contact info. I wonder why.
The phone is ringing Max, pick it up and tell him sorry, I looked up andI could not get out of the way. His nose hit me on the elbow.
Hey, it worked for Lucic!
Didn’t Max get nailed to the head in the second period? Bet the league isn’t going to review that one. I think i there is clear re Shanahan now – he is just as corrupt as Campbell was. There are favorites, there are old buddies, and there are Habs. If Letang hits Max Pac the same way there is no phone call or a review.
From my personal standpoint, regardless of the outcome of that phone call, Shanahan is no different than Campbell.
I don’t see any hearing for Neal who clubbed PK with his stick on top of his head last night. Good thing PK had his helmet on at the time. The League says that you must be in control of your stick at all times. Well to me that was a head shot using his stick. Player can still get a concussion.
But I gues Shanny will be too busy trying to find a way to suspend Max that he’ll overlook the Neal play.
To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.
Not sayin’ that Patches is innocent in all of this but I think that with the amount of head injuries in the league, its getting to the point where they should just ban hitting. Any big hit is now being questioned and examined to death. Players are different sizes and there will be times when hits to the head happen indadvertedly as a result of size discrepancies. All the league is going to do I think is cause players to play super cautiously and fail to appropriately check their man with the current situation. I’d rather watch a game where players know hitting is outlawed than a game where players are super tentative and playing scared.
OHL NEWS
PK’s two brothers playing for the Belleville Bulls today were 1st and 2nd stars as they won today against the Oshawa Generals to climb into 1st place with the Ottawa 67′s.
Malcome in net and Jordon playing out.
Talent certainly seems to run in their genes, doesn’t it Ian?
They have had Dad as coach and they know how to skate like the wind. And reflexes are as quick as there is.
Last season we were ready to suspend Chara from the gallows. Didn’t happen.
This season it was Lucic. Same story.
Now we’re in fear what will happen to Patches. Should Shanahan rule in favour of sitting No. 67 for a game or more it will require a suspension of disbelief on the part of many Hab fans to accept such a decision.
I suspect that whatever explanation Shanahan provides in support of his ruling either way will not provide any certainty as to the league’s ultimate stance on how to curtail head shots.
If he does suspend Max, Habs fans will scream. If he doesn’t everyone else will. And either way, there will be no more certainty about Shanahan’s method.
hey guys long time reader first time poster….. (really need to get this out)
I have a fresh take on why that hit happened, essentially letang was careless; I personally had no problem with the hit(being a young man raised on old school hockey) any player that cuts through the slot like that especially in OT… I’ll make that hit 12 times out of 10. BUT i don’t argue that as the rules state its a contact to the head and in some officials eyes merit a suspension.
But as i see it, it was Letangs lack of respect for the physical aspect of our Montreal Canadiens (not that i blame him) that caused that hit, if you watch the replay from the other end of the ice looking down at the play you clearly see Letang look up identify Pacs, then he buries his head takes his shot and puts himself in this so called “vulnerable position”. He was convinced he was safe and no player even max who was on his way would hit him. What does that say about our team. Im tired of seeing suspensions because players have their head down. Never mind the NHL protecting its players players need to start protecting themselves.
just to clarify as i know the response ill get…. if roles were reversed and that was Staal on subban(similar height difference) he would deserve a broken nose.
p.s. the nhl needs a definite second count on whistles after a frozen puck, that call was ridiculous pretty sure the rule states a ref should blow play down when he loses sight of it not wait until it pops out back into site and then run away from gionta into the locker room without explanation
Welcome to the club.
I like your perspective on the hit, and it sways me more into the no suspension opinion, but as you say as well, it will be interesting to see what perspective Shannahan has with his philosophy. “Principle point of contact” was his catch phrase for a lot of the suspensions he has dolled out, and I’ll actually reference the Malone/Campoli hit in that I think Letang had dropped his head before Patches had “committed to the body check” (another catch phrase Shanny kept using).
And I can’t remember who it was he hit, Patches that is, but he has had a game suspension before so he may be considered a repeat offender. He plays a fine line sometimes and I think he has stated something to that effect in interviews, so I personally wouldn’t be surprised if he got a game or two in all fairness. To bad for us it would supremely suck if Pacioretty was suspended for any amount of time.
Welcome aboard and looking forward to many more of your posts in the future… even if I respectfully disagree with just about the entirety of it.
Re the ref’s error…. hey this is sports.. it happens.
Re pacs hit… I am praying for no or minimum suspension but wont equivocate about head shots because it is a HABS. Intentional or not a hearing is correct and at least a mark in Patche’s dossier.
My ONLY issue with Shanahan is his dismal performance in his job based on recent rulings. If he had maintained the clear and decisive application of the ‘new mandate’ that he started out with, I ould be more confident and accepting.
Hopefully it will be just a WARNING/FINE.
Again welcome aboard.
If the Lucic hit isn’t a suspension then neither is this one. Of course the league is crooked so they will suspend him. Can you imagine if MLB spent it’s time trying to fuck over the Yankees year in and year out or the NFL was trying to pull a fast one on the Cowboys? I wonder if the owner and management enjoy bending over and taking it. I know the Steinbrenners or Jerry Jones would have to sued the league into oblivion by now.
Mr. Pacioretty should continue to remind Mr. Shanahan about his “intentions” last night rather than the outcome. Just like Mr. Chara’s intentions were to politely check Mr. Pacioretty into the boards last March, rather than break his cervical vertebrae. All state of mind Max, remember to reinforce your intentions, since Mr. Shanahan might need a little assistance with the call. Not guilty!
I love Price’s and Patches’ reaction to sitting back in the third period. Cole said the similar thing a few games ago as well. You feeling the heat Martin? You should be.