View from the Blues

Ohlund signs with lightning

Pat Hickey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:39:24 -0400

We've had our first two major signings involving defencemen and they raise the question of where Mike Komisarek's salary will fall,

The Calgary Flames signed Jay Bouwmeester for five years with an average salary of nearly $6.7 million while Tampa Bay snagged Mattias to a seven-year deal averaging $3.5 million. Ohlund is older than Komisarek but he has good sioze at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds and has an offensive component which Komisarek lacks.

Standings update

Pat Hickey — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:55:56 -0400

Sidney Crosby's shootout goal gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 win over Washington and that allowed the Penguins to jump over the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference standings. The Rangers moved ahead of the Canadiens earlier in the day. leaving the Canadiens in eighth place.

Florida, the Rangers and Penguins have 76 points each while the Canadiens and ninth-place Carolina have 75. The Hurricanes have played two more games than the Canadiens but they currently have one more victory and that's the first tiebreaker if they finish the season deadlocked.

Looking Back

Chris Aung-Thwin — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:08:32 -0400

A season that began deluged with questions, ended with a single, stark statement:
Les Glorieux are back.

A bit over a week has gone by since the 2007-08 season came to an end for the Montreal Canadiens, and there is now one week less to go until the start of next season. The team may have lost their final game and with it, their 2nd round series to the under-estimated and much maligned Flyers, but the Habs most definitely did not finish the year as losers.

Prior to the 07/08 season, before any skates had been sharpened or any pucks dropped, journalists, pundits, and amateur enthusiasts were making bold predictions about which teams would still be lacing it up come April.

Many experts predicted that the Habs would be swinging irons this spring instead of slapping sticks. Scott Burnside of ESPN penciled Montreal into the 14th spot. The Hockey News put them in at 13th. Pat Hickey gave the boys a hometown deal and the eighth seed in the East. Red Fisher was even more generous, sneaking the Habs into 7th place. Although Red thought that the team still needed "a big name game-breaker like [Daniel] Brière". Brière? Ouch.

But the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge surprised us all – knocked our socks off, really – by finishing first in the Eastern Conference. They didn’t just win, however, they won with style: Les Boys had the highest scoring offense (262 GF) and the most potent power play (24.2%; 90GF) in the league; they had a player who finished 11th overall in scoring; they had an all-star defenseman; they could beat you with the dazzle and speed of their youth or the smarts and grit of their seasoned veterans. They had a glut of talent between the pipes. This, of course, is what we know now.

Looking back at the pre-season predictions, it is impossible to condemn any analyst for putting the Habs on the outskirts of the standings. There were simply too many unknowns.

Would Alex Kovalev finally step up to be the player that everyone knew he could be?
With golden locks flowing and a playful and confident quickness in his stride, AK-27 answered that question with a resounding ‘yes’. The Russian Magician returned from a dismal 2006-07 season and finished with 35G-49A-84P, a +18 plus-minus rating, and most importantly – a renewed love for the game.

Could the Habs recover from the loss of UFA Sheldon Souray?
When Souray and his howitzer of a shot bolted for big Oil money, people naturally assumed that the Habs lethal powerplay would start firing blanks. Surprisingly, it was quite the opposite. The attack with the man-advantage actually got better. What the Habs lost in pure firepower, they more than made up for with creativity and team work. Goals were chipped in by everybody and from everywhere.

Would the Habs youth movement sink or swim?
Andrei Kostitsyn, a big question mark at the beginning of the year, exploded with a 26G-27A-53P and a +15 plus-minus rating. The scrutiny that was focused on him soon turned to his younger brother, Sergei. Any doubt about SK-74, however, evaporated in about a shift – he finished the season with 51 hard earned penalty minutes and 9G-18A-27P in 52 games. And speaking of youth movements, have I mentioned Carey Price? During the final stretch of the regular season, after former All-Star Cristobal Huet had been shipped off, Price more than proved himself, showing that he deserves to back-stop an NHL team.

Looking back, every big question was answered with a positive. Not to say that it was an entirely fairy tale season: the Habs goal-scoring prowress was stymied when it counted most, Michael Ryder did improve his defensive play but not without hurting his offensive game, Carey Price was great - but showed that he's human, and it is obvious that Guillaume Latendresse has not yet matured into the power forward that the team still needs. All in all, however, this season was more than a step in the right direction – it was a big, unified leap. The veterans flexed their muscles, using their experience and leadership, and the youth impressed by showcasing some of their fantastic potential.

Looking back, we can put to rest the big, worrisome questions that were surrounding the Habs. Looking back, we can now look forward.

Can you say, "Big Game"?

Chris Aung-Thwin — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:02:01 -0400

Now or never. (THE GAZETTE/John Kenney)Carey “I’m Rested” Price is getting the nod.
Alex “Something to Prove” Kovalev is going to be reunited with linemates Andre Kostitsyn and Tomas Plekanec.
The Montreal “Must-Win” Canadiens return to the friendly confines of the boisterous Bell Centre for Game 5.

But maybe most importantly – Guy Carbonneau will sport “the tie”.

I think that the Habs will break this one wide open.

If they can start the game skating and earn a quick first goal, the pent up frustration of the last 4 games will be unleashed in an offensive onslaught of such finality that the Flyers won’t want to play games 6 or 7.

If the Habs win tonight and win convincingly, I think they can grab the series.

I’d like to see Michael Ryder in the line-up. I’m thinking back to the last game of last season – another must win game – and the Newfoundland native put three codfish into the Maple Leafs’ net. Looking at the lines I understand that it’s difficult to make room for him, but I think that I’d sit Mark Streit and have Ryder play with Maxim Lapierre and Guillaume Latendresse. The Higgins-Koivu-Ryder line could even be reunited for a few shifts.

Sergei Kostitsyn can take Streit’s spot on the powerplay. SK lined up well with Tenderness and Laps when they played a few games together a couple months ago, so mixing up the lines during the game wouldn’t be a big risk. The first line of AK-27, Pleks, AK-46 and the shutdown line of Steve Begin, Bryan Smolinksi, Tom Kostopolous can stay intact for the game.

I’m sure Ryder is done with the Habs after the playoffs and it would also be nice to see him in the bleu-blanc-rouge one last time.

…

I think Carbo made the right decision going with Jaroslav Halak last game. Sure, we didn’t get the win, but Halak played well and it gave Price a chance to get some rest – both physical and mental. During the intros and the anthems last game in Philadelphia, the camera zoomed in on Price a few times and you could tell that it was the first time he was really taking a good look around. He’s only 20 years-old and is in the NHL playoffs as the number one goaltender for the storied Montreal Canadiens.

I’m glad that he got to be a fan for a game.

But the break’s over, kid – time to get back to work.

…

Tonight’s standouts: Carey Price, Christopher Higgins, Bryan Smolinksi, Francis Bouillon, the Tie.

Pop Quiz

Chris Aung-Thwin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:13:41 -0400

You’re down 2-1 in a series.
You’ve lost home-ice advantage.
Your starting goaltender was pulled from his last start.
Your team is playing well, but not winning games.

What do you do?

Questions, questions, questions. (THE GAZETTE/John Kenney)A) Dynamite the line-up
B) Dynamite the line-up, but just a little
C) Nothing, but tell everyone to play “better”
D) Tell Carbo to wear the lucky tie
E) Other (please explain)

I thought the Habs played pretty well last night. They shot the puck at the net, generated scoring chances (dang post, again!), and scored a couple on the powerplay.

They didn’t, however, capitalize on early chances (including the worst-looking 5-on-3 I’ve ever seen), or let Price see the puck (he was screened on the first two goals).

Montreal out shot Philadelphia 34-14. They’re getting chances, but not burying them. Besides those pesky post-season posts, both Higgins and Kovalev had great chances but didn’t get the puck on goal. The Habs best players have to be their best players. And speaking of which, what’s happened to Andrei Markov? He’s looking like a 6th-round draft pick out there. Everyone has been denying that he’s playing hurt, but…

So, armchair GM, what do you do?

Do you go drastic? Insert Halak and rest Price?

How about this for a shake up: play Gregory Stewart and sit Maxim Lapierre; play Michael Ryder and sit Mark Streit (move Sergei Kostitsyn to the point on the powerplay); and play Patrice Brisebois, if he’s healthy. Guillaume Latendresse had 5 shots on net and 5 hits, he finished with 12:40 of ice-time and had an even (+/-) rating. He deserves another game.

The lines could be:

Higgins – Koivu – Kovalev
A. Kostitsyn – Plekanec – S. Kostitsyn
Ryder – Smolinksi – Kostopolous
Stewart – Begin – Latendresse

Markov – Komisarek
Hamrlik – Brisebois
Gorges – Bouillon

…

Or do you just ride out this hump and tell the players who’ve been on the ice that you have faith in them and let them go to work?

One thing that HAS to change is the absence of Habs in front of Martin Biron. The Flyer’s netminder has been getting a ton of easy point shots which only builds his confidence. There’s hardly any traffic in front of the net to either screen the shot or re-directed it, and there’s definitely no Sean Avery-like pressure on Biron. He’s a great goaltender, but if you can get into his head you can beat him. Maybe Ryan O’Byrne should be dressed as a forward and told to plant all 6’5” of himself on top of that blue goalie ice…

Whichever players make it into Wednesday’s line-up, one things for certain – we need that ‘W’. The Habs can play their worst game of the year for all I care – as long as they even up the series before coming back home for Saturday’s game.

As for the pop quiz, please have your answers in by no later than Wednesday, 7:00P.M. Cheating off your neighbour is not allowed - unless, of course, your stolen answers are the solution to the Canadiens woes.

The 'W' Is All That Matters

Chris Aung-Thwin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:15:46 -0400

Phew!

How many times this season do you think we’ve heard, “this was a game the Canadiens shouldn’t have won…”?

Gorges wrings out Sami Kapanen. (THE GAZETTE/Allen McInnis)After getting two shots past Flyer’s netminder Martin Biron in the opening minutes (but not those dang posts), the Habs were put onto their heels because of an own-goal by veteran rearguard Patrice Brisebois (it just haaaaad to be Breezer, didn’t it?). All evidence of a good start was then erased when ex-Hab Jim Dowd was left alone in the slot with enough time to ponder the meaning of life and rocket one past Carey Price. After that, the Habs didn’t really look like the Habs, and yet still somehow managed to escape with the “W”.

Not all of les boys played poorly (although some did) – a few put in strong performances.

Josh Gorges – He was great. I think he played good, positional hockey and the 23 year-old looked to be pretty calm out on the ice when many other guys were panicking. He played the man, he helped clear rebounds, and made a few good hits.

Andre Kostitsyn – Looked like he was the only Habs forward trying to score for about half of the game. He finished with 1 goal, 3 shots, and an even (+/-) rating, but he created a lot more chances by leading the rush up the ice. He made a great move on the penalty shot, but Biron stayed with him.

Carey Price – He had three goals scored against him, but none of them were his fault. The ice-breaker was Breezer’s deflection, the second was Dowd’s blast, and the third hit the net after a couple of lucky bounces off of Joffrey Lupul’s glove and skate. It’s a shame that Price didn’t get the votes for the Calder trophy nomination.

Saku Koivu – Everyone said at the NHL trade deadline that Montreal needed to find someone who could win them face-offs. Well, Saku won 17-of-24 last night and has won 40-of-59 (67.8%) face-offs in his last three games.

Alex Kovalev – This wasn’t necessarily his strongest all-around performance, but you wouldn’t have known that after he potted his 2nd of the night and men everywhere (or at least in my living room) professed their philotic love for the Russian magician.

Tomas Plekanec – Fast.

Begin/Smoke/TK – From now on they are no longer individuals, but one unified line. Overtime game-winner. ‘Nuff said.

…

While the Habs got the win it wasn’t convincing and it wasn’t easy. Mike Komisarek played well but looked very frustrated out there and his penalties were unnecessary and costly. He’ll need to settle down – just a bit – for Saturday’s game. The Flyers powerplay was smokin’ during the rgular season and has only gotten better during the playoffs. Everyone has been saying that the Flyers have to stay out of the box in order to compete, but the same goes for the Habs.

Guy Carbonneau, Kirk Muller, and Doug Jarvis need to figure out how to deal with Philly’s forecheck. The Canadiens offense starts with that first pass, but the Flyers were doing a good job of pressuring the defense and clogging up the neutral zone, making it tough for the Habs to get their attack going.

The Habs trouble-makers need to put a little more pressure on Martin Biron. Maxim Lapierre, I’m looking at you.

For Saturday’s game, I’d like to see a line-up change. Nothing drastic, but maybe insert Ryan O’Byrne for Brisebois, or perhaps Michael Ryder for Mathieu Dandenault. I’d like to see some fresh legs out there. Any ideas?

Oh, and did anyone else hear Don Cherry give Bangladesh the put-down yesterday?

The Couch vs. the Bar

Chris Aung-Thwin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:50:39 -0400

Where do you cheer on the Habs? (THE GAZETTE/ Pierre ObendraufWhere do you watch Habs games?

Do you have a sweet HD set-up that keeps you glued to your couch? Or do you have a local good luck watering hole where you catch all of the games?

Personally, I love watching from home. I can sit on my couch, put my
feet up, stockpile a couple cold ones in the fridge, and flip between
channels to keep an eye on the other games. I’ve got a good view of the screen, the sound is adjusted perfectly, and everything I need is at
arm’s length.

So do I watch that many games from home? No, not really.

Watching from home might seem ideal, but for hockey – especially Montreal Canadiens’ playoff hockey – the bar is my venue of choice. There is something that just feels right when you’re piled into a place with too many people and not enough chairs; where every set of eyes is cemented to a TV screen; where every glass is half-full and half-warm because both the customers and the servers have long forgotten about the drinks and have been swept up by the action.

Montreal is flush with bars, resto-bars and taverns, and I’m curious to know where Habs Inside/Out members watch the games.

The past couple seasons, my bar of choice has been Le Pistol, on Boulevard St-Laurent. There’s a great cast of regulars who know their hockey and love their Habs. The place is always packed, loud, and the crowd is unusually talented at pointing out when the opposition is off-side. If the Habs make Round 2, there are rumours that the owner is going to bring out the big gun - the organ.

On Tuesday, I tried la Taverne Verres Stérilisés, on Rue St-Hubert. The game was barely 5 minutes old and Tim Thomas was already being heckled, Zdeno Chara was being booed, and Carey Price was elevated to the status of a god. I didn’t bother asking if Boston fans were welcome.

I’ve heard good things about Chez Serge, also on Boulevard St-Laurent, but haven’t yet been there myself. And then, of course, there are all the places near the Bell Centre – la Cage aux Sports, Ye Olde Orchard, McLean’s Pub, and about (and this is an estimate) a million others.

So, where in Montreal do you watch games? Do you have any recommendations for your fellow Habs fans? And you out-of-towners – have you found any good places near you that show Canadiens games?

Open Letter to the CBC

Chris Aung-Thwin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:08:02 -0400

To:

Scott Moore, Executive Director of CBC Sports
Sherali Najak, Executive Producer of Hockey Night in Canada

Subject: Hockey Night in Canada

As a longtime viewer of Hockey Night in Canada, a fan of the NHL, and a proud Canadian, I am writing to profess my complete disappointment with CBC-TV for continuing to air a show that alienates viewers, does damage to its reputation, and also tarnishes the respectability of all Canadian broadcasters.

And his name was... Korvalev? (THE GAZETTE/Allen McInnis)My disdain is directed mainly towards the host of Coach’s Corner, Don Cherry, and the Hockey Night in Canada producers who allow him to monopolize the airwaves with out-dated, biased, and hypocritical diatribes.

Mr. Cherry’s commentaries can be compared to the clutch-and-grab style of play that was characteristic of the old NHL. His opinions and analysis come slowly, are under-developed, and are too rigid for a dynamic and informed audience. He is making a mockery of HNIC and making a fool of himself. The fault is entirely his own: Mr. Cherry has only ever been tripped up by his own misguided sentiments and lumbering words. His closed-minded, egotistical approach will no longer win over hockey fans and perhaps while once popular, his soapbox speeches are no longer suited for the wired generation where choice is abundant and broadcasters need to be quick-witted, knowledgeable, respectful, and maybe most importantly – fair and unbiased.

Mr. Cherry’s preference for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins is blatant, no more so than during last Saturday’s broadcast of Game 2 between the Montreal Canadians and the Boston Bruins. He repeatedly analyzed the game from the perspective of a Boston fan, criticized the officiating, and replayed a playoff video from 1995 in a way which was highly critical of Canadiens’ superstar, Alexei Kovalev.

Firstly, Kovalev, who led the Canadiens in points during the regular season, is one of the most exciting players to watch in all of hockey right now and his stellar play helped propel Montreal to finish 1st in the Eastern Conference – better than any other Canadian team. Instead of showing a video from over a decade ago, wouldn’t it be more relevant to air a video of Kovalev now? A video of Kovalev who has produced dozens of highlight reel goals this season? The same Kovalev (or as Mr. Cherry refers to him, Korvalev) who scored the overtime winner against Boston that very night?

Secondly, in reference to the officiating that night, Boston was called for 8 penalties (not the 9000 that Mr. Cherry claimed), while Montreal was called for 7. Not a great difference by any stretch of the imagination.

Thirdly, Don Cherry, who speaks so proudly of being Canadian and speaks so passionately about what it means to be Canadian, is quite openly cheering for an American team. There is no problem with that, per se, but he is cheering against the Canadian team that has the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

Whether or not the Montreal Canadiens actually win the Cup may not be important, or even relevant to the CBC, but it is important, at least in terms of advertising dollars, that a Canadian team compete in the Finals. Is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation content to have their most recognizable personality, a host who has the ear of a nation, root against its own best interests? Is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation content to have a man who has repeatedly shown a dislike for Quebec-born players represent them? If you type in anti-Quebec sentiment into the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, guess whose name pops up? Is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation content to have one man alienate an entire fan base?

Shame on you for turning this man into a celebrity.

The French-language sports network, RDS, is proving to be the example of how to cater to a hockey hungry television audience. The team that they have formed to present Canadiens’ games is made up of respectful professionals who can both criticize and praise the hometown team. While their passion and bias is firmly in bed with the Canadiens, they remain open-minded enough to give credit and heap compliments on opposing players, coaches, and teams. Mr. Cherry seems to have enormous difficulty giving credit when credit is due.

With the CBC’s ratings being surpassed by regional broadcaster RDS, it might be time for a change on HNIC. A re-tooled format where all of the Canadian teams get more-or-less equal coverage and the hiring of new personalities who better represent all of Canada, might make a good start. I was once proud and excited to hear the opening notes to the Hockey Night in Canada theme. Now I hide my embarrassment behind the brash riffs of les Méchant Mardis.

Planet Habs

Chris Aung-Thwin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:44:42 -0400

Tom Kostopolous earns some PIM. REUTERS/CJ Gunther (UNITED STATES)There has been much debate about how the Habs have managed to clinch a playoff spot and set the pace in the Eastern Conference. Some say it’s all because of Kovalev; others give credit to the powerplay (which is, as of this writing, still first in the NHL at 24.2%); some think that the young guns, like the Kostitsyns, are the driving force behind the Habs unexpected success this year.

Personally, I think it’s because the planets are aligning.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find (yet) any astronomical ‘stats’ to prove me right, but I did stumble upon some interesting hockey numbers which show that the Habs are aligning divinely on the ice.

…

Alex Kovalev is having the second best season (statistically) of his career. In 77 games, he has 33G-46A-79P. AK-27 had his best year in 2000-01 when he had totals of 44G-51A-95P. His +17 plus-minus rating this season is one off of his +18 way back in 1993-94. His 16 powerplay goals are a career high.

Both Mike Komisarek and Francis Bouillon each currently have career best plus-minus ratings of +9. As guys who don’t make it onto the scoreboard very often, this is a very impressive number. Komisaurus still leads the league in blocked shots with 227, and is 2nd in hits with 266.

Andrei Markov’s appearance in 77 games this season is two off of his career high of 79 games played in 2002-03. He has set new career bests in goals (16) and points (57). If the Habs manage, however, to lock up first place in the Northeast Division, it might be wise to give Markov some time off considering his history of back problems. He is averaging 24:58 minutes/game (16th – NHL) and the Habs will need him healthy and rested for the playoffs.

Tomas Plekanec is having a career season in every category.

Christopher Higgins is 3 games off of his career high of 80 games played which was set in his 2005-06 - his rookie year. His 25 assists and 48 points are career bests.

Both Saku Koivu and Tom Kostopolous have set personal highs for PIM with 94 and 109, respectively.

Andrei Kostitsyn, who has 25G-26A-51P and is +13, has a shot percentage of 17.01%, which is above his average (in Hamilton and Montreal) of 14.43%. Little brother, Sergei, has a shot percentage of 21.43%.

Josh Gorges has set career highs in assists (9) and points (9), and can match his career best in goals with his next tally.

Maxim Lapierre is having a career year in all categories. His biggest feat is his turn around from a -7 plus-minus rating last year, to a +6 this year.

Roman Hamrlik is having a career season in fan appreciation.

From the Reds

Chris Aung-Thwin — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:07:58 -0400

On Thursday, March 13, I had - for the first time - the good fortune of watching a game from the Reds. My brother-in-law offered me a ticket and I jumped at the opportunity. The seats were at center ice, just a few rows back from the penalty boxes and the RDS cameras. With the Canadiens fighting for first place with the visiting Senators, I prepared myself for an exciting night.

We arrived at the Bell Centre in time for the warm-up. My Onfirst feelings were those of awe in the face of enormity - from rinkside the place is impressively massive. From up top everything seems small, but from down below everything seems big. Somehow even the players seemed larger than life: Kostopolous was a giant, Komisarek was a tower, and even Sergei K seemed big - he had the air of a boyhood Hercules about him. Perhaps, however, everything was taking on an improvised grandeur because of the child-like thrill that was welling up deep within me.

Unfortunately, that child-like thrill was made a quick victim by a hapless Habs team out-played and out-hustled by a well-prepared Senators club. My enthusiasm for the lackluster performance was about as muted as the solidarity that I felt - or rather, didn't feel - for a fan base that was not my own. I say the Habs killed my excitement, but it may just as easily have been the lower deck fans. In my ripped jeans and blue CH longsleeve, I felt like a displaced Montrealer who was attending an away game in Corporate City. I stood out painfully in a sea of ties, lapels and polished shoes. With heckles and a thirst for a warm and sudsy Molson Ex scratching at my throat, I knew that I did not belong.

The cheers and jeers from the upper deck fell to my ears, beckoning me home. I had never been closer to the players and the sounds of their sticks and the slicing of their skates but, at heart, I was with my compatriots who were spilling their beer and taunting the Sens from way up where the air is thin.

Granted, vos Canadiens de Montreal put on a less than spectacular show, but the apathy that permeated the lower deck was, in my opinion, inexcusable. In the City that is Hockey, every seat in the house of les Glorieux should be reserved for those that bleed bleu-blanc-et-rouge.

I loved the experience of being by the ice, where the sweat and determination of the players are vividly on display, but I prefer to shed my tears and scream my joys sitting alongside the best hockey fans in the world.

So the next time I’m at a game, you’ll be able to find me back upstairs in the Blues.

Sorry, do you speak Hockey?

Chris Aung-Thwin — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:24:08 -0500

Stats. The international language of sports enthusiasts.

Give and you shall receive - Scott Hartnell gives Mike Komisarek a taste of his own medicine.(THE GAZETTE/John Mahoney)

Endless totals, fractions, percentages, milestones, streaks and slumps – the numbers flow plentifully from the fast-moving mouths of professional analysts and bar stool commentators. Stats can be used to prove anything - and often mean nothing - especially as the game clock ticks down. We strive, in vain, to predict the outcome of tomorrow’s game from the result of yesterday’s.

There is truth to the idea that numbers can tell a story, but there is so much that is left unsaid. In the dialect that is unique to hockey, terms such as goals, goals-against, save percentage, and points-per-game are tossed about with an almost absurd frequency. Most fans, however, know that there is more to the game than just numbers. You cannot quantify leadership. A thunderous body check cannot be turned into a fraction. There isn’t a percentage for determination.

Still, for better or for worse, stats is the language that we speak. We need the cleanliness of numbers to understand a chaotic game. Now that Les Glorieux are sitting (precariously) atop the Eastern Conference, I had planned to use some choice figures to prove why they deserve to be there. Instead, I will present a slew of stats, without the drivel, and let you decide which numbers are meaningful and which are meaningless.

...

All stats are valid prior to Monday's games.

Montreal's line-up tonight will have a combined plus-minus rating of +19.

The Habs have 7 players with 40 or more points (most in the NHL).

Montreal has 9 players with 12 or more goals (most in the NHL). There are, however, 4 other teams (Dallas, Detroit, Philly, and Ottawa) that have 9 players with 10 or more goals. The NY Rangers have a league best 10 players with 10 or more goals.One of 209 celebrations. (THE GAZETTE/Allen Mcinnis)

Mark Streit and Saku Koivu each have 12G-36A-48P and both have a -6 plus-minus rating. They both also have 3 game-winning goals.

Alex Kovalev ranks 1st in the league with 40 powerplay points (16G-24A). He ranks just inside the top 100 with 26 even-strength points. Andrei Kostitsyn has 28 even-strength points - the same as Marian Hossa. Tomas Plekanec leads the team with 32 ESP.

The Habs are 2nd (tied with Detroit) in the league with 209 goals scored. Ottawa leads with 216. Montreal's powerplay continues to dominate the league, operating at a 25.3% efficiency. In 66 games, they have scored 78 goals on 308 opportunities with the man-advantage. Montreal has allowed 2 short-handed goals-against, which is best in the league. Their PK is a lowly 80.5% which ranks them 23rd in that category. 51 goals have been scored against the Habs when they are at the disadvantage. The Canadiens have scored 7 short-handed goals.

Kovalev's 68 points (29G-39A) have him ranked 16th in the league.

Mike Komisarek leads the NHL with 195 blocked shots. Roman Hamrlik is 8th overall with 142.

Andrei Markov's 50 points (13G-37A) rank him 3rd in the league amongst defensemen. Mark Streit's 48 points (12G-36A) have him one rung down at 4th. Exactly half of Streit's points have come on the powerplay.

Carey Price has won 6 of his last 7 starts (not including the historic Rangers game). Since the trade of Cristobal Huet, Price has gone 3-0-0 with a 0.956 save percentage and a goals-against average of 1.33.

Montreal has not been in first place this late in the season since 1993.

The Canadiens have 16 games remaining, 9 of which are against divisional rivals.

Montreal's Top 5 Hitters:
Komisarek (237)
Bouillon (144)
Latendresse (114)
Hamrlik (104)
Ryder (100)

Points-Per-Game Leaders
Kovalev 1.03
Plekanec 0.89
Markov 0.76
Koivu 0.74
Streit 0.73
A. Kostitsyn 0.68
Higgins 0.62
S. Kostitsyn 0.50
Ryder 0.45
Smolinksi 0.37

Blue in the Face

Chris Aung-Thwin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:19:44 -0500

Carey "The Puck Stops Here" Price. (THE GAZETTE/John Mahoney)

From the comments here on Inside/Out, it was obvious that some fans were happy with the Huet trade, while some were sad and disheartened, but mainly it seemed that people were surprised - and even mildly confused - that Montreal's Number One netminder had been moved to the Washington Capitals. You can count me among that perplexed majority.

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone and I'm still holding my breath. When I learned that netminder Cristobal Huet had been traded to the Washington Capitals (for a 2009 2nd round draft pick) I was, to say the least, shocked. Huet has been a solid puckstopper and a consummate team player. His presence will be missed. I have, however, tremendous faith in GM Bob Gainey. I figured that the move would be for the best and also that the Canadiens would be very busy before Tuesday's 3:00 P.M. deadline.

So, like everyone else, I waited.

The clocks on all the sports networks ticked down steadily - sometimes faster, and sometimes slower - than I would have liked. As it became clear that Pittsburgh's GM, Ray Shero, had negotiated a true deadline buzzer-beater and snatched Marian Hossa away from the grasping hands of Gainey and others; that Ollie Jokinen would see another sunrise in Sunrise; that Brad Richards, Brian Campbell, Sergei Federov, had all been traded to teams other than the Canadiens; that Jared Stoll, Jeff Carter, Bobby Holik, Chris Gratton were staying put on their respective teams; and that Vincent Lecavalier, Rick Nash and Marion Gaborik weren't all coming to the Habs in a surprise deal - I felt oddly unsatisfied. I say oddly because prior to the deadline I wasn't in favour of any potential big moves involving the Canadiens. Acquiring a big, strong, face-off winning center for a draft pick was about as exciting as I was willing to get. After Huet was traded, however, I started to hope that something good was coming back to the Habs. But nothing did.

I guess that in the end this is an example of addition by subtraction. I've been a fan of Carey Price since the day that the Habs drafted him and I believe that he will be a franchise goaltender. I've been a fan of Jaroslav Halak since watching him play for the Canadiens last year and I believe that he can be a Number 1 netminder. Now they will both get a chance to prove themselves. Price will be pushed because the spotlight is focused squarely on him. Halak will get the chance to show that his strong performance last year in the NHL and his excellence in the AHL over the past two seasons was no fluke. The Habs' forwards will get the chance to show that they can score - and that they can win - without an "impact" player. Hopefully this team can play strong, consistent hockey and show everyone why Bob Gainey has such faith in them.

NOTES

I guess my "worst-case scenario" concerning the Montreal goaltending situation isn't likely to happen. With Halak getting a chance to play in the NHL, even as a back-up, he probably won't bolt to Russia in the off-season. Hopefully we can see a Price/Halak tandem for years to come.

...

The Washington Capitals made some decent acquisitions on deadline day picking up Matte Cooke, Sergei Federov, and, of course, Huet. The Capitals are hoping to make a push and sneak into the playoffs. They could grab the 8th spot, or if they surpass Carolina and grab the lead in the weak SouthEast Division, they could theoretically place 3rd in the East. While the race is very tight right now, Montreal could very easily finish in the sixth spot. A Montreal-Washington matchup in the first round? That would be interesting.

T-Minus 7 Days

Chris Aung-Thwin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:24:11 -0500

The NHL trade deadline is a very short week away. With Peter Forsberg's return put on hold (again), the cost of making a big, splashy trade just went up. Is Montreal still in the market?

Down in Naples, Florida, Bob Gainey admitted that he'd like to add an "A-level player" - but don't hold your breath Habs' fans - the Montreal GM added that the type of player he is looking for is a rare find.

The biggest name that's still blowing in on those pesterly trade winds is that of Atlanta Thrashers forward, Marian Hossa. His offensive prowess would be a welcome addition as it would take some scoring pressure off of Kovalev, Plekanec, and Andrei Kostitsyn. Hossa's experience would be appreciated by the young guys on the team, but the big question is how would leaders like Koivu - and more importantly, Kovalev - react. Team chemistry can go a long way, especially in the playoffs, and that's something Gainey probably doesn't want to risk upsetting.

Is Vincent Lecavalier looking to play in a bigger market? (Photo by Bruce Bennet)

With Montreal currently tied for 1st place in the East, Gainey shouldn't be feeling any pressure to make a big move, especially for a rental player. The Habs will have good leverage in any potential negotiations because other GMs know that Gainey isn't desperate and won't overpay. Teams on the playoff bubble (NY Rangers, Calgary, Vancouver) or other teams struggling through a rough patch (Ottawa, Philadelphia, Detroit), will be more likely to overpay for the same players that Montreal has shown an interest in.

And who, in all honesty, is Gainey willing to trade away? I'd love to land a 40-goal scorer, but if Montreal is only putting guys like Ryder, Dandenault, Grabovski, Halak, or Tom the Bomb on the table, rival GMs will be far from satisfied. Some people are calling for Bryan Smolinski to be traded, but he has a no-trade clause as part of his contract because he and his family wanted to make themselves a home here, that is, for at least this year. The Habs could offer some prospects and maybe a couple of draft picks, but most GMs (like Atlanta's Don Waddell) are looking for roster players like Chris Higgins.

That's too high of a price for Gainey.It's more likely that he'll go after a small piece that will fit easily into the system.

Other names that have been popping up:

Jared Stoll (C): A good two way center who'll win some faceoffs (55.2%). Minnesota might make a better offer for him as they really need some depth down the middle.

Chris Gratton (C): He'd give the Habs some (needed) toughness and plays well as a shutdown center. He has a faceoff percentage of 54.6%.

Trent Hunter (RW): His versatility would be an upgrade from Michael Ryder and he'd be a good fit for Carbonneau's system. Unfortunately, I think he fits into Ted Nolan's system too.

Sergei Federov (C): An experienced veteran who can score, make plays, or defend, Federov could help the Habs down the stretch.

Vaclav Prospal (LW): Several teams would like to pick up his scoring ability, and because everyone knows he's being shipped out of Tampa, Montreal probably won't offer enough to compete with other interested teams.

Bobby Holik (C): At 37, he's a big (6'4", 240lbs), experienced centerman who'll contribute more as a defensive forward than as a goal scorer. Atlanta is still very much in the playoff hunt and will want immediate help in return for Holik.

There has also been talk of Dan Boyle wanting to come to Montreal, but those reports were apparently untrue, as were the ones that claimed Vincent Lecavalier wanted out of Tampa so that he could play in a bigger market. The price for Boyle will be high and Montreal already has a lot of depth on D. As for Vinny, GM Jay Feaster will make finding a decent goalie and re-signing Lecavalier to a long-term contract his top priorities this summer.

If by this time next year, however, the Lighning are still struggling and Lecavalier hasn't been locked up long term, well, wouldn't he look good in bleu-blanc-et-rouge?

Zednik Updates, Links

Chris Aung-Thwin — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:54:23 -0500

Richard Zednik's condition continues to improve after undergoing life-saving surgery at Buffalo General Hospital. Yesterday, Zednik was upgraded from stable to good condition and has been moved from the intensive care unit to a private room.

CKAC and RDS are reporting that the Florida Panthers' forward could be released as early as today.

After being accidentally sliced in the neck by teammate Ollie Jokinen's skate, Zednik reportedly lost one-third of the blood from his body before the deadly flow could be stopped.

That, however, didn't stop the 32 year-old Slovak from asking when he could get back on the ice. For a good summary of the story, click here: TSN on Zednik

To read fan messages posted for Zednik (or to post one yourself) click here:

Zednik messages, Part 1

Zednik messages, Part 2

For updates from Buffalo General Hospital, click here (updates appear on the right, under Buffalo General News):

Zednik Updates

This piece appears in today's Miami Herald and has comments from the Panthers' organization, including Ollie Jokinen:

Jokinen replays 'a freak accident'

...

Zednik, a former Hab, is earning $1.5 million this season and is under contract next year at $1.75 million. In 54 games this season, he has 15 goals, 11 assists and is -5. His best season was in 2002/03, when he notched 31 goals and 50 points in 80 games.

He is married to Canadian actress Jessica Welch, with whom he has a four year-old daughter named Ella.

...

Prior to tonight's game versus Montreal, the Florida Panthers, in conjuction with Florida Blood Centers, are hosting a blood drive just outside of the BankAtlantic Center. Donations will be accepted from 4:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Blood Drive Info

Trade Rumours

Chris Aung-Thwin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:42 -0500

A little over a month ago, Bob Gainey didn't see any glaring deficiencies on what appeared to be a solid Montreal Canadiens' roster. After Ottawa completely dismantled that very same roster on Saturday night, however, the Habs' GM might be taking a closer look as the NHL trade deadline quickly approaches.

Montreal continued building with youth last year by trading Craig Rivet for Josh Gorges and a first round pick. (THE GAZETTE/ Pierre Obendrauf)

Here is a quick-and-dirty round-up of some of the names that have been mentioned by analysts, journalists, and late-night rumourmongers:

JEFF CARTER (C); Philadelphia Flyers; 22 years old; RFA; currently earning 942 000$. This native of London, Ont., has 18 goals, 16 assists, 28 hits and 36 blocked shots in 55 games. His face-off percentage is 48.8%.

Why the Habs Want Him: He's a good two-way forward who has loads of offensive potential. He's 6'-3" and he'll only bulk up on his current 200 lbs. Carter's not an immediate upgrade, but he'll pay dividends down the road.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: If Philadelphia wins the Forsberg sweepstakes, the Flyers will have some offensive depth that they could turnover for some help on the blueline. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren, however, will be asking for more than Mr. Gainey is willing to pay.

PATRICK MARLEAU (C); San Jose Sharks; 27 years old; currently earning $4.5 million but that will jump to $6.5 million next season and last for two years. A NTC will come into effect starting next year.

Why the Habs Want Him: He's a good first line center who can notch 30 goals and 50+ assists. He's big, fast and has a "C" stitched to his jersey.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: Right now he's -21 on a pretty good team and he has only 10 goals and 17 assists. Oh, and did I already mention the $13 million bucks remaining for the next two years?

MARIAN HOSSA (RW); Atlanta Thrashers; 28 years old; UFA; currently earning $7 million (cap hit of $6 million).

Why the Habs Want Him: Last year this right-winger he reached 100 points. 'Nuff said.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: Atlanta's GM Don Waddell will be asking for everything, including the kitchen sink, for this rental player. Gainey won't pay, but somebody else will.

ALEX TANGUAY (LW); Calgary Flames; 27 years old; has one more year left at $5.375 million.

Why the Habs Want Him: In a season, he can pot 20-30 goals and will flirt with 80 points. In 55 games this season, he has 11G-32A-43P and is +12.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: Although his name has kept popping up, he's become too important to the Flames to trade him now. The Habs are not going to give up Alex Kovalev and Michael Ryder isn't the right type of player for Flames GM Darryl Sutter or head coach Mike Keenan. With the Flames needing some cap space, look for Tanguay to be moved in the off-season. Tanguay's NTC and desire to stay away from the scrutiny of the Montreal media, however, will keep him out of a Habs' jersey.

ROB BLAKE (D); LA Kings; 37 years old; UFA; currently earning $6 million; NTC.

Why the Habs Want Him: He's a seasoned All-Star and Norris-winning blueliner that any team in the league would go after.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: His NTC will keep him on the West Coast).

BRIAN CAMPBELL (D); Buffalo Sabres; 28 years old; UFA; currently earning $1.75 million (cap hit of $1.5 million).

Why the Habs Want Him: He's a solid blueliner who'll be entering the prime of his career.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: Sabres GM Darcy Regier screwed up big time last year when he let both Chris Drury and Daniel Briere walk as UFAs and he won't make the same mistake with Campbell. If Regier can't sign him by the deadline, Campbell will be traded. The Habs, however, aren't in the market for another top defenseman, especially one who will be looking for a big raise come July 1st.

YANNICK PERRAULT (C); 36 years old; UFA; currently earning $1.5 million.

Why the Habs Want Him: His face-off perentage is 64.6%.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: Besides his face-off skills, the aging center has little to offer. He has been a frequent healthy scratch with the Blackhawks and in 47 games has 7G-4A-11P and is -2.

OLLIE JOKINEN (C); 28 years old; currently earning $5.25 million for this year and for next, and in 2009/10 (the final year of his contract) gets a bump to $5.5 million.

Why the Habs Want Him: He's a consistently good offensive contributor on a consistently bad Panthers team. He is on pace for a career best 40 goals. He currently has 29G-29A-58P in 58 games.

Why the Habs Won't Get Him: Former Florida GM Mike Keenan traded away star netminder Roberto Luongo; current GM Jacques Martin won't make the same mistake with Jokinen - he's far too valuable to the franchise.

MATS SUNDIN (C); 36 years old; UFA; currently earning $5.5 million; NTC.

Just kidding.

These are several of the big names that keep turning up in the rumour mills, but due to big contracts, no-trade clauses, or a lack of production, most of these blockbuster moves just won't happen. Gainey is a fairly conservative GM who has been following his plan of building from within. If there is a good deal on the market, he'll be the first in line, but he doesn't want to sacrifice the promising youth that the Habs' have been steadily drafting and developing.

Is Gainey right to be so cautious? Does the team have a chance at winning the Cup next year, or the year after? Or should they go for it now and trade away some prospects and a couple roster players and get a Jokinen or Hossa?

Bench Talk

Chris Aung-Thwin — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:06:57 -0500

Just in case you don't have the time to read all of the great comments that are posted on Inside/Out, we are starting up a weekly shout-out recognizing some of the best.

The comments may differ by being witty, insightful or silly; and they may cover the entire spectrum of the Habs' universe, but all of them represent what it means to be a fan of the Montreal Canadiens.

Do you have a trade idea that'll balance out the team? Find a good link to a Habs' story? Calculated a crazy stat? Then post it to the discussion boards and check out Bench Talk every Friday for a weekly round-up of the best of your comments.

Some of the posts have been edited for length.

Submitted by habitual on Wed,02/06/2008 - 19:19.

Here are some observations that come from the difference in watching live vs. televised games: Kovalev is even better live. What I hadn’t been able to see well on TV was his ability to control the pace of the game. Ifhe wants it to speed it up, he can. But when he wants to hold onto the puck outside the blue line to give Pleks and Andre time to catch up, he finds a holding pattern and then off they go. And you really notice how little room there often is to work with on the ice, making his ability to find the open man and make those great passes truly impressive.

The people in Montreal are wonderfully warm and welcoming. Everyone accommodated my sad attempts at speaking French, and graciously switched to English the moment I said ‘bonjour.” And the fans at the Bell Centre LOVE hockey. They gave standing ovations for a good 20 second penalty kill shift! The atmosphere is fabulous and if you haven't seen a game in person you must!

...

Submitted by Chuck on Wed, 02/06/2008 -18:22.

I swear that Carbonneau tweaks his lines just to give us something to talk about on the off days. :)

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Submitted by Alex Rio on Wed,02/06/2008 - 12:15.

We need more Kostitsency.

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Submitted by idle on Wed, 02/06/2008 -11:22.

There is always room for improvement, and no Habs fan is going to say 'hey don't go out and get some better players for us'. But if all we do is complain about every mistake the team makes then when do we have time to be happy and enjoy the team?

...

Submitted by HabsFreak on Tue,02/05/2008 - 14:54.

It's not what the club can do for you, it's what you can do for the club.

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Submitted by Sulemaan on Sun,02/03/2008 - 19:46.

Let's move on to the next one. A loss like this is good. It forces our team to swallow a bitter pill and learn from it. Time to move on.

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Submitted by idle on Mon, 02/04/2008 -09:12.

As much as it hurts, I think you have to give the Rangers respect for the way they turned this game around. They pressured the Habs for the majority of the second and third periods and did what Montreal should have done after the first which is to not let their opponents get any kind of sustained momentum.

...

Submitted by Ian G Cobb on Thu,02/07/2008 - 08:49.

O.K. here goes my weekly report on the three most important stats in determining where we stack up in a 30 team league:

GA---150 We are in 16^th place, one better than 17^thplace a week ago.Total points--- 67 4^th place, we were in 7^thplace a week ago. GF---173 We are in 3^rd place, we were in 5^thplace a week ago. We have improved every week for over two months.

...

Submitted by 24 Cups on Mon, 02/04/2008- 22:49.

We are now up to 135 posts and over 900 reads. And all of this because the Canadiens are switching their backup goaltenders. I now fully realize what hockey madness is all about.

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Most Controversial Trade Idea:

Submitted by kenny_galloway onMon, 02/04/2008 - 23:58.

To Toronto:  McDonagh + Emelin; To Montreal:  Raycroft +Gill

...

Best Links:

On why Sean Avery doesn’t like Mike Komisarek:

Submitted by zamboni on Mon, 02/04/2008- 08:12.

Maybe this has something to do with it :)  http://www.hockeybeat.com/elisha-cuthbert-and-mike-komisarek

...

Submitted by krob1000 on Mon,02/04/2008 - 15:39.

Here is an interesting resource on past trade deadlines.There is a link to even show draft picks that turn out to be stars and deals that championship teams have made. http://www.nhl.com/deadline/2008/index.html

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Submitted by HAB-PROFESSOR on Wed,02/06/2008 - 12:32.

on HOSSA and the Habs... http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=228991

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Submitted by coutNY on Tue, 02/05/2008- 08:38.

For fact-rattling-sake Laffsfacing a No. 2 goalie around 40% of their games this season.

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Submitted by Ed on Wed, 02/06/2008 -18:09.

The best penalty killers for GA per 60 minutes short handed are:  Plekanec and Kovalev - 4.3  Koivu and Higgins - 6.6  Begin and Dandenault- 7.7  Chipchura and Kostopoulos - 8.8  Begin and Smolinski - 11.5. Plekanec and Kovalev are good no matter where they play. Also, this shows that our bestPK'ers are our offensive minded players. I was a bit surprised when I saw this.http://www.cs.unb.ca/~mwf/habs/sh.html

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Submitted by coutNY on Wed, 02/06/2008- 15:29.

Click here...for a The Hockey News are article featuring Bob's take on Komisarek!

Sunday's Super Blues

Chris Aung-Thwin — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:20:29 -0500

While the NHL’s only game on Super Bowl Sunday might have been one too many for Cristobal Huet's liking, it was one too few for Jaroslav Halak.

With the Habs up 3-0 over the visiting Rangers, Huet allowed 5-straight goals over the final 37 minutes of play. The goals were not entirely his fault as the Rangers managed to use their muscle and their hustle to completely dominate a weary Montreal team. The Habs got off to a great start thanks to a sizzling powerplay that went 3-for-5, but they were unable to cope with the bruisin’ Blueshirts during 5-on-5 play.

Midway through the second period, after Brandon Dubinksy cut the Habs’ lead to one - 24 seconds after Michal Rozsival had broken the ice for New York – Jaroslav Halak took a quick glance in the direction of his coach. The back-up netminder, who very nearly saved Montreal’s season last year, has not had the chance to start a game in the NHL this year. And it looks like he might not get that opportunity.

Less than a month after getting the call to come up to Montreal, Halak is heading back down to Hamilton.

It will be interesting to see how the young Slovakian netminder handles this latest setback. Disappointed with being assigned to Hamilton straight out of training camp, Halak quickly regained his form after a slow start to the season; he posted a 9-7-2 record with a 2.26 GAA and a 0.922 save percentage before being called up to Montreal.

The 22-year old is a restricted free agent at the end of the season and it was earlier rumoured that he was thinking of playing in Russia if he did not see quality ice-time. While it is extremely unlikely that another NHL team will send Halak an offer sheet during the off-season, it is a real possibility that he could decide to sign a lucrative contract with a Russian team, in the same way that Alexander Perezhogin jumped ship after last season and signed with Russian Super League team Salavat Yulaev. Perezhogin’s salary jumped from $627 000 with the Habs to nearly $1.8 million.

The Canadiens’ organization obviously has tremendous faith that Carey Price has the potential to become a franchise goaltender. The only reason that Halak was even called up to Montreal was so that Price could log heavy minutes down in Hamilton. While Price’s development is important for the Canadiens, they should be careful not to alienate their other assets.

Yann Danis, who broke into both the AHL and the NHL with shutouts, now finds himself assigned to back-up duties for the Bulldogs. The 27-year old Lafontaine, Quebec native becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and will most certainly end his relationship with the Habs and look for opportunities elsewhere.

While Huet’s position right now as the Habs’ number one goaltender is unquestionable, he may not see much of a future in Montreal if Carey Price is stealing away starts down the stretch. The French goalie has done a good job of answering the critics who have questioned his ability to be a reliable netminder in this league. Last year he was named to the Eastern All-Star team, the previous year he led the league with the best save percentage (0.929), and last month he was the NHL’s Third Star, posting an 8-2-1 record, a 2.40 GAA, and notching one shutout. Huet has great skill, an uncanny calmness, and is a great team player. If he remains unsigned by July 1, he may be one of the hottest item’s in this year’s free agent market.

Imagine this worst case scenario:

As an unrestricted free agent, Huet signs long-term contract with another NHL team.

Jaroslav Halak, disappointed with his ice-time, bolts for Russia.

Yann Danis signs a one-year deal with a club willing to take a chance on him.

That leaves Carey Price as an untested number one puck-stopper and maybe Cedrick Desjardins as a backup? Not the most inspiring of situations – and that’s not even mentioning the fact that those 3 players could leave without the Habs getting any form of compensation.

The next few weeks will be telling as we’ll see how Halak reacts to being snubbed in Montreal, how Price fairs with the big boys again,and how Huet deals with the pressures of being the go-to netminder on a team hoping to capture the top spot in the East.

View From The Blues: New blogger joins I/O

Dave Stubbs — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:50:02 -0500

Chris Aung-Thwin
Photographed in the cheap(er) seats

We're happy today to introduce you today to Chris Aung-Thwin, whose regular new blog, View From The Blues, will bring you a fan's perspective of the Canadiens and their roller-coaster ride toward the playoffs.

Of course, we feature Mike Boone's blog before, during and after every Canadiens game. Dave Stubbs and Kevin Mio keep you up to date with original content and links to Habs news elsewhere, and The Gazette's Pat Hickey joins us regularly for our weekly round-table PuckCast.

Chris now joins us with the eye of a fan. You're welcome to agree, or not, with his views in the form of the comments you've never been shy to express. We welcome him to our roster.

A little about Chris, from his own keyboard:

I recently graduated from McGill, majoring in both Psychology and History. I actually started out at Concordia in English Literature, but when I had the opportunity to transfer, I figured I couldn't pass up the chance.

McGill has a great reputation for its Psych program and I developed a keen interest in the subject after having worked with the mentally handicapped for over four years. I worked as a supervisor at a government center, where our goal was to be able to train our clients in both work and social skills, hoping that they would one day be able to integrate into mainstream society.

I've held a few other jobs that also don't appear on CVs too often, including building a log cabin as a carpenter's assistant, and working as a mate on a small fishing boat off of Cape Cod.

I'm a country boy at heart, having spent my childhood spying on deer and fishing for trout deep in the Laurentian forests. I grew up to the sounds of pond hockey and the fizz of static while trying to follow the Habs play the puck on a blurry, black and white TV screen.

While always a fan, it has only been in the past few years that I've really developed a true appreciation of the game. I follow the Habs passionately, living the highs and lows with the team every day. For the past couple years, I've been writing pre-game reports, first for my friends and then for the bar where we watched the game.

As a student, I was delighted to make a deal with the owners where when I brought in the report and handed it out, I could eat and drink to my heart's content. People have told me how much they enjoy my pre-game summaries, and I hope to develop that so I am able to contribute to Habs Inside/Out.

Without further ado, then, here is Chris's first I/O blog:

Last Year’s News

Do you remember the electricity that would course through the veins of the Bell Centre last year when Sheldon Souray would wind up from the point on the power play? The anticipation of that flashing red light preparing a cheer in your throat? Yeah, of course, I remember that.

How about the celebrations the year before when Jan Bulis scored 4 goals in one game - on four shots, no less. Really? He did?

Or do you remember the excitement that would grip everyone when a confident Richard Zednik would streak up along the boards? Hmmm … Zednik played for the Habs?

It’s amazing how quickly the names of heros – and villains – are quickly forgotten by us fickle fans. With Edmonton’s Sheldon Souray being placed on the injured reserve list for the second time this season, I thought we could take a quick look at some of those names that we once cheered – and jeered – for.

In no particular order (statistics before Thursday's games):

Radek Bonk, who signed a $1.475-million contract with the Predators during the off-season, and who was perhaps our best checking forward last year, has 11G-8A-19P in 48 GP. Oh, and he’s a team low -17.

Mike Johnson, Bonk’s PK partner last season, barely made the only team that was interested in him this season: the St. Louis Blues. In 21 games, he scored 2, helped on 3 others, and was -4. His season is over due to a shoulder injury.

Speaking of shoulder injuries, Souray is -7, with 3 goals and 7 assists (5 of those points on the PP) in only 26 games. He is listed as day-to-day by the Oilers and may require surgery in the off-season.

Garth Murray, who also suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, had no points but had racked up 19 PIM in 6 appearances for Florida. The 25-year-old forward was claimed off waivers by Florida in November.

Craig Rivet, in 49 games, is -1 with 5G-19A-24P. That’s a good enough point total to rank him fourth on the Sharks.

Alexander Perezhogin, who bolted from the Habs last year for more money and more ice-time, currently sits 12th in the Russian Super League in points. He has 19G-18A-37P in 41 games with Salavat Yulaev.

Jan Bulis, who wore out his welcome in Vancouver, is 20th in points in the Russian Super League. In 47 games with Khimik, the Czech winger has 13G-20A-33P.

David Aebischer is minding the nets for HC Lugano. In his 20 appearances with the Swiss team after having been released by the Coyotes, Abby has a 2.42 GAA and a .926 save percentage.

Mike Ribeiro is, of course, leading the Dallas Stars in scoring and plus-minus (+14). He has 56 points in 51 games, with 34 assists and a career high 22 goals. The Montreal native recently signed a 5-year / $25 million contract extension with the Stars.

Sergei Samsonov, who was stinking it up in Chicago (0G-4A-4P, -7, in 23 GP) has come to life after being claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes off waivers. With the ‘Canes, Samsonov already has tallied 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in 9 games.

Aaron Downey is a part-time grinder for the Cup-favourite Detroit Red Wings. In 34 games he has 1 assist and 55 PIM.