The Gazette’s Herb Zurkowsky reports from this morning’s Bell Centre skate that both Alex Kovalev (ankle) and Josh Gorges (flu) skated and are expected to be in the Canadiens lineup tonight. Defenceman Roman Hamrlik (flu, skin condition) did not skate, but that was for "precautionary" reasons and he too is expected to play tonight. No word on who will be the healthy scratches.
Loading ...
Hockey Inside/Out: Absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens For editorial inquiries, contact Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan. For advertising inquiries, please contact your Gazette sales representative. © 2013 The Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement
2nd round pick , Carey Price was our 1st round pick and what a difference but a good gamble in the 2nd round even though their’s a hell of a lot of work in progress and learning has been slow to be complimentary.
I hope not. If anything HASN’T worked it’s Ryder-Koivu-Higgins. Chemistry is elusive, but it’s pretty obvious when it’s gone.
________________________________________________________________
Habs Fans! The FUTURE looks bright:
Plekanec, Higgins, Chipchura, A Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Latendress,
Price, S Kostitsyn, Komisuarus, O’Byrne
I dont say much on here, I read stuff on here like crazy….
Echo me ppl if you feel the same about this.
Does anybody else hate Aaron Ward as much as I do? I cannot STAND that guy.
He gets hurt every friggen game ive seen him play in, no matter what. He always comes right back. He’s never even hurt, but then announcers always comment on how friggen tough he is… It just gets on my friggen nerves bigtime.
I echoed my comments to a co-worker a couple months ago, and he just laughed. I guess his brother played junior with him and he was known for calling his mom crying on road trips…
I dunno, this has nothing to do with roster changes, but I cant stand seeing him interviewed on the score right now.
Love Donovan
Les Habitants – Good post and many of his goals in the past have been from around the net and he should play like he has in the past and forget about beating everybody with fancy crap and move the puck around and get down and dirty.
Vendetta? Not at all. I just think the player sucking the most should sit. How many assists does LaSlowesse have – 5? And what’s our first-round pick doing on the 4th line? The answer is simple – he can’t keep up with the other three lines.
If I was conducting a vendetta I’d want him to stay in the lineup every night until he is finally released or shipped out for a Zamboni tire. I think he needs to play lots of minutes in Hamilton to see if he pans out.
If it’s a close game then I doubt he or anyone else would put the game on the line with cheap shots. They need the points badly. Should the Habs be up by two or three goals going into the 3rd, then I’d definitely worry.
I did not know Downie was from Iraq !!
Hey Tom…I don’t think S.Kost is afraid of Downie. He crushed Downie in junior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb8kVOp-zEU&feature=related
I think Kosty knows Downie’s tricks and if he sees him coming he can handle himself.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
I happen to like Latendresse and I like having him in our lineup. He only plays on the fourth line and he has fourteen goals. Not many,if any, teams have guys on the fourth line who are on pace for twenty goals. I agree Latendresse has some problem areas, but I think his he brings moore to the lineup than others would in his place.
_______________________________________
Pessimism is a cowards way out.
Hi shiloh,
Have to agree with you to put Ryder in .I thought he played well the last time he played and I don’t know why they didn’t play him again ,he is better than Lat.
Tommy & Sulemaan – I’m a peace loving man who believes in clean hockey BUT if a guy like Downie goes after one of our stars then the smart thing to do is retaliate against someone like Briere or Mike Richards. Hit them where it hurts.
The Original 24 Cups
there’s history there too so we have to watch that donkey
Ryder should get the call tonight and skate alongside of Koivu and Higgins. Latendresse should be in the press box.
I’d love to see that too! But one thing I don’t want to see is Downie cheap-shot one of our guys, especially one of the younger guys like S.Kostitsyn. And you know he is capable of it. I’ll go with your thinking and add…better to go with a pre-emptive strike. Take Downie out early and take no chances.
truthfully, i would try and package streit in a deal and trade him. his value will never be higher and his offensive points shield his lack of defenseive skills.
I just want to see either Komsiarek, O’Byrne, Begin or Kostopolous line up Steve Downie for a nice open-ice hit. He’s a dirty player who could have nearly killed someone earlier this season and shouldn’t be playing in the league. I really hope he doesn’t take any runs at our players.
….yet from what I know with O’byrne in the line-up we are in term of average size and weight around 5th in the East…. anyway one spot bigger than the Flyers.
I’ve also noticed we’ve been seeing more of Koivu and hearing more from him in post-game interviews. But this is the time of year when he starts to really step it up. He’s always very noticeable in the run to the playoffs.
We need Begin’s gritty, physical play against the Flyers.
You would make Streit a healthy scratch???? That seems like an odd choice to me.
No idea…although I know he was fine yesterday, at the blood drive, and was talking about playing physical against philly. Maybe he just got a therapy day too
Yah, but that’s not the point…look at what else Higgins brings to the ice: while he doesn’t have finish, and boy, I think everyone realizes this summer more shooting the puck, less yoga, he generates like 5 scoring opportunities a game, does amazing work on the PK and works hard along the boards.
…and, just to make a point, Breezer couldn’t have scored either. How is a breakaway goal lucky? and the other one he was in the slot, and had to out-muscle Bouwmeester…Breezer do that??
Higgins is a complete player, and brings a lot of things to the ice that are really hard to find.
If he could just re-gain that finishing touch from last year…dynamite! and he’s still on pace for 50-60 pts, with 25+ goals.
so, he may be getting garabage goals, but he’s still scoring
I didn’t forget about him, i was wondering why he didnt practice. I was hoping someone had some insight about that.
Don’t worry, Breezer will still be scratched…you forgot about Cube, and they’ll want him in the lineup
If hammerlik is in, then i would expect streit to replace dandy but i wish he would replace brisebois
Everybody please. Ok Higgins scored 2 goals in 2 games. but for crying out loud. They were 2 very lucky goals that brisbois could have scored.
practiced lines were:
Forwards
A. Kostitsyn – Plekanec – Kovalev
Higgins – Koivu – S. Kostitsyn
Begin – Smolinski – Kostopoulos
Latendresse – Lapierre – Dandenault
Defence
Markov – Komisarek
Streit – O’Byrne
Gorges – Brisebois
Goaltender
Price
i wouldn’t tinker with the Koivu line right now.. it’s showing signs of life.
Ryder’s been given every opportunity to re-gain his form…and while he’s had flashes of his “old self”, he doesn’t have the confidence to shoot the puck and not doing that, he won’t secure a spot.
Sorry no way….Higgins On first not third…..
Best possible lineup for the habs but unlikely due to ryder
S. Kostitsyn- Koivu – M. Ryder
A. Kostitsyn – Plekanec – Kovalev
Higgins- Lapierre – Latendresse
Begin- Smolinski – Kostopolaus
Markov – Komisarek
Hamrlik – O’Byrne
Gorges – Bouillon
Breezer, Dandy, and Ryder would be my guess as well about who’ll be scratched, although I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Dandy in and Begin out.
I like the idea of Streit on a line with Lapierre and Lats…gives that line a bit more skill, and someone to pass the puck to Tender while Lapierre is running around somewhere on the ice…
random thought: have any of you noticed we’re seeing (and hearing) more of Koivu lately. i’m not sure if the journalists were just staying away from him, but lately it feels as though we’re hearing more for our capitain.
random thought 2: also, aside from Briere and little Marty Biron, boy the Flyers have a big team (e.g. Mike Knuble, 6’3″ 230lbs, etc):
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/roster?team=phi
I agree Steve. I don’t believe in gooning it up but the players should be ready to answer the bell. I also believe that Downie has history so I’d rather take him out first before he can unnerve our players. Kind of like Dale Hunter back in the glory days of the Habs/Nords.
what a hit! didn’t look like he knew where he was.
flyers are 0-5 we gotta beat them 2nite. price must be right.huets on the 45 game downslide let him sit.koveys ankle better carry him we need him. go habs go
I agree with you nightmare 49. He really needs some time to learn to play because he can’t keep up at the NHL level. And I don’t blame Latendresse one little bit – not his fault he’s had a free ride.
My breaking point was when Carbo sat out Andrei Kostitsyn !!!@!!!!! for three or four games while Lats ankled around out there. That was shocking. You couldn’t get me to trade AK46 for 50 Latendresse’s.
I like your thinking. Streit is important on the power play but that’s about it. And a defensive liablity.. we’ve seen that before. We can plug someone else in his spot.
________________________________________________________________
Habs Fans! The FUTURE looks bright:
Plekanec, Higgins, Chipchura, A Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Latendress,
Price, S Kostitsyn, Komisuarus, O’Byrne
To be honest with you Donavan , Markov is another one that has a low pain threshold and there are many like that and around junior hockey their’s been many a tear shed over homesickness and player’s bond , believe me you’d be surprised and any coach at that level will attest to that.
He is a Bruin
_______________________________________
Pessimism is a cowards way out.
I second Shiloh’s opinion but for different reasons as i don’t really blame Lats but management for their pampering of Lats who should have been learning his trade in Hamilton this year under the developement program of Don Lever just like everybody else. He has so much to learn.
Interesting. I thought they were keeping the contagious ones away… I guess Josh isn’t THAT out of it!
I think the reporters are having fun saying “The flu” a little too much.
That means the Breezer takes a seat!
Wouldn’t expect any less against a team like Philly
Why would they risk Gorges playing and contaminating the others…?
Even with Gorges out Striet could fill in instead of the Breezer.
Exactly my point too!!
Breezer! against Philly??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
howtathor…Keep Breezer in ,mabe they will injure him for the rest of the year.
Good boy, Alex! Tape the ankle up and walk it off!
.
.
.
______________________________________
“All bow down before the Komisaurus Rex!”
Not sure if the gazette(or any other media source) should of been saying kovy has an ankle injury instead of saying lower body injury. But maybe this should of fallen on carbo or gainey. I’m sure someone from the flyers will read the paper. This is the flyers we are talking about, look for his ankle to get some extra attention from the likes of downie.
As they say . . . his sore ankle is a long way from his heart! Play on!!
Good point, luckily B. Clarke is not dressing tonight.
I’d like these lines. Only reason Ryder’s out is because its Philly and I’d like to see both Begin and Kostopoulos playing.
A. Kostitsyn – Plekanec – Kovalev
Higgins – Koivu – S. Kostitsyn
Latendresse – Lapierre – Begin
Kostopoulos – Smolinski – Streit
Markov – Komisarek
Hamrlik – O’Byrne
Gorges – Bouillon
Scratches
—
Brisebois
Dandenault
Ryder
Pretty much agree, although I’d have to say I would flip Begin and Streit.
Smokes, Begin and Kostops usually play well together (as opposed to with others) and Carbo likes that line.
Lats needs SOMEBODY to pass to him (Lapierre isn’t it).
I have to disagree with you saying that the only reason Ryder’s out is because it’s Philadelphia. This is his 10th healthy scratch, and I am sure they were not all against Philly. Also, Ryder is among the team leaders in hits, and it’s not that he is afraid of the heavy going. Ryder is out because Carbonneau does not want him in, and it’s unlikely he will play again with the Habs, unless there are several injuries.
Hey just look on the bright side, the Leafs suck!
Does this line-up not remind you of the Habs (circa 1997-2002?) YUCK!
Antropov – Sundin – Steen
Tucker – Stajan – Blake
Kilger – Moore – Devereaux
Tlusty – Wellwood – Ponikarovsky
Defence
McCabe – Kubina
White – Gill
Kaberle – Colaiacovo
Goaltender
Toskala
Not rly….we didn’t have our whole roster udner a NO TRADE CLAUSE …LOL
Do you know where I can find the stats on hits and blocked shots in the league? I can’t seem to find it on NHL.com.
Its there is just under RTSS Player Stats. If anyone knows what that stands for they are a step ahead of me though.
ahhh, I know some people said we shouldn’t be laughing at the leafs, whole things about kickin a dog while its down or something,
But man…maybe I’m evil, but watching the leafs falter like this is damn satifsying…and everytime they lose and talk about re-building, i just take a look at their roster, all the players who are “committed” to staying and laugh.
Tucker, Kubina, Kaberle (although they’d be dumb to trade him), Sundin while others have contracts that are just too big….maybe someone will take Gill for depth, but they’ll get a 2nd rounder at best for him.